8 Sabbats shape Arcane Elemental Academy’s year in sacred cycles
The Wheel of the Year’s the elemental backbone of Arcane life. Here’s how the eight Sabbats shape power, ritual, and a little rebellion.
The Wheel of the Year and its eight Sabbats appear in almost every one of my fantasy works, whether we’re talking about Arcane Elemental Academy or something from my Renegades Epic. So, if you’re familiar with my work, you might’ve just crossed a few of them in the past.
But I’m sharing this info now because you see them more often in Arcane, to the point you can argue the Sabbats play an active role in Book I, The Arcane Prophecy. No, you won’t see all of them immediately, but I can guarantee you that, minor spoiler alert here, you’ll see every single one of them at some point in the series.
As far as The Arcane Prophecy goes, I’ll also give you this spoiler: At least two of them play at least a minor role in the book’s plot.
Now, if you’re not familiar with the eight Sabbats, don’t fear! I got a rundown for each of them below, and the role they play both in our world, and in the world of Xadis, where Arcane Elemental Academy takes place.
The 8 Sabbats – Wheel of the Year
Yule (Winter Solstice) – around December 21
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Theme: Rebirth, light returning, introspection
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Elemental Association: Spirit
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I fused this one with modern-day Christmas celebrations, featuring gift-giving, food, you get the gist. But something also comes alive on Yule in Arcane.
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Imbolc – around February 1
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Theme: Awakening, purification, new beginnings
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Elemental Association: Fire
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Students light ceremonial candles to burn away the residue of old magic. Something you’ll surely see at some point in the series.
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Ostara (Spring Equinox) – around March 20
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Theme: Balance, renewal, fertility
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Elemental Association: Earth and Air
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Duel ceremonies to honor balance—Air challenges Earth in symbolic trials. This one may go beyond the thrashball court. And if you don’t know what thrashball is, don’t sweat. You’ll love it.
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Beltane – around May 1
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Theme: Passion, union, vitality
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Elemental Association: Fire
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Pairs of students engage in fire-dancing duels or initiate sacred elemental bonds. This would be one hell of a prom night, but one in a solely voluntaryist-based society. Arcane is not a government school.
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Litha (Summer Solstice) – around June 21
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Theme: Power, radiance, culmination
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Elemental Association: Fire
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A grand elemental tournament where mastery is displayed under the longest sun. Something tells me we’ll be seeing a lot of Yote vs. Jett. Maybe…
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Lammas / Lughnasadh – around August 1
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Theme: First harvest, gratitude, preparation
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Elemental Association: Earth
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Apprentices showcase their creations—enchanted tools, potions, or crop-based magic. Because Arcane teaches more than elemental magic to those interested in learning more.
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Mabon (Autumn Equinox) – around September 21
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Theme: Balance, reflection, second harvest
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Elemental Association: Water
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Students are hyping up for the great Arcanian pastime – thrashball. The preseason begins on Mabon…with holiday-related rituals.
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Samhain – around October 31
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Theme: Death, ancestors, spirit world
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Elemental Association: Spirit
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The Veil weakens. Ghosts visit. And some ghosts might just hang around. This holiday will have a significant impact on Yote.
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Things can get weird in the Aurora Village
Now, all the rituals listed under the third bullet point here are all voluntary and there’s no coercion, or frowning upon for refusing to take part in any of them. Aurora and the nation of Etharia’s Northern Region is a voluntaryist society that the great Murray N. Rothbard would’ve been proud of.
But that doesn’t mean things don’t get weird in Aurora. And Yote will find that out rather quickly. Anyway, if you’re reading this and are wondering just who the hell Yote is, meet her in my prequel novella, Arcane Awakenings.
Here, you’ll learn quickly that this young adult academy fantasy series is theme first, genre second. Because sometimes, the truth can and will be found in fiction, and it’s why I write books. Not to fill tropes and genre expectations, but to spread the message of liberty.
