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Weyland’s Whey June 9th, 2025 Strawberry Moon Column
Strawberry Moon It arrives, the last full moon of Spring, on June 11th. It’ll also be a micro moon, looking smaller and dimmer than normal. (Much like yours truly.) It was called “Strawberry Moon” by Algonquian tribes, among others, for the brief harvest season of–you guessed it, Pilgrim–strawberries that accompanied its appearance. This year it shows up in Sagittarius, which rules connections personal and global. (Old Farmer’s Almanac.) For Your Deliberation Remember last column’s Wey’s Predictions, where I talked (ranted) about insect population decline? Well, recently I spoke to Trish, our newest Townie and resident genius. She was already familiar with the topic and suggested I check out insect decline in Germany.…
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Being Ethical in the Trending World of the Occult
Witchcraft, magick, paganism, manifestation, and all things occult have surged into the mainstream. I first got into the craft before major social media was a thing, it felt like being part of a secret world. Now, witchcraft is everywhere: tarot cards are sold at grocery stores, crystals come in any shape you can think of, and TikTok has it’s own WitchTok abundant with spell tutorials and aesthetic rituals. On one hand, it’s exciting to see the craft becoming more accessible. On the other, it means low quality products are constantly being pushed on us at a markup. It raises the question: How can we stay ethical in a world where…
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A World Re-Enchanted May 2025
In the ever-hectic pace of our daily lives there is something that is often overlooked even though there are many antidotes regarding this often simple and unassuming item. To what is this author referring? Why the often thought of simple and common flower though it is an often misunderstood and powerful plant. The power of the humble flower was once very well known in our modern society. I am talking about not so long ago during the Victorian age when the language of flowers known as Floriography reached its peak. While its origins can be traced back to the Greeks and Romans, it definitely culminated during the Victorian era and…
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Weyland’s Whey, May 22nd, 2025 New Moon Column
New Moon The New Moon will occur on Monday, May 26th at 11:02 pm EST. It will be in Gemini and will signify a moment of beginnings, connection and fresh starts. It will be a good time to set intentions and plant seeds for the future. (Sources: Born Under Saturn, Elle, Horoscope View.) Beautiful Dreamer The night kitty Tabitha returned home from being spayed, we set her up in the office room with a little bed and nearby bowls of food and water. Around midnight, I was awakened by something at my feet. It was Tabitha, curled up around her Elizabethan collar and fast asleep. How she made it up the pet ramp…
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Learning Lunar: Micromoon, May 2025
Image by Ganapathy Kumar, copyright-free via Unsplash Did you know that we’ve just witnessed a micromoon? While the phrase “supermoon” is undoubtedly more well-known, micromoons are also a semi-regular occurrence. This year’s May full moon lasts for 4 days, if you count any visibility over 97% as full, which many people do. So it’s a great opportunity to witness the micromoon and get your moon magic flowing! What Does Micromoon Mean? The moon isn’t always the same distance away from the Earth. Because the moon’s orbit around our planet isn’t a perfect circle (it’s elliptical, which means slightly egg-shaped), sometimes it’s a little closer and sometimes just a bit further…
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Cody’s Column: Protection Magick and the Elk of the Skagit
May is here in full force, like the mighty elk that return each year to the upper field. Their antlers symbolize a powerful form of Protection Magick, just as the Elder Futhark Rune Algiz suggests. The elk are a little fewer in number this year though. Is the balance off or are we just seeing the cycles run through their courses? I am wondering if the hunting pressure was heavier this last year or if the hoof rot is to blame for the lower numbers. After checking the local Game Harvest Reports it looks like there were six 6pt. bull elk harvested, making the trend upward from the previous year. …
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Weyland’s Whey May 11th 2025 Flower Moon Column
Over the Moon It’s called the Flower Moon for the multitude of flowers that pop up in May. (No, Pilgrims don’t count. Sheesh…) No Place Like Home This is my first weekend back after heart bypass surgery and rehab. Thanks to everybody for all the calls and texts! And most especially to my sweetheart Sparkle–we spoke every day and she visited me often. Namor and Crystal did me a long distance favor while I was still in rehab, earning my eternal gratitude. Hershey sent several texts. As did Mihos. And my doctors and nurses made an experience out of what easily could have become an ordeal. My religion was a great comfort to…
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Spring, Beltane, and the Magick of Renewal: A Special Column from The Modern Merlin
Hello friends, and welcome to May! Happy May Day, and Merry Beltane/Bealtaine! After a short hiatus, I’m back, and will slowly be picking up the pace in my writing so as to not burn myself out. How often I’ll be posting this month is TBD, if I’m being honest, but I’m excited to be back! That aside, I’m excited to be sharing with you a unique perspective I’ve come to regarding Beltane. Beltane is, and always was, a fertility festival; there’s an energy of renewal in the air, and love, too. Culminating with the Solstice at Midsommer, this season is truly about life renewed, as the bees and various critters…
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A World Re-Enchanted April 2025
The flowers of spring are now in full bloom as the days grow longer and the weather warmer. The winter season has passed as spring continues assert its influence and time upon the world of Arda. Spring is a time of great change and as the vitality of the world grows again, the world is ready for prosperity and change. The month of April focuses on Youth which is viewed differently among the races of Arda. For example, the Hobbits can be described as being carefree and innocent focused on the simple pleasures of the shire. The Hobbits are not considered adults until 33 years old. As a result…
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Cody’s Column: Using Divination Tools with the Land
April is such a bouquet of emotions, thoughts and experiences here on the farm. Big projects we laid out in the winter are being realized. New projects are coming to light. The forest is waking up and so are the weeds! Many of them are medicinal, I am thinking about the hedge deadnettle, which should be called Purple Dragon’s Breath. This plant wakes up around the time bumble bee queens rise from their slumber and begin the search for a mate and early food to support her soon to be colony. There are so many signs of Spring, it is a wonder to me how many times we miss…
