#wheeloftheyear — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #wheeloftheyear, aggregated by home.social.
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Good morning, friends! There's a lot of truth packed into this one. It's worth sitting with it for a moment, because the reading we do out of genuine love and curiosity (rather than obligation) has a way of quietly shaping us into who we actually are.
Have a Terrific Thursday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, friends! There's a lot of truth packed into this one. It's worth sitting with it for a moment, because the reading we do out of genuine love and curiosity (rather than obligation) has a way of quietly shaping us into who we actually are.
Have a Terrific Thursday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, friends! There's a lot of truth packed into this one. It's worth sitting with it for a moment, because the reading we do out of genuine love and curiosity (rather than obligation) has a way of quietly shaping us into who we actually are.
Have a Terrific Thursday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, friends! There's a lot of truth packed into this one. It's worth sitting with it for a moment, because the reading we do out of genuine love and curiosity (rather than obligation) has a way of quietly shaping us into who we actually are.
Have a Terrific Thursday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, friends! There's a lot of truth packed into this one. It's worth sitting with it for a moment, because the reading we do out of genuine love and curiosity (rather than obligation) has a way of quietly shaping us into who we actually are.
Have a Terrific Thursday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, all! The year is in full swing, and May is doing its very best out there; a bit of magic and good madness seems entirely reasonable to me. Have a Fabulous Friday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, all! The year is in full swing, and May is doing its very best out there; a bit of magic and good madness seems entirely reasonable to me. Have a Fabulous Friday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, all! The year is in full swing, and May is doing its very best out there; a bit of magic and good madness seems entirely reasonable to me. Have a Fabulous Friday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, all! The year is in full swing, and May is doing its very best out there; a bit of magic and good madness seems entirely reasonable to me. Have a Fabulous Friday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, all! The year is in full swing, and May is doing its very best out there; a bit of magic and good madness seems entirely reasonable to me. Have a Fabulous Friday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, everyone! It's something I genuinely believe, that the books we read leave their mark on us in ways we don't always notice straight away, and that a really good story has a way of quietly shifting how you see things long after you've closed the cover. Have a Terrific Tuesday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, everyone! It's something I genuinely believe, that the books we read leave their mark on us in ways we don't always notice straight away, and that a really good story has a way of quietly shifting how you see things long after you've closed the cover. Have a Terrific Tuesday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, everyone! It's something I genuinely believe, that the books we read leave their mark on us in ways we don't always notice straight away, and that a really good story has a way of quietly shifting how you see things long after you've closed the cover. Have a Terrific Tuesday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, everyone! It's something I genuinely believe, that the books we read leave their mark on us in ways we don't always notice straight away, and that a really good story has a way of quietly shifting how you see things long after you've closed the cover. Have a Terrific Tuesday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Good morning, everyone! It's something I genuinely believe, that the books we read leave their mark on us in ways we don't always notice straight away, and that a really good story has a way of quietly shifting how you see things long after you've closed the cover. Have a Terrific Tuesday. Take care and stay safe. 💙
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Tha Bealltainn an seo. Beltane is here. The hawthorn is opening. The earth is keeping every promise the empire breaks. Today's Gathering: the news + the herbs that hold you through it.
#Beltane #Druidry #Herbalism #Paganism #WheelOfTheYear #May #Witch #Folklore #Nature
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Tha Bealltainn an seo. Beltane is here. The hawthorn is opening. Today's Gathering closes with three herbs for the cross-quarter day: linden, cleavers, motherwort. The land keeps every promise the empire breaks. #Beltane #Druidry #Herbalism #Paganism #WheelOfTheYear #MayDay /|\
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This Friday from 12:30pm SLT is my Celebrate Beltane maypole circle dance!
Beltane is about young love, courtship, passion, that time between youth & maturity we see in flora & fauna.
There will be 2 circle dances in tandem, one a Maypole!
Details on Friday morning. #SecondLife #WheelOfTheYear #VirtualWorlds #Beltane -
My coffee roastery - Skeleton Brew Coffee (https://skeletonbrew.coffee/) - is run by two Pagans (myself included). We like to celebrate life and the #wheeloftheyear. To that end, we currently have two seasonal coffee and tea pairings inspired by Ostara and Beltane, with Litha on the horizon!
