As a Pagan witch in the public sphere who loves to share her knowledge, ideas, and general musings on a vast array of topics pertaining to my witchy path, it’s no surprise that I receive a ton – and I really do mean a ton – of questions from blog readers and social media followers.
I’m grateful to those who reach out and wish to seek my thoughts on a given subject, and try to reply to as many of the queries I receive as possible.
By far one of the areas that I receive the most questions about is book recommendations.
These inquiries tend, I find, to fall into one of several main topics. Amongst the most common are book recommendations for new witches/Pagans, spellwork, green witchery, kitchen witchery, the history of Paganism (as well as the history of witchcraft), coven work, and the sabbats.
Rare is the week I don’t get at least a few sabbat-related messages. Not all are seeking book recommendations, but a good many are and as a result, I’ve amassed an extensive list of books about the Pagan sabbats.
In a modern-day Neopaganism context, the eight main sabbats that some Pagans, Wiccans, and witches choose to observe are as follows:
Imbolc: On or around February 1st
Ostara: On or around the Spring Equinox (aka, the Vernal Equinox), which falls between March 19th and March 21st
Beltane: On or around May 1st
Litha: On or around the Summer Solstice, which falls between June 20th and June 22nd
Lammas/Lughnasadh: On or around August 1st
Mabon: On or around the Fall Equinox (aka, the Southward Equinox or September Equinox), which falls between September 21st and September 24th
Samhain: On or around October 31st
Yule: On or around the Winter Solstice, which usually falls on December 21st or 22nd
Note that these date ranges are for the Western Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere where the seasons are reversed, many chose to celebrate the opposite sabbat. For example, when it’ is Beltane north of the equator, it is Samhain in the southern half of the world and vice versa.
Depending on a person’s particular spiritual path, they may opt to observe other sacred dates as well, such as those pertaining to a particular branch of Paganism (i.e., Hellenistic Paganism or Slavic Paganism), to the traditions of their geographic location, and/or their ancestry.
And of course, some people do not feel drawn to observing some or all of these (or any other) Pagan sabbats, and that is totally okay as well.
As many witches, Wiccans, and Pagans do celebrate some form of these eight sabbats, however, and they hold a deeply meaningful place in a lot of peoples’ spiritual journeys, it is not surprising that folks are looking for Pagan sabbat book recommendations.
Personally – as you may have deducted if you’ve been following this blog and/or my Instagram account for very long – I madly adore and actively celebrate all eight of the Pagan sabbats that comprise The Wheel of The Year.
This facet of Paganism is integral to my practice and has the added bonus of making the year markedly more enjoyable and exciting for me (as a sabbat transpires roughly once every 6 to 8 weeks throughout each year).
I’m definitely a “sabbat witch”, if you will, and love each of these eight sacred days from the bottom of my heart.
Scores of others do as well and it’s no surprise that new witches, as well as those looking to deepen their knowledge of and/or connection to their spirituality, are keen to learn about the Pagan sabbats.
As I know that for every question on a given subject I receive, no doubt many others out there are thinking the same thing but don’t reach out ask, I’ve decided to start turning some of the questions about witchery and Paganism books that I receive into their own dedicated blog posts.
Not only will this hopefully help those searching for suggestions via Google or social media (including Pinterest), but it will allow me to quickly point people who query me about Pagan sabbat books to this very entry.
While I wouldn’t go so far as to claim that the following list encompasses every single book ever written in English about the Pagan sabbats, it is a rather extensive list of the current books on this subject.
No doubt new ones will come along in the future, and there are plenty of books on broader witchcraft and Pagan related topics that cover the sabbats to varying degrees as well (rare is the Paganism or Witchery 101 book, for example, that doesn’t provide at least a cursory overview of the sabbats).
This post houses a very extensive list and I hope that it will provide new and more experienced witches, Wiccans, and Pagans alike with plenty of appealing and informative reading options.
