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Greeting the Seasons
Jan. 28th, 2024 12:18 pmGreeting the Seasons
I experimented with the neo-pagan practice of "Turning the Wheel" early in my magical career. It's unfortunate that modern interpretations of these practices often take the form of a strange mishmash of solar, fertility, harvest, and incestuous rites. I've found a simple and focused approach is more suitable to my personal practice. I omit the direct appeals to the solar and fertility aspects of seasonal rites and instead focus solely on timing.
The intention of these year-long rituals is to greet the Seasons as they arrive and use their presence to calibrate and re-balance my home. I generally don't bother with excessive warding or blanket protection rituals. I've found this practice alone can go a long way to prevent energetic blockages and help one's home fade into the background (avoiding notice). I've also found this practice useful for personal cultivation. At one time I really disliked the Winter. I had an awful time getting along in the cold and darkness. However, this practice has helped me come to terms with the facets of my personality that prevented me from enjoying the Winter like any other Season.
The focal point for these rituals is a buffet cabinet where I display seasonal decorations. These decorations might include cut seasonal flowers, stones, candles, knickknacks, or miniature Christmas trees. The display is often a mix of found, gifted, and crafted items. In effect, this area is an altar to the Seasons. I mark the initiation of each Season with a very simple ritual. I light a candle or burn some incense and say something like:
The timing of these rites will change with my location. I first determine my local average growing season. For example, if I were in Greenville, MS (USA) then I would consider the day after the last spring frost as Mid-Spring. The first fall frost would be Mid-Autumn. I would then use these dates and a tool like the average calendar date to find the midpoint between each season. For example, Mid-Summer is halfway between Mid-Spring and Mid-Autumn; Early Summer is halfway between Mid-Spring and Mid-Summer. The table below shows the typical neo-pagan holidays, the associated name of the initiating Season that I use and a comparison of how dates can differ if you pin them to the local growing season. Note that unlike the original Wheel, the dates I use for the season are flexible. Frost dates are averages that change year to year. The day I acknowledge the season is usually around the dates given below, but could vary by 2 weeks or more.
Ianvs
I experimented with the neo-pagan practice of "Turning the Wheel" early in my magical career. It's unfortunate that modern interpretations of these practices often take the form of a strange mishmash of solar, fertility, harvest, and incestuous rites. I've found a simple and focused approach is more suitable to my personal practice. I omit the direct appeals to the solar and fertility aspects of seasonal rites and instead focus solely on timing.
The intention of these year-long rituals is to greet the Seasons as they arrive and use their presence to calibrate and re-balance my home. I generally don't bother with excessive warding or blanket protection rituals. I've found this practice alone can go a long way to prevent energetic blockages and help one's home fade into the background (avoiding notice). I've also found this practice useful for personal cultivation. At one time I really disliked the Winter. I had an awful time getting along in the cold and darkness. However, this practice has helped me come to terms with the facets of my personality that prevented me from enjoying the Winter like any other Season.
The focal point for these rituals is a buffet cabinet where I display seasonal decorations. These decorations might include cut seasonal flowers, stones, candles, knickknacks, or miniature Christmas trees. The display is often a mix of found, gifted, and crafted items. In effect, this area is an altar to the Seasons. I mark the initiation of each Season with a very simple ritual. I light a candle or burn some incense and say something like:
Spirits of <Season>,
Greetings and salutations,
I acknowledge your presence in all of Nature.
This greeting may also be accompanied by a gesture of greeting. I wait in front of the altar until I feel the seasonal energies start to flow into the house, displacing the stale and stagnant energies of the out-going Season. I leave the candle or incense to burn as long as necessary.Greetings and salutations,
I acknowledge your presence in all of Nature.
The timing of these rites will change with my location. I first determine my local average growing season. For example, if I were in Greenville, MS (USA) then I would consider the day after the last spring frost as Mid-Spring. The first fall frost would be Mid-Autumn. I would then use these dates and a tool like the average calendar date to find the midpoint between each season. For example, Mid-Summer is halfway between Mid-Spring and Mid-Autumn; Early Summer is halfway between Mid-Spring and Mid-Summer. The table below shows the typical neo-pagan holidays, the associated name of the initiating Season that I use and a comparison of how dates can differ if you pin them to the local growing season. Note that unlike the original Wheel, the dates I use for the season are flexible. Frost dates are averages that change year to year. The day I acknowledge the season is usually around the dates given below, but could vary by 2 weeks or more.
| Neo-Pagan | Season | Original | Greenville, MS | Great Falls, MT |
| Ostara | Mid-Spring | Mar 20 | Mar 22 | May 12 |
| Beltane | Early Summer | May 1 | May 18 | Jun 15 |
| Litha | Mid-Summer | Jun 21 | Jul 15 | Jul 19 |
| Lughnasadh | Early Autumn | Aug 1 | Sep 11 | Aug 22 |
| Mabon | Mid-Autumn | Sep 22 | Nov 9 | Sep 25 |
| Samhain | Early Winter | Oct 31 | Dec 12 | Nov 21 |
| Yule | Mid-Winter | Dec 20 | Jan 14 | Jan 17 |
| Imbolc | Early Spring | Feb 1 | Feb 16 | Mar 15 |
Ianvs