Nascian Wicca
Yule
Jason Rath
The Eight Nascian Sabbats
When I first started this series, I did not intend to publish my personal solitary and group Sabbat rituals. After meditating on the idea I have decided to do so. The tradition or form of Wicca I have developed I call Nasci Witchcraft. Nasci ("NAY-see") is the Latin root of `nature,' meaning "to be born." This refers to the essence of a thing—in this case, Witchcraft. Also, it refers to the universe as a whole, the basis of the Laws of Wicca.
This outline of the eight Nascian Sabbats is to help avoid confusion and to clarify the dynamics of these rituals. The dates of the Nascian High Holy Days are based on the dates of the actual astrological events.
Holiday Quarter God & Goddess Aspects
Summer South Adult Waxing King dies/
Solstice Waning King born
(June 21) Goddess as Mother
Lammas SW Young Waning King
(Aug. 7) Goddess as Mother
Fall West Young Waning King
Equinox Goddess as Mother
(Sept. 21)
Samhain NW Adolescent Waning King
(Nov. 7) Goddess as Crone
Winter North Adult Waning King Dies
Solstice Waxing King Born
(Dec. 21) Goddess as Crone
New Year
Candlemas NE Young Waxing King
(Feb. 7) Goddess as Maiden
Spring East Young Waxing King
Equinox Goddess as Maiden
(Mar. 21)
Beltane SE Adolescent Waxing King
(May 7) Goddess as Maiden
Up to this point I have borrowed from a variety of traditions (including my own) in writing these solitary rituals. At times, their interrelationship can be confusing (for myself as well!). From this point, I will base this series of Wiccan rituals on this outline. Of course, any other tradition or viewpoint is welcome in the Rose & Quill as well. We don't hold that any particular form is "Right." We hope to offer a variety which readers can use formulate their personal rituals.
Since all forms of religion and science are based on Mother Nature's Laws, the various forms of Wicca resemble each other. Gardnerian Wicca uses the three forms of the Goddess (Maiden or Virgin, Mother and Crone), as does Nascian Wicca. The Nascian tradition identifies the Great Goddess with the moon and the earth and considers Her various aspects to be one.
Gardnerians accept three aspects of the Horned God as well. One is the Sun God (associated with the Solstices and Equinoxes). The other two are the two faces of the Nature, or Earth, God—the Holly King (God of the Waning year) and the Oak King (God of the Waxing year). According to the Nascian tradition, the Horned God has two aspects. One is the God of the Waning year, or the Dark Lord. His other aspect is the God of the Waxing year, the Sun King who is born at Yule and killed at Summer Solstice. In other words, the Oak King and Sun King of the Gardenarian tradition is the Waxing King of the Nascian tradition. The Fertility God and Sun God are one. In the Nascian tradition the Waxing God is killed at the Summer Solstice after He has embraced and fertilized the Goddess in Her Mother role. He does not die while embracing the Goddess; instead He dies at the birth of the Waning God which also takes place at the Summer Solstice rite. This pattern of birth and death mirrors that of the Winter Solstice rite.
The Horned One symbolizes the dynamic, masculine principle. The Lady of the Heavens and Earth symbolizes the passive, feminine principle. Both have many aspects and faces in Nascian tradition. The sacred names for the God and Goddess energies are secret in this tradition; thus, you may use whatever names you choose. I will use the Gardnerian names, Cernunnos and Aradia. There are, of course, many other Gods and Goddesses with specific natures and unique names. But, while every Goddess is separate in Her purpose, all Goddesses are one with the Great Goddess. And though the Gods of the Nascian tradition are unique by name, they are all facets of the Great Horned God.
Another area of difference between the Nascian tradition and most other forms of Wicca is the numbers of degrees of initiation. Instead of the commonly accepted three-degree system of initiation, there are four. The first step along the path of initiation corresponds to Earth. The second relates to Air. The third degree corresponds to Water. Finally, the fourth degree of initiation possible while still tied to this plane corresponds to Fire. The step corresponding to Spirit would take to much space to discuss properly here.
The Nascian tradition claims no history. It is the result of my efforts to organize a complete tradition based on the principals and teaching of so many examples over the past several thousand years. The Nascian tradition is my attempt to praise and acknowledge the God and Goddess in all aspects of life by using nature as a tool for self-realization—to pay tribute to the balance in mankind and the universe.
It is not my intent and it is outside the function of this tradition to hold the God above the Goddess or the Goddess above the God. The Nascian tradition teaches that balance in the Self is essential for spiritual evolution. Both God and Goddess "die," or rather transform to play a different role. For example, at Winter Solstice the child Sun King embraces the Goddess; She dies and transforms into the Maiden. Look at the Tao to understand the principle of equality and why the Goddess and God die only to be reborn. The Tao symbolizes unity and equilibrium. The forces of duality synchronize, working together as one. They are no longer two opposing forces; instead each considers the other a part of itself. A change in one brings a change in the other—"death" can be the act of synchronization itself.
When the God and Goddess were in a state of equilibrium they were called Zellayah (Zel-AY-ah: together, or Spirit). In order to create life, as one they had to realize that they were different from one another. Zellayah said, "I am one in Spirit with myself and all things." Then each was aware the other and the World began to expand in every direction: to the East and to the West, to the North and to the South, Above and Below.
All the masculine forces of the World were united in Spirit, and this Spirit was the Great Horned God. All the feminine forces of the World were united in Spirit, and this Spirit was the Great Goddess. She contracted and He expanded. Thus came to be a place called Earth.
The God and Goddess created all the creatures of the earth, waters and sky—though some developed slower then others. They created the minerals and the trees, and they created the animals and the woman and man. The God and Goddess stood about the things they had created and saw themselves in all the forms of the earth and sky.
The Horned God said, "The sun is the brightest star about earth, a proper symbol of my strength and energy, a proper symbol of the Man."
And the Great Goddess said, "The moon circles the earth and its seed is in the woman as it is in me. I take the Moon as a symbol of nature and as a symbol of the Woman.
They continued to create life—the Great Goddess giving form, the Horned God giving vigor, Zellayah uniting the two principals and giving Spirit.
The God and Goddess said, "Do not reach upward into the heavens to try to be as one with us. We are the edges of the universe, constantly moving outward. Instead, look within to find the Sun and the Moon. All things within the heavens and upon the Earth are sacred to us. We are within you as we are without you, now and always."
In this Creation story, the God and Goddess are equal. Before there was duality there was equilibrium and as this static equilibrium broke they emerged simultaneously, yielding balance (dynamic equilibrium). Such is the Law of nature. Neither Goddess nor God came before the other, nor did one create the other. Instead, "there was balance between them and through their harmony they created all things above and below."
I hope my efforts please the God and Goddess. I now make this tradition known that it might live in honor of spiritual balance and earthly peace. | 
