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Honoring and observing the seasons and celebrating each turn of the Wheel offers a path toward wholeness. By tuning into the cycles of the seasons, the rhythm of the Divine, we can once again find the harmony that holds us all in that same sacred womb. There are eight holidays (holy days) known as sabbats celebrated during the Wiccan calendar. Four of which are based on the sun, with the solstices and the equinoxes, often referred to as the lesser sabbats. The other four mark planting and harvesting cycles, also known as the major sabbats. You can choose to literally ride the seasons, finding comfort in the rhythm of their ebb and flow. They offer a guideline for the best teacher Spirit offers us: nature.

This article is modified from an excerpt in Wicca Herbal

Celebrated on October 31, Halloween or Samhain is the Witches’ New Year and a time to play with our shadow selves and sit in the woods between the worlds, knowing all things are possible. It is a season to acknowledgethat the light and dark are necessary to our growth. Remember loves ones and their gifts, harvest strength, trust yourself, salute health, believe in enchantment, and tell stories. Symbols of the holiday are pumpkins, skeletons, marigolds, fall leaves, pomegranates, and witch hats. Herbs associated with this sabbat include: apple, broom, mint, mullein, nutmeg, oak, sage, thistle, and wormwood.

Celebrated December 20-22, Yule or Winter Solstice is a time to recognize that the wheel of nature and life will continue in spite of us. Life is ever evolving and circular. It is a season to join friends and family and appreciate them. Bring in the light and joy in your life as your divine right, trust the process, trust your faith, celebrate life in all forms, open doors, and ask for great things. Symbols of the holiday are wreaths, holly, yule logs, and lights. Herbs associated with this sabbat include: almond, ash, bay, chamomile, frankincense, hazel, holly, juniper, mistletoe, oak, pine, rosemary, sage,sandalwood, thistle, and walnut.
After we have enjoyed it for the month of December, we cut off its branches and save the trunk (sometimes using it as a May Pole during Beltane). Then we chop up the trunk and burn it at the beginning of every Yule season we burn last years' Yule or Christmas tree. In addition we throw in a few springs of tree or rosemary in gratitude of our blessings and confirmation for our new year's desires. Then I told my boys the story of the little rosemary who had faith through all the dark and cold days of fall and when the sun began to return to strength, it was only the little rosemary who did not lose her leaves and stayed green with hope and faith in the sun. Thus when the sun found rosemary waiting for Him, He blessed this little plant with the gift of remembrance. So whenever you smell rosemary, you will remember. In the morning I gave them a sprig of rosemary and had them read the words, "The Sun Teaches Us, Light Always Follows Dark." In the afternoon, I just had them smell the rosemary and both remembered the saying.

Celebrated on February 2, Imbolc or Bridgid’s Day is a time to acknowledge our individual gifts and feed our talents with supportive action. Imbolc is connected to the powerful new life awakening in the depths of the earth and thus also represents the rebirth and upsurge in personal power. Here we sit with energy building and yet no form. The dark night of the soul is a safe place to be, as it purifies and stills the monkey mind. This is a necessary process before great expressions can manifest. Now we plant seeds of inspiration, acknowledge first light, invoke patience, find virtue in perseverance, and inspire others. Symbols of the holiday are seeds, wells, and fire. Herbs for this sabbat include angelica, basil, bay, cinnamon, frankincense, myrrh, orris root, saffron, red nettle, rosemary, rowan, saffron. Imbolc reminds me of the darkest time before great light. This season offers us the opportunity to be graceful and learn how to enjoy the powerful presence of silence in out lives. I've heard Imbolc not only can be translated to mean in milk, referring to the baby animals being born and beginning to nurse, but it also means in the mother's womb. So understand that in these last few days of darkness before our collective rebirth in the Spring, you have the golden opportunity to gain more wisdom from your most inner knowing.

Celebrated March 20-22, Spring Equinox or Ostara is one of the two days of the year when night and day are of equal time. It is a time to rebirth our new selves, clear away the clutter of our minds and wipe the slate clean. See life as non-dual, neither too terrible, nor too fantastic. Ostara rejoices the beauty of our unique selves and play with impish delight. Find balance, plant individual expression, believe in abundance and fertility, face fears, cry, and allow for all emotions. This ceremony symbolizes Dawn on the Wheel of the Year. If the night owls in the group do not object, celebrate the holiday at dawn. But remember, ritual is a celebration not drudgery, and does not need to be a test of your determination. Symbols of the holiday are eggs, rabbits, and flowers. Herbs associated with this sabbat include: broom, cinquefoil, jasmine, lavender, lily, rose, sage, and violet.

