Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times
Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times for June 2020 (pic by AmberAvalona on pixabay.com) Bright Blessings! Believe it or not, it will be Summer Solstice before we know it! What warmer weather we are having that at this time a month ago! Many of us will be merrily working away at our gardens! For me, having pulled a raised bed, I won’t be planting as much- and I learned a very ugly truth meaning I might not plant hardly anything at all. I still live in the condos- truthfully, we may be stuck here as long as another year- if not longer. Long boring story- sigh. Normally,…
Peeking in the Shadows: Crafting a Book of Shadows and Light
This month I want to offer something a little different. We have had stressful and draining experience since the beginning of the COVI-D-19 Pandemic. I would like us to stand in the light of the Summer Solstice; anticipating this longest day and the hope that this light will bring. This is a writing that I return to again and again as I call to the Sun’s brilliance and the hope that it brings. Perhaps this is something you would like to add to your BOS. Rework, rephrase, rewrite it in any way that speaks to you. (Photo by Adrian Pelletier on Unsplash) Mother’s Flowering- The Summer Solstice The night is…
What to Do with Faith Loss
(art by Lucia Heffernan) “Everyone has the perfect gift to give the world and if each of us is freed up to give our unique gift, the world will be in total harmony.” -Buckminister Fuller Someone asked me a question the other day. She wanted to know how I deal with loss of faith (something she’d been struggling with for a while). The Oxford Dictionary of English describes faith as a “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” I’ve been a proud idealist most of my life. And I’ve believed strongly that there is always a solution to every problem. One, incidentally, that would magically align with…
Free Resources for Pagans Right Now
If there’s a silver lining in the coronavirus quarantine and lockdown measures, it can only be the way in which it’s made communities come together in support of one another. Within the Pagan communities worldwide, this includes a wealth of free resources to help Pagans and their families connect with one another, learn new things, and stay spiritual even in the face of crisis. Here are the ten best pagan resources I’ve found this month, please feel free to share your own in the comments or on our social media. Pagan Federation Online Garden The UK Pagan Federation continues its run of great free events with a virtual garden…
3 Pagans and a Cat Podcast Monthly Feature
3 Pagans and