Come check us out. Not only will you support two regular people (we're not buying yachts - we're paying mortgages and utilities), but we also donate $1 for every item purchased to public broadcasting.
https://skeletonbrew.coffee/
https://skeletonbrew.coffee/collections/witches-brews -
For anyone that missed our #Ostara #Ritual / Gathering (and for those that were there and want to re-experience it) - you can now watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/odOnkv0BPmg
#herbandfable #witch #pagan @secondlife #secondlife #wheeloftheyear
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For anyone that missed our #Ostara #Ritual / Gathering (and for those that were there and want to re-experience it) - you can now watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/odOnkv0BPmg
#herbandfable #witch #pagan @secondlife #secondlife #wheeloftheyear
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For anyone that missed our #Ostara #Ritual / Gathering (and for those that were there and want to re-experience it) - you can now watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/odOnkv0BPmg
#herbandfable #witch #pagan @secondlife #secondlife #wheeloftheyear
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For anyone that missed our #Ostara #Ritual / Gathering (and for those that were there and want to re-experience it) - you can now watch it on Youtube: https://youtu.be/odOnkv0BPmg
#herbandfable #witch #pagan @secondlife #secondlife #wheeloftheyear
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqzpBb6QPi8
A little late for #yule, but we are arguably still in the #yuletide season. I found this beautiful #song on #youtube and thought I would share it.
The #oakking and #hollyking lore is part of many #neopagan traditions. Here's some info about it here:
https://www.learnreligions.com/holly-king-and-the-oak-king-2562991
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqzpBb6QPi8
A little late for #yule, but we are arguably still in the #yuletide season. I found this beautiful #song on #youtube and thought I would share it.
The #oakking and #hollyking lore is part of many #neopagan traditions. Here's some info about it here:
https://www.learnreligions.com/holly-king-and-the-oak-king-2562991
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqzpBb6QPi8
A little late for #yule, but we are arguably still in the #yuletide season. I found this beautiful #song on #youtube and thought I would share it.
The #oakking and #hollyking lore is part of many #neopagan traditions. Here's some info about it here:
https://www.learnreligions.com/holly-king-and-the-oak-king-2562991
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqzpBb6QPi8
A little late for #yule, but we are arguably still in the #yuletide season. I found this beautiful #song on #youtube and thought I would share it.
The #oakking and #hollyking lore is part of many #neopagan traditions. Here's some info about it here:
https://www.learnreligions.com/holly-king-and-the-oak-king-2562991
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https://youtu.be/Fs7j8daV8-s
#magick #witch #witchcraft #spell #spells #witchy #witchlife #witchtips #witchylife #christmas #candlemagick #yule #yuleball #wintersolstice #wintersolstice2025 #herbs #krampus #pagan #blessedyule #wheeloftheyear #solstice #yuledecorations #odin #christmas #jol #saturnalia -
The Dark Time
The title sounds so ominous!
As we in the United States once again complain about having to change the clocks, this time back an hour which is easier to adjust to than “springing forward” in March, here is a great article about time and work from an Indigenous perspective. Because changing the clocks twice a year is all about capitalism, of course.
James and I celebrate the Wheel of the Year and for the last few days we have been celebrating Samhain. Contrary to what some may think, this is not the same as Halloween, nor does it last for just one day. It is a season, from now until Winter Solstice, and the festival for celebrating is from October 31st through November 2nd. Though there is much lost to the murkiness of time and colonialism, so those who celebrate have the room to make of the holiday what they will.
For James and I, Samhain marks the beginning of the dark season. Even though the clocks were set back today, very soon I will be bike commuting to work both ways in the dark or near dark. The trees are dropping their leaves and soon will be bare bones. The color gradually leaves the world to become monochromatic. It used to be I could depend on brilliant blue skies, but increasingly with climate change, these months have become cloudier, denying relief from the monochrome.
The dark season is a time of rest and dreaming. Aside from a few more outdoor tasks I need to do like raking leaves off the sidewalk, my work in the garden is done. Now it is my turn to withdraw, bury myself as it were, in the dark like a seed. It is a time to plant intentions that I hope will sprout and grow strong when light and warmth return.
It is also a time for roots, for remembering ancestors—blood ancestors, spiritual ancestors, and more-than-human ancestors. So it was truly wonderful Thursday night at sangha that we did the Five Earth Touchings. Buddhism always honors ancestors, but Samhain is not the particular time of year for Buddhist ancestor ceremonies. So it was a happy coincidence. The prostrations that accompany the Five Earth Touchings were especially moving. I felt grounded, solid, full, and content at their completion. I will make sure this becomes part of Samhain every year.
In addition, James and I like to recall and honor family who have died by eating food in remembrance of them. Perhaps not so coincidentally, Lit Hub posted a lovely article about how food invokes memories of loved ones. Our celebration generally involves making a meal or dish that was a favorite of someone, or that reminds us of them. Last year we had cinnamon toast in remembrance of my Granny who always made it for me and my sister when she babysat us. It wasn’t quite the same since we didn’t slather it in butter, but the spirit of it was there.