Have you ever noticed how each season brings something different that you hadn't noticed before? The seasons build upon one another. Practice an earth spirituality or have a deep nature consciousness and you will see and feel how each sabbat offers a new and deeper understanding of yourself and Spirit. Wiccan mentorships last a year and day to serve the very purpose of understanding how your moods, creativity, and general life can blend with the changing and evolving weather patterns and their inherent harmony of rest and action. This year I intend to write a poem or little ditty if no rhymes come to mind about each sabbat as it relates to my life. The first poem will be for Ostara and was left for my children by the Ostara Faery.

Fill the baskets with the dirt of Mother Earth
To celebrate the Spring and Her Rebirth
Sprinkle with seeds and watch the grass grow
By Sunday after next full moon I'll know
If this task you followed and you will find
Treats from my friend who's both furry and kind

Celebrated April 30 and May 1, Beltane is a time to revel in life’s absurdities and have fun. Enjoy the beauty of life’s physical pleasures. Smell the flowers or dance in a secluded part of overgrown nature, as you relish in the light and laughter of faeries and children. Weave together the magick of the male and female aspects of yourself. Honor the collaboration and patchwork of you. Respect the soul’s journey, and always remember to take the ride of life lightly – it is only a dream after all. Symbols are the Maypole, strawberries, and flowers such as the daisy. Herbs associated with this sabbat include: almond, angelica, apple, ash, calendula, cinquefoil, red clover, frankincense, hawthorn, honeysuckle, rose, rowan, St. John's wort, and woodruff.

Beltane is a time to really let loose. Winter is over and its time to cast out the impurities of cabin fever and other doldrums. Set a bonfire and focus all your intent into the fire, imagining that this represents the life force that not only pulsates through you, but all the Universe. If you can safely do so, jump the flames and let go of winter, preparing yourself for the joy and lightness of the brighter days ahead. If that seems too much for you, then instead light two candles, tiki torches, or whatever is safe and place them a good three feet from each other. Walk between the flames as ancient pagans passed their livestock between two blazing bonfires to rid their animals of winter blahs and dis-ease. The faeries are most active during this time - make sure to dance a little for them and don't forget to leave out some sweets!!

Celebrated June 20-21, Summer Solstice, Litha or Midsummer is a time to spread the warmth, and enjoy the sun’s energy. Praise the opulence and abundance available to us for the asking. This is a day to celebrate our gifts of healing, whether intuitive or through plants. Make peace with the impermanence of life and changing relationships, knowing we are always guided and watched over. Bloom where you are planted. Respect male energy. Honor your light. Hug yourself. We are one with the infinite Sun. Symbols are the sun, and all things yellow, orange or round. Herbs associated with this sabbat include: basil, wood betony, chamomile, cinquefoil, dogwood, elder, fennel, fern, frankincense, lavender, lemon, lemon verbena, lily, mistletoe, mugwort, oak, pine, rose, St. john's wort, thyme, vervain, and yarrow.

This Summer Solstice will be a moonless, star-filled night. On this longest day of the year, the earth is at her most opulent and lavish. Hence your wishes need to be correspondingly larger than you would normally dream. Reach for the furthest star. Light a bonfire to represent the sun. Infuse a stick with your grandest most ridiculous desire and throw it into the flames. Release it and know what you wish for will be returned to you with interest. You deserve joy. Do not be afraid to be happy, embrace the pleasure that life has to offer, because life moves in spirals and like the ferris wheel, some days you will be on top and other days you may find yourself on the bottom. All that really makes the difference is your attitude and the lens with which you see the world. Make sure you shine no matter what your day looks like.

