The Pagan Wheel of the Year is a system used by many Pagan and Wiccan practitioners to mark the changing seasons and celebrate significant festivals throughout the year. It is based on the natural cycles of the Earth and aligns with the solstices, equinoxes, and other celestial events. In 2022, the Pagan Wheel of the Year will continue to guide practitioners in their spiritual practices and celebrations. The year will begin with Imbolc, which occurs on February 1st and celebrates the returning light and the early signs of spring. This festival is often associated with the goddess Brigid and is a time for purification and renewal. Next comes Ostara, which takes place on the spring equinox around March 20th.
Jar full of thread and yarn ends to protect family and house from harm. Photo by Cory Thomas Hutcheson. Image in background by Rima Staines.
This book is practical, fresh, and will help guide a whole new generation off the well-trod path to embrace the old, wild magic found beyond the hedge. In Hoodoo, a similar use of a measure involves taking red thread or yarn and measuring a partner s genitals, then wetting them with sexual fluids and knotting them to prevent a partner from straying Hurston.
Next comes Ostara, which takes place on the spring equinox around March 20th. This festival celebrates the arrival of spring and the balance between light and dark. It is a time for fertility rites and honoring the goddess of the dawn.
The Witch at the Forest's Edge: Thirteen Keys to Modern Traditional Witchcraft (Paperback)
An in-depth course of study in the modern practice of traditional witchcraft.
I stand in the meadow, at the forest’s edge. One step forward and I will straddle the boundary between fading light in the swaying grass and rich darkness in the woods. One more step and I will be immersed in the nighttime world of southern, hardwood forest. My home lay behind me, the wild magic ahead. I am the witch at the forest’s edge. This book is an invitation to animists, ancestor worshipers, magic seekers, and the wild at heart. It systematically explores the foundational aspects of modern traditional witchcraft. The book is structured into 13 core chapters or classes that cover all essential skill sets for any modern, traditional witch in a practical, caring way. Each chapter offers suggested activities and/or reflections for journaling and a reading list for further exploration. Advanced skills such a hedge riding and ritual possession are taught in a structured, explicit way that makes them accessible to a wider audience.
Written from an animistic perspective and without pushing any specific deities, the book offers a thorough practical and theoretical framework for considering each witch’s personal theology and practice. Without pushing one cultural context, The Witch at the Forest’s Edge offers the means to reflect on the multiple cultures that inform the practices of modern witches, encouraging the reader to think deeply and undergird modern practices with ancestral knowledge.
About the Author
Christine Grace is a longtime teacher of the Craft and a founder of the Forest’s Edge Tradition of witchcraft. She is cohost of the Betwixt & Between podcast, covering a variety of topics in witchcraft and everyday magic. She has graduate degrees in theology and mental health counseling from Vanderbilt University. Connect with her at www.christinegracebetwixt.com or @awitchbetwixt on Instagram.
Praise For…
“ The Witch at the Forest’s Edge by Christine Grace presents a thorough one-on-one introduction to the Forest’s Edge Tradition’s approach to modern witchcraft, while wonderfully adding to the conversation surrounding the execution and usefulness of a regional, animist-based practice.”
— Christopher Orapello, co-author of Besom, Stang, and Sword and co-host of the Down at the Crossroads podcast
“One of my many hats is as a forest farmer, so The Witch at the Forest's Edge by Christine Grace has a special meaning for me. I grew up as a forest dweller and live now with the woods at my back porch. This powerful and intensely liminal place holds the keys to a deepening of our spirituality, as well as a broadening of it. This book will be read, marked, pondered upon, and read again.”
— H. Byron Ballard, author of Seasons of a Magical Life
“To work as a witch means to embrace liminality, always moving between various states and layers of reality. Touching on thirteen different areas of a witch’s practice, Christine Grace’s exploration of what it means to occupy a place in the natural world challenges readers to think about specific aspects of their practice in a focused way. The Witch at the Forest’s Edge is a welcome and thought-provoking addition to a modern library, enabling a practitioner to re-examine their spiritual connection to the natural world at any point in their journey.”
— Arin Murphy-Hiscock, author of The Green Witch
“ The Witch at the Forest's Edge is accessible but deep work, and Christine Grace does not shy away from encouraging us to be open to more demanding practices and fields of study. An excellent book for seasoned witches, alongside those just starting down the path. ”
— Jen Rue Holmes, of Rue and Hyssop
“A thoughtful examination of witchcraft, The Witch at the Forest’s Edge by Christine Grace explores a wide range of topics ranging from sourcing our tools ethically to examining the origins of what we think we know to Spirits of Place. Grace’s gentle voice evokes a texture of dappled shade, as though these truths were shared on the border between this world and the next. The Witch at the Forest’s Edge restores the animalia missing from pop culture witchcraft, linking nature’s richness with modern understandings of community, respect for culture, and stewardship.”
