Water is Life Merry meet. I am among the many pagans who want to support the warriors at Standing Rock. Two sisters in my coven – Debra Cohen and Janet Coffa – wrote a ritual that more than a dozen women chose to participate in at a Mabon retreat. I’m sharing it below in the hopes that you will use it to enlist the support of others in this important effort. The protectors, the warriors at Standing Rock represent each and every one of us who understand the need to protect our environment, our multicultural values and the very Earth that supports us. The statement “Water is Life” is true…

Party Favors Merry meet. For a Samhain event last year, I made party favors, copying an idea I found on Pinterest that came from Mug Pie Studio’s blogspot. You will need: paper in desired colors (I used purple, white, green and orange.) small plastic bags (I used 3×4-inch craft bags with a ziplock I found on eBay.) chocolate chips Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal candy corn miniature marshmallows a stapler I designed labels, six to a page that was held horizontally – Monster Scabs, Ghost Poop, Witch Warts and Jack O’lantern Teeth – printed, cut and folded them. Bags were filled about half to two-thirds of the way with the chips,…

  Mabon Kitchen Magic Merry meet. You have to eat something, so why not make it magical to celebrate the second harvest? It could be a dessert, something for cakes and ale, dinner or a feast. Making it yourself makes it thrifty, and allows you to infuse it with your intentions. Whatever the food is for, apples are a Mabon staple in any form: applesauce, apple butter, baked apple chips, baked apples with caramel sauce, apple cake, apple and acorn or butternut squash soup, apple muffins, apple pie, apple pound cake, apple fritters, applesauce cake, apple crisp, apple cider doughnuts, apple cobbler or Waldorf salad. Where I live, the last…

Creating your own Pantheon Merry meet. The Greeks, Romans, Celts, Norse, Egyptians, Mayans and other ancient civilizations had a plethora of deities that helped with a host of specific conditions related to daily life. There were gods of war, fire and the sea, and goddesses of agriculture, wisdom and the hunt. While most religions now demand worship of only one god, it remains customary for pagans to pick and choose among the many pantheons. This column suggests a third option – to create your own gods and goddesses. In 2005, I participated in a goddess swap that broadened my horizons when I realized that in addition to existing deities, I could…

  Book Review:“The Big Book of Practical Spells by Judika Illes Merry meet. Some books stand the test of time and I find myself returning to them time and time again. “The Big Book of Practical Spells” is one of those books, in part because it’s in its third incarnation. In 2001, it was published as “Earth Mother Magic” and again in 2007 as “Pure Magic.” It was Judika Illes’ first published book. Into it, she poured all her working knowledge of magic, making it a comprehensive reference book for those new to the path as well as for those with experience. The first part covers working with the earth, a glossary…

Smudge sticks Merry meet. With the gifts of summer in full bloom, it’s a wonderful time to make smudge sticks. A tradition I’ve adopted from First Nations is to burn bound bundles of dried resinous botanicals for cleansing and purification. At the Summer Solstice, I picked a variety of botanicals: two kinds of lavender at a friend’s house, mugwort at the back of a cemetery, a rose from my garden and juniper from the bush behind my condo. Chances are good that you can find enough ingredients to make at least one smudge stick. Other possibilities frequently mentioned for the making of smudge sticks include white sage, cedar, pine, rosemary…

A Ritual In Song “music is the strongest form of magic.” –Marilyn Manson Merry meet. In my practice, I accept that everything has a vibration, be it an object such as a besom, or a sound such as a bell. Our own voices put out vibrations that are like no other. Your voice is your unique signature. As was explained on the Wicca Spirituality website, “When you sing magical chants and songs, you bind your intention to the vibrations of your voice, vibrations which you send out into the ever-vibrating world.” It’s reflected in the word enchantment, as your magical intention is wrapped into a chant – or a song…

Book Review: “Witchcraft on a Shoestring” Merry meet. If this column has been of interest to you, then Deborah Blake’s book, “Witchcraft on a Shoestring: Practicing the Craft Without Breaking Your Budget,” is worth a read. The 200-page paperback published in 2010 by Llewellyn Publications offers inexpensive suggestions for everything from altars to wands. There are chapters on a variety of craft mediums to make a variety of items including clay (pentacle plaque), fabric (protection charm for the home), wood (a speaking stick) and glass (scrying mirror). There are directions for making rune stones and parchment spell paper, and recipes for feast foods for each of the Sabbats as well…

Don’t Just Smell Them – Eat the Daisies! Merry meet. I take delight in introducing edible flowers to people I meet in all walks of life. Come late June, a vast amount of flowers are in bloom. Found and gifted flowers are the least expensive, but a few plants – even purchased at a nursery – put in the ground or in a whatever containers you have on hand – can add inexpensive dazzle to your recipes and rituals. Consider incorporating edible flowers into your Litha celebration, mixing up a fairy cake recipe, and brewing petals to make tea or freezing flowers into ice cubes to add to your drink…

Two Book Reviews Merry meet. Small books are fun to grab and travel easily. This month, we’ll take a look at two that are about spells. Little Cauldron of Good Luck Spells by Midia Star, first published in Great Britain in 2004, is a collection of more than 40 spells and charms to bring about good fortune. Dedicated to “all those who are down on their luck right now,” this 128-page book offers a magical helping hand. There are good luck spells for an audition, travel and selling your home. Others cover business, finances, love and health. Nearly all take up two pages, assuring that nothing is too complicated. Tools…