This year James made a kugel. His family makes kugel with wide, flat egg noodles, a creamy custard-like “sauce,” and raisins. There has to be raisins. James had to turn out a vegan version. Sadly, there are no vegan-style “egg” noodles so we had to go with fettuccine noodles instead. For the creamy custard “sauce,” he made sunflower seed-based cream. For something like this cashews are the standard choice in vegan recipes, but we don’t buy cashews because the company our food co-op gets organic cashews from cannot confirm that all of their nuts are processed on machines and not by people who might be suffering from burns and skin rashes due to the toxic oils in cashew shells. Nor can they confirm that people were paid a fair wage. So we don’t buy cashews. We have used hazelnuts in the past as well as almonds, but the price of organic nuts these days has increased astronomically and we only buy them as a treat if they are on sale, which they were not when we went grocery shopping. So we use sunflower seeds, which are still inexpensive and do the job just fine.
Just like Auntie used to make!It all came out great! When James took the first bite he said it tasted just like he remembered it should. His aunt always used to make kugel for holiday gatherings. Pre-vegan days I got to enjoy her kugel at a Passover dinner. So today we remembered Auntie Margo and a few other of James’s kin who have passed. It’s good to remember.
In bookish things, Rakesfall by Vajra Chandrasekera won the Ursula Le Guin Prize. He made a wonderful acceptance speech (skip to minute 7 to get to his speech) which made me like him even more. I have read both The Saint of Bright Doors and Rakesfall and liked them both. They are strange and different and all about power and subverting power, time, memory, and creating worlds. Rakesfall is not an easy book to read and I like that Chandrasekera makes no apologies for it. I like that he demands the reader do some work in the mutual creation that is fiction. And I like that his books are truly different from so much of what is published these days. I am so very tired of the usual sorts of fantasy and science fiction that treads the same plots with only slight shifts in things like gender.
Rakesfall is the only one of the Le Guin shortlist I have read, but I have several of them on my TBR, in particular Blackheart Man by Nalo Hopkinson and The Sapling Cage by Margaret Killjoy. Hopefully I will be able to at least get to these before the next prize list is up in 2026. If you are a reader, you know how it goes.
A large chunk of my day today was taken up by chores and the final Beloved Community Circle cohort training. The trainings have been great and I have learned quite a lot about creating a very specific kind of community. It’s been a joy taking what I have learned back to my own Circle and sharing it with them. We are working towards becoming more deliberate in getting to know one another well and also creating practices around decision making, communication, and conflict resolution. It is work, but it is rewarding work.
So that’s it for today. Rest, dream deeply, and plant the seeds of your aspirations.
Where There is Love, Playing for Change
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cABVKIPk_u0
#BelovedCommunityCircle #daylightSavings #kugel #Rakesfall #Samhain #UrsulaLeGuinPrize #VajraChandrasekera #WheelOfTheYear
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Happy Samhain to those who celebrate it. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by the Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animal #Animals #Art #Artwork #Bat #Chiroptera #Chiropteran #DeadlyNightshade #FediArt #Garlic #Halloween #Handmade #Holiday #Jack-o-lantern #Lightning #Mandragora #Mandrake #MastoArt #MixedMedia #Mugwort #Otherkin #Pagan #Samhain #Spiritual #Spirituality #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #WheelOfTheYear
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Happy Samhain to those who celebrate it. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by the Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animal #Animals #Art #Artwork #Bat #Chiroptera #Chiropteran #DeadlyNightshade #FediArt #Garlic #Halloween #Handmade #Holiday #Jack-o-lantern #Lightning #Mandragora #Mandrake #MastoArt #MixedMedia #Mugwort #Otherkin #Pagan #Samhain #Spiritual #Spirituality #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #WheelOfTheYear
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Happy Samhain to those who celebrate it. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by the Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animal #Animals #Art #Artwork #Bat #Chiroptera #Chiropteran #DeadlyNightshade #FediArt #Garlic #Halloween #Handmade #Holiday #Jack-o-lantern #Lightning #Mandragora #Mandrake #MastoArt #MixedMedia #Mugwort #Otherkin #Pagan #Samhain #Spiritual #Spirituality #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #WheelOfTheYear
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Happy Samhain to those who celebrate it. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by the Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animal #Animals #Art #Artwork #Bat #Chiroptera #Chiropteran #DeadlyNightshade #FediArt #Garlic #Halloween #Handmade #Holiday #Jack-o-lantern #Lightning #Mandragora #Mandrake #MastoArt #MixedMedia #Mugwort #Otherkin #Pagan #Samhain #Spiritual #Spirituality #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #WheelOfTheYear
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A nice #Mabon event for my final Sabbat set in Rosehaven #SecondLife #WheelOfTheYear #VirtualWorlds
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** Monday 11am-12:30pm SLT**
aka 2pm EDT · 19:00 BST· 20:00 CE
** BRIGHTEST BLESSINGS! **
Join DJ Holocluck Henly for an eclectic mix of eras & genres to Welcome the AUTUMNAL EQUINOX for MABON at ROSEHAVEN STONE CIRCLE.All Ages Welcome. Any era attire. No Skyclad pls. #SecondLife #Mabon #WheelOfTheYear
Your Besom:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Realm%20of%20Rosehaven/202/14/23 -
Happy Lughnasadh to those who celebrate it. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by the Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animal #Animals #Art #Artwork #Avian #Bird #Birds #Boline #FediArt #Handmade #Heather #Holiday #Lughnasadh #MastoArt #MixedMedia #Otherkin #Pagan #Raven #Rosemary #Sickle #Spiritual #Spirituality #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #WheelOfTheYear #Wand #Wheat #Yarrow
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"Now in the Northern Hemisphere, we are at the height of summer.
