The following is a basic rundown of the Wheel of the Year.

There are 8 Sabbats to the Pagan Wheel of the Year:

4 Major Sabbats - Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane and Lammas

4 Minor Sabbats - Yule, Ostara, Solstice and Mabon

Samhain:

The end of the Wheel of the Year. The Pagan New Year. Celebrated October 31st. It is celebrated as a festival of death and Rebirth. The Goddess is in her Crone phase - she sleeps, the land is harsh at this time. Hecate may be represented as part of the dark Goddess. The God awaits rebirth. Herne the Hunter or Cernunous may be represented during this festival.

Yule:

Celebrated on December the 21st. Commonly known as the Winter Solstice. Recognises the rebirth of the Sun after the longest night. The birth of the Sun God. the Goddess is the Great Mother. This is a time for hope, to celebrate the coming of the Spring and warmth, where the Earth, once again will become fertile.

Imbolc:

First of the major festivals after Yule. celebrated on February the 2nd. This is a time where the Goddess changes from her Crone to Maiden phase. We celebrate the passing of Winter and the first early stirrings of Spring. The Goddess Brigid is most notably acknowledged during this festival. The Sun God is young, but his warmth starts to fertilise the Earth.

Ostara:

Spring has sprung! Known as the Spring Equinox. Celebrated on March the 21st. The earth is fertile again. the Goddess returns in her maiden phase, after the cold and dark of Winter. The Goddess Bride may be honored here. the Sun God is maturing and growing stronger.

Beltane:

Celebrated on May the 1st. Time to celebrate fertility and love. A time to celebrate the Sacred Marriage between the Goddess and God. A time for celebration of sexuality and sacred unions. The marriage between the Goddess an God will lead to the birth of the Sun God at Yule.

Summer Solstice:

Celebreted on June 21st. The Sun God is at the height of his powers. His heat and warmth are felt alla round the land. The crops are in full growth. A time to enjoy and reflect upon the blessings the Goddess and God bestow upon us and to give thanks for the upcoming harvest.

Lammas:

Celebrated on August the 1st. It is regarded as the first of the Harvest festivals. We give thanks to the Mother for her yield of the fruits of our labours. The God Lugh is sometimes celebrated here. Corn dolls play a part in marking this festival as well as Lammas bread.

Mabon:

Celebrated on September the 21st. Known as the Autumn Equinox. Sometimes regarded as the first day of Autumn. With the rich harvest the Goddess has given us, comes the first signs of approaching Winter. This is a time for thanksgiving and the preparations for the approaching dark nights. A time to reflect and contemplate.

Beltane

As the last moot fell on May the 1st, Beltane was discussed in a bit more depth:

Beltane is normally celebrated on the 30th April - 1st May. Is is a Celtic fire festival and one of the Cross Quarter days of the Wheel of the Year, the second of the Spring festivals. It falls opposite Samhain on the wheel as the light part of the year.

Beltane is also known as festival of Tana, Valburga, Roodmas and Mayday. It means “fire of Bel” (brilliant fire). This fire festival celebrates the Sun God and his developing power. The God may be represented as a Stag and the Oak King can be celebrated also as he begins his rule over Summer.

Bonfires are an integral part of Beltane celebrations, for a number of reasons:

- Ancient celts believed that fires were the gateways to the otherworld.

- Purification purposes sometimes cattle would be driven between 2 fires, in order to protect them from disease.

- Hearth fires would be lit from the bel-fire, to protect and bless hearth and home.

Beltane is also a celebration of fertility. It signifies the sacred marriage between the Goddess and the God. Through their sacred union all life begins. Handfastings were popular at this time, seeing couples jump over the fires as part of the wedding ritual. At this time the Goddess conceives, she enters her motherhood phase, leading to the birth of the Sun God at Yule. The cycle begins again!!

Beltane was a time to celebrate beauty and love of life and this was reflected in the way people danced, wore garlands in their hair, adorned their houses with the flowers of Spring. Women often washed their faces with the morning dew on the grass, this was believed to bring beauty to the woman. Parades were seen, where a young man was chosen to play Jack o the Green and a young woman chosen to be crowned the May Queen of Queen of the May!

Maypoles would be erected, a symbol of the male. Ribbons would be woven around the pole, as a female symbol. Mabey symbolising the dance of life!!! Beltane is one of the more joyous festivals, its celebrated today with many processions and dancing. It is a celebration of life, and reverence for our Mother Earth and the beauty she blesses us with.

Suggested Ritual Aspects:

Adorn your altar with the flowers of Spring: woodland flowers may be good here, daisies, dandelions and bluebells (just make sure you ask the Goddess if you can pick them first and thank her!!)

Candles used can be white, red or pink ( for passion, love and fertility)

Cleanse your room, set up you altar, cast circle or call quarters (if you usually do that). Invite the Goddess and God into your circle. You may want to wear a garland of flowers or head dress.

To celebrate the union of the God and Goddess, you can get 2 bits of ribbon and drape them over a statue of the Goddess and God, visualising the beauty of the green fertile Earth. You may want to give thanks for the blessings life brings to you. Or, you may use your cauldron with some soil in it, using your Athame, visualise the lushness of the Earth and give thanks. These are symbolic the celebration of the Male and Female, from where all life springs.

Do what ever you feel is right, dancing, singing and chanting are great as a way of celebrating. If you decide to do spellwork at this time, such things as conceiving and planting the seeds for personal growth or attainment of a goal, works best. As long as everything is carried out with good intention, its up to you.