After this day, we enter the wind down to Yule. Daylight will continue to dwindle, with the days becoming shorter and much colder as we welcome in winter. This is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the past year. What are you celebrating? What have you learned? And how have you grown? Since the Sabbats are meant to align us with the Earth’s natural cycles, they usually focus on agricultural symbolism. But even if you don’t live near nature, the Wheel can help you center your existence. After all, all work eventually bears fruit.

a b Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon; Zell-Ravenheart, Morning Glory (2006). "Book III: Wheel of the Year". In Kirsten Dalley and Artemisia (ed.). Creating Circles & Ceremonies: Rituals for All Seasons And Reasons. Book-Mart Press. p.192. ISBN 1-56414-864-5. When I was growing up, I always thought Beltane was the coolest, but that’s because I thought of it only as the holiday in which you lit a bonfire and went and made love in the woods. Yule is the modern version of the Old English words ġēol or ġēohol and ġēola or ġēoli, with the former indicating the 12-day festival of “Yule” (later: “Christmastide”) and the latter indicating the month of “Yule”, whereby ǣrra ġēola referred to the period before the Yule festival (December) and æftera ġēola referred to the period after Yule (January). Lughnasadh is about honoring the cycle of growth our planet transitions through. Pagans come together to give thanks for the Earth's generosity and the successful cultivation of crops. It's a time to honor the agricultural deities and the spirit of the harvest. At dawn on the longest day, at Stonehenge, the two stones which are located outside of the main circle, called the Heel Stone and the Slaughter Stone (now prone), channel the sun in alignment and the first rays hit the centre of the circle. Lughnasadh

How will you choose to celebrate the wheel of the year?

It symbolizes the rebirth of the sun, heralding the return of light and the promise of longer days. Pagans view this moment as a time of hope and renewal, reflecting on the cyclical nature of life and the continuous journey of birth, growth, and regeneration. Our KS2 All About Pagan Festivals PowerPoint finishes with four engaging discussion prompts designed to help children recall what they’ve just learned about by talking it through with a partner. More activities to learn about Pagan festivals and Paganism

So I’ve begun to place less importance on them and have chosen to work with the wheel of the year instead. You can think of Litha as the climax of the year. A celebration of all the beauty and abundance we have experienced so far, along with the beginnings of preparation for what’s to come. Of all the witch, Wiccan and Pagan holidays, this one is filled with the most light, energy and expansiveness. Bradbury, Scott (1995). "Julian's Pagan Revival and the Decline of Blood Sacrifice". Phoenix. 49 (4 (Winter)): 331–356. doi: 10.2307/1088885. JSTOR 1088885.

The wheel of the year is based on nature and the sun’s transition through the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn & winter. Rituals and Ceremonies: Pagans engage in various rituals, ceremonies, and magical practices to connect with the divine, seek guidance, celebrate festivals, and mark significant life events. Like the spring equinox, Mabon is a time to celebrate balance but also abundance, as the second harvest comes in. Some people call it the Wiccan Thanksgiving as it encourages reflection, gratitude, and sacrifice (in the form of charity). Beltane is both a time of fertility and harvest. Celebrating sensuality and sexuality while conceiving and marriages were common. And reaping the first signs of wealth from the seeds we have sown.

Feasts for saints occur on this day, and cultural festivals are still common to celebrate Midsummer.During Ostara, pagans celebrate the themes of growth, rebirth, and balance. For a more comprehensive look at Ostara rituals, see my article : Ostara, Celebrating The Spring Equinox. Mabon or the fall equinox is the second harvest festival. Traditionally, it’s when fruits and vegetables are harvested, when autumn begins, and when Wiccans believe the Goddess moves from Mother to Crone. It’s a time to give thanks for all that has been provided.