Charge of the Dark Goddess (Ceerridwen from The Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky) Merry meet! Most pagans are familiar with the Charge of the Goddess – a traditional one by Doreen Valiente as adapted by Starhawk, “Listen to the words of the Great Mother, Who of old was called Artemis, Astarte, Dione …” There are other versions as well. I was almost a decade into my practice before I came across the Charge of the Dark Goddess. I was intrigued. I had never seen it used in ritual or mentioned in the books I read. Several Internet searches yielded numerous versions on numerous websites. As we move deeper into the…

Meet the Gods: Chernobog (“Day and Night (Belobog and Chernobog) by Maxim Sukharev) Merry meet. This time of the waning year is the time of the dark gods, who balance the gods of the light during the waxing year. Slavic god Belobog is the “White God,” with his sunshine that brings life. He is prayed to for a plentiful harvest, and for a light that guides through dark times and places. Belobog appears only during daylight, wearing a white robe and holding a staff. He brings good things to those he meets. Belobog’s brother is Chernobog, the equally powerful god of the dark who rules the night, and is associated…

Balance Merry meet. Celebrations are often planned for the sabbats, but don’t overlook the power these times add to magical workings. As the world hangs in balance, day equal to the night, we can use its balanced energy to regain our own balance before heading into the dark half of the year. Gather the materials you’ll use: a marker of any kind and a round disk. These can be the wooden ones found at craft stores, a jar or bottle lid, or the top of a deli container. This spell can be done as part of a ritual in sacred space, or in any area in which you feel comfortable,…

Meet the Gods: Mabon Merry meet. The fall equinox sabbat takes its name from the Welsh god Mabon. He was called “Mabon, son of Modron,” which means “Great Son, Son of the Great Mother.” The great mother, his mother, was the earth. According to Arwynn MacFeylynnd, who wrote “A Guide to the Sabbat’s Symbolism” found on WitchesOfTheCraft.com, “In the myth of Mabon, the god disappears, taken from his mother, Modron, when only three nights old. Mabon is freed with the help of the wisdom and memory of the most ancient living animals – the blackbird, stag, owl, eagle and salmon. “All along, Mabon has been quite happy, dwelling in Modron’s…

Book Review “The Modern Witchcraft Book of Natural Magick: Your Guide to Crafting Charms, Rituals & Spells from the Natural World” by Judy Ann Nock Published by Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Copyright June 2018 Pages: 240 “This book is not intended to be another Wicca 101 book; rather think of it more along the lines of Witchcraft 3.0,” Wiccan High Priestess Judy Ann Nock wrote in her introduction. Each of Its eleven chapters delves into a realm of nature magick including seed, air, sun and fire, the moon, Gaia, time and the cosmos. The Realm of Water covers Wells of Emotion, Rivers and Oceans. Its 15…

Meet the Gods: Dionysos Merry meet. This month we get to know Dionysos, the Olympian god of the grape harvest, wine and wine making as well as the god of ritual madness, wild frenzy, festivity and pleasure. He is also called Bacchus. He was usually accompanied by Satyrs (lustful, drunken woodland deities who were part human and part horse or goat) and Mainades (frenzied female devotees). The thyrsos (a staff topped with a pinecone), a crown of ivy, fruiting grapevines, a drinking cup and a panther are all associated with him. Frequently represented in ancient art, he was first shown as a mature, bearded adult wearing an ivy wreath and…

Book Review “Love Magic: A Handbook of Spells, Charms, and Potions” by Anastasia Greywolf Published by Wellfleet Press Copyright May 29, 2018 Pages: 256 This book is marketed to “help readers navigate through their amorous adventures,” such as people hoping to “catch that person you’ve been secretly in love with for the past five months” and to help when “an unrequited crush is not getting your subtle hints.” In her introduction, Anastasia Greywolf, a practicing witch and herbalist and a founding member of the Coven of the Moonbeam Ravine, states, “Whether you want to find ‘the one’ or simply make your pets love each other, get rid of a bad…

Claws with Crystals Merry meet. “Bones are a type of fetish,” Sarah Anne Lawless posted on her website. “A fetish is ‘an object regarded with awe as being the embodiment or habitation of a potent spirit or as having magical potency (source).’ The word fetish originates from the French fétiche which stems from the Portuguese word feitiço meaning ‘charm’ or ‘sorcery.’ Feathers, bones, crystals, and stones are all types of fetishes. Skulls and bones have an appeal to witches who perform spirit work and are a necessary and simple way to connect with spirits of the dead and of animals. “Working with bones is not just for necromancers and black…

Rose Water Merry meet. I have a Zephirine Drouhin – an old Bourbon rose from 1868. It’s one of the best-known climbers and is nearly thornless. The reason I love it so much, however, is its scent. Just the memory of its rich, old rose perfume makes me swoon. When it’s in a happy place, it will bloom in Central Connecticut for about three or four weeks beginning in late May and than a second, lesser, shorter bloom in September. The one I had at my house was happy. The one I stealthily planted at my condo has never bloomed a second time, making this spring’s flowers that last I…

Meet the Gods: Heimdall Merry meet. The Norse god Heimdall was the watchman for the gods. Every hour of every day, every day of the year, he determined who could cross Bifrost, the rainbow bridge to Asgard, the land of the gods, one of the nine worlds held in the tree Yggdrasil. Heimdall is said to have had nine mothers – all sisters, all giants and all virgins. He lived at the footing of the bridge. He was tall with teeth of gold, hearing so acute he could detect grass growing in the meadow; even at night he could see farther than a man could walk in 100 days and…