The wheel of the year: honouring nature's rhythms
Making meaning, anchoring and grounding through ritual and cycles
The Wheel of the Year, also known as the Pagan or Wiccan Wheel of The Year, is a cyclical calendar that’s rooted in Celtic spirituality. It’s followed by many Pagan, Wiccans and others with nature-based spiritual traditions. Each of these groups brings their own perspectives and practices to the wheel. This post is framed by my understanding of it and the ways in which I honour and celebrate the shifting seasons.
If you’re new here I’m Laura, a counsellor, space holder and nature therapist. I’m also a practicing Pagan and I share some personal reflections on what that means to me here.
The Wheel maps out the pagan seasons and festivals of the solar year, marking the rhythms of nature, agriculture and human life. The wheel turns continuously, showing how life, death and rebirth are ever-present cycles that are mirrored in the natural world, as well as in our lives.
This is a relatively new system, dating only to the 1950s. Many folk traditions in England have been lost over the centuries for a variety of reasons, including the Roman invasion and the Reformation of the Church. The Wheel of the Year emerged when neopagan groups in Britain came together to create a unified way of honouring the cycles and seasons of nature. While some of the individual festivals may not have been celebrated by the ancestors of these lands in exactly the same way, there is little doubt that their lives were lived in accordance with seasonal rhythms.
Whether a tradition is ancient or more recent, there is still something very grounding in observing the cycles of the year. The Wheel of The Year offers a way to attune to the natural world, to mark time with awareness, and to find connection and meaning in our lives.
In this post you’ll find reflections on:
Observing the wheel and alignment with nature’s seasons
Calling in the directions and the elements
Criticisms of this framework
Reflections on Individual Pagan festivals, plus links to a post with deeper insights, journal prompts and a curated playlist
Additional resources to support you to explore cycles and seasons
If you’re looking for an embodied way to explore the shifting seasons and your own inner cycles and seasons, check out my Sacred Somatic Journeys series via the button below.
Observing the Celtic wheel and living in alignment with nature’s seasons
What ever your spiritual or religious beliefs, the Celtic pagan calendar and this way of observing the cycles and seasons of nature can serve as a beautiful framework. You can find out more about modern paganism here. Ancestors all over Great Britain and Ireland would have led lives that connected deeply to agricultural cycles so it’s no surprise that paganism is rooted in a belief that nature is divine. This aligns beautifully with other religious that hold the belief that god, or spirit, exists is in all of creation, for example the Sikh mantra, Ek Ong Kar which means ‘the creator and the creation are one’.
Observing the wheel can act as a guide to our own natural cycles. Each celebration day marks a transition and these transitions help us to understand our own transitions through life. Having these anchors in our ever-changing world, offers us the space to pause, reflect, to live with intention and to express gratitude.
Following the cycles and seasons would have been a matter of life and death for ancient civilisations. The arrival of Spring meant starting to plant the seeds that would eventually become the food that sustained them through the winter. We can see why our ancestors nurtured a reciprocal bond with the land, and connected with each other in community through their shared experiences. So how does the wheel unfold, and how can we understand it and work with it?
The wheel of the year is always turning
The Celtic wheel of the year features eight pagan celebrations. Four of these are connected to the sun and the amount of daylight we experience. These are the Spring Equinox (also known as Ostara), Summer Solstice (also known as Litha) and the Autumn Equinox (also known as Mabon) and the Winter Solstice (also known as Yule). Between these are the four fire festivals of Beltane or Bealtaine (pronounced as it looks in the first example or be-el-tinna, which is the Irish pronunciation), Lughnasadh, Lughnasa or Lúnasa (pronounced Loo-nasa), Samhain (pronounced sah-win) and Imbolc (pronounced as it looks or as im-olc). You’ll find the festivals categorised by season below.
Each festival holds a unique energy and there is often an association with Gods and Goddesses, trees, and folklore. While we have lost a lot of our ancient traditions, we know our ancestors lived cyclically and we can connect with the archetypal energy of these festivals and make our own meaning from them. That might be one of the reasons I’m drawn to paganism over organised religion; I get to decide how to apply it to my own life and you can too.
Calling in the directions and the elements
Many Pagans work with the four elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, as part of their connection to celebrations and festivals. For each festival I talk about below, you’ll find information about the corresponding direction and element. Each element is linked with a direction on the compass: Earth with the North, Air with the East, Fire with the South, and Water with the West. When we work with the directions in ritual, we’re not just marking the space, we’re inviting the presence of these natural energies into our circle and into ourselves.