#Lughnasadh (pronounced LOO-nuh-suh; also referred to as #Lammas ) occurs on the first of August in the Northern Hemisphere (celebrated February 1st in the Southern Hemisphere). In the pagan #WheeloftheYear , Lughnasadh is the first of the three major #harvestfestivals that are part of the eight sabbats of the year."read more...
https://www.darkhabits.net/post/Lughnasadh
#witch #witchcraft #queerwitch #queerwitches #queerwitchcraft
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Happy Lammas Day .
#lammas #lughnasadh #wheeloftheyear #pagan #witch #witchcraft #witchesofinstagram #mabon #litha #harvest #wicca #imbolc #samhain #witches #yule #ostara #beltane #paganism #magic #pagansofinstagram #magick #wiccan #lughnassadh #witchyvibes #magia #goddess #nature #love #august #firstharvest Lammas Day is a festival celebrated in many European countries including Britain. On this day, roti made from the first crop of wheat is offered in the church.…
https://itsmostamazingindia.wordpress.com/2025/08/01/happy-lammas-day/
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Happy solstice, the traditional time for the festival of Litha. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animals #Art #Artwork #Athame #Elder #ElderTree #FairyRing #FediArt #Handmade #Holiday #Lavender #Litha #MastoArt #MixedMedia #Oak #OakTree #Otherkin #Pagan #Python #Reptile #Snake #Solstice #Spiritual #Spirituality #Summer #SummerSolstice #Sword #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #Thyme #Wand #WheelOfTheYear
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Happy solstice, the traditional time for the festival of Litha. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animals #Art #Artwork #Athame #Elder #ElderTree #FairyRing #FediArt #Handmade #Holiday #Lavender #Litha #MastoArt #MixedMedia #Oak #OakTree #Otherkin #Pagan #Python #Reptile #Snake #Solstice #Spiritual #Spirituality #Summer #SummerSolstice #Sword #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #Thyme #Wand #WheelOfTheYear
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Happy solstice, the traditional time for the festival of Litha. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animals #Art #Artwork #Athame #Elder #ElderTree #FairyRing #FediArt #Handmade #Holiday #Lavender #Litha #MastoArt #MixedMedia #Oak #OakTree #Otherkin #Pagan #Python #Reptile #Snake #Solstice #Spiritual #Spirituality #Summer #SummerSolstice #Sword #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #Thyme #Wand #WheelOfTheYear
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Happy solstice, the traditional time for the festival of Litha. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animals #Art #Artwork #Athame #Elder #ElderTree #FairyRing #FediArt #Handmade #Holiday #Lavender #Litha #MastoArt #MixedMedia #Oak #OakTree #Otherkin #Pagan #Python #Reptile #Snake #Solstice #Spiritual #Spirituality #Summer #SummerSolstice #Sword #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #Thyme #Wand #WheelOfTheYear
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Happy solstice, the traditional time for the festival of Litha. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animals #Art #Artwork #Athame #Elder #ElderTree #FairyRing #FediArt #Handmade #Holiday #Lavender #Litha #MastoArt #MixedMedia #Oak #OakTree #Otherkin #Pagan #Python #Reptile #Snake #Solstice #Spiritual #Spirituality #Summer #SummerSolstice #Sword #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #Thyme #Wand #WheelOfTheYear
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Happy equinox, the traditional time for the festival of Ostara. In 2023, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animals #Art #Artwork #Ash #AshTree #Birch #Bunny #Crocus #Dandelion #Eggs #Equinox #FediArt #Handmade #Hare #Mammal #MastoArt #Mixedmedia #Ostara #Otherkin #Pagan #Spiritual #Spirituality #Spring #SpringEquinox #Sunrise #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #WheelOfTheYear
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Happy solstice, the traditional time for the festival of Yule. In 2022, I made this mixed-media artwork inspired by Pagan tradition.
