Samhain

The Pagan year begins and ends with Samhain, a time of both reflection and powerful magic. Samhain marks the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead, when the veil between realms is at its thinnest. During this night of supernatural power, Pagans can more easily communicate with loved ones who have passed on.

Samhain is a celebration of death as a necessary precursor to rebirth. At Samhain, as darkness grows and the Goddess reigns in her Crone aspect, the God journeys into the underworld. Only through his death can he be reborn of the Goddess again at Yule.

Samhain is a time for Pagans to honour those who came before, to look back over the past year, and to recognise that there can be no new life without death. Though a solemn occasion, Samhain also sees divination, insight, and magical abilities enhanced. Pagans believe the powers of the sight and communication with spirits to be especially strong on this night.

Samhain marks both the beginning and end of the Pagan year, a time of reflection and a time of change as the old passes away and the new emerges. It is a powerful turning point, both literally and figuratively, in the ever-continuing cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Yule

Winter solstice or Yule is the shortest day and longest night of the year. It signifies the return of the Sun's light and warmth, as well as the renewal of a fertile Earth. Pagans traditionally celebrate these aspects through rituals involving candles, bonfires, evergreen decorations, and feasting.

At this time, Yule logs made from hardwood tree roots are burned, with mallee roots, Tasmanian oaks, and eucalyptus trees being especially prized for this purpose in Australia. The Yule log is burned until nearly nothing remains, and the remaining piece is saved and used to light the next year's Yule fire, symbolising the continuity between the winter and summer solstices.

A Yule tree decorated with a pentagram at the top is placed in the Wiccan home. Gifts are exchanged, and many Witches stay awake the entire night to welcome the returning sun. This symbolises the Goddess giving birth to the God and then resting from the ordeal.

The winter solstice marks a time of reflection and renewal in the never-ending cycle of the seasons. Although the cold winter darkness looms, we find comfort knowing the sun will shine again. The Wiccan traditions of the Yule log, tree, and all-night vigil serve as symbols of hope, rebirth, and the coming return of light and fertility.

Imbolc

Imbolc celebrates the awakening and renewal of nature in early spring. It marks the beginning of the end of winter and the emergence of new life. At Imbolc, the Goddess has recovered from giving birth to the new-born God, depicted as a nursing infant. The God is growing stronger each day, spreading warmth and light that causes plants to grow again.

Imbolc is a time to honour the feminine and prepare for the coming of spring. It is the moment of first beginnings and new hopes. It is an opportunity to reflect on the year ahead and how you will make the most of it.

As the land comes alive again, the Australian forests are filled with the bright yellow of Acacia trees in bloom. Though "Wattle Day" is now celebrated on September 1, it was originally held on August 1 to correspond with the vibrant yellow blooms of Imbolc.

The stirrings of life at Imbolc symbolise the renewal of the life force, just as the first green shoots emerge from bulbs. The Goddess's health and vitality return as the God's light and warmth grow, nourishing the earth back to fruition. Imbolc celebrates the cyclical rebirth of nature and the divine.

Ostara

The Equinoxes represent the balanced points in the cycle of the seasons, when day and night are of equal length, reminding us of the harmony and interconnectedness of the whole universe. The first buds of flowers and leaves, all manner of eggs and newly born life are celebrated in decorations and imagery as Pagans rejoice in the Earth's reawakening after a long winter.

The urge of spring is to create new life, to do new things, and bring fresh beginnings. Here, light overcomes darkness with lengthening days bringing the magic of new growth and renewal. Ostara is associated with childhood, youth, and new life, and the God and Goddess are perceived as children, personifying innocence and wonder before entering adulthood.

The Goddess, as the Maiden, covers the earth with flowers and love, nurturing all new life, while the God grows into maturity and strength. This is a time to honour the masculine and to celebrate everything vibrant and joyful about living. The wonders of nature fill us with optimism and cheer as we arise from our slumber. The Equinoxes remind us of the eternal cycles of life and of our deep connection to the Earth, the heavens, and all living things.

Beltane

Beltane, which marks the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere, occurs at the November cross-quarter. This festival celebrates the Great Rite of sexual union between the Goddess and God. As a spring fertility festival, Beltane is a time of feasting, celebration, and new beginnings - especially for lovers. In fact, Beltane is the most popular time for Witches to be handfasted.

