Wheel of the Year

The wheel of the year can not only be seen as the seasonal changes that occur externally over the course of the year but also as the changes that occur internally, within ourselves and often unoticed. By celebrating or marking these changes, we can learn more about ourselves and about the world around us.....

With the vast majority of people living in towns and cities nowadays it is more important than ever to reconnect with the natural rythm of life. I really believe that many of our modern psychological illnesses can be attributed (at least in part) to our disconnection with nature. We live in concrete jungles, we work in air conditioned, artificially lighted offices. We are no longer dependent on the land for our food, we're much more likely to depend on the local supermarket. The seasons are no longer marked by seasonal food and with spring, summer, autumn and winter having very little differences, they are even beginning to merge.

The Wheel of the year can be seen as two distinct wheels - the Solar and the Pagan ....

Solar Wheel

There are four significant Solar events during the year:-

Midwinter Solstice - 21st December (Yule)
The shortest day of the year, from this point on the year enters its waxing phase with the days becoming longer.

Spring Equinox - 20th March (Ostara)
The light and dark are equal at this time but the year moves towards the light.

Midsummer Solstice - 21st June (Litha)
The longest day of the year, from this point on the year enters its waning phase with the days becoming shorter.

Autumn Equinox - 22nd September (Mabon)
The light and dark are again equal, the year moves towards the dark.

Pagan Wheel

A number of pagan paths celebrate a further four divisions in the year, known as cross quarter days. These are fire festivals and have great significance to many Wiccan communities. Although they should be celebrated on the first full moon after the given dates, many people celebrate them on the following dates:-

2nd February - Imbolc
1st May - Beltane
1st August - Lughnasadh
31st October - Samhain

Merged together, the Solar and Pagan Wheel form the Wheel of the Year: