The Wiccan Wheel of the Year is a representation of the changing seasons and the cycles of nature that are honored and celebrated within the Wiccan tradition. It consists of eight sabbats or festivals that mark significant points in the solar year. In the year 2023, the Wheel of the Year will continue to turn, guiding Wiccans through the seasonal changes and providing opportunities for rituals and ceremonies. The first sabbat of the year is Imbolc, which takes place on February 2nd. This festival celebrates the returning light and the early signs of spring. It is a time to honor the Goddess Brigid and to invoke her blessings of creativity and inspiration.
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Roughly six weeks after the Cone of Power, Hitler abruptly canceled Operation Sea Lion, the proposed invasion of Britain, in favor of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union. If you haven t read The Meaning of Witchcraft , it still stands up as basic Wiccan text, and if you are reading this book again after a long hiatus several decades perhaps you will be surprised how well it stands the test of time.
It is a time to honor the Goddess Brigid and to invoke her blessings of creativity and inspiration. Next comes Ostara, which is observed on the Spring Equinox around March 20th. This sabbat marks the official arrival of spring and the balance between light and darkness.
The Coven of Witches That Fought the Nazis During World War II
Gerald Gardner, known as "The Father of Witchcraft," led his coven in a spell that targeted Adolf Hitler in 1940.
Military.com | By Blake StilwellThese weren't the "double, double toil and trouble" kind of witches Shakespeare wrote about in "Macbeth." They were Wiccans, led by Gerald Gardner, the man whose writings would revive the pagan belief system to the modern era. In 1940s Britain, his beliefs were far from the mainstream, but like the rest of the country, he knew he might soon find himself under Nazi domination.
Gardner may have been 55 years old and leading a coven of witches, but he was still a patriotic Briton with a stiff upper lip. So the man who would be remembered as "The Father of Witchcraft" and his followers were going to do their part to defend the island, casting a spell that would target Adolf Hitler personally and end the threat of a Nazi invasion.
Gardner grew up in a wealthy English family that ran a timber company for the British Empire. He was a sickly boy who spent more time with his nursemaid than his parents. He spent much of his young life traveling and educating himself, eventually gaining a keen interest in spirituality, religious rituals and the occult. He would return to Britain as an older man, still sickly, but took up a career as a civil servant and amateur archeologist. Meanwhile, his interest in the occult only grew.
After Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, Garder settled in Highcliffe-on-Sea and joined the New Forest Coven, a group of pagan witches in southern England that he believed were continuing a pre-Christian religious order that had been kept secret for centuries. As 1939 turned to 1940, Gardner's affection for his coven grew, as did the coven itself. They practiced folk magic in tune with their beliefs and he began writing books that would later form the foundation for the brand of Wicca that still bears Gardner's name.
A Book of Shadows, a Wiccan religious text and instructions for magical rituals, owned by Gerald Gardner.
Meanwhile, in Europe, things weren't going quite as well for the British Expeditionary Force. Nazi Germany had captured its objectives in Poland, and had already conquered Denmark, Norway, Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg. As the German Army pushed farther into France in May 1940, hundreds of thousands of Allied soldiers had to be evacuated from the beaches of Dunkirk. Paris was captured in June 1940, and France was forced to capitulate.
The Battle of Britain was about to begin. And when Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered Britons to "therefore brace ourselves to our duties," the aged Gardner and his band of witches dutifully complied. Gardner himself became an air raid warden and his home a headquarters for Air Raid Precautions, a civil defense organization. He also joined the local Home Guard as an armorer, providing locals with weapons from his own collection of firearms and preparing molotov cocktails for use in combat.
But Gardner wanted to do more, and believed he had the magical ability to take the fight to the Nazis. The lore of the New Forest Coven included a ritual that had been used twice to defend the British Isles from the threat of an invasion. By creating a "Cone of Power," he and his coven could affect real-world events from the security of the New Forest. British witches had purportedly used the Cone of Power in 1588 to help fight off the Spanish Armada and in 1805 to end Napoleon's threat to England. They were going to use it once more in 1940.
Gardner in the Ritual Room of his Highcliffe home. (via GeraldGardner.com)The Cone of Power would be directed toward Hitler's brain to cloud his judgment, weaken his resolve and hasten his downfall. It was Aug. 1, 1940, and Lammas Eve, an important harvest festival in the Wicca religion, when Gardner and his coven met in New Forest. Just north of Highcliffe, they met around an ancient hangman's tree called The Naked Man. From there, the coven walked to Ferny Knapp Inclosure, a wooded area where the ritual would take place.
