The Ultimate Guide to the Witch's Wheel of the Year: Rituals, Spells & Practices for Magical Sabbats, Holidays & Celebrations

by Anjou Kiernan

The Ultimate Guide to T he Witch’s Wheel of the Year offers a complete guide to celebrating the eight Wiccan sabbats as part of your spiritual practice.

Anjou Kiernan—named “One of the Magical Women You Should be Following on Instagram” by Refinery 29—guides you through the history of the holidays , their pagan roots, and how to merge these sacred cycles and celebrations with today's traditions and holidays.

Lavishly illustrated and photographed, The Ultimate Guide to The Witch’s Wheel of the Year illustrates spells and practices that will help you incorporate the old magick of the seasons into your modern life . Accompanying each turn of the Wheel as it cycles through the holidays of Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Mabon, and Samhain
 
From the bright blessings of the Yuletide solstice to the fertile flower magick of Beltane to the thinning of the veil on Samhain, each transition lends itself to a unique catalog of spells, altars, and practices that you can use all year long.

The Ultimate Guide to… series offers comprehensive beginner’s guides to discovering a range of mind, body, spirit topics, including tarot, divination, crystal grids, numerology, aromatherapy, chakras, and more. Filled with beautiful illustrations and designed to give easy access to the information you’re looking for, each of these references provides simple-to-follow expert guidance as you learn and master your practice.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Reference, Paganism, Religion

208 pages, Paperback

Published February 16, 2021

Reviews

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

The Ultimate Guide to the Witch's Wheel of the Year is a beautiful and dedicated book of information to begin your journey as a Wiccan practitioner.
The pictures in this book are so beautifully set out and there are lots of different activities and different project ideas to try.
This book has lots of information and guides you through each activity and project too.
Holidays for different cultures and beliefs are explained in this book which was really interesting to read about.
I did find it hard to read in places due to some pages coming up sideways on or upside down which was very frustrating. I hope that anyone purchasing this book doesn't experience this. I ended up screenshotting the pages and then turning them in my photo gallery to the right way to enable me to read them.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really beautiful book, filled with gorgeous, dark photos that the author took (always a plus in this day of stock photography). She is apparently well liked on Instagram, and that shows in the photos. I am not Wiccan so I can't speak to how authentic it is. I loved the visual appeal of it and I liked reading the history of each holiday from all different traditions and cultures, plus the many projects and activities.

As other early reviewers have noted, my ARC had pages upside down that made it very hard to read at times. I read it on the new Net Galley app so I could zoom in on the small pages, but if I'd tried to read it on other devices it would probably have been maddening. I won't deduct stars for that, though, since that's not the author's fault and I have no doubt that people who purchase physical or digital copies of the final book will not have to deal with that. Still -- publishers, give reviewers proper ARCs to read if you want us to review your books!

All in all, this is a really moody, beautiful, informative book. I see from looking at reviews by actual Wiccans that they vary widely in whether they liked it or not, though, so you may want to preview a copy first.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.

[Salem ☥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO good. Recently I've been feeling a little down from the sheer amount of terrible informational books I've been reading, but this one was exactly what I've been looking for. Finally!

This book lays out everything one would need to learn about every witchy holiday & why it's celebrated. Each one is explained in detail, with the differences in how the associated cultures celebrate it/how it came to be.

Incredibly informative, with spell examples, altar ideas, food, zodiac, and moon cycle explanations! Love, love, love. Perfect for referencing during the holidays.

[Laura Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

History of the holidays that were celebrated according to the seasons before they were Christianized, along with ways to incorporate practices that honor these cycles.

[CottageShadowWitch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actually reading "The Ultimate Guide to the Witch's Wheel of the Year' has proved to be nearly impossible. This is mostly due to the pages being at times turned up side down with absolutely no reason or rotated 90 degrees. I'm really hoping people who are paying for their digital copy are getting one that has ben set correctly since the protected PDF that I got as an ARC is not. I'm also hoping the graphics and pictures are in a way better quality.

