Sun Sabbats and Moon Sabbats

Sun sabbats refer to the cross quarter days, which are based on the astronomical position of the sun.

circle of the year.. showing high cross quarters, cross quarters and corresponding elements of earth, air, fire and water

"Moon sabbats" can be observed on Full Moons, typically the one closest to the traditional cross quarter date or the 2nd full moon after the preceding cross quarter day.

This would place the moon sabbat anywhere from twenty nine to fifty nine days after the preceding solstice or equinox.

Moon sabbats can also be observed on the nearest Lunar phase to the Cross quarter
day.

Imbolc: New, Crescent
1st Quarter

Beltane: 1st Quarter
gibbous, Full Moon

Lammas: Full, Disseminating
3rd Quarter

Samhain: 3rd Quarter
Balsamic, New

High Cross Quarter - Sabbat of Samhain

Samhain (High Cross Quarter)

Samhain (sow- en) - Categorised as a High Cross Quarter Sabbat
15 degrees of Scorpio. - November 1st

Wiccan Mythology: The overthrow and death of God
Banquet of the Dead. Samhain is also the Wiccan New Year. It is a sabbat to honour and to bid farewell to loved ones who have died, especially if they passed away within the last year.

Samhain is additionally a sabbat for reflection upon the previous twelve months and also for crafting plans for the next twelve months.

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

Symbolism: How is it we commence the year with a sabbat focusing upon death? Death is vital for rebirth, and the two frequently occur simultaneously. In many pagan cultures, the new year was celebrated with chaotic festivities bringing on a symbolic end of the world. The Roman Saturnalia is one very apt example.

The Goddess enters her dark phase as she mourns for her son and consort, and the dark God takes up the rulership of Winter, leading the wild hunt of the fey over the earth.

High Cross Quarter Website Slideshow

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High Cross Quarter Gallery

our leicester leicestershire coven celebrates this sabbat

High Cross Quarter Sabbat of Samhain

Click Image for full details of this sabbat

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 High Cross 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 High Cross and Cross Quarter days to define our calendar which in turn sets the hour and day for ritual.
Bush actually right in saying witchcraft is not a religion... but wicca is.

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

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 of Imbolc a favourite of our leicester coven here in leicestershire.

High Cross 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.
our leicester leicestershire coven celebrates this sabbat

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.
our leicester leicestershire coven celebrates this sabbat

High Cross 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.
our leicester leicestershire coven celebrates this sabbat

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.
our leicester leicestershire coven celebrates this sabbat

High Cross 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.
our leicester leicestershire coven celebrates this sabbat

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.
our leicester leicestershire coven celebrates this sabbat

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 - Near Derby - A favourite event we always try to attend. Good fun with old friends.

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.