Reclaiming the Cross-Quarters

by Gaspar

Most Pagans believe that the intent is the most important single factor in a spell or ritual.  But to increase the effectiveness of our spell or ritual, timing is also considered an important factor.  We hold the Sabbats on the solstices and equinoxes recognizing the importance of the transition of the Sun and its effect on the length of day and night. We also recognize the waning and waxing phases of the Moon, particularly the full Moon.  But I have found that we seem to place little importance on when we celebrate the cross-quarters.  While the solstices and equinoxes are easily recognized and advertised widely in mundane literature and media, we pay little attention to the actual date of the cross-quarters.  We have come to settle on traditional dates at the end or beginning of a month with little regard to the actual astrological timing of these dates.

According to the astrological philosopher Dane Rudhyar, the cross-quarters are points of  “greatest momentum or most critical release.”  In the Wiccan tradition, the cross-quarter points are celebrated as the "Greater Sabbats" as opposed to the “Lesser Sabbats” which are celebrated on the solstices and equinoxes.   These cross-quarter points are recognized as the power points and are symbolized by the tetramorph figures of the Lion, the Bull, the Eagle, and the Spirit. Astrologers know these four figures as the symbols of the four 'fixed' signs of the Zodiac. Christians have adopted the same iconography to represent the four gospel-writers.

The dates of these cross-quarter points can be determined by calculating when the Sun enters the 15th degree of each of the fixed signs of the western zodiac: Aquarius for Imbolc,  Taurus for Beltane, Leo for Lammas, Scorpio for Samhain.  When you calculate these dates, you will find that these points actually occur a few days after the common or traditional dates for celebrating the Greater Sabbats.  For example, the traditional date for celebrating the upcoming cross-quarter day, known commonly as the First Harvest or Lammas, is August 1st.  Astrologically though, when you calculate 15 degrees Leo, this cross-quarter day is actually on August 8th. 

Of course, how important is the proper astrological timing in the celebration of these cross-quarter days?  If you place an importance on timing when you cast spells and rituals, then shouldn’t you consider realigning yourself with the Wheel of the Year and reclaiming the proper date for celebrating these cross-quarter days?

Festival of the First Harvest

by Gaspar

Early in man’s history, the pleasing flavor of wild grass seeds was discovered and it was gathered wherever it was found wild.  As civilizations grew, gathering these grass seeds did not provide sufficient quantities so eventually mankind began to be transformed from hunter-gatherers to farmers and purposefully grow grain.  Evidence of growing grains was found in eastern Iraq, in the area known as the Fertile Crescent, over 9,000 years ago and in Egypt, India, China, and England about 7,000 years ago.  The growing of grains offered man a number of advantages: they could be stored without spoiling, they could be stocked or carried from place to place, they could be prepared in a large number of ways, and they could be traded for other essentials or comforts, eventually leading to the development of commerce.  The grains also became easier to grow as the best seeds of the best plants were saved for next year’s planting.  

This conversion to an agricultural society allowed people to have more free time and they were able to turn their attention to other pursuits like textiles, pottery, and woodworking.   As grain became an important food, it also attained religious significance and was part of many cultures.   Most cultures had Gods and Goddesses of grain.   The goddess Isis is said to have brought wheat and barley grains to the people of Egypt from Lebanon.  Bethlehem means 'city of bread'.  Demeter or Ceres were worshipped as the Goddesses of agriculture, but especially of wheat, corn and other grains.     

The upcoming Sabbat is celebrated by most Pagans as the first of three autumn harvest festivals and the end of summer growth.  This harvest is especially associated with the Harvest of the Fruit, Grains and Vegetables.  Most Pagans today are detached from understanding the toil involved in growing our food and bringing the harvest in.  We also have a difficult time remembering that summer was even more a time of hunger than winter was.  Though historically wheat may have been harvested this time of year, in Kansas, most of the wheat is actually winter wheat which is harvested in June.  Corn is mainly harvested in the months of October through late November.  We are used to the convenience of buying fruits and vegetables available throughout the year at our supermarkets. 

Despite this, I still find a lot of value in the symbolism of the Wheel of the Year and its association with agricultural motifs.  Just as we observe the earth’s seasonal cycles, we can see cycles in human lives that are universal and predictable.  By mapping our lives onto the Wheel, we remind ourselves of several things.  One, we are part of nature and not apart from it.  As Pagans, we understand the need to stay in harmony with nature and Mother Gaea.  We are aware of our interconnectedness and understand our responsibility to ourselves and to environment.  Second, we are part of the human community.  We share many common experiences with those around us.  We can learn to respect those that are at different points on the wheel.  We understand that life is not linear and that we can change. 

This Sabbat is a time that many Pagans choose for personal reflection of their actions and experiences, their trials and tribulations, their joys and our sorrows over the last year.  They hope to find that they have grown through these experiences and now this is a time to harvest lessons from them.   The metaphor that “you reap what you sow” fits well here.  As your reflect on your life this Sabbat, I hope that you have a bountiful harvest. If not, remember that you do have the opportunity to take the best seeds and work on having a better harvest next year.

