Eight Sabbats for Witches

by Janet Farrar, Stewart Farrar

Presents the detailed and dramatic rituals for each of the eight Sabbats - the seasonal ceremonies and festivals intimately linked with the waxing and waning rhythms of the natural year. Using their Book of Shadows (the witch's inherited handbook) as their starting point, practicing witches Janet and Stewart have added mythological and folkloric material, much of it personally gathered. To complete the picture, they also give in full detail the rituals for Casting and Banishing the Magic Circle, and the often misunderstood Great Rite of male-female polarity. They include moving rituals for Wiccaning (the witches' equivalent of Christening), Handfasting (the witch wedding), and Requiem (funeral).

Genres: Wicca, Witchcraft, Paganism, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Religion, Magic

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

Janet Farrar, along with Stewart, is author of many books on witchcraft, and a well known witch who has appeared frequently in the media. She currently lives in Ireland and regularly tours the U.S.A. giving lectures and workshops.

Reviews

[Oceane Montanea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vou ler o original, porque essa tradução é de chorar de tão horrível!!! Sinto que perdi as informações importantes e a pesquisa dos autores por causa desse problema. Além disso, os rituais são para covens e em momento algum se fala em prática solitária. Penso que isso se deve à época em que o livro foi escrito, e à tradição dos autores. No entanto, as introduções de cada sabbath e as explicações a respeito da história e costumes são bem válidas.

[Claudio Yáñez Valenzuela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Que agradable leer este clásico de Wicca. Un trabajo consistente, aunque insista la tradición Británica en desmedro de otras. Merece muchísimo la pena y, además, es muy rápido de leer.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been a source of inspiration to me for quite a few years, and it is one of the better books concerning the Sabbats available. The rituals are all written with a coven in mind, but a resourceful Solitary can adapt them for individual use with a little bit of creativity and serious thought.
Each Sabbat is covered in detail, with ample folkloric references and history related, which serve to enrich the symbolism of the holiday, as well as the ritual practice itself.
Many modern readers take umbrage at the Farrars' insistence on gender polarity within the coven, but it should be kept in mind while reading that this book was written over thirty years ago and that societal norms and gender dynamics have shifted tremendously since its initial publication. In spite of this flaw, the book is still a worthwhile and useful reference.

[Coleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent information for the Wiccan initiate.

[Meris Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janet and Stewart Farrar are practising hereditary witches, and they share in this book their information about rituals throughout the year. Summer and Winter Solstices, Autumn and Spring Equinoxes may be swapped around for southern hemisphere witches. The other four Sabbats, Imbolg, Bealtaine, Lughnasadh and Samhain, can either stay on the same dates, or be swapped to fit into the seasonal cycle. But let's face it, it's fun to have Hallowe'en or Samhain in October everywhere. The Farrars practice their craft either earth-clad (clothed) or sky-clad (naked), indoor or outdoor, and some of their photographs are interesting, to say the least. Includes Wiccaning (christening), Handfasting (marriage) and Requiem (funeral) services. Please read this book ahead of some internet influencer who claims to know about witchcraft, if you want to learn about real witches, their history and present day practice. These rituals are for covens, or groups of 13, but could be adapted for smaller groups or individual practice.

[Yare Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hablando de religión, si como yo eres Wicca primeriza o no tienes tanta experiencia en rituales y demás, no te recomiendo mucho leer este libro ya que es un poco más explícito y enfocado en los rituales en grupo.

En mi caso no tengo aquelarre ni suma sacerdotisa ni .... Vaya, nadie jaja. Por lo que no me es posible hacer este tipo de rituales, enfocados en cada una de las fechas importantes para las brujas como los Sabats, esbats y demás.
Sin embargo, si lo recomiendo para conocer un poco más acerca de la religión y de la manera en la que hacen las cosas en otros países.

Debo decir primero que nada que sí no estás familiarizado con la religión pagana lo mejor será que ni siquiera te acerques a este libro (a menos de que tú intención sea conocer y mantener la mente abierta), ya que cualquiera que no pertenezca a esta creencia creerá que estamos locos y que en efecto, son cosas turbias las que hacen en estos rituales, cuando lo cierto es que es todo lo contrario.
En fin, muy lindo para entender el verdadero significado de los rituales para las personas.

[Delia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing, totally worth hunting for. The Farrars cover both ceremony and history in a way that really stays with you.

[TailFeather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the Farrar's books, although I am not a Witch. For someone just wanting the information about Witchcraft(NOT WICCA), their books are worth reading.