Our Holydays (holidays)

   Contents:

1. February 1-2: Imbolg

2. March 20: Invocation of Horus, Equinox of the Gods

3. March 20 - 23: Spring Equinox

4. April 8 - 10: Three Days of the Writing of the Book of the Law
   Over these three days in April 1904 e.v., Aleister Crowley received the three chapters of The Book of the Law. These holidays are typically celebrated with readings of each chapter on its respective day. 

5. April 8: Nuit day, (The infinite around)

6. April 9: Hadit day, (The infinite within)

7. April 10: Ra Hoor Khuit day, (The union of the two)

8. April 30 - May 1: Bealtaine

9. June 20 - 22: Midsummer

10. July 31 - August 2: Lughnasadh

11. August 12: First Night of the Prophet and his Bride
    On this day in 1903 e.v., Aleister Crowley was married to his first wife, Rose Kelly. Rose was to play an important part in the inauguration of the New Aeon and the reception of The Book of the Law. 

12. September 19 - 23: Autumn Equinox

13. October 12: "Crowleymas"
    The anniversary of Aleister Crowley's birth in 1875 e.v.. 

14. October 31: Samhain

15. December 1: Crowley's "Greater Feast"
    A celebration to commemorate the death of Aleister Crowley on this day in 1947 e.v.. 

16. December 20 - 23: Yule

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SACRED WHEEL OF THE YEAR

These ancient festivals celebrate and revere the cycles of life: birth, maturity, death, and always - change. They are deep, ancient, lunar-based, sacred and mysterious points in time. As are all rituals, they are a form or medium through which we may transcend our mundane reality, and move between the worlds to Sacred Goddess Space, a place out of time. It is thought that on these days there appears an opening in the crack between the worlds. Holydays are celebrated at the two Solstices, and Equinoxes (the Quarter Holidays), and on the Cross-Quarter Holidays of Brigit, Beltane, Lammas and samhain. They are a recognition of the changes in the cosmos, and a personal celebration of our cycles as women (Star Beings). "The seasons have a rhythm, a natural energy that peaks and declines, like the waves of the ocean. They are the indicators of the ebb and flow of nature. The Cross-Quarter holydays, which occur in the fixed signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius are called the Power Gates. They release the beginning of an elemental power tide that recharges our magical batteries, drawing down the power current (magick) from the opening between the worlds." It's easier to work with the tides when you know when they occur.
SACRED WHEEL OF LIFE
The solstices mark the boundaries of light and darkness. Winter solstice is the day when there is least light on the planet, the North point on the wheel, when the nights are longest. It is our most inward and reflective time. From that point until Summer Solstice, time of maximum light, and south point on the wheel, the days grow longer and the light increases. It is the most outward and active period of the entire year. After summer solstice the light again begins to wane.
Spring and Fall Equinox are the midpoints in energy between the solstices; and mark equal day and night. Breaking it down even further, midpoints between the Solstices and Equinoxes are the cross-quarter holydays of Brigit (Candlemas), Beltane, Lammas and Samhain (Hallomas).

