The Pagan festival calendar for 2022 showcases a vibrant and diverse array of celebrations that honor the cycles of nature and the spiritual traditions of ancient cultures. These festivals serve as a way for modern Pagans to connect with their ancestors and the Earth, while also fostering a sense of community and shared experience. One of the most well-known festivals on the Pagan calendar is Imbolc, which takes place on February 1st or 2nd. Imbolc is typically associated with the beginning of spring and the awakening of the Earth after the long winter months. It is a time to honor the goddess Brigid and to celebrate the returning light. Many Pagans celebrate Imbolc by lighting candles, making Brigid's crosses or corn dollies, and performing rituals to welcome the coming of spring.
I actually (shamefully) have a dream catcher that I’m only holding onto because I like the look of it (and because it was a gift from my older sister, who I love dearly).
an added bonus is the fact you can add things you associate with a goods nights sleep, or gems that offer magical properties of sleeping well, good dreams, nightmare reflection ect. I appreciate what you are trying to do here, but it s probably better to let actual natives speak instead of talking over them about what is and isn t appropriation to them.
Many Pagans celebrate Imbolc by lighting candles, making Brigid's crosses or corn dollies, and performing rituals to welcome the coming of spring. Another important festival is Beltane, which falls on May 1st. Beltane is a fire festival that celebrates the height of spring and the start of the summer season.
On Dreamcatchers//
First of all, for those of you who are reading this and don’t know me, hi hello my name is Violet, I am a Muscogee Creek Native American.
Second, I have been asked about dream catchers by many friends and strangers, so I am writing this post with my personal findings and opinions on the subject.
Origin//
•The dreamcatcher comes from the Ojibwe and Chippewa people. Traditionally, it is made from bent wood, sinew and one or two feathers. The sinew is weaved to mimick a spider’s web. In many native religions, including my own, Grandmother Spider played a huge role in the placement of the sun in the sky. Dreamcatchers were traditionally hung over children’s beds to trap their nightmares.Expansion//
•During the 60s and 70s, the making of dreamcatchers became popular with other Native tribes, such as the Pueblo, Navajo, Lakota and Cherokee peoples. But as far as I’ve seen, the Ojibwe are the only traditional creators before the ‘pan-indian’ movement.Symbolism//
•Dreamcatchers are a very popular gift among native peoples. They symbolize peace, the unity of all Natives and are often considered sweet gifts given out of love.Modernization//
•Nowadays you’ll often find them with beads, colored leather, and multiple feathers hanging from the frame. Every Native Reservation produces and sells dreamcatchers, it seems. You can buy them at almost every powwow.
•While traditionally hung above a bed frame, now they can be found as home decor and even on rear view mirror of cars. Some Natives view the dreamcatcher as the Christian equivalent of cheap plastic crosses sold at malls.
•Sadly, outside of certified Native-made stores and powwows, dreamcatchers are often made and mass produced by underpaid workers who are not Native and do not practice Medicine in Asian sweatshops. These are cheap imitations and are insulting to our history and beliefs.How it works//
•Every Native has the Medicine. It lives and comes from our Puyvfekcv, the fire within. There are specific people in each tribe, clan, and village who devote their lives to the practice and preservation of the Medicine. In my tribe, they are called the Heleshayv, the healers.
•When a Native weaves a dreamcatcher, they are honoring Grandmother Spider and requesting her aid in the banishment of unpleasant dreams. I guess one could say that it is a form of prayer, and a request for blessing. The Native uses Medicine when they create, and so too is true with the dream catcher.
•Plastic, cheap, non-native made reproductions of dreamcatchers, in my extensive experience, do not work.
•A dreamcatcher should, in my experience, be cleansed in smoke and prayer every once in a while, because the dreamcatchers duty is to trap nightmares. So when too many accumulate, where are they supposed to go? They will often escape through the center and return from whence they came.Appropriation//
•I do not recommend non-Natives owning a dreamcatcher, do to the religious and ceremonial ties to Native history that they carry. Much like frybread and spirit animals/totems, they have become a universally Native entity, carrying the spirit of Union amongst our people, and peace.
•Also, if you are not Native, regularly cleansing a dreamcatcher can be difficult, as Grandmother Spider is part of our closed traditions, as is the sacred practice of Smudging, which is often used to cleanse it.
•If you absolutely MUST have a piece of our culture, you must buy Native, or receive it from a Native as a gift. It will have no Medicine and will not work if you buy that cheap mass produced reproduction you see in gift shops. Don’t do it.
•Respect the Spirit of the Dreamcatcher. •Respect Native culture.
•Respect our wishes.
•Respect us.Thank you for reading! Mvto!
Is making your own dreamcatcher disrespectful too? I’d never but a mass made, and if I were to I’d do it at a craft shop, although I never did cos I never felt I needed or wanted one, but lately I’ve been thinking about making one with my own hands.
(I still plan to retire this particular dream catcher to storage because I’m almost positive it’s one of the cheapo Chinese sweatshop ones…)
It is a time of fertility and abundance, and many Pagans mark the occasion by kindling bonfires, dancing around Maypoles, and participating in rituals to honor the gods and goddesses of love and fertility. One of the most widely recognized festivals in Paganism is Samhain, which takes place on October 31st. Samhain marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark half of the year. It is a time when the veil between the living and the dead is believed to be thinnest, and many Pagans use this opportunity to honor their ancestors and communicate with the spirit world. Samhain is often celebrated with feasts, divination rituals, and communal bonfires. These are just a few examples of the many festivals that make up the Pagan calendar for 2022. Each celebration has its own unique traditions, symbolism, and historical significance. Through these festivals, Pagans are able to connect with the natural world, honor their spiritual beliefs, and strengthen their communities..
Reviews for "Embrace the Mystic: Pagan Festival Lineup for 2022"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the "Pagan festival calendar 2022". First of all, the design and layout were very basic and unappealing. The images used were low-quality and lacked creativity. Secondly, the information provided was very limited and lacking depth. I expected to learn more about the history and significance of the pagan festivals, but the descriptions were brief and superficial. Overall, I feel like this calendar does not do justice to the rich and diverse world of pagan celebrations.
2. John - 1 star - I regret purchasing the "Pagan festival calendar 2022". The content was not well-researched and many of the dates and information were incorrect or incomplete. For someone who was looking forward to using this calendar to plan their pagan rituals and celebrations, it was a major letdown. I would not recommend this calendar to anyone who is serious about observing and honoring pagan traditions.
3. Emily - 2 stars - As an avid follower of pagan traditions, I was excited to get the "Pagan festival calendar 2022". However, I found it to be quite disappointing. The layout and design were uninspiring and lacked any artistic appeal. Additionally, the information provided for each festival was too generic and lacked the depth and historical context that I was hoping for. Overall, I was expecting a more comprehensive and visually appealing calendar to guide me through the pagan festivals of the year.