The Magical Year: Seasonal Celebrations to Honor Nature's Ever-Turning Wheel

by Danu Forest

The Celtic seasonal wheel is based on eight festivals – Winter Solstice, Imbolc, Spring Equinox, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lughnasadh, Autumn Equinox and Samhain. Together, these lead us through the cycle of the year, aligning our awareness with the seasonal pattern of the earth beneath our feet.In this book on the solstices, equinoxes and other festivals within the sacred cycle, Danu Forest reveals the secrets of each festival in turn and skilfully revives ancient traditions, encouraging us to reconnect with nature, and ourselves, with a host of practical ideas and rituals. Decorate your home with beautiful seasonal crafts and altars to manifest sacred space. Make gifts to give to friends, cast spells for creativity, fertility and blessing, and use the abundance of nature in recipes that can be enjoyed as part of your seasonal celebrations or for self-healing and empowerment. Meditate on the changing heavens throughout the year with Celtic star lore. Deepen your experience of the turning seasons, from the rest and renewal of winter through the revels of spring and summer to the soul or spirit nights of autumn with magical guided visualizations. This cycle of conscious celebration helps us, year on year, to align with nature’s rhythms with greater wonder and insight.

Based on sound extensive research, as well as many years of practical experience through both personal practice and teaching, the book will act as a guide for weaving a new, more soulful way of living into readers’ everyday existence.

Genres: Nonfiction, Paganism, Spirituality, Witchcraft, Folklore, Mythology, Magick

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2016

Reviews

[Lora Milton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm always a little sceptical when a magical author gives themselves a lot of titles, but apparently this one is a member of OBOD, the respected British Order of Druids.

As books of the Pagan festivals go, this one is very informative and well written. It gives an overview of the eight annual holidays that are common to both Wicca and modern Druidism, followed by chapters on each of the festivals individually.

There's nothing new here, but familiar folklore is presented well and the rituals offered are straightforward and simple. Not too much airy-fairy new age posturing. There are rituals, spells, recipes and crafts to go with each festival.

It explains where some holiday traditions come from, like decorating eggs at Easter (Eostre) and symbols and such that experienced Pagans will already know, but it would be a good choice for new Pagans who have yet to learn the significance of these holidays.

Best of all it's from a British perspective, so closer to the original cultural references without getting watered down by popularist adaptations, although there are some concessions to choosing your own words or which way you prefer to believe that tries to cater to everyone on a commercial level.

Still a good choice for a beginner.

[Jennifer Chasse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It is definitely very Celtic and if you are not a Celtic pagan you might be put off by the over all Celtic vibe. But if you can get passed it, you can find a ton of useful information in this book.

This book goes over each of the main seasonal celebrations over a Pagan year. Each section gives you a basic over view of the celebration as well as ideas ideas for marking the occasion. Kitchen Witchery is included for each section as well as craft ideas and activities.

I personally used one of the Samhain recipes. I made the stew (with beef) for our Samhain celebration and it came out very good. It claimed to feed 6 and that is about right. Too bad there were 14 of us.

I also have made notes to use several of the ideas for celebrations in the future. I plan on coming back to this book a lot.

Finally, the meditations and visualizations are really great and can be used if you are leading a group. I plan to use them in the future.

[William Briar · Rating 1 out of 5]

While I believe there is value in all books, I could not bring myself to read past this one's first chapter. In short, it described the magical year in the exact same way as every other popular Pagan title over the last two decades. The thing is, not all Pagans are Wiccans or Neo-Wiccans. Not all of us care to use to Celtic calendar or live in a climate that reflects that particular agricultural cycle. Perhaps the author became more inclusive later in the text, but I had already lost all interest. Definitely a beginner's text.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Aurore Boréale · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good book.

I liked the writting style, and it's a really amazing book, i can advice it to a lot of people.

[Maeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

An introduction to the Celtic Wheel of the Year...with information on Celtic gods and goddesses, ancient traditions, star charting, recipes, and plants/nature.

[Jeff Wong · Rating 3 out of 5]

For people who are well versed in Celtic mythology, this is probably a nice book for them. The author goes through the 8 different times of the year that correspond to various traditional Celtic festivals based on the seasons/time of year. Within the chronology, there are instructions for creating some of the symbols of the season (using natural materials) and recipes for the food and drink that are also traditional for the various festivals. Additionally, there is some mythology and some astrology that is also mentioned. The dates listed are for both the Northern and the Southern hemispheres, however, the astronomy/start constellation discussions are only for the Northern hemisphere. I found myself wanting more about the myths/stories/legends from which these traditions arose -- the book probably did not strive to do that as its mission but I would have liked it more had it done that.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been working my way through this for the last month, and it’s been so fun to cozy up by the fire and journal and write about seasonal celebrations and nature rituals I’d like to celebrate. Most joyful new year’s planning ever. I really enjoyed this—from the Celtic lore and pantheon exploration (not something I’m drawn to but still interesting to learn) to the meditations and ritual / craft ideas. I found a lot I really connected with and am excited to (more formally) structure my year and spiritual practices around the natural world and its cycles.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly what I needed. This book breaks down the wheel of the year and offers plenty of tips, advice & Crafts for each of the occasions. It briefly explains folklore and legends regarding the celebrations giving the reader a good direction to go off and do some deeper reading in the aspects that interest you the most. I have used this book to help me compile information for my grimoire, and found it to be an excellent beginners book, that is concise and comprehensive. Highly recommended.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant book! I loved how practical it is, not just explaining some of the legends and history behind events but also suggesting how to reconnect with these traditions now, in the modern times.
Even though I have Slavic routes, Celtic traditions feel very connected to Slavic traditions, having any crossovers. Very much enjoyed reading it and looking forward to going back for inspiration around every celebration now.

[KM · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you're new to the wheel of the year this is a great place to get started and cover a variety of practices!

[Ophelia MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was perfect for anyone wanting to discover the Celtic holidays. I learned so much from this book. I cant wait to put it to use.

[Tina Romanelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely practical book for celebrating the seasons according to the wheel of the year.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a Celtic-centered experience of the Wheel of the Year. Now, if you don't know, the Wheel of the Year is one of the pagan (or neopagan) methods of marking the seasons of the year with a collection of eight celebrations.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Forest gave a well researched history of each spoke of the wheel, and introduces the reader to several different deities associated with that time of year. Each chapter is sort of broken down into themes, including several meditations, witchy-pagan crafts, some evocations and more. The spellwork and evocations are simple, yet powerfully written, with corresponding texts as to why this is suitable for this time of year.

Now this is Celtic-centered, so all of the deities, celebrations, and crafts have a very Celtic slant. I appreciated how the author introduced me to new deities and historical practices. I like the modern interpretation Forest gave as well, making these celebrations doable for a modern-day pagan.
**I was given access to an advanced e-copy of this book for an honest review.

If you are interested in the Wheel of the Year, Celtic celebrations and cultures, and paganism, I recommend this book.