So while I really wanted to read everything I decided against ist. Maybe someone who isn't physically affected trying to read this can tell you in-detail about the information. This witch cannot since it's threatening to give her a migraine because her eyes and brain can't deal with it.

But onward to the information that I did read.

I was hoping for well-researched objective book about the Witch's Wheel of the Year. What I got was a mixture of some witchyness, a lot of witccan, and paganess everywhere. Seems like witches have to be pagan nowadays. And as say this as a witch and pagan myself: this is not the case. So why does it go on and on about neopagans here and pagans there and deities everywhere?

I'm used to witchcraft books being Wiccan. It'S damn near impossible to get one that is at the minimum not wiccan-influenced. But now to have paganism being thrown into the well as well?

What I especially did not like was the way different pantheons (at least open ones as far as I've seen) were used like ingredients. This holiday correspondends with these herbs, these candles, these scents, and these deities. Build an altar for Hel and receive this kinda writing.

At least in my practise that*s damn respectless and also, why would someone who is not at least inclined to the Norse pantheon build anything for a Norse god? As long as I'm not working with a celtic deity I for sure won't be demanding anything from someone from that pantheon?

I mean, what? Seriously.

In a way I thought this would be a nice beginner's book. Getting a basic understanding to build your practise on or come back to relearn it. What I got was information like Christmas is an alternative name for Yule (those are very different holidays that aren't even on the same date or in the same religion???) and how to misuse deities as ingredients. Joy.

I'm also seriously bothered by it being supposed to be for witches and then having such a huge focus on religion. There are so many witches who don't work with or even believe in any God or Gods.

[Anna Katherina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've read a lot of really bad books about the Neopagan holiday cycle over the years but admittedly this has to be one of the worst ones I've encountered; I don't know what I expected from an author bragging about being listed in a "One of the Magical Women You Should be Following on Instagram" slideshow article on Refinery29 like it's some kind of major accomplishment, though. Truly, that really should have told me all I needed to know about the likely quality of the work off the bat.

Firstly, just to get this out of the way: The photography should not be lauded. It's mediocre at best and outright bad and distracting from the material at worst- but mostly it just looks like my 16 year old self took my dad's camera for a spin for the first time; there's no understanding of actual theory or technique, let alone post processing, or... Literally anything else that goes with photography and the quality you'd expect of it in a book that uses it so frequently. And, as a result, the book suffers from incredibly poor quality imaging for it.

Now for the real meat: There is none. There's not much actual information in the book at all, really. What is there isn't provided in any sort of useful narrative manner, but is mostly lazily provided through vaguely formatted tables. The handful of rituals and activities provided for each holiday are likewise lackluster and don't add anything particularly useful. And to top it all off, it's just as poorly researched and full of pseudo-historical nonsense and outright lies as any other Neopagan book n the market. The attempt to mish-mash only vaguely or entirely unrelated traditions into one another to manufacture marginally more content for the book doesn't make it any better.

Save your money; as much as I don't like saying it you're honestly likely to get far better use out of a Llewellyn Sabbats Almanac than this thing.

[Hali Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent overview of the sabbats and what to do in celebration of them.

[Jeremiah · Rating 4 out of 5]

For seasoned practitioners and beginners alike, this book is one I would highly recommend. The cover is a beautiful image of the wheel of the year that sets the tone for the book. It is highly informative and breaks down the various days that make up the wheel of the year. For each of the Sabbats, there is information about the history of the day in addition to practices you can do to depend your connection to not only yourself but the greater universe. The inclusion of a table showing the correspondences of the wheel of the year is handy. I’m not the best at remembering what happens when and this gives a quick visual aid that is easy to read and use. Even better, the book also includes information and correspondences for the Southern Hemisphere! While I live in the Northern Hemisphere, I rarely see information that also considers the whole other half of the world. Overall, the approach to this book is clear and concise. If you need information or a refresher on the basics, this is the book for you!

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stunning guide, beautifully illustrated and photographs, wonderful and helpful content to guide you through the practitioners year, will definitely be buying a physical copy for permanent reference, brilliant for those new and the more experienced, wonderful

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

[Ashley Osborn - Book Of Salem · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book but I finished it feeling like it needed more.

Let’s start with the positives: I loved how much history and traditions were talked about in this book. The photos in the book were beautiful and are definitely one of the big selling points.

I do wish that this book was a bit longer because although there was so much lore and back story that I loved, some things were a bit confusing and could have been explained better.

I wish that some of the rituals had alternative versions for those witches that live in cities and don’t have as much space to have outside rituals. I also wish it spoke a bit more about modern witchcraft as well.

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group – Fair Winds and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer Sacasa-wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of reviewing Ms. Kiernan’s book entitled The Book of Altars and Sacred Spaces: How to Create Magical Space in Your Home for Ritual and Intention for the July 2020 issue of PaganPagesOrg and was impressed with the content and the beautiful photographs that underscored the visual components of creating altars. It was both a feast for the eyes and for the inspired mind. The Ultimate Guide to the Witch’s Wheel of the Year: Rituals, Spells & Practices for Magical Sabbats, Holidays & Celebrations by Anjou Kiernan is another installment from Anjou that stimulates your creativity and uses photography and illustration to conjure up a diverse palette of possibility.

The contents of The Ultimate Guide to the Witch’s Wheel of the Year: Rituals, Spells & Practices for Magical Sabbats, Holidays & Celebrations give ample attention to each of the eight Sabbats and provide the reader at the onset with the origins and reason for the seasons. The Resources section at the end of the book provides the reader with a listing of the rituals suggested in each of the individual chapters with a quick look index guide to find them readily.

Each of the Sabbat sections is organized in such a way, that everything you would need to know, both as a beginner and more advanced practitioner, is presented in a clear and precise manner. Dates of the Sabbat, expanded Correspondences, Astronomical Basis, Ancient Sites, Pagan Cultures and Deities, Ancient Traditions and Modern Spells are some of the categories explored with rituals and active workings specific to that Sabbat strewn throughout. There is enough variety in recommended activities for celebration that would resonate with herbalists, craftspeople and ritualists, alike.

Being an Imbolc baby, I was especially interested to see the treatment given to this Sabbat and any new ideas I could use for my own celebrations. Additionally, being in my 60’s and a new grandmother, the “Crone Annointing Oil” was timely in reading. The inclusion of the Cailleach, the Morrigan and Hecate at this time of the year was a nicely surprising intention. The Crone is not often associated at this time of the year, but entirely makes sense in alignment with the seasonal tides and the underpinnings of energy experienced. In keeping with the more traditional assignations of Imbolc, there is a recipe for crafting a candle honoring Brighid and her potent triple flames. Cleansing amulets, weather divination and ritual and poppets fill the pages for this Sabbat, offering a cornucopia of ways in which the magick and celebratory nature of the Sabbat can be accessed and flow nicely with a modern or more traditional approach.

This comprehensive style is used for each of the Sabbats and the overall sense is one of bolstering and feeling confident in at least one of the forms of honoring used, while being open and receptive to the implementation of new traditions.

Would I Recommend:

The Ultimate Guide to the Witch’s Wheel of the Year: Rituals, Spells & Practices for Magical Sabbats, Holidays & Celebrations by Anjou Kiernan could easily fit into the category of a coffee table book given its rich and beautiful imagery throughout. But the real gift here is the thoughtful crafting of a book that engages the reader at all levels while instructing in the fundamentals of the Witch’s Wheel including the nuances of each celebration.

Overall, this book is really all that is needed to craft meaningful, visually beautiful and powerful expressions of the Witch’s Wheel of the Year. Additionally, if the reader takes the time to move through each of the possibilities presented in content and idea, the thread of continuity and flow from one Sabbat to the other as suggested by the “Wheel” as semantic, comes to life in a dynamic and self-generated manner. The Ultimate Guide to the Witch’s Wheel of the Year: Rituals, Spells & Practices for Magical Sabbats, Holidays & Celebrations by Anjou Kiernan is definitely a book to proudly place on your shelf and return to frequently.

