Croning : Are you a Crone? Merry meet! This month begins the first of a six-part series on croning – a feminine a rite of passage ritual for those reclaiming the power and wisdom of the old woman, the crone. Crone is one of triple Goddesses, the third stage, the wise elder. Two characteristics generally used to determine cronehood are reaching menopause and having moved through your second Saturn return, a sort of cosmic transition, which generally happens by your 58th birthday. (You can enter your birth day, month and year and learn your dates at www.astrocal.co.uk/saturn-return.php.) Saturn return marks the time when the planet that rules lessons, responsibilities and…

I was sitting and gazing out across the fields this morning in the bright sunshine. My mind was wandering,- as it often does, and I was pondering on the concept of “Faith “ or “Belief”. Many years ago, as a Christian child, “Faith” was deemed a very important thing to have. We were expected to accept everything we were told, “on Faith”,- even though those individuals who held themselves up as examples were very obviously flawed. In the end I simply accepted that those who were in charge of my education were somewhat lacking in honesty. I looked it up in the dictionary, later on today. According to the Oxford…

This is the first in a series of simple household rituals pagans can perform to enhance a feeling of the sacred in their homes. Candles at Dusk: This ritual comes from India. When the Sun goes down, light some candles in your home and turn off the electric lights. Candlelight promotes alpha rhythms in the brain (as does Moonlight). Have a quiet ten or fifteen minutes in the soft candlelight. You can also burn some incense (make sure a window is open so you don’t set off your smoke alarm!).

Hearth Moon Rising: Invoking Animal Magic   Hearth Moon is an ordained priestess of the Dianic tradition, who has taught magic for over 20 years. Her book, Invoking Animal Magic, sets about exploring the power and wisdom of our animal allies. Hearth Moon was kind enough to answer a few questions about her life and her writing. Mabh: What is the root of your (beautiful) name? How do you prefer people to refer to you? Hearth Moon: Most people call me Hearth or Hearth Moon; I answer to either. The story behind my name is really too long for an interview. MS: Invoking Animal Magic is tag-lined as ‘A guide…

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, malachite, amber,…

This month, we will move back to the Major Arcana, and talk about The Hermit. Let’s quickly define and describe some terms. There are 22 Major Arcana cards in a Tarot deck, with numbers from 0 to 21; the Majors usually deal with broader and more far-reaching life experience issues, archetypes that are easy for us to identify with and connect with at some point in our lives. An archetype (pronounced “ark eh type”) is a generic, idealized model of a person, an object, or a concept which can be copied, patterned, or imitated. The term archetype often refers to one of two concepts: a “stereotype,” a personality type observed…

Notes from the Apothecary: Aloe Vera     I’ve already written about horsetail, sometimes called ‘England’s Aloe Vera’, due to its incredible healing properties. This month I want to look at the real Aloe Vera, or similar species that many of you will have growing in pots on your window sill. Aloes are succulents. This means they have fat, fleshy leaves designed to store large amounts of fluid in arid environments. It is the large amount of water stored within the cells of the leaves that gives us the sticky gel that is used for so many healing and beauty processes. The photos in the article are of my own…

Saturn still Retro in Sagittarius – 4 degrees Wednesday, April 1, 2015 – 12:01 am EST Goes Direct on Sunday, August 2, 2015 – 4:55 am EDT The Planet of caution takes a break from its conservative ways. When it goes retrograde, the Planet actually lightens up on the reins a bit. It allows people to explore further than they normally would. Sagittarius allows it to open its mouth and to say things out of control. It’s time to make sure the brain is engaged before the mouth blurts away. Saturn goes Direct again in August.     April Fools Day – Sun in Aries – 11 degrees Wednesday, April…

Spiralled Edges: Seeds of Change We are moving out of winter, a season of potential and stillness, a time for reflecting on the past and planning for the future. There may still be days with snow and frost, or where I live rain and chilly mornings, but the subtle signs of a month ago that the Earth was waking from slumber are now clearly visible. I saw a magnolia tree in bloom the other morning, and every day I pass dozens of patches of blooming daffodils and crocuses. I’ve noticed that I am becoming more fully awake as well right now. Ideas and thoughts which I had begun ruminating over…

Visualization Visualization within meditation is a wonderful tool, used for a specific goal or purpose. For those of us who also walk the Pagan path, it can also be used in ritual, in deep inner journeys, and in our magick. Visualizations can be as simple as closing your eyes and imagining yourself on the beach, to a complex guided meditation that takes you deep within yourself. For example, if you make or use candles for specific purposes in your workings, let’s say for healing, you would visualize a healing energy going into the making of the candle, and again when you charge it for your working. Another example of visualization…