Celebrated August 1-2, Lammas or Lughnasadh is a time to harvest your resources, assess your needs, and use your gifts wisely, releasing any burdens and grudges. Sacrifice the unwanted from your life by throwing symbols of them into the sabbat fire. Harvest fruits from your garden with your family. Bless the tools of your trade and bless them in order to bring a richer harvest next year. Share your harvest with others who are less fortunate. For now we make initial contact with the Dark Beauty, recognizing that nothing lasts. Every feeling and event passes through our awareness like clouds across a sky. Zero in on your truth. Make a commitment to honor your strengths and many skills. Find the beauty in the muggles and mundane. Symbols are corn, grains, and breads. Herbs associated with this sabbat include: acacia, blackberry, calendula, frankincense, mistletoe, oak, rose, and sandalwood.

Today is Llamas. My boys, Skyler and Kobe, and I created a carnival to honor the day also known as Loaf Mass. We began by smudging each other. While one person wafted the sage smoke over another person, the third held a yellow candle to represent the light for the person being blessed. We made bees wax candles to honor the little bee creatures who pollinate flowers, fruit, and vegetable plants and make sweet honey. Then we harvested some chilis and zucchini and read from Circle Round. Lastly we used tamale husks to create Corn Dollies, braids, and little gifts to represent our many talents. Here is a poem Kobe made up today to remind us how connected we all are.

Poor little ones who don't make it through. We are all part of you.

Celebrated on September 20-22, Autumn Equinox or Mabon is the second time when day and night are once again equal, creating a mirror for us to seek balance and acceptance with the bounty of our own personal harvest weighted against our life's experience. It is a time to glean the knowledge from the gifts life presented to use, and separate this wisdom given from experience. This acknowledgment honors and makes holy the people, events, and experiences that have so impacted our being and our journey. It is a time to balance the light and the dark. Simplify your life and rid yourself of unnecessary activity and clutter in preparation for the silence of the darker months. Donate what you don’t need.

Clear the disorder of your mind and learn to sit with the quiet of the soul. Without rushing around, you will need to make peace with your shadow, and hopefully this will help you release a bit more of the mask and reliance upon appearances. Give thanks and harvest what is helpful. Symbols are leaves and cornucopias. Herbs associated with this sabbat include: apple, balm of gilead, calendula, cypress, mugwort, myrrh, oak, orris root, passionflower, pine, rose, sage, and thistle.

Connectedness and joy is our innate beingness. We can effect change in the world and our lives by paying attention to the vibrant aliveness of this now moment. Find joy, peace, harmony by following the impermanent now. The Mandala of Nature will reveal a new bounty at each turn. An abundant scene awaits you. Allow this moment to be the beauty of what is, and keep the knowingness and release the experience. Bloom where you are planted -- in the Now.

Blessings,
Jamie Dancing Butterfly Martinez Wood

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I want to offer you a list of suggestions that will help you live green. Each little bit counts. And just one person CAN make a difference. Love your Mother Earth – She’s the only Home we have.
Bring your own bags to the grocery store Buy locally Take the bus, train, or walk or ride your bath Buy bamboo or sustainable wood products Turn off the lights when you leave the room Eat more veggies Trader, barter or buy used/vintage goods (try ebay.com, craigslist.org, freecycle.org) Leave only footprints when you travel Turn off the faucet when you brush your teeth, wash your hands or wash the dishes Unplug electronics when you’re not using them Use green cleaners Line dry clothes Vote for change Join a food co-op Bring your own bottle of water Buy recycled toilet paper	Print on both sides of the paper Don’t use pesticides Eat what’s in season Unload your trunk, the lighter the load, the less gas your car consumes Bring your mug to your favorite coffee house Pay bills online Fix leaky faucets Upgrade your toilet to a low-flush model Plant a garden Compost Buy or borrow pre-used moving boxes Buy recycled materials Buy low-VOC paint and donate the leftovers (www.earth911.org) Buy fair trade Use natural fragrances Carpool Drive a hybrid	Buy organic food and beauty products Use cloth napkins Replace lightbulbs with halogen bulbs (recycle halogen bulbs) Stop idling your car Use rechargeable batteries Use reusable containers for lunch and reuse your Ziploc bags Take your exercise outdoor Buy things that will last Give your car a tune up – it will drive more efficiently Pick up litter

"When organic materials are disposed of in the general trash, they end up compacted deep in landfills. Without oxygen to assist in their natural decomposition, the organic matter ferments and gives off methane, which is the most potent of the greenhouse gases, twenty-three times more potent than CO2 in global warming terms. By contrast, when organic waste is properly composted in gardens, it produces rich nutrients that add energy and food to the soil." Mother Earth News October 2006

Then please add the same paragraph to the Musings and add my commentary, below

I've been composting for about six years. I began by throwing coffee grounds and egg shells directly onto my garden of kitchen herbs in the courtyard by our front door. Then I converted my kids' sandbox into a compost. They weren't using it and I needed to be more green, so I added grass clippings and a few bags of compost from the local nursery. I turned it over a couple of times, then started dumping the food parings and fallen fruit from our trees onto it. I bought a big piece of plywood to cover the six foot by eight foot box to keep flies and raccoons or rats out. The box (it was painted blue with waves painted onto the sides) was only about a foot deep. But after only four or so months, the soil got a bit richer. I put a small bucket in the cabinet under the sink so I could gather a few meals' worth of food before going out to the compost. There was no exact science to my system. I didn't measure exactly dry to wet materials. I just threw weeds or food on top when I had it. It was really easy. Rather quickly I got some great worms and amazing dark, rich soil to sprinkle all over my gardens and fruit trees. I loved feeling that connection to Mother Earth. I loved to be feeding her, like she fed me.

But honestly I never knew how important it was. I never realized how counter-active it was to dump those apple peels into the trash instead of walking out to my compost. So when we moved to our new house and I obviously couldn't bring the old sandbox, I went back to occasionally sprinkling coffee grounds onto the oregano, my only kitchen herb in the new garden. After awhile, I ripped out the grass and planted a native garden. I was thinking about conserving water. I bought a fancy composter, and use it on and off. It's not the same as the sandbox. It's big and black and doesn't have that homey feeling. But at least it's there and I can use it for the big projects, like weeding.

Recently though, I've really been missing the ease of walking around my garden and noticing which plants were growing copiously enough to give me an idea for something good to eat, something delicious to prepare. I went to the nursery and came back with a flat of yummy vegetables and delicious herbs. And while I wait for them to grow so we can develop our relationship together, the symbiotic give and take, I found this little clipping of the importance of composting. It reminded me of that feeling I had when I sprinkled the good composted soil back onto Mother Earth. I remembered feeling like I was giving Her a grand, five star meal. And I want that feeling again. I want to feel like I'm giving to Her, not because I'm afraid of global warming, Not because I'm running away from something, but because I'm embracing something, actually someone, Our Mother Earth.
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We Have Come To Be Danced

We have come to be danced
not the pretty dance
not the pretty pretty, pick me, pick me dance
but the claw our way back into the belly
of the sacred, sensual animal dance
the unhinged, unplugged, cat is out of its box dance
the holding the precious moment in the palms
of our hands and feet dance

We have come to be danced
not the jiffy booby, shake your booty for him dance
but the wring the sadness from our skin dance
the blow the chip off our shoulder dance
the slap the apology from our posture dance

We have come to be danced
not the monkey see, monkey do dance
one, two dance like you
one two three, dance like me dance
but the grave robber, tomb stalker
tearing scabs & scars open dance
the rub the rhythm raw against our souls dance
WE have come to be danced
not the nice invisible, self conscious shuffle
but the matted hair flying, voodoo mama
shaman shakin ancient bones dance
the strip us from our casings, return our wings
sharpen our claws & tongues dance
the shed dead cells and slip into
the luminous skin of love dance
We have come to be danced
not the hold our breath and wallow in the shallow end of the floor dance
but the meeting of the trinity: the body, breath & beat dance
the shout hallelujah from the top of our thighs dance
the mother may I?
yes you may take 10 giant leaps dance
the Olly Olly Oxen Free Free Free dance
the everyone can come to our heaven dance

We have come to be danced
where the kingdoms collide
in the cathedral of flesh
to burn back into the light
to unravel, to play, to fly, to pray
to root in skin sanctuary
We have come to be danced
WE HAVE COME

by one of G.Ross dancers

WHAT IS DOES IT MEAN TO BE A WITCH?