-Reviewed by Robin Fennelly of PaganPagesOrg

[Emma (littledollreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley

OK, I've got thoughts that I need to share they have been plaguing me the entire time I have been reading this book and I must get them out of my head. Let's start by saying that this is an ok book in my opinion. There were parts I loved and others that I didn't care much for which evens the score back down to three.

Before we dive too deep into discussing the actual contents of the book I have to speak on the ARC itself. This arc was formated very weirdly and if you have read other reviews from people who also read this as an arc you will know what I'm talking about. I personally read this one on my phone so the issues of pages being flipped around was navigatable for me. I would however recommend against a digital version of this book as I do feel that it would work best as a physical book for a reason I will get into later.

With that out of the way back to the book itself. I quite liked the contents of this book. I have been reading about witchcraft for a couple of months now and I find it fascinating. In some of the other books I have read they have mentioned the wheel of the year and I have been dying to read a book that went more in-depth on that topic. Low and behold one appeared before me, thank you universe. I found this book to be highly informative and loved everything it had to say.

Now onto the bits that I didn't like as much. At times this book felt repetitive. When reading through a section I would occasionally get the thought, didn't you just say that, and that is never a good thought to have when reading. I also found that this book was not all that enjoyable when consumed all at once. To me, this feels more like a coffee table book. The text kind of drags on when you read it all at one and towards the end I found I was skimming through some of the sections. This book was also gorgeous. The images in here were all top-notch and such an aesthetic. The contents also feel like its best consumed in preparation for the holiday so that you can get into the spirit and be prepared. With all of the spells and rituals sprinkled through it also felt like it would serve as a great bit of reference material.

This is what I mean by a coffee table book. This book would do great sitting on a switched coffee table. It looks nice, it's divided into simple and concise sections, and there is stuff to consult back on quickly. You could leave this out and have guests flip through it while your getting refreshments or something and it can be a conversation piece.

For these reasons I probably had a bit of an off experience with this book just because of the way, I consumed it versus how it feels like this book wants to be consumed. Either way I still quite liked this book and would recommend that every witch has a copy for reference.

[Leah M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. I am providing my honest opinion voluntarily.

This book was incredibly informative. I have next to no experience with any of this, and it's obviously well-researched. The author provided immense amounts of information, not just for the Northern Hemisphere, but for the Southern Hemisphere as well. Celtic, Norse, Germanic, and even other types of cultures are represented in the historical sections, including Egyptian, South American, and Asian cultures, which I found to be fascinating. In addition, it relates the historical basis for each of these pagan days to how they've been incorporated into Christian and Neopagan holidays.

The photographs that were included throughout the book were atmospheric and beautiful. I looked forward to seeing the pictures as well as learning about each of the different pagan dates. The rituals and different projects were eye-opening. I loved learning about how centuries old rituals are preserved and still practiced in the present day. The directions were easy enough for a beginner to follow in most cases, although some ingredients may be more difficult to find if you (like me) have no experience in this sort of thing, or live in an urban area with little access to meadows, forest, or dew.

Overall, there's a lot of really great information in this, and I learned a lot from reading this. I look forward to giving some of these things a try.

[Poppy Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Netgalley gave me an electronic ARC in return for an honest review*

Perfect gift for any witch or pagan!

Simply amazing!! Everything a witch or pagan needs to begin the new year and use the seasons and sabbaths to bring the power and prosperity of nature to them.

Even someone who only relatively new to the spiritual and metaphysical scene, this book was easy to digest, read and process with pictures to help you out along the way. Especially when it gave advice on how to protect yourself and centre your energies before attempting any of the spells or traditions, it allowed for even newbie witches like me or younger to keep themselves safe when entering the world of magic and metaphysical.

