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The Wheel of the Year: A Guide to Sabbats, Lunar Cycles, and the Stars Above
Celebrate the seasons and magical holidays—from Samhain to Beltane, Litha to Yule—alongside the lunar cycles of each month, in this beautifully illustrated guide to the wheel of the year, from bestselling author of Practical Magic Nikki Van De Car.The Wheel of the A Guide to Sabbats, Lunar Cycles, and the Stars Above is a handbook that guides readers through the process of finding magic throughout a full year, allowing them to fully embody the practice of living a magical life. Drawing from ancient traditions and modern insights, this almanac invites mystical practitioners of any level to embrace the cycles of nature and the celestial dance of the stars. The beginning of each month includes an overall theme of that lunar cycle, derived from various cultures and indigenous traditions of North America. And every week, readers will find guidance on where to turn their attentions, as well as a suggested spell. Each spell is crafted to harmonize with the astrological energies of the week, deepening the magical practice. The weekly prompts throughout The Wheel of the Year are punctuated by a deeper look into the magical sabbats, including Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon, with each marking a significant spoke on the ever-turning wheel of the year. Each sabbat represents a moment of transformation and reflection, allowing us to attune ourselves to the natural world, honor the changing seasons, and align ourselves with the magic that surrounds us. By embracing these ancient celebrations, we tap into the collective wisdom of our ancestors. The rituals, meditations, spells, and insights are designed to empower, awaken the intuition, and encourage a deeper connection to the natural world and the magic that goes along with that. Stunning, full-color illustrations throughout provide further inspiration for crafting a magical life deeply rooted in the rhythms of the sky.
144 pages, Hardcover
Published August 20, 2024
9 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Nikki Van De Car
46 books108 followersNikki Van De Car is a blogger, knitter, and mother whose books What To Knit When You're Expecting and What To Knit: The Toddler Years chronicle the way her knitting changed as her daughter grew. Her popular knitting blog has received over 1.5 million pageviews since its inception in June 2008, and her patterns have been published in Interweave and Ply magazines, among others. Nikki lives in Hawaii with her family.
Come visit her on Instagram at @nikkivandecar and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sereknity/
Come visit her on Instagram at @nikkivandecar and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sereknity/
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 28, 2024
Book Review: 'The Wheel of the year – A Guide to Sabbats, Lunar Cycles, and the Stars Above'* by Nikki Van De Car
Illustrator: Malin Gyllensvaan
Publisher: Running Press Mystic
Release Date: 20th August, 2024
About the Author and Illustrator
Nikki Van De Car is a blogger, mother, writer and crafter. She lives with her family in Hawaii. Lover of all things mystical her other books include: 'Practical Magic', 'Wellness Witch', 'The Witchy Homestead', 'Shadow Magic' and many more.
Malin Gyllensvaan is a textile designer and illustrator based in Stockholm, Sweden. Her intricate designs feature flowers, animals and plants. Malin has a degree in printed textiles from Central St´Martins and Chelsea College of Art and Design in London.
About the Book
“Celebrate the seasons and magical holidays in this enchanted guide to the Wheel of the Year.
Embody the practice of living a magical life with the Wheel of the Year as your guide. This almanac – organized around the mystical holidays of Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostars, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon, as well as the lunar cycles – invites practitioners of any level to embrace the cycles of nature and the celestial dance of the stars. Each sabbat represents a moment of transformation and reflection, allowing us to attune ourselves to the natural world, honor the changing seasons, and align ourselves with the magic that surrounds us.
By embracing these ancient celebrations, we tap into the collective wisdom of our ancestors and unlock the magic within ourselves.”
My Thoughts
Nikki Van De Car is the queen of accessible magic books for beginners. This is the third I’ve reviewed ('Forest Magic' and 'The Witchy Homestead' being the other two) and the fourth I’ve added to my shelf. (I still haven’t got to 'Shadow Magic', but I know it’s going to be my favourite!)
You can’t go wrong with a book by Nikki, no matter what magical topic she is writing about – and she’s written about a lot! Her writing style is cosy, comforting, beautifully descriptive, and most importantly she’s extremely knowledgeable on the subject matter.
As with all her books, 'The Wheel of the Year' is accessible for everyone, no matter their magical background; whether a complete beginner or more long time practitioner. I struggle to maintain a consistent magical practice, often because I get caught up in the mundane, and this book brings an easy dose of magic into our everyday lives and routines.
You will find the Wheel of the Year explored in most Witchcraft books. Often they look at the basics of the Sabbats such as the origin, how to celebrate and related rituals. Here Nikki has gone one step further and included all the bits in between – she’s got you covered for the whole year!
Beginning, where most Witches start the wheel, with Samhain it explores the lore and history surrounding the Pagan celebration. Throughout, the book dips into stories, myths, and history from Celtic, Greek, Norse and Germanic origins.
I particularly loved the simple, yet beautiful, Samhain ritual to connect with your ancestors. It allowed for reflection and growth through a connection with those no longer with us.
