December 2008: The Mystic's Wheel of the Year

* 11/27 to 12/10: Hopi & Zuni Shalako Festival. * 11/28 eve to 12/28 eve: Dhu al-Hijjah. * 11/30 to 12/24 (OC 11/28 to 1/6): Advent/Festival of Lights. * 12/1: World AIDS Day– Day to pray for healing of all those suffering with AIDS and HIV. * 12/4: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Shango, Defender Against Evil. * 12/5: Day for meditation on Tantric Bodhisattva Goddess Red Tara, protector against evil and harm. * 12/6: Mindfulness Day– Zen Buddhist day for mindfully seeing and acting with compassion for the poor and oppressed. * 12/7 eve to 12/8 eve: Eid al-Adha– Muslim day of sacrifice to the one universal Deity for the good of all. * 12/7 eve to 12/15 eve (12/14 peak): Geminid Meteor Showers. * 12/8: Rohatsu– Zen Buddhist celebration of the Buddha’s enlightenment. * 12/8: Christian feast celebrating St. Anna’s conception of Blessed Mary. * 12/8: Death day of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (1111), Sufi saint who taught about unity of the soul with the one universal Deity of 99 names and attributes. * 12/10: Birthday of John Murray (1741), Trinitarian Universalist who believed that Jesus died to save all humanity, not just Christians. * 12/10: Day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, and fundamental rights were recognized world-wide (1948). * 12/11 eve to 12/13 eve: Feast of the Immanent Feminine Divine Spirit– honoring Goddess as Maha Devi Shakti (Hindu), Allat Ruh Sakinah (Old Arabic-Sufi), Eloah Ruach Shekhina (Jewish Kabbalah) & Holy Spirit Wisdom (Christian). * 12/12 (11:37 a.m. EST): Full Moon (Snow/Fire Moon). * 12/12: Baha’i feast honoring the one Deity as Masa’il--Mystery. * 12/12: First Appearance of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of God and Mother of the Oppressed, at the former shrine of Aztec Moon Goddess Coatlicue (Mexico 1531). * 12/13: Feast of the Light-bringer– honoring Goddess as Juno Lucina (Old Roman) & Lucia (Old Swedish); merged with the Christian feast of St. Lucia. * 12/14: Christian feast of St. John of the Cross (d. 1591), whose suffering--for advocating church reform--generated mystical union with Deity. * 12/15 (A 1/25): Old Egyptian festival of Neteret Amenet-Rait-Mut, the primordial Great Mother. * 12/15: Day the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental rights to all (1791). * 12/15: Death day of Fr. Pavel Florensky (1943), Orthodox Christian mystic who taught that Holy Wisdom is Our Mother, the Holy Spirit, third part of the Holy Trinity. * 12/15: Day the Catholic Church silenced Fr. Matthew Fox for teaching Creation Spirituality (1988); day to mourn the silencing of all religious dissenters and reformers. * 12/16 to 12/24: Christmas Novena/Las Posadas– Christian remembrance of the journey of Blessed Mary and St. Joseph to Bethlehem and their taking refuge in a cave-stable. * 12/17: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Babalu Aye, Healer of Deadly Diseases. * 12/17: Day the Clean Air Act was enacted (1963); day to give thanks for the air we breathe. * 12/17 to 12/23: Saturnalia/Opalia– Old Roman festival honoring God Saturn (the weak Sun) & Goddess Ops (the fallow Earth); celebrated with gift-giving, revelry, and abolishment of all class distinctions. * 12/17 