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The Wicca calendar wheel is an important tool in the practice of Wicca, a modern Pagan religion. It is also known as the Wheel of the Year and represents the changing seasons and cycles of nature. The calendar wheel is divided into eight main Sabbats or festivals, which are celebrated throughout the year. The first Sabbat on the Wicca calendar wheel is known as Samhain, which falls on October 31st or November 1st. This festival marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It is a time to honor and remember the ancestors and to reflect on the cycle of life and death.

It is a time to honor and remember the ancestors and to reflect on the cycle of life and death. Next is Yule, which occurs around December 21st and marks the winter solstice. During this time, Wiccans celebrate the rebirth of the Sun and the lengthening of days.

Review: The Fall: Live at the Witch Trials (1979)

If Mark E. Smith calls your indie band something along the lines of “a load of retarded Irish folk singers,” maybe you shouldn’t just dismiss him as just some bitter bloke. This guy does front The Fall, a band that influenced insanely influential bands such as Sonic Youth, Pavement and Nirvana. He legitimately can throw a bottle at your indie band, because he helped create your music.

In fact, you can hear some of this indie/alternative rock foreshadowing on the band’s 1979 debut album Live at the Witch Trials, especially on the longer songs. “Frightened” opens the album with a slow sludge, with Smith appropriately sneering “I’m in a trance.” “Mother-Sister!” goes between loud and soft sections, a la The Pixies. “Two Steps Back” is also another slow post-punk song, while the album ends with the 8 minute long smorgasbord “Music Scene,” a structureless indulgent mix of distorted guitars, shredding and sound samples. In addition, an ethereal electronic piano plays in the background throughout the whole album, giving the whole release mysterious veneer. It’s the raw, unpolished, jeering roots of alternative rock.

Then again, you could point to the faster, more punk-like songs on Live at the Witch Trials as proof that Smith isn’t all godlike. In turn, any insults he spews from his mouth shouldn’t be taken so personally. “Crap Rap 2/Like To Know,” “Future and Pasts,” “No Xmas For John Quays,” “Industrial Estate” “Rebellious Jukebox” and “Underground Medecin” flouts the usual adrenaline filled, “don’t fuck with us” attitude of British punk rock, though the electronic piano does make these punk songs sound a little more introverted. It’s also with these songs where Live at the Witch Trials becomes a little tedious. Instead of building on musical themes, The Fall prefers to wallow in repetition, which is problematic because we can only take so much of Mark E. Smith shouting bitter chants over electric piano notes and distorted guitars. If you aren’t bother with the repetitiveness of early Ramones, you definitely won’t mind it on here. For the rest of us, you’ll probably appreciate the cantankerous nature, but then you’ll find yourself wishing that the songs had some sort of progression.

Live at the Witch Trials is not the brilliant, groundbreaking album you’d expect from a heavily cited band such as The Fall. But, despite the lack of focus, it’s still an album worth listening to.

Grade: 7/10

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Yule is a festive time of feasting, gift-giving, and celebrating the return of light. Imbolc is the third Sabbat and falls on February 1st or 2nd. It is associated with the first signs of spring and the awakening of the land from its winter slumber. Imbolc is a time for purification, new beginnings, and honoring the goddess Brigid. Ostara, or the spring equinox, is the next celebration on the Wicca calendar wheel. It occurs around March 20th and represents the balance between light and darkness. Wiccans celebrate the return of fertility, growth, and new life during this time. Beltane is the fifth Sabbat and takes place on May 1st. It is a celebration of fertility and the peak of springtime. Beltane is often associated with rituals and ceremonies involving bonfires, Maypole dancing, and honoring the union of the god and goddess. Litha, or the summer solstice, is celebrated around June 21st. It marks the longest day of the year and the triumph of the Sun. Wiccans honor the power of the Sun and the energy of the season during this time. Lammas, also known as Lughnasadh, is the next festival on the calendar wheel. It occurs on August 1st and is associated with the first harvest. Wiccans give thanks for the abundance of the land and harvest their crops during Lammas. Finally, Mabon – the autumn equinox – falls around September 21st. It represents the balance between light and darkness once again and marks the second harvest. Wiccans reflect on the harvest and give thanks for the blessings of the year during Mabon. Overall, the Wicca calendar wheel is a symbol of the cyclical nature of life and the connection between humans and the natural world. It guides Wiccans in their observance of the changing seasons and provides a framework for rituals, celebrations, and spiritual practice throughout the year..

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