The Witch’s Sabbats: A Complete Guide to the Wheel of the Year

The Witch’s Sabbats, often referred to as the Wheel of the Year, form the foundation of many modern Pagan and witchcraft traditions.

These eight festivals follow the natural rhythms of the Earth, honoring the cycle of the sun, the changing of the seasons, and the eternal dance between light and darkness.

The Practicing Witch Diary channels this sacred rhythm of the seasons, with both a Northern Hemisphere edition and a Southern Hemisphere edition, so your magick becomes a lived practice.

Rooted in ancient agricultural and spiritual practices, the Sabbats remind you that every part of the year carries its own sacred energy. The Sabbats encourage you to live in balance with the turning of the seasons rather than apart from them.

As the Witches’ Sabbats are a wheel or cycle, there is no true beginning or ending. To start with Samhain, the Witch’s New Year, seems the most fitting place to commence.

• Samhain (Witch’s New Year)

• Yule (Winter Solstice)

• Imbolc (Festival of Renewal)

• Ēostre / Ostara (Spring Equinox)

• Beltane (Festival of Fire & Passion)

• Litha (Summer Solstice)

• Lammas / Lughnasadh (First Harvest)

• Mabon (Autumn Equinox)

For modern witches, traditional, Wiccans, and nature-based practioners, the Sabbats are not simply dates on a calendar—they are opportunities to reconnect with the land, the elements, and the cycles of growth, death, and renewal.

Each festival marks a threshold moment in the year: the planting of seeds, the blossoming of life, the fullness of harvest, the stillness of winter, and the promise of rebirth. By celebrating the Sabbats, you will weave magick into your daily life, aligning spellwork, rituals, and spiritual reflection with the energies present in nature.

Some witches prioritise certain Sabbats more than others, and they do not necessarily give the same weight of practice to each. The names of Sabbats can vary—for example, traditional witches typically use the name Lammas, as referenced by Doreen Valiente in her writings. Doreen Valiente, often called the Mother of Modern Witchcraft, worked closely with Gerald Gardner, helping him develop many of the foundational rituals and practices of Wicca. Later, she collaborated with Robert Cochrane, a figure who practiced a more traditional form of witchcraft. Because of her experience in both streams, Valiente offers valuable insight into the diverse ways witches may approach the Sabbats.

Wheel of the Year: Solstices, Equinoxes, and Festivals

The Wheel of the Year is divided into two types of Sabbats: the solstices and equinoxes (known as the Quarter Days) and the cross-quarter festivals that fall between them.

Together, these eight Sabbats mirror the agricultural cycles of planting, tending, harvesting, and resting. They are also deeply symbolic, offering insight into the human experience—growth, passion, decline, and renewal. For example, Samhain marks the end of the harvest and honors the ancestors, while Beltane celebrates fertility, passion, and the joy of life at its peak. Each turn of the Wheel carries lessons, honors, and blessings.

Instead of seeing the year as a straight line from beginning to end, the Wheel of the Year reminds you that life is cyclical. Every death leads to rebirth, every darkness gives way to light, and every harvest prepares you for the next sowing. This perspective allows witches to step more fully into harmony with the Earth, drawing strength, inspiration, and wisdom from the natural world.

Whether you are beginning your journey into witchcraft or you are seeking to deepen a long-standing practice, the Witch’s Sabbats provide a powerful framework. They offer both structure and flexibility: you may honor them through elaborate rituals with a coven, quiet reflection at your altar, or simple acts such as cooking a seasonal meal or walking through nature. However you celebrate, the Sabbats call you back to the heartbeat of the Earth, reminding you that magick is always present in the shifting seasons, waiting to be embraced.

Note: Dates for the Sabbats may shift slightly each year depending on the solar calendar and your location in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere.

Samhain – Witch’s New Year

Northern Hemisphere: October 31 | Southern Hemisphere: April 30

Themes: Death, rebirth, ancestors, mystery, transformation.

