The witchcraft calendar wheel is a system used by practitioners of witchcraft to organize and track the seasons, cycles, and celestial events throughout the year. It is often represented as a circular diagram or wheel, with each segment representing a different month, season, or holiday. The calendar wheel is typically based on the cycles of the moon and the changing seasons, as these are important elements in many pagan and witchcraft traditions. Each segment of the wheel usually corresponds to a specific time of the year, such as a solstice, equinox, or pagan festival. One of the most well-known witchcraft calendar wheels is the Wheel of the Year, which is based on eight major holidays or sabbats celebrated by many pagan and witchcraft traditions. These holidays include Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon.
Click here for the Birds of the Outer Banks checklist
White Ibis were first recorded breeding in North Carolina in 1889, but they were not found nesting in large numbers until 1950 when more than 1,000 were discovered breeding in Robeson County near Lumberton in Warwick Mill Bay, a freshwater wetland. Whether you visit during a dark night and see the bioluminescence at its brightest or schedule your tour during a full moon to see a sky full of stars, you re sure to feel the magic of this incredible natural location.
These holidays include Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lammas, and Mabon. Each of these holidays is associated with a different time of year, such as the winter solstice or the vernal equinox, and they mark important transitions in the natural world. The witchcraft calendar wheel is not only a way to mark the passing of time but also to connect with the cycles of nature and the spiritual energy of each season.
Birds of Ocracoke: the American White Ibis
The American White Ibis is a prized bird for northern birders and visitors from other countries to see on Ocracoke.
This is a medium-sized wading bird with a reddish face, bill and legs and all-white feathers except for prominent black wing tips prominently seen in flight. Its long, decurved bill distinguishes this species from the egrets and herons on the island and gives it a prehistoric look. Juveniles are light brown with white under parts. They may fly alone or in small linear flocks.
The breeding range these days runs along the Gulf and Atlantic Coast, and the coasts of Mexico and Central America. See below for more info.
Their diet includes aquatic and terrestrial arthropods, frogs, lizards, small snakes, snails and small fish. Foraging includes both finding prey by sight and by probing through vegetation and water with their bill.
American White Ibis. Photo by P. Vankevich
Best Time to see: Year-round. Their pesence on Ocracoke in the winter varies from year-to-year, sometimes in fair numbers and absent in others.
Where: They can often be seen in the marsh grasses or perched in the cedars along the South Point Road, Springer’s Point and near the Hatteras ferry terminal; in flight over the island, and at both Ocracoke and Hatteras inlets. After big rains they may be found in yards in the village and around the NPS Visitors Center and the campground foraging in flocks.
White Ibis foraaging Ocracoke’s NPS Visitors Center. Photo by P. Vankevich
Click here for the Birds of the Outer Banks checklist
Notes:
In North America, historically their breeding range was restricted to the Gulf Coast and along the Atlantic up to Georgia. White Ibis were first recorded breeding in North Carolina in 1889, but they were not found nesting in large numbers until 1950 when more than 1,000 were discovered breeding in Robeson County near Lumberton in Warwick Mill Bay, a freshwater wetland. The largest breeding colony these days is on Battery Island near Southport in Brunswick County. Their numbers have increased in the state over the last 70 years with estimates of more than 10,000 pairs and the vast majority are on Battery Island. The first nesting record of the Outer Banks was on Pea Island in 1983. Although there are some suspected locations for ibis nesting sites on Ocracoke, I can’t confirm it.
Immature American White Ibis. Photo by P. Vankevich
The American White Ibis is most common in Florida, where more than 30,000 have been counted in a single breeding colony. It also occurs throughout the Caribbean, on both coasts of Mexico (from Baja California southwards) and Central America, and as far south as Columbia and Venezuela. The non-breeding range extends further inland, reaching north to Virginia, and west to eastern Texas.
After breeding, these wading birds will disperse widely, rambling primarily north and inland in fall, and south in winter spending time in swamps as well and saltwater marshes.
The iridescent Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) and rarely, the White-faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) may also be seen in on the Outer Banks.
Worldwide there are 28 species in the Ibis family including the African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) which in ancient Egypt was held in high veneration and believed to have magical capabilities.
Pharaoh Ramses III and Thoth. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Thoth, the god of all knowledge, was often depicted with the head of an ibis. Ibis along with cats were often mummified. Perhaps their high esteem was due in part not only to their interesting looks but also because they were known to eat serpents and crocodile eggs.
The White Ibis is noted these days for being the mascot of the University of Miami (Florida) sports teams.
It is often used as a guide for rituals, spellwork, and other magical practices, with certain activities or intentions being more suited to specific times of the year. Many practitioners of witchcraft find great meaning and significance in following the calendar wheel, as it allows them to attune to the rhythms of nature and honor the cycles of life and death. It also serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of all things and the ever-changing nature of existence. In conclusion, the witchcraft calendar wheel is a system used by witchcraft practitioners to organize and celebrate the seasons, cycles, and holidays throughout the year. It serves as a guide for ritual and magical practice, connecting individuals to the natural world and the energies of each season. By following the calendar wheel, practitioners honor the cycles of life and attune themselves to the rhythms of nature..
Reviews for "Embracing the Witchcraft Calendar Wheel: Enhancing Connection to the Earth and the Divine"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the Witchcraft calendar wheel. The illustrations were lackluster and didn't capture the true essence of witchcraft. The information provided was also very basic and didn't go into depth. I was expecting a much more comprehensive and visually appealing calendar. Overall, it was a letdown.
2. Michael - 1 star - This Witchcraft calendar wheel was a complete waste of money. It was poorly designed and appeared cheaply made. The content was also incredibly vague, providing no real insight or value. I would not recommend this to anyone looking for a meaningful and informative calendar on witchcraft. Save your money and look elsewhere.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - The concept of the Witchcraft calendar wheel was intriguing, but the execution fell flat. The information provided was very basic and could easily be found online for free. The visuals were also lackluster and didn't enhance the overall experience. It just felt like a rushed and underwhelming product. Disappointing.