The Earth has music for those who listen – Rumi
While the Wiccan/Pagan Esbats are connected to the moon cycles, the Sabbats are connected to the sun.
There are eight Sabbats through the year, celebrating the turning of the wheel of the year and the change of the seasons. The eight Sabbats consists of four solar holidays and four cross-quarter days, marking the shift from one season to the next. The four solar holidays of the year are Ostara – Spring Equinox, Mabon – Autumnal Equinox, Yule – Winter Solstice, and Litha – Summer Solstice. The four pagan cross-quarter holidays are Samhain, which is also considered the witches new year, Imbolc, Beltane and Lughnasadh.
The moon energy is ancient, and with it comes our elders’ insights.
The silver lining to every lesson,
a clarity of consciousness that can be the gift to even the darkest of passages
– Emma Mildon
While the Wiccan/Pagan Sabbats are connected to the sun and the turning of the wheel of the year, the Esbats are connected to the moon cycles. There are twelve Esbats through the year, and each are connected to a Full Moon.
Earth my body, Water my blood,
Air my breath and Fire my Spirit
– Traditional chant
It should be understood that the Elements – Earth, Air, Fire and Water – are by no means the same as dirt, oxygen, flames and H20. The Spiritual Elements are so much more than that, and together make up everything in life.
The Earth and Water element are both considered feminine and receptive and thus these elements belong to to the Moon, the Goddess, and our Mother Earth. However, where the element of water is associated with emotions and intuition, the element of Earth is stable and practical. The elements of fire and air, on the other hand, are considered masculine and protective and are associated with the Sun and the Horned God. But again there are differences as well. Where Fire is connected to passion and creativity, Air is associated with the cool intellect and logic.
- Witch: Unleashed. Untamed. Unapologetic. Kindle Edition – Lisa Lister
- Wicca Starter Kit: Wicca for Beginners, Finding Your Path, and Living a Magical Life – Kris Keppeler and Lisa Chamberlain
- Moonology: Working with the Magic of Lunar Cycles – Yasmin Boland