Samhain is one of the most sacred and powerful Sabbats on the Wheel of the Year. It marks the end of the harvest season and ushers in the dark half of the year, a time when the veil between worlds grows thin. Known as the Witch’s New Year, Samhain is a festival of endings and beginnings, of honoring the dead while opening ourselves to new cycles of growth. It is a liminal time, standing at the threshold between light and darkness, life and death, past and future.

In many traditions, Samhain is a time of ancestor veneration. Witches create altars for their beloved dead, adorned with photographs, candles, offerings of food or drink, and symbols that honor their lineage. This practice is not only about remembering those who came before but also about acknowledging that their wisdom, strength, and lessons still move through you. By connecting with our ancestors, you will strengthen your own roots, finding guidance and support from the generations that walked this path before you.

Samhain is also strongly associated with shadow work—the act of turning inward, facing fears, and working with the hidden parts of ourselves. Just as the natural world dies back, leaving behind bare trees and fallen leaves, you too are invited to shed what no longer serves you. Rituals at this time might include journaling, meditation, or fire spells to release old patterns. By embracing the darker aspects of your life, you create space for transformation and renewal when the light returns.

Fire has always been central to Samhain celebrations. Bonfires were traditionally lit to ward off spirits or guide them on their journey, and many witches today continue this custom. Flames symbolize both protection and transformation, burning away what is no longer needed and illuminating the mysteries hidden in the dark. Lighting a single candle can be as meaningful as a great fire, carrying the same intention of remembrance, guidance, and sacred protection.

Divination is another key practice at Samhain, for with the veil thinned, messages from beyond are easier to receive. Tarot cards, runes, pendulums, or scrying mirrors can all be used to gain insight at this time. Many witches find their dreams more vivid or symbolic around Samhain, making dreamwork another powerful way to connect with unseen realms. These practices are not just about predicting the future but about deepening self-understanding and aligning with the wisdom available in the present moment.

Celebrating Samhain does not require elaborate rituals. A walk in nature, noticing the bare branches, the cool air, or the final fruits of the harvest, can become an act of devotion. Cooking a seasonal meal with apples, pumpkins, or root vegetables and sharing it with loved ones is another traditional way to honor the turning of the year. Even setting aside a quiet moment of reflection—to consider what you are releasing and what you are ready to carry forward—aligns you with the essence of this Sabbat.

Above all, Samhain is a time of reflection and transformation. It reminds you that death is not an ending but a necessary part of the cycle of life. Just as the fields must rest before they can be planted again, you too need times of stillness and release. By honoring our ancestors, facing our shadows, and opening ourselves to the mysteries of the dark, you step into the new year with clarity, strength, and renewed purpose.

Yule – Winter Solstice

Northern Hemisphere: December 20–23 | Southern Hemisphere: June 20–23

Themes: Rebirth, hope, renewal, returning light.

Yule, the Winter Solstice, marks the longest night of the year. It is a moment of deep stillness, when darkness reaches its peak before the slow, steady return of the light. Though winter can feel harsh and unyielding, Yule reminds you that even in the greatest depths of night, the promise of renewal is already stirring. The rebirth of the sun is the heart of this festival, symbolizing resilience, hope, and the cycles of life that continue endlessly. For witches, Yule is both an ending and a beginning—a sacred pause where you honor the old year’s lessons while welcoming the quiet dawn of the new.

Ancient customs surrounding Yule often centered on evergreens—trees and plants that remained green even in the coldest, darkest months. To our ancestors, they were powerful reminders of life’s endurance, symbols of fertility and continuity in a barren landscape. Bringing evergreens indoors, hanging holly and ivy, or decorating a tree are traditions that still thrive today. In modern practice, witches may dress their trees with ornaments that carry intention—symbols of protection, prosperity, or love—to invite blessings for the year to come.