Following Samhain there are spells to correspond with the lunar phases and astrological events leading up to Yule. This continues between each Sabbat, meaning there are spells and rituals for every week of the year, all of which explore the relevant energies. I’m hoping this will make keeping up with my craft easier.
'The Wheel of the Year' is one of those books to keep on your altar, desk or basically anywhere always in easy reach. It’s to be referred to regularly. Starting with Samhain I intend to use it throughout the coming year. The spells are easy and simple to work into your week, yet offer so much when creating a regular magical practice.
*Book was gifted by the publisher.
Illustrator: Malin Gyllensvaan
Publisher: Running Press Mystic
Release Date: 20th August, 2024
About the Author and Illustrator
Nikki Van De Car is a blogger, mother, writer and crafter. She lives with her family in Hawaii. Lover of all things mystical her other books include: 'Practical Magic', 'Wellness Witch', 'The Witchy Homestead', 'Shadow Magic' and many more.
Malin Gyllensvaan is a textile designer and illustrator based in Stockholm, Sweden. Her intricate designs feature flowers, animals and plants. Malin has a degree in printed textiles from Central St´Martins and Chelsea College of Art and Design in London.
About the Book
“Celebrate the seasons and magical holidays in this enchanted guide to the Wheel of the Year.
Embody the practice of living a magical life with the Wheel of the Year as your guide. This almanac – organized around the mystical holidays of Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostars, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon, as well as the lunar cycles – invites practitioners of any level to embrace the cycles of nature and the celestial dance of the stars. Each sabbat represents a moment of transformation and reflection, allowing us to attune ourselves to the natural world, honor the changing seasons, and align ourselves with the magic that surrounds us.
By embracing these ancient celebrations, we tap into the collective wisdom of our ancestors and unlock the magic within ourselves.”
My Thoughts
Nikki Van De Car is the queen of accessible magic books for beginners. This is the third I’ve reviewed ('Forest Magic' and 'The Witchy Homestead' being the other two) and the fourth I’ve added to my shelf. (I still haven’t got to 'Shadow Magic', but I know it’s going to be my favourite!)
You can’t go wrong with a book by Nikki, no matter what magical topic she is writing about – and she’s written about a lot! Her writing style is cosy, comforting, beautifully descriptive, and most importantly she’s extremely knowledgeable on the subject matter.
As with all her books, 'The Wheel of the Year' is accessible for everyone, no matter their magical background; whether a complete beginner or more long time practitioner. I struggle to maintain a consistent magical practice, often because I get caught up in the mundane, and this book brings an easy dose of magic into our everyday lives and routines.
You will find the Wheel of the Year explored in most Witchcraft books. Often they look at the basics of the Sabbats such as the origin, how to celebrate and related rituals. Here Nikki has gone one step further and included all the bits in between – she’s got you covered for the whole year!
Beginning, where most Witches start the wheel, with Samhain it explores the lore and history surrounding the Pagan celebration. Throughout, the book dips into stories, myths, and history from Celtic, Greek, Norse and Germanic origins.
I particularly loved the simple, yet beautiful, Samhain ritual to connect with your ancestors. It allowed for reflection and growth through a connection with those no longer with us.
Following Samhain there are spells to correspond with the lunar phases and astrological events leading up to Yule. This continues between each Sabbat, meaning there are spells and rituals for every week of the year, all of which explore the relevant energies. I’m hoping this will make keeping up with my craft easier.
'The Wheel of the Year' is one of those books to keep on your altar, desk or basically anywhere always in easy reach. It’s to be referred to regularly. Starting with Samhain I intend to use it throughout the coming year. The spells are easy and simple to work into your week, yet offer so much when creating a regular magical practice.
*Book was gifted by the publisher.
October 17, 2024
When picking up this book, I expected to learn about the magical holidays and perhaps a little bit about the lunar cycles as well. Surprisingly, there was so much more!
I love that every week of the year was covered and thanks to that, there was really a lot of information to be learned. I also think this is great for someone who doesn't know how to start practising some “easy” spells or rituals, as there is a recommended spell not only for each of the holidays, but also for every week. So it's great for inspiration!
As I did with her previous book, I love the author’s writing style — it's clear, easy to read but also a bit mysterious and interesting.
I would say there wasn't any part where I would be bored or didn't find out at least something new, so I’d definitely recommend this book to others!
I love that every week of the year was covered and thanks to that, there was really a lot of information to be learned. I also think this is great for someone who doesn't know how to start practising some “easy” spells or rituals, as there is a recommended spell not only for each of the holidays, but also for every week. So it's great for inspiration!
As I did with her previous book, I love the author’s writing style — it's clear, easy to read but also a bit mysterious and interesting.
I would say there wasn't any part where I would be bored or didn't find out at least something new, so I’d definitely recommend this book to others!
March 4, 2025
An enjoyable, light read. The author gives the reader a simple spell or ritual to do for every Sabbat, Zodiac, New Moon, and Full Moon during the year. I also appreciated the art and formatting.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews