Sabbats and Esbats are the holidays that we practice. There are eight sabbats and I will attempt to explain them here.

Eight standard holidays are celebrated by us in the Craft. Our New Year starts not on Jan.1st. It starts with Samhain, November 7th. This is a Celtic name. Other names for this day are: Shadowfest and Martinmas or Old Hollowmas. Martinmas is celebrated on November 11th. This is the beginning of our New Year. This is the day we honor the dead and those who have passed over. Communications are tried to reach them. Rituals are plentiful. Divination is strongest on this day. we light black candles to ward off any negative thoughts.We invite those who have passed over to celebrate with us and a place is set at our table in honor of them.
In my case, having children we also celebrate the holiday of Halloween on the 31st of Oct. It is not wrong to celebrate the other holidays as with others. Transition can be slow and yes, Halloween is one of the best. Traditional foods for Samhain are apples,hazelnuts,pumpkin pie, cakes for the dead, corn, cranberry muffins,cider,ale, herbal tea(mugwort) Traditional decorations are much the same: jack-o-lanterns, witches, ghosts, candles of these, divination tools, photos of loved ones,cats,skulls and a candle representing the triple Goddess in the Crone aspect.

Winter Solstice-Yule-Yuletide Ah, the 12 days of Xmas to Christians. Yes, the l2 days of celebration here also. Starting around Dec.20th with the Mother Night it lasts until Dec.31. Celebration should be with food, drink, festive decorations, the yule log.

Imbolg/Imbolc

One of the four major sabbats. This is also know by the names of: Oimelc, Candlemas, The Feast of Lights, Lupercalia, Feast of Pan, Feast of Torches, Feast of the Waxing Moon, Brigits Day.

Imbolc is the Goddess giving birth to the sun. The beginning of Spring. As we walk through the snow, feel the earth beneath, stop and see the greenery forming around you. Gaia-Mother herself.

Knowing that imbolc means "from the belly" when translated, it is a calving time. A time of birth, of producing the milk to sustain. The goats giving of pentiful. Our offerings to the deities should be of dairy.

The colors of this sabbat differ from book to book. I have chosen to stay with the orange candles. Celtics use green and white while others use lavender and white. When in doubt? We all know that your basic white works fine.

Oils used to annoint are as follows: musk, cinnamon, francincense and rosemary. Dressing a candle is started at the middle and worked up the candle. Next from the middle downwards.

Imbolc is a celebration of banishing Winter and marking the time to welcome Spring, new beginnings, fertility, and things yet to be new/born. This is a time to see the sun replenish. So it is a fire sabbat. The foods therefore should be of dairy as well as hot..hot...hot... Sour cream products-excellent Spicey full bodied-- better (wink) dishes with peppers and onions garlic, chives, curries, leeks, shallots, and of course-spiced wine.

Altar adorements: This is a Feast of lights. The light from the sun more than the actual heat. A circle of candles is placed on the altar. Thirteen in number to represent the 13 moons. These are usually red in color.

A coven--these may be worn by the High Priestess as she walks around the circle. If in a coven, each party is given a candle (protect with the paper and the hole cut in it for dripping wax) and the candles of light are taken around the circle. I myself have a string of lights that I can place in a circle. They are run by battery and work perfectly for the length of my personal ritual. Since this is also the beginning of our celebration of Spring, we plant seeds in the circle or in my own case in small pots at the foot of my altar.. Seedlings to later be transplanted to my yard. My new growth here with seedlings also is a new beginning to replenish my supplies of herbs and oils to the medicine cabinet. I need many. A flower representing the snow can be added.
A sprig of evergreen and a besome (broom) to represent the sweeping out of the old and a statue of the triple Goddess in her Maiden form.

The altar, many place a wheel of the year also. Sabbat Incense used also includes basil, myrrh, and wisteria. Gemstones for Imbolg are amethyst, garnet, onyx, and turquise. Other deity of the Sabbat are Brigid, and Aradia. Aradia was the founder of Witch cult on Earth.

The rest, the most important thing of all? YOU...YOUR ritual and YOUR way of celebrating this great event of birth.