When Beltane arrives, the stunning red flowers of the Flame Trees adorn Australian forests and gardens. Their vibrant beauty reflects the passion and energy of the Beltane season. As the land awakens from winter, the union of the divine feminine and masculine brings fertility and new life. The fires of Beltane burn away the last remnants of winter, cleansing and purifying in their path.

People gather together on Beltane night to welcome the summer and harvest the first fruits of the land. They feast, drink, dance, and make merry around the Beltane fires. When the fires die down, couples may disappear into the night to make love in the soft grass under the stars.

Beltane is a time of fertility, passion, renewal, and growth. Witches celebrate this Sabbat with great joy and enthusiasm. The divine union brings new hope and new life as the Wheel of the Year continues its eternal turn.

Litha

This, the longest day of the year, is a time of great joy and strength as light triumphs over darkness. It marks a time when the powers of nature are most vibrant and full. In ages past, this turning point was often celebrated with great bonfires where revellers would stay awake through the short night. To leap over the crackling fire was said to ensure a bountiful harvest, as the grains would grow as high as the leapers could jump.

However, due to strict fire restrictions throughout the hot Australian summer, modern celebrations for this Sabbat tend to differ greatly from those held at other times of the year. No candles can be lit, no cauldrons burned, no open flames allowed outside across much of the country. The Litha festival falls during the scorching, stifling heat of summer in Australia's southern lands, but in the north, Litha comes in the hot, wet season and symbolises fertility and fruition. In Australia, the Sturt's Desert Pea is a sacred flower of this time.

This season marks the ascendance of the God, now at the apex of his power, as the burgeoning Goddess brings forth the abundance of the Earth. Though the bonfires of old are but embers, the spirit of revelry lives on in the hearts of those who honour the turning of the wheel. So we stay awake through the shortest night and at dawn, we rejoice as darkness flees from the golden light of the sun.

Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is a "cross-quarter" day that celebrates the first cutting of grain and the baking of the initial loaves of bread from that harvest. The first sheaves of grain are considered sacred, as are all crops and produce that are harvested around this time of year.

Lughnasadh is a time to reflect on the triumphs and successes of the year so far and to reward ourselves for the hard work we have put in. The magic of Lughnasadh centres around facing changes and transitions. The God sacrifices his vitality to ensure the fertility of the crops and harvest, just as the Goddess transitions from her aspect as Mother to Crone as the days grow shorter.

The sharing of the first harvest loaf in the name of the Goddess signifies the importance of community and coming together. Though the God's strength begins to wane with the approaching autumn and winter, the first harvest provides sustenance and the opportunity to gather with loved ones. All of the crops, grains, and seasonal produce are sacred to Lughnasadh, as they provide life and nourishment.

Lughnasadh invites us to embrace the changing of the seasons, from the heat and expansion of summer to the cooling and inward focus of autumn. We honour the harvest and all that we have created and manifested this year, while also preparing for a quieting of energy and the return to darkness.

Mabon

Mabon, the autumn equinox, is a pivotal moment of balance in the waxing and waning of light and dark in the year. On this day, the hours of daylight and night-time are equal as the sun shines for equal amounts above and below the horizon. Mabon also marks the second harvest, a time of gathering the fruits of labour and preparing for the coming winter.

Pagans celebrate Mabon as a ritual of gratitude, honouring the abundance of the harvest, cherishing home and family, and valuing the warmth and comfort of community. This Sabbat is an opportunity to reflect on the meaning and purpose of one's spiritual path as a Witch and reaffirm a commitment to the Craft. According to Pagan lore, the Goddess mourns the God at this time even while She carries Him within Her, as He is destined to be reborn again at Yule.

The foods of Mabon are those of late harvest - fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables. Traditional activities include food preservation through canning, drying, and pickling to ensure sustenance through the winter. Pagans may decorate altars with pine cones, acorns, corn husks, and other symbols of the harvest season. Orange, red and brown are symbolic colours of this Sabbat representing the changing autumn foliage.

Mabon invites us to express gratitude for the abundance in our lives and for those who enrich our lives. It is a time for reflection, balance, and preparing for the coming season of rest.