Presenting an integrated 2021 astrological ritual calendar for celebrating the Witch’s Wheel of the Year, with recommended dates for the best times to plan solar and lunar rites. In 2021, we’ll celebrate a Blue Moon in Leo/Aquarius opposition, two lunar eclipses and two solar eclipses!
In 2021, we can start planning for a BLUE MOON on August 21st, with a second magickal chance to work a double whammy of abundance magick. This blue moon was so sneaky, because that day it peaks for a second time in Leo/Aquarius, but then just 41 minutes later the sun shifts into Virgo. It was a close race, but that full moon peak is definitely BLUE! This gives us 13 full moons to celebrate during the next Wheel of the Year, which kicks off anew at Yule, Dec.21, 2020. For more information on this astrological accounting for blue moons, check out my articles on my Contrary Opinion and Blue Moon Debate.
The two Solar Eclipses on the Dark Moons fall June 10 and Dec 4, 2021. The two Lunar Eclipses on the full moons fall May 26 and November 19th, 2021. Time to mark those calendars!
All dates and times given here are based on EASTERN STANDARD TIME!
Calendar vs. Astrological Methods
Modern Witches celebrate the Wheel of the Year by many different methods. Do what works best for you. I choose the science of Astrology to determine the auspicious milestones of our magickal year. This method aligns with the Hermetic paradigm upon which all the rest of my magickal practice is based. Therefore, the astrological method of timing holds an internal consistency and logic which appeals to me. This is because it transcends all the fallibility of human constructs, and discrepancies among various cultures based on their particular latitude or longitude. It removes the unwelcome remnants of empty religiosity that neo- paganisminherited from the the over-culture.
The metaphysical science of timing I’m referring to is called archaeoastronomy, and I love this website for an explanation of that discipline, and their handy Sabbat dates/times for every year. If you happen to be in London’s time zone, their times will be perfect for you.
Check out this article for more about my rationale between the calendar and astrological methods of magickal timing for the Sabbats.
Precision vs. Ease in Ritual Planning
So, when do witches hold our rituals? Astrological precision is a nice ideal, but not always practical for a modern life. If you have the freedom to celebrate any time of day, and any day of the week, by all means, be as precise in your magickal timing as you can. However, we have jobs, and families, and sometimes the coven just can’t manage to get their ritual act together until the weekend.
Remember that our seasons are great tides which flow in for six and a half weeks, to peak. Then they turn to ebb back out again for 6 and a half weeks. A sabbat is not ONE day; it is celebration of either a shift into the new seasonal cycle (lesser Sabbats,) or the peak of that seasonal cycle (greater Sabbat.)
Ideally, we’d celebrate a lesser Sabbat anytime the week after the tide shifts into the new season. The important part is which zodiac sign the sun is in. This is because we are there to honor the cardinal NEW thing, not what we’ve just left behind.
By contrast, we’d celebrate the greater/grand sabbats, or cross-quarter days, anytime during the week before the peak, because we are using this swelling energy to grow and increase our Great Work intention with the fixed energies of the seasonal high tides.
Grand Sabbats are the solar equivalent of working with the moon during the waxing phase through Full moon. Lesser Sabbats are the solar equivalent of working with the new moon to set new workings into motion for that cycle.
The big pitfall to avoid in lunar timing, is checking the time of it’s peak during that day, and what sign the moon is in. If it peaks in the morning, but you want to work at night when you can see her rising, plan for the night before. However, it is also important that the moon be in the sign which is opposite the sun, and that is a 2.5 day period to work with.
2021 Astrological Ritual Calendar for Esbats and Sabbats
Winter Solstice, Yule Sabbat
Ritual Function: Celebrate Winter and peak of darkness, welcome the returning light, Resonance
Sun: 0º Capricorn ♑︎
Moon: Aries ♈︎
Exact Calendar Date: Mon, Dec 21, 2020 5:02 AM
Suggested celebration timing: That Monday night or any day after, if you wait until the weekend you conflict with Christmas.
Time of Day: Midnight is perfect.
Cold Full Moon, Winter Cardinal
Ritual Function: Initiate winter preparation of Great Work.
Sun: Capricorn ♑︎
Moon: Cancer ♋︎
Exact Calendar Date: Tue. Dec. 29, 2020 10:28 PM
Suggested Celebration Timing: That Tues. night Dec. 29, 2020 finish before 10:28 PM.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Mars Workings.