Tips and Traditions Carried Out

Many countries have there own traditions. The Celtic and the belief of St.Brigid. (pronounced Breed) This is the most common girls name in Ireland. Celtics leave out bread and butter for Brid. St.Brigids Cross is made from rushes and placed over the front door..It is left there throughout the year.

Of interest to some is how Brigid gave so freely of ale/beer. It is said that she could make beer in the bathtub and gave it to all freely.

A silk ribbon is left out for the Saint to bless. This is used to cure illness. The only other mention of traditions are the use of all lights being put on prior to the midnight hour of the Imbolc celebration. A corn husk doll is placed in a cradle in front of the altar (dressed in white) to signify the birth of all. MANY OF YOU ARE ON OTHER LISTS AND SOME OF THIS BARES REPEATING WHILE OTHER PARTS ARE PROB. BORING TO YOU. AS FOR ME, THE SOLO, I DO A LITTLE FROM EACH PATH.

Candlemas Ritual Potpourri

23 drops myrrh oil 1/2 cup oak moss 1 cup dried heather flowers 1 cup dried wisteria 1/2 cup yellow tulip petals] 1/4cup dried basil 1/4 dried and choppe dbay leaves Mix the myrrh oil with the oak moss, and then add the remaining ingredients. Stir the potpouri well and then store in a tight covered glass container.

May we always remember we are of one. Are you not my brother?

"We did not weave the web of life; we are merely a strand in it." Chief Seattle

ostara/spring equinox

On March 21st of this year we will celebrate ostara, one of the four lesser sabbats. This is also know by the names of:spring equinox,Alban Eilir, Baccanalia, Eostre's Day, and Lady Day.

The colors of this sabbat are light greens. I have chosen to stay with all shades of green candles. When in doubt? We all know that your basic white works fine.

Ostara is a celebration of Winter and marking the time to welcome Spring, new beginnings, fertility, and things yet to be new/born.

Altar adorements: Green and yellow fabric will make the altar for Ostara. The green being the new plants beginning to sprout. Yellow represents the sun as it starts to balance.Spring flowers should adorn the altar..Colors of reds, blues, pinks and yellows. Eggs were the primary symbol for fertility so of course use hard boiled eggs. A solitary witch would place a pot with earth (element) and seeds on the altar. Offerings of the new beginnings

A coven--would offer a small pot for each person in the coven. They could plant and take them with them. Visualize the rite here...Female Goddess is the firm earth/womb...the Male God is the seed/phallic. This the birth of the greenery etc.
Since this is also the beginning of our celebration of Spring, we plant seeds in the circle or in my own case in small pots at the foot of my altar.. Seedlings to later be transplanted to my yard.

Beverages: Appropriate for us this month, many wish to avoid wine when doing rituals. Sabbat beverages may include: apple juice, grape juice, grapefruit juice, orange juice, black tea, soft mead, guava nectar, cinnamon coffee, green tea, and hibiscus tea.
Foods: Include those made with seeds. We have sunflower,
pumpkin and sesame seeds, and pine nuts. Sprouts of all types are good as are green veggies and leafy veggies. Oils for Sabbats:
3 parts Patchouli 2 parts Musk 1 part Carnation Wear to the sabbats to promote communion with the Gods/Goddesses
Herbs of the sabbats: Ostara
Daffodil, woodruff, violet, gorse, olive, peony, iris,
narcissus, all spring flowers.

The rest, the most important thing of all? YOU...YOUR ritual and YOUR way of celebrating this great event of awakeining of spring.

Tips and Traditions Carried Out

The egg as a symbol of new life goes back to primitive times and is found in all cultures and civilisations.
Polynesian, Chinese, Japanese, Indians, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, and Europeans of the Middle Ages, all considered the egg in the nature of the beginning of life.
In Greek mythology, the 'black-winged night' gave birth to an egg from which sprang eros, the source of life.
The Romans considered red eggs symbols of prosperity and happiness.
Roman historians relate traditions by which the birthdays of notable Romans were marked by fowls laying red eggs.
A Phoenician myth has Aphrodite being born from an egg.
Greek myth has Helen being born from an egg that fell from the moon.

Ostara Ritual Potpourri

3 parts Francinsese 2 parts Sandalwood 1 part Benzoin 1 part Cinnamon a few drops Patchouly oil Burn during spring sabbat.

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