Wiccan Rituals for the Four Earth Sabbats: Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas & Samhain

I humbly invite you into our circle to learn a little about what it means to be Wiccan; feel free to stay and visit or indulge, and become a lifelong member. 

What Are Some Wiccan Beliefs?

Wiccans’ beliefs are centered around love and respect of Nature and living in peace and harmony with the Earth.  Wicca is a polytheistic religion, with not only a God and Goddess, but spirits living within nature as well.  Whether Wiccans choose to practice on their own or in a group, there are eight Sabbats, or festivals, that form the foundation of Wicca, wherein all Wiccan energies are joined to celebrate.  Four Sabbats correspond to the two Solstices and two Equinoxes, and there are four Cross Quarter Sabbats spaced in between, known as Earth Festivals and felt by many Wiccans to be the greater Sabbats. 

Come behind our soft velvet curtain and allow me to enlighten you on the four Sabbats, or seasonal celebrations, that compose the Earth Festivals.  We will leave you with a Wiccan spell or ritual you may use to celebrate each.  Follow if you wish, and allow me to guide you on a spiritual Wiccan journey.

Wiccan Sabbat of Imbolc

As you peer out on an early February morning, among the glistening snow you see a burst of purple – a Crocus – followed immediately by the welcome and familiar song of a Robin.  The Wiccan Sabbat of Imbolc (meaning “in the belly or womb,” celebrated February 1-2) brings the first signs of spring.  As the snow begins to melt and carry away decay and debris from the long cold winter, similarly, Imbolc is the time for Wiccans to shed their stifling past, cast off old energy, and renew their sacred space within.  Imbolc heralds a quickening of energy; the earth is poised to burst with new life.  Wiccans can feel this energy vibrating deep in the earth, reverberating within their being.  The Wiccan Sabbat of Imbolc summons initiation and self-dedication; just as the seeds getting ready to sprout, new life awaits.

Wiccan Imbolc Herbs/Spices:

Sesame, Lemon, Basil, Angelica, Pine, Eucalyptus.

Wiccan Imbolc Ritual Types:

House Cleansing, Spiritual Cleansing, Purifying, Love and Fertility.

Wiccan Imbolc Spell/Ritual:

Purify your sacred space by combining the Wiccan herbs and dividing the blend in half. Sprinkle the first half on the floor and then sweep at the front door.  Take the second half and burn over a charcoal disc to cleanse your sacred space.

Wiccan Sabbat of Beltane

Those short, darker days of winter which provide rest and solace for Nature, always give way to the lush, abundant spring Wiccan Sabbat of Beltane (meaning “bright fire,” celebrated on April 30/May 1).  Tiny dappled fawns frolicking in the bright green tender grass, dotted with daisies.  New plant and animal life sprouting all around you, with the steady, soft sun warming your face.  Close your eyes, welcome it as it permeates you skin and allow it to cleanse and ignite every fiber of your being, nourishing your soul.  Beltane is a season for love, creativity and vitality for Wiccans; a time to allow all that is plenty to saturate deep within, to assure new life and regeneration.  During Beltane, Wiccans are encouraged to immerse themselves in nature and answer the beckon of love and romance; taking time to walk through the tall grass and laying on their backs to marvel at the abundant forest canopy.  Just as the sun alights the sky during the long days of the Wiccan Sabbat of Beltane, fire symbolizes protection and purification and connects Wiccans to the Sun, where they are freely encouraged to forge new life, literally and figuratively, under the safety of the Sun.

Wiccan Beltane Herbs/Spices:

Cinquefoil/Five Finger Grass, Elder flowers/berries, Hawthorne, Vervain, Yellow Dock.

Wiccan Beltane Ritual Types:

Spiritual Fertility, Renewal, Creativity, Love, Purification, Protection.

Wiccan Beltane Spell/Ritual

To celebrate Beltane place the above herbs and spices in a pot and simmer. Strain, place in a glass container with a lid, drop in a piece of quartz and leave out during the waxing moon.

Wiccan Rituals which use quartz and two yellow candles (passing between which symbolizes protection and purity) are also customary to welcome Beltane.