Code of Beliefs of a Witch’s Faith

We believe there is a Spirit in all Living Things that connects us to the same Divine Source. Recognizing this connection to our Divine essence and the Light within all is the main building block to creating a magic filled life.
We believe the Divine Source is equally Male and Female and can be called upon as Divinity, Creator, Great Mystery or Love, among many other names. God is the Male aspect of the Divine and is expressed in the sun, light, day, known, cerebral, and action. Goddess is the female aspect of the Divine and is expressed in the moon, dark, night, unknown, feeling, and rest. When God and Goddess are revered as equal there is harmony.
We have a deep respect for the four sacred elements of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. These elements work in conjunction with Spirit or Love to create every living thing. When the four sacred elements are in balance there is harmony.
We follow the Wheel of the Year, the cycles of the moon and seasons and celebrate eight holidays that are spread six weeks apart. Using nature as a guide, we try to embody the different aspects or lessons from each turn of the wheel and its ever-changing seasons.
We believe magic happens everyday in little ways. Magic occurs when you can change your perspective about a situation, person or thing. Magic is as natural as a blade of grass.
We believe in the fact that everyone has a free will to choose and that as long as you Harm None you are free to do as you will. However, we are subject to the laws of karma and the Threefold Law, meaning whatever you do will return unto you three times. Integrity is of utmost importance.
Witchery is a way of life. It is often passed down from mother to daughter or grandmother to granddaughter. Wicca is a religion, not all witches are Wiccans. To call yourself a witch is to reclaim your birthright as a powerful spiritual being.

Offshoots within a Witch’s Life

Spells and Rituals are used as a way to know ourselves as Divine children and give us an opportunity to co create a life of our choosing. Through magical spellwork and rituals we connect with the Divine within ourselves and every particle in the Universe. Not every witch performs spells. Spells are performed for a need, not necessarily a want. And first the spellcaster must be sure the spell is necessary, it will serve the highest good, will not harm anyone, and be willing to accept the responsibilities of the outcome. If you want to cast a spell, understand karma, the threefold law, and have solid answers for why you are casting the spell. Gather your tools, crystals, candles, images of Gods and Goddesses and wait for a need to arise. There is no point, nor is it respectful to the powerful elements of nature and Spirit, to randomly try any spell you read in a book, if you don’t really need for that outcome to manifest itself.
Pantheon is a group of Gods and Goddesses from a certain people, place or time. There is a Norse, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, African, Germanic, Sumerian, Celtic pantheon, among others. Each face of the God or Goddess allows for a different characteristic, expression or archetype (mother, warrior, etc.) of the Divine. By giving them human qualities, ancient people found a way to connect to the Divine within, not just some man in the sky, separate from themselves. We look to the Gods and Goddess for guidance and inspiration. It is okay to place on your altar Gods and Goddess from different pantheons. A Greek Deity of prosperity with a Celtic Deity of love will work just fine!
Gratitude is an important part of being a Witch. With the deep respect for our Earth Mother, witches see themselves as caretakers of the land and try to use her resources wisely. We plant trees, recycle, grow our own gardens, offer energy to healing the waters and air and try to work in harmony with animals, people, and the land. If a witch needed sage for a ritual, she would ask permission from the plant, thus respecting its life force and asking its power to assist her, and give water, food, a strand of her hair, a sprinkle of tobacco or something else. Showing thanks is an every day event in the life of a witch.

Debunking the Rumors

The Pentacle is a sacred, positive symbol of protection within witchcraft. The five-pointed star represents the four elements/directions and Spirit/Love, encircled by the never-ending circle of Life. It’s a symbol of life, love, and connectedness.
Witches worship Nature. In Europe, the male aspect of the Divine, God, was personified as the Green Man. He had a beard, horns and goat legs. (like Puck from Shakespeare Midsummer’s Night Dream or Tumnus from Chronicles of Narnia)When the Christians took over, they decided to destroy the core of what the witches believed in to take over the hearts and minds of the people. They turned the Green Man red, called him the Devil, and proclaimed all witches worshiped the devil.
Witches do not fly on Brooms, vacuums or dust busters. Back in the day, nature-loving pagans, dependant upon the land for survival, would go out into the fields at night with their buddies. They would straddle a broom and run in a circle, periodically jumping in the air to show the wheat or whatever vegetation how high they wanted it to grow. Onlookers thought they were flying and that’s how the whole rumor started.
Witches cannot cast a spell to make someone fall in love or make objects fly across the room.
Not all witches have 13 black cats, know where to get Eye of Newt, or have green faces with warts. I swear.