The wheel of the year offers us a holy journey through the changing seasons that the cycles of life honors; Every Sabbath has its own unique magic, energy and opportunities for our growth. Rooted in old ‘pagan’ traditions, they all remind us in a nice way that life has a cyclical character – with birth, growth, decay and death. The annual cycle of festivals brings us in balance with the natural rhythms of the earth, so that we can use the energy for healing, manifestation and renewal. Moreover, aromatherapy can really strengthen the magic of each festival, in a way that ensures that we tailor ourselves more strongly to the cycles of life, so that our body comes back into a natural balance.
The great thing about working with essential oils during the wheel of the year is that they connect us with the wisdom of nature, so that we can ground and embody every season in ourselves. Each Sabbath corresponds to different themes, and the use of essential oils in coordination with these energies can serve as a powerful tool for harmony and offers physical, mental-emotional and spiritual healing. Let’s see how we can boost the wheel of the year for each Sabbath with essential oils.
Wiel of the year 2025 – and additional essential oils
Technically, our wheel of the year actually started on December 21 during Yule, but since this is the first Sabbath of 2025, I wanted to start with the entry of ‘IMbolc’ in February. Here the Sabbats are defined, along with a description of what they symbolize and what they invite us – and the corresponding essential oil to help us use them all vigorously.
Imbolc (1-2 February) – New life and dreams
Associated with the goddess Brigid, this is a Sabbath of ‘a new beginning’, which marks the center between winter and spring. Imbolc brings the first signs of growth and represents the time of new life. It is a time of awakening for our dreams and intentions, and an invitation to purify and gain inspiration. Often with ‘new life’ symbolized by ‘milk’, a beautiful ‘bath oil’ mix would help with this Sabbath.
Essential oils for Imbolc:
- Peppermint: stimulating and invigorating. Peppermint is an oil that generates inspiration and motivation
- Rosemary: This stimulating oil improves mental brightness and stimulates our dreams
- Basil: a spicy oil that symbolizes the purification of the mind. Basil is perfect to help us tune us to a new beginning
Sabbatmix and Ritual:
Mix 2 drops of peppermint, 2 drops of rosemary and 2 drops of basil in half a cup of full milk and mix it through the warm flowing water of your bath. Maybe you want to add some real chamomile flowers to embrace spring energy. Enjoy the goodness while you allow yourself to dream and set intentions for the coming year. Do not take this bath just before bed, because the oils are quite stimulating.
Ostara (March 20) – Fertility and balance
Ostara is the spring equinox and represents a time of ‘fertility’ and ‘balance’ between light and dark. It is a time of ‘planting seeds’ – literally and figuratively. This is a time for growth and expansion – a time for new projects, creativity and the flourishing of new ideas. Use this time to tune into those new ideas and discover what healing needs, so that you can plant the seeds to make your dreams reality.
Essential oils for Ostara:
- Geranium: A caring, female oil that promotes emotional healing, this oil supports the growth of our inner and outer world
- Citroen: a fresh, cheerful oil. Citroen elevates us, inspires creativity and focuses our intentions on expansion
- Lavender: calming and balancing. Lavender helps us to cultivate harmony while we plant the seeds of our intentions
Sabbatmix and Ritual:
Mix 3 drops of lemon, 2 drops of lavender and 1 drop of geranium in water in a candle burner or electric diffuser and let the scent penetrate the environment while you record which seeds you want to plant and what new ideas you want to bring in this year – and what you get out of the Want to free darkness so that you can let yourself be born again.
Beltane (May 1) – Passion and creativity
Beltane is a fire festival that celebrates the passionate expression of life. It is a time to embrace joy, sensuality and all forms of creative expression, to tailor us to desires and to pursue our vision. This season, represented by fire, herbs and dance, is one to take action!
Essential oils for Beltane:
- Ylang Ylang: This is a sweet, sensual, floral oil that helps the heart open and stimulates a deep connection with our passions and desires
- Jasmine: Known for its uplifting and female qualities, Jasmijn invites us to step into our creative energy
- Cinnamon: a warming, spicy oil, this strengthens the fiery energy of Beltane and stimulates action in creative passions
Sabbatmix and Ritual:
Mix 3 drops of ylang ylang, 2 drops of jasmine and 1 drop cinnamon in 15 ml of sweet almond oil. Apply this massage oil to your body in the direction of your heart, and then, in any way, dance for you, to embody the passionate energy of this Sabbath.
Litha (June 21) – Fullness of Light
Litha is our summer solstice and marks the highlight of the power of the sun. It is a celebration of abundance, growth and vitality. This is the time of the year in which we can fully express our joy and creativity and use our strength to take coordinated actions and to manifest our dreams.
Essential oils for Litha:
- Bergamot: Energetic and uplifting, Bergamot is an oil that increases self -confidence and helps us the fear of overcoming action
- Neroli: a sweet -flowered oil from ‘Orange Blossem’ that fights stress (which can be part of this season of ‘action’), which encourages us to take action, without stress.
