Beltane Blessings I’m writing my column out in longhand. Sparkle is beside me reading a library book. Delinquent and Tabitha, furry legs wrapped around one another, slumber between us. In the corner of the bedroom, an altar painting of Lady Lilith stands guard. Family. Love. Faith. Hey, Pilgrim. You celebrate Beltane your way. We’ll celebrate it in ours. Every day. Everything is magic. MUSIC Review Beltane Celtic background music for fire dance Beltane rituals–May day Walpurgis night Wiccan Very soothing. Musical guided meditation. Music by Narayanjot, a Berlin based label. My verdict: 5 broomsticks. Bio Beltane is Sparkle and Weyland’s anniversary.

To the Moon! Full moon in Libra on April 12th at 8:22 pm EST. This air sign will emphasize themes of relationship and balances to enhance healing energies. (Sign me up for a BIG spoonful of that!) The sun is in conjunct Chiron. What’s that? Read on, Pilgrim! “Didja know?” Department: Discovered in 1977, Chiron is an unusual celestial body which orbits between Jupiter and Neptune. Astronomically classified as both asteroid and comet, Chiron is defined as a “centaur” and was named after a centaur healer from Greek mythology. Astrologically, Chiron teaches us to overcome our core wounds and learn from the lessons they offer us. (Sources: AstroVibe and Wikipedia.) Two the…

SAY IT OH-STA-RUH WHEN IS IT? I always observe it on March 21st, just cause that’s the way I was taught. I’ve read that other dates (like the 20th) are equally legit, since the Spring Equinox tends to move around a little.  Hey, why not? Wiccans are rarely hobbled by consistency, right? WHAT PRECISELY IS IT? A Sabbat that observes the Spring or Vernal Equinox, when day and evening are equal in time, representing balance and duality–masculine/feminine, yin/yang, above and below. It’s celebrated with, among other activities, rituals, feasting and painting eggs and/or planting seeds. HOW TO OBSERVE IT? I’m taking it kind of easy on the nonstop partying this…

The Moon Turns Red Total lunar eclipse in Virgo on the evening of Thursday March 13th into early morning Friday the 14th. My Astrology Handbook tells me this is a potent full moon since it will show which life arrangements are working and which aren’t. This gives opportunities for new pathways, but be advised–they may appear unexpectedly. (Think Surprise Party Department.) And just so you know, Mercury turns retrograde on the 15th. Yeah, the party just never stops, does it? The March full moon was called the Chaste Moon in medieval England, in deference to the ground thawing out after winter. All was thought to be clean and fresh, ready…

Full Moon in Leo Upcoming Wednesday February 12th is the Storm Moon, so called by North American Algonquian tribes due to the heavy snows and violent weather that often accompany it.  This full moon will be in Leo, which signals possible surprises and the unexpected.  (I’m spending a lot of time hiding under the couch so far this year. Sheesh!)  I’ll tell you how everything works out next month! For Your Deliberation When is a new pet too young to start training as her owner’s familiar?  In our latest Roundtable discussion, Townies Hershey and Crystal weigh in. Wey: Okay, the only way this conversation is going to make any sense is…

Imbolc   A Sabbat, Imbolc observes the halfway mark between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. It happens while the sun is in Aquarius, which is linked to humanitarianism, innovation and forward thinking (and can we sure use a lot more of that right around now!). So Imbolc’s ideal for dreaming, planning and setting long term goals. And this year, Neptune will start moving into Aries–which hasn’t happened since the 1870s. This heralds a shift from introspection to courage, initiation and the origination of spiritual ideals. Shifts in ideologies and social movements may occur, as well as more self expression and consideration of personal relationships. (That’s my cue to hide under the couch…