There are a few cows Jason Miller does not consider sacred, including the reverence for the do-it-yourself approach and the notion that magick should only be used in emergencies. A sorcerer from New Jersey who practices and teaches magick professionally, his latest book, “The Elements of Spellcrafting: 21 Keys to Successful Sorcery,” is a magickal manual to go deeper and get more out of witchcraft. Miller was given the name Inominandum, which means “he who cannot be named” by a spirit in the 27th Athyr. “It fits my attitude towards magic,” he wrote in his strategicsorcery.blogspot.com, “the moment you and your work can be completely described by an ‘ism’ or…

There be Dragons Merry meet. When I fell in love with a Dragon’s Eye I’d seen on Pinterest, I felt I was lacking the talent and the tools to make one. Blessed be my artist friend Kerry Bower who likes to work with her dragon energy. This is how she made them. Start to finish, you can finish one in about two hours, including baking time and cooling. Gather Supplies: Polymer clay (one small brick can make two eyes) Polymer clay tools Glass cabochons (the size of a quarter, found at dollar stores) Multi-surface paint Acrylic paint (or clay in the colors you desire) Small detail brush Oven Shape a…

Meet the Gods: The Three Craft Gods of the Danann Merry meet. In Irish mythology, there are brothers who are ‘The Three Craft Gods of the Danann.’ They are also called ‘The Three Gods of Skill of the Tuatha Dé Danann.’ Brigid and Tuireann are their parents. Credne – or Creidne in Old Irish and Creidhne in modern Irish – was a craftsman who worked mostly in bronze, but also in brass and gold. When Nuada, the High King of the Tuatha Dé Danann, lost his arm in battle, it was Credne who fashioned a replacement arm from silver. (Photo by Nicolas Hoizey on Unsplash) Goibniu – is the blacksmith.…

Egg Spells Merry meet. Eggs are one of Ostara’s most prevalent associations. Like all seeds, it contains the promise of a new life. It is a potent symbol of fertility because it contains the power to become something: a chicken, a turtle, a bird, a fish. Eggs are a symbol of abundance, prosperity and the rebirth of nature. In some traditions, the entire universe is portrayed as an egg. That makes them very magickal. At Ostara, the Wheel of the Year is perfectly balanced. Day and night are of equal length. Masculine and feminine, inner and outer, dark and light are also balanced as the world begins to come alive.…

Bringing Joy to the World Sanjiv Chopra and Gina Vild Compel Readers to Find Happiness by Living a Purposeful Life     “Mark Twain famously once said, ‘The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.’ Hence the title, ‘The Two Most Important Days: How to Find Your Purpose and Live a Happier, Healthier Life,’” said Sanjiv Chopra, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, bestselling author and sought-after inspirational speaker.   (Sanjiv Chopra)   He co-wrote the book with Gina Vild, associate dean and chief communications officer at Harvard Medical School.   (Gina Vild )  …

Meet the Gods: Pan (art by Samantha Sullivan)   Merry meet. A man with the legs and horns of a goat, Pan was the Greek god of the wild and of hunting. He looks after shepherds, their flocks and the woods. He stirs up panic – a word derived from his name –because, one story goes, if his secluded afternoon naps were disturbed, his angry shout inspired panic. Pan is also associated with sexuality. He chases nymphs, dancing with them in an effort to seduce them, but is always turned down. One legend tells that he tried to seduce a beautiful wood nymph named Syrinx, daughter of the river god. To…

Self Dedication   Merry meet.   Many witches practice the Craft as a solitary, so they never get to be initiated into a tradition with a formal ceremony. That leaves the option of performing a rite of self-dedication. Some people choose to wait until they have studied the Craft for a year and a day before holding this rite. Others will choose to do a self-dedication on Imbolc, which is often the time of initiations and dedications in the pagan traditions. New moons are a time of new beginnings, making them another option.   (Phyllis Curott)   Wiccan High Priestess Phyllis Curott said in a video found on Howcast,  …

“The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year: From Samhain to Yule, Your Guide to the Wiccan Holidays” by Judy Ann Nock Publisher: Adams Media Date: 2017 Pages: 238 Available at Barnes & Noble, Target and elsewhere in hardcover, NOOK Book, Kindle, etc. This book from the Modern Witchcraft series is essentially a reprint of Judy Ann Nock’s “The Provenance Press Guide to the Wiccan Year: A Year Round Guide to Spells, Rituals, and Holiday Celebrations,” published in 2007. There is a new introduction and minor word changes, but then, the wheel of the year and the night sky have changed little from ancient times, and the book…

Imbolc Incense Merry meet. The smell of the ocean. The scent of a forest of pines. The aroma of bacon cooking. Each not only has a unique smell, they also touch us in other ways, eliciting memories and emotions, and shaping perceptions. Our sense of smell is strong, and sometimes unconscious, and it can set the mood. (For the record, dogs do not have a better sense of smell than do humans.) Think of it smells as aromatherapy. All I have to do is smell sage burning and my mind relaxes as my body absorbs its healing and my spirit absorbs it wisdom. When cleansing a space, setting the mood…

“Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch: Quick, Simple and Practical Magic for Every Day of the Year”     by Patti Wigington Published by Sterling Ethos Published: 2017 Pages: 385 Begin a year and a day of witching with the help of the “Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch.” Starting with January’s themes of new beginnings and going though December’s focus on winter’s darkness, High Priestess, Wicca expert and author Patti Wigington presents 366 spells for seasons, moons and astrological signs. Included are spells for protection, abundance, gratitude, blessings and divination. While she notes at the beginning of the book that people often think you need a lot of supplies…