The Wheel of the Year offers us a sacred journey through the changing seasons that honours the cycles of life; each Sabbat holds its own unique magic, energy and opportunity for our growth. Rooted in ancient ‘pagan’ traditions, they offer a beautiful reminder for us all that life has a cyclical nature to it - of birth, growth, decline and death. The annual cycle of festivals guides us into balance with the earth’s natural rhythms, allowing us to harness the energy for healing, manifestation and renewal. What’s more, aromatherapy can really superpower the magic of each festival in a way that has us align more powerfully with the cycles of life - bringing our bodies back into natural equilibrium.

The beauty of working with essential oils throughout the Wheel of the Year is that they connect us to the wisdom of nature, helping us to ground and embody each season within ourselves. Each Sabbat corresponds with different themes, and using essential oils in alignment with those energies can serve as a powerful tool for harmony, offering physical, mental-emotional and spiritual healing. Let’s explore how to supercharge the Wheel of the Year with essential oils for each Sabbat.

2025’s Wheel of the Year - and complementary essential oils

Technically our Wheel of the Year actually began on December 21st at Yule, but as this is the first Sabbat of 2025, I wanted to start with February’s entering of ‘Imbolc’.  Here are the Sabbats defined, along with a description of what they symbolise and invite us into - and their corresponding essential oil to help us harness each, powerfully.

Imbolc (1st-2nd February) - New Life and Dreaming

Associated with the Goddess Brigid, this is a Sabbat of ‘new beginnings’, marking the mid-point between winter and spring. Imbolc brings the first signs of growth, and it represents the time of new life.  It is a time of awakening to our dreams and intentions, and an invitation to purify and gain inspiration. Often with ‘new life’ symbolised by ‘milk’, a beautiful ‘bath oil’ blend would help work with this Sabbat.

Essential oils for Imbolc:

• Peppermint: Stimulating and invigorating, Peppermint is an oil that sparks inspiration and motivation
• Rosemary: This stimulating oil enhances mental clarity, encouraging our dreams
• Basil: A herby oil symbolising purification of the mind, Basil is perfect for helping us align with new beginnings

Sabbat Blend and Ritual:

Blend 2 drops Peppermint, 2 drops Rosemary and 2 drops Basil into half a cup of full fat milk and mix into the warm running water of your bath.  You might like to add in some real chamomile flowers to embrace the spring energy.  Soak in the goodness, whilst you allow yourself to dream and set intentions for this coming year. Maybe don’t have this bath just before bedtime as the oils are quite stimulating.

Ostara (20th March) - 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 metaphorically.  This is a time for growth and expansion - a time for new projects, creativity and the blossoming of new ideas.  Harness this time for attuning to those new ideas and discovering what needs healing so you can plant the seeds to make your dreams a reality.

Essential oils for Ostara:

• Geranium: A nurturing, feminine oil that promotes emotional healing, this oil supports the growth of our inner and outer worlds
• Lemon: A fresh, cheery oil, Lemon uplifts us, inspiring creativity, and focusing our intentions to expansion
• Lavender: Calming and balancing, Lavender helps us cultivate harmony as we plant the seeds of our intentions

Sabbat Blend and Ritual:

Mix 3 drops Lemon, 2 drops Lavender and 1 drop Geranium into water in a candle burner or electrical diffuser and allow the scent to infuse the environment as you journal on what seeds you want to plant, what new ideas you want to bring in this year - and what you want to release from the darkness, so that you can rebirth yourself.

Beltane (1st May) - Passion and Creativity

Beltane is a fire festival that celebrates the passionate expression of life. It’s a time to embrace joy, sensuality, and all forms of creative expression, attuning to desires, and pursuing our vision.  Represented by fire, herbs and dancing, this season is one to begin taking action!

Essential oils for Beltane:

• Ylang Ylang: This is a sweet, sensual, floral oil that helps open the heart and encourages a deep connection to our passions and desires
• Jasmine: Known for its uplifting and feminine qualities, Jasmine invites us to step into our creative energy
• Cinnamon: A warming, spicy oil, this one enhances the fiery energy of Beltane and encourages action in creative passions

Sabbat Blend and Ritual:

Mix 3 drops Ylang Ylang, 2 drops Jasmine and 1 drop Cinnamon into 15ml of Sweet Almond Oil.  Apply this massage oil to your body in the direction towards your heart, and then dance, in whatever way feels energising to you, to embody the passionate energy of this Sabbat.

Litha (21st June) - Fullness of Light

Litha is our Summer Solstice and marks the height of the sun’s power.  It is a celebration of abundance, growth, and vitality. This is the time of the year when we can most fully express our joy and creativity and harness our power to take aligned-actions and manifest our dreams.  

Essential oils for Litha:

• Bergamot: Energising and uplifting, Bergamot is an oil that increases confidence and helps us move past the anxiety of taking action
• Neroli: A sweet-floral oil of ‘orange blossom’ that combats stress (which can be part of this season of ‘action’), this one encourages us into taking action, without stress.
• Ginger: An energising, spicy oil, Ginger encourages motivation.

