Sophia Rising: Rituals of the Year

Esbats

Rites of the Dark Moon

Dark Moons are dedicated the the Raven totem & The Morrigan.
The focus is on INTROSPECTION and LETTING GO.
Cutting away unhelpful aspects of our lives and allowing Raven to take them away.
Blessings & Quiet Peace.
More Introspection.
Offering our thanks to Raven and/or the Morrigan.
(These are also the feast days of Sophia's dark side.)

Rites of the New Waxing Crescent Moon

Renewing of vows.
Reciting of Virtues and discussing one for a monthly focus.
Making a monthly choice/decision/commitment for the SELF.
Giving offerings to personal totems.
(These are also the feast days of Momiji.)

Rites of the Full Moon

Full Moons are dedicated to the Cat totem and to Sophia.
Full Moons work with the energies of the Celtic Sacred Trees.
The focus changes according to the Farmers' Almanac of Moons and the Sacred Tree.
These are creative working Esbats.
(These are also the feast days of Sophia's light side.)

Sabbats

The Sabbats are the 8 Wiccan holidays calculated by the Sun, on the Solar Wheel of the Year. There are 4 major Sabbats that this coven celebrates on fixed days and 4 minor Sabbats that this coven celebrates at the Solstices and Equinoxes.

Samhain (pronounced SOW-en) means "End of Summer"
Major Sabbat - October 31st
Third Harvest
(Feast day of the Morrigan)

Yule
Minor Sabbat - Winter Solstice (December 20-24)
Longest night often celebrated with a candle vigil.

Imbolc
Major Sabbat - February 2
(Feast day of Brighid)

Ostara
Minor Sabbat - Spring Equinox (March 20-24)
Time of Planting

Beltain
Major Sabbat - May 1
Fertility festival

Litha
Minor Sabbat - Summer Solstice (June 20-24)
(Feast day of Cernunnos)

Lammas
Major Sabbat - August 1
First Harvest

Mabon
Minor Sabbat - Fall Equinox (September 20-24)
Second & Great Harvest

Other Holidays

Herne: October 18th Feast Day

Momiji: Honored in the Fall for Momijigari (viewing the changing leaves of the Japanese Maple trees)

Hanami - Cherry/Plum blossom viewing in Spring

Priest Day - Full Moon of March for a retreat for the Buddhist sangha (clergy), for those of Sophia Rising tradition, this is a retreat to honor the 3rd Degree Initiates whereby they are taken care of by those of earlier Degrees.

Sophia Rising: Syncretic Tradition

Momiji Moon is a Traditional Coven (under the unbrella of Sophia Rising Tradition) that stems from Crescent Moon School of Magic & Paganism. The students are not obliged to be initiated into the coven, but the Esbats are open to all students. Sabbats are reserved for Inner Court initiated members.

It smoothly blends both Celtic and East Asian beliefs with Wicca to form a balanced religious and spiritual experience.

The Celtic aspects are the Celtic Pantheon of deities with a focus on Morrigan and Cernunnos, as well as following the Celtic Pagan Wheel of the Year (8 Sabbats). The lunar year is based on the Celtic Sacred Trees as they relate to the months, celebrated at every Full Moon Esbat.

Celtic totemic spirits include: Deer, Wolf, and Raven. There are Dawn Devotions for the Deer and Night Devotions for the Wolf. The Raven is honored at the Dark Moons with an introspective Esbat.

The East Asian aspects are seen in the meditation practices, the adherence to an Inner Warrior path and the Bushido Virtues, as well as aspects of Zen and Buddhism and Taoism.

East Asian totemic spirits are more personal. They may include Dragon, Momiji (Japanese Maple Tree), Tiger/Panther, Turtle, Cherry Blossom, Katana, Bow. These spirits are honored during the New Waxing Crescent Moon Esbats.

Sophia Rising

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Rituals of the Year