Kate's Wicca Journey

Winter solstice to honor the return of the light after the longest night of the year. Celebration of rebirth and new beginnings. Date: Sun transit 0° Capricorn (around December 21) Animals: bear, boar, deer, eagle, owl, robin, squirrel, snow goose, sow, tiger, wren Altar decorations: bells, candles, elves, evergreens, goddess figures, lights, holly, mistletoe, ornaments, pine cones, reindeer, snowflakes, sun symbols, wreath, yule log Colors: red, green, white, silver, midnight blue, gold Crystals: bloodstone, clear quartz, diamond, emerald, garnet, ruby Herbs: blessed thistle, chamomile, ivy, mistletoe, peppermint, rosemary, sage Incense and oils: cedar, cloves, cinnamon, frankincense, juniper, myrrh, peppermint, pine, sweet orange Trees: apple, birch, cedar, chestnut, citrus, fir, holly, juniper, oak, pine, yew Spellwork: inner peace, harmony, heal emotional wounds, letting go, anger, bless home Activities: fire, watch the sun rise, bless things, make p...

The third and final fall harvest. The witches new year.  Date: Sun transit 15° Scorpio (around November 7) Animals: bat, black cat, owl, raven Altar decorations: acorns, apples, cauldron, fall flowers, leaves, nuts, berries, photographs of deceased loved ones, pomegranates Crystals: aquamarine, bloodstone, carnelian, jet, obsidian, onyx, smoky quartz Colors: black, gold, orange, silver, purple, white Herbs: allspice, broom, calendula, comos, chrysanthemum, deadly nightshade, mandrake, mint, nutmeg, rosemary, sage, thistle, wormwood Incense and oils: benzoin, copal, helitrope, mastic resin, sage, sandalwood, sweetgrass, wormwood Trees: apple, hazel, oak, pomegranate  Spellwork: divination, endings, banishing, protection, honoring the dead, getting rid of bad habits, clarity, releasing, past lives, letting go Activities: recreate family recipes, ancestor altar, nature walk, divination, share family stories, carve pumpkins Foods: apples, squash, ...

The autumn equinox and second of the fall festivals. Celebrate with a feast of thanksgiving for Earth's bounty. Date: Sun transit 0° Libra (around September 2) Animals: blackbird, eagle, owl, salmon, stag, wild goose, wolf Altar decorations: cornucopia, apples, squash, dried corn, pumpkin, herbs, autumn leave, late blooming flower, animal images Crystals: amber, citrine, cat's eye, lapis, sapphire, yellow agates Colors: brown, green, gold, orange, red, yellow Herbs: bittersweet, chamomile, marigold, oak leaves, rue, sage, thistle, yarrow Incense and oils: cinnamon, myrrh, frankincense, sage Trees: aspen, cedar, locust, maple, oak, pine walnut Spellwork: home protection, balance, releasing negativity, bad habits, prosperity, shadow work Activities: gratitude list, house cleaning, letting go, bake bread or apples, celebrate abundance, give offerings, leaf rubbings Foods: bread/grain, apples, squash, pumpkin, cider, corn, pomegranates, root veggies ...

The first of the three fall harvest festivals celebrating grains and cereal crops. Date: Sun transits 15° Leo (around August 1) Animals: calf, crow, pig, rooster, salmon Altar decorations: barley, bread, corn, dollies, cornucopia, gourds, scythe, sunflowers, sun wheels Crystals: citrine, golden topaz, lodestone, moss agate, obsidian, peridot, tiger's eye, yellow adventurine Colors: bronze, green, gold, light brown, orange, yellow Incense and oils: basil, frankincense, rose, rosemary, sandalwood Herbs: apple leaf, basil, blackthorn, clover, goldenrod, heather, ivy, marigold, peony, poppy, rose, rosehips, rosemary, sunflower, vervain, yarrowfal Trees: apple, oak Spellwork: wish, protection, harvest, prosperity Activities: bake bread/pastries, tend garden, make corn dollies, have a bonfire, harvest crops, create a besom Foods: multigrain bread, blackberry pie, corn on the cob, bbq meat, fried chicken, blackberry wine Essential oil blend I use: L...

