Welcome Readers to the April Issue of PaganPages   We have quite a treat for our readers this month!  Orion Foxwood has blessed us with another FANTASTIC Interview!  He shares with us his thoughts behind his newest book The Candle and the Crossroads     Also, in this month’s issue a Book Review on Book Review: Mystery Teachings from the Living Earth by John Michael Greer       Of course we have all your favorite columnists, correspondences, and information!    Don’t forget, you can shop PaganPages Etsy at:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/PaganPagesOrg     We are currently looking for writers for the following columns: Divination Herbs Tarot Crafts If you are interested…

Pauahtun and the Bacabs This Mayan god is the cause of many debates, even to this day. This is because of the vast differences between the Classic era and the Postclassic era.In the classic era he is simply Pauahtun. I’m going to touch base on him first. Pauahtun is a god of four incarnations called the Bacab. Each stands at one of the four corners of the world, holding up the sky. Even with such an important job he was seen as a drunk and unpredictable. He would also control thunder and wind. He is connected to Mam, who is an ancient highland earth deity. He is usually depicted as…

Chance, Work or Choice?   No one falls in love by choice, it is by chance. No one stays in love by chance, it is by work. And no one falls out of love by chance, it is by choice.   The above was one of those photo statuses on facebook that I encountered recently and while I understand the sentiment is meant to be inspiring I find that it does just the opposite for me. It elicits a feeling of disempowerment within me that I just will not accept. It seems to embrace the idea that there are things in my life experience that I have no control over…

“Some Debts are Hard to Pay” Many of us have visited a casino at least once for a number of reasons- perhaps some time in the limelight with friends at the slots amid conversation and drinks or walking in the shadows feeding the crave of a gambling addiction. Gambling conjures up some rather strong images and opinions on all sides; this is neither the time nor place to debate those points- I only mention this because there arise, from time to time, some bizarre events that are connected with this highly-charged activity. On these rare occasions, such events can leave a chill running up your spine and a lingering wonder…

Sometimes I check out some of the Wiccan chat rooms, and I have done my fair share of taking a new Witch or two under my wing and I have noticed that a lot of novice Witches get really nervous when it comes to writing their own circle casts and Quarter-calls.  More often than not the reason seems to be that they are afraid it “won’t be good enough”, or “respectful enough.” I think of Wicca as a joyful religion, and have always felt that if it is truly heartfelt, and done with respect, there’s no such thing as “good enough”.  I also believe that in the event we should…

Dry, Draw and Shrink-The Magic of Astringents Recently during a hike to check out the awakening green of Oak Bottom Wildlife Refuge with a few like-minded plant-lovers, our discussion turned to the subject of astringents. Stopping at a young Oak (Quercus garryana), our leader shared how a decoction of Oak bark could be used as an oral rinse for treating mouth infections and bleeding gums. He then asked if anyone could describe how astringents worked. Although I was able to give an adequate explanation of what astringents do, our leader summed up their actions quite succinctly: “dry, draw and shrink”. The word astringent is derived from the Latin word, adstringere…

I’m on the edge I’ve been here before, luckily for me I have a door to open and walk through where I can find a way to bring order back into my mind. For pages I’ll write rhyming verse with my inner self deeply converse, ‘till we work out what to do. poetry always gets me through.

April Fools Day – Sun in Aries – 11 degrees Monday, April 1, 2013 – Midnight April Fool’s Day or All Fool’s Day is accepted worldwide on or about April 1st as part of the old Roman holiday celebrating the Goddess, Hilaria. It is a joke of fun and joking around. Folks pull pranks and practical jokes upon each other. From the old days, a paper fish would be smacked upon your back and the utterance “April Fish!” would be chimed by all. Today, there are many practical jokes played upon the computer. Stick a piece of tape under the mouse and watch what happens to the next person trying…

Recently, we at PaganPages, have had the honor to review and interview one of our favorite authors again, Orion Foxwood.   In February, I did a book review for his newest book The Candle and the Crossroads: A Book of Appalachian Conjure and Southern Root-Work.  Orion Foxwood took some time out from his busy schedule to chat with us about his newest work and just what Appalachian Conjure and Southern Root-Work is.     PaganPages (PP):  What is American Southern conjure?    Orion Foxwood (OF):  American Conjure is a generalized term for a syncretic American folk spiritual and magical practice(s) that incorporates African (through the slave trade of the 17…

Mystery Teachings from the Living Earth By John Michael Greer © 2012 by John Michael Greer ISBN: 978-1-57863-489-7 140 pages Paperback $16.95 (U.S.) Mystery Teachings from the Living Earth was both informative and thought provoking. The author starts with a brief discussion of the difference between a real and false Mystery School. Like most Mystery Schools this book is mostly a discussion of Seven Laws of Ecology.  The Seven Laws covered are The Law of Wholeness, The Law of Flow, The Law of Balance, The Law of Limits, The Law of Cause and Effect, The Law of the Planes, and The Law of Evolution. Each of these laws is explained…