Instead of the traditional bonfire, the witches used a shuttered lantern (Gardner was still an air raid warden, after all) and danced in a spiral around it while naked (or "skyclad," in the Wiccan vernacular) to generate the magical energy needed to form the cone. As the coven chanted and danced, Gardner invoked the words of the spell and the assault on Hitler's brain began.
We only know the Cone of Power ritual actually happened because Gardner would write about it himself in one of the three books he wrote on witchcraft in the 1950s. J.L. Bracelin, a high priest of Gardnerian Wicca and a contemporary of Gardner's, also wrote about it in his book, "Gerald Gardner, Witch." But did the Cone of Power affect Hitler's brain?
Before August 1940, the Nazi war machine was virtually unstoppable, making few mistakes along the way. Hitler controlled or otherwise dominated most of Western Europe, and those not under Berlin's direct control (aside from Britain) were either too weak or too fearful to make any meaningful resistance. Roughly six weeks after the Cone of Power, Hitler abruptly canceled Operation Sea Lion, the proposed invasion of Britain, in favor of Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union.
Less than a year later, Hitler would invade the USSR and declare war on the United States, neither of which he was bound to do. These were two critical miscalculations on the German leader's part that would have disastrous consequences for his regime. To Gerald Gardner and the New Forest Coven, it was proof positive that the Cone of Power had once again saved Britain.
-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at [email protected]. He can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, or on LinkedIn.
Wiccans celebrate the fertility of the earth and embrace the themes of rebirth and renewal. Following Ostara is Beltane, which falls on May 1st. It is a joyous festival that celebrates the height of spring and the union between the God and Goddess. Bonfires are lit, and Maypoles are danced around to symbolize the intertwining of masculine and feminine energies. Midsummer, also known as Litha, takes place on the Summer Solstice, around June 20th. It is the longest day of the year and a time to celebrate the power of the sun and the abundance of nature. Wiccans may partake in rituals to honor the God as the Oak King and give gratitude for the bountiful harvests to come. Lammas, also called Lughnasadh, occurs on August 1st. It is the first harvest festival and a time to give thanks for the fruits of the earth. Wiccans may make offerings of freshly baked bread and perform rituals to honor the Grain Goddess and the God who sacrifices himself for the harvest. Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, takes place around September 22nd and marks the beginning of the fall season. It is a time of balance and gratitude, as Wiccans reflect on the blessings of the year and prepare for the coming darkness of winter. Samhain is observed on October 31st and is perhaps the most well-known sabbat. It is a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds is thinnest, allowing for communication with ancestors and departed loved ones. Wiccans honor the cycle of life, death, and rebirth and may hold ceremonies to honor and remember those who have passed. Lastly, Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, is celebrated around December 21st and marks the shortest day of the year. Wiccans embrace the return of the sun and the gradual lengthening of daylight. It is a time to honor the rebirth of the God and the return of light and warmth to the world. Throughout the year 2023, Wiccans will observe these eight sabbats, connecting with the rhythms of nature and honoring the cycles of life. Each festival provides an opportunity for reflection, celebration, and spiritual growth within the Wiccan tradition..
Reviews for "Wiccan Wheel of the Year: Festivals and Traditions for 2023"
1. Emily - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Wiccan Wheel of the Year 2023". The book seemed poorly organized and lacked clear instructions for practicing Wiccan rituals throughout the year. The author jumped from topic to topic without providing sufficient explanations, making it difficult for a beginner like myself to understand. I also noticed several grammatical errors and typos, which made the reading experience even more frustrating. Overall, I think this book needs significant improvements before it can truly be helpful to Wiccan practitioners.
2. David - 1 star - I had high hopes for "Wiccan Wheel of the Year 2023" based on the description, but it ended up being a major letdown. The information provided was very basic and didn't provide any new insights or knowledge for someone familiar with Wiccan practices. The author seemed to rely on clichés and stale concepts rather than offering fresh perspectives. I also found the writing style to be dry and uninspiring. Sadly, I cannot recommend this book to anyone interested in Wicca.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - As someone who has been practicing Wicca for a while, I was excited to delve into "Wiccan Wheel of the Year 2023". However, the content felt repetitive and lacking in depth. The author seemed to rely on regurgitating commonly known information without adding anything new or thought-provoking. Additionally, the book's layout and formatting were subpar, with poorly aligned text and inconsistent font sizes. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and found it to be a waste of time for experienced Wiccan practitioners like myself.
4. Jonathan - 1 star - "Wiccan Wheel of the Year 2023" was a major disappointment for me. The information presented lacked coherence and was poorly structured. I found it hard to follow along, and the lack of clear guidance made it frustrating to practice Wiccan rituals as intended. The author also failed to provide proper citations or references for historical and cultural context, which raised doubts about the accuracy of the information presented. Overall, this book fell short of my expectations, and I would not recommend it to anyone interested in Wicca.