Basics of Druid Magic (part 4)

The Druid's Eight-fold Year

The Druid's year is divided into eight spiritual high days. Four of these are solar and masculine days. They correspond with the summer and winter solstices and the spring and autumn equinoxes. The other four are considered lunar festivals and are associated with feminine energies.

Samhain (October 31): Samhain is the Druidic new year. This is a time when the veil between this world and the Otherworld is thinnest. It is believed that all souls who died within the previous year move on to the Otherworld to be reincarnated. This is a time to connect with one's ancestors. Bonfires, costumes, jack-o-lanterns, and apples are all part of the lore of this day.

Alban Arthuan (the Winter Solstice, December 21): This is the winter solstice and shortest day of the year. It is traditionally celebrated with bonfires, yule logs, evergreens (such as holly, pine, and ivy), stag horns, and bells. Ancient Druids performed a rite of cutting mistletoe from oak trees with a golden sickle on Alban Arthuan.

Imbolc (February 1): Imbolc is the Celtic candle festival. It marks the middle of winter. A single candle is kept burning from dusk until dawn upon this day.

Alban Eiler (the Vernal Equinox, March 21): This is the spring equinox. It is usually celebrated with colored eggs, rabbits, and other symbols of fertility and virility.

Beltane (May 1): Beltane marks the beginning of the Celtic summer. It is celebrated with free sexuality, may poles, gathering flowers, feasting, and making-merry.

Alban Heffyn (the Summer Solstice, June 21): This is the longest day of the year. It is celebrated with needfires, leaping between twin bonfires, rites of inspiration, and picking sacred solar herbs.

Lugnassadh (August 1): This is a Celtic harvest festival. It is celebrated with sports, games, and other festivities.

Alban Elved (The Autumn Equinox, September 21): This is the Druid Thanksgiving. It is celebrated with feasts, harvest fruits and vegetables, corn husks, and wicker men.

The solar festivals, the Albans, are celebrated with a ritual or a ceremony. The lunar festivals may be celebrated with a party or social. Of course, there are no prohibitions against combining a ritual and a social event. However, the main focus of the Albans should be the ceremony, and the main focus of the lunar festivals should be social.