Pull up a cozy seat, a bevy of your choice, and your Amazon or Book Depository wishlist and let’s delve into exploring a broad range of Pagan sabbat books.
(Note: At the time of writing this post, a small number of these books are slated to be released later in 2021 or in 2022. The majority of titles are, however, in publication already.)
Llewellyn’s eight-book series on each of the sabbats
This series sprang to life in the 2010s and instantly became quite the darling of the Pagan sabbat book scene. These titles are jam-packed with tons of great information and useful ideas for celebrating each of the eight respective witch’s sabbats. And, I find, much like potato chips, it is really hard to stop at (buying) just one of these terrific titles.
Imbolc: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Brigid’s Day
Ostara: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Spring Equinox
Beltane: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for May Day
Midsummer: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Litha
Lughnasadh: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Lammas
Mabon: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Autumn Equinox
Samhain: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for Halloween
Yule: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Winter Solstice
Around/during the start of the 2000s, Llewellyn produced a similar eight-book series on the sabbats as well. It doesn’t look like they are still in publication, but they can be found quite easily on the secondhand market still, including from various used booksellers on Amazon. Here, for example, is a link to the Yule book from this series.
In addition, various publishers put out annual witchcraft and/or Paganism related yearly almanac style books which are often rich in great information about the sabbats.
In particular, I recommend The Witches’ Almanac, as well as Llewellyn’s Sabbat Almanac (pictured above), The Witches’ Datebook Calendar and The Witches’ Companion, both of which are from Llewellyn as well.
Books covering the whole Wheel of The Year
These titles offer thorough and informative looks at the eight Pagan sabbats that comprise the wheel of the year. Some are beloved classics, others are newer offerings that are sure to become much-adored books in their own right.
A Circle Of Stars: An astrological journey through the lunar and Celtic wheel of the year
From Earth Mother’s Womb Workbook: Simple Earth Centering Practices using the wheel of the year
Once Around The Sun: Stories, Crafts, and Recipes to Celebrate the Sacred Earth Year
Rituals of Celebration: Honoring the Seasons of Life through the Wheel of the Year
Rituals & Sabbats: Sacred Rites and Seasonal Celebrations
Sabbats: A Witch’s Approach to Living the Old Ways
Sacred Actions: Living the Wheel of the Year through Earth-Centered Sustainable Practices
Sacred Earth Celebrations
Seasons of a Magical Life: A Pagan Path of Living
The Celtic Wheel of the Year: Christian & Pagan Prayers & Practices for Each Turning
The Great Work: Self-Knowledge and Healing Through the Wheel of the Year
The Hearth Witch’s Year: Rituals, Recipes & Remedies Through the Seasons
The Hedgewitch’s Little Book of Seasonal Magic
The Magical Year: Seasonal Celebrations to Honor Nature’s Ever-Turning Wheel
The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year
The Mystical Year: Folklore, Magic and Nature
The Noble Art: From Shadow to Essence Through the Wheel of the Year
The Provenance Press Guide to the Wiccan Year: A Year Round Guide to Spells, Rituals, and Holiday Celebrations
The Simple Sabbat: Family Friendly Approach to the Eight Pagan Holidays
The Spirited Kitchen: Recipes and Rituals for the Wheel of the Year
The Wheel of The Year: A Beginner’s Guide to Celebrating the Traditional Pagan Festivals of the Seasons
The Wheel of the Year: One Year Workbook and Journal for the Pagan Festivals
(Note: This author, who is currently publishing independently, also has a series of books devoted to each of the individual sabbats. On Amazon, simply search for her name and the sabbat of your choice to find her title on that festive Pagan day.)
The Ultimate Guide to the Witch’s Wheel of the Year: Rituals, Spells & Practices for Magical Sabbats, Holidays & Celebrations
Turn of The Wheel: A Year of Modern Pagan Prayer and Praise
The Zenned Out Guide to The Wheel of The Year
Wheel of The Year: Living The Magickal Life
Wicca Wheel of The Year Magic
Wicca Year of Magic: From the Wheel of the Year to the Cycles of the Moon, Magic for Every Occasion
Witch’s Wheel of the Year: Rituals for Circles, Solitaries & Covens
(Whose Pathos blog, Raising the Horns, I highly recommend.)
