Llewellyn - Llewellyns Sabbats Almanac: Samhain 2011 to Mabon 2012

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Llewellyns Sabbats Almanac 2011 by Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

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First e-book edition 2011

E-book ISBN: 9780738732138

Cover art Carolyn Vibbert/Susan and Co.

Cover design by Ellen Lawson

Editing by Ed Day

Interior Art: Carolyn Vibbert/Susan and Co., excluding illustrations on pages 33, 75, 111, 147, 181, 183, 222, 224, 257, 295, and 297, which are Wen Hsu

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Contents

The Season of Death by Elizabeth Barrette

Celestial Sway by Fern Feto Spring

The Old Ways: Magical Bats by Patti Wigington

Feasts and Treats by Susan Pesznecker

Crafty Crafts by Ellen Dugan

All One Family by Clea Danaan

Samhain Ritual: Make Friends with Death by Elizabeth Barrette

Winter Solstice: Joy and Tradition by Kristin Madden

Celestial Sway by Fern Feto Spring

The Old Ways: Io, Saturnalia by Patti Wigington

Feasts and Treats by Susan Pesznecker

Crafty Crafts by Ellen Dugan

All One Family by Clea Danaan

Yule Ritual: The Give-Away by Kristin Madden

Imbolc: Welcoming the Light by Deborah Blake

Celestial Sway by Fern Feto Spring

The Old Ways: The Hearthfire by Patti Wigington

Feasts and Treats by Susan Pesznecker

Crafty Crafts by Ellen Dugan

All One Family by Clea Danaan

Imbolc Ritual: Cultivating Dreams by Deborah Blake

Spring Equinox: Nox and Lux by Natalie Zaman

Celestial Sway by Fern Feto Spring

The Old Ways: Labyrinth Magic by Patti Wigington

Feasts and Treats by Susan Pesznecker

Crafty Crafts by Ellen Dugan

All One Family by Clea Danaan

Ostara Ritual: Cleanse, Balance, Rest by Natalie Zaman

Beltane: Portal of Transformation by Jhenah Telyndru

Celestial Sway by Fern Feto Spring

The Old Ways: Legend of Rowan by Patti Wigington

Feasts and Treats by Susan Pesznecker

Crafty Crafts by Ellen Dugan

All One Family by Clea Danaan

Beltane Ritual: Between the Worlds by Jhenah Telyndru

Midsummer: Otherworldly Magic by Bronwynn Forrest Torgerson

Celestial Sway by Fern Feto Spring

The Old Ways: Native Sun Stories by Patti Wigington

Feasts and Treats by Susan Pesznecker

Crafty Crafts by Ellen Dugan

All One Family by Clea Danaan

Litha Ritual: Find, Claim, and Name Your Magical Tool by Bronwynn Forrest Torgerson

Feast of the First Harvest by Kenny Klein

Celestial Sway by Fern Feto Spring

The Old Ways: Goddess of Grain by Patti Wigington

Feasts and Treats by Susan Pesznecker

Crafty Crafts by Ellen Dugan

All One Family by Clea Danaan

Lammas Ritual: Calling the Pagans Home by Kenny Klein

Summers End by Dallas Jennifer Cobb

Celestial Sway by Fern Feto Spring

The Old Ways: Mabon Apple Magic by Patti Wigington

Feasts and Treats by Susan Pesznecker

Crafty Crafts by Ellen Dugan

All One Family by Clea Danaan

Mabon Ritual: Power of Dark by Dallas Jennifer Cobb

Introduction

Nearly everyone has a favorite sabbat. There are numerous ways to observe any tradition. This annual edition of the Sabbats Almanac provides a wealth of lore, celebrations, creative projects, and recipes to enhance your holiday.

For this edition, a mix of up-and-coming writers Dallas Jennifer Cobb , Jhenah Telyndru , and Natalie Zaman join more established writers Elizabeth Barrette , Deborah Blake , Kenny Klein , Kristin Madden , and Bronwynn Forrest Torgerson in sharing their ideas and wisdom. These include a variety of paths such as Garden Witchery or Green Witchery as well as the authors personal approaches to each sabbat. Each chapter closes with an extended ritual, which may be adapted for both solitary practitioners and covens.

In addition to these insights and rituals, specialists in astrology, history, cooking, crafts, and family impart their expertise throughout.

Fern Feto Spring gives an overview of planetary influences most relevant for each sabbat season and provides details and a short ritual for selected events, including New and Full Moons, retrograde motion, planetary positions, and more.

Patti Wigington explores the realm of old-world Pagans, with a focus on customs such as gathering healing herbs for Midsummer and little-known lore like the story of the Yule Goatand their connection to celebrations today.

Susan Pesznecker conjures up a feast for each festival that includes an appetizer, entre, dessert, and beverage.

Ellen Dugan offers instructions on craft projects that can also be incorporated into your practice.

Clea Danaan focuses on activities the entire family can share to commemorate each sabbat.

About the Authors

Elizabeth Barrette has been involved with the Pagan community for more than twenty-two years. She served as managing editor of PanGaia for eight years and dean of studies at the Grey School of Wizardry for four years. She has written columns on beginning and intermediate Pagan practice, Pagan culture, and Pagan leadership. Her book Composing Magic: How to Create Magical Spells, Rituals, Blessings, Chants, and Prayers explains how to combine writing and spirituality. She lives in central Illinois where she has done much networking with Pagans in her area, such as coffeehouse meetings and open sabbats. Her other public activities feature Pagan picnics and science-fiction conventions. She enjoys magical crafts, sabbat entertaining, and gardening for wildlife. Her other writing fields include speculative fiction and gender studies. One of her Pagan science fiction poems, Fallen Gardens, was nominated for the Rhysling Award in 2010. Visit her blogs: The Wordsmiths Forge , http://ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com and Gaiatribe: Ideas for a Thinking Planet , http://gaiatribe.geekuniversalis.com.

Deborah Blake is the author of Circle, Coven & Grove: A Year of Magickal Practice; Everyday Witch A to Z: An Amusing, Inspiring & Informative Guide to the Wonderful World of Witchcraft ; The Goddess is in the Details: Wisdom for the Everyday Witch ; Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook ; and Witchcraft on a Shoestring . Her award-winning short story, Dead and (Mostly) Gone is included in the Pagan Anthology of Short Fiction: 13 Prize Winning Tales (Llewellyn 2008). When not writing, Deborah runs the Artisans Guild, a cooperative shop she founded with a friend, and works as a jewelry-maker, tarot reader, ordained minister, and an intuitive energy healer. She lives in a 100-year-old farmhouse in rural upstate New York with five cats who supervise all her activities, both magickal and mundane.