The Pagan wheel of time is a concept rooted in various pagan and nature-based spiritual traditions. It represents the cyclical nature of time and the interconnectedness of all things. The wheel is typically divided into eight points, known as the Sabbats, which correspond to the changing of seasons. **The Pagan wheel of time** begins with the holiday of Samhain, which marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. It is a time when the veil between the living and the dead is believed to be the thinnest. This is followed by Yule, the winter solstice, marking the longest night of the year and the return of light.
This is followed by Yule, the winter solstice, marking the longest night of the year and the return of light. The next point on the wheel is Imbolc, celebrated in early February, which signifies the imminent arrival of spring. It is a time of purification and preparation.
Pagan wheel of time
eight holy festivals
celebrated around the celtic wheel of the year
The Celtic Wheel of the Year
The wheel is called many things. In popular culture, it is referred to as the sacred wheel, the Celtic wheel or calendar, the Irish wheel, the pagan’s wheel, the witches wheel, and the 8 sabbats. It is a solar calendar that marks the time and the seasons, an ancient wheel of connection to each phase of nature as the seeds sprouted, plants budded and bloomed, fruited, turned to seed then went to ground; these cycles repeating in an endless turning of the wheel of our lives.
The wisdom traditions of the Celtic lands are dreams wrapped in myths, woven into endless tales rooted deeply within the waters and the earth. There are many streams feeding the Celtic pool of legend, many trees singing the songs of the ancients. The expressions of Celtic spirituality are rich and diverse, and the term itself covers many living cultures and languages. The exploration of the sacredness of my ancestors is more a query of the soul for me than one of scholarship, and though I do appreciate and enjoy learning from scholars I’m more drawn towards the heartfelt explorations of mystics and spiritualists.
Many are rediscovering the pleasures in a slower life. Moving back towards the Earth is a deeply nourishing and rooting journey and offers us a way to remember who we are, and where we came from. We, all of us in the human family, have ancestors who understood at one time, maybe a long time ago, what it meant when a particular bird sung or when the clouds moved quickly across the fields. They understood what the yellowing leaves brought, and when the salmon swam upstream in the Spring.
One of my favorite words happens to be “heathen” which is derived from “the people of the heath” who were country people, lowland or heath dwellers, and remained committed to their animistic beliefs as the religion of the one-god moved through their lands. They were the last to be converted (and many never were) and had old, strong beliefs about family; human and non-human alike. They, I feel, embody the mythological spirit of the Celts those who lived close to the seasons, who spoke to the trees and winds, and who had wild, free, untamable hearts.
To learn more about the indigenous wisdom, myth and legend of our Celtic ancestry, the collective living peoples and cultural lineages of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, some of England, as well as lands that spread across Northern and Western Europe, head over to my podcast Animisma - All Things In-Spirited.
I, as their namesake (my given name is Heather), invite you to join me in setting free your heart, honoring the waters and the wells, and living in deep relationship with the natural world, celebrating each turn of the Celtic wheel of the year. It is a traditional, joyous, healing, celebratory, reverent and beautiful way of walking through this life.
Quarter Points: From Solstice to Equinox and Around Again
The Quarter Points are located on the north, south, east, and west points of the wheel and are the winter and summer solstice, and the spring and autumn equinoxes. These are also referred to as ‘solar’ days, given that these four points mark the standing sun ‘solstice’ where it reaches its highest point in the sky and therefore longest day, or, lowest point in the sky and therefore shortest day and appears to ‘stand still’ (latin) or the ‘equinox’ when the sun crosses the celestial equator and the days and nights are of equal length. The latin meaning of equinox derives from aequus ‘equal’ and nox ‘night.’
The solstices offer us a time to pause and reflect at the half-year mark and consider where the next half-year may be heading for us. The equinoxes focus on the balance of dark and light as both are equal on these days. They are all times of seasonal transition and offer us an opportunity to mark time in a conscious way as we reflect on the Earth’s cycles and our own cycles woven with hers.
The quarter festivals are:
- Winter Solstice (Yule) - NORTH - Earth
- Spring Equinox (Ostara) - EAST - Air
- Summer Solstice (Litha) - SOUTH - Fire
- Autumn Equinox (Mabon) - WEST - Water
Cross-Quarter Points: The Four Great Fire Festivals
The Cross-Quarter Points are the four festivals that are marked in between the solstices and the equinoxes. They occur at the peak of each season and have been known as the Four Great Fire Festivals. These cross-quarter festivals offer us a time to celebrate the gifts each season offers and invite us to deeply connect with the Earth at the peak of her seasonal cycles.
The cross-quarter festivals are:
- Imbolc (peak winter)
- Beltain (peak spring)
- Lugnasadh (peak summer)
- Samhain (peak autumn or fall)
The origins of the names of the festivals can be traced to Celtic, Norse, Anglo-Saxon, and Germanic origins. It has been posited that the modern names we use are predominantly from Irish tradition as the Irish were able to keep the early literature safe from destruction during the dark ages (Christian monks recorded these traditions in writing - prior to that all sharing and history was passed down through oral tradition), especially story around the cross-quarter celebrations of Imbolc, Beltain, Lughnasadh, and Samhain.
The solstice and equinox names are derived from Norse and Anglo-Saxon origin, with yule being traceable back to traditional norse festivals.
Many are rediscovering the pleasures in a slower life. Moving back towards the Earth is a deeply nourishing and rooting journey and offers us a way to remember who we are, and where we came from. We, all of us in the human family, have ancestors who understood at one time, maybe a long time ago, what it meant when a particular bird sung or when the clouds moved quickly across the fields. They understood what the yellowing leaves brought, and when the salmon swam upstream in the Spring.
Ostara, the spring equinox, is the celebration of the renewal of life and fertility. It marks the point when day and night are of equal length. Beltane, which takes place on May 1st, represents the peak of spring and the beginning of summer. It is a time of joy and fertility, often associated with dances around the Maypole. The summer solstice, known as Litha, is the longest day of the year and celebrates the power of the sun. Lammas, occurring on August 1st, is the first harvest festival, when the first fruits are gathered and gratitude is expressed. Mabon, the autumn equinox, is the time to celebrate the second harvest and give thanks for the abundance of the Earth. Finally, the wheel returns to **Samhain**, completing the cycle. Each point on the wheel represents a unique energy and significance. Together, they symbolize the eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, and remind us of our connection to the natural world. The Pagan wheel of time allows practitioners to attune themselves to the rhythms of nature and the changing seasons. It offers an opportunity for reflection, celebration, and honoring the cycles of life. By observing and participating in these seasonal rituals, individuals can deepen their connection to the Earth and find meaning in the ever-turning wheel of time..
Reviews for "Ancient Traditions and Modern Practices: How the Pagan Wheel of Time Evolved"
1. Jessica - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Pagan Wheel of Time" because I love books about mythology and paganism. However, I found the writing style to be incredibly dry and dull. The author seemed more intent on providing historical facts rather than presenting an engaging narrative. Additionally, the book lacked a coherent structure and jumped around between different time periods without any clear transitions. Overall, I was disappointed and couldn't wait to finish reading it.
2. Robert - 1 star - "Pagan Wheel of Time" was a complete letdown for me. The author's lack of understanding and proper research on pagan traditions was blatant. The book was filled with inaccurate information and the author often made sweeping generalizations that were offensive to those who practice paganism. It felt like the author relied on outdated stereotypes and misconceptions rather than presenting a nuanced and authentic portrayal of paganism. I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about paganism.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - As someone who is interested in paganism, I found "Pagan Wheel of Time" to be quite disappointing. The book lacked depth and failed to provide a comprehensive understanding of pagan beliefs and practices. It was more of a surface-level overview that didn't delve into the nuances and complexities of paganism. Additionally, the writing style was quite dry and lacked the passion and enthusiasm that one would expect from a book exploring spiritual topics. Overall, I felt like I didn't learn anything new and was left wanting more substance from this book.