Highcross Quarter Sabbat of Samhain

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It is a time to invoke rites and ritual to rid ourselves of our negative aspects and weak points ready for the new year.

What's in a name?

Throughout history various faiths have used astronomy to guide their festivals and occasions in faith.

This is certainly so with pagans and wiccan's throughout the ages who have used markers defined by the pagan Highcross and cross quarter days set within the solstices and Equinoxes.

With our coven, here in Leicester, Leicestershire, England this is the same today. We still use the markers set by Highcross and Cross Quarter days to define our calendar which in turn sets the hour and day for ritual.

He is right... witchcraft is not a religion but wicca is.

No Rowling Rhetoric here...

For those of you drawn to Wicca and Witchcraft by hollywoodesque fantasies underpinned by JK Rowling rhetoric I say go read this website here instead as what I am about to tell you will blast the your self adhesive silver stars right off your pointy "made on a damp saturday afternoon" black hat.

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Highcross Quarter Sabbat of Imbolc

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Imbolc is really also a festival of purification rite, stripping away of the aged and the old in expectation of the fresh and new.

Cross Quarter Sabbat of Eostara

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Can be correctly spelt either as Oestara or Eostara

The earth heals after winter and begins to blossom. Darkness is banished and subdued by light... until Litha days will be longer than the nights.

Yesteryear in the time of our ancestors Eostara was an occasion of sowing and setting seed.

Highcross Quarter Sabbat of Beltaine

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Beltaine is really regarded as the most important Sabbat after Samhain. The commencement of Summer. It is a sabbat of fertility, but mostly it is a sabbat of joy and quickening. Named from the Celtic god of flame Bel, the igniter of fires is a regular element of Beltaine sabbats. It's association of flame also makes Beltaine a sabbat of purification and cleansing.

Cross Quarter Sabbat of Cancer

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Sabbat of transition and change, when the God evolves from youthful warrior to aged sage and wise being. Also a time for of great rejoicing, but also of introspection, and analysis in making sure objectives are still on track and addressing the negative attributes in our lives.

Highcross Quarter Sabbat of Lughnassadh

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It is also viewed as the time to prepare for God's inevitable demise. The Goddess enters her era as Crone. It is a time of showing gratitude for what we have, and all that we will have, and all that others have sacrificed for us.

Cross Quarter Sabbat of Mabon

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Mabon was the second harvest, and as such becomes another holiday of thanksgiving.

It is also the day when darkness once more overtakes light, and so it is a day of planning, reflection, and the contemplation of mysteries.

Cross Quarter Sabbat of Yule

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Yule is primarily a sabbat of life emerging from darkness and is honoured with the exchange of gifts.

The God Birth

Elvaston Castle Country Park

Well its time again for an old favourite of ours. Elvaston Country Park, frequently used by us for our Samhain Sabbat.

Those of us who can get to the annual picnic in the park find it a nice change to see the park in daylight. Morrigan and I (Aeshia) always try to get to this event.

"Witchcraft in Art"

Major new slide show entitled "Witchcraft in Art" on this website in March 2009.