Quickening Full Moon, Winter Fixed
Ritual Function: Maximize winter preparation of Great Work.
Sun: Aquarius ♒︎
Moon: Leo ♌︎
Exact Calendar Date: Thu, Jan 28, 2021 2:16 PM
Suggested Celebration Timing: Wed. Jan. 27 after 9:54 pm (after moon enters Leo)
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Mercury or Jupiter workings.
High Winter, Imbolc Sabbat
Ritual Function: Welcome return of Maiden Goddess and Green Lord from Underworld, Knowing
Sun: 15º Aquarius ♒︎
Moon: Libra ♎︎
Exact Calendar Date: Wed. February 3, 2021
Suggested Celebration Timing: Day of, or Weekend before peak. Jan. 30-31 (prior to peak)
Time of Day: Witching Hours of 3:00-dawn would be perfect.
Storm Full Moon, Winter Mutable
Ritual Function: conclude winter preparation of Great Work.
Sun: Pisces ♓︎
Moon: Virgo ♍︎
Exact Calendar Date: Sat, Feb 27, 2021 3:17 AM
Suggested Celebration Time: Night before Friday Feb. 26 prior to peak, finish by 3:17 am.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Venus or Saturn workings.
Spring Equinox, Ostara Sabbat
Ritual Function: Celebrate Spring, awaken fertility of the land, wonderment
Sun: 0º Aries ♈︎
Moon: Gemini ♊︎
Exact Calendar Date: Sat, Mar 20, 2021 5:37 AM
Suggested Celebration Planning: Saturday Mar 20 anytime after 5:37 am.
Time of Day: Dawn would be perfect.
Wind Full Moon, Spring Cardinal
Ritual Function: Initiate spring germination of Great Work.
Sun: Aries ♈︎
Moon: Libra ♎︎
Exact Calendar Date: Sun, Mar 28, 2021 2:48 PM
Suggested Celebration Planning: Late night Saturday March 27, the sweet spot after 1:12 am when moon enters Libra, and before peak Sunday afternoon at 2:48 pm.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Sun workings.
Flower Full Moon, Spring Fixed
Ritual Function: Maximize spring germination of Great Work.
Sun: Taurus ♉︎
Moon: Scorpio ♏︎
Exact Calendar Date: Mon, Apr 26, 2021 11:32 PM
Suggested Celebration Planning: That night anytime after moon enters Scorpio at 12:18 pm. Finish by 11:32 pm.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Moon workings.
High Spring, Beltane Sabbat
Ritual Function: Sacred Union, Divine Marriage, will
Sun: 15º Taurus ♉︎
Moon: Aquarius ♒︎
Exact Calendar Date: Tues. May 4, 2021
Suggested Celebration Planning: Day of or weekend before the peak, May 1-2.
Time of Day: Mid-morning is perfect.
Strong Sun Full Moon, Spring Mutable, Lunar Eclipse 7:14 am
Ritual Function: Conclude spring germination of Great Work.
Sun: Gemini ♊︎
Moon: Sagittarius ♐︎
Exact Calendar Date: Wed, May 26, 2021 7:14 AM
Suggested Celebration Planning: Night before, Tues. May 25, 2021 after Moon enters Sagittarius at 10:39 pm. Or plan a special eclipse working for 7:14 Wednesday morning.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Mars workings.
Summer Solstice, Litha Sabbat
Ritual Function: Celebrate Summer, Peak of light, welcome coming darkness, surrender.
Sun: 0º Cancer ♋︎
Moon: Libra ♎︎
Exact Calendar Date: Sun, Jun 20, 2021 11:32 PM
Suggested Celebration Planning: Wait until the first sunshine after entering Cancer, so Mon. June 21, 2021 or the following weekend (June 26-27).
Time of Day: High Noon is perfect.
Blessing Full Moon, Summer Cardinal
Ritual Function: Initiate Summer’s Cultivation of Great Work
Sun: Cancer ♋︎
M0on: Capricorn ♑︎
Exact Calendar Date: Thu, Jun 24, 2021 2:40 PM
Suggested Celebration Planning: Celebrate night before (Wed. June 23) for waxing moon visible at night. But sweet spot is Thursday morning between moon entering Capricorn 9:05 am and peak at 2:40 pm that afternoon.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Jupiter workings.