Year of the Witch: Connecting with Nature’s Seasons through Intuitive Magick
(Ancient Ways: Reclaiming The Pagan Tradition by the same author is a stellar book as well.)
Books on specific Pagan Sabbats
Much like Llewellyn’s eight-part series devoted to each of the sabbats, various other titles have been released over the years that focus on either one specific sabbat or a portion of the sabbats. These are fantastic resources if you’re looking to add to your knowledge of, or be inspired about, certain Pagan sabbats in particular.
A Witch’s Halloween: A Complete Guide to the Magick, Incantations, Recipes, Spells, and Lore
Beltane: The Ultimate Guide to May Eve and How It’s Celebrated in Wicca, Druidry, and Paganism
Celebrating Autumn Equinox: Customs & Crafts, Recipes & Rituals for Harvest, Sukkot, Mid Autumn Moon, Michaelmas, Eleusinian Mysteries & Other Autumn Holidays
Celebrating Spring Equinox: Customs & Crafts, Recipes & Rituals for Celebrating Easter, Passover, Nowruz, Lady Day, & Other Spring Holidays
Celebrating Summer Solstice: Customs & Crafts, Recipes & Rituals for Midsummer, Kupala, Ligo, San Giovanni & Other Summer Holidays
Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon
Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Samhain to Ostara
Celebrating Winter Solstice: Customs and Crafts, Recipes and Rituals for Festivals of Light, Hanukkah, Yule, and Other Midwinter Holidays
Llewellyn’s Little Book of Halloween
(Mickie has a wonderful, informative YouTube channel that is well worth following.)
Llewellyn’s Little Book of Yule
Midsummer: The Ultimate Guide to Litha or the Summer Solstice and How It’s Celebrated in Wicca, Druidry, and Paganism
Ostara: The Ultimate Guide to Spring Equinox and How It’s Celebrated in Wicca, Druidry, and Paganism
Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirits, and Rituals at the Origins of Christmas
Samhain Traditions: 13 Simple & Affordable Halloween Spells & Rituals for the Witches’ New Year
(This author runs a terrific Pagan/witchy blog called the Penniless Pagan that I highly recommend following.)
The Old Magic of Christmas: Yuletide Traditions for the Darkest Days of the Year
The Sacred Herbs of Beltane
The Sacred Herbs of Samhain
The Summer Solstice: Celebrating the Journey of the Sun from May Day to Harvest
The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas
This post was last updated with one or more new titles on April 21, 2022
Books are a valuable resource, but don’t stop there!
As awesome as books about a given topic – in this case, the Pagan sabbats – are, it’s important to remember that there are many channels through which to obtain knowledge on a given subject.
In the case of the sabbats, some of these include blogs and websites (as well as social media), spending time in person with fellow Pagans/witches, joining a coven or grove, and through your own ongoing experiences with the Wheel of The Year.
While there are various traditions and important meanings associated with each of the sabbats, observers are free to interpret and experience the Pagan sabbats however they desire.
Learn from books such as those listed above, as well as other resources and experiences, but do not feel that you must follow everything they suggest to the letter.
And by the same token, please, please, please, do not feel obliged to observe each sabbat annually if you do not feel inclined or are, for whatever reason, unable to do so.
You are not a “bad” or “lazy” witch at all if you are not rolling out the proverbial red carpet and throwing yourself into OTT sabbat celebrations eight times a year.
If that is your jam, awesome, if not, equally awesome. There is a ton to be said for simple, meaningful sabbat happenings.
Indeed, I would argue that if a sabbat causes you a great deal of stress, worry, anxiety, or expense, you may want to rethink how you approach these special days. They are meant to be times of deep meaning, personal reflection, spiritual connections, and positivity, not something you dread more than going to the dentist.
