Imbolc/Candlemas

February 1 or 2

Purification, preparation, & potential

A cross-quarter sabbat on the Wheel of the Year, Imbolc is celebrated in early February (1st or 2nd) in the northern hemisphere (early August in the southern hemisphere), the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

Meaning “in the belly,” Imbolc is a celebration of potential. The earth begins to thaw, and the first signs of life return. It’s a time for cleansing, blessing, and planting spiritual seeds.

Brigid

Imbolc is most commonly associated with Brigid, a Celtic goddess and a powerful symbol of feminine creativity and empowerment. Invoked to inspire creativity and craftsmanship, she is the patroness of the arts, especially poetry and smith work. She promotes creativity and artistic expression. The peaceful times spent at your craft, when concentration and meditation meld, are when her effect is most noticeable.

Themes

• Renewal and purification

• Awakening, rebirth, and new beginnings

• Light returning and lengthening days

• Fertility and potential

• Embracing stillness

• Resting in preparation

Workings

• Home cleansing rituals

• Candle blessings

• Dedication or re-dedication to your spiritual path

• Fertility and creativity spells

• Tool cleansing and re-consecration

• Intention setting

Elements

• Fire: inspiration, transformation, the returning sun

• Water: fluidity, intuition

Symbols

• Besom

• Brigid’s cross

• Candles and fire

• Corn dollies

• Seeds and sprouting plants

• The sun and hearth

• Wells and sacred water

Colors

• Brown: the re-emerging earth

• Green: growth, fertility, renewal

• Pale Gold: sunlight, inspiration

• Red: life force, fire, transformation

• White: purity, light, new beginnings

Stones

• Amethyst: spiritual growth, intuition

• Garnet: passion, vitality, regeneration

• Moonstone: new beginnings, feminine energy

• Onyx: healing, decision making

• Peridot: releasing that which no longer serves

Animals

• Bear: re-awakening

• Bees: hard work, harmony, light

• Serpents: wisdom, rebirth, cycles

• Sheep and lambs: fertility, renewal, sacred to Brigid

• Swans: grace, transformation

Herbs & Plants

• Angelica: protection, healing

• Basil: clarity, purification

• Bay: wisdom, vision, manifestation

• Blackberry: protection, prosperity, sacred to Brigid

• Chamomile: calm, renewal

• Heather: cleansing, fertility

• Lavender: peace, clarity

• Rosemary: memory, cleansing, fire energy

• Snowdrop: new growth, return of life

Trees

• Birch: new beginnings, purification

• Hazel: wisdom, creativity, divine connection

• Rowan: protection, insight, inspiration

• Willow: intuition, cycles, water energy

Food

• Blackberries: protection, prosperity, sacred to Brigid

• Bread and grains: sustenance, prosperity

• Herbal teas: healing, purification

• Honey: sweetness, blessings

• Milk, butter, and cheese: fertility, nourishment

• Root vegetables: grounding, seasonal abundance

• Seeds: new beginnings

OSTARA

March 19–22

Nurturing, Potential, Fresh Growth

Ostara, the Vernal Equinox (typically March 19–22 in the Northern Hemisphere), is a pagan festival marking the first day of spring. It has its roots in Germanic and Norse traditions and honors the balance of day and night, celebrating fertility, renewal, and new beginnings. It is named after the Germanic goddess, Ēostre.
Ostara marks the middle of spring, where day and night are of equal length, balancing the cold of winter with the coming heat of summer.

Deities
• Artemis
• Blodeuwedd
• Isis
• Eos
• Ēostre (Ostara)
• Freya
• Pan
• Persephone
• Vesna

Themes
• Balance
• Fertility
• New Beginnings
• Reawakening of nature
• Rebirth

Workings
• Balance meditations
• Egg magic and oomancy
• Fertility rituals
• Garden & seed blessings
• Home cleansing/decluttering
• Reconnecting with nature

Elements
• Air: movement & change
• Earth: growth

Symbols
• Bird nests
• Budding trees
• Eggs
• Hares & Rabbits
• Lambs
• Seeds
• Spring flowers

Colors
• Lavender: tranquility, harmony
• Pale Green: new growth
• Pale Yellow: warmth & illumination
• Pink: affection & nurturing care
• Robin’s Egg Blue: expansive possibilities
• White: innocence & fresh potential

Stones
• Amethyst: calm, intuition, spiritual connection
• Aquamarine: honesty, courage
• Citrine: joy, positivity, warmth
• Clear Quartz: clarity, freshness, balances energies
• Moss Agate: abundance, growth
• Moonstone: fertility, rebirth, feminine energy
• Rose Quartz: love & harmony

Animals
• Chicks & Goslings: new life
• Hares & Rabbits: fertility
• Lambs: future abundance

Herbs & Plants
• Forsythia: return of the light, warmth
• Lemongrass: removes obstacles
• Lavender: peace, balance
• Mint: renewal, energy
• Nettle: cleansing, breaking old patterns

