-Ben Okri
Let magic slip along your hand, trickle through your voice and crescendo into substance. It is hard to say whether art is magic, or if magic is actually art. What do I mean by this? Well, let’s take a step back. There is often something in everyday life that you are exceptionally skilled at. It is something you are so good at it, that you do it often by instinct. For some people this is drawing, painting, poetry, music, martial arts or even simply imagination.
Samhain: This is the beginning of the Celtic year. Nov 1 (normally celebrated midnight).
Yule: Dec 20-22 depending on the year (Midwinter Solstice).
Imbolc: February 1 (the 2nd is groundhogs day).
Ostara: March 20-22 Depending on the year (Vernal Equinox).
Beltane: May 1 (May Day).
Litha: June 20-22 depending on the year (Summer Solstice).
Lammas: August 1.
Mabon: September 20-22 depending on the year (Autumnal Equinox)
Each of the White pearls represents the Light Half of the year. Black Pears represent the Dark Half of the Year
I blended all my favorite trees together to craft this one. It has elements of the oak, willow, vines, grass and just about any other tree or plant that I adore. I had over 20 pieces of source for this one's inspiration. Next, scanned, colored in photoshop, modified to fit the 1/8 of the circle and copied, pasted and modified to fit. The whole piece resembles an 8 petaled flower. The coven symbol that is reserved for members was used as the centerpiece and symbol of spirit and life. Next came the individual pictures. The greater sabbats are marked with a brilliant full moon. The lesser sabbats are marked with the glowing, brilliant sun. The dark sabbats of the dark side of the year are marked with a fine, black pearl. The light sabbats are marked with a pale, glistening white pearl. Pearls represent the moon and feminine power among many things, and as a water sign, I like pearls.
Samhain: This is the beginning of the Celtic year. Nov 1 (normally celebrated midnight). This is the first holiday of the dark half of the year. This is the time to honor ancestors. Chanting, lighting candles, honoring the dead, giving gifts of food to the dead on your doorstep, Giving gifts of food to children (trick or treating) who are the ancestors reincarnated, slaughter your livestock and preserve your meats and foods, carve turnips or pumpkins, Light a candle and leave it in your window or make an altar for your ancestors or dead relatives, use divination, make and wear masks and costumes, write out your family tree, reenact Innana's descent into the underworld, decorate your house or make a haunted house, visit a cemetery, don't travel after dark. The picture that is used is of my black cat, Morpheus. I changed the color of the background to a vibrant orange to accent with the seasonal colors.
Yule: Dec 20-22 depending on the year (Midwinter Solstice). This is the second holiday of the dark half of the year. This is the time to celebrate that the days will only grow longer and winter is waning. This is one time to reenact the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King, then you can decorate your yule tree or burn a yule log. You should light lots of candles, sing and go wassailing. Exchanging gifts at this time is one of the most popular events. I have my own version of the oak king, a green dragon who guards a horde. I think the oak is a rather dragon-like tree but I am not sure where I got that impression.
Imbolc: February 1 (the 2nd is groundhogs day). This is the third holiday of the dark half of the year. This is the time to celebrate the spark of life that created the God.This is the time for spring cleaning and blessing your home. You take this opportunity to create art and cleanse sacred spaces, cleanse all your tools, yourself through ritual bathes and decorate ploughs. Celebrate with large feasts, bonfires, hiking, poetry, gardening and making wands and bride's beds. You can also “plant” eggs to encourage your house and garden to be fertile. Here, the beautiful fiery goddess Brigid is recreated in my own art. She is surrounded by the fires of the god represented by candles where they keep her rapt attention.
Ostara: March 20-22 Depending on the year (Vernal Equinox). This is the fourth holiday of the dark half of the year. This is the time to celebrate the fertility of the young god and the earth's renewed fertility.Also planting eggs is encouraged, along with planting an herb garden. Blessing your own sexuality and gardens is a great way to celebrate. Honor your pets, animals and wild animals. Take a walk to truly see Gaia's bounty. This is the perfect time for fertility spells and divining with eggs. You can also do an egg hunt! A lovely fertility faery with vibrant wings flutters through. Her smoldering eyes draw you in, yet the pastel shades she adorns are both innocent and lovely.
Beltane: May 1 (May Day). This is the first holiday of the light half of the year. This is the time to honor the great marriage. focus on the family, conduct handfastings, practice the Great Rite, the lover's chase or Great Marriage, conduct a May Day dance and weave a maypole, light a Beltane fire and use it to bless things by walking between the fires. Make a secret place for lovers to go. Bless the mothers, Make wreathes and decorations of flowers, place or hang out candy, dried fruits and berries for the fae. Captured in the loving embrace of man and woman, the God and Goddess take their first lover's kiss and begin the process of creation.
Litha: June 20-22 depending on the year (Summer Solstice). This is the second holiday of the light half of the year. This is the time to rejoicing in the power of light and life. This is the time to make blessing for fathers and reenact the battle between Holly King and Oak King. Divination with fire, offering up wishes and reaffirming your religious vows are good to do at this time. You can make and bless or enchant tea which is made outside with the sun's heat. Also, making or using Pinatas or Wiker Men at this time is a great symbolic time. The fertile holly king has just taken control of the year and he looks to the light of creation in the midst of darkness.
Lammas: August 1. This is the third holiday of the light half of the year. This is the time to celebrate the beginning of the harvest. This is the time of harvest. You should collect and store your seeds for next year. Harvest your herbs and hang them to dry. Burn a symbol of the god or sacrifice your negative emotions. Play games and have fun as you bless your bread and share it with your loved ones. Bless you foods and reflect on what a bountiful year it was and how much you've grown and changed. Even while the prospect of winter is in the future, grains and bounty are given by the god.
Mabon: September 20-22 depending on the year (Autumnal Equinox).This is the fourth holiday of the light half of the year. This is the time to celebrate the middle of harvest and the earth's descent into winter. Harvest your bountiful meal and celebrate by making some tools. Honor your totems by making animal masks. Make your own bessom to cleanse your sacred space. Give thanks to the earth and make wine, gather dried herbs, collect seeds and pods. Take a walk in the woods and scatter offerings to the gods, animals and fae in your fields or local fields that have already been harvested. Give gifts of libations to trees and plants. Decorate graves or burial sites with leaves and local flora, seeds and nuts. Rich foods have come to fruition and the God is honored for the grown foods.
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