by Selena Fox
Focus of Celebration:consider first your purpose(s) for the celebration, such as:
Timing of Celebration: pick a time that fits form of celebration and family patterns, such as:
On Solstice:
Near Solstice:
Length of Celebration:structure with age and attention range of family members in mind
Settings of Celebration: pick a suitable location; some options include:
Indoors in Family Home:
Outdoors:
Components of Celebration: select one or more that fits focus, timing, length, and setting
Yule Wreath
Solstice Feast
Candlelight Circle
Yule Log
Bell Ringing
Yule Tree
Winter Nature Communion
Solstice Stories
Gift Giving
by Selena Fox
Selena first publicly shared this poem on Solstice night 1994 during Circle's public Winter Solstice Celebration in Madison, Wisconsin.
It is the middle of December.
The nights are longer, the weather is colder, winter comes.
Celebration is at hand.
Renewing bonds of friendship.
Visiting with family and friends.
Exchanging gifts with loved ones.
Candles, Dolls, Cookies, Sweets, Holly, Wreaths of Green.
Surprises.
Courts close. Battles stop.
Time off from school and work.
Holiday Break.
Singing, Dancing, Games, Merry-Making.
Food ... Lots of Food and Drink.
Great Feasts and Parties.
To celebrate the Sun, the Land, the Ancient Ones, the great Circle of Nature.
To welcome in the Winter and the New Year.
To bring forth renewal, peace, and joy.
Solstice Present .... Solstice Past.
This is the legacy of Saturnalia,
weeklong Pagan Winter Solstice Festival of Ancient Rome.
Saturnalia, your spirit and these traditions live on
in the world today
in Christmas feasts and New Year's parties,
in our Winter Solstice celebration tonight.
Bless our connection with the ancients.
Bless our connection with each other.
Bless our connection with future generations.
We rejoice.
Io, Saturnalia!
Io, Saturnalia!
Io, Saturnalia!
by Selena Fox
Article by Selena Fox
Samhain, popularly known as Halloween, occurs in late October and early November. For most Wiccan practitioners, this is the New Year, and a time for letting go of the old and looking ahead to the new. It marks the end of the harvest season. Since ancient times, Pagans have paid their respects to departed loved ones, ancestors, and guides in the Spirit World at Samhain. The Goddess manifests as the Crone and the God as the Horned Hunter and Lord of Death. Sacred colors are Black and Orange. It is the festival of endings and transformation.
Lore and Rituals by Selena Fox
Lammas, or Lughnassad, occurs in late July and early August. It is marks the middle of Summer and the beginning of the harvest. It is the first of three harvest festivals and is usually associated with ripening grain. It heralds the coming of Autumn. The Goddess manifests as Demeter, Ceres, Corn Mother, and other agricultural Goddesses. The God manifests as Lugh, John Barleycorn, and vegetation Gods. Colors are Golden Yellow, Orange, Green, and Light Brown. It is a festival of plenty and prosperity.
Brigid Spring at Circle SanctuaryCelebrating the Seasons
by Selena Fox
Imbolc, also known as Candlemas and Groundhog's Day, occurs at the beginning of February. It marks the middle of Winter and holds the promise of Spring. The Goddess manifests as the Maiden and Brigid. The Groundhog is a manifestation of the God. Colors are White, and sometimes Red. It is a festival of spiritual purification and dedication.
Lore and Rituals by Selena Fox
Fall Equinox, also known as Mabon, occurs in the middle of September. It is the main harvest festival of the Wiccan calendar and marks the beginning of Autumn. The Goddess manifests in Her Bountiful Mother aspects. The God emerges as the Corn King and Harvest Lord. Colors are Orange, Dark Red, Yellow, Indigo, and Brown. It is the festival of thanksgiving.
Select the best of each vegetable, herb, fruit, nut, and other food you have harvested or purchased and give it back to Mother Earth with prayers of thanksgiving. Hang dried ears of corn around your home in appreciation of the harvest season. Do meditations and chanting as you store away food for the Winter. Do a thanksgiving circle, offering thanks as you face each direction -- for home, finances, and physical health (North); for gifts of knowledge (East); for accomplishments in career and hobbies (South); for relationships (West); and for spiritual insights and messages (Center).
Podcast: Celebrating Fall Equinox - traditions, lore and rites
The Mabon by Damh the Bard
Mabon Song by Lisa Thiel
Mabon/Fall Equinox by Omnia
John Barleycorn (traditional), rendition by Damh the Bard
by Selena Fox
This call and response chant was designed for use at Candlemas (Imbolc) festivals and for healing rituals. Chant can be either intoned (on a single note or a sequence of notes with harmonic fourths and/or fifths) or spoken.
P signifies Priestess and/or Priest.
All signifies All participants including Priest/ess.
Sound indicates sacred sound making to bring closure to each segment. It can take the form of a single bell run by Priestess/Priest or drum and rattle rhythms made by all.
Chant is suitable as a preparatory blessing chant for those beginning a ritual and as a means of honoring sacred space and circle casting. Chant can be done facing the five directions: North for Earth, East for Air, South for Fire, West for Water, Center for Spirit.
