The Avalonia Project aims to gather beautiful souls together to honour, take care of and maintain this bond we share with Nature. One of the simplest and most beautiful way of doing so is to unite at the eight key dates of the Celtic calendar to mark the seasons that define the landscapes of our lands. Why the Celtic calendar? Because the Celts were the ancestors of these lands, that it is said they had a particularly strong bond with Nature and therefore their energy is deeply imprinted in the nature surrounding us. Beyond logic though, this choice is also down to the projet keeper and her deep intuition along with that of her friends and partners who felt the same call...

Here is an article on the story behind Sarah's first emergence of celebrating the Celtic Wheel of Year and on the power of ritual as a way of knowing: Ritual as a Way of Knowing

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What are those eight key dates? Sarah defines them as such, based on her senses and teachings:

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Solar dates

Celebrations of the Heart of Seasons:

Spring equinox (Ostara or Alban Eilir) - circa 21 March

Summer solstice (Litha or Alban Hefin) - circa 21 June

Autumn equinox (Mabon or Alban Efed) - circa 21 September

Winter solstice (Yule or Alban Arthan) - circa 21 December

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Lunar dates

Ceremonies & Gates to the Seasons: 

Full moon of Imbolc - circa 1st Feb

Full moon of  Beltane - circa 1st May

Full moon of Lughnasadh - circa 1st Aug

Full moon of Samhain - circa 1st Nov

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In the context of the Avalonia Project, each of these dates is marked around a Fire in community, sometimes in small groups of less than a dozen, sometimes in bigger groups reaching up to a hundred, generally with music, poetry, a shared meal, seasonal rituals and other grains of inspiration by the members of our community. The first gathering took place at Samhain in 2021 and the Wheel has been honoured ever since...

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The Solar Celebrations called the "Albans" in druidic traditions aim to gather us in large numbers in joy and with the effervescence of each of these seasons, with the idea of embracing the theme by wearing it and shining the light these seasons bring out in us individually and collectively. They are celebrations in a "yang" type of energy (which is said to be "masculine" in its Air and Fire essences, according to some druidic principles), bringing lightness and mouvement. The idea is to create a programme over one day where different members of the community can freely propose their arts and ideas as workshops in the theme of that relationship to Nature, our very own nature and the season in question. The Avalonia Project is currently seeking opportunities for collaborations and partnerships to put together a solid programme for a Festival of the Four Seasons. A potential collaboration is emerging with the fantastic Healing Heart Festival... 

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The Lunar Ceremonies have an altogether different taste. More "yin" (aka feminine, Earth and Water) in nature, they aim to put us into a state of introspection, as per the white goddess governing our night skies and giving a rythm to these gatherings. They are moments of reflection, ponderance, reverence, choices, prayers, and calls to a lenient season. Not quite yet into the new seasons, the mark the very beginning of each as our ancestors perceived them. Delicately intimate, one does not look for the effervescence of the solar gatherings, but rather for deep connections anchored in courageous vulnerability and respect of individuality. Poetical and discreet, these subtle encounters invite us to meet Nature in slowness, ritual, story, legend, imagination, kindness and depth. 

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Beautifully illustrated by the artist Meraylah who shared her artwork with us below, see how the eight sabbaths may be celebrated throughout the year (note that some pages have yet to be written)...