Another well-loved custom is the burning of the Yule log. In times past, a great log was chosen with care, decorated with greenery, and set alight to burn throughout the longest night. Sparks from the fire were thought to carry wishes skyward, while the ash was kept as a charm for protection and fertility. Today, many witches continue this practice on a smaller scale—burning a candle set in a log, inscribing wishes or intentions on wood, or even baking a chocolate “Yule log” cake as a symbolic nod to the tradition. However it is done, the log represents both the warmth of community and the fire of rebirth.

Feasting and gathering are also central to Yule. This is a time to come together with loved ones, share food, and honor the blessings that remain even in the coldest season. Traditional foods include root vegetables, nuts, mulled wine, apples, and spiced cakes—nourishing, hearty meals that sustain through winter. Preparing or sharing food can be an act of magick in itself: each ingredient a symbol, each dish an offering of gratitude.

On a spiritual level, Yule is an invitation to reflect on your own cycles of light and dark. Just as the sun begins its slow return, you may ask yourself: What light is being reborn in me? What seeds of hope do I carry through the winter? Many witches take this time for gentle divination, meditation, or journaling to connect with the lessons of the year past and the intentions for the year to come. Lighting candles throughout the home is another simple yet powerful way to embody the theme of renewal, each flame a reminder of the growing light.

In modern times, many of these Yule traditions have been woven into contemporary winter holidays. Gift-giving, decorated trees, festive lights, and shared meals all trace their origins back to Pagan customs that celebrated the return of the sun. For witches, reclaiming Yule is about recognizing these roots and restoring the festival’s deeper meaning. It is not only about festivity, but about attunement—honoring the cycles of nature, embracing stillness, and welcoming the gentle promise of returning warmth.

Yule is therefore both a celebration and a sacred turning point. It honors endurance through hardship, the strength found in community, and the eternal truth that even the darkest night will give way to dawn. In its quiet way, Yule teaches you to hold on to hope, to kindle inner light, and to trust that renewal always follows rest.

Imbolc – Festival of Renewal

Northern Hemisphere: February 1–2 | Southern Hemisphere: August 1–2

Themes: Renewal, creativity, purification, sacred flame.

Imbolc is the spark of light in the heart of winter, a quiet but powerful reminder that even in the coldest and darkest days, new life is stirring just beneath the surface. Falling halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, this Sabbat marks the turning of the Wheel toward spring. The days are slowly lengthening, and though the earth may still appear barren, the promise of renewal is already alive in the land. For witches, Imbolc is a sacred time of purification, inspiration, and awakening—a moment to clear away the old and prepare space for the new.

This Sabbat is dedicated to the goddess Brigid, a figure of fire, healing, poetry, and fertility. Brigid is often honored with candles, hearth fires, and offerings of milk, butter, or bread, symbols of nourishment and blessing. She represents the spark of creativity, the warmth of inspiration, and the resilience of life as it begins to push through the frozen ground. By invoking Brigid, witches call upon her guidance to bring fresh ideas, healing energy, and the courage to begin anew.

Fire rituals are central to Imbolc. Lighting candles, tending the hearth, or kindling a small flame on the altar symbolize the growing power of the sun. Each flame carries intention—the light of hope, the spark of creativity, or the warmth of purification. Witches may also perform cleansing rituals, such as sweeping the home with a besom (broom), burning incense, or using blessed water to banish stagnant energy. These practices mirror the natural world, where the old must clear away to make room for growth.

Imbolc is a time for personal renewal and intention setting. Just as farmers once prepared the land for planting, witches today use this Sabbat to prepare the inner soil of their lives. Journaling, meditation, or visioning are common practices. Writing down goals, dreams, or changes you wish to bring into being and then blessing them by candlelight can align your path with the energies of the season. The focus is not yet on action but on gentle preparation—like planting seeds beneath the soil and trusting they will grow in time.

Celebrating Imbolc can be as simple or elaborate as you wish. A walk through nature, noticing the first buds forming on trees or the gradual shift in birdsong, can be as meaningful as a full ritual. Decorating your altar with white candles, fresh flowers, or symbols of fire and water honors both the purity and the creative spark of the season. Preparing a meal with dairy, grains, or seasonal ingredients can also be a devotional act, connecting your body and spirit to the rhythm of the earth.

