NMR ISSUE 21

Astrological Forecast 21
Concise Lexicon of the Occult
Cricket
Discipline
Editorial 21
Faerie Love
Firewalking and the New Age
Fitting In
Hallows Eve
Lazaris on Lazaris
Letters 21
Magickal Use of the Tarot
Man in a Woman's Religion
Nature's Truth
Pelican
Realigning the Sabbats
The Oldest Magick
Understanding Your Dreams
Wicca Craft Gerina Dunwich

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Realigning the Sabbats

Alex Miller-Mignone

A basic understanding of astrology can lend much to the practice and observance of Wiccan tradition and ritual. The eight yearly Sabbats are; after all, derived from the solar calendar and the coven's traditional membership of thirteen is an echo of the thirteen months of the lunar year.

Times change, calendars change, and even the Sun's course through the heavens is not as permanent as it once seemed. Because of an astronomical phenomenon known as the precession of the equinoxes, the dates of the yearly solstices and equinoxes have slowly shifted through the centuries; and while our observance of these important seasonal markers has shifted to match it, the observance of the four Great Sabbats has not.

Originally, the four primary festivals of the Wiccan year—Imbolc (Olmec or Candlemas), Beltane (May Day), Lammas (Lughnasadh) and Samhain (Hallowe'en)—were celebrated at the Cross-Quarter days, the days when the Sun had reached the fifteenth degree of the Fixed signs Aquarius, Taurus, Leo and Scorpio, respectively. Fifteen degrees of Fixed signs have long been known as the Power Gates, symbolizing as they do the midpoint, and thus the penultimate expression, of their respective seasons. Over the centuries the Great Sabbats, which became fixed to the dates when the medieval Sun traversed these degrees (and which we still use today) have shifted forward in time approximately five to seven days (depending on that year's solar ingress dates, which vary). As a consequence, the Great Sabbats have become somewhat out of kilter with true celestial motion. While I wouldn't suggest we move the now time-honored observances from their traditional dates, it might be well to expand our celebration of these times to include the true Cross-Quarters as well.

In effect, we can create longer periods of observance, celebrating the major festivals for just under a week usually, from the traditional date until the Sun's motion has filled in the time lapse. For Samhain, for example, we wouldn't think of ignoring the magickal night of Hallowe'en, October 31st, with its deep spiritual significance and evocation of memories of simpler, childhood days. But in our household we have developed the custom of continuing our observance and creating a mini-Samhain on or about November 7th.

Actually, this extension of the celebrations works quite well on several levels; have you ever tried to squeeze all your Yuletide festivities into just Christmas Day? There is always some valued relative or friend who gets lost in the shuffle, or some special event which is squeezed out due to lack of time. Then, too, who hasn't suffered from the post-holiday blues, when, after weeks of hurried preparation, the Great Day dawns and is as swiftly over, leaving that hollow feeling? With extended sabbats we find time to fit in all our special Pagan friends, there is always at least one weekend included for those out-of-towners whose schedules would otherwise preclude their participation, and we can stave off that sinking feeling of anticlimax for a while. To continue with Samhain as an example, we usually start off with a bang Hallowe'en night, with a large gathering of our extended family. Then can relax to enjoy a week punctuated with smaller, more intimate gatherings and a final evening of a more solemn nature with our closest friends when the Sun activates the Power Gate of 15, Scorpio, little more than a week after Samhain itself.

As well, there is a sound metaphysical reason to include the observances of the true Cross-Quarters. The ancients didn't just pick these days out of hat; they chose them because they felt them to be impregnated with a special power and wanted to reverence them. It might be as well to center our social activities and public rituals around the traditional dates, while reserving the actual Cross-Quarters for meditation and the practice of true magick, to tap into these important and empowering energies. Although the dates can vary by a day either way each year, as a guideline, in 1992 the Sun activates the Cross-Quarter Power Gates on February 5th (15 Aquarius, following Imbolc), May 5th (15 Taurus, following Beltane), August 7th (15 Leo, following Lammas) and November 7th (15 Scorpio, following Samhain).

Another custom we've adopted using astrology as a guide is the incorporation of the Sun's annual conjunction to the Galactic Center into our celebration of Yule and the Winter Solstice. The Galactic Center is the hub of our particular neck of the Universe, an important source of healing, guidance and love for ourselves and the planet, and as such deserves a special notice in our magickal ministrations. The Galactic Center is located at 26 of Sagittarius; and since the Sun moves roughly one degree per day, its conjunction to the Center occurs about four days before the Winter Solstice. It's a perfect time to realign ourselves to Cosmic Consciousness and Purpose, releasing the old year's negativity and cares to the black hole at the center of the galaxy and receiving in return fresh hopes for the new year about to be born. We usually light our need fire that night, and inaugurate Yuletide with a mug of mulled cider or wine as we form a circle about its comforting blaze. In 1992, the Sun will conjoin the Galactic Center on December 17th.

In addition, the monthly lunar esbats acquire a fuller, deeper meaning when we add the astrological meaning of the sign in which the Full Moon occurs to the traditional Wiccan designations of the Snow Moon, Storm Moon, Wine Moon, Blood Moon, etc.

The Oak Moon is the Full Moon closest to the Winter Solstice, and rebirths the lunar cycle. The next Oak Moon is also a Lunar Eclipse, December 9th, 1992, in the sign of Gemini, calling upon us to acknowledge and work to master the duality of the male and female within each of us. In 1993, the Wolf Moon falls on January 8th, in the sign of Cancer, a good time to connect with family and our roots. The Storm Moon, February 6th, is in Leo, affording us the opportunity to express our creativity fully and enjoy and affirm the special, unique qualities that make us who we are.

The Chaste Moon falls on March 8th in the sign of Virgo, and is a prime time to rededicate ourselves to the service of the earth, as well as an ideal opportunity to take advantage of that Virgoan zeal for spring cleaning! The Seed Moon of April 6th in Libra reminds us of the importance of partnerships and harmony; while the Hare Moon of May 5th in Scorpio encourages our inner rebirth and transformation, just as we celebrate the revitalizing of the Earth at Beltane a few days earlier.

The Dyad Moon of June 4th is another Lunar Eclipse in Sagittarius, and we are being challenged to purge our belief systems of any negativity or limiting concepts which hold us back from our fullest development. The Mead Moon July 3rd, the day before Independence Day, is in Capricorn, reminding us that we need to be disciplined and structured as well as free. And the Wort Moon of August 2nd adds an Aquarian touch of the unexpected to our Lammas celebrations.

The Barley Moon of August 31st in Pisces is also a Blue Moon (second Full Moon in a calendar month) and encourages us to become more empathetic to others and their needs, as well as heightening our faith in the benevolence of nature. The Wine Moon of September 30th in Aries inaugurates the autumn season, and reminds us of the necessity of self-reliance and leadership. The Blood Moon of October 30th in Taurus falls appropriately close to Samhain; and we might take this opportunity to reassess our value systems and give thanks for all that we have. The Snow Moon of November 29th is also a Lunar Eclipse, again in Gemini, and a good time to seek via meditation whatever information we may need in the coming year; for we have now come full circle, and the next Full Moon is again the Oak Moon, just following the Winter Solstice.

Observing the character of these different moons can give you a richer understanding of the lunar cycles which drive the Wheel of the Year. And even the basic astrology outlined here can enhance and empower your practice of Wicca. With it, you can better align with the Power Gates of the ancients.