A Personal Wheel of the Year   I love the quarterly and cross-quarterly days that make up the Pagan Wheel of the Year – Samhain, Yule, Imbolg, Spring Equinox, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Autumn Equinox and back to Samhain again. The yearly cycle is a great excuse for seasonal celebrations – and a comforting reminder during difficult times that life goes on. Noticing the Wheel turn is a great exercise in keeping in touch with the natural world. Knowing that Imbolg is just around the corner you are on the lookout for the first signs of spring. At Litha you notice the long sunny days; at Lughnasadh the grain ripening in…

Rituals of Beauty and Delight Summer time, and the living is easy! In the northern hemisphere, the month of June is traditionally a time of joy and easy living. The Earth revels in long, sunny days and celebrates with an abundance of flowers, and seasonal treats like strawberries and asparagus. In appreciation of all this loveliness I like to make my rituals at this time of year as beautiful and pleasurable as possible. Whether you are celebrating as a solitary, as part of a coven or even facilitating a public ritual, here are some ideas to make your ritual truly enchanting. A ritual to delight the senses should take as…

Honouring Our Descendants at Beltane   At Beltane it is said that the veil between the worlds thins, just as it is said to do at Samhain. Beltane – also known as May Day or Walpurgisnacht – traditionally marked the beginning of summer, and is directly opposite Samhain, the beginning of winter, on the Wheel of the Year. At Samhain many Pagans choose to use this thinning of the veil to honour and work with the spirit of their ancestors. Accordingly, why not balance this by honouring and working with the spirit of our descendants at Beltane?   I believe every moment of the present is a magical blend of…