Cross Quarter Days

[Swanspirit]

By the Calendar Lughnasadh falls on August 1 or there
abouts...

Astrologically 15 Leo ( the 1/2 way point between 0
Cancer and 0 Libra) falls around the 6th or 7th (
check the ephemeris)...

Astronomically at the Summer Solstice the Sun is at
23 degrees 26 mins. northern declination (it's
farthest northern-most station ).....and at 0 degrees
N/S declination at the Fall Equinox......the 1/2 way
point (11 deg. 46 mins) falls around August 22nd (
which is what we witches use...because it's a power
point).....

Which do you use ??? and why????I really would like
to see other peoples thoughts on why they "celebrate"
the Cross Quarter days when they do.
Love and Light
Swannie

[IOLO]

...well...as with other witches...I choose the mid-point astronomically, because it can be measured using visual tools.....requires no calculations as do ephemerides or even calendars.

I am sure our ancient pagan forbears ( or threebears...haha)..didn't use calendars as we do...and beside....the calendar had 10 days ripped out of it in the late 1500's......but perhaps the current calendar dates have taken that into account?

Of course astrologically....15 Leo makes sense....read the Sabian symbol of that degree...

IOLO

[Swanspirit]

do you think that is why they left those stones standing up in circles all over the world ?? LOL guess what There is a BIG one in ITALY where my grandmohter is from ........
oops off topic on my own thread ... I celebrate astronomically and with the moon as well ........ the tides of the moon as close to the power point as possible if I get to celebrate ...... I completely missed this last full moon ..... or is that how you celebrate a Pisces full moon LOL .........
HUGS
Swannie

[Rick]

...well, in the practical world, I celebrate these things on the weekend closest to calendar day with friends, on the day of with family (or alone). And sometimes it's over a period of time, as I tend to associate with more than one group of Pagan friends... but the bottom line for me is...

I Don't Care What Day It's Celebrated... Any Excuse To Party Is OK By Me!!!!

[Mairwen]

We celebrate astrologically ~ by degrees, of course. :D

[Socharis]

Originally posted by Rick

I Don't Care What Day It's Celebrated... Any Excuse To Party Is OK By Me!!!!

Im with ya on this one :thumbsup:

[IOLO]

Have to agree with THAT sentiment Rick hehehe.....but I'm sure our Pagan ancestors had a more mundane and pragmatic thing in mind ( but I'm sure they enjoyed a good party ytoo...hahaha)...and of course since witchcraft works off of the change in energy flows....those occur with the solstices and equinoxes...and peak at the Cross Quarters......

EXACTLY SWAN!!!....that's why they were abandoned I think....because they were cast in stone they failed to account for precession......and weren't easily changed.....

What would be the reaoning behind "celebrating" the Cross Quarters astrologically??....curious....

IOLO

[Mairwen]

As a Gwyddon, what I meant above was that we celebrate ALL of our holidays astrologically, not just what is being referred to here as the "Cross Quarters". Besides, it's known that stars, planets, and moons (etc) have profound effects on all living things ~ far more than any calendar could provide.