Carl McColman (2002). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism. Indianapolis, IN: Alpha. p.121. ISBN 9780028642666.

Along with The Pentacle Path, the Ostaratide begins after our celebrations of Imbolc are concluded. We tap elemental air’s powers of knowing, to learn what is already understood about the subject of our great work intention. Then at Ostara we start asking new questions, releasing expectation, opening our minds to experimentation so that we gain first hand knowledge, tapping elemental air’s powers of wonderment. Spring Season – Germination Spring’s Gate: Spring Equinox: Ostara Sabbat Farrar, Janet and Stewart (1988). Eight Sabbats for Witches, revised edition. Phoenix Publishing. ISBN 0-919345-26-3. Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon; Zell-Ravenheart, Morning Glory (2006). "Book III: Wheel of the Year". In Kirsten Dalley and Artemisia (ed.). Creating Circles & Ceremonies: Rituals for All Seasons And Reasons. Book-Mart Press. pp.203–206. ISBN 1-56414-864-5. Ritual Function: Balance elemental earth energy, and shadow work for the virtues and vices of Taurus.

Autumn’s Gate: Autumnal Equinox: Second Harvest: Mabon Sabbat

This is the Autumnal Equinox and occurs around September 21. In many traditions, it represents the harvest. It is a time of thanksgiving. Full Cold Moon (5:33 PM, MST) – December is very cold across much of the northern United States, thus the naming of this full moon. It is also called the Bitter Moon, the Big Winter Moon, the Oak Moon, and the Long Night Moon. Suggested Celebration Timing: Best observed Wednesday, April 19, 2023 in the 13 hours prior to exact dark that night at 12:13 am. (Remainder of year’s lunar pairings are now led by the Full Moons.) The word sabbat might sound like the Jewish “Sabbath,” but it actually just translates to “gathering.” Full Strawberry Moon (9:42 PM, MST) – The June full moon name comes the short window for harvesting wild strawberries and other berries. Other names for this moon are the Honey Moon, the Rose Moon, Birth Moon, Blooming Moon, Egg Laying Moon, the Hatching Moon, Green Corn Moon, Mead Mon, Hot Moon and the Berries Ripen Moon.

Oct 31 – SAMHAIN (pronounced SOW-um) (as known as Halloween) This is the Witches’ New Year! The veil between worlds is thinnest and the dead are thought to return and visit. It is a night to communicate with the spirits, spirit guides, and ancestors. It is also a night to work with Tarot cards and Crystal Balls! The light has returned, and summer is officially here. Use this month to soak up the rays of light from the sun. Honor the solar deities as its heat and light shine down upon you. Allow the nourishing rays to enhance a project or idea that you have been growing since spring. Suggested Celebration Timing: Observe 13 hours prior to exact dark at 11:53 am on Friday, May 19, 2023. Lemuria – An ancient holiday during which the Romans performed rites to exorcise the malevolent and fearful ghosts of the dead from their homes. Diwali – One the most important holidays of Hindu, Jainism, and Sikhism, commonly known as the festival of lights. The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.Robert Graves, The White Goddess, New York: Creative Age Press, 1948. Published in London by Faber & Faber. a b Starhawk (1979, 1989) The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess. New York, Harper and Row ISBN 0-06-250814-8 pp.191-2 (revised edition)

The four greater sabbats are the ones that fall exactly between the solstices and equinoxes. It may seem odd to mark the “cross-quarter days” as more fundamental (and greater) than the “quarter days” coming from the sun itself.

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But life in ancient times was based on the seasons, and the Four Greater Sabbats mark the seasons. It makes sense that Samhain would be considered most important because it aligns with the shortening of the day and the descent of the sun.