-Ffiona Morgan; Wild Witches Don't Get The Blues
In between each solstice and equinox falls a day which has special ritual significance in many of the cultures where the Goddess was worshipped. It is felt that on these days the energy inaugurated at the solstice and equinox becomes manifest. In the Demeter/Persephone myth, Persephone is born at the Winter Solstice; at Candlemas, Feb. 2, she is still an infant; at Spring Equinox she is a growing child, and at Beltane, May 1, she comes of age and into her menarche. At summer solstice she discovers and enters the labyrinth; on Lammas, Aug. 1, she reaches Hecate in the underground; at the fall Equinox Demeter mourns for her daughter and all vegetation dies; at All Hallows, Oct. 31, Demeter finds Persephone. This is the time when the living and the dead are reunited; it has been considered the end of the year in Wiccan traditions. At winter Solstice, Persephone returns form the underworld and is reborn.
The Demeter/Persephone story was celebrated in Greece in the Eleusinian Mysteries. Persephone seems to embody the vegetation, and particularly the corn, which is buried under the soil for months during winter and sprouts again in the spring. Demeter represents the earth, which dies, is reborn, and is united with Persephone, the new corn. This myth is similar to the Egyptian of Isis and Osiris, the Syrian Astarte and Adonis, and the Phrygian Cybele and Attis. In these myths, the male god represents the vegetation and the corn; he dies each year and then is reborn and united with his female consort, who symbolizes the earth.
Thus, the waxing part of the cycle begins at Winter Solstice where the days lengthen, the warmth returns, seeds are planted and blossom. At Summer Solstice, the waning cycle is inaugurated; the mature crops are harvested, the energy is concentrated back into the roots, the earth is barren and dies, the coldness and darkness of winter sets in.
-Marcia Starck Women's Medicine Ways (cross-cultural rites of passage) 1. Imbolg, Candlemas, St. Brighid's Day, feast of lights
The strengthening spark of light beginning to pierce the gloom of Winter. Candlemas is a time when the light of rebirth grows stronger; it is a time for retreat and rekindling of the inner fire. Brigit is the triple Goddess of the flame. Brighid was a mighty Celtic Triple Goddess, patron of artists, crafts wimmin and healers, known for her cauldron of transformation. She was famous for her love of poor folk.
It was not until the patriarchal religions came along did we start thinking of loving feelings and commitment to the higher power as two different things. Then commitment came to mean suffering and sacrifice, and not the joyous feeling of being in total accord with all that is. It is a time to understand the power and the powerfulness that is felt once you give up your Ego in surrender. Surrender does not mean the surrender into suffering that was a hallmark of the Christian martyrs, but one of letting go of the Ego and getting in touch with your essence; that very spark of life that keeps you moving on your path, learning, growing and becoming.
This is a European festival of the beginning of spring, to coax the sun's return and bring an end to the cold weather. Rituals focus on fertility, purification and initiation.
Like most ancient festivals, it began at the preceding moonrise when every candle and lamp was lit. fires burned in all the hearths and outside bonfires blazed. Brighid's fires are lit with the last of the dry Yule greenery kept for that purpose: every women contributes beginnings. a new broom, decked with ribbon streamers, had the same significance. paper birds were burned to symbolize Goddess offerings for each other's health, happiness and prosperity. Old flames were extinguished and new ones lit at night fall. Brighid's celebration was to encourage the suns swift return and to bring an end to winter. In Scandinavia crowns of lighted candles adorned the heads of celebrants and merry choruses coaxed the sun closer to grace us with Her light. Brighid hails spring.

March 20:

Invocation of Horus
The supreme ritual is the Invocation of Horus, which brought about the opening of the New Aeon. Celebrated at the Spring Equinox.  The anniversary of the beginning of the Aeon of Horus in 1904 e.v.. This date also marks the beginning of the Thelemic New Year.

March 20 - 23:

