Category: Sabbats

Ostara: The Promise

Ostara, the vernal equinox, is celebration of rebirth and renewal. It’s the promise of eternal life. The green world holds the promise of rebirth.  The grass greens sand a veil of green mists the trees. Daffodil foliage pierces the soil, greeting the spring Sun. In the early evening the small Hylas or “peppers” can be heard singing the spring song from the swamp margins. It’s a song as ancient as time itself. It’s the voice of renewal and enduring life.

To observe Ostara’s promise of life’s eternal cycle, you’ll need two hard-boiled eggs. Place them on your altar. Hold one egg. Think of how it holds the promise of new life. Peel the egg and discard the shell. Slowly, with purpose, eat the egg. The white represents the future. The yolk represents the life-giving Sun. Last, decorate the second egg with life affirming design of your choice. Flowers, a cross, and a pentacle are a few ideas. Keep the egg for a while, then discard it.

Let Ostara’s promise of new life spark your energy and creativity.

By James Kambos in Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2024 Page 57

Mabon: The Bounty

The sabbat of Mabon observes the autumn equinox. It’s a time of Thanksgiving for the bounty of the earth and a time to observe nature’s decline into the dark season.

Mabon means “Great Son.” As the legend goes, Mabon the son of the Goddess, was abducted as a child and taken to the land of Avalon. He was freed and returned as a young man. The legend is used to explain nature’s decline in autumn and its return at Ostara. Even though we are entering the dark season, we are surrounded by bounty. Country markets overflow with pumpkins, apples, and autumn flowers.

To celebrate this time of bounty, decorate your altar with seasonal decor–pumpkins, mums, and leaves are ideas. Then in your Book of Shadows write down the bounty you are grateful for–family, home, career, etc. Leave your book open for a few days. Then review your list. Send loving thoughts to the people and things on your list. Put your book away.

The chill comes and the fingers of the dark earlier across the land, but we are surrounded by the bounty of Mabon.

By James Kambos in Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2024 Page 119

WOTC’s Lady Carla Beltane’s Grimoire is NOW LIVE on Patreon

Link for WOTC’s Lady Carla Beltane’s Grimoire on Patreon

Looking for more advanced spells and rituals than are posted on WOTC? Well look no further you can get all of this and somedays more by choosing one of four different tiers on Patreon.

Tier 1 “Luxury Witch” Only for those who subscribed to Life in The Craft magazine before August 7, 2023

Tier 2 “Buy a Witch a Cup of Tea” has a seven-day trial period.  You will have access to a new spell every week going live every Wednesday or Thursday that will never appear on WOTC website. For $5.00 USD per month

Tier 3 “Friend of WOTC” you will have access either a Esbat (Full or New Moon) or a Sabbat for the northern and southern hemisphere once a month. These will be live before the Esbat or Sabbat Date. For $5.00 USD per month (This Tier will start on or about August 20th with an Esbat ritual for August’s Blue Super Moon on August 30th for the northern hemisphere and on August 31st for the southern hemisphere.)

Tier 4 “The Reigning Supreme” (This name was used as a nod to American Horror Stories – Coven season) you will have access either a Esbat (Full or New Moon) or a Sabbat for the northern and southern hemisphere once a month. These will be live before the Esbat or Sabbat Date. For $8.00 USD per month

A word of caution about the spells and rituals that will be posted on Patreon as a witch you should have a working knowledge on how to do spell work and rituals safely. Plus, how to cast a sacred circle properly for your safety and others even if they are not in the sacred circle.

Any questions please write to Lady Carla Beltane at ladybeltane@witchesofthecraft.com.

Beltane

Beltane

Beltane’s energy is about sexuality, beauty, and manifestation. Make aphrodisiacs, love charms, and potions during this sabbat. Charm your beauty products and makeup and adding botanicals that can boost their magickal properties. Make charms manifesting your goals. Leave them in your wallet, your car, or even every room in your house. Soak orange peels in white vinegar for two weeks, strain, and add the same amount of Moon-blessed water as the vinegar to a bottle. Use it as a mirror cleanser so that whenever you look at your reflection, you see your inner and outer beauty reflected back on you. Make rosewater to add to your laundry wash to imbue your clothes with passionate energies. Put away your winter blankets and clothes. Tuck sachets of cloves, rosemary, and thyme in with them to keep them safe and to ward off moths until you need them again. Place carnelian in any space where you want more passionate energy to reside.

By Rachel Henderson Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2023 page 71

Sanhian

Samhain is the harvest of the soul. In some traditions it is when the souls of those who died since the last Samhain move on, leaving our plane behind. In other traditions this is the time when the dearly departed return to pass on messages to us. Whatever the path, this is the time to honor the dead. Renew your home protection spells and start closing up in preparation for winter. Any garden or outdoor tools or furniture that are no longer needed should be cleaned up and put away with thanks for their service. Prep your garden and yard for winter, even if your garden, even if your garden is only a couple of planters of herbs. Pull out your heavier bedding and give it an airing out. Using needle and thread, add a few stiches of blue thread to a corner or inside seam to protect your sleep during the long, dark nights. Divination plays a role in Samhain. Ask your oracles what you need to lay to rest or end for the year.

By Rachel Henderson Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook 2023 page 139