Every year around this time I would be opening my heart to receive my Word of the Year. I say it this way because I typically always have words ‘come to me’, I don’t actively go out seeking them. I may consult the thesaurus to get the most accurate representation of the word, but the general air of it is placed upon me, and who am I to deny that? October may seem a little early for this task but annually I also order a Giving Key with said word on it and take advantage of their Black Friday sales so it works out quite well.
This year is going to be different though. While I do happen to already have my word, I won’t be implementing it until Imbolc (celebrated February 1st), as I am rejecting our standard Gregorian calendar and embracing The Wheel of the Year.
While The Wheel of the Year is now associated mostly with Wiccan/Pagan beliefs, the general concept can be traced back to prehistoric times, and associated with the Celts. Our ancestors long ago would have lived their lives in rhythm with the seasons—working hard during spring, summer, and harvest, and resting during the cold winter season as there simply would have been less work to be done. The ancient Celts are the first known peoples to formalize the concept and create the Sabbats—which is why days like Imbolc officially celebrate the Irish goddess Brigid, and Lughnasadh (or Lammas) honours the god Lugh, who is said to have sacrificed himself to guarantee good harvest.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Saucy Tart Society to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.