#AnimalArt #Animals #Art #Aurora #Artwork #Candle #FediArt #Goat #Handmade #Holly #Mammal #MastoArt #Mistletoe #MixedMedia #Oak #Otherkin #Pagan #Saturnalia #Solstice #Spiritual #Spirituality #Therian #TraditionalArt #Tree #WheelOfTheYear #Winter #WinterSolstice #Yew #Yule #YuleGoat #YuleTree
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Cherish the Cherry - As part of our Cycles of Gaia ecological calendar project, over the next year, we will share an insight each month on one of the member species of the calendar, or some other ecological element of the Northeast Coastal Zone (southern New England) drawn out by the calendar. This month, the black cherry’s fruiting process peaks as we enter the final third of the summer season.
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Beltane Altar
As the wheel of the year turns and the vibrant energy of spring reaches its zenith, we find ourselves at the threshold of summer, marked by the ancient Pagan Sabbat of Beltane. This festive holiday, celebrated on May 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and October 31st in the Southern Hemisphere, is a time of fire, fertility, and the harmonious balance of energies.
Beltane is a season of heightened spiritual energy. The thinning of the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is a powerful catalyst for magic and divination, making Beltane an auspicious time to connect with the spiritual realm. During this season, the energies of the natural world and the divine become more accessible, enabling practitioners to tap into deeper spiritual truths and connect with the higher forces of the universe. Beltane represents a unique opportunity to unlock the transformative power of magic and divination, allowing us to break free from old patterns and beliefs and embrace new possibilities for growth and change.
The Essence of Beltane
Beltane, or May Day, is a time when the veil between worlds is thin, similar to its opposite point on the Wheel of the Year, Samhain. It is a day when the Earth is teeming with life, fertility, and the potential for abundant growth. The God and Goddess are often portrayed in equal power during this time, symbolizing the unity of masculine and feminine energies.
Origins of Beltane
Beltane has origins in the Gaelic/Celtic cultures of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. The name Beltane comes from the Gaelic language, with “bel” meaning “bright” or “radiant” and “tane” meaning “fire”. It was traditionally celebrated on the night of April 30th and May 1st, which is the halfway point between the spring equinox and summer solstice. The festival marks the beginning of summer and the end of winter, and is a time to celebrate fertility, growth, and the power of the sun. It was also a time for livestock to be driven from their winter pastures to their summer grazing grounds, and for farmers to pray for a good harvest. Over time, Beltane has been influenced by other cultures and religions, such as Christianity, but its origins can still be traced back to the ancient Celtic traditions.
Traditions and Celebrations
One of the most iconic symbols of Beltane is the Maypole. The pole represents the phallus of the God, and the ribbons and the dance around it symbolize the fertility of the Goddess. Communities would rise at dawn to gather flowers and green branches, weave ribbons, and celebrate the fertility of the land.
Setting Up a Beltane altar
There are many creative ways to set up a Beltane altar. Here are a few ideas:
- Decorate your altar with brightly colored flowers, such as daisies, primroses, roses, lilacs, and hawthorn blossoms to represent fertility and spring growth.
- Add a Maypole to your altar. You can make a miniature version using ribbons, or decorate a larger one with flowers and streamers.
- Use a cauldron or chalice to represent the Divine Feminine, the womb of creation, and the element of water. Include a symbol or picture to represent the Horned God who represents male energy and fertility.
- Place symbols of fertility on your altar, such as eggs, seeds, and baby animals.
- Include fresh herbs: Like rosemary, thyme, lavender, and mint, which can be used for cooking, smudging, or as offerings.
- Include candles to represent the element of fire and the sun’s power. Choose bright, warm colors like red, orange or yellow.
- Use crystals and gemstones associated with Beltane, such as emerald, rose quartz, and sunstone.
- Add symbols of the Green Man and the Goddess, such as statues or pictures.
- Include foods associated with Beltane, such as honey, strawberries, and fresh herbs.
- Finally, don’t forget to smudge your altar with sage or other cleansing herbs to purify and prepare the space.
Using these symbols on your Beltane altar can help you to tap into the energy of the season and honor the traditions and beliefs of this ancient festival.
Fire Festivals
Fire still plays a prominent role in modern Beltane celebrations. Lighting a bonfire or candle represents the Sun’s life-giving energy. In Scotland, the Beltane Fire Festival is a spectacular event that draws thousands to witness the rekindling of life and light.
Beltane fire festivals have been celebrated for centuries, and the specific details of the celebrations varied depending on the specific region and culture. Here is a general overview of how Beltane fire festivals were set up and celebrated:
- Preparation and gathering: In the days leading up to Beltane, preparations were made for the festival. People would clean and decorate their homes, and gather food and other offerings for the celebrations. Communities would come together to prepare for the festivities.
- Bonfire: A large bonfire was the focal point of the Beltane celebrations. It was traditionally lit by a sacred fire, which was kindled by friction between two pieces of wood or a fire struck from flint. The fire represented the power of the sun and was seen as a way to purify and cleanse the land and the people.
