Sabbat Candle Workshops
Winter Solstice/Yule
Correspondences Colors: Red, white, green, gold, silver Deities/Figures: Alcyone (Greek), Ameratasu (Japan), Baldur (Norse), Befana (Italy/Stragheria), Bona Dea (Roman), Cailleach Bheur (Celtic), Holda (Germanic), Isis (Egypt), Tonantzin (Indigenous Mexico), Demeter (Greek), Dionysus (Greek), Ertha/Hertha (Germanic), Frau Holle (Norse), Freyr (Norse), Frigga (Norse), Hodr (Norse), Holly King (Celtic), Horus (Egypt), Janus (Roman), Mithras (Indo-Iranian/Roman), Odin (Norse), Saturn (Roman), Spider Woman (Hopi)
Herbs & flowers: Bay, bayberry, blessed thistle, cedar, chamomile, cinnamon, evergreen, frankincense, ginger, holly, ivy, juniper, mistletoe, moss, myrrh, oak, pine, rosemary, sage, valerian, yarrow, yew Crystals: Bloodstone, clear quartz, diamond, emerald, garnet, ruby, sunstone
Symbols: Yule goat, Yule log, reindeer/stag, Odin/Santa/Old Man Winter, Yule elf/gnome, wreath, stockings, sun, wheel, bells, candles, crows
Imbolc
Correspondences Colors: White, green, pink, yellow, brown Deities/Figures: Brigid (Celtic), Cernunnos (Celtic/Gallo-Roman), Cerridwen (Welsh Celtic), Demeter (Greek), Eros (Greek), Gaia (Greek), Osiris (Egypt), Pan (Greek), Persephone (Greek), Proserpina (Roman), Venus (Roman), Vesta (Roman)
Herbs & flowers: Acorns, angelica, basil, bay, blackberry, chamomile, frankincense, lavender, rosemary, snowdrops Crystals: Amethyst, garnet, onyx, ruby, turquoise Symbols: Brigid’s cross, corn dollies, snowdrops, lamb, sheep
Spring Equinox/Ostara
Correspondences Colors: White, green, yellow, pink, pastels Deities/Figures: Adonis (Greek), Aphrodite (Greek), Ares (Greek), Astarte (Canaanite/Phoenician), Athena (Greek), Aurora (Roman), Cernunnos (Celtic/Gallo-Roman), Eos (Greek), Eostre (Germanic), Gaia (Greek), Hera (Greek), Ishtar (Akkadian), Mars (Roman), Narcissus (Greek), Odin (Norse), Osiris (Egypt), Pan (Greek), Thoth (Egypt), Venus (Roman)
Herbs & flowers: Acorns, angelica, basil, bay, blackberry, chamomile, frankincense, lavender, rosemary, snowdrops Crystals: Amethyst, aquamarine, jasper, moonstone, rose quartz
Symbols: Brigid’s cross, corn dollies, snowdrops, lamb, sheep
Bealtaine (Beltane)
Correspondences Colors: Green, pink, blue, yellow, red, white, brown Deities/Figures: Amaterasu (Japan), Aphrodite (Greek), Artemis (Greek), Bast (Egypt), Cernunnos (Celtic), Diana (Roman), Freya (Norse), Lada (Slavic), Oya (Yoruba), Pan (Greek), Venus (Roman) Herbs & flowers: Almond, ash, bluebells, clover, cinquefoil, elder, foxglove, honeysuckle, ivy, lilac, lily of the valley, marigold, meadowsweet, mint, mugwort, rose, thyme, yarrow
Crystals: Amber, bloodstone, carnelian, emerald, malachite, rose quartz Symbols: Maypole, flower crowns, ribbons, spring flowers, bonfires, cauldrons, baskets, eggs, broom
Summer Solstice/Litha/Midsummer
Correspondences Colors: Red, gold, orange, yellow, white, green, blue Deities/Figures: Ra (Egypt), Bast (Egypt), Helios (Greek), Arinna (Hittite), and any sun god or goddess Herbs & flowers: Saint John's Wort, lavender, rose, peony, vervain, mugwort, chamomile, chickweed, chicory, sun flower, lily, thyme, hemp, fennel, nettle, wisteria, rue, fern, heather, oak, yarrow, holly
Crystals: Amber, bloodstone, carnelian, emerald, malachite, rose quartz Symbols: Sun flowers, leaves, sword, spear, sun, sun wheels, fire, sundials, bird feathers, seashells
Lughnasadh
