I love the changing.
Every year, as we go from season to season, I note the changing quality of the light, watching as the Sun moves from its furthest northern home on Summer Solstice, to its most distant point south around December 21.
In some indigenous cultures, dances were held at winter solstice to give the Sun strength enough to return north. As someone who doesn’t like being cold, I admit I’m always happy to see the seasonal pages turn after the new year.
In the Pagan world, solar festivals, known as Sabbats, mark the Sun’s journey from here to there; solstices, equinoxes and the four midpoints are celebrated, each in a manner befitting its season.
The New Series
The Sabbat Series are readings done on or around the time of each celebration (see below). The first will begin on Winter Solstice (December 21) and be available until Imbolc (February 1). Each is based on the energy of the Sabbat, and the wisdom of the Ancestors who were deeply in tune with each turn of the Wheel.
Regardless of the Sabbat, I will always draw a card to represent the Ancestor who comes through; in addition I’ll use my pendulum to approximate the time and place in which they lived.
**Full details for the Yule reading will be posted on November 1, 2024.**
Readings: Timing and Theme
❄️Yule: Winter Solstice December 21
Theme: Rebirth, inner light, the return of the sun.
Yule marks the longest night of the year and the rebirth of the sun, symbolizing renewal and hope. It’s a powerful time for reflecting on the lessons of past generations and moving toward new beginnings. Read more here.
🌼Imbolc: February 1
Theme: Purification, new beginnings, the stirrings of spring.
Imbolc is about clearing away what no longer serves, preparing for new growth, and igniting the inner flame. It’s a time to honor your ancestors for their resilience and purifying their lessons.
🌷Ostara: Spring Equinox March 20
Theme: Balance, fertility, renewal, growth.
As day and night balance, Ostara marks the beginning of spring and new life. It’s a time to sow seeds—both literal and metaphorical—and honor the balance of light and dark in ancestral teachings.
🌹Beltane: April 30
Theme: Fertility, passion, abundance, union.
Beltane is a celebration of life, love, and fertility. It’s about connecting with the vibrancy of the earth and honoring ancestors for the life force that runs through you.
🌻: Summer Solstice June 21
Theme: Power, strength, culmination of goals.
The longest day of the year, Litha is a celebration of light and the fullness of life. It’s a time to recognize the strength of your ancestors and the power they’ve passed down to you.
🏵️Lammas: August 1
Theme: Harvest, gratitude, abundance.
Lammas is the first harvest festival, a time of reaping what you’ve sown and giving thanks. It’s a powerful moment to acknowledge the legacy of hard work, gratitude, and abundance your ancestors have provided.
🍁Mabon: Fall Equinox September 21
Theme: Balance, reflection, gratitude, second harvest.
Mabon is a time of balance as day and night are equal, and it’s the second harvest. It’s a moment to reflect on the lessons learned throughout the year and give thanks to your ancestors for their guidance and sustenance.
🍂Samhain: October 31
Theme: Honoring the dead, the thinning of the veil, deep ancestral connections.
This is the time when the veil between worlds is at its thinnest, making it perfect for connecting with ancestors, honoring those who’ve passed, and deepening spiritual understanding.
Hi Nancy! I am very new to pendulum work. Could you tell me how to use the pendulum to determine the time and place for an ancestor I’m working with? Could you hold the pendulum over a map ( I hope that’s not silly), or do you narrow it down gradually with Yes/No questions? Something else? Thanks for your help?