It goes over all eight sabbaths or seasons, and gives interesting history behind each celebration, as well as a small plethora of rituals for each so that everybody can enjoy and partake in natures cycles. (Including thank goodness a notice for our friends in the Southern Hemisphere they may have to go in a slightly different order).

All you need and more wrapped up in one beautiful book.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fab!!!
Not only is it pleasing to the eye with some lovely photography and layouts, its incredibly informative - but not so informative that it feels overwhelming like some previous books I have read.

It not only explains what each Sabbat is for, it tells you the dates (in both hemispheres) gives you ideas for rituals, food, altars, tarot spreads, astrology, and the origins too (for a variety of different religions/faiths/cultures)
I loved learning about how the pagans, celts and other cultures would look at each Sabbat - found this the most interesting as I only knew about one area for each, so I feel this has really given me more knowledge.

The book is laid out so well, and is easy to digest. I think this book would be great for more knowledgable readers and beginners alike. It is great to read all in one go, and I would also use it to dip in and out of at the start of each Sabbat session.

Highly recommend this book!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready for a vocabulary lesson as well as an interesting history education because this author weaves the past into current day Wiccan practice. Super fun book to read that is beautifully illustrated. Had no idea there was a "Witch's Wheel of the Year" or how it is used. How about a recipe for Crone Anointing Oil? What about "knot magic" used for thousands of years and prevalent throughout ancient Rome as well as Celtic lands. Celts revered all trees as scared and so sacred to the Druids that the English word "Druid" derives from the Celtic word for oak. I have a besom (traditional broom associated with Pagan practices to symbolically sweep negativity or lingering energy) from your door stoop. Learn how apple bobbing at Halloween came to be and what about the words Tasseography (reading tea leaves) and Carromancy (the art of reading wax splatters). The author also lists the ancient sites in the world where the equinoxes and solstices are celebrated. Great read.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful photography and graphic design. The inside spells are really up to one’s own choice if the book is worth it or not. It’s not really an “ultimate guide” that just sounds like a lame selling standpoint. It does have lovely charts for festivals and what not which is all I really cared about but unfortunately the rest of the book is about spells.

My main critique is the lack of sources for the myths and tales within. How can you give an accurate historical description about these times of year without providing any historical resources. The book provides an index and a how-to-section for baby witches. What I did not expect was a “suppliers” section that felt more like a weird placement of advertisement than a “how to get these items”.

It’s a fun little book but I would recommend it for purchasing, I got my copy from the library. Take some notes, make some spells, and return it back.

[KT · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, well laid out book which gives a wonderful overview of the witch's wheel of the year. It is clear, full of relevant information and illustrated with photographs making it a joy to read. They inspire you to do the rituals, make the potions and spells. Divided into the 8 sections covering the year from Yule to Samhain it provides history of the festival, astrological information as well as rituals and associated lotions, potions or spells. I can't wait to make some daffodil flower essence to bring joy as we head into spring.

This is a book I have added to my wishlist for a physical copy so I can dip into it throughout the year. It is great for newbies like me but also those with more experience.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great beginners guide to all the seasonal celebrations of the year. I loved the format and the stunning images that went along with the practical applications. I could tell that the author tried to incorporate many different cultures into each segment. Usually the primary focus in books of this kind are mainly focused in Norse and Celtic mythos, and while this did have a lot of that (due to the nature of the history of sabbats,) there were still segments that highlighted different deities as well. I found the rituals and practices easy to follow and there were many that I've never seen before. This is definitely a must have for any new witch's resource library.

[Andreea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange of my honest opinion.

This is one book that does what it says in the title: it's a book about the witch's wheel of the year. Concise, on the subject, with the complaint that it repeats some things a tad bit too much.

The rituals are great too - although I am not practicing, I can tell from all my witchy reads that these rituals are not things you find in any book, nor are they superficial and used just to fill in some pages. No, they go hand in hand with their specific sabbats.

What I liked the most was the historical bits about traditions and different cultures.

A really lovely read.

