Replying to
@fey@pagan.plus
@fey@pagan.plus I enjoy everything you've written here and I appreciate hearing your very considered approach as well. There is definitely something to be said for examining and understanding the underlying structure and coming back stronger for it (in the same way cis people can question their gender? haha). I do know several people whose observation of the Wheel is deeply considered and I feel that their approach echoes a lot of what you mentioned, especially attuning to the locale and its microseasons.
I think there's a lot to chew on re: what the origin of the Wheel is doing theologically, from the Wiccan (et al) perspective of the god and goddess--which is not a theology I hold with--and the degree to which it has influenced contemporary "default holidays" celebrated by casual witches and pagans. I think it's probably underlying a lot of the pervasiveness of masculine/feminine binarism in the space, for example. But the high days on their own are just a solar wheel, which is celebrated in so many traditions and cultures that no one has a monopoly. There are solar high days I celebrate, and holy days which are influenced by Germanic and continental Celtic traditions, yet I hold them as distinct.
I also do consider them cultural holidays at this point, in a way, like Christmas. Do I celebrate Christ? No. Will I go to your white elephant party and drink your punch around a fire? Absolutely, so long as you don't make me pray. Same with the Wheel.
I've kind of meandered, but I really appreciated hearing your thoughts. 🥰