Earth connects us to our body and the ground beneath us; Air clears the mind and brings inspiration; Fire fuels our passion and will; and Water opens the flow of emotion and intuition. These four together create balance. along with the fifth element, spirit (also known as ether or akasha) which flows through everything.
This idea of the elements shaping us appears in many traditions. In the chakra system, from yogic philosophy, we find Earth at the Root, Water at the Sacral, Fire at the Solar Plexus, Air at the Heart, and Akasha or Spirit in the higher centres. In psychology, Carl Jung identified the four “functions” of thinking, intuition, feeling, and sensation. However we name them, these elemental forces remind us that we are part of the living world.
This framework isn’t without criticisms
Before I share more about the individual celebrations, I want to mention that The Wheel of The Year isn’t without its criticisms.
A majority of the names of the festival days that are celebrated come from cultural backgrounds that include the Celtic nations of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. This is something that should be acknowledged because the colonisation of these countries by the English meant that they weren’t legally able to speak their own languages or take part in their cultural or spiritual traditions.
I do follow the wheel but I am careful to consider the way I take meaning from it; what does following cycles and seasons specifically mean to me? What do these seasons look like on the lands that I live on? How can I honour seasons and cycles with sensitivity to the cultures that English people, which I am (albeit with Irish and Welsh heritage) have taken so much from?
I also want to share this post, which explores the idea of cyclical living from a more secular perspective. If you don’t align with the spiritual perspective around cycles and seasons, you might want to check it out.
Spring Equinox: celebrating balance, renewal and fertility
Dates: 20th - 23rd March
Direction/Element: East and the element of air: the mind, vibration, communication and connection
Themes: balance, new beginnings and nurturing growth for the year ahead
The Spring Equinox, also known as the vernal equinox (with vernal meaning spring) is also known by some pagans as Ostara, The name Ostara comes from the ancient Germanic goddess of the same name, who symbolises the dawn, renewal, springtime and new beginnings. At the Spring Equinox we celebrate the return of the sun’s warmth and light after the dark cold months of winter.
To explore this more, check out my post about spring equinox, which includes deeper reflections, journal prompts and a Spring Equinox playlist
At the Spring Equinox day and night are balanced and equal in length. This natural equilibrium between light and dark offers a powerful reminder of harmony, cycles and the delicate balance of opposing forces in our lives.
In many traditions, the spring equinox represents an opportunity to reflect on areas of our own lives that may feel out of balance and to consider how we might invite more harmony. What parts of yourself or your routine could benefit from fresh energy or a new approach? How can you nurture growth, whether in relationships, creativity, work, or personal wellbeing, as the world around you bursts into bloom? In a modern context, connecting with the equinox encourages us to embrace change with openness and optimism, to align with the rhythms of nature and to set intentions for the coming months.
Beltane: celebrating the peak of spring and the coming of summer
When? 30th April - May 1st
Direction/Element: East and the element of air: the mind, vibration, communication and connection into South and the element of Fire: energy, inspiration and imagination
Themes: fertility, fire, creativity, the world coming into bloom, abundance
Beltane is a celebration that honours fertility, fire, creativity and growth. Traditionally held on May 1st, it marks the peak of spring when animals are out to pasture, wildflowers carpet the fields and the days start to become longer and warmer. This festival is a time of energy and vitality and a celebration of the natural world bursting into full bloom.
To explore this more, check out my post about Beltane, which includes deeper reflections, journal prompts and a Beltane playlist
At the heart of Beltane are the figures of the May Queen and the Green Man, symbolic representations of feminine and masculine energies intertwined with the earth’s fertility and renewal. This can be explored from an archetypal lens, rather than as a binary; we all contain the energy of both the masculine and the feminine. Festivities include dancing around the Maypole, singing and communal rituals.
In a modern context, Beltane invites us to pause and reflect on the things we are nurturing in our lives. It’s a time to express gratitude for the warmth and light of the approaching summer and to consciously consider what we are bringing in, whether that’s new passions, intentions or growth in any area of our lives.