Wiccan Sabbat of Lammas/Lughnasa

The air is warm and heavy; the sun feeling almost relentless, although thankfully setting earlier with each passing day; the Wiccan Sabbat of Lammas/Lughnasa is upon us (meaning “loaf mass,” to celebrate the harvest, occurring on August 1-2).   The fruits of the summer of labor are becoming courageously ready for harvest and all the tiring branches are beginning to drop their fruit.  The Wiccan Sabbat of Lammas is a time for gratitude.  Your body recharged and nourished by the Earth, who has satisfied all of your needs, it is time to give thanks for all Nature has provided and to count your blessings.  Lammas is when all Wiccans’ intentions made earlier in the year manifest; when the hard summer work is coming to fruition.  Celebrations with family and friends, and grand feasts composed of the recent bounty with fresh bread, fruit, corn, berries, and wine are enjoyed.

Wiccan Lammas Herbs/Spices/Fruits:

Apples, Bilberry, Caraway, Corn, Dogwood, Fenugreek, Hollyhock.

Wiccan Lammas Ritual Types:

Abundance, Happy Home, Sacrifice, Meditation/Reflection (in Nature).

Wiccan Lamas Spell/Ritual:

Wiccan chime candles are used by many Wiccans to give thanks during Lammas.

Every guest receives a lit chime candle. Then, each takes a turn expressing what they are grateful for.  Following the profession of gratitude, the host takes a loaf of freshly baked bread with corn and grain recently harvested, and cuts the loaf into the exact number of pieces as guests and all partake.

Wiccan Sabbat of Samhain

The rustle of dead leaves lifted by the cooler air ushers in the Wiccan Sabbat of Samhain, or “Summers End,” celebrated October 31 to November 1.  Vitality has drained from the leaves as it must, in order for new life to take its place.  Death is a necessity, and it is during Samhain when the veil between the dead and the living is at its thinnest and many Wiccans seize this opportunity to reach out to their ancestors who have passed.  Ask a Wiccan if that chill in the air is a drop in temperature or a familiar essence vacillating between the spirit world and the mundane world.   In the tradition of Samhain, Wiccans pay homage to their ancestors and reflect upon their heritage to help them find solace in the long cold, often bleak days that lie ahead.  During Samhain, Wiccans prepare for winter by drying, canning and preserving food to sustain their sustenance until Imbolc, when the cycle of life will start again.

Wiccan Samhain Herbs/Spices:

Marjoram, Mugwort, Flax, Tobacco, Anise, Sweet Grass, Cedar.

Wiccan Samhain Ritual Types:

Honoring and communicating with ancestors, Ancestral reverence, Hone psychic/divinition skills, Protection.

Wiccan Samhain Spell/Ritual:

On a full moon, set up an alter with a bowl of fresh water, flowers, and pictures of your deceased loved ones. Combine the above herbs and spices with olive oil.  Anoint with oil a large white candle and ask your ancestors for their guidance.  Light the candle and burn for seven nights in a row; each night for 20-30 minutes.  On the seventh night, burn the candle all the way down.

Leave out your ancestors’ most beloved food and burn Cedar, Frankincense, or Sweet Grass as an offering. Leave a small stone on your altar and when your ritual is complete, carry this stone with you as a reminder of who you are and whence you came.

Celebrational Magick can be very powerful, which is why the eight Sabbats are a perfect time for the energies of both human and Nature to join forces.  Tapping into the power that already exists in Nature is sure to increase the strength of your spells and rituals.  Until next time, Bright Blessings to all! 

Sources:

Beyerl, Paul. A Compendium of Herbal Magick. Washington: Phoenix Publishing Inc.:  1998. Print.

Greenwood, Susan. Airey, Raje. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Witchcraft & Practical Magic. London: Anness Publishing Ltd.: 2015. Print.

Kondratiev, Alexei. Celtic Rituals; An authentic guide to ancient Celtic Spirituality. Ireland: The Collins Press: 1998. Print.

Kynes, Sandra. Mixing Essential Oils for Magic. Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications: 2013. Print.