Embracing the Wheel of the Year: Balancing Light and Dark in Wiccan Tradition

The Wiccan Wheel of the Year is a representation of the different seasonal festivals and holidays celebrated by Wiccans and other pagan traditions. It is shaped like a wheel, with each spoke representing a specific holiday or Sabbat. These images are symbolic of the changing seasons and the cyclical nature of life. The Wiccan Wheel of the Year starts with the festival of Samhain, celebrated on October 31st and marking the beginning of the Wiccan New Year. This holiday is associated with death and honoring ancestors. It is represented by images of skulls, ghosts, and other symbols of the afterlife.

With Cat's Eye Nebula glistening ink, the stars are your storytellers and the cosmos, your endless canvas.

Season 3, titled Multiverse, takes a different approach by offering different inks in pairs, some of which obviously complement each other, but others are more subtle. Colorverse Inks are relatively new to the market, but they have already made a name for itself as a brand that offers quality, innovation, and creativity.

It is represented by images of skulls, ghosts, and other symbols of the afterlife. Next comes Yule, celebrated around the winter solstice on December 21st. This holiday honors the rebirth of the sun and the return of light.

Ink Review: Colorverse Black Hole and Dark Energy

I've got two more Colorverse inks for you this week! I'm loving this brand so far, and these two are among my favorites: Dark Energy, a deep burgundy, and Black Hole, which is what I would call an "off black." So far, nothing has changed from my initial impressions of Colorverse Quasar, which I reviewed a couple weeks ago. All of the Colorverse inks I have tried exhibit reasonable dry times, especially for inks with sheen, and while they aren't the absolute best inks I've ever used on cheap paper, they're more than serviceable. Performance-wise, I'd compare them to Pilot Iroshizuku, though the colors are more saturated.

These two inks are from the "Astrophysics" Series. Colorverse manufactures their inks in "Seasons," each of which has a different theme. Season 1, titled "Spaceward," has - you guessed it - a space/space exploration theme, with inks such as "Einstein Ring," "Hubble Zoom," and "Saturn V." The "Astrophysics" inks are from Season 2, which in addition to the two inks reviewed here include "Andromeda," "Gravity Wave," "Quasar" (which I've already reviewed), and "Supernova." Season 3, titled "Multiverse," takes a different approach by offering different inks in pairs, some of which obviously complement each other, but others are more subtle. The three seasons all emphasize unique properties: Season 1 inks tend to shade nicely; Season 2 inks have nice sheen; and the smaller bottles in the Season 3 sets "glisten" (i.e., shimmer ink). So far I have most of the Season 3 inks, which I'm still working through for review purposes.

The burgundy tone on the Dark Energy comes through much more than in a swab.

Since both of these inks are part of "Season 2," they have a lot of sheen. Dark Energy might turn into one of my favorite inks overall. I originally thought the color would contain too much brown for my taste, but that's not the case. While there are hints of brown, the end result is still a rich burgundy red with a dark sheen that I haven't seen before in any other ink.

Black Hole is another winner. I love "off-black" colors, where black ink has a hint of something else like green, blue, or purple. I'm not sure how best to describe "Black Hole" - it has an a purple/red sheen to it when it dries, though I've also seen pictures where the sheen looks almost blue. A very cool ink, overall, and a perfect pairing for my Montblanc 146 Ultra Black.

Takeaways and Where to Buy

Colorverse continues to impress, and I honestly don't remember the last time I had this much fun with a new line of ink. I can't wait to see what they have in store for Season 4.

You can purchase the full line of Colorverse ink from our sponsor Pen Chalet. Pricing starts at $36 per ink, though this snags you two bottles for a total of 60ml, which on a price-per-ml basis is comparable to Pilot Iroshizuku and Sailor Jentle (after the latest price increase). The two-bottle packaging creates a great opportunity to go in on these inks with friends, and trade the smaller bottles so that you have samples of all the colors.

Disclaimer: I purchased this ink from Pen Chalet using affiliate credit. I was not compensated monetarily for this review, though this post does contain affiliate links.

Try mixing different Colorverse inks to create custom colors and shades. This is a great way to add a personal touch to your writing and artwork.

Images of evergreen trees, yule logs, and candles are often associated with this festival. Imbolc, celebrated on February 2nd, is the next spoke on the wheel. This holiday marks the first signs of spring and is associated with purification and new beginnings. It is often represented by images of candles, snowdrops, and other signs of early spring. Following Imbolc is Ostara, celebrated during the spring equinox on March 21st. This holiday represents the balance between light and dark and the arrival of spring. Images of rabbits, eggs, and flowers are commonly associated with this festival. Beltane, celebrated on May 1st, is the next holiday on the Wheel of the Year. It represents the peak of spring and the beginning of summer. Beltane is associated with fertility and is often represented by images of maypoles, bonfires, and flowers. After Beltane comes Litha, celebrated on the summer solstice around June 21st. This holiday represents the height of summer and the longest day of the year. Images of the sun, fire, and crops are often used to symbolize this festival. Lammas, celebrated on August 1st, represents the first harvest and the beginning of autumn. This holiday is associated with gratitude and abundance, and is often represented by images of wheat, corn, and bread. Finally, Mabon, celebrated on the autumn equinox around September 21st, marks the second harvest and the arrival of fall. This holiday represents the balance between light and dark and is often symbolized by images of apples, pumpkins, and autumn leaves. Overall, the images associated with the Wiccan Wheel of the Year represent the changing seasons and the cycles of nature. They serve as visual reminders of the connection between humans and the natural world, and the importance of honoring and celebrating the turning of the Wheel..

Reviews for "The Wisdom of the Seasons: Lessons from the Wiccan Wheel of the Year"

1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really looking forward to the "Wiccan Wheel of the Year Images" book, but I was ultimately disappointed. The images within the book were not as visually stunning as I had hoped, and they lacked depth and detail. Additionally, some of the images seemed hastily put together and lacked the artistic quality that I was expecting. Overall, I found the book to be rather underwhelming and not worth the price.

2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - While I didn't hate the "Wiccan Wheel of the Year Images" book, I can't say that I loved it either. The illustrations were decent, but they didn't captivate me or hold my attention for long. I think the book could have benefited from more variety in the images, as many of them felt repetitive and didn't offer anything new or exciting. Overall, it was an average book that didn't leave a lasting impression on me.

3. Michael - 2/5 stars - As someone who appreciates visually stunning artwork, I was highly disappointed by the "Wiccan Wheel of the Year Images" book. The illustrations lacked creativity and originality, and they didn't evoke any emotions or inspire me in any way. The book felt like it was thrown together without much thought, and the lackluster images reflected that. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for beautiful and inspiring Wiccan artwork.

A Year of Magick: A Practical Guide to Living in Sync with the Wiccan Wheel