The Summer Solstice: celebrating the longest day and the abundance of summer
When? 20th - 22nd June
Direction/Element: South and the element of Fire: energy, inspiration and imagination
Themes: abundance, light, vitality, nature in the fullness of summer, gratitude
The Summer Solstice, which is known to some pagans as Litha, honours the power of the sun on the longest day of the year. It is a celebration of abundance, light and vitality, when the earth is overflowing with growth and energy. The sun shines at its strongest, reminding us of the life-giving force that sustains us. We have clear evidence of the importance of this to our ancestors, thanks to monuments like Stonehenge in Wiltshire. At the summer solstice, the first rays of the sunrise align perfectly with the Heel Stone, if you view the sunrise from the middle of the stone circle.
To explore this more, check out my post which includes deeper reflections, journal prompts and a Summer Solstice playlist
The Summer Solstice invites us to pause and appreciate the fullness of summer; the fruits ripening on trees, the lush greenery and the buzzing activity of the natural world in full swing. At the same time, it carries a subtle reminder that the year is beginning to turn. While we can be grateful for the peak of the light, we are also reminded that the days will grow shorter. This dual awareness invites balance; how can we celebrate brightness and abundance while preparing ourselves for rest and reflection. In a modern context, the Solstice is an opportunity to connect with gratitude for the blessings we take for granted.
Lughnasadh: celebrating abundance and the first harvest
When? 01st August
Direction/Element: South and the element of Fire: energy, inspiration and imagination
Themes: gratitude, craftsmanship, sustenance and community
Lughnasadh (Lughnasa or Lúnasa), which is also celebrated as Lammas, celebrates the first harvest of the year. This honours the gathering of the first crops. Lughnasadh is named after Lugh, a god associated with the sun, craftsmanship and the arts. Lugh’s influence is seen as a blessing on the creativity and skill required to cultivate the land. Lughnasadh marks the beginning of the transition from the energy of summer into the slowing, gathering period of autumn.
To explore this more, check out my post which includes deeper reflections, journal prompts and a Lughnasadh playlist
The alternative name for this celebration, Lammas, derives from the Old English term “Loaf Mass,” referring to the tradition of baking the first bread from the newly harvested grain and offering it in gratitude. This symbolises the sacred relationship between humans and the earth, recognising that life that comes from the soil and the sun.
In a modern context, Lughnasadh invites us to reflect on what we are harvesting in our own lives, whether that’s tangible achievements, personal growth or relationships. It’s a time to give thanks, acknowledge our skills and creativity and consider what we want to nurture as we move toward the darker half of the year.
The Autumn Equinox: celebrating balance and abundance
When? 20th - 23rd September
Direction/Element: West and the element of Water: emotion, intuition, healing, and the subconscious
Themes: balance, gratitude, resourcing for winter
Autumn Equinox, known to some pagans as Mabon, marks the moment when day and night come back into balance. Like the Spring Equinox, symbolises the harmony between light and dark. It calls us to recognise and celebrate the convergence of opposites: the God and the Goddess, Yin and Yang, Shakti and Shiva, Masculine and Feminine, Light and Dark. These dual energies are intertwined and complementary, and existing within each of us.
To explore this more, check out my post which includes deeper reflections, journal prompts and an Autumn Equinox playlist
As the year moves toward its quieter, darker half, the Equinox offers a moment to slow down, give thanks and consider how we can live in harmony and reciprocity with nature. We honour the fullness of the second harvest as the last of the summer grains are gathered and as orchards and gardens overflow with ripe fruits, vegetables, and nuts. It is a time of gratitude for the Earth’s generosity and the abundance that will sustain us through winter.
In a modern context, the Autumn Equinox encourages us to reflect on where balance may be needed in our own lives, whether that’s between work and rest, activity and reflection or holding on and letting go. It invites us to cultivate surrender and acceptance as we move deeper into autumn’s energy and prepare for the coming winter.
Samhain: celebrating ancestors and life, death and rebirth
Date: 31st October
Direction/Element: West and the element of Water: emotion, intuition, healing, and the subconscious
Themes: ancestors, fire, gratitude, the beginning of the dark half of the year
Our fascination with all things spooky at Halloween has deep roots in the Irish festival of Samhain. At this time it’s believed that the veil between the physical world and the spirit world is thin. This thinning of the veil makes it easier to connect with ancestors and the unseen energies that surround us.