Spring Equinox
All over the world there is equal day and night, dark and light in balance.
Spring equinox is a time when plants begin to burst forth form the earth, when leaves appear on the trees, and the movement of insects is felt again. Spring is a time when Persephone returns from the underworld as a young girl, and mother and daughter play together out in the fields and usher in the new growth. It is a time for each of us to honour the child within and give voice to that child. It is also a time for each of us to cleanse our bodies and spirits in preparation for the rebirth. The traditional fertility festival, Eostre (Easter), was to celebrate the Virgin Goddesses, rebirth of the Earth, and make magic for her fruitfulness. The word Easter comes from Eostra or Oestre, Goddess of fertility, known in early Briton. The hare and the scarlet egg are sacred symbols of regenerative power. During Oestre's festival, hot cross buns are eaten; their origin is symbolic of the yoni or vulva.
The ash is the tree of Spring equinox, a tree of magic, the Goddess' tree of justice. With the beauty of the season comes fierce love of the Earth and new vows to help protect what sacred beauties are still left for us. We know we can always begin again in spring, and each time, we are older and wiser.
This is the Direction of the East, the season of beginnings. The rhythm of life picks up, we spring-clean our closets, altars and psyches, and dust the cobwebs form our house and mind. I marvel at life around me; there is renewed hope for change.
4. 8th of April- Nuit day (the infinite without) 5. 9th of April- Hadit day (The infinite within) 6. 10th of April- Ra Hoor Khuit day (The union of the two) 7. Bealtaine, May day
Beltane was another of the ancient fire festivals in Europe. Flowers open at Beltane. The children make flower wreaths to wear and garlands of flowers adorn the wimmin's houses in celebration of this festival. It is opposite Samhain (all Hallows) on the wheel. samhain is the time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest, and Beltane the time when the worlds are furthest apart.
The Beltane fires and the Maypole celebrate fertility and the earth's ripe abundance. Persephone comes of age and is ready to experience her sexuality. Lovers play and love together. On this day we celebrate the May Queen of fertility and passion, a time when the Maiden of Spring Equinox comes of age and celebrates the fullness of her sexuality, dancing sky-clad in the fields to ensure a good harvest. wimmin open themselves in intimacy and dance the maypole outdoors to welcome summer. They leap the bonfires at night, with friends and loves. The maypole, symbol of the tree of Life, or Moon Tree, is decorated with flowers and ribbons that are attached to the top. Thanks is given for the abundance of Spring.
May day and our month were named after the ancient roman Goddess Maia, meaning to increase'.
On her day, folks rose early and went a-maying' in the woods to the sound of music to gather flowers and greenery for garlands and gifts. Garlanded revellers went from door to door singing, and were given gifts to insure prosperity of the householder in the year to come. sometimes the singers were accompanied by one womon completely covered in leaves, called the Leafy One, or the Leaf Queen, to represent the spirit of vegetation.
May time is a time when each of us needs to perform her own sacred marriage, the union of our female and male selves. Once our female and male sides are in balance, we can walk in balance in the outside world. Often our male sides push us to accomplish tasks and make ourselves heard in the world, while our female parts desire to stay home, nurture our bodies, be outside in nature, listen to music and poetry. We need to be aware of both these voices and to connect with our individual female and male selves. The Huna work from Hawaii provides a wonderful tool for doing this. Higher Self and then our female and male basic selves. Through having the three parts speak with each other, we understand the nature of our problems and the relationship between our female and male.
8. Midsummer
The earth is midpoint on her journey around the sun. It is the first day of summer and longest and strongest day of the year. The Sun, at her peak of power,rises and sets as far to the south as she gets, making her highest arc in the sky. It is the last out breath of the Earth. She is strong, out going, primal energy, and in her time everything grows. From this point on, day light begins to decrease and the nights lengthen.
Midsummer celebrates the full powers of life and the beginning of the change from a waxing to a waning year. We look forward to the inward-looking peace of the dark.
In Europe, Midsummer was a three-day festival of dancing, lovemaking and raucous behaviour. There were bonfires to celebrate the Sun, and the people jumped the flames, making wishes. There was the "old wives tale" that the summer grains would grow only as high as they were able to jump, so this became an athletic event to benefit the community. One European custom at this time was to roll a burning wheel down a hillside to imitate the action of the sun and for purification of any evil spirits. In Europe these festivals became associated with St. John's Day (June 24) and were often done the evening before. St. Johnswort is a sacred herb associated with the summer solstice just as mistletoe is used at the winter solstice. St. Johnswort is often put under the pillow to increase psychic sensitivity; from the herb is made a deep red oil that is helpful for cuts, bruises, and other wounds.