eve to 12/24 eve (12/22 peak): Ursid Meteor Showers. * 12/18: Day the Constitution’s 13th Amendment went into effect, outlawing all slavery (1865). * 12/21 (7:04 a.m. EST): Winter Solstice/Solar New Year– Marks the beginning of Winter and the shortest day and longest night of the year; celebration of the darkness with dancing near the hearth fire. * 12/21 to 12/22: Old European Festival of Evergreen Trees; merged into International Arbor Day. Celebrated by planting trees and hanging wreaths (symbols of eternal life). * 12/21 to 12/25: Old Romano-Egyptian festival of Goddess Isis giving birth to God Horus. * 12/21 eve to 12/29 eve: Hanukkah/Festival of Lights– Jewish festival commemorating their struggle for religious freedom and re-dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem to God-Goddess Yod-Heh-Vau-Heh (Father, Mother, Son & Daughter). Menorah candles are lit. * 12/21 to 1/9: Hopi & Zuni Soyala New Year Festival of purification and renewal. Homes are cleaned, fires doused, and personal restraint is observed. * 12/22: Taoist festival honoring Wang-Mu/Empress Mother, Mother of Compassion and Wisdom, and manifestation of the Tao (Cosmic Power of Creation and Destruction). Also celebrates the peak of the feminine Yin half of the year and the Shen of Earth, North, and Winter; prayers are made for rest and renewal, and offerings are made to the Cosmos. * 12/22: Tohji-Taisai– Shinto rite honoring Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Storm God Susano-o angered Her, and She withdrew into a cave until enticed out with music and dance. * 12/22: Beginning of Capricorn (the Goat). * 12/24 eve: Mother Night– Christian vigil for the laboring Blessed Mary. * 12/25 (OC 1/7): Christmas– Christian celebration of Blessed Mother Mary giving birth to Child Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. * 12/25 to 1/5: Yule– Old Anglo-Teutonic festival honoring Freyr and Freyja (Deities of Fertility) and the new-born Balder (God of Light), son of Frigga and Odin. Celebrated with evergreens, fires, and feasting. * 12/26: Day commemorating the death of Zoroastrian Prophet Zarathustra (551 BCE). Zoroastrians worship by making offerings to a sacred fire. * 12/26 to 1/1: Kwanzaa– Festival celebrating positive African traditions; emphasizes unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. * 12/27 (7:23 a.m. EST): New Moon. * 12/28: Day the first woman was ordained a Catholic priest (without Vatican authority) (1970). * 12/28: Day the Endangered Species Act was enacted (1973); day to mourn those creatures already extinct. * 12/28: Day an Islamic court ruled female genital mutilation to be un-Islamic and banned the practice (1997). * 12/28 eve to 1/7 eve: Muharram/Muslim New Year (Year 1430) & A’ashurah. * 12/29: Day Guatemala’s 36-year civil war ended (1996); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Central America. * 12/31: Oharai/Grand Purification Festival– Shinto rite exorcising evil from the world. * 12/31: Yoruba/Santeria festival of Orisha Yemaya, Mother of the Sun and Moon. * 12/31: Baha’i feast honoring the one Deity as Sharaf--Honor. * 12/31: Feast of Father Time, who ultimately overcomes us all. * 12/31 eve: New Year’s Eve– Vigil for the new year; night for self evaluation and resolving to better oneself.

