SABBATS

SABBATS

At Yule (December 21) the Goddess gives birth to her Son, the God. This is also the origin of the idea that Jesus and Mithras were born at this time of year. At Yule, We celebrate the return journey of the Sun, and the life it will bring.

Foods - turkey, nuts, eggnog, and mulled wine.

Incense - bayberry, cedar, pine and rosemary

Candles - gold, red, green, and white

Gemstones - cats eye and ruby

At Imbolc (February 2) the Goddess recovered from the birth and the God's strength is increasing with the waxing power of the sun. Imbolc traditionally marked the calving period, when the animals would begin to bear milk for their young. For Pagans, it is a time of creativity and inspiration, and is associated with the Celtic Goddess Brigid.

Foods - sunflower seeds, poppyseed breads and cakes and herbal teas

Incense - basil, myrrh and wisteria

Candles - brown, pink and red

Gemstones - amethyt, garnet, onyx and turqoise

By Ostara (Spring Equinox), which marks the first day of spring, the Goddess regains her strength and works her magick. The young God is now maturing. Now is a time of new starts, as we travel through the gateway into the realm of warmth and light.

Foods - hard boiled eggs, honey cakes and the 1st fruits of the season.

Incense - african violet, jasmine, rose, sage, and strawberry.

Candles - gold, green, yellow

Gemstones - amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, and red jasper.

At Beltane (May 1), when Nature is truly flourishing, the Goddess and God unite. This ensures the abundance of the next harvest. At this time the Goddess becomes pregnant, thus assuring the continuation of life. Beltane is a time of love and great celebration, and we cherish the joys which life offers us.

Foods - red fruits, herbal salads, red or pink wine punch, and large, roudn oatmeal or barley cakes.

Incense - frankincense, lilac and rose

Candles - dark green

Gemstones - emerald, orange carnelian, sapphire, and rose quartz

By Midsummer (Summer Solstice), the God is at the peak of his power, as is all of Nature's bounty. It is the high time of the Sunland is marked with festivals of light.

Foods - fresh vegetables, summer fruits, pumpernickel bread, alt and mead.

Incense - frankincense, lemon, myrrh, pine, rose and wisteria

Candles - blue, green, gold and red

Gemstones - all green stones (emerald and jade).

Lughnasadh (August 1) was the time the ancients gave thanks for the first fruits of the harvest. The summer is waning and the God has become the God of sacrifice, being cut down in the fields. It is a time sacred to the God Lugh and for giving thanks for what we have and making offerings of gratitude.

Foods - homemade breads (wheat, oak, and corn bread), nuts, wild berries, apples, rice, berry pies, elderberry wine, ale and meadowsweet tea.

Incense - aloes, rose, sandlewood

Candles - orange, yellow

Gemstones - aventuring, citrine, peridot, sardonyx

At Mabon (Autumn Equinox) the light begins to grow less, and the God, cut down in the corn and wheat, begins his journey to the Otherworld. It is the final harvest, when the fields are clear of their bounty. We now make ready for the Winter to come. It is a time of balance.

Foods - corn bread cakes, wheat products, breads, nuts, vegetables, apples, cider, carrots, onions, potatoes, and pomegranates

Incense - benzoin, myrrh and sage

Candles - brown, green, orange, yellow

Gemstones - carnelian, lapis lazuli, sapphire, yellow agate

Samhain (October 31), marks the Pagan new year, and commonly know as Halloween. The veil between the worlds of life and death is thin on this night, we take this time to remember our beloved who have passed. The God gives his life up to the land, and pass in the Shadowland, only to be reborn again at Yule.

Foods - apples, pumpkin pie, hazelnuts, corn, cranberry muffins and breads, ale, cider and herbal teas.

Incense - apple, heliotrope, mint, nutmeg, and sage

Candles - black, orange

Gemstones - all black gemstones, obsidian and onyx