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    Interview with Julie, Spirit Heart, Dollman: A Modern Shaman

    Julie, Spirit Heart, Dollman: A Modern Shaman Julie Dollman, also known as Spirit Heart, is a graduate of the Four Winds Society, which trains others in the skills of Shamanism and Energy Healing. She is also the founder of one of the first ever high street Shamanic clinics, and the author of the book Living Shamanism, which sets about demystifying the role of the modern Shaman. Julie gave up some of her time to answer a few questions for me. Mabh: What inspired the transition from Crime Analyst to Shamanic healer? Julie: Initially, it was the work with The Four Winds Society… I became reconnected wholeheartedly to Great Spirit and…

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    Musings of a Hereditary Witch

    Bringing the Witch to Work This month I want to share how I bring my spirituality to work and maybe inspire some of you to do the same. It all begins before I even leave the house in the morning. I’m up at 5:30 and by 6:00 I’m at my altar setting the intention for my day at work. I do this as part of my morning devotions.  I think about what I need to have happen in my day, like having clear communications with my coworkers, receiving pertinent information quickly, having clients be receptive to my collection calls, or other such work related intentions. I visually see myself going…

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    Nelland Living

    Yule Fashion: Fireworks- outfit In my calendar Yule extends up to the middle of January. Yule is the only Sabbat that includes two major, populist, holidays; X-mas and New Year. Both have strong, unique, individual styles.   After X-mas I quickly start feeling uncomfortable in my red-and-gold colored clothes, and begin longing for New Year´s colors; electric blue and silver. It was at the turn of the Millenium, when I realized that those are the colors of my New Year. Sadly that era only lasts for up to three weeks (of each year, and year after year of course). But I feel it is important to include an outfit or…

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    The Mugwort Chronicles

    Growing in the Green Craft Lately I have been feeling the restless need to formally expand my herbal knowledge. After much consideration, I applied to an advanced herbal study program beginning early next year. Along with my acceptance into this program came the realization that I would not be able to competently juggle working a full-time job, keeping up with my herbal course work and contributing to Pagan Pages, so I have decided to take a hiatus from The Mugwort Chronicles for 2014. I thought what better topic for this last column than a discussion about available educational resources for the aspiring herbalist. Today the abundance of books, websites, blogs,…

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    Spiritual Seeker

    I’m not a joiner. You could say that I’m a hermit forced by circumstances to socialize. And, to be honest, this has put me at a bit of a disadvantage during this spiritual search. In books like Man Seeks God, Devoted, and The Unlikely Disciple, the authors get out there and get involved. They take part in worship services and interact with the faithful. I can’t do that. I could blame it on crippling anxiety. Or, I could say I just don’t have time. Both of those are true. But, it mostly boils down to the fact that I don’t want to get involved with a faith in that sort…

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    Interweavings

      December in our Book of Seasons   Winter is my favorite season of the year.  Shorter days and longer nights are the in-breath of the year’s cycle.  Now we can pause amid the flurry of busy-ness and remember the deep connection to all of the elements as each can be clearly viewed at this time of year.  Pay attention to how earth, air, fire, water, and spirit show themselves to you in the dark of winter.     Affirmation for December   In the darkness of winter I stand and illuminate this place as a beacon for others to remember that the Light shall return.     Lights are everywhere…

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    Surrender

    You hear the words, but do you listen? You see the signs, but do you read? You know the way, but still you wander. You get your wants, forget your needs. Then in the early morning lightness when you wake still half asleep, unwanted thoughts bombard your mind, you try to decide which ones to keep. You hear the stillness in the silence. You taste the freshness in the air. You close your eyes, go back to dream time, you know the answer’s there somewhere. Then when the darkness drowns you, when there is no end in sight, finally you can surrender, realize there was no fight. Kathleen Morgan ©

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    MoonOwl Observations

    Trees and Their Spirits   Tree spirits are nature deities relates to a tree. They are loosely connected to their physical bodies because they are multidimensional and enjoy freedom. Some tree deities are the dryads, hamadryads, Meliae, hathor and rakapila. It is Also believed that sometimes ghosts use trees to hide in while on earth, and that some trees can be haunted by bad spirits   Trees are connected to the Underworld through their roots. Their trunks and lower branches are in our world, and tall trees and branches connect to the upperworld. they can connect to other realms as well. The aura of a tree has seven layers; four…

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    A Shamanic View

    Rites of Passage and Social Acknowledgment Our family stays up to keep an all-night vigil for the longest night of the year at the Winter Solstice. We drum in the sunrise and then have a breakfast feast. Our children tried their best to stay up all night with us. Inevitably they crashed, one on the floor and one voluntarily taking to bed. But they were both too tired to get up and join us at sunrise. Next year we’ll have to remind them that they’ll have to go to sleep sooner if they want to participate in the morning. But I think what it came down to it they were…