Coloring Books Merry meet. This month’s witchcraft is about the childhood craft that has rebounded with adults. Coloring is being touted as therapeutic because it reduces stress and anxiety, it sharpens focus and it brings about a state of mindfulness. Nielsen Bookscan estimates 12 million were sold in 2015 while only 1 million sold in 2014. It remains to be seen if it’s a trend or a short-lived fad. Coloring books offer themed collections of artistic drawings, typically intricate black-and-white illustrations. It was only a matter of time before pagan themes emerged. “The Witches’ Almanac Coloring Book” put out by the editors of “The Witches’ Almanac” was sent in for…

Welcoming the Fae Merry meet. Those in some traditions celebrate the magical link between the Fae and humans. For many, Beltane is one of the times of year when the veil between their world and ours is the thinnest. The Fae are faery folk, or nature spirits, thought to be an ancient race that have existed alongside humans for thousands of years. They tend to be shy and keep to themselves. It is polite not to intrude. It’s said the Fae will appear under a full moon in a grove if it is populated with oak, ash and hawthorn. Celtic legend associates the Fae with caverns and springs, making those…

Song Inspires Book: Story of ‘Warrior Queen’ Moves Kellianna from Singing to Writing       “I cannot remember my name as I lay on the battlefield and hear the war drums. I died here with honor today, Warrior Queen with my sword by my side.” So begins one of the nine songs on Kellianna’s first album, “Lady Moon,” released in early 2004.   The song, “Warrior Queen,” tells the story of a hero’s death on a battlefield. “When I played the song for my mom back in 2003, she said, ‘I love it. What’s the story?’ I said, ‘That is the story. She dies.’” Kellianna remembers her mother saying, “No,…

May Memories Merry meet. I take delight in finding so many customs I grew up with in my Sicilian Catholic-German Lutheran family are, in fact, pagan. From a young age, I remember an Italian aunt always celebrated May 1 with May wine – white wine that’s been infused with sweet woodruff. I have since learned that the concoction has German roots. Like the May pole covered with flowers and ribbons, so the wine with fresh herbs honors youth, spring and fertility. You can make some by adding five sprigs of sweet woodruff – look for the herb plants at your local nursery – to half a bottle of a crisp…

Travel Altars Merry meet. This month’s witchcraft is about making altars that you can take with you when you’re away from home. Tins from mints such as Altoids, eyeglass cases, cigar boxes and jewelry boxes all can be made into travel altars, holding items that help you create sacred space and perform magic no matter where you are. While we can agree you need nothing more than your mind and your will, objects can be helpful by providing a focal point and by contributing energy. A coven member made multiple travel altars in eyeglass cases to give as gifts. She included a piece of fabric, symbols for the elements, a…

Green Man mask Merry meet. Beltane celebrates life at the peak of spring. The earth is bursting with potential, passion, vitality, joy and fertility. It’s when Flora, the May Queen falls in love with the young Oak King, also known as Jack-In-The-Green and the Green Man, and they consummate their union. During celebrations, you often see men wearing a mask of green leaves. They can be made of dyed leather, papier mache and clay. Elaborate ones can cost more than $200. To prepare for your ritual, consider making one for $4 from the dollar store – or for free if you have the materials on hand. I started with a…

Offerings, Not Sacrifices Merry meet. People have jokingly asked me about what I sacrifice on my altar. Occasionally, the person isn’t joking. While a long involved response is not practical in a social setting, I wish to delve into the topic a bit in this column. To sacrifice means to give up. In that sense, I sacrifice money when I donate to a charity and I sacrifice sleep to spend late-night hours on the phone with a friend in need. An older meaning of sacrifice is to make sacred. When our ancestors dedicating something to the gods and goddesses during a ritual ceremony, such as a cow or a deer,…

Why Walk a Labyrinth Photo by Mario Dasz Merry meet. A labyrinth offers a sacred space for introspection. In the shape of a circle, it also holds magic. Labyrinths go back 4,000 years, are found in most major faiths and around the world. They are found in parks, places of worship and private homes, and often can be walked for free, offering the opportunity for a no-cost, nothing-needed ritual. Unlike a maze, there is only one path in and one path out of a labyrinth. No dead ends. No wandering, lost. This makes it suitable for meditation. As you walk through a labyrinth, following the path, you head one way…

Cinnamon Merry meet. Some items used in magic can be expensive, but there are plenty of other ingredients and objects that require little money. Cinnamon is one of those magical ingredients that is cheap, versatile and common enough to be sitting in your spice rack. You can burn cinnamon either in stick form, or powdered and added to a mix that’s burned on a piece of charcoal. Use it to purify individuals, objects or spaces. You can also roll a candle in cinnamon and then burn it. Steeping it into tea results in an infusion that can heighten psychic awareness and clairvoyance, making it good to drink before divination. Burning…

Poppets Merry meet. This month’s witchcraft is about making poppets. A poppet is a figure representing a person or animal and is used in spells. Poppets date back to Babylonia and Mesopotamia, and can be made from clay, cloth, wax, fruit, sticks, dolls or other materials. The magic works on the principles of similarity and associated contact – a witch will effect change through use of the icon. Like other ritual tools, once made, the poppet needs to be consecrated, named and dedicated to the work in hand. It can be infused with your personal energy and intentions by breathing life into the figure. Once created and magically charged, whatever…