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The Chrysalis – Poetry
A time of harvest, And a time of shedding. Of death, and beginning anew. Dark nights bloom as ravens song. And moon on ravens wings. The chill of the air and the crunch in the leaves. Crisp apples and the scent of decay. The lingering smoke of spent candles. Coalesces with the smoke of the fires. Tears, as we honor the memories, Those who have gone before us. The fetch the water for the next generations. As I shed my skin, As I crawl into this cocoon. I dissolve. Knowing my depths. Demons of the deep ocean, And stygian deep. Grand chaos.…
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From the minds of Aeor, a Series of Shorts
The Braleigh Affair There was a pounding at the door, late in the night. The gatekeeper tried to ignore it at first as it was too late for visitors, and too early for the morning deliveries. That only left one possible cause for such an incessant knocking: trouble. The Magus Institute was greatly appreciated and respected by most, but there were still some who feared magic and wanted to drive them out of town. Therefore, the gatekeeper felt well within his right to let the hoodlums banging on his door freeze in the cold night wind for however long it took them to finally give up and leave. That…
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Stellar Applications
Current Astrology Using Hermetic Applications Welcome to this issue’s Stellar Applications…. In this issue of PaganPagesOrg we are celebrating Samhain, the season of divination and seeking answers from the ancestors. Traditional Samhain (aka: Halloween) is celebrated on October 31st and Astrological Samhain occurs this year on November 5th. The Astrology of Samhain The energetic astrological imprint of Samhain is one of mystery, intuitive gifts, secrets, passion and more. The solar month of Scorpio holds the space for the parting of the veils and the celebration of Samhain on either date; the more traditional of October 31st or the astrological point that falls on November 5th –…
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Learning Lunar
Moon Magic and Mystery The Waning Gibbous Moon Welcome back to Learning Lunar, our regular column looking at different phases of the moon and how you can work them into your spiritual practice. For this Samhain edition of PaganPagesOrg, we’re looking at a waning phase of the moon for the first time: The Waning Gibbous Moon. What Does Waning Gibbous Mean? A waning moon is one that appears to be getting smaller each night, eventually culminating in a dark moon or new moon. As soon as the moon becomes full, the days beyond this are considered the time of the waning moon. A waning gibbous moon falls between the…
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Weyland’s Whey
For Your Deliberation If you were on trial for being a witch, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Goodbye, My Friend Our feline companion and familiar, Jinx, crossed over the Rainbow Bridge this morning. Old, gaunt and confused, we knew it would be selfish to keep him with us any longer. He was a champion. And he will be missed. Friendship Is Magic, Too by Weyland Smith It had been a while since I’d talked to my compadre Mihos. We’d been in the old coven together and had managed to stay in sporadic contact over the years. It would be fun to talk witchery with him…
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The Halloweenification of Black Cats
As the proud kitty mama of my own feline void, we are going to discuss the associations that black cats have with witches and more especially, Samhain. Black cats are most often associated with Halloween, Samhain or witchcraft. In most Western cultures, black cats have typically been looked upon as agents of misfortune. In a lot of other cultures, black cats are seen as lucky. Bringers of prosperity and happiness. So just how did cats become so intertwined with witches? A number of Pagan deities hold the cat in high esteem. Bastet tops the list with being pictured as a being with a woman’s body and a black cat’s…
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Pagan Prompts: Journal Prompts for a Witch’s Self Reflection – No. 1
No. 1: Environment is Everything Environment has everything to do with your magical and mundane success & health. This month’s Pagan Prompt: what does home look, feel, sound, taste, and smell like for you? How can your home be more energetically receptive and conducive to your work? This prompt is great to do in your environment as an observational exercise. And you can take this as a step toward exploring ways you can make your environment more your own. In Ayurvedic medicine, the first step to healing is identifying the flaws in the environment. It’s not uncommon for an Ayurvedic healer to visit the home of a patient, or…
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Pagan Prompts no. 2 – Journal Prompts for a Witch’s Self Reflection – Shadow Work
Fun Shadow Work PROMPT: Describe 5 obsessions you had as a kid. Are you living up to the aesthetic, lessons, or experiences of them? How would child-you feel about the life you’re living now? Let’s go back in time and look at those childhood obsessions. Those fixations. Those dreams you had, both waking and asleep. It may have been a certain amusement park. A movie. A book. A specific outfit or piece of clothing. A certain toy or game. A time of day, a tree in your yard, a family member or friend. For some reason, as kids, there are things that we fixate on and want to…
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Weyland’s Whey – That Old Familiar Feeling
Count Them Blessings I got COVID. She didn’t. Are we old? Not yet! We love our fur kids! Our dog’s name is Delinquent…. ….she livers up to it. Delinquent barks at everything. One night she warned us of an intruder at our door. Coffee is awesome! Wicca is a great comfort. ** About the Author: Weyland Smith is an eclectic solitaire wytch. He lives in New Jersey with his girlfriend Sparkle, their two feline familiars and a dog named Delinquent. Weyland’s interests include writing, crystals and web weaving. Wey is also a firm believer in reincarnation—in a previous life he was…
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Poetry – Exclusive for PaganPagesOrg by Mabh Savage ‘Summer’s Last Hurrah
An exclusive poem for PaganPagesOrg by Mabh Savage celebrating the last heady days of Summer before the Autumn Equinox and the final harvests, via the wanderings of a lone witch. I say hi to the crows Perched on slate roofs Raucously gossiping I admire the bees Purposeful in purple Claiming the lavender I dodge the ants Single minded march Carrying more than I I nod to the magpies Superstition on wings Black and white made grey I shiver in the breeze Late summer caress A promise of fall (But someone to catch) I sigh in the sun Warm honey-pour bright The last, loving light…