"WITCHES OF WOOMBYE"

"MAY YOU NEVER THIRST"

"MAY YOU NEVER HUNGER"

"BLESSED BE"

"EVENTS 2004"

"SUNWYSE"

CELEBRATING THE SACRED WHEEL OF THE YEAR IN AUSTRALIA.

Following the Wheel is a way of developing a greater awareness of the natural cycles that goven life on earth and having fun in the process.

Drawing from many traditions, we will explore the eight festivals associated with the Wheel: Two Equinoxes, Two Solstices, and the Four between theses points known as the cross-quater festivals.

Each festival will be explained and it's theme explored through mythology. Related holidays and events will be listed & suggestions for ways to celebrate each festival will be outlined

THE HARVEST FEAST

2nd FEBRUARY

The Wheel turns to the first Harvest. Life is affirmed in earth's bounty. Sweaty bodies test their strenght and vigour.

First harvests are done, the last sheaf of wheat cut down and there is time to gather before beginining on to the next harvest. It is a time of abundance, when earth overflows with her generoisty. It is a tme for feasting, on the grains and fruits, with berry pies and apple cider.

Also known by the Celtic name of LUGHNASADH, this festival is calculated 92 days after the LOVE FESTIVAL, working on a calander of 365 days where the other cross-quater festivals are held at the transition from one month to the next. With the sun still high, this festival has a strong mascuilne ambience.

WAYS OF CELEBRATING

1/ Traditional fairs at harvest time were used by the medieval guilds to display their workmanship.Todays harvest festivals usually include a craft market and displays of vaious skills and talents. When looking for events that celebrate the pageantry and excess of first harvests, a good example is Sydneys's Gay Mardi Gras, involving a month-long round of activities and the Chinses New Year on the February new moon.

2/ The Australia Day Weekend, commemorating the landing of the English on Australian shores in 1788, sees a variety of community events taking place, including athletic carnivals, craft markets and harvets festivals. Each region has its own native harvest that come in at different times and some-times celebrations can be tailored around these, e.g. early in the last century Aborigines of South East Qieensland gathered for the Bunya Nut Festival between January and March and depending on the bounty of the Bunya Nuts they would invite neighouring tribes to join them.

3/ Elders tend to be unrecognised in modern communities. They are the wise ones, grandparents, teachers, always ready to lend an ear or a bit of advice. Public recognition should be made of their contribution to individuals, families and communities.

4/ The sprirt of the corn is cut down, and so it is also a time of death and commemoration. As loaves are made from the first grain, corn dolies are made from the last. When the last sheath is still standing, the men take turns throwing their sickles at it until it is knocked down, At the feasting later, the victor is honoured and the corn dolly consigned to the fire or buried in the earth to show that the Sunlords time is done. Corn necklaces are made, with their promise of life to be renewed in the spring.

The Harvest is the culmination of the Summer activities, testing each other's strength, showing off skills and abilities, courting a spouse. It has a strong vibrant spirit that encourages us to take control of our lives as thew Wheel moves forward again.

The "WITCHES OF WOOMBYE" will be holding - "THE HARVEST FEAST", on Sunday the 1st of February, at the Maroochydore Bushland Bicentical Gardens (near Eudlo) at 2.00 pm, at the stone spiral. All are welcome to this our first sabbatt for the year 2004.

The day was warm and the company inspiring. The 1st Sabatt was attended by approx 15 people, not bad for our first attempt. Thank you to all those who attended hope to see you at the 'Autumn Equinox' in March, but more on that later.

You can contact "WITCHES OF WOOMBYE" at

© 2003 witchesofwoombye@yahoo.com.au

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