• Monthly Columns,  This Month's Holiday

    Beltaine Correspondences

      Also known as: May Day, Bealtaine, Beltane, Bhealtainn, Bealtinne, Festival of Tana (Strega), Giamonios, Rudemass, and Walburga (Teutonic), Cetsamhain (opposite Samhain),Fairy Day,Sacred Thorn Day, Rood Day, Roodmas (the Christian term for Rood Day, Old Beltane, Beltain, Baltane, Walpurgis Night, Floriala (Roman feast of flowers from April 29 to May 1), Walpurgisnacht (Germanic-feast of St. Walpurga), Thrimilce (Anglo-saxon), Bloumaand (Old Dutch)   Date: May 1   Animals: Swallow, dove, swan, Cats, lynx, leopard Deities: Flower Goddesses, Divine Couples, Deities of the Hunt, Aphrodite, artemis, Bast, Diana, Faunus, Flora, Maia, Pan, the Horned God, Venus, and all Gods and Goddesses who preside over fertility. Tools: broom, May Pole, cauldron Stones/Gems: emerald,…

  • Monthly Columns

    Peeking in the Shadows: Crafting a Book of Shadows and Light

      A Journey Through the Witch’s Wheel of the Year 2022!   The Witch’s Wheel of the Year     In the February Issue we began exploring the Sabbats of the Witch’s Wheel of the Year and beginning a journey of filling our BOS with information about how we celebrated and what we found to be true of our practice. For a review of what the Wheel of the Year is take a look at February’s posting here: Peeking in the Shadows: Crafting A Book of Shadows and Light-February2022   An excellent resource for suggestions, visuals and ideas for making your Sabbat celebrations rich and visually beautiful, check out the…

  • This Month's Holiday

    Beltane Correspondences

    (You can purchase Lilacs Coloring Page by Artist Carol Hebling at her shop CTHeblingDesign on etsy.)   Also known as: May Day, Bealtaine, Beltane, Bhealtainn, Bealtinne, Festival of Tana (Strega), Giamonios, Rudemass, and Walburga (Teutonic), Cetsamhain (opposite Samhain),Fairy Day,Sacred Thorn Day, Rood Day, Roodmas (the Christian term for Rood Day, Old Beltane, Beltain, Baltane, Walpurgis Night, Floriala (Roman feast of flowers from April 29 to May 1), Walpurgisnacht (Germanic-feast of St. Walpurga), Thrimilce (Anglo-saxon), Bloumaand (Old Dutch) Date: May 1 Animals: Swallow, dove, swan, Cats, lynx, leopard Deities: Flower Goddesses, Divine Couples, Deities of the Hunt, Aphrodite, artemis, Bast, Diana, Faunus, Flora, Maia, Pan, the Horned God, Venus, and all…

  • Monthly Columns

    Poetry – Bealtaine Beacons

      Bealtaine is when we light the fires Not just for our desires The things we want and need Whether in poverty or greed But simply to connect, to communicate To let folks know that they are great That we miss them, that they matter That we can’t wait to have a natter Or share a coffee, or a walk Or sit in silence, no need to talk. The world isn’t open just yet But as Bealtaine passes, can we set Our beacons alight and say We are here We care And so we share Our Bealtaine beacons with those Who feed our fires the most.   © Mabh Savage…

  • Monthly Columns

    MagickalArts

    A New (Witch’s Year)! Beltane 2021     This month I have decided to return to the written word instead of the video editions. Beltane deserves the tangible, concrete and visceral treatment, so here we go…   The air is warm and sweet. Life is budding all around and May flowers stretch across a field of freshly paint greenery, the faint scent of their perfume on the gentle warm breeze. My heart beats rapidly in anticipation and I look out over sunlight space seeking your face. A stream of electrified energy moves up my spine awakening all of my senses as I feel the heat of your breath at the…

  • Monthly Columns

    Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times

    Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times for May 2021   Blessed May 2021! By now, many will have had Beltane celebrations, but some will hang back this year, continuing to social distance for safety during Covid times. A friend I met recently was asking me if I’d done online meetings for Sabbats, and I said I had not. Locally, the druid grove has kept up with that, and many are enjoying those broadcasts. Xtian groups have done many church services online due to the pandemic, but I wonder who remembers the earlier days of televised worship services.   The Magic of Television   (Photo by Bruna Araujo on Unsplash)…

  • Monthly Columns

    GoodGod!

    Meet the Gods: Belenus     Belenus is one of the most ancient, beloved and widely worshiped Celtic deities. It is believed that the Latin name evolved from Bel or Belen, a Celtic word interpreted as “brilliant,” “shining,” or “luminous.” Orally, little is known about Belenus. The most archaeological remains dedicated to him were found in France, thought to be the center of his worship, but artifacts and references to him have been found in Northern Italy, Southern Gaul, the Alps, Austria, Rome, Scotland, Spain, and Britain. His shrines were often dedicated to healing and included therapeutic springs. “Votive offerings found at his shrine at Sainte-Sabine include terra-cotta horses and…

  • Crafting Articles

    Pixie Witch Kitchen

    Witchy Fingers Stew aka String Bean Stew   Today we are going to make a delicious stew that I call witchy fingers stew since the string beans look like a witch’s fingers. It is a great stew to serve up for Beltane. It has a little kick to it but if your not into spicy you can omit the cayenne pepper. The spice is for the fire of Beltane. The Earthy string beans, onions, celery and meat go so well together. Beltane is a time to celebrate fertility of the Earth, fire and abundance. It is celebrated on May 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and on November 1st in the…

  • Monthly Columns

    Celebrating The Old Ways In New Times

    Celebrating The Old Ways In New Times for April 2020     Bright Blessings! Before we know it, Beltane will be upon us, and many will be going to gatherings where Maypole is danced, and emphasis on sexuality, and the union of the Mother Goddess and Father God are celebrated. Talk about fertility, union, and all things about growth will abound! I’ve gone to multiple celebrations, all of which often have a focus on the union of things to reproduce. But the older I get, and the more people I meet, the more I realize, THIS, in particular does not apply to all people… Now, sure, we all celebrate the…

  • Monthly Columns

    MagickalArts

    Creating Sacred Space The Experience of Sacred Space makes possible the “founding of the world”: where the sacred Manifests itself in space, the real unveils itself, and the world comes into existence … Mircea Eliade … What is Sacred Space? Read and re-read the quote above. Take it into your space of meditation. Analyze, dissect and observe it from all angles, perspectives and meaning. Try to feel the weight and breath of its meaning and allow the words to gently wash over you. Digest it and then simply sit with the feeling of satiety its inner essence provides. And, once you have done these things, redo them, one by one.…