At its heart, Imbolc is about trusting in beginnings. It reminds you that growth often begins unseen, in quiet places, before it blooms into visibility. By purifying our space, setting intentions, and honoring the sacred flame, you align ourselves with this truth. Imbolc teaches that no matter how long the winter, renewal always follows—that within stillness lies the promise of awakening.

Ēostre (Ostara) – Spring Equinox

Northern Hemisphere: March 20–23 | Southern Hemisphere: September 20–23

Themes: Balance, fertility, new beginnings, awakening.

Ēostre, the Spring Equinox, is the turning point when day and night stand in perfect balance. From this moment, the light begins to grow stronger, guiding you toward the fullness of summer. It is a Sabbat of renewal, fertility, and awakening, a season when the earth itself reminds you of the power of rebirth. As blossoms unfurl, seeds sprout, and creatures stir with new life, witches celebrate not only the awakening of the land but also the awakening of spirit.

This Sabbat takes its name from the goddess Ēostre, often linked with dawn, fertility, and rebirth. Her symbols—eggs, hares, seeds, and flowers—all reflect the potential of life just beginning to unfold. For modern witches, these same symbols carry great magickal power. Eggs can be placed on altars as tokens of creation, painted with intentions, or even buried in the earth to bless the season’s growth. Hares, long associated with lunar cycles and fertility, remind you of the rhythms of nature and the quickening of energy that Ēostre brings.

Ēostre is also a time of planting seeds, both literally and metaphorically. Many witches begin their gardens at this Sabbat, blessing the soil, whispering intentions into seeds, and honoring the cycle of growth. Yet the practice need not be confined to the garden—this is the ideal moment to consider what intentions you want to grow in your own life. By writing your goals, wishes, or dreams on paper and burying them in soil, you align your own growth with that of the earth. Just as seeds need patience, nurturing, and time, so too do the heart and mind desires

Balance is at the very heart of the Spring Equinox. As light and darkness share the sky equally, Ēostre calls you to reflect on balance within our own lives. Are there areas where you give too much and receive too little? Habits that drain your energy, or dreams you’ve neglected? This is a time to pause, realign, and create harmony. Rituals may include meditation focused on balance, creating altars that pair opposites (such as sun and moon, or light and dark candles), or simply walking in nature and observing how equilibrium is present all around you.

Celebrating Ēostre can be joyful and simple. Decorating your home with flowers, bringing fresh greenery indoors, or preparing meals with seasonal ingredients such as eggs, greens, and honey are all ways to honor the season. Crafting wreaths, dyeing eggs, or planting herbs in pots for your windowsill brings a tangible connection to the fertility and creativity of this time. Many witches also use this Sabbat for cleansing and renewal—not just in the physical sense of spring cleaning, but also in spiritual practice, letting go of stagnancy to make way for fresh energy.

At its essence, Ēostre is about awakening and potential. It teaches you that growth begins with balance, that fertility is more than physical—it is the fertile ground of ideas, creativity, and hope. By embracing Ēostre, witches align themselves with the blossoming of the earth and the rising tide of energy that carries you toward summer. It is a moment to honor the beauty of beginnings, the harmony of balance, and the endless renewal that flows through the turning of the Wheel.

Beltane – Festival of Fire and Passion

Northern Hemisphere: April 30–May 1 | Southern Hemisphere: October 31–November 1

Themes: Fire, love, fertility, sacred union, vitality.

Beltane is one of the most joyous and vibrant Sabbats, a festival that bursts with life, passion, and fertility. It marks the height of spring and the doorway into summer, when the earth overflows with blossoms, greenery, and energy. The fires of Beltane celebrate not only the growing strength of the sun but also the vitality of the land, the fertility of all living beings, and the union of energies that create life itself. This Sabbat is filled with laughter, music, dancing, and the celebration of desire and joy—reminding you that magick can be playful, sensual, and deeply alive.

