Rhythm of the Year: Descend down to the season of the witch

Have you noticed the Rhythm of the Year image on my website somewhere? I’ve posted it in a few places. It’s in the right column of this page. And on my home page as well. (And below this section). I mention it to you because it’s time for me to start to really introduce you to how my soul led me to create a Wheel of the Year of the 4 seasons inspired by 4 feminine archetypes. After waiting since last winter, I am now finally ready to share this seasonal journey with you. I’m ready to teach my way through the seasons + around the wheel. And I decided long ago to begin this journey with you when we welcomed the season of the witch – a season of mystery, magic, and wisdom.

I suppose it may feel weird to you to begin with this season. A season of darkness, death, and mystery. But, I hope that after I explain why and after an entire year of following this wheel of the year with me, you will understand. And it really will take an entire year to truly understand.

A year ago, the idea of this rhythm (wheel) of the year was planted. And, since last autumn, it has risen from my own soul’s wisdom., one season at a time. I soon realized that I needed to begin this journey on my own last year so that I could experience it for myself before sharing it with you. As much as I wanted to write about it, I let it all simmer + rise in its own time. I held it close to me and waited until the right time to release out into the world.

Now, that time has come- The season of the witch is here + I am ready to release my rhythm of the year wheel to whomever desires to follow the rhythm of the seasons and journey through the year together. And, I would be so honored if you would join me. I’d love to be your guide throughout the next 12 months + 4 seasons.

Why begin now?

Just when everything in nature is dying? It doesn’t feel like a beginning, but an ending, right? Well, I agree. But in every ending, there is a beginning. We begin with the season of the witch because of the magic, mystery, and mood of this season. It is in the darkness where all things are created. Where seeds are planted. Where potential lies. Where deep wisdom is found. With nothing but darkness + mystery, we must rely on our own intuition. We can do nothing but, wait, listen, observe, and anchor ourselves. All is uncertain. And, while that may be completely fucking uncomfortable, it also means that this is the space, this is time, when anything is possible.

This is also the season of release + surrender. And that’s exactly what is needed to begin a soul journey as this. To begin a new journey, a new way of living in rhythm with the seasons, flowing with nature, we need to let our old ways die. We are called down into the darkest half of the year so that we can harvest, prepare, connect, root, rest, wait, listen, and intuit.

Before we can begin to take action, we must follow the messages of autumn + winter. So we descend down into the season of the witch to harvest our own wisdom medicine. In the darkness of this season, we can discover our transcendent wisdom. And when we find this bliss, then we have found our way, our medicine, our guide, our myth, our spirituality, our gift to the world.

Energies of the season of the witch

• magic: rituals, practices, mysticism, oracle
• darkness: nighttime, owls, moon
• spirit: meditation, cosmic, thinning veil, vision
• earth: roots, forests, fire, dirt
• death: release, surrender, mortality
• ancestors: honor, lineage, ancient, descendants, indigenous
• intuition: wisdom, silence, inner world
• home + hearth: candles, soup, cider, warmth, homemade

Gatherings, sabbats, + holy celebrations

This autumn/winter season is filled with the magic of holidays + festivals. There are so many special, holy days to recognize + celebrate throughout the season of the witch, beginning with the autumn equinox + ending with the winter solstice. Recognizing or marking any or all of these special days is how I bring magic to everyday life. My mom often comments on how much we celebrate in our home… how many rituals + traditions we have. For me, it is simply how I flow with nature + live in rhythm with the seasons. It’s how I stay present, grounded, and grateful for each + every moment. I often find that the more I celebrate, the more rituals + traditions I participate in, the more present I am in my life from day to day. The more sacredness I find in the little things.

I do not participate in rituals + traditions because I must, or ought to, or should, or because that’s just how it’s always been done. If I feel like I “must” do something. then I don’t do it. I try to never do something/participate in something just because… Instead, I recognize + celebrate because I feel called to. Because I know that these rituals + celebrations bring a sense of grounded presence + magic to my daily life.

All that to say… these are the opportunities for celebrations + gatherings on holy days during the season of the witch. Pick + choose those which seem to call to your soul. (I will do my best to share my gatherings + celebrations on the blog as we move through the season).

Autumn equinox: The season of the with begins with this sacred day of balance + the changing of the seasons. It is the day that ushers us into the darkest half of the year. We are called to surrender + turn inward. To harvest all that has grown + prepare for the dark winter that lies ahead. It is literally the day that has equal daylight + darkness. And, immediately the next day, the dark hours are more than the light hours.

Samhain + All Saint’s Day: Halloween. The witch’s new year. A day to remember, celebrate, and honor the dead. The night when the veil between the spirit world + ours is the most thin. The perfect time to ponder mortality, recognize our humanness, and listen to the whispers of those who have gone before.

Thanksgiving: An American tradition based on a legend created by whites who landed on the shores of the United States when Indigenous peoples roamed freely. The story of the pilgrims has misrepresented the truth of the horrors of war, death, and disease that white folks brought to a land that was already populated by tribes and families. For me, Thanksgiving is still a day to be celebrated…. but to be celebrated in truth. By honoring + remembering my European descendants – both their acts of war and their acts of peace.

Advent: Traditionally this is a 4 week period leading up to the celebration of Christmas. But, as I no longer associate myself with one religion, yet still appreciate the season leading up to the Midwinter/Christmas celebration, Advent is still relevant to me. But, I celebrate it in my own way. Blending old traditions from my childhood with ancient practices of waiting for Yule. But, always focusing on the energies of waiting in the dark.

Lucia. A Swedish celebration of the coming of light in the absolute darkest weeks of the year. A cozy time of mulled wine, candles, and long dark nights.

Winter solstice/Midwinter: December 21 marks the darkest, longest night + the shortest day of the the entire year. It is the turning point and the portal into the winter season. A night shrouded in darkness, and yet, the night where hope is born. After this long night, the days start to slowly become lighter one second at a time. It is a sacred, holy day filled with wisdom, silence, and resilience.

After the winter solstice, we move from the season of the witch and into the season of the mystic. But, I’ll share more about that… after Midwinter.

For now, if you dare to join me on this journey through the seasons, following the rhythms + flow of nature, we descend down into the dark season of the witch.

I am certain that, especially during this chaotic, upending, incomprehensible year, we are frightened to surrender to the dark. But, the darkness will come anyway. Why not allow ourselves to drop into the magical energies available to us during the season of the witch? Daring to face our fear, our mortality, our intuition, and excavating our own magic + wisdom is exactly what this world needs. We need to show up as our most true, authentic selves. And, in order to do that, we must be brave enough to live in the present moment. For now, that moment, this season is ever darkening. But, it is also magical, mysterious, and mystical. The season of the witch isn’t calling us to take part in dark, horrible things… but, to embrace the inner magic + soulful medicine that we each have. Something mysterious that we can bring out to the world… bringing light, love, justice, and equality to a frightening + dark world.

The season of the witch is not a scary time. What is scary is refusing to respond to how we each can use this time to individually find our own inner witch and uncover our own inner medicine… that will be just what the world needs from us.

So, sink down with me, fellow witches + magical beings. I’ll be here, updating + sharing my journey + descent into the season of the witch week after week throughout October. From now until Samhain/Halloween, I’ll share more in depth all about the magic, the mood, the craft, and the wisdom of the season that runs from the autumn equinox (last week) to the winter solstice in December.

Are you ready? Let’s descend into the season of the witch together. The darkness awaits with mystery, magic, and medicine for each of us. xoxo. liz.