* 1/1: New Year’s Day (Gregorian Calendar). * 12/21 to 1/9: Hopi & Zuni Soyala New Year Festival of purification and renewal. It concludes with dancing, rekindling of the chief kiva fire, and distribution of its coals to all homes. * 12/25 to 1/5: Yule– Old Anglo-Teutonic festival honoring God Freyr, Goddess Freyja, and God Balder. * 12/31 to 1/4: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Vohu Manah, creator and protector of animals. Vohu Manah is one of seven male and female divine emanations of Deity Ahura Mazda. * 1/1: Day to meditate for peace throughout the world. * 1/1: Day the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect freeing Confederate slaves (1863); day to mourn African victims of slavery and racism (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of African Americans. * 1/1: Day the first woman was ordained an Episcopalian priest in the U.S. (1977). * 1/1: Day Pope John Paul II exhorted Christians to respect Nature, to preserve natural resources, and to stop environmental destruction (1990). * 1/1 to 1/4: Tewa Turtle Dance– celebrating life and the first creation, when Sky Father embraced Earth Mother and all life was conceived. * 1/1 eve to 1/4 eve (1/3 peak): Quadrantid Meteor Showers. * 1/1 to 1/6: Shogatsu/Shinto New Year’s Festival– The Kami (Nature Spirits) of the four directions are honored, and prayers for happiness, good health, and prosperity are made. * 1/1 to 1/31: January dedicated to Old Roman God-Goddess Janus-Jana, who knows both past and future. * 1/2 (7:00 p.m. EST): Earth Perihelion– when the Earth is closest to the Sun. * 1/4: Day ethnic discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1969); day to mourn all manifestations of racism. * 1/5: Mindfulness Day– Zen Buddhist day for being mindful of the peace, joy, and beauty of the moment. * 1/5: Avian Day– Day to honor all creatures of the air and to meditate on Deity manifesting as birds--Goddess as Babd/Crow (Old Celtic), Lilith/Owl (Old Sumerian-Hebrew) & Holy Spirit/Dove (Christian); and God as Horus/Hawk (Old Egyptian) & Hilina/Thunderbird/Eagle (Haida). * 1/5: Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, tenth Sikh guru (1666). He believed that only those who love find Deity, and exhorted Sikhs to show compassion for humanity. * 1/6 (OC 1/19): Epiphany– Christian feast recalling the adoration of Child Jesus by the Magi, and the beginning of Rabbi Jesus’ ministry of love to humanity--when He changed water into wine at Cana. * 1/7: Koshogatsu– Shinto rite honoring Goddess Izanami, partner of God Izanagi. They created Nature and the Kami. * 1/7: Orthodox Christian Christmas. * 1/8 (6:37 a.m. EST): New Moon. * 1/8: Death day of Galileo (1642), astronomer; day to mourn the persecution of scientists by religious authorities. * 1/8 eve: Rosh Chodesh– Jewish women gather to celebrate the feminine aspect of the one universal Deity. * 1/8 eve to 1/9 eve: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Hekate, who guides all through transitions and crisis. * 1/9 eve to 1/19 eve: Muharram/Muslim New Year (Year 1429) & A’ashurah. * 1/12: Day genocide was outlawed world-wide (1951); day to mourn all victims of genocide. * 1/13: Death day of George Fox (1691), founder of the Quakers. Quakers experience Deity within and practice egalitarianism, social activism, and peacefulness. * 1/14 to 1/25 (I 1/25): Old Norse Mid-Winter Feast– Offerings were made to the Deities (particularly Jord, Thor, and Freyr) for growth of crops. * 1/15: Feast of the Black Christ. * 1/15 (Obs. 1/21): Birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929), Baptist preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. * 1/15: First appearance of Our Lady of Banneux, Virgin of the poor, the sick, and the suffering (Belgium 1933). * 1/15 to 1/17 (A 2/25 to 2/27): Raising Heaven– Old Egyptian Festival honoring the unseen Neteru Amen and Amenet. Egyptians perceived the many Gods and Goddesses (Neteru) to be aspects of the one God-Goddess Neter-Neteret. * 1/16: Day for meditation on Tantric Buddha Deities Amitayus and White Tara, who grant good health and long life. Buddhists study sacred texts, meditate, pray, chant mantras, and make devotional offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. * 1/17: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Ogun, Orisha of Strength, Endurance, and Perseverance. * 1/19: Baha’i feast honoring the one Deity as Sultan--Sovereignty. Baha’is believe in the oneness of Deity. * 1/20: Beginning of Aquarius (the Water Bearer). * 1/20: World Religions Day– Day to contemplate all religions as different paths to the one universal Deity of many names and aspects. * 1/21 eve to 1/22 eve: Tu B’Shevat– Jewish Festival of Trees, celebrated with tree plantings and orchard blessings. Originally honored Old Canaanite-Hebrew Goddess Asherah. * 1/22 (8:35 a.m. EST): Full Moon (Cold/Seed Moon). * 1/22: Day the Supreme Court recognized women’s right to reproductive autonomy (1973). * 1/22 to 1/30: Navajo Sing– Festival in preparation for the coming agricultural season; celebrated with prayer, chanting, dancing, and healing. Navajos believe Estsanatlehi/Changing Woman wields the power to constantly create and change the world. * 1/24 to 2/1: Sementivae– Old Roman festival of sowing, honoring Earth Goddess Terra (Greek Gaia), Grain Goddess Ceres (Greek Demeter), and Seed Goddess Proserpina (Greek Persephone). * 1/27: Death day of John James Audubon (1851), ornithologist and conservationist. * 1/29: Birthday of Thomas Paine (1737), Deist who recognized the inherent rights of all men and women, and opposed non-democratic government. Deists believe Deity to be consistent with Nature and reason. * 1/29: Birthday of Vladimir Soloviev (1853), Orthodox Christian mystic who bewailed humanity’s alienation from Holy Wisdom and from Nature, Her manifestation. * 1/30 to 2/5 (OC 3/1 to 3/7): Carnival/Meat Fare– Christian time of feasting, dancing, and revelry. * 1/31: Birthday of Fr. Thomas Merton (1915), Catholic mystic and poet, who found Deity in stillness and silence. * 1/31 eve to 2/2 eve: Imbolc/St. Brigid’s Day. * 1/31 eve to 2/4 eve: Mid-Winter/Groundhog’s Day/Candlemas.