- Dancing and music: The fire was surrounded by dancing, music and revelry. Maypole dancing was a popular activity during Beltane, and people would dance around the maypole holding brightly colored ribbons.
- Rituals and offerings: Beltane was a time for making offerings and performing rituals to honor the gods and nature spirits. People would offer food, drink, flowers and other gifts to the sacred fire and other altars that were set up for the festival.
- Feasting and celebration: After the rituals and offerings were made, people would gather together to feast and celebrate. Food and drink were shared, and people would continue to dance, sing and make merry around the fire.
Overall, Beltane fire festivals were a time of communal celebration, with people coming together to honor the changing of the seasons, make offerings to the gods and nature spirits, and connect with the power of the sun and the earth. While the specifics of the celebrations varied from place to place, the core elements of feasting, dancing, music and ritual were a part of all Beltane fire festivals.
Handfasting and Fertility Rites
Beltane is also a popular time for handfasting, a traditional Pagan wedding ceremony. Couples would jump over the Beltane fire to bring luck and fertility to their union.
Handfasting is a traditional pagan ritual where a couple publicly acknowledges their love and commitment to each other before the divine, or however they individually define their beliefs. It is often referred to as “tying the knot” and is similar to a wedding ceremony. Beltane is considered a particularly auspicious and appropriate time for handfasting ceremonies for a few reasons:
- Fertility and Love: Beltane is a celebration of fertility, love and union. It is believed that the Beltane energy can help to bless the union and increase the fertility of the couple.
- Heightened Energy: Beltane falls between the spring equinox and the summer solstice and represents the peak of spring energy. This is seen as a particularly powerful and potent time for magic and rituals.
- Celtic Traditions: Handfasting has its roots in Celtic traditions, and the Celtic festival of Beltane was an important celebration in the wheel of the year. Handfasting during Beltane is seen as a way to honor and connect with these traditions.
- Connecting to Nature: Beltane celebrates the return of the fertility of the earth, and handfasting during this time is seen as a way to connect with and honor this natural cycle.
Overall, Beltane is seen as a powerful and appropriate time to celebrate love and commitment through handfasting, connecting the couple with the energy of the season to bless their union and honor the greater natural cycles of life.
Modern Celebrations
Today, Pagans continue to celebrate Beltane with fire, dancing, and rituals that honor the balance of energies. It’s a time for planting seeds, both literally in the garden and metaphorically in our lives. Beltane invites us to embrace the passion and potential within and around us, to engage in the dance of life with joy and anticipation for the summer to come.
Modern-day Beltane Sabbats are celebrated differently from traditional or ancient celebrations, as it has adapted itself to modern-day cultures, practices, and beliefs. Here are a few ways in which modern-day Beltane Sabbats may be celebrated:
- Community Events: Modern pagan communities often have Beltane Sabbat celebrations that bring people together to celebrate the season with music, dancing, and other festivities. These events may include workshops, performances, and other forms of entertainment.
- Personal Rituals: Many people celebrate Beltane through personal rituals that may involve meditation, lighting candles, making offerings to the earth, or performing a spell or ritual.
- Maypole Dancing: Maypole dancing is still a popular practice in many modern-day Beltane celebrations. People dance around a maypole, weaving ribbons around it to symbolize the union of the masculine and feminine energies.
- Feasting: The tradition of feasting and sharing food is still an important part of many modern-day Beltane celebrations. People gather with loved ones and friends to enjoy the bounty of the earth and celebrate spring.
- Nature Walks: Many people celebrate Beltane by taking walks in nature, visiting local gardens or parks, and connecting with the earth. Some may also participate in outdoor activities like hiking, camping, or nature photography.
- Integrating Eco-friendly rituals: With the growing awareness of the environmental impact of human activities, many pagan communities are working to integrate environmentally sustainable practices into their Beltane celebrations. As a community that honors nature and the earth, it is essential that we seek to minimize our ecological footprint and promote the health of the planet. Some ways we can achieve this include using biodegradable or reusable materials for decorations, reducing waste by using compostable plates and utensils, and choosing locally sourced or seasonal food for feasting. We can also incorporate eco-friendly rituals, such as offering seeds or plants to the earth as a symbol of regeneration, or engaging in outdoor activities that connect us with nature. Integrating such environmentally sustainable practices in our Beltane celebrations is a way of honoring the earth and deepening our connection with the natural world.
Overall, modern-day Beltane Sabbats offer a variety of ways for people to celebrate the season in a way that is meaningful and relevant to their individual practices and beliefs. While the specifics of the celebrations may vary, the core themes of fertility, renewal, and community continue to be celebrated and honored.
Beltane is a reminder of the enduring cycle of life, death, and rebirth. As we celebrate, we connect with our ancestors and the natural world, recognizing the fires of creativity and life that burn within us all.
