Guest Author - Amelia Tucker
Wicca is an earth-based religion which follows the cycles of the sun and the moon. Before the world the modern technology of today, communities relied on local agriculture to get them through the year. These communities celebrated The year based on their agriculture, such as planting and harvesting. Modern wiccans honor these traditions by celebrating eight solar holidays per year. These holidays follow the path of the sun from the shortest day of the year to the longest day and back again. Called sabbats, these dates are:
*Yule (Winter Solstice)
*Imbolc (February 2)
*Ostara (Spring Equinox)
*Beltane (May 1)
*Litha (Summer Solstice)
*Lughnassadh (August 2)
*Mabon (Autumn Equinox)
*Samhain (Oct 31)
These are the dates followed in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, they turn the wheel 180 degrees and have their sabbats opposite, following their seasons. Because these days are of the solar cycle, often celebrations will focus on the journey of the Sun God as he travels the wheel of the year.
In addition to the eight sabaats, many Wiccans also hold ritual on the 13 full moons of the year. These times are often reserved for more personal rituals such as spellworking and divination. Some Wiccans also celebrate esbats on the during the new moon as well. Each phase of the moon has its own energy, and often rituals will include a focus toward the energy of the current moon phase. See my link at the bottom of this article for more on moonwork.
Because Wicca is based on a nature religion, Wiccans work with the natural elements of air, fire, water and earth. Some traditions also include a fifth element, Spirit. Each element had a corresponding direction and trait. For instance, Air is the element of East with the properties of thought, reason and intellect. Fire is of the South and its strength is passion and action. Water in the West has a focus on intuition and emotion. Earth is to the North and corresponds with silence, growth and abundance. The fifth element, Spirit, is that which is above and below, in front of and behind. These are the general correspondences, however, in other parts of the world they may differ.
Although this is the basic idea behind Wicca, it is a religion that has many complex facets. There are numerous way to practice, with some finding that they are drawn to certain elements, plants, animals and even days of the week or moon phases. All are part of a gentle, meaningful religion known as Wicca.