Trees
• Alder: bridging the gap between heaven and earth
• Ash: rapid growth
• Birch: new beginnings, purification
• Hawthorn: its blossoms signal the end of winter
• Hazel: wisdom, creativity, divine connection

Food
• Eggs: rebirth
• Honey: sweetness, blessings
• Lamb: return of abundance
• Seeds & Sprouts: new beginnings
• Spring greens: reawakening of nature

BELTANE
May 1

Protection, Passion, Creativity

Beltane (Bealtaine) is celebrated on May 1st in the Northern Hemisphere, is a vibrant Celtic fire festival marking the peak of spring and the beginning of summer. Themes of protection, fertility, passion, creative fire, growth, and manifesting the spiritual into the physical are in focus. Traditions include dancing the Maypole, bonfires, May Queen crownings, handfastings, honoring the union of the masculine and the feminine, and the blessing of people, livestock, and crops.

It is a liminal time where boundaries are thin, often celebrated with joy and a connection to the faerie realm.
Fire was the central element in the Beltane festival. The ‘need fire’ was a sacred fire kindled from a single flame after all other hearth fires in the community were extinguished. People jumped the fire to bring fertility, healing, transformation and to pledge themselves to each other.

Historically, Beltane was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. In Britain and Northern Europe it has merged into May Day.

Deities
• Aphrodite
• Artemis
• Belenus (Bel)
• CernunnosThe Green Man
• Cybele
• Danu (Anu)
• Eros
• Flora
• Freya
• Hera
• Pan

Themes
• Creation/Fertility
• Protection
• Tangible growth
• Union of the spiritual and the physical

Workings
• Creation meditations
• Dancing, singing, and, merry0making with intention
• Fertility spells
• Ward-making & re-charging

Elements
• Earth: tangible growth, connect with the physical world
• Fire: creative passion

Symbols
• Bonfires
• Flower garlands & crowns
• May bush
• Maypole
• Ribbons

Colors
• Green: fertility
• Pink: new love
• Purple: intuition
• Orange: creative energy
• Red: passion
• Yellow: joy

Stones
• Carnelian: joy, positivity, warmth
• Clear Quartz: clarity, freshness, balances energies
• Moss Agate: abundance, growth
• Moonstone: fertility, rebirth, feminine energy
• Rose Quartz: love & harmony

Animals
• Bees & Butterflies: fertility
• Deer: wildness
• Frogs: new life
• Hares & Rabbits: rapid growth
• Livestock: prosperity
• Swallows: messengers of spring, bringers of good fortune

Herbs & Plants
• Bluebell: truthfulness, fae flower
• Daisy: happiness
• Dandelion: purification, the sun
• Lily of the Valley: tenderness, motherhood, fae flower
• Primrose: youth, affection, sweetness
• Purple Lilac: banish negativity, first love
• Mugwort: prophecy, intuition
• Rosemary: fire herb
• Wild Violets: protection, affection
• Rose: love & affection

Trees
Thought to possess unique properties, the nine sacred woods used for Beltane bonfires in Celtic tradition are:
• Alder: Shielding, clearing & protection
• Ash: Abundance, prosperity, health & transformation
• Birch: New beginnings, renewal, change & feminine energy
• Hawthorn: Happiness, nature, the fae
• Hazel: Wisdom, dreams, prosperity
• Holly: Protection, healing, good luck
• Oak: Abundance, success, confidence, masculine energy
• Rowan: Success, power, protection & life energy
• Willow: Intuition, divination, & mastery

These trees are believed to create a powerful, protective need fire.

Food
• Dandelion
• Early fruits & edible flowers
• Honey
• Mead
• Oats
• Spring greens

LITHA
(Summer Solstice/Midsummer)

June 20–22

Fertility, Abundance, Celebration

Litha is a pagan holiday and fire festival celebrating the summer solstice (typically June 20–22 in the Northern Hemisphere). As the longest day and shortest night of the year, it marks the pinnacle of the sun’s power, honoring abundance, fertility, and nature with traditions like bonfires, floral crowns, handfastings, and feasts.
Like Beltane, fire is an element of Litha. Bonfires were lit to assist the sun as it journeyed across the sky, changing course and shortening the days. It was believed that the faerie realm was the most accessible during Midsummer Night.

In some modern neo-pagan traditions, Litha is one of the times the Oak King and the Holly King battle for control. During the winter solstice, The Oak King (who represents daylight) is victorious and reigns from Yule to Litha, seen in the increasing daylight hours. However, during Litha, the Holly King wins this battle, and the days get steadily darker until Yule.