Sabbat Blend and Ritual:

To embrace the fiery energy of Litha in a way that feels aligned and stress-free, light a candle for 10 minutes and then carefully drop 1 drop each of Bergamot, Neroli and Ginger into the puddle of melted wax, to allow the scents to filter through.  Whilst smelling the aromas, reflect on actions you can take that allow you to meet this fierce, powerful energy in a soft way that feels joyful.

Lammas (1st August) - First Harvest

Lammas is a time to celebrate the ‘first harvest’ and honour the fruits of our labour. This is a time for us to be in the embodied energy of celebration and reflection around what has been created - and begin to prepare our bodies for the rest of the harvest, with some grounding.

Essential oils for Lammas:

• Patchouli: Deeply grounding, Patchouli helps us connect to the harvest of our actions, encouraging us to stay focused on what we still have to reap
• Clove: This is a warm, spicy oil that brings clarity, inviting us to celebrate our results
• Sandalwood: Another woody, grounding scent, this relaxing and stabilising oil helps us begin to reflect, meditatively on what we have created so far - and prepare for what’s still to come

Sabbat Blend and Ritual:

Mix 3 drops Patchouli, 2 drops Sandalwood and 1 drop Clove into water in a candle burner or electrical diffuser and sit and journal in reflection on the first fruits of your labour - what can you celebrate so far?  What is needed for the next phase of your expansion and healing?

Mabon (22nd September) – Gratitude and Harmony

Mabon is Autumn Equinox - a moment of equilibrium between light and dark.  This makes it a perfect time for appreciating and reflecting on our harvest. It’s a season of feeling appreciation for all that we have received, as we prepare for the darker months ahead.  This is a Sabbat for reflection around what we are grateful for, and reflection on what has challenged us, and what still lies ahead, as we begin to prepare for the darkness.

Essential oils for Mabon:

• Cedarwood: A grounding and calming oil, Cedarwood helps us reflect on the balance of our lives, offering stability and clarity as we enter the darker half of the Wheel
• Clary Sage: This tranquillity oil helps us connect to the wisdom of the earth, perfect for closing the harvest season and preparing for the introspective energies of darker months
• Cardamon: An uplifting and spicy oil, Cardamom opens the heart, supporting the reflective energy of the autumnal equinox

Sabbat Blend and Ritual:

Mix 1 drop of your favourite oil into 10ml of Grapeseed Oil and pour into a rollette bottle.  As needed, throughout this Sabbat, pop this blend onto your pulse points and spend a moment tuning into appreciation and reflection.  Spend some time journaling and reflecting on what you’ve reaped this year.

Samhain (31st October) - Veil Between Worlds

Samhain - or Halloween - marks the end of the harvest and celebrates the darkness - the time of the ‘thinning of the veil’ between the physical world and the spirit world. This makes it a time which invites deep reflection, honouring of our ancestors, and releasing what no longer serve us.  What have we learned from this year’s harvest that helps us transform?

Essential oils for Samhain:

• Frankincense: A deeply spiritual oil that helps open the gateway to the divine and facilitates communication with the unseen realms, this is perfect for Samhain
• Myrrh: Grounding, protective and meditative, this oil connects us to our ancestors and enhances our ability to release the old and invite transformation
• Clary Sage: An oil that opens the mind to our deeper visions, this is perfect for intuitive guidance

Sabbat Blend and Ritual:

Carve your pumpkin and create a ‘Samhain’ altar with photos to honour your ancestors, whilst diffusing a mix of 3 drops Frankincense, 2 drops Myrrh and 1 drop Clary Sage in water in a candle burner or electric diffuser. Reflect on what you want to release and honour of the darkness.  What has it taught you, what can you learn?

Yule (21st December) - Return of the Light

Yule is ‘Winter Solstice’ and celebrates the longest night.  It’s the symbol of rebirth of the sun and a move towards the return of light - a time for renewal, reflection, setting intentions and planting the seeds of new beginnings.

Essential oils for Yule:

• Cypress: Invoking the energy of the evergreen tree, Cypress offers strength and resilience
• Pine: Cleansing and purifying, Pine helps clear away the remnants of the old year and prepares the space for fresh beginnings
• Sweet Orange: A cheery and uplifting oil, Sweet Orange helps us feel optimistic as the sun begins to return.

Sabbat Blend and Ritual:

Add 4 tablespoons of Himalayan Pink Salt to a small glass bowl and drizzle 10 drops Sweet Orange, 5 drops Pine and 5 drops Cypress over the salts, to create beautiful smelling salts for your room, topping up as needed.  Use this Sabbat time to journal and reflect on the intentions you have for the next year.

Overall, working with the sacred cycles of the Wheel of the Year and complementing that with essential oils allows us to deepen our connection to the energy of each Sabbat. By attuning ourselves and our bodies to the changing seasons, we can realign our innate natural rhythms and cultivate more magic into our lives. Each Sabbat invites us to explore, reflect, and grow - and the right essential oils can guide us along that path.  

Happy blending and may your Wheel of the Year be filled with magic, healing, and abundance!

Nicole Barton
Consultant Aromatherapist

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