Haven Song Coven & Grove

While the autumn equinox itself has clearly been recognized across cultures for millennia, Mabon as a Sabbat was developed during the pagan revival and reconstruction of the mid-20th century, similar to its vernal counterpart, Ostara.

Mabon celebrates the autumn equinox, a time when daylight and darkness will stand in balance, and after which our days will grow darker and colder as our half of the Earth moves further from the Sun.

Lammas is traditionally celebrated on August 1st and is the midway point between the Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox, and one of four Gaelic seasonal festivals, along with Imbolc, Beltane, and Samhain .

This year our Litha Work of Circle for the home practitioner includes a celebration of the light and color of the Solstice!

Following the discussion around the role of sexuality in Wiccan practice at Beltane, I wanted to briefly tackle the topic of gender in Wiccan practice overall.

Litha is the summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. The Sun, having reached its apex, will now start to quiet sooner and rise later until balance is restored again at the Autumn Equinox.

This year our Beltane Work of Circle for the home practitioner includes a "motivating charm" spell to help us continue to work and achieve those projects that were started earlier this year.

Beltane is an annual reminder to create and maintain space for asexual, aromantic, and childless/childfree practioners.

Beltane (AKA May Day) is the cross-quarter between Ostara (Spring Equinox) and Litha (Summer Solstice). This year we look to the Ancient Greek flower celebrations for inspiration in maintaining our productivity.

Eggs are a classic sign of the return of life. So why do we associate them with rabbits this time of year?

This year our Work of the Circle for the home practitioner includes a signal boost for Good Trouble!

We know very little-to-nothing of Eostre/Ostara as an ancient Germanic Goddess/holiday. Oh well!

Ostara is the vernal equinox, a time when night & day stand in perfect balance, after which the days grow longer & the air begins to warm.

This year our Imbolc Work of Circle for the home practitioner includes a How To on Brigid Crosses and recipe for our Imbolc Splash.

An overcast sky did not dull a trip to RVA's Wayside Spring (4900 block of New Kent Rd) to collect spring water as part of Imbolc prep.

Imbolc (IM-mulk) marks the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, and this year we celebrate on Feb 1st!

We sing a slightly altered version of The Holly and the Ivy every year at Yule.