As there will no doubt be future books penned about the witch’s sabbats, I will strive to update this blog post periodically with new titles that cross my path.
If you are aware of any Pagan sabbat books that I have not included here yet, please feel free to let me know about them in the comments below or via email.
And on that note, as I adore hearing from my readers, please do not hesitate to send your witchery and Paganism-related questions my way anytime.
Who knows, your query might just be the catalyst for a future blog post here!
Do you observe the Wheel of the Year? And if you do, what Pagan sabbat books are your personal favourites? 🖤🕮🖤
I really had no idea of the number of books written on the subject, Autumn, and I can only imagine the amount of time it must have taken you to compile such an extensive list. I am a total novice on this subject – but have already learned so much about the Pagan sabbats from your blog – but would certainly pick up a book covering the wheel of the year if I came across one in my thrifting adventures. Thank you for sharing! xxx
You are tremendously kind, dear Ann. Thank you so much. While this post did take a good while to put together, thanks to the fact that I had much of the list was compiled already (care of answering peoples’ DMs and emails on the subject) the process went considerably quicker than if I’d been starting from scratch in the moment.
I’m elated to know that you’d been keen to read a whole book on the Pagan sabbats and hope that the thrift store powers that be are able to deliver one your way. If not, and you were keen to venture down that path, various online new and used book sellers (including the US-based site ThriftBooks.com, which I’ve personally bought from before) sometimes offer up Pagan/witchy titles for surprisingly good deals.
Of course, if you ever have any questions about the sabbats, please don’t hesitate to zip them my way. This is a subject that I can gleefully talk about until the cows (or would that be bats and black cats?) come home.
I really, really appreciate each and every one of your recent blog comments, my sweet friend. I’m hoping, after the chaotic, stressful month that was August, to finally have a spot of time now that we’re inching towards fall to curl up with your blog and enjoy all of your own recent entries ASAP.
Sunny hugs & the very happiest of September wishes coming your way,
🖤 Autumn
What an extensive list of books! I can tell you throw yourself wholeheartedly into celebrating these markers throughout the year. Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and your books of inspiration.
Debi
What a kind and heart-touchingly supportive comment, my beautiful friend. Thank you deeply.
How right you are! I’ve never been one for half measures and rarely find I can stop at a few paragraphs (or list entries) when blogging, so happily pour myself body, mind, soul, and fingertips into the digital content that I create for my site (and SM).
It is a joy, I find, to immerse myself deeply in a subject and to write at length at something that, as a general rule, I’m thoroughly passionate about. There are few things in life that I have as a great a passion for as I do both mainstream holidays and the Pagan sabbats, so when the chance to cover one or both of those topics arises, I’m on it like orange on a pumpkin! 🎃
Speaking of which, now that we’re into September, I’ve been thinking about you all the more lately, my fellow fall time adoring friend.
Here’s to the hope that this autumn is a serene, joyful, safe, and fabulously festive one on both our ends – and that it lingers straight on until the Winter Solstice (hey, a fall obsessed gal can dream! 😄).
Warm hugs & the pumpkin spice filled wishes of seasonal joy coming your way,
🖤 Autumn
Wow! Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm with these subjects as well as your recommendations for reading. Very informative post!!
You are a gem, dear Vicki. Thank you immensely in turn for your sweet, supportive comment. I really appreciate it and am happy to know you found this post informative.
I am utterly and completely in love with each of the eight Pagan sabbats and can happily chat about them around the clock, so when the opportunity to do so here (on SM) arises, I tend to do with gusto and at sizable length. 😄
Naturally, I know that not all of my readers or Pagans/witches/Wiccans and/or share this passion, but I hope that even those who are not or don’t will enjoy learning more on the subject via my posts. I’m always keen to learn more about holidays from other countries and faiths myself. There’s just something so captivating and meaningful to me about the traditions, beliefs, and rituals involved with special days of that nature.