I trust that you relished this elucidation on the Beltane celebration. Should you desire any particular facets to be expounded upon or incorporated into your blog, kindly apprise me and I shall gladly oblige. 🌷🔥
Beltane Fire Festival(1) What Is Beltane? And, How Do You Celebrate It? – The Pagan Grimoire. https://www.pagangrimoire.com/what-is-beltane-celebrate/.
(2) Beltane: Sabbat History, Traditions & 15+ Ways to Celebrate. https://otherworldlyoracle.com/beltane/.
(3) The Origins and Practices of Holidays: Beltane and The Last Day … – BPL. https://www.bpl.org/blogs/post/the-origins-and-practices-of-holidays-beltane-and-the-last-day-of-ridvan/.
(4) Beltane Lore & Traditions – Information | Rituals | Recipes – Wicca. https://www.wicca.com/pagan-holidays/beltane.html.
(5) Beltane Sabbat – Pagan Gate. https://www.pagangate.com/wicca/beltane-sabbat/.
(6) undefined. https://www.instagram.com/p/B_qN5ViFX8w/.
(7) en.wikipedia.org. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane.https://paganessentials.wordpress.com/2024/04/29/celebrating-beltane-the-fire-of-summers-beginning/
#Beltane #Correspondences #Magick #mayDay #Pagan #Rituals #Sabbat #wheelOfTheYear #Witch #WitchPowers #Witchcraft
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Ostara is the celebration of the Spring Equinox and is a time of renewal and rebirth. In 2024, Ostara will occur on March 19th (for the Northern Hemisphere and September 19th for the Southern Hemisphere), marking the day when day and night are of equal length, symbolizing balance and harmony in the natural world123.
Celebrating Ostara 2024
As the snow melts and the first green shoots emerge, Ostara invites us to embrace the new life that surrounds us. It’s a time to plant seeds, both literally in our gardens and metaphorically in our lives, setting intentions for the growth we wish to see in the coming months.
Rituals & Traditions
- Spring Cleaning: Clear out the old to make way for the new. This can be a physical cleaning of your living space or a digital decluttering of your devices.
- Garden Blessings: Plant seeds for a future harvest. Whether it’s flowers or vegetables, gardening connects us to the earth and the cycle of life.
- Altar Decoration: Create an altar with symbols of spring such as eggs, rabbits, and spring flowers to honor the season and the goddess Eostre, from whom Ostara gets its name1.
Foods &
Colors
- Foods: Celebrate with foods that represent the season like eggs, honey, sprouted greens, and baked goods. These foods are not only delicious but also symbolize fertility and new beginnings1.
- Colors: Decorate with the colors of spring—green, pink, and blue. These colors reflect the fresh growth, warm sunlight, and clear skies that the season brings1.
Community & Self-Care
- Tea Parties: Host a gathering with a spring theme. Share food, stories, and laughter with friends and family.
- Nature Walks: Take a walk in nature and observe the signs of spring. Witnessing the earth’s awakening can be a powerful reminder of the cycles of growth and renewal.
- Meditation and Journaling: Reflect on your personal goals and aspirations. What do you want to cultivate in your life? Use this time to focus on your intentions.
Corres-pondence
Here’s a list of correspondences for Ostara, which can be used to enhance your celebration and rituals:
Animals
- Butterflies
- Chicks
- Dragons
- Lambs
- Mermaids & Mermen
- Rabbits/Hares
- Robins
- Pegasus
- Serpents
- Unicorns
Colors
- Green
- Pastel colors
- White
- Yellow
Crystals
- Amethyst
- Aquamarine
- Jasper
- Moonstone
- Rose quartz
Foods
- Cheese
- Chocolate
- Cream
- Custards
- Dandelion Greens
- Edible Flowers
- Eggs
- Egg Salad
- Hard Boiled Eggs
- Fish
- Honey Cakes
- Hot Cross Buns
- Ice Cream
- Jelly beans/eggs
- Lassi
- Maple Syrup & Sugar Candies
- Milk
- Milk punch
- Nettle Tea
- Olives
- Pine Nuts
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Salads
- Seasonal, local fruits and vegetables
- Sprouts
- Sunflower Seeds
- Yogurt
Goddesses
- Aphrodite
- Astarte
- Athena
- Aurora
- Eos
- Eostre
- Gaia
- Hera
- Ishtar
- Kore (maiden form)
- Maiden Goddesses
- The Muses
- Persephone (maiden form)
- Venus
Gods
- Adonis
- Ares
- Cernunnos
- Green Man
- Mars
- Narcissus
- Odin
- Osiris
- Pan
- Thoth
Herb & Plants
- Any budding or sprouting plants
- Ash
- Alder
- Birch
- Cinquefoil
- Daffodil
- Dogwood
- Four-leaf clover
- Honeysuckle
- Iris
- Narcissus
- Olive
- Peony
- Primrose
- Tulips
- Violet
- Incense
Incence
- African Violet
- Jasmine
- Rose
- Sage
- Strawberry
Oils
- Ginger
- Lavender
- Lotus
- Rose
Spells
- Balance
- Celebration of Life & Universal Love
- Fertility
- Growth
- Increasing Power
- Long-term manifestation
- Marriage
- New Growth
- Opening up
- Rebirth
- Renewal
- Sexuality
- Women’s Health
Symbolism
- Acknowledgement of natural cycles
- Acknowledgement of feminine cycles
- Beginning of Spring
- Eggs as fertility
- New growth where nothing once grew
- The power behind the union of balance
- The power behind physically energizing your goals
- This list can help you create the vibrations and vibe of Ostara in your sacred space. Enjoy your celebrations
Conclusion
Ostara 2024 is an opportunity to celebrate the balance of light and dark, to welcome the warmth of the sun, and to prepare for the abundance of summer. It’s a time to come together, to share in the joy of the earth’s renewal, and to plant the seeds for a fruitful future.
