The Wiccan Sabbat Wheel, also known as the Wheel of the Year, is a representation of the eight annual festivals celebrated in the Wiccan tradition. These festivals mark the changing seasons and celebrate the cycles of nature and the divine. Each Sabbat has its own unique significance and is observed with rituals, feasts, and various customs. The Sabbat Wheel is divided into two halves, the light half and the dark half, symbolizing the waxing and waning of the sun's power throughout the year. The light half begins with the Sabbat of Yule, which takes place around the winter solstice and celebrates the rebirth of the Sun God. It is a time of renewal and hope as the days start to become longer.
Then ask them if there’s anything more you should be mindful of, especially if you’ll be helping them to complete a unity ritual (such as a traditional handfasting or candle lighting) using items placed on the altar. This is best done during the rehearsal.
While the wedding industry has created a standard mold of what getting married should look like, the truth is that you deserve a day that truly feels like you. Modern Paganism neo-Paganism is about celebrating the earth, nature, and all the creatures that inhabit it some modern day Pagans do believe in more than one God, while others see it as a spiritual practice that does not include a deity.
It is a time of renewal and hope as the days start to become longer. Next comes Imbolc, which falls in early February and marks the first signs of spring. It is associated with the goddess Brigid and is a time for purification and cleansing.
Pagan Wedding Altars : An Illustrated Look at a Year and a Day Altar
Published Thursday, Apr. 8th, 2021 Written by Jessica Levey
Magic, love, & symbolism come together on a Pagan wedding altar. Learn some of the most common items you can expect, using a Wiccan Year and a Day ritual as an example. For officiants, wedding guests, and curious couples. Illustrations by Jessica Levey
P agan wedding and betrothal altars are truly magical things to behold. in more ways than one. But if you’re not familiar with Pagan ritual, seeing one for the first time can be confusing or even a little alarming, depending on the elements it includes. The illustration above is of an actual Pagan altar used during a ‘Year and a Day’ betrothal ceremony -- a traditional handfasting rite -- for a gay Pagan interfaith couple (Druid and Wiccan) living in Seattle, Washington. These items are commonly used in Pagan rituals, and you can expect to see one or more of them on a couple’s altar when officiating or attending a wedding.
Let’s take a look at each one, along with the meaning and purpose behind it.
- Wand
The wand symbolizes the will of the spirit.
The athame is a ceremonial dagger that symbolizes the mind and its intellect.
The chalice filled with ceremonial wine symbolizes the heart and the emotions.
The stones symbolize the body.
When possible, a fire is used during the ceremony to burn the couple’s offerings to the gods. In the case of this ceremony, a fire wasn’t permitted in the venue, so the grooms placed stones from their hearth fire (home fireplace) on the altar in a small bowl. Offerings were poured onto the stones and burned later.
Candles can symbolize many things.
Candle lighting can symbolize the element fire, or represent finding light in darkness. Lighting a candle together, such as with a unity ritual, can be part of a spell or ritual casting. The color of the candle can also have special meaning. For example: white candles are used to welcome healing and harmony, and green candles bring growth and abundance.
The pentagram symbolizes faith and the five elements: spirit, air, earth, water, and fire.
Although it gets used in pop culture a lot, the pentagram’s not just a 1980s doom metal band or a portal to Satan. The symbol doesn’t represent ‘good’ or ‘evil,’ it represents connection to faith and a sacred space.
Color can carry a lot of meaning in rituals.
Here, the crimson red color symbolizes health, and coordinated with the couple’s handfasting cord. The cord was woven crimson and gold, symbolizing health and prosperity.
Now, we wouldn't be surprised if you still have a few lingering questions. We understand! Although Modern Paganism (or Neo-paganism, as it's sometimes called) is the fastest growing spiritual movement in the US, its diverse traditions are still new to many people.
You might be wondering:
What else could be on an altar?
Other very common items you might expect to see, but that aren’t illustrated above, include a handfasting cord or ribbon, sage or incense, and the couple’s wedding bands (if it is a marriage rite).
You might also see bones, skulls, stones, crystals, candles, herbs, flowers, wreaths, knives, goblets of water, wine, or whiskey, carvings, and more. This will be determined by the type of ritual or spell being performed, and the unique spiritual beliefs of the couple.
I heard there might be dead animals or goblets of blood on the altar.
If you’ve gotten most of your information about Pagan ritual from television, movies, or unchecked Reddit forums, there’s a good chance you don’t have the full picture. Ancient Pagan rituals probably did involve some animal sacrifice (read about Viking blót sacrifices here). But times have changed, and spiritual practices have changed with them. These days, many Pagans are vegetarian or vegan, and most practitioners value harmony and compassion between all living things above all else.