Traditionally, bonfires were lit on Beltane to honor the sun and to bless the land, animals, and people with protection and fertility. Couples would leap the flames together, symbolizing their union, while individuals might pass between the fires to receive purification and renewal. The embers and ashes were believed to carry blessings of health and prosperity. Today, witches may recreate this on a smaller scale—lighting candles or a small outdoor fire, writing intentions of passion or creativity, and offering them to the flames as symbols of transformation.

Beltane is also a festival of sacred union, sometimes called the marriage of the God (Green Man) and the Goddess, or of masculine and feminine energies. This union is not limited to gender but represents the merging of complementary forces—sun and earth, light and dark, spirit and body. In honoring this union, witches celebrate balance, harmony, and the creative power that arises when opposites come together. Rituals may include handfastings (a traditional Pagan wedding), love spells, or meditations on how to unite different aspects of the self.

The Maypole dance is perhaps the most iconic Beltane custom. Dancers weave ribbons around a tall pole, their movements spiraling in and out to symbolize the weaving of energies, fertility, and community. If no Maypole is available, similar energy can be raised by creating ribbon charms, braiding cords with intention, or crafting flower crowns to wear during ritual. Flowers, greenery, and blossoms are everywhere at Beltane—woven into garlands, placed on altars, or scattered in sacred spaces to represent the lush fertility of the season.

Beltane is also a time to celebrate sensuality and passion. This doesn’t need to mean sexuality alone—it can be the passion you pour into your craft, your art, your relationships, or your connection with nature. Many witches use Beltane as a time to work spells for vitality, love, attraction, or creativity. Even simple acts, like writing down your hopes and dreams and planting them with seeds in the garden, or metaphysically carry great power at this Sabbat.

Celebrating Beltane can be as lively or as quiet as you feel called to. You might gather with friends for dancing, feasting, and fire rituals, or honor the season alone with a candlelit altar, fresh flowers, and an evening spent journaling about what brings you joy. Foods such as dairy, honey, oats, berries, and early seasonal greens are all connected to Beltane, and preparing a meal with these ingredients can be both nourishing and magickal.

At its heart, Beltane is about vitality and celebration. It reminds you to embrace life fully, to honor our passions, and to welcome the abundance that comes when you allow positive energy and desires to flow freely. By kindling the fires of Beltane—whether with flames, ribbons, flowers, or heartfelt intention—you connect with the fertile, creative energy that fuels both nature and spirit.

Litha – Summer Solstice

Northern Hemisphere: June 20–22 | Southern Hemisphere: December 20–22

Themes: Sun power, abundance, illumination, vitality.

Litha, the Summer Solstice, is the longest day of the year, when the sun reaches its peak of strength and power. It is a time of abundance, joy, and illumination, when life is in full bloom and the earth overflows with vitality. This Sabbat honors the height of the sun’s journey across the sky, celebrating not only the warmth and light that sustain you but also the blessings of growth, fertility, and prosperity that radiate through the natural world. Litha is a festival of triumph and brightness, yet it also reminds us of the Wheel’s constant turning—for from this point forward, the days will slowly begin to shorten, carrying you toward balance once again.

For witches, Litha is a time to celebrate the sun’s gifts. Bonfires, candles, and rituals of light are common, symbolizing the life-giving energy that nourishes the land. Many traditions include leaping over flames, dancing around fire, or simply lighting candles on the altar to honor the sun’s vitality. The herbs gathered at Midsummer are believed to be at the height of their magickal potency, infused with the strength of the solstice sun. Plants such as St. John’s Wort, chamomile, lavender, rosemary, and mugwort are especially associated with Litha and may be used in spells for protection, prosperity, and healing.