Deities
• Áine • Lugh
• Apollo • Sekhmet
• Belanus • Sol Invictus
• Danu • Sulis Minerva
• Helios • Sunna (Sól)
• Hestia • Vesta
• Juno

Themes
• Abundance
• Growth & fertility
• Strength & power
• Warmth, brightness, joy, celebration

Workings
• Dancing, singing, and, merry-making with intention
• Empowerment spells
• Fire & solar divination
• Solar crystal & tool charging

Elements
• Earth: fertility, abundance, prosperity
• Fire: warmth, celebration, passion
• Water: nourishment for growth

Symbols
• Antlers
• Bonfires
• Flower garlands & crowns
• Spirals
• Sun, sun wheels, mandalas
• Wands, staves, stangs

Colors
• Gold: solar energy, abundance, vitality, and success
• Green: fertility, prosperity, verdant growth
• Orange: warmth, creativity, and joy
• Red: passion, fire, life force
• Yellow: solar energy, happiness, hope
• White: freshness & brightness

Stones
• Amber: protection
• Carnelian: courage, action, vitality
• Citrine: abundance, prosperity, joy, & manifestation
• Clear quartz: amplification
• Garnet: motivation
• Moss agate: “gardener’s stone”protects plants, aids in growth
• Sunstone: leadership, self-worth, creativity
• Red Jasper: grounding & strength
• Tiger’s Eye: empowerment & confidence

Animals
• Bee: community, productivity
• Eagle: strength & power, connection to spirit
• Horse: power & movement
• Salamander: fire & rebirth
• Stag: virility & wild, untamed energy

Herbs & Plants
• Bay: success & prosperity
• Calendula: progress, positivity, protection, prosperity
• Chamomile: calm, comfort, healing, purification
• Daisy: innocence & purity
• Honeysuckle: sweetness, joy, affection
• Lavender: harmony, peace, love
• Lemon Balm: positive energy, purification
• Orange: abundance & prosperity
• St. John’s Wort: protection, health, divination
• Strawberry: blessings, love, fertility
• Sunflower: happiness & vitality
• Vervain: purification, fertility, intuition, & enchantment

Trees
• Elder: prosperity, health, transformation, fae tree
• Oak: abundance, strength, success, confidence
• Rowan: courage & protection

Food
• Citrus fruits
• Fruit-based beverages
• Fresh salads & vegetables
• Grilled foods
• Herb-seasoned dishes
• Honey
• Mead
• Strawberries & other summer berries

Lughnasadh/Lammas

August 1

First Harvest, Abundance, Gratitude

Lughnasadh (pronounced LOO-nuh-suh) is a traditional Gaelic festival marking the start of the harvest season. Celebrated on August 1st—or halfway between the summer solstice and autumn equinox—the holiday honors the Celtic god Lugh and is historically associated with first fruits, feasting, athletic games, and community gatherings.

The festival gets its name from Lugh, a prominent deity in Celtic mythology known as a master craftsman, warrior, and sun god. According to myth, Lugh established the festival as a funeral feast and athletic competition in honor of his foster mother, Tailtiu, who died of exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for farming.

Historically, the festival marked the beginning of autumn and was considered a critical time to secure food for the approaching winter.

Deities
• Danu (Anu) • Lugh
• Demeter/Ceres • Osirus
• Hermes/Mercury • Tailtiu
• Hestia/Vesta

Themes
• Abundance
• Communal strength
• Gratitude and reflection
• Preparation

Workings
• Abundance and prosperity work
• Gratitude work
• Personal growth
• Transformation

Elements
• Earth: security, abundance, prosperity
• Fire: warmth, celebration, vitality

Symbols
• Corn Dollies & wheat weavings
• Burry Man
• Hay wagons
• John Barleycorn
• Sickles & scythes
• Sheaves of Wheat
• Sunflowers

Colors
• Brown: the earth, harvested grains
• Burnt Orange: celebration, the turn towards autumn
• Green: height of abundance
• Red: strength and energy
• Yellow-Gold: solar energy, peak of warmth

Stones
• Amber: protection
• Bronzite: grounding, shielding, balance
• Carnelian: action, vitality, and motivation
• Citrine: abundance
• Garnet: life force
• Sunstone: solar vitality
• Tiger’s Eye: grounding
Animals
• Bee: community, productivity
• Butterflies: celebration, end of summer, transformation
• Fox: resilience and innovation
• Grasshoppers: preparation for winter
• Horse: strength, hard work, dedication
• Livestock: sustenance and security
• Rooster: Lugh, vigilance, awakening, and renewal
• Squirrels: taking stock of blessings

Herbs & Plants
• Barley: abundance, success and prosperity
• Chamomile: calm, comfort, healing, purification
• Goldenrod: good fortune, prosperity, and hidden wisdom
• Hops: celebration
• Marigolds: solar energy, ancestral connection, and protection
• Poppies: remembrance, death and rebirth, flower of Demeter
• Sunflower: happiness and vitality
• Sweet Corn: sweetness of summer
• Wheat: sustenance and security
• Yarrow: intuition, boundary-setting, and healing

Trees
• Hazel: divination and magic, associated with Hermes
• Oak: abundance, strength, success, confidence, longevity
• Rowan: courage & protection

Food
• Beer/ale
• Berries
• Bread and baked goods
• Cheese
• Cherries
• Cider
• Honey
• Jams & jellies
• Mead
• Nuts & Seeds
• Oats
• Pies: sweet and savory
• Wine

October 31, Samhain/Halloween