To the Native Americans, this was not as strong a time as the winter solstice, but their ceremonies do include a four-day fast and prayers to entreat the sun to get back on its course.
In the Demeter/Persephone myth, Persephone, who has come of age at Beltane, enters the labyrinth leading to Hecate and the underworld at summer solstice. Demeter does not learn of her entrance until the Fall Equinox when she grieves for Persephone and all the vegetation dies. But now, at summer solstice, there is just the beginning of darkness As the sun starts to wane, we all look at the darkness embedded within.
9. Lughnasadh, Lammas, Loaf mass
Lammas, or Lughnasadh (after the Celtic god Lugus) is one of the harvest festivals. Now the Sun is over its yearly peak and slowly begins to lose power as the days become visibly shorter. It is still hot summer, but she is nearing her end. We celebrate the darkness returning.
To Native Americans this is the season of the Sundance and Green Corn Ceremony. All cultures had representations of a corn mother or corn Goddess. To Pagans, Lammas honors the mystery of the growing grain which transforms herself into the life-giving element of bread. As witches we celebrate this first harvest to give thanks to Mother Earth for sharing Her gifts. Our fore mothers took their first fruits as offerings to the temples of the goddess. During ancient Pagan times the tribes would have fairs and markets in which to sell their wares, show and race their horses an hold conferences. some climbed holy mountains and performed a ritual, sacrificing something valuable to them, so the Earth would be fertile and bear fruit for the coming year.......... fertility rites and rituals for material abundance were held.
10. Marriage of Therion
This is the time of the marriage of Therion which made possible the revelation of the new law.
11. Autumn Equinox Thanks-giving harvest dinner. The sun's path crosses over the equator, travelling South. We celebrate the lengthening darkness as the whole world honours equal night and day. Summer is gone. We gather the fruits and vegetables from our garden, and give away what we don't need. Food is stored and prepared for winter. We compost and mulch our gardens, returning to the earth in thankfulness what she has given us, we recycle and review, enjoy the fruits of our labours, appreciating a time of plenty in preparation for a time of scarcity. This is a day and night of feasting: the Harvest meal is prepared. We share our plenty with those who do not have enough. The fall air is brisk and duller colors appear. Everything turns with the season, the leaves blow in the wind. We can still feel the waning presence of the sun. The harvest Moon is round and wheat colored, glowing from the sun, like brown and black summer bodies. Fall Equinox is the time Demeter mourns for Persephone and thus causes all in the natural world to die and mourn with her. In other goddess cultures astarte mourned Adonis (Syria), Cybele mourned Attis (Phrygia), Isis mourned Osiris (Egypt). It is a time of going within ourselves and making preparations for our survival, physically and spiritually, during the winter months. In terms of directions, fall is west, the home of the black bear, the time for introspection and deep thought. For many thousands of years in Greek culture, the Eleusiaian Mysteries were celebrated at the Fall Equinox. The Eleusiaian Mysteries dealt with the mystery of life and death and involved nine days of ceremonies. One of the bases of the Mysteries is that Demeter transforms the barren, brown land of the Eleusinian plain into a field of golden grain. In the Mysteries, one ear of corn was shown to the participants to illustrate that each birth was the coming back of the soul and that the earth's cycle of birth and death reflected the human cycle. 12. Samhain, Hallows All Hallows Eve, Samhain, are names for the celebration that marks the end of the year and the beginning of the new cycle. This is a time when the veil between the living and dead is very thin; it is a time when we can communicate with the spirits of the ancestors and the recently departed. It is the time of transition from autumn to winter. in the Demeter/Persephone myth, it represents the time when Demeter finds Persephone in the underworld and begins the long journey back with Persephone in her womb, to be born again at the Winter solstice. As in Beltane fires, the purpose of the fire was for purification, not only physical purification, but also for dispersing negative spirits. Halloween is the time of the crone, the wise wommon, and the honouring of the crone Goddess from many cultures. These Goddesses include Hecate (Greece), Kali (India), Inanna and Ereshkigal (Sumer), Nepthys (Egypt), to name a few. The cauldron of the crone is usually used in the center of the circle for rituals. The cauldron comes form the legend of Cerridwyn who had a magic cauldron. The nine wommon who guarded this magic cauldron may have been Druid priestesses form the island of Sein off the coast of Brittany; these wommon could impersonate animal spirits. Many animal spirits are present at this time and speak through the witches or wise wommon. The custom of wearing costumes arose so mortals could impersonate these animal spirits and the spirits of the dead to bring them back to life. Many cultures invoke the spirits of departed ancestors at Halloween. The christian world celebrates at this time and calls it all saints' Day. Hallows is a good time for looking into the future through the use of scrying and crystal balls; it is also an important time for getting rid of old habits and patterns. The fire in the cauldron should be used for burning and banishing the old. Prayers are also made for departed ones, for ancestors and those we want to remember as the many wise women who were burned in Europe as witches. 