Litha is also a powerful time for spellwork and intention setting. The sun’s energy is at its strongest, spells for growth, abundance, and vitality are especially potent. Many witches create charms for protection during this season, weaving herbs, crystals, or ribbons into talismans. Others focus on prosperity magick, using the fullness of the year’s energy to draw success, creativity, or opportunities into their lives. Litha is a time to pause and reflect on your journey—what you have planted earlier in the year, what has blossomed, and what still needs tending before the harvests arrive.

Celebrations of Litha often include gathering outdoors, feasting, and honoring the beauty of nature in its fullness. Flowers, greenery, and symbols of the sun such as gold, yellow, and orange are used to decorate altars or homes. Many witches make sun wheels or wreaths, weaving together herbs and flowers to symbolize the circle of life and the radiance of the season. Food and drink are also central to Litha: honey, berries, fresh bread, mead, and summer fruits are all offerings that connect celebrants with the sweetness and abundance of the earth.

On a spiritual level, Litha is about illumination and balance. It is the peak of light, yet it also marks the moment when the tide begins to shift and darkness slowly returns. This duality encourages reflection: how do you use your own light, and what shadows remain within you? Many witches use the solstice for meditation, journaling, or divination to gain insight into their path. It is a time to celebrate success and vitality while also acknowledging the cycles of growth and decline that weave through all life.

At its heart, Litha is a celebration of life at its fullest. It honors the gifts of the sun, the abundance of the earth, and the vitality that flows through every living thing. By embracing the light of the solstice, witches align themselves with the power of renewal, abundance, and the wisdom of balance. It is both a moment of triumph and a gentle reminder that even at the height of power, the Wheel continues to turn.

Lammas (Lughnasadh) – First Harvest

Northern Hemisphere: August 1 | Southern Hemisphere: February 1

Themes: Gratitude, harvest, sacrifice, abundance.

Lammas, also known as Lughnasadh, is the festival of the first harvest, a turning point on the Wheel of the Year when the earth begins to offer up her bounty. The fields turn golden, fruits ripen, and grains are gathered—reminders that hard work, patience, and care bring forth abundance. This Sabbat is a celebration of both gratitude and sacrifice, for while it honors the blessings of the harvest, it also acknowledges that growth always comes with effort, and sometimes with letting go.

The name Lughnasadh comes from the Celtic god Lugh, often associated with light, skill, and craftsmanship. Ancient festivals held in his honor included games, feasts, and offerings of the first grains. Over time, the tradition of bread-making became central to Lammas. To this day, many witches bake loaves as part of their celebration, blessing the dough with intentions of health, prosperity, or protection. The act of breaking bread and sharing it with family, friends, or community is a ritual of connection and gratitude, binding those gathered together in the spirit of the season.

Lammas is also a time to reflect on sacrifice—the idea that harvest is born of surrender. Crops give their lives so that you may eat, and the cycle of life and death continues to sustain us all. In spiritual practice, this becomes a lesson in recognizing what you must release in order to grow. Witches often perform rituals at Lammas to let go of what no longer serves them, symbolically cutting away habits, fears, or patterns that drain energy. Just as farmers clear fields to make way for the next planting, you too must sometimes release in order to make space for what is yet to come.

Celebrations of Lammas often include feasting with seasonal foods: bread, grains, corn, berries, apples, honey, and fresh vegetables. Preparing these dishes with intention transforms an ordinary meal into a sacred act. Sharing food with others deepens the sense of community, reminding you that abundance is not only material but also emotional and spiritual. Decorating your altar with wheat sheaves, sunflowers, or corn dollies made from the last stalks of grain can also honor the spirit of the harvest.

Lammas is a festival of gratitude, a moment to pause and give thanks for the blessings already received. Journaling about achievements, lighting candles in thanks, or creating small offerings for the land can be ways to honor this energy. Yet it is also a festival of preparation, for the Wheel is turning toward the darker half of the year. As the days slowly shorten, Lammas calls you to look ahead—what do you need to store, prepare, or strengthen for the months to come?

At its heart, Lammas teaches the balance of abundance and humility. It reminds you that while the earth is generous, her gifts come with responsibility: to respect the cycles of nature, to care for what sustains you, and to share what you have with others. By celebrating Lammas, witches align themselves with the rhythm of harvest—honoring the fruits of their labor, giving thanks for what has been received, and preparing to meet the next turn of the Wheel with courage and grace.

Mabon – Autumn Equinox

Northern Hemisphere: September 20–23 | Southern Hemisphere: March 20–23

Themes: Balance, reflection, gratitude, preparation.

Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, is the second of the harvest festivals and a moment of deep balance and reflection. At this time, day and night are equal once more, standing in perfect harmony before the descent into the darker half of the year. It is a threshold Sabbat, carrying both the fullness of abundance and the awareness that winter approaches. For witches, Mabon is an invitation to give thanks, to take stock, and to prepare—honoring the blessings of the season while recognizing the cycles of release and rest that lie ahead.

The second harvest of Mabon brings apples, grapes, nuts, grains, and late vegetables. These foods are not only nourishment but also symbols of completion and abundance. Apples in particular hold strong magickal significance, often associated with wisdom, protection, and the mysteries of life and death. Cutting an apple crosswise reveals the hidden pentacle at its core, a reminder of the sacred patterns within nature. Grapes and wine are also key symbols of this Sabbat, evoking both the joy of the harvest and the awareness of transformation, as fruit becomes drink through the alchemy of time and care.

Mabon is a time for gratitude. Many witches mark this Sabbat with feasting and offerings, preparing meals that highlight seasonal harvests and sharing them with family, friends, or community. Ritual offerings may include apples, wine, bread, or grain left for the land and its spirits in thanks for the year’s abundance. Decorating the altar with autumn leaves, pinecones, gourds, or corn evokes the richness of the season and honors the beauty of change.

Just as important as gratitude is reflection. The Autumn Equinox is a mirror that invites you to pause and ask: What have I harvested this year? What have I created, achieved, or learned? What am I ready to release as the days grow shorter? Many witches use this time for journaling or meditation, weaving together lessons from the past months and envisioning how to carry them into the darker half of the year. This reflective work aligns with the balance of the equinox itself—acknowledging both light and shadow, both gain and loss.

Mabon is also a festival of preparation. As ancient peoples gathered crops and stored food for the coming winter, so too you can look ahead and prepare ourselves—emotionally, spiritually, and physically—for the quieter months. Rituals might include cleansing the home, setting aside herbs or supplies for winter work, or creating protective charms to carry through the cold season. Preparing for the dark half of the year is not a matter of fear but of wisdom—an act of aligning with the natural cycles of rest and renewal.

At its heart, Mabon teaches the importance of balance and acceptance. It reminds you that just as the seasons shift, so too must you learn to honor both fullness and decline, abundance and release. The equinox shows that light and dark are not enemies but partners in the dance of life. By celebrating Mabon, witches step into harmony with this truth, embracing gratitude for what has been gathered and courage for what is yet to come.

The Cycle of the Sabbats

Together, these eight festivals form the Wheel of the Year. They remind you that everything in life is cyclical: light follows darkness, death nourishes rebirth, and every ending is the seed of a new beginning. By honoring the Sabbats, witches align themselves with these natural rhythms, weaving magick through each season.

How to Celebrate the Sabbats as a Modern Witch

• Rituals & Spells – Tailor spellwork to seasonal themes.

• Seasonal Altars – Decorate with flowers, herbs, crystals, or harvest items.

• Feasting & Offerings – Share seasonal foods, give thanks to the Earth.

• Nature Walks – Observe changes in the land, collect natural tokens.

• Meditation & Reflection – Journal on the lessons of each Sabbat.

The Witch’s Sabbats are more than holidays—they are opportunities to live in harmony with nature, celebrate the cycles of life, and deepen your spiritual path. Whether you mark them with elaborate rituals or quiet moments of gratitude, the Sabbats remind you that magick is woven into every turning of the seasons.

Blessed be as you walk the Wheel of the Year.

Bec Black