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Deciding the optimum time for rituals of Winter Solstice
(
Yule
), Spring Equinox (
Ostara
), Summer Solstice (
Midsummer or Litha
) and Autumn Equinox (
Mabon
) is an easy prospect,
because virtually all calendars, as well as the radio and
TV announcers, will tell you exactly when these common
seasonal beginnings occur. These seasonal holidays begin as
the Sun enters the zero degree of each of the cardinal signs
of the tropical (western) zodiac: 0 Capricorn for Yule,
0 Aries for Spring Equinox, 0 Cancer for Summer Solstice,
0 Libra for Autumn Equinox.
For the Greater Sabbats, however, the decision is not so clear-cut.
If we make an even-spoked Wheel of the Year, these four Sabbats
are at the exact midpoints of the equinoxes and solstices. They
have been called "cross-quarters." According to the late and great
astrological philosopher Dane Rudhyar, the cross-quarters are
points of greatest momentum and release of power, which is in
keeping with the Wiccan tradition of calling them
"Greater Sabbats," as differentiated from the "Lesser Sabbats"
that are more commonly known to the mundane public as the
beginnings of our seasons.
It is interesting that if one truly watches the turn of the
seasons, one realizes that it is the cross-quarters that are the
true onset (beginning) of the seasons. At
Imbolc or Candlemas,
the lengthening of the days becomes evident and the first signs
of spring appear-increasingly changeable weather lending some
spring-like days, the tiny sprouts of crocus through the snow.
By
Ostara,
spring is in full swing. At
Beltane,
we feel the onset
of summer-flowers are blooming everywhere. The so-called beginning
of Summer, is called
MIDsummer
in folk tradition! In the heat of
August, at
Lammas,
we begin to see signs of approaching Autumn,
while at
Mabon
the signs of fall are everywhere around us,
and the air has turned brisk and cool. At
Samhain,
the leaves are
gone, the earth turns brown and the onset of winter is clearly
evident, while at
Yule,
though the TV announcer might say
"first day of winter," we in the north are likely to be looking
out at a world of white snow.
Unfortunately, over the passage of time, the celebration of the
cross-quarter holidays, along with much of the folk tradition
that accompanied them, faded from mainstream society. The clear
cut astronomical markers of the equinoxes and solstices changed
with calendar changes, while the cross-quarters were forgotten.
For this reason, many of those of the Craft, who still celebrate
the Greater Sabbats, continue to use the old traditional dates
from long ago, even though from an astronomical/astrological
standpoint, they are no longer accurate. This is not necessarily
wrong-any tradition that is constantly repeated over time gains
power, regardless of its astrological or astronomical
correspondence. But, for those who are concerned about the
maximum points of energy in the dance between Earth and Sun,
"the points of greatest momentum and release of power" are the
true cross-quarters. These are found when the Sun enters the
15th degree of each of the fixed signs of the western zodiac:
Aquarius for
Imbolc,
Taurus for
Beltane,
Leo for
Lammas,
Scorpio for
Samhain.
In present time, these days usually occur
a few days after the old traditional dates for celebrating the
Greater Sabbats.
Following, then, is a list of the usual dates for the Sabbats,
given both in ancient tradition, and according to zodiacal markers.
Understand that even the equinoxes and solstices may vary by a day
from one year to the next, because they are determined not by
calendar date, but by Sun at the 0 degree of a cardinal point.
Likewise, the Sun at 15 degrees of fixed signs may give or take a
day on successive years.
Copyright © 2000-2008
Maria Kay Simms
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THE CRAFT
Facts about The Craft
What are Wicca and Witchcraft?
The Wiccan Rede
& the Law of Three
The Pentagram
The Elements
Air |
Fire |
Water |
Earth
The Wheel of the Year
The Timing of the Sabbats
Samhain |
Yule |
Imbolc |
Ostara
Beltane |
Litha |
Lughnasad |
Mabon
Magical Moon
Maria Kay Simms' monthly column on
lunar and astrological events to
help you plan your magickal calendar.
Recommended Reading
Moon Tides, Soul Passages,
The Witch's Circle,
A Time for Magick,
Future Signs, and
Your Magical Child
by
Maria Kay Simms
Books on Spellcraft
Books on Wicca & related subjects
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