By Elena Patrick
See Rebel Witch, Journal 1 for more information.
In your view, how useful is it for you to have some recurring celebrations/markers for your witchy year? Try to explore your answer fully.
I think it is important to have a set of celebrations that I chose, and which are separate from the ones my family celebrates, that are specifically tied to my practice. There are a handful of holidays that I grew up celebrating with my family, which I enjoy, but the holidays themselves don't really hold any real significance to me, beyond the time spent with my family. Additionally, because my family has established traditions for those holidays, I can't really start new traditions at those times that may have more personal significance or do things with my found family. So I need holidays that are at separate points in the year from when my family celebrates. I also need celebrations that are specifically tied to my practice because all too often, witchcraft just becomes a tool that I use when I need it, rather than a part of me, and I want to build traditions throughout the year that reinforce that.
How applicable could the Wheel of the Year be to your practice at the moment and why?
I think the Wheel is a useful framework, but I think there are too many celebrations, and some of them conflict with other holidays as discussed above. If there are too many celebrations, it feels like I'd always be preparing for the next one, which is just too much pressure. I think doing major celebrations on four of the eight would be manageable, and it could be good to acknowledge the others, just without elaborate traditions. While I know a lot of people find the solstices and equinoxes to be particularly important, I feel like they don't feel as meaningful as the cross-quarter days, which tend to be closer to when the seasons actually feel like they're changing. Like if the Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, that doesn't seem like the start of Winter, rather it should be the mid-point. I think treating Samhain as the start of Winter makes more sense.
What are the potential benefits of avoiding an annual calendar and instead just doing things day-by-day?
I think it creates a lot less pressure. If you aren't holding yourself to a set calendar, you're a lot freer to practice (or not) as feels right.
Which of the Wheel of the Year Sabbats attracts you the most and why?
Samhain, because it feels the most evocative right now, and doesn't really conflict with my family's traditions. Halloween has kind of become an awkward holiday for me, especially now that I've well since aged out of trick-or-treating, so I don't have any set traditions. October has also been a rough month for me the past few years. Having Samhain as kind of a spiritual alternative, as well as a sort of New Year is a good way to fill that, and sort of provide a reset after October.
Which of the Wheel of the Year Sabbats is least appealing to you and why?
I think the Spring Equinox, because it is too close to Easter, and it doesn't really interest me that much. All the other Sabbats I can kind of picture some things I might do for them, but I can't really think of much for the Spring Equinox.