I hope that your September is off to a splendid start and that you have a fantastic fall from start to finish, my sweet friend.
🖤 Autumn
Another fabulous, informative post Autumn, you are certainly a mine of information and your blog is certainly the place to go, it never ceases to amaze me how much time and enthusiasm you put into each post.
Pauline – Crafting with Cotnob
x
Thank you abundantly, sweet Pauline. I sincerely appreciate your kind, supportive words and the fact that you recognize the time, energy, and passion that I (joyfully) pour into my blog posts. To say that you doing so means a great deal to me would be a sizable understatement.
I hope that this month is off to a beautiful start for you and your family, and that you have a terrific September from start to finish. This is such a lovely, inspiring time of the year and one that I am extra happy to see return this time around (after the summer we just got through, that is).
Big hugs,
🖤 Autumn
This is a good resource, thanks Autumn! I have the Llewellyn 2016 to 2017 and 2018 to 2019 Sabbats Almanacs, and find them good to look over. One of my favourite books is The Real Witches’ Kitchen by Kate West. It has some ideas for celebrating the sabbats and is actually the book that really got me started in doing that. Another good one is The Kitchen Witch by Soraya. Both have food-based ideas, although in recent years I have expanded to celebrating in other ways as well.
Also, I’m currently re-reading A Year and a Day of Everday Witchcraft by Deborah Blake. It’s not a book specifically on the sabbats but has an entry for every day of the year, something to think about or do.
I have head of a few of the books you listed but many I haven’t, so look forward to checking them out. Seasons of a Magical Life by H. Byron Ballard and The Hearth Witch’s Year by Anna Franklin look especially good. I like the Penniless Pagan blog too. I have saved this post to refer to later. 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful autumn season! 🙂
Zania ❤️
What wonderfully kind and supportive feedback, dear Zania. Thank you very much for letting me know that you found this extensive list of Pagan sabbat books useful.
Prior to its launch, when I was envisioning Witchcrafted Life’s audience, I sincerely thought that it would lean considerably more heavily on being comprised of fellow Pagans and witches. Little did I know that it would be my wonderful fellow paper crafters who would (thus far at least) comprise the bulk of WCL’s readership.
All that to say, I truly appreciate feedback on my Pagan/witchy/empath/metaphysical/similar posts and knowing that they’re striking a chord with members of our Pagan/witchy community.
Those almanacs are terrific! The useful, fascinating info they house makes them books in their own right and are sources that I personally return to time and time again.
Thank you very much for sharing about three of your fave witchery related books. I really appreciate it. Those are awesome titles, too (love Deborah’s down-to-earth, easily accessible writing). As a longstanding kitchen witch, I just know it’s only a matter of time until I pen a similar entry focused on kitchen witchery as well. I feel joyful just thinking about that and look forward to doing so one day.
You’re a gem, Zania. Thank you very much again. May this Samhain season find and keep you well around the clock, bless your days with gorgeous fall time magick, and bring an abundance of happiness to your lovely heart.
🖤 Autumn
This is a wonderful list. I am an owner of a pagan store and a book lover. There were actually a couple of titles that I was not familiar with, but will certainly track them down. I would really love to share your list with my followers. Blessings
Merry meet, Debra. Thank you very much for your lovely comment and for spending time visiting my wee corner of the web. It’s a pleasure to connect with you.
To date, I’ve only had a chance to visit Edmonton once (for around two weeks in September 2016). Both my husband and I adored our time there and really fell in love with your beautiful corner of Alberta. The next time we’re up that way, I will make a point to try and visit your awesome shop.
Please feel free to share this list (crediting it back to this blog or my IG account if you do) anywhere your heart desires. I’m touched that you wish to do so. 🙏💗
If you would ever like to collaborate in any capacity (product reviews, giveaways, an interview, etc), please don’t hesitate to zip an email my way.
Abundant blessings of the Samhain-into-Yule season from my heart to yours.
🖤 Autumn