The Road to Runes: Tiwaz Tiwaz, Elder Futhark Rune of Norse God Tyr, Sacrifice and Law. Last month I pulled the rune Dagaz, a rune all about breakthroughs and new beginnings. This coincided with a major life change for me and certainly reinforced my confidence in the runes and my journey with them. The next rune I pulled was Tiwaz, the rune of the god Tyr. Tyr is a god of war, but also of law and justice. Tyr was invoked when victory was needed in battle. He gives the day ‘Tuesday’ its name, and has been conflated with the Roman god Mars. Tyr’s primary myth is the story of…

Here are some words from a Spring Equinox Ritual performed between three witches with a focus on the Morrígan. You could speak the words on your own, or with a group, and you can decorate your sacred space with flowers or appropriate tools, depending on your path. I’ve left out any specific calls or hails, as you can add these as appropriate to your own beliefs. You will need an object or symbol that is important to you at this time of year, a seed, and a pot of soil (per person.) Spirits of East, creatures of air Light of the bright morning, Venus on the horizon Warm winds chasing…

The woman at the door is trying to push a pamphlet into my hand. I deftly avoid this and politely ask her what it’s about. ‘It’s your personal invitation to the memorial of Jesus Christ’s death.’ Genuinely, for a brief moment, I think ‘Gosh, an anti-Christian group!’ Then I remember Easter, and that it starts with a dead body. I’ve always found Easter a bit morbid. Yes, I know the main celebration is about Jesus coming back to life, but we take a bank holiday to celebrate a good man being mocked, spat on, tortured and crucified. Whether you believe in Jesus or not, the story can’t help but make…

The Road to Runes: Dagaz and Breakthroughs Reading the Elder Futhark Runes as a form of divination is intriguing, amazing and enlightening. Remember last month when I pulled the rune Isa? I was locked in a stagnant situation, unsure whether to move forwards forcefully or relax and wait out the freeze. My day job, which I had wanted to leave for some time, was tentatively offering opportunities but then snatching them away, leaving me stuck and not knowing whether to take the plunge. Well, after some contemplation, I realised Isa was telling me that I was allowing myself to be frozen. I was giving in to the temptation to stare…

It’s Imbolc And I want to Lick the sky Those fiery stripes Must surely be As sweet as sunrise ice. The blackbird nods Tail bouncing on the wall Of a run down council house. The Honda Prelude that Cuts me up Is a square assed snap chat Of the past And the wind turbine Crazy in the cruel bite Of winter’s last stand Is a bright spark of Future hope. It’s Imbolc And I want to Grasp the earth Bulbs tickling my cheek With first new shoots Reach out with great Goddess hands Surround the sky And lick. *** About the Author: Mabh Savage is a Pagan author, poet and musician,…

Notes from the Apothecary: Cumin Cumin is a fragrant spice in the apiaceae family, meaning it’s related to carrots, parsley, and the similar looking caraway. We use the seed of the plant in both cooking and magic. Cumin has been used for thousands of years, and most likely originated near Syria, based on evidence from nearby excavation sites. Cumin was a table spice in Ancient Greece, a tradition which continues today in Morocco. The Romans adopted the use of cumin, and Spanish and Portuguese colonists eventually brought the spice to the Americas, where it is enjoyed in a range of cuisines. The Kitchen Garden Cumin is one of those mesmerising…

The Road to Runes: Isa, Waiting for the Thaw Isa means ‘ice’ and is associated with stillness, stagnation and immobility. It is the third rune in the second aett of the Elder Futhark, also known as Hagal’s aett. Today I was pondering a frustrating work problem and decided to see what the runes had to say. My situation was that I wanted to make a change, but there was the possibility of a certain opportunity if I stayed where I was for the time being. It’s that age-old question immortalised by The Clash: should I stay, or should I go? Stillness I drew the rune Isa, which literally means ‘Ice’.…

Notes from the Apothecary: Star Anise Star anise is a beautiful, fragrant spice from China and Vietnam often used in cooking and medicine. The Latin name is illicium verum. The fruits are green and resemble star-shaped flowers when first picked. When they are dried, the fruits harden and turn a dark, reddish brown and the star shape becomes more prominent. The ‘arms’ of the star pop open to revel smooth, shiny brown seeds. The whole fruit is used as a seasoning for many different types of cuisine, most notably in the Chinese five spice mix which is widely used in Oriental cooking. The star shape makes this fruit immediately intriguing…

The longest day Was wild Was fun With number one My precious son Who charms And smiles And plays And whiles Away the day That stretches Until the very fabric Of dusk is Thin Like ancient parchment On which is scribed The secrets of The universe Then waking post solstice: Rain and gloom and Fog and doom and Mundane madness Mot, plug faulty, Purse empty Child grumpy Bed lumpy; weak cup of tea… A headache grows And blows the beauty Out of mind But stay, and pray; What is that stray Beam of beauty Falling through my curtain? Lugh’s promise: Balor’s gaze. A vow of brighter days. I smile, and…

January blues refers to that unsettled and unhappy feeling after the holidays are over. The joy and excitement have come and gone, and now there is nothing to look forward to. Of course, Imbolc isn’t so far away, so as a Pagan it’s probably a bit easier to cope with! But winter depression and SAD can affect anyone, so it’s important to keep an eye on your mood at this time of year and try and do something positive if you feel yourself becoming anxious or feeling low. Here are some excerpts from a book I contributed to which has magical tasks for every day of the year. Every Day…