Embrace the spirit of Ostara, and may your celebrations be filled with joy, growth, and harmony.
For those interested in learning more about Ostara and how to celebrate it, consider exploring resources such as the free Ostara E-Course offered by Mabon House1, or the comprehensive holiday calendars available for Wiccans and Pagans2. These can provide valuable insights and ideas for making the most of this vibrant and meaningful time of year.
The Witch's Online Resource
Buy Tarot Readings & Spells Support Me on My Facebook Page Check out My Facebook GroupIvyjaded Wyldfyre
**Ivy Jaded WyldFyre**, based in **Manitowoc, WI**, is a multi-talented individual with a fascinating blend of interests and skills. Let us explore her diverse background:
**Author and Writer**:
Ivy is a writer who weaves words into captivating stories, poems, and other literary works. Her creativity knows no bounds, and her writing reflects her deep connection to mystics and magicals.
– As an author, she explores themes related to spirituality, witchcraft, and esoterics. Her words resonate with those that seek wisdom and inspiration.
**Tarot Reader**:
– Ivy delves into the ancient art of tarot reading. Through the symbolism of tarot cards, she provides insights, guidance, and intuitive interpretations for those who seek clarity.
– Her tarot readings are like opening a door to hidden realms, where each card reveals a piece of cosmic puzzle.
**Website Designer**:
– Ivy’s skills extend beyond written words. She is a website designer crafting digital spaces that reflect her unique aesthetics and purpose.
– Whether it is a personal blog, an online store, or a platform for spiritual exploration, Ivy brings her artistic flair into every web design project.
**Pagan Essentials**:
Ivy is associated with **Pagan Essentials**, a platform that invites seekers to discover the secrets of magick and nature.
– Pagan Essentials offers an extensive range of resources, including information on lunar phases, gemstone properties, candle colors, herb characteristics, essential oils, and more⁵.
– It is a haven for those drawn to earth-based spirituality and the mystical arts.
**Numerology**:
Ivy’s connection to numerology is fascinating. She resonates with the **Master Number 11** in numerology.
– Master Numbers hold immense power and meaning. The number 11 represents intuition, spiritual awakening, and enlightenment.
As an #11, Ivy embodies these qualities, channeling them into her creative endeavors.
**Year of the Dragon**:
– Born in the year of the Dragon, Ivy carries the fiery energy associated with this mythical creature.
– Dragons symbolize strength, transformation, and wisdom. Ivy’s journey aligns with the dragon’s spirit: bold, fierce, and ever evolving.
In summary, Ivy Jaded WyldFyre is a modern-day enchantress: a writer, tarot reader, web designer, and keeper of ancient wisdom. Her path is illuminated by flames of creativity, and she invites others to join her in exploring the mystical tapestry of existence. 🌟🔮🐉
Sources:
1. How to Celebrate Ostara in 2024 — Mabon House
2. 2024 Wiccan & Pagan Holiday Calendar – Spells8
4. FESTIVAL OSTARA 2024 Portland Line-up, Tickets & Dates Mar 2024 – Songkick
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#AltarIdeas #Correspondence #Magic #Magick #Ostara #Pagan #Sabbats #SpringEquinox #wheelOfTheYear #Witch #Witchcraft
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In our "journey around the sun" (the title of this #painting) we have reached the foot of the year - #wintersolstice. The only way is up! (if you're in the Northern hemisphere.)
#yule #shortestday #pagan #midwinter #folklore #folkloreart #wheeloftheyear #solstice
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In our "journey around the sun" (the title of this #painting) we have reached the foot of the year - #wintersolstice. The only way is up! (if you're in the Northern hemisphere.)
#yule #shortestday #pagan #midwinter #folklore #folkloreart #wheeloftheyear #solstice