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By Rain
Stormsong
What colors
are you going to put on your altar for Lammas? Samhein? Yule?
How about candle colors that are particularly effective to the season? Perhaps
some of the following thoughts will help you create an altar that is both
meaningful to the season and pleasant to your sense of the Sabbat. After all,
it's all about what you get out of it that's important!
Lammas, celebrated on August eve, or on
the day of August 1st depending on your path, rejoices in the first harvest. It
is time to begin bringing in the crops which have short growing seasons. There
is much yellow, orange and green that surround us
during this time, in both the harvest as well as the symbolic colors of our
ritual.
Yellow. The color of intellect and
imagination. It is still summer and we are creative and confident. We
are inspired in the rays of the sun which continues to bathe us during this
time.
Orange. Nature's power color signifies stimulation and
control. There is still a great deal of encouragement within the season as what
is around us continues to grow and produce.
Green. Abundant and leafy in it's very feel, this color signifies generosity and balance.
Mabon, the second harvest is celebrated
in late September. This is also the Autumn Equinox and therefore the day and
night are equal again. During this celebration we honor the gathering of grain
crops and that the soft crops have been put up for the long, cold months that await. Again there is orange, and also brown.
Brown. Studiousness and balance are the key as we realize that the frolic has gone from the year. Our concentration begins to turn to weathering the winter, though it is still some time away.
That Samhein and Halloween are completely separate
holidays is a given. Yes? There's even evidence that Samhein
should be celebrated earlier in the month (around the 20th) than it used to be
based on growing seasons and planetary alignments. This isn't about that
however, so I won't digress any farther. The holiday of Halloween is a
construct to make sense of, and thus take the fear factor out of, a pagan
holiday that was misunderstood by the Christian church. The holiday was our
Sabbat of Samhein.
Originally Samhein, celebrated the last of October was honored as the
night of the year that the veil between the physical world and the spirit world
was the thinnest. It was the night pagan celebrations were held to remember
those who had died during the past year and to provide guidance to those who
needed it in crossing over into the Summerlands.
Power colors for Samhein are black, red and white.
Samhein
also marks the third and final harvest celebration. Skinned fruits and nuts are
ripe and ready to be stored to sustain us through the cold of winter. Seeds are
gathered and put into the ground so that they can rest and store energy for the
spring which lays nearly a half year away.
Black. The color of
protection and binding of negativity. We use black to release that which
needs to be let go of and to help those who need the assistance in crossing.
White. Attainment of a
higher spirituality through leaving the physical body. White is thus
symbolic during this time of year as those who have left us attain greater
understandings than they had in life and we acknowledge that with white flowers
and robes.
Red. Energy and
strength. The essence of the color conjures up courage and the will
power to conquer fear of the unknown. It is what remains of the sexual,
reproductive potency of the Sun God as he is lain to
rest on this night. It is also the energy of what we have reaped throughout the
three harvests, both literally and figuratively, as we stand on the brink of
the pagan new year ready to apply what we've learned,
to our lives.
Yule; in the middle of the cold months
celebrates the return of the Sun God. This longest day, shortest night, of the
year symbolizes hope and the strength of conviction. Though there are many hard
months to come, the sun has promised to return to the land and begin the slow
process of warming it to sustain life again. Yule's colors are green, red, and
gold.
Red. The symbolic
color of health during this time of year as the days are dark and cold.
We wish for the continued or improved health of ourselves, loved ones, and herd
beasts during the times our constitutions and wills are tested.
Green. Good fortune to all. The sun
promises to return and we have stocked an abundance of food, renewed our
friendships and surround ourselves with friends. Generosity is key and green is its color.
Gold. The color of the Sun God as his birth is heralded on Yule morn. It is the color of intuition and many begin this day with a divination for the coming year.
Imbolc, celebrated February 2nd, means “in
the belly’. This is the time of year when flock and herdbeasts
begin to give birth. It is also the time of year when we begin to look ahead to
the promise of Spring. Colors are protective as it is
still cold, and the world is transforming.
White. The color of
protection, peace and purity. Symbolic of the nature
of the beasts that are born during this time.
Blue. Tranquility for the mother who labors,
patience and health as she watches her infants grow strong on her love and
nourishment.
Red. The symbolic
color of sex and power, and health. Red also represents Brigid’s fires which continue to provide solace from the
cold.
Silver. Symbolic of the Goddess as this is
also Brigid’s festival.
Ostara, the Spring Equinox and celebration of the arrival of Spring. During this celebration we honor the fertility of
animals, and the balance of day and night, male and female.
Green. Symbolic of fertility and prosperity, for in these days there is nothing that cannot be achieved. The world is a fertile bed of infinite possibilities.
Pink. Friendships and harmony and creativity are represented with this color.
Purple. The driving force behind power and transformation.
Beltane,
celebrated on May
first or May eve, depending on your path. During this time we celebrate the
powers of sexuality as beasts begin their mating season, and the blossoming of
trees and plants. Green is a strong color here again as are all colors which
represent the blossoms of flowers. Maypoles are a beautiful homage to the
abundance of color during this festival.
Litha; also known as
Midsummer and Summer Solstice. This longest day, shortest night, of the year symbolizes
the Sun God at the peak of his splendor. It is a day of great joy, tinged with
sadness as the darkness inevitably begins to creep back in as the Sun God’s
strength wanes in the upcoming days. Litha’s colors
are red, orange, white and gold.
Orange. Energy and confidence.
Orange is the color of summer. It is adaptability and stimulation. Celebrate
with a midsummer bonfire!
Gold. The color of the Sun God as he is at his strongest this day. It is the color of intuition and many make their wishes for health and prosperity written in gold ink.
Please
feel free to use this as suits your needs. If you publish it anywhere though,
please give me credit.
Bright
Blessings!
Rain
Stormsong
http://www.stormsong.org
