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Imbolc: The Gaelic Festival Explained As inhabitants of this Earth, we are at the mercy of the seasons.  From harvesting foods to tending to livestock, the weather and hours of sunlight determine how and when we conduct ourselves to survive.  And while modern practices such as greenhouses, factory farming and hydroponics create conditions less dependent on temperatures, the need to agriculturally align ourselves with the divisions of our calendar year remains necessary. Think back to a time when there were no indoor options for gardening and animal husbandry. The cycles of the seasons were observed, obeyed and - most importantly - celebrated....

Lughnasadh: Celebrating the First Harvest As summer's warmth enters its prime, the earth bears the fruits of its labor, and nature's bounty is ready for harvest. In the Wheel of the Year cycle of seasonal festivals, this moment is marked by Lughnasadh, a traditional Celtic festival that celebrates the first harvest. Lughnasadh (pronounced LOO-nuh-suh) is a time of both gratitude for the season's abundance and anticipation for the approaching autumn. Lughnasadh has deep roots in Celtic history and mythology, tracing back to ancient times when it was a significant agricultural festival. It marked the beginning of the harvest season, specifically...

Beltane: The Celtic Fire Festival "Wear a tall hat like a druid in the old days  Wear a tall hat and a tattooed gown  Ride a white swan like the people of the Beltane  Wear your hair long, babe you can't go wrong"  - Marc Bolan The first time I heard the word “Beltane” was in the second verse of the fabulous T. Rex song, “Ride a White Swan”. I knew it was mystical and otherworldly but didn’t know much else. Fast forward a few decades and here I am learning all I can about this fascinating Gaelic seasonal festival...

Embracing Winter Solstice & the Festival of Yule With the longest night upon us in the Northern Hemisphere, a celebration of light, warmth, and ancient traditions emerges from the heart of Celtic heritage. Yule, a festival deeply rooted in the pagan calendar, marks the winter solstice and has evolved over centuries into a rich tapestry of history, rituals, and contemporary celebrations.  The celebration of the winter solstice has its origins in many ancient worlds, where communities revered the changing seasons and the celestial dance of the sun. The word “solstice” is from the Latin for solstitium - sol (sun) and...

Mabon: Celebrating the Autumn Equinox The Autumn Equinox signals a time of reflection, gratitude, and balance. As the days shorten and the leaves begin to turn brilliant shades of red and gold, this ancient pagan festival, celebrated around September 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere, marks the midpoint between the summer and winter solstices. The literal definition of equinox is “equal” (equi) + “night” (nox) and signifies the two moments of the year when the sun is directly over the equator with an equal number of day hours and night hours. As we prepare ourselves for the harvest and...