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Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial purposes, provided the following information is included:

Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2008
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2007 Page Two, Inc.
info@WheeloftheYear.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com

All Gods and Goddesses
are aspects of
the One Deity

The One Deity
is reflected in
all Gods and Goddesses

The One Deity
is Deity of all

Deity is
male and female,
yet genderless

Deity is
all forms,
yet formless

Deity is
within all;
Deity is
beyond all

Deity is
all-embracing
love

With all that
is known by all
the world's sages,
with all that
is written in all
sacred books,
with all that
is experienced
in all
spiritual traditions,
we still cannot
know
the unknowable--

Deity is Mystery

Home

The Mystic's Wheel of the Year... a Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality

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Year 2008 Calendar By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

Year 2007 Calendar By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

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Year 2008 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2008

Christian Holidays: Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition - 2008

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2008

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2008

Baha'i Holidays - 2008

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Hindu Holidays - 2008

Buddhist Holidays - 2008

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Asian Holidays: Zoroastrian - Sikh - Jain - Taoist - Shinto - 2008

Native American - Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2008

African Holidays: Santeria - Old Egyptian - 2008

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2008

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Solar & Lunar Cycles & Eclipses - 2008

Meteor Showers - 2008

Visible Planets - 2008

Astrological Periods - 2008

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Environmentalist - Deep Ecology Dates - 2008

Feminist - Human Rights - Social Justice Dates - 2008

Peace - Disarmament Movement Dates - 2008

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Year 2007 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2007

Christian Holidays: Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition - 2007

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2007

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2007

Baha'i Holidays - 2007

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Hindu Holidays - 2007

Buddhist Holidays - 2007

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Asian Holidays: Zoroastrian - Sikh - Jain - Taoist - Shinto - 2007

Native American - Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2007

African Holidays: Santeria - Old Egyptian - 2007

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2007

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Solar & Lunar Cycles & Eclipses - 2007

Meteor Showers - 2007

Visible Planets - 2007

Astrological Periods - 2007

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Environmentalist - Deep Ecology Dates - 2007

Feminist - Human Rights - Social Justice Dates - 2007

Peace - Disarmament Movement Dates - 2007

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Year 2006 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2006

Christian Holidays: Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition - 2006

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2006

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2006

Baha'i Holidays - 2006

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Hindu Holidays - 2006

Buddhist Holidays - 2006

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Asian Holidays: Zoroastrian - Sikh - Jain - Taoist - Shinto - 2006

Native American - Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2006

African Holidays: Santeria - Old Egyptian - 2006

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2006

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Solar & Lunar Cycles & Eclipses - 2006

Meteor Showers - 2006

Visible Planets - 2006

Astrological Periods - 2006

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Environmentalist - Deep Ecology Dates - 2006

Feminist - Human Rights - Social Justice Dates - 2006

Peace - Disarmament Movement Dates - 2006

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The Mystic's Wheel of the Year...
a Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality

Year 2008
Calendar
By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

Year 2007
Calendar
By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

Year 2008
Calendar
By Tradition...

Christian Holidays:
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition - 2008

Native American -
Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2008

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2008

Environmentalist -
Deep Ecology Dates - 2008

Year 2007
Calendar
By Tradition...

Christian Holidays:
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition - 2007

Native American -
Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2007

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2007

Environmentalist -
Deep Ecology Dates - 2007

Year 2006
Calendar
By Tradition...

Christian Holidays:
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition - 2006

Native American -
Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2006

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2006

Environmentalist -
Deep Ecology Dates - 2006

Year 2005
Calendar
By Tradition...

Christian Holidays:
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition - 2005

Native American -
Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2005

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2005

Environmentalist -
Deep Ecology Dates - 2005

Year 2004
Calendar
By Tradition...

Christian Holidays:
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition - 2004

Native American -
Meso American - Hispanic Holidays - 2004

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe & the Middle East (Celtic, Norse, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, etc.) - 2004

Environmentalist -
Deep Ecology Dates - 2004