Corn Full Moon, Summer Fixed
Ritual Function: Maximize Summer’s Cultivation of Great Work
Sun: Leo ♌︎
Moon: Aquarius ♒︎
Exact Calendar Date: Fri, Jul 23, 2021 10:37 PM
Suggested Celebration Planning: Sweet spot that Friday night between Moon entering Aquarius at 8:12 pm and peak at 10:37 pm.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Venus workings.
High Summer, Lammas Sabbat
Ritual Function: First Harvest of Grain, daring.
Sun: 15º Leo ♌︎
Moon: Cancer ♋︎
Exact Calendar Date: Sat. Aug. 7, 2021
Suggested Celebration Planning: Same day. Dark Moon is also conjunct in Leo after 3:31 am.
Time of Day: Mid-afternoon is perfect.
BLUE MOON, Summer Fixed (Again!)
Ritual Function: Maximize Summer’s Cultivation of Great Work FOR A SECOND TIME, and do extra-special workings for growth.
Sun: Leo ♌︎
Moon: Aquarius ♒︎
Exact Calendar Date: Sun, Aug 22, 2021 8:02 AM
Suggested Celebration Planning: Celebrate Night before, Sat. August 21 while moon is still in Aquarius for the second time. Even though full moon technically falls same day the sun enters Virgo, moon peaks prior to this shift by 9 hours (at 5:35 pm.) It is a BLUE MOON because it is the second full moon with Leo/Aquarius opposition, and the 3rd out of four full moons in Summer Season.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Saturn workings.
Harvest Moon, Summer Mutable
Ritual Function: Conclude Summer’s Cultivation of Great Work
Sun: Virgo ♍︎
Moon: Pisces ♓︎
Exact Calendar Date: Mon. Sept 20. 7:55 pm
Suggested Celebration Planning: Night before on Sun. Sept 19, while moon still in Pisces and you have all evening to enjoy the moonrise. OR Monday night, but complete rite before 7:55 pm.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Sun or Moon workings
Autumnal Equinox, Mabon Sabbat
Ritual Function: Second Harvest of Vegetables, Balance sacrifice with gratitude, acceptance.
Sun: 0º Libra ♎︎
Moon: Aries ♈︎
Exact Calendar Date: Wed. Sept. 22, 2021 at 3:21 pm
Suggested Celebration Planning: That day, or wait until the next weekend (Sept 25-26) after the Sun is in Libra.
Time of Day: Dusk is perfect.
Blood Full Moon, Autumn Cardinal
Ritual Function: Initiate Autumn’s Integration of Great Work
Sun: Libra ♎︎
Moon: Aries ♈︎
Exact Calendar Date: Wed. Oct. 20, 2021. 10:57 am.
Suggested Celebration Planning: Night before on Tuesday, Oct. 19 while moon is still waxing in Aries.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Mars workings.
High Autumn, Samhain Sabbat
Ritual Function: Third Harvest of Blood, Divine Funeral, release to death, Ancestor veneration, silence.
Sun: 15º Scorpio ♏︎
Moon: Sagittarius ♐︎
Exact Calendar Date: Sat. Nov. 6, 2021
Suggested Celebration Planning: That same Saturday.
Time of Day: Mid-evening is perfect.
Mourning Full Moon, Autumn Fixed, Lunar Eclipse 3:57 am.
Ritual Function: Maximize Autumn’s Integration of Great Work
Sun: Scorpio ♏︎
Moon: Taurus ♉︎
Exact Calendar Date: Fri. Nov. 19, 2021 3:57 am.
Suggested Celebration Planning: Night before on Thursday, Nov. 18, while moon is still waxing in Taurus. Stay up late to catch the Lunar Eclipse at 3:57 am.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Jupiter or Venus workings.
Long Nights Moon, Autumn Mutable
Ritual Function: Conclude Autumn’s Integration of Great Work
Sun: Sagittarius ♐︎
Moon: Gemini ♊︎
Exact Calendar Date: Sat. Dec. 18, 2021 11:36 pm
Suggested Celebration Planning: That Saturday night. Complete rites before 11:36 pm.
Planetary Magick by Day of the Week: Saturn workings.
I’m currently writing a book for Llewellyn Publishing which introduces this method of Modern Witchcraft and The Great Work of magick according to astrological timing. Stay tuned for more information about that release sometime in the fall of 2021 (fingers crossed.)
Update Nov. 19, 2021! That book is now available for pre-order from my shop The Sojourner Whole Earth Provisions!
Continue on to see the Witch’s 2022 Astrological Calendar or Sabbats and Esbats.
Blessings,
~Heron
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