Still, every altar is different, and this is entirely up to the couple (and their venue) to decide. The rituals they choose, and the items on their altar, will reflect the tenets of their spirituality and the ritual they’re casting.
I was invited to a Pagan wedding. Can I touch the altar?
Nope! It’s true, wedding altars seem to call out to us, drawing us close with a whisper of incense or the sparkle of polished gemstones. Draped in richly textured and colored fabrics, and covered in intriguing looking objects, it’s no wonder that you want to reach out and touch them… But don’t, ok?
Like any other religious altar or shrine, these ceremonial arrangements carry great spiritual significance, and the items placed on them are sacred. It’s important that you don’t pick anything up to admire it without asking for permission first, no matter how shiny, sharp, delicious, or appealing it looks.
If you’d like to light a candle or participate in blessing the couple in another way, ask someone how you can be involved. They will be happy to help you!
I was asked to officiate a Pagan wedding. Can I touch the altar?
This no-touch policy goes for officiants, too, at least until you’ve been given permission.
If you’ve been asked to officiate a Pagan wedding, talk to the couple about altar etiquette: Clarify ahead of time what items you can touch and which you should leave alone.
Then ask them if there’s anything more you should be mindful of, especially if you’ll be helping them to complete a unity ritual (such as a traditional handfasting or candle lighting) using items placed on the altar. This is best done during the rehearsal.
What’s a ‘Year and a Day’ betrothal ceremony?
Year and a Day ceremonies are the first step in the wedding process for many Pagans. They’re also very popular for nondenominational or nonreligious couples who want their wedding and engagement to honor their Celtic, Scottish, or Irish heritage.
Year and a Day ceremonies aren’t legally binding, and there’s no paperwork to complete, but the bond they form can mean more to many couples than their actual wedding. These rituals signify a couple entering into a deep spiritual union and commitment, one that goes far beyond a conventional engagement. They’re held one full year and one day before the legal solemnization of marriage, and frequently include a handfasting.
The pentagram symbolizes faith and the five elements: spirit, air, earth, water, and fire.
Following Imbolc, the Sabbat of Ostara takes place during the spring equinox. It symbolizes the balance between light and dark and represents the awakening of nature and fertility. The Sabbat of Beltane occurs on May 1st and celebrates the arrival of summer. It is a time of passion, abundance, and growth. This is followed by Litha, which coincides with the summer solstice in June. Litha is the longest day of the year, and it honors the Sun God at the peak of his power. The light half of the year concludes with Lammas, observed on August 1st, which marks the beginning of the harvest season. It is a time to give thanks for the bounty of the Earth and the fruits of one's labor. Mabon, the autumn equinox, comes next and signifies the balance between light and dark once again. It is a time of gratitude and reflection. The dark half of the year begins with Samhain, celebrated on October 31st. It is considered the most sacred of all Sabbats and is associated with death and rebirth. Samhain is a time to honor ancestors and communicate with the spirit world. Finally, there is Yule once again, completing the cycle of the Wheel of the Year. The Wiccan Sabbat Wheel creates a meaningful and cyclical framework for Wiccans to connect with nature, observe seasonal changes, and celebrate the divine. It serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things and the continuous cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Through the observance of the Sabbats, Wiccans seek to attain harmony and spiritual growth, aligning themselves with the natural rhythms of the Earth..
Reviews for "Exploring the Wiccan Sabbat Wheel: An in-depth look at each festival"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Wiccan sabbst wheel". The information provided felt very basic and surface-level. I was hoping for a deeper exploration of the Wiccan sabbats and how they connect to the cycles of nature and spiritual growth. Instead, it felt like a regurgitation of general knowledge that is easily found with a quick internet search. I was also disappointed with the lack of practical guidance or suggestions for celebrating the sabbats in a meaningful way. Overall, it just fell short of my expectations and left me wanting more depth and substance.
2. Michael - 1 star - I found "Wiccan sabbst wheel" to be extremely underwhelming. The book lacked structure and organization, making it difficult to follow. It jumped from one topic to another without any clear progression or flow. The information provided was also very generic and did not delve into the rich history and significance of the sabbats. It felt like a missed opportunity to truly educate and engage readers. Additionally, the writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to maintain interest. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to others.
3. Jessica - 2 stars - I was hoping "Wiccan sabbst wheel" would be a comprehensive guide to the Wiccan sabbats, but unfortunately, it fell short. The explanations provided were too vague and lacked depth, leaving me with more questions than answers. The book also did not offer any unique insights or perspectives on the sabbats, making it feel like a rehash of information that is readily available elsewhere. I was also disappointed with the lack of illustrations or visuals to help bring the content to life. Overall, I would not recommend this book to someone who is looking for a thorough and insightful exploration of the Wiccan sabbats.