The Wheel of the Year attunes us with the changing cycles of Mother Earth, and our connection with the Goddess and God. How simple or elaborately you wish to celebrate them is entirely up to you. The point is to do whatever makes you really feel and experience the change of season. It goes without saying that spending time out doors is a must to truly celebrate the sabbats. One thing I like to suggest to beginners or those 'in the closet', is to develop a special walk to take, and having certain trees, bushes, ponds, nests, and so on, to carefully watch each sabbat. Even if you live in the centre of a city, it can still be done you just have to be more creative. Take the same walk every sabbat, and try to do it at the same time every sabbat if possible. Smell the air, is it brisk or warm? Can you smell anything like leaves being burned, a barbecue, the scent of flowers? Look at the sky, what colour is it, are there clouds, if so, what do they look like, are there any birds flying around, what kind are they?

When I take my 'sabbat walk', I always notice something new that I add to my list of things to take time to look at, or feel. A birds nest, a different kind of leaf that's fallen from a tree I never noticed, if there is wind blowing and how hard, if the snow feels different than the year before, or if there is less or more. If I saw squirrels, different birds, a butterfly, a new bird or squirrel feeder hanging at someone's home, how much trees have grown, etc. When you get home, write about your experience in your Book of Shadows, or a special book just for 'sabbat walks'. I use a 3 ring binder, and have a special section for them. Next year, read about your last walk during that sabbat before you go out, and see what new experiences you have, and the new things you notice.

I think sabbat walks are a wonderful and meaningful way to truly attune to the changing seasons.  It doesn't cost any money, and is a very joyful way that anyone can celebrate the sabbats. It's also fun to read your 'sabbat pages' as the years pass and it gets bigger. You'll be amazed at how much more you write each time, how much more you notice, and how much more descriptive your writing becomes. A favourite part of mine was watching the changes in a maple tree I grew from a seed and planted outside when it was less than a foot tall. Before I moved out of the area, I'd watched it grow to be taller than me! Maybe you'd like to try that too, or something similar like buy a tiny live Yule tree, keeping it for a few years, and planting it outside.

Want another idea? Each sabbat has certain foods associated with them. You could simply eat something appropriate to the sabbat, or cook an entire meal designed around it! Maybe add some candles the color of the season as well. Both these can be done in front of friends and family without them ever knowing you're actually celebrating a sabbat.