13. Yule, Winter solstice This ceremony was the most important to the Native Americans as it marks the beginning of a cycle. The light returns as the sun shifts and starts to move northward again. We look within ourselves now to find the new source of light and regeneration. The Goddess Persephone is reunited with her mother; the Christ child emerges from his mother's womb. At the time of the winter solstice, the sun appears to stand still for four days. Native americans refer to this time period as Earth Renewal and spend the four days in prayer and fasting, remaining close to nature and refraining from many activities, in order to give the earth a rest and pray for the sun to move on. This is a time of year when all tribal medicine bundles from clans and secret societies are opened and renewed. They are usually placed around the fire the night before the solstice, opened up, and blessed. A live potted tree, which can be planted in the earth after Yule, is part of the ritual circle, or one is decorated outside with lights or ornaments. We honour the Goddess of Life by never cutting down a live tree or purchasing one that has been cut, in reverence for the environment. We need all earth's trees, especially now when vast areas of forests are being slaughtered. Removal of too many trees that breathe out precious oxygen needed for human life on the planet, will render existence as we know it, impossible. Going into the depths, we womyn, hand-in-hand with our planet, have taken our last inbreath: on Yule we change and begin with the exhaling of the following seasons. The fire of Yule plays an important role. some rituals include staying up all night and watching for the dawn, chanting and singing herald in the new day. On this longest night, we renew and rebirth our bodies and spirit selves. In preparation for Yule we observe a day when we stop all work, stay at home and clean out things we no longer need or want, then put them aside to give to friends or those who need them. This practise was the original basis of gift-giving at this time of year.
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Other festive times are for the puberty of boys and girls respectively. A feast for life is at a birth; and a feast for death at a death. It is of the utmost importance to make funerals merry, so as to train people to take the proper view of death. The fear of death is one of the great weapons of tyrants, as well as their scourge; and it distorts our whole out look upon the universe. A feast every day in your hearts. To him who realises hadit, It is wondrous, this joy of awakening every morning to the truth of one's immortal energy and rapture. A feast every night unto Nu, and the pleasure of uttermost delight! To sleep is to return, in a sense, to the bosom of Nuit. With the Moon we follow the flow of change, Dark moon time, New moon, waxing, Full moon time and waning. Round and Round 13 full Moon times in a year. We learn from the lunar cycle how our outer realities are reflections of inner conditions and how this inner world is constantly shaping the outer world through our sacred Energy, 'chi', or the lifeforce. We need to learn how our Energy flows through our bodies and affects everything around us. Healers have understood this for centuries. A women's blood and hormonal cycle follows the ebb and flow of the moon. Women who live together bleed together, Sacred time. The moon has always been the primary symbol for female energy; its cycle around the earth takes approximately twenty-nine days, the same amount of time as the average wommon's menstrual cycle. It is often felt that as the pull of the moon affects the waters of the world, so does its motion affect the body of wommin. The moon is changeable as it waxes and wanes during the month; at first hidden; later full, round, and swollen. These characteristics of change ability and secrecy are often attributed to women. As a satellite to the earth, the moon is considered the "lesser light," reflecting, but not generating, the light of the sun. so are women often treated as satellites of men. Originally, the ancients thought that a women's body and emotions reflected the phases of the moon as it moved from one new moon to the next.

If the year is a song
The moon is the drum beat
marking the rhythm in phases,
changing moods with the signs,
waxing and waning thirteen times,
as she circles around.

The Sun is the singer whose
song changes every season
In her relationship with earth
singing ever new verses of
The twelve tunes of the zodiac
The stars give the melody line
Shaping the notes with their signs
Into patterns the planets play
The planets are the musical tones
We chant, expressing the moments we live.

We are the ones who experience the song of this year
In the notes and melodies we are learning to hear.
We play with the moon, we sing with the sun,
We join in the dance to the music of the spheres.
by Musawa

Bibliography:
  Ffiona Morgan,  Wild Witches Don't Get The Blues
  Marcia Starck,  Women's Medicine Ways
  Aleister Crowley,  The Law Is For All

  

You are the since

Dec 1, 1998

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