- Ginger: a stimulating, spicy oil, ginger stimulates motivation.
Sabbatmix and Ritual:
To embrace Litha’s fiery energy in a way that feels coordinated and stress -free, light a candle for 10 minutes and then carefully let 1 drop bergamot, neroli and ginger fell into the lake melted so that the scents can filter. Through. Think, think the aromas, after the actions you can take to meet this bright, powerful energy in a soft, joyful way.
Lammas (August 1) – First harvest
Lammas is a time to celebrate the ‘first harvest’ and to honor the fruits of our work. This is a time for us to be in the embodied energy of celebration and reflection around what has been created – and to prepare our body for the rest of the harvest, with some grounding.
Essential oils for lammas:
- Patchouli: Patchouli is deep grounding and helps us connect to the harvest of our actions, so that we remain focused on what we still have to harvest
- Clove: this is a warm, spicy oil that brings brightness and invites us to celebrate our results
- Sandalwood: Another woody, grounding scent, this relaxing and stabilizing oil helps us to think meditatively about what we have created so far – and to prepare for what is still coming
Sabbatmix and Ritual:
Mix 3 drops of patchouli, 2 drops of sandalwood and 1 drop of cloves in water in a candle burner or electric diffuser and think about the first fruits of your birth – what can you celebrate so far? What is needed for the next phase of your expansion and healing?
Mabon (September 22) – gratitude and harmony
Mabon is autumn equinox – a moment of balance between light and dark. This makes it a perfect moment to appreciate and think about our harvest. It is a season in which we feel appreciation for everything we have received, while we prepare for the dark months that are in front of us. This is a Sabbath for reflection on what we are grateful for, and reflection on what has challenged us and what is still ahead, while we are starting to prepare for the darkness.
Essential oils for Mabon:
- Cedar wood: an grounding and calming oil. Cedarhout helps us to think about the balance of our lives and offers stability and brightness when we enter the dark half of the wheel
- Clary Sage: This soothing oil helps us connect to the wisdom of the earth, perfect to close the harvest season and prepare us for the introspective energies of the dark months
- Cardamom: a uplifting and spicy oil. Cardemom opens the heart and supports the reflective energy of autumn night equalization
Sabbatmix and Ritual:
Mix 1 drop of your favorite oil in 10 ml of grape seed oil and pour it into a rolf bottle. If necessary, bring this mix during this Sabbath to your polkens and spend a moment tuning for appreciation and reflection. Spend some time keeping a diary and think about what you have harvested this year.
Samhain (October 31) – Veil between worlds
Samhain – or Halloween – marks the end of the harvest and celebrates darkness – the time of ‘becoming thinner of the veil’ between the physical world and the spirit world. This makes it a time that invites deep reflection, honoring our ancestors and releasing what we no longer serve. What have we learned from this year’s harvest so that we can transform?
Essential oils for Samhain:
- Incense: a deep spiritual oil that helps to open the gateway to the Divine and facilitates communication with the invisible rich, this is perfect for Samhain
- Mirre: Study, protective and meditative, this oil connects us with our ancestors and increases our ability to let go of the old and invite transformation
- Clary Sage: an oil that opens the mind to our deeper visions, this is perfect for intuitive guidance
Sabbatmix and Ritual:
Cut your pumpkin out and create a ‘Samhain’ altar with photos to honor your ancestors, while you spread a mix of 3 drops of incense, 2 drops of Mirre and 1 drop of scharlei in water in a candle burner or electric diffuser. Think about what you want to let go and honor the darkness. What did it teach you, what can you learn?
Yule (December 21) – Light return
Yule is ‘winter solstice’ and celebrates the longest night. It is the symbol of the rebirth of the sun and a movement in the direction of the return of light – a time for innovation, reflection, setting intentions and planting the seeds for a new beginning.
Essential oils for Yule:
- Cypress: Cypress evokes the energy of the evergreen tree and offers strength and resilience
- Den: cleansing and purifying, Den helps to clean up the remains of the old year and prepare the space for a new beginning
- Sweet orange: a cheerful and uplifting oil, sweet orange helps us to be optimistic when the sun starts to return.
Sabbatmix and Ritual:
Add 4 tablespoons of pink Himalayan salt to a small glass bowl and sprinkle 10 drops of sweet orange, 5 drops and 5 drops of cypress over the salts, to create wonderful salts for your room. Add if necessary. Use this Sabbath time to keep a diary and to think about the intentions you have for the following year.
Overall, working with the Saint Cycli of the Wiel of the Year and supplementing it with essential oils enables us to deepen our connection with the energy from each Sabbath. By aligning ourselves and our body to the changing seasons, we can re -tune our congenital natural rhythms and cultivate more magic in our lives. Every Sabbath invites us to discover, think and grow – and the right essential oils can guide us on that path.
Have fun mixing and may your wheel of the year fill with magic, healing and abundance!
Nicole Barton
Adviser aromatherapist
Disclaimer and safety advice
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