A Diversity of Beliefs

The symbols on the sun glasses are the same symbols that are found on the logo used by the Pagan Pride Project organization which has organized Pagan Pride events during the August/September months all over the world since 1998.  The purpose of the organization is to hold events that “foster pride in Pagan identity through education, activism, charity and community.”  Last year, they reported that there were a total of 86 local PPD events worldwide that hosted a total of 35,939 attendees.  Almost 25,000 pounds of food was collected.  Other donations included animal food, animal care products, goods for Pagan prisoners, maternity and baby care items, personal hygiene items, books, gently used clothing, blood and cash.  You can find out more about this organization at http://www.paganpride.org 

Kansas City will be having its 12th annual Pagan Pride Day event this August 28th at Macken Park in North Kansas City starting at 11 am.  The Heartland Spiritual Alliance is proud to once again be a Platinum sponsor for this wonderful event.  You can read more about this event at http://www.kcpaganpride.com 

The symbols on the left side of the logo, top to bottom:

• The Yin/Yang symbol, a sign of balance - from Eastern philosophies, but used by many Pagans
• The Celtic Cross, or equal-armed cross - again a sign of balance, often symbolizing the four cardinal directions/classical elements. Also similar to the Native American medicine wheel, though many Native Americans do not consider themselves Pagan.
• The Thor's Hammer, a symbol of Asatru/Heathens, Norse Pagans.
• The Triple Goddess symbol: the waxing, full, and waning moons, symbolizing the Goddess as Maiden, Mother, and Crone
• The Eye of Horus: an Egyptian Pagan symbol
• Venus of Willendorf: This figurine dates from 24,000-22,000 BCE and is a Mother Goddess symbol
• Ankh: Egyptian Pagan symbol symbolizing eternal life

And the right side, top to bottom:

• The Pentacle: the most common symbol used in Wicca or Witchcraft.  Its five points symbolize Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit, in the circle of eternity.
• The Triskelion: used in Celtic Paganism, symbol of the Celtic elements Earth, Sea, and Sky.
• The Celtic Cross: symbol of Celtic and Gnostic Paganism
• Stone Megaliths: Like Stonehenge, a Druid symbol
• The Green Man: consort to the Triple Goddess, the God of nature
• The Enneagram: a New Age symbol of interconnectedness
• The Tree of Life: from the Kabala, a Jewish mystic tradition appropriated into Western magick and occult systems

 Those that know me well know that my favorite holiday of the year is the 4th of July.   A lot of the activities in my life probably ensured that this would be so, such as my military upbringing and strong Boy Scout training. I find this holiday is a special dedication of something amazing that happened and is still happening today.

The 4th of July represents a point in history when representatives from the various states came together to decide the future of our country.  These representatives were small-plot farmers, plantation farmers, lawyers, merchants, professional public servants, scientists, physicians, and retired.  They all had different backgrounds, experiences and needs.   They all had different expectations for this country.  They all had egos, agendas, cliques, and close allies.  They came together to make a decision about something bigger than themselves.  They came together to decide whether or not the States should break away from England so that this new nation could control their own fate without the interference of England.  They came together with an understanding that they were putting their lives at risk by being there.  The Battles of Lexington and Concord had already occurred and so the pressure of deciding what to do was something that had to be settled soon.  So the Congress formed a committee to draft a declaration of their intent on June 11th, 1776.   This document was to not only spell out the reasons for seeking independence, but establish their guiding ideals for this new independent country.  Drafts of the document were hotly debated with over 86 changes being made to the original document crafted by Thomas Jefferson.   Finally the wording of the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4th.   The resultant document established a statement of principles that Americans continue to strive for today.  The framework for preserving these ideals was worked out in the Articles of Confederation which was adopted a year later and in the Constitution which was created over a decade later.

This April 22nd marks the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day.  This international annual event encourages people around the world to celebrate the earth and renew their commitment to building a safer, healthier and cleaner world for all of us.

HISTORY

The idea for an Earth Day first took root at a time when grass root anti-Vietnam War demonstrations, called "teach-ins," had spread to college campuses all across the nation. The success of these huge protests to gain publicity and recognition to a cause was seized upon by Senator Gaylord Nelson to bring environmental concerns to the forefront of the political agenda.  At a conference in Seattle in September 1969, Senator Nelson announced that in the spring of 1970 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on behalf of the environment and invited everyone to participate. The wire services carried the story from coast to coast. The response was electric. It took off like gangbusters. Telegrams, letters, and telephone inquiries poured in from all across the country. The American people finally found that they had a forum to express its concern about what was happening to the land, rivers, lakes, and air - and they did so with spectacular exuberance.

On November 20, 1969, the New York Times reported that "Rising concern about the environmental crisis is sweeping the nation's campuses with an intensity that may be on its way to eclipsing student discontent over the war in Vietnam ...a national day of observance of environmental problems...is being planned for next spring...coordinated from the office of Senator Gaylord Nelson is planned...."