[Luc · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book that does share what it promises: focuses on eight major holidays across the year (the four quarter days and the four cross-quarter days), with various activities for each. I appreciated the emphasis on outdoor activities, like gathering dew around dawn on Beltane, and I appreciated how there was at least one activity per holiday that needed minimal supplies and so was more accessible.

Yet, for such a moody/dark-designed book, the content was rather sporadic/surface, very Wicca-influenced, and also very pick-and-choose across a range of world traditions (admittedly, very western Europe-focused) that often felt appropriative or perhaps culturally insensitive.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore reading books on the craft and holidays. This book is so well written and laid out that I fell instantly under the author’s spell and could not put it down. Sure, I am familiar with the holidays and rituals, but there is always something new to learn. This book lays out the year for you and gives background, blessings and rituals to enjoy each as the year progresses.

This will make a wonderful book for a few friends who are new to the craft. A great gift for anyone interested in the seasons and holidays. A beautiful book through and through.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, Net Galley and the publisher for making this enchanting book available for review. My review opinion is my own.

As a practicing witch I was pleased to receive this for review. The presentation of this book is quite stunning with beautiful illustrations throughout. I appreciate that the author covers all the different seasonal celebrations . This would be ideal for both beginners and experienced practitioners. All the blessings and rituals of traditions are here each with a stunning illustration. Beautifully presented this is a book for all practicing witches .

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not just a look at the 8 celebrations that make up the Wheel of the Year, but a fascinating bit of the history of these celebrations from various ancient cultures, including Celtic, Roman, and Egyptian. And that history makes it perfectly clear where many of the "Christian" holidays get their odd traditions (rabbits and eggs for "Easter" (Ostara), decorated evergreens for "Christmas" (Yule)). The book just starts to scratch the surface but it makes me want to learn more, and Kiernan presents the info in a very poetic way.

[Jessy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good introduction into the Wheel of the Year. It is not overally complicated and gives basic information on the origin and meaning of each holiday and season, using various pagan traditions. For a beginner it is a great start to understanding the pagan calander. It has rituals and activities for each season. It also has beautiful and well thought out pictures taken by the author which give you great examples of alter set up. I highly recommend for people beginning their journey or just wanting to study the basic history/meaning of the pagan calander.

[Stephanie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author Anjou Kiernan for letting me read this arc. I identify as a pagan and am very interested in anything to do with paganism, and the occult. This book is full of interesting facts and new things to learn about, reading all about the different sabbats and how to celebrate them in the old ways is something I’m looking forward to trying. I’d recommend this book highly as its incredibly educational.

[Makayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to find your ground in creating rituals and celebrating the year. The book itself is beautiful, lovely pictures and formatting. The content is very vague, encompassing a general description for each "holiday". The activities listed are great areas to start and refine to what resonates with you personally. It did feel like an " x + y = z " approach to witchcraft that can lead to appropriation vs ancestral lineages, cultural respect, self discovery.

[Sara Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ultimate Guide to the Witch's Wheel of the Year by Anjou Kierman was an interesting read. I found it to be a very comprehensive read.

Each section was broken down into several parts. I found the projects to be very interesting. I liked the history of the different cultures as well.

One of the more interesting and well organized books I have read on Witch Wheels.

I received an eARC from Quarto Publishing and Fair Winds Press through NetGalley. All opinions are 100% my own.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Anjou Kiernan has written it beautifully. It is full of information and beautiful pictures. I too like others had a wee issue with the upside down pages on my ARC but it did not stop me enjoying the book. A must for anyone interested in the Wheel of the Year. I already had a lot of insight into the wheel of the year but the book had added information that I hadn't read before. .
Thanks to Netgalley and Fair Winds Press for the ARC

[Jennifer M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, another wonderful book that helps us pagans through the wheel of the year. For a relatively newish pagan, myself, this book is good about giving detail for the year, what to celebrate, why it's important, and, basically, what the heck is going on. Really easy to follow and has lots of good info.

5/5 Stars