The summer solstice celebration marking the longest day and shortest night of the year. Date: Sun transits 0° Cancer (around June 21st) Animals: bees, butterflies, cattle, horses, robin, sea creatures, snake, wren Altar decorations: all flowers, herbs, fruits, veggies, mirror, solar cross, sun symbols, sea shells Crystals : amber, carnelian, citrine, diamond, jade, lapis, tiger's eye Colors: blue, gold, green, red, white, yellow Herbs: basil, calendula, chamomile, daisy, heather, lavender, meadowsweet, mugwort, mistletoe, peony, rose, vervain, St. John's wort, sunflower, thyme Incense and Oils: cedar, clove, frankincense, lavender, lemon, mint, myrrh, orange, pine, rose, sage Trees: elder, oak, pine, rowan, fir Spellwork: redirection, self-love, faery magick, protection, personal growth, healing Activities: make flower crowns, have a picnic or bbq, watch the sunrise, bonfire, gardening, drumming, bird feeding, nature walk Foods: honey, cherrie...

The May Day celebration of fertility and love. Date: Sun transits 15° Taurus (Around May 5) Animals: bees, cats, cattle, dove, frogs, goats, leopards, lynx, rabbits, swallows, swan Altar decorations: acorns, antlers, baskets, blooming flowers and herbs, cauldron or cup, candles, floral crowns, may baskets, maypole, sticks, seeds, wreaths Crystals: beryl, emerald, garnet, malachite, rose quartz, tourmaline Colors: shades of green, bright spring colors, blue, purple, yellow, red Herbs: all-heal, blessed thistle, broom, coriander, crocus, curry, daffodil, dandelion, dragon's blood, fern, fireweed, flaxseed, forsythia, hawthorn, marjoram, meadowsweet, nettle, paprika, primrose, rose, rue, snapdragon, tansy, tulip, violet, woodruff Incense and Oils: frankincense, jasmine, musk, peach, rose, vanilla, ylang ylang Trees: alder, ash, birch, hathorne, hazel, holly, oak, rowan, willow Spellwork: connection, cooperation, charms, enchantment, fertility, growth, l...

Spring Equinox celebration of equal day and night. Day of renewal and birth. Date: Sun transits 0° Aries (around March 21) Animals: butterflies, chicks, hares, lambs, rabbits, robins Altar decorations: baskets, budding twigs, bunnies, spring water, colored ribbons, eggs, four leaf clovers, spring flowers, sprouting bulbs Crystals: amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, clear quartz, green moss agate, jasper, moonstone, rose quartz Colors: pastels, gold, light green, yellow, pale pink, robin's egg blue Herbs: clover, crocus, daffodil, forsythia, gorse, honeysuckle, iris, jasmine, jonquils, lemon balm, lilac, lilies, mint, narcissus, peonies, tansy, tulips, violet Incense and Oils: cedar, geranium, grapefruit, helichrysum, jasmine, lemon, lemongrass, lime, patchouli, chamomile, sandalwood, tangerine, vetivert, orange, ylang ylang Trees: acorn, dogwood, elder, olive, pine, willow Spellwork: balancing, cleansing, fertility, burying/planting, new beginnings, ...

Sabbat: any of eight neo-pagan religious festivals commemorating phases of the changing seasons The cross-quarter sabbat marking the mid-point between Yule and Ostara. A fire festival to celebrate the blessings of hearth and home.  Date: Sun transits 15° Aquarius (around February 4th) Animals: all burrowing animals, bears, deer, groundhog, lamb, sheep Altar Decorations: Brigid's cross, candle wheels, dish of snow, evergreens, grain dollies, ploughs, sun wheels, white flowers Crytals: amethyst, bloodstone, garnet, onyx, ruby, turquoise Colors: brown, green, pink, red, white, yellow Herbs: acorns, angelica, basil, bay, blackberry, chamomile, crocus, jasmine, lavender, rosemary Trees: birch, evergreens, willow Spellwork: fire scrying, blessing tools, creativity, purifying bath Activities: Cleanse or redecorate sacred space, plan garden, light candles, review intentions for the year Foods: breads, winter vegetables, soup, dairy Essential oil bl...