Tarot Cards Merry meet. The long months of darkness that stretch before us are a good time for a long project. One to consider is making your own deck of tarot cards. Among my decks is one that was a project from an ATC (artist Trading Cards: miniature works of art about the size of a playing card) group for pagans; each member designed two freestyle cards and made 40 copies of each on heavyweight paper. The organizer collated the decks, giving one to each person who made two cards and keeping two decks for the effort. (The photo shows a sample of the cards.) Participating in it made me…

Circle Casting Merry Meet! A common practice in many pagan traditions is casting a circle, which defines a space where the ritual will occur and makes it both safe and sacred. There are as many ways to do this as there are pagans; by sharing some variations, this article invites you to think about why you do what you do and to perhaps try something new. Typically, you’ll want to cleanse the area, by tidying it up and vacuuming, and then by wafting incense, using a broom ritualistically, smudging, ringing a bell, or sprinkling salt or salt and water – all while envisioning unwanted energies dispersing. Stomping and clapping are…

Making Ink Merry meet. Growing wild near me are pokeweed bushes with their bright berries that have been ripening for weeks now. Found widely in North America, its poisonous red berries can be used to make ink for magical purposes. Collect up two cups of berries. Using a strainer to filter out the skins and seeds, mash the berries and collect the juice. Caution: as berries pop, they splatter their purplish-red juice everywhere, and it stains. I recommend wearing latex gloves and keeping wipes handy to catch drips. (Those wipes sold in beauty supply shops for getting hair dye color off of skin got the stains off my hands before…

Ancestor Altar Merry meet. As Samhain approaches, thoughts turn to honoring the ancestors. It is a common practice to create an altar to recognize the long line of descendants that came before. With the veil thin between our world and theirs, we take time to sit with those who have departed, welcoming them back and listening for their messages. There’s no one way to make an ancestor altar; it can be as simple as a photograph and a cup of tea or large and elaborate with pictures, mementos, candles and flowers. Until this year, I would put add a photograph of my parents and their parents taken at my parent’s…

Croning : miscellaneous Merry meet! This month is the last of a six-part series on croning – a feminine rite-of-passage ritual for those reclaiming the power and wisdom of the old woman, the crone. As we prepare to enter the dark half of year on Mabon, I wanted to offer some final thought about the celebration of croning. In the world of muggles, the crone is an old, ugly, unproductive woman. Her proximity to death makes her dark and scary. In the pagan community, she is the wise woman who is respected. She is a teacher and a mentor. Her proximity to death makes her powerful and able to walk…

Burden Baskets Merry meet. One of the joys of being pagan is that there are no rules; another is that drawing from an eclectic array of traditions is not only acceptable, it the norm. One from which I’ve drawn several customs is Native American, including using a burden basket, which is the topic of this column. Apache women wove cone-shaped baskets to hold the wild foods and useful things gathered during the day. The baskets had a carrying strap that was worn around the head or the shoulders, leaving the arms and hands free. Baskets were decorated with cone jingles, animal skin, symbols and other objects. Upon arriving home, the…

Dream Pillows Merry meet. As we approach the second harvest, one thing you might consider doing with nature’s gifts is to use them to make a dream pillow. They cost about $9 retail, but you can make them for much less if you have access to some of the herbs. Another reason for making them yourself is so you can customize the blend to your liking. There’s also a variation that requires no sewing. First select a small piece of fabric – a favorite shirt that no longer fits, vintage handkerchiefs, the silk pajamas you never wear, scarves or bandanas – and some thread. Wash and dry the fabric. Cut…

  Lavender Wand “As Rosemary is to the Spirit, so Lavender is to the Soul.” – Anonymous Merry Meet… Lavender has the magical attributes of sleep, peace, purification, protection, love, clarity of thought, long life, visions, wishes and attracting men. Physically it is an antidepressant and a sedative. It also stimulates the immune system. As an offering to the gods, witches were said to throw lavender into the Midsummer fire. One way to save a bit of this powerful summer-blooming herb is by making a lavender wand. For this one, I selected 18 stems of lavender, but I think 24 pieces might be better. (Note: it must be an even…

Croning : The Ritual Merry meet! This month is the fifth of a six-part series on croning – a feminine rite-of-passage ritual for those reclaiming the power and wisdom of the old woman, the crone. Below is the croning ritual that was used last Mabon on the first night of our weekend retreat for a group of Goddesswomen from three states known as Ladys of the Lake (Yes! Ladys … because ladies was taken.) It was written and led by three dear sisters, all crones themselves. About 19 in all were present, including sisters who had not circled with us before. As part of the first night’s ritual, I was…

  Cornhusk Wreath Merry meet… Lughnasadh is the first of the three harvests celebrating grain and beer. It’s a time of celebrating abundance and giving gratitude for prosperity. Many honor Lugh, the Irish sun god, with games and offerings. At the beginning of August, sunflowers and corn are both ripe in the garden. This thrifty craft combines both symbols of the sabbat in a wreath that will last for many harvests to come. Save all the husks from about a dozen ears of corn. If you decide to make this a group project, try asking for the contents of the barrels often set up next to the corn display at…