Caroline's series of paintings "Goddesses of the
wheel of Britannia" depict the wheel of the
Year as devised by Kathy Jones. The Wheel is a spiritual
focus and working framework for the honouring of the Goddesses
of the Isles of Britannia or Britain.
Marking the interplay of
the seasons as they effect the land, and the life within,
is a powerful thing to do. The Native American, Celtic,
Tibetan, and, more recently, Wiccan wheels are all well
known sacred wheels.
Wheels of the year are systems used by
many indigenous cultures throughout the world, to celebrate
and witness the turning of the seasons. They connect
spiritual practice to the land on which they live.
The cardinal directions on the Wheel
of Britannia hold the sacred elements of life and
are marked by the solstices and equinox. The winter
solstice is in the north holding the element of air
and the summer solstice in the south holds the element
of water.
The spring equinox holds fire in the east and the autumn
equinox holds earth in the south. The cross quarters are
then marked by their seasonal festivals, and follow the
stages of womens lives. These are:
Imbolc (Candlemas) on February2nd. Honouring
the maiden
Beltaine (mayday) on May 1st. . Honouring
the lover
Lammas (harvest festival) on 1st August
.Honouring the mother
Samhain (All Hallows Eve) on October 31st.
Honouring the Crone
Using this framework honouring the cycles of nature, Goddesses
are ascribed to each section of the wheel. Each Goddess
is given correspondences of their colours, birds, animals,
trees, symbols and qualities.
In practice this provides a powerful focus for journeying
through the year, making the cyclical nature of life meaningful.
It roots spiritual focus in the land of Glastonbury, and
its magical counterpart beyond the vale, in Avalon.
In the center the sprit of the land is embodied by the Lady of Avalon.
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