— Amy Blackthorn, author of Blackthorn’s Botanical Magic
“The witch is a curious figure, existing in a uniquely liminal space of both fact and fiction, this world and the next. Many practitioners of magic walk a path that carefully stays in that middle ground, but a few heed the call to peek beyond the hedge, to walk amongst ancestors and spirits and gods and beings for which we don’t yet have names. It can be daunting to leave that comfortable middle path, but Christine Grace’s book The Witch at the Forest’s Edge provides a gentle, encouraging hand to hold as you take your first steps past the hedge into the world beyond. The advice is practical, grounded in a practice that begins with what you have on hand and in your surroundings, includes discussion of ancestry and the many ways that family is made and found, and includes a deeply appreciated section on magical ethics. This book is practical, fresh, and will help guide a whole new generation off the well-trod path to embrace the old, wild magic found beyond the hedge.”
— Fire Lyte, author of The Dabbler’s Guide to Witchcraft and host of Inciting A Riot
“ The Witch at the Forests Edge is full of regional magic and wisdom that can really only be gained through experience. It’s a great book for beginners and more seasoned practitioners alike because it doesn’t just teach a technique, it offers a perspective into a different way to view the world around you.”
— Temperance Alden, author of Year of the Witch
- Body, Mind & Spirit / Witchcraft
- Body, Mind & Spirit / Magick Studies
- Body, Mind & Spirit / Inspiration & Personal Growth
- Religion / Wicca
- History / Social History
- Kobo eBook (November 10th, 2021): $18.95
- MP3 CD (November 1st, 2021): $19.99
- Compact Disc (November 1st, 2021): $19.99
Beltane is the next festival on the Wheel, occurring on May 1st. It marks the midpoint between the spring equinox and the summer solstice and celebrates the peak of springtime and the fertility of the Earth. This festival is often associated with Maypole dancing and feasting. Litha, also known as Midsummer or the summer solstice, falls around June 21st. It is the longest day of the year and the height of the sun's power. This festival celebrates the abundance of light and the fiery energy of the sun. It is a time for outdoor rituals, bonfires, and connecting with nature. Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, takes place on August 1st. It marks the beginning of the harvest season and is associated with the god Lugh. This festival is a time to give thanks for the bounty of the Earth and to celebrate the fruits of our labor. Mabon, the autumn equinox, occurs around September 22nd. It is a time of balance, as the day and night are equal in length. This festival celebrates the second harvest and the transition into the darker half of the year. It is a time for reflection and gratitude. Samhain, also known as Halloween, is the next festival on the Wheel, taking place on October 31st. It is a time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest, allowing communication with the spirits of the deceased. This festival also marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the dark half of the year. Lastly, Yule, the winter solstice, occurs around December 21st. It is the shortest day of the year and marks the rebirth of the sun. This festival celebrates the return of light and the promise of new beginnings. It is a time for introspection, meditation, and setting intentions for the coming year. In conclusion, the Pagan Wheel of the Year serves as a guide for Pagan and Wiccan practitioners to honor the changing seasons and celebrate important festivals throughout 2022. By aligning with the natural cycles of the Earth, practitioners can deepen their connection with nature and the divine..
Reviews for "The Wheel of Life: A Pagan Guide to Navigating the Year 2022"
- Jessica - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the "Pagan Wheel of the Year 2022" book. I found it to be incredibly shallow and lacking in substance. The information provided was very basic and didn't delve into the deeper aspects of the pagan traditions. It felt more like a quick overview rather than a comprehensive guide. Additionally, I wasn't impressed with the writing style; it lacked finesse and came across as amateurish. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone looking for an in-depth exploration of pagan practices.
- John - 1 star - I regret purchasing the "Pagan Wheel of the Year 2022" book. It failed to meet my expectations on multiple levels. Firstly, the content was extremely repetitive and felt like a rehash of information I could easily find online for free. Secondly, the layout and organization were chaotic, making it difficult to navigate and find specific information. Lastly, the book seemed to be written for complete beginners with little to no understanding of paganism, which was disappointing for someone who was looking for a more advanced guide. Save your money and look elsewhere for a better book on paganism.
- Sarah - 2 stars - "Pagan Wheel of the Year 2022" was a letdown for me. While I appreciate the effort to provide a comprehensive overview of the pagan wheel of the year, I felt that the book lacked depth and failed to go beyond the surface-level celebrations and rituals. I was hoping for a more profound exploration of the spiritual and historical significance of each festival, but instead, I found myself skimming through pages of repetitive and unoriginal content. Overall, it left me wanting more and I wouldn't recommend it unless you are completely new to paganism.