From our warm homes we have the feeling that nature no longer has any influence on us, but this is further from the truth than we think. It is precisely the connection with nature that gives us a sense of the passage of time.
In a society where we are constantly short of time, it is important that we reflect on seasonal changes more often. The amount of time has not changed, only our interpretation of it. By moving with the seasons you can get closer to your own natural rhythms. To do this, you first have to get to know yourself better and learn to accept your characteristics.
The herbal infusions of the season are a first step to reflect on the changes in your life and accept them instead of fighting them. Every change makes you stronger and gives you more insight into yourself.
During the annual celebrations we discover the parts from which we can grow or we reflect on what has been. Each season has its own purpose. By realizing that every part of ourselves has its own purpose and embracing this, we can more easily find our own path and discover the life that belongs to us.
The Annual Festivals have been celebrated by different cultures and are partly derived from Celtic and Germanic customs. During these festivals the seasonal changes in nature are celebrated. This rhythm determined life in the countryside and these celebrations are strongly linked to the agricultural calendar. As a result, harvest times, flowering periods and livestock are often central.The year wheel consists of 8 sabbats (celebrations): Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas & Mabon.
Samhain is celebrated on October 31, it is a fire festival and is seen as the Celtic New Year.It is the last harvest festival and heralds the beginning of winter. It is a time of preparing for the dark months and looking back on the warm, blossoming period that is ending.During this time it was believed that the veils between the worlds were at their thinnest. This is also the reason that the ancestors are honored during this festival.
Yule is celebrated on December 21 and is the winter solstice (midwinter). This is the shortest day of the year.During Yule it is celebrated that the center of the dark period has been reached and we are moving towards the light half of the year.To celebrate this, candles are often lit and the house is decorated with shiny ornaments. It is a period of pleasure and conviviality to get through the dark period. Family is central and this is celebrated with large feasts.
Imbolc is celebrated on February 1 and is the second fire festival of the dark half of the year.This is the festival where we slowly see the light return because the sun is slowly getting stronger as we approach spring.It is a fertility festival celebrating the returning fertility of the earth.
Ostara is celebrated on March 21 and is the Spring Equinox. During this festival the day and night are of the same length.Ostara symbolizes revival, rebirth and resurrection as it is the last festival celebrated in the dark half of the year wheel. The rising temperatures are reflected in the increased fertility of the earth. Slowly the earth begins to awaken again and the lambs are also born. The time of light has arrived again.
Beltane is celebrated on May 1 and is a fire festival that heralds the lighter half of the year. The four dark annual festivals have passed and this is the time to welcome the light of the sun and new life. Like many festivals in the lighter half, Beltane is a fertility festival.Bonfires are a recurring tradition during Beltane. These fires, lit at the beginning of summer, represent the warmth and light that fuel all types of fertility.
Litha is celebrated on June 21 and is the summer solstice (midsummer).This is the peak of the lighter half of the year wheel, where the day is longest. After this the days will become shorter again and we will be on our way to the dark half again. Since Litha is the center of the lighter half of the year, it is celebrated with bonfires, which symbolize the sun, sensuality, life and fertility. Life is full and abundant, this is mainly reflected in all the flowers that are in full bloom around this time.
Lammas is celebrated on August 1 and is the first harvest festival.The grain is harvested around this time and this is therefore central to this festival. Competitions were often held to demonstrate the remaining vitality before the onset of autumn. It was understood that even after death the circle of life continues as we are nourished by the death of the harvest.
Mabon is celebrated on September 21 and is the autumn equinox. The day and night are the same length, just like at the spring equinox. It is the last festival of the light half of the year and allows us to take a break before winter begins. As the second harvest festival, it is a time of joy and celebration of the harvest, both of the land and personal growth. It's time to see what has been worked on and let go of what no longer serves.