Correspondences Colors: Gold, yellow, orange, light brown, bronze, green Deities/Figures: Lugh, Corn Grandmother, Vulcan, Dagon, Ceres, Isis, Dana, Tammuz, Seelu, Tailltiu Herbs & flowers: Heather, goldenrod, peony, clover, yarrow, vervain, myrtle, rose, sunflower, poppy, mushrooms, garlic, onion, basil, apple leaf, hops, marigold, grape vine, ivy, rosemary, rose hips, blackthorn Crystals: Yellow aventurine, peridot, citrine, tiger's eye, lodestone, golden topaz, moss agate, obsidian Symbols: Corn (fresh or dried), corn dolls, sunflowers, wheat stalks, threshing tools such as sickle and scythe, barley, oats, candles, cornucopias, gourds, sun wheels, bread, cauldrons
Autumn Equinox/Mabon
Correspondences Colors: Brown, gold, green, orange, purple, red, yellow Deities/Figures: Bacchus (Roman), Ceres (Roman), Demeter (Greek), Dionysus (Greek), Epona (Gallo-Roman), Mabon (Celtic Welsh), Persephone (Greek), Thor (Norse), Thoth (Egypt) Herbs & flowers: Barley, hazel, honeysuckle, hops, marigold, milkweed, mums, oak, passionflower, pine, sage, sassafras, tobacco, wheat Crystals: Amethyst, carnelian, yellow agate, yellow topaz Symbols: Apples, acorns, dogs, dried leaves, gourds, grain, grapes, horse, owl, scythe, squash
Samhain
Correspondences Colors: Black, orange, red, silver, gold, brown, purple, yellow Deities/Figures: Bast, Dis, Anubis, Arawn, Baba Yaga, Cerridwen, Cernunnos, Hades, Hecate, Hel, Kali, Loki, Morrigan, Osiris, Persephone, Shiva, Thanatos Herbs & flowers: Allspice, apple, bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves, garlic, ginger, hazelnut, hemlock, mandrake, marigold, mums, mugwort, nettle, onion, passionflower, pomegranate, pine, rose, rosemary, rue, sage, sweetgrass, tarragon, wormwood
Crystals: Black obsidian, bloodstone, carnelian, jasper, moonstone, onyx, smoky quartz Symbols: Skulls, cats, leaves, nuts, seeds, pumpkins, cauldron, pentacle, crystal ball, besom, moon, crows/ravens, Jack-o-Lanterns, acorns, bones, gourds, scarecrows
Veneration, meaning great respect or reverence caused by the dignity, wisdom, or dedication of a person.
The veneration of the dead is rooted in love and respect for the deceased. Most cultures who practice ancestor veneration do it as a way to express devotion and respect as well as seek guidance. In some cultures, ancestors are believed to be able to intercede on behalf of the living, and their practices often include visiting the graves (or dedicated altars) of their ancestors, leaving flowers, offerings and provisions, and asking for continued guidance and protection.
Many autumn holidays include ancestor veneration or are entirely dedicated to it, including (but not limited to): Samhain (Celtic), Dia de los Muertos (Mexico), Kalan Gwav (Cornwall), Calan Gaeaf (Wales), Pitru Paksha (India), and Hop-tu-Naa (Isle of Man).
Samhain Ancestor Altar
Items needed:
cleansing items (rosemary, incense, bells, etc)
altar cloth - can be any piece of fabric that is special
candles - large or small, any color (white is traditional)
momentos - pictures of the deceased, gifts, their belongings, anything that connects you
offerings - water, food, and wine are common, but anything given with love works
cleanse your space, set down your cloth, then add your momentos, candles, and offerings. once it's set up, light your candles, watch the flame, and think of your ancestors. speak with them, meditate, make space.
