Without question, my favourite Sabbat of all, is Samhain, a time where the veil between the worlds is at its thinnest.  The celts celebrated this as New Year, it’s also the last of the harvest festivals before winter sets in.  One of the things I love the most is reading up on the folklore around this Sabbat, and we all know how thick with stories it is, but I love it, I love to think of people setting a place at their dinner table for their dead ancestors and people putting candles in their window to guide the souls on Samhain night.  I do think it has become…

Mind Detox   We’ve all heard about detox programs for the body, which aim to clear away all the toxins which block our system. Well, considering the amount of mental ‘toxins’ we indulge in everyday in the form of negative and destructive thoughts, I thought why not have a mental detox program too? By this, I mean a series of practices you could do for a couple of weeks, or a month, at the end of which your thoughts would be purged of negativity and a new clarity and peace of mind could emerge in your life. These five steps outlined below – meditation, simplification, inspiration, exercise and positivity –…

Gratitude Mindset Our world is infinitely abundant and we all deserve our share of that abundance, all we have to do is be prepared to accept it. However, the reality is that at a subconscious level many of us simply do not believe that we deserve the prosperity that we seek. This often manifests from other underlying issues such as low self-esteem, fearfulness, guilt or any number of other negative beliefs. In order to achieve true prosperity, it is necessary to identify and release these underlying negative beliefs. Remember our external reality mirrors our internal beliefs, how we think the world is for us becomes our reality. By changing your inner…

Vishnu Vishnu, whose name means “All-Pervading,” is the protector of the world and the restorer of moral order (dharma). He is peaceful, merciful, and compassionate. To Vaisnavites, Vishnu is the Supreme Lord. Vishnu is often pictured with his consort, Lakshmi (also called Sri), and usually has four arms. Each hand holds an emblem of his divinity: the conch, discus, club, and lotus. A curl of hair on his chest signifies his immortality, and he wears the jewel Kaustubha around his neck. He is usually depicted with a dark complexion, as are his incarnations. Vishnu is often shown reclining or asleep as he awaits the next annihilation and renewal of the world. Vishnu is…

The Great God Pan   The goat legged, cloven footed horned God Pan is best known for his role as God and protector of Shepherds and flocks, yet that is just one of his many titles. He is god of the wild places and of the forests and mountains, he who causes fear and panic in the hearts of men and beast. He is life and death and he who plays his reed pipes to call the north winds. Pan has the power to inspire lust, creativity and foreknowledge and is the panic felt when one finds themselves in dark lonely places. The word Pan means all.   Pan’s role…

Imbolc This holiday is also known as Candlemas, or Brigid’s Day. One of the four Celtic “Fire Festivals. Commemorates the changing of the Goddess from the Crone to the Maiden. Celebrates the first signs of Spring. Also called “Imbolc” (the old Celtic name).   This is the seasonal change where the first signs of spring and the return of the sun are really noticed, i.e. the first sprouting of leaves, the sprouting of the flowers etc. In other words, it is the festival commemorating the successful passing of winter and the beginning of the agricultural year. This Festival also marks the transition point of the threefold Goddess energies from those…

So the Mayan’s got it Wrong! I guess if you are reading this, then the Mayan’s got it wrong lol Oh well, everyone makes mistakes right haha!  I wonder just how many people bought into the whole end of the world debacle.  As a Pisces I can honestly say, this would normally have freaked me out, but I was right at the other end of the spectrum on this one, yeah even I shocked myself.  But with all the talk of the world actually moving into a more loving peaceful time; that resonated much more than the whole Armageddon philosophy. I guess the one true thing we all are and…

Ganesh – Remover of Obstacles               When I was thinking about how to start my new year column, I could think of no one better than Ganesh to start the new year with,  Ganesh (also known as Ganesha or Ganapati), is the elephant-headed, pot-bellied, Hindu God. He is one of the most beloved Gods in Hinduism. Even though there are many different sects of Hinduism in India and throughout the world, Ganesh is the one Deity that all Hindus love and worship. He is the “common thread” amongst all Hindus, or those practicing Hinduism.  But, admiration of Ganesh is not limited to India, his…

Solstice Traditions Winter solstice observances were held by virtually every culture in the world. Solstice rites were practiced among such diverse groups as Native South Americans, Celts, Persians, Orientals, and Africans. Solstice was known as Sacaea to the Mesopotamians, as the Festival of Kronos to the ancient Greeks, and as Saturnalia to the Romans. According to Norse traditions, the Valkyrie looked for souls to bring to Valhalla during Yule. Norwegians abstained from hunting or fishing for the twelve days during Yule as a way of letting the weary world rest and to hasten the revived sun’s appearance. In old Russia it was traditional to toss grain upon the doorways where…

The Great Horned God   The consort of the Goddess and symbol of male energy in the form of the divine, The Horned God reigns. He is the lord of the woodlands, the hunt and animals. He provides for the tribe through the hunt and is honoured or rewarded for his deed by being permitted to copulate with the Goddess through the Great Rite.   The Horned God is the lord of life, death and the underworld. And is the Sun to the Goddess’ Moon. He alternates with the Goddess in ruling over the fertility cycle of birth, death and rebirth. He is born at the winter solstice, unites with…