P: Powers of Earth, Come to Us.
All: Powers of Earth, Come to Us.
P: May our Bodies be cleansed of Disease.
All: May our Bodies be cleansed of Disease.
P: Powers of Earth, Purify Us.
All: Powers of Earth, Purify Us.
P: May our Bodies be filled with Wellness.
All: May our Bodies be filled with Wellness.
P: Powers of Earth, Bless Us.
All: Powers of Earth, Bless Us.
(Sound)
P: Powers of Air Come to Us.
All: Powers of Air Come to Us.
P: May our Minds be cleansed of Confusion.
All: May our Minds be cleansed of Confusion.
P: Powers of Air, Purify Us.
All: Powers of Air, Purify Us.
P: May our Minds be filled with Wisdom.
All: May our Minds be filled with Wisdom.
P: Powers of Air, Bless Us.
All: Powers of Air, Bless Us.
(Sound)
P: Powers of Fire, Come to Us.
All: Powers of Fire, Come to Us.
P: May our Actions be cleansed of Malice.
All: May our Actions be cleansed of Malice.
P: Powers of Fire, Purify Us.
All: Powers of Fire, Purify Us.
P: May our Actions be filled with Bliss.
All: May our Actions be filled with Bliss.
P: Powers of Fire, Bless Us.
All: Powers of Fire, Bless Us.
(Sound)
P: Powers of Water, Come to Us.
All: Powers of Water, Come to Us.
P: May our Hearts be cleansed of Resentment.
All: May our Hearts be cleansed of Resentment.
P: Powers of Water, Purify Us.
All: Powers of Water, Purify Us.
P: May our Hearts be filled with Compassion.
All: May our Hearts be filled with Compassion.
P: Powers of Water, Bless Us.
All: Powers of Water, Bless Us.
(Sound)
P: Powers of Spirit, Come to Us.
All: Powers of Spirit, Come to Us.
P: May our Souls be cleansed of Despair.
All: May our Souls be cleansed of Despair.
P: Powers of Spirit, Purify Us.
All: Powers of Spirit, Purify Us.
P: May our Souls be filled with Hope.
All: May our Souls be filled with Hope.
P: Powers of Spirit, Bless Us.
All: Powers of Spirit, Bless Us.
(Sound)
by Selena Fox
Candlemas, Oimlec, Brigid's Day, Groundhog's Day; merged with Lupercalia/Valentines Day
January 31, February 1, February 2, February 6, February 7.
Ground Hog's Day (USA); Aztec New Year; Chinese New Year; Roman Lupercalia; Valentine's Day (USA); Armenian Candlemas.
Triple Aspects:
Symbols:
Name variations:
Brighid; Bride (Scotland), Brid, Brigit, Bridget, Briganta (England), Brigan, Brigindo (Gaul), Berecyntia, Brigandu (France)
Name means Bright One, High One, Bright Arrow, Power.
Christianized forms: St. Brigit (Irish), St. Ffraid (Welsh), St. Bridget (Swedish), Queen of Heaven, Prophetess of Christ, Mary.
Bruide, the Pictish royal throne name, is said to derived from the Pagan Goddess Brigid. The Bruide name was given to each Pagan Pictish king who was viewed as the male manifestation of the spirit of the Goddess. The most sacred place of the Picts was Abernethy in Fife. It was dedicated to Brigid, in Pagan times, and to St. Brigid, in Christian times. Columban monks tended a Celtic abbey there and hereditary abbots were of the Earl of Fife branch of the Clan MacDuff, which survived to the present day as Clan Wemyss (Weems).
When Ireland was Christianized, veneration of the Pagan Goddess Brigid was transformed into that of St. Brigit, said to be the human daughter of a Druid. St. Brigit became a saint after her "death" and was supposedly converted and baptized by St. Patrick. Pagan lore was incorporated into the Christian traditions and legends associated with Her as a saint. For example, as St. Brigit, She had the power to appoint bishops and they had to be goldsmiths. She was associated with miracles and fertility. Into the 18th century a women's only shrine was kept to her in Kildare (meaning Church of the Oak) in Ireland. There, nineteen nuns tended Her continually burning sacred flame. An ancient song was sung to Her: "Brigid, excellent woman, sudden flame, may the bright fiery sun take us to the lasting kingdom." Brigid/St. Brigit was said to be the inventor of whistling and of keening.
If Candlemas day be sunny and bright, Winter again will show its might.
If Candlemas day be cloudy and grey, Winter soon will pass away. (Fox version)
If Candlemas day be fair and bright, Winter will have another flight.
If Candlemas day be shower and rain, Winter is gone and will not come again. (Traditional)
by Selena Fox
Also known as May Eve, May Day, and Walpurgis Night, happens at the beginning of May. It celebrates the height of Spring and the flowering of life. The Goddess manifests as the May Queen and Flora. The God emerges as the May King and Jack in the Green. The danced Maypole represents Their unity, with the pole itself being the God and the ribbons that encompass it, the Goddess. Colors are the Rainbow spectrum. Beltane is a festival of flowers, fertility, sensuality, and delight.