Well, greetings, everyone! Since this is my first article, I felt we should start with you getting to know me a little and find out what this is all about! First, the obvious: I’m Squirrel. About me: I work as a school counselor in the glorious state of New York (Central New York, to be specific, which is a bit of a ways from NYC). I have been in my current profession for a little over five years now. I’ve been Pagan since I was about 14. And that was… well, it was more than ten years ago, but less than 20. It’s impolite to ask a lady her age,…

While going through Myspace one day, I realized that they host a variety of talented bands. I found pages for the famous bands we all know and love, and for up and coming bands trying to get their music out there to the masses. It is a brilliant way to find talent you may never have come across otherwise. The Pagan States is one of these bands that you can definitely appreciate the first time you give them a listen. The first song of theirs I listened to on Myspace was the psychedelic sounding “Pipe Dreams” which provides you with a trippy 60’sish listening experience. I found it to be…

Rhymes with Nice Jaclyn Boone is a Guild certified Feldenkrais Teacher. I’ve attended her classes, often less frequently than I would have liked, for the past several months. At first the classes seemed like just a series of easy stretches and poses, but I soon learned that wasn’t all. Jaclyn agreed to tell us more. Weyland: Okay, first things first….how do you pronounce "Feldenkrais"? Jaclyn: It rhymes with nice. Weyland: Thanks. How did you originally become interested in the Method? Jaclyn: I was a guinea pig for a friend of mine. An organic farmer who’d studied the Method under Mark Rees, one of our founder Moshe Feldenkrais’ own students. I’m…

The sun was setting low in the west, a light breeze ruffled her hair as she strolled along the shore gathering seashells. One more thing to bring into the house, he’d say, he doesn’t like clutter, lol, but he loves her so he puts up with her clutter. Both of them are pack rats, each pretending not to be, but acknowledging the other as one. She took tonight off, off from doing house work, laundry, gardening or making jewelry. It’s the night before the full moon, the sky is clear, the light sparkling with the salt from the sea. She felt such a need to be here tonight, away from…

I’ve seen the staves of other Pagans, and was really impressed by them, especially the handmade ones. Being a Tool, as well as wanting one while taking nature walks, I decided to make a Staff of my own. I had picked up a number of bundles of strong bamboo lengths from Pier 1 Imports, not knowing what I was gonna do with them, just knowing I might have a need sometime. That time came. I took what was the thickest and strongest length, and sanded the whole thing, to expel the commerciality of its origin as well as to introduce it to my own personal energy. I glued a perfectly…

Oil for releasing negative energy 2 bergamot 2 drops sandalwood 1 drop rosewood 1 drop ylang ylang Mix essential oils in 1/2 Ounce carrier oil (Almond, Grapeseed, Safflower, Olive, etc) Meditation for releasing negative energy Chose a small black candle. (Or use white for all purpose) Anoint the candle with the oil, working away from you (drawing negativity outward) with one or both hands. You can also lightly anoint yourself if you desire. While anointing your candle, state your purpose, mentally or out loud. Example… "I charge this candle release of negativity!" Place the candle in the holder and light it. Sit in a comfortable position where you can view…

The current political climate in this country has caused me to consider a few things more deeply. Although the Pagan/Wiccan community has made incredible strides in the last few decades, we are seeing ourselves challenged more and more. Admittedly, with the incredible rise of non-Christian faiths growing like wildfire in the U.S., Christians are most certainly feeling threatened and invaded. I do think we must keep this in mind when dealing with them. However, part, if not most, of the current challenges that the “Christian Right” has levied towards us is due to our own apathy. This “apathy” is at the crux of the issues. Almost all flavors or Paganism…

What happens so often in any community is the need to conform to the social and societal norms of the community at large. Pagans and Wiccans are no different and continue to fall into this very trap time and time again. So often we attempt to take what is so wonderful about paganism and squish it into a box that was really meant for the book religions of the world. Now, in all fairness, there are many reasons to try and do that. Some include the legalities of what is considered a “religion” under the law. But I am not talking about that specifically. I am really focusing on the…

     Eventually, every inquisitive child asks the question, "Where did I come from?" Perhaps some, with that same innocence and curiosity, never stop asking this question all through life, all along their Spiritual path. Looking for the answer will help us find the Ancestors within.            Deep within us lies a vast fortune of information about who we are and where we came from. As Spirits incarnated into a physical body, we are the product of a chain of events going back farther than we could ever imagine. We can see examples of this chain in everyday life — if we choose to look.            Our bodies are each a product…

Respecting Yourself by Respecting Your Opposite In the last article I talked about how women were not inferior to men and how throughout history there were many women warriors. Often times when a woman talks about women warriors many think that she believes that women are superior to men. This is not what I believe, so I hope this sets the record straight right now. The first thing a warrior goddess must learn is that male and female warriors are equal, absolutely and completely. Men and women are different sides of the same coin. I have heard so many Pagan women talk about how females are superior to males. I…