To explore this more, check out my post which includes deeper reflections, journal prompts and a Samhain playlist
Samhain marks the transition into the dark half of the year; a season of introspection and rest. Traditionally, this was honoured with gatherings, feasts and bonfires, which brought communities together and offered a light in the darkness (literally and symbolically). It’s also said to mark the arrival of the Cailleach. The Cailleach is a guardian of the cycle of death and rebirth; she strips the leaves from the trees bringing decay and stillness, clearing the way for the life that will emerge with the return of spring.
In a modern context, Samhain invites us to slow down and reflect on the natural cycles of life, death and transformation. It’s a time to express gratitude for the final harvest and the abundance that sustains us through the winter. It’s also an opportunity to honour those who came before us; our ancestors, guides and the wisdom of the past that shapes our present.
The Winter Solstice and Yule: celebrating the return of the sun
When? 20th - 25th December
Direction/Element: North and the element of Earth: the physical world, balance, regeneration
Themes: the return of the sun, lighting the darkness, hope
Yule is a festival that celebrates the return of the sun after the longest night of the year; the Winter Solstice. We can start to feel hopeful, as the days begin to lengthen and the promise of warmth and light slowly returns. During time, the sun pauses in the sky, rising from the exact same spot for several days.
This event reminds us of the cyclical nature of life. Even in the darkest times, light is present and growing, waiting to return in full force. The Winter Solstice encourages us to embrace this moment of stillness and reflection, to honour the quiet and restorative energy of winter and to celebrate the resilience and hope that comes with the gradual return of the sun’s light.
To explore this more, check out my post which includes deeper reflections, journal prompts and a Yule playlist
In a modern context, Yule offers an opportunity to connect with light in the midst of winter’s darkness. Yule happens close to Christmas celebrations, so there are lots of opportunities to celebrate. This can be done in simple and meaningful ways: lighting candles to symbolise hope and warmth, gathering with loved ones and creating rituals that honour the turning of the calendar year. It’s a time to slow down, reflect on what has been, and set intentions for the growth and possibilities ahead.
Imbolc: celebrating our emergence from the darkness of winter
When? 01st - 2nd February
Direction/Element: North and the element of Earth: the physical world, balance, regeneration into East and the element of air: vibration, communication and connection
Themes: emergence, the promise of Spring, fire, fertility
Imbolc sits halfway between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Also known as Féile Bríde or “the quickening of the year,” Imbolc marks the first signs that winter is beginning to loosen its grip. Traditionally, it’s the beginning of lambing season, a time when new life starts to emerge into the world. You also might notice the first snowdrops pushing through the frost, buds forming on bare branches, or a subtle shift in the quality of light. All of these are signs that the Earth is starting to wake.
To explore this more, check out my post which includes deeper reflections, journal prompts and an Imbolc playlist.
Imbolc is connected to the Celtic goddess Brigid (also known as Brigit, Brid, or Brigantia), a Triple Goddess associated with fire, fertility, healing, poetry and the forge. She embodies the energy of transformation and was so beloved that she was later woven into Christian tradition as Saint Brigid and she is the female patron saint of Ireland. Her presence at Imbolc reminds us of the spark of life returning.
In a modern context, Imbolc offers a moment to pause and reflect on how we’re beginning to emerge from the darkness and stillness of winter. What seeds are we planting? What insights have taken place during the quieter months? This is a time to reconnect with our inner flame, our creativity, our energy and our sense of purpose, as we get ready for the more active seasons ahead.
Other resources for cyclical living and following the rhythms of nature
If you’d like to explore additional resources to support you to connect with the cycles and seasons of nature, beyond The Wheel of The Year, check out the links below. If you’d like to bring more ritual and ceremony into your life around living seasonally, I hold seasonal circles and ceremonies and I’m available for 121 work. You can get in touch here.
Working with the moon as an archetype
Cyclical living: living in flow with nature to find calm and connection during uncertain times
Self guided nature therapy practices
Incorporating simple rituals into your daily life
You can also check out each of the individual posts that I have linked to above, for deeper reflections, folklore, journal prompts and playlists.
Thank you for taking the time to explore The pagan Wheel of The Year with me. This framework offers a beautiful way of reconnecting with the cycles and seasons of nature, reminding us that we are part of a greater rhythm. At the same time, there is an invitation to reflect on what your own cyclical year might look like. What are the inner cycles and seasons you move through; times of growth and blossoming, of harvest and celebration, of rest and renewal? By pausing to notice the turning of the earth as well as the patterns within ourselves and our local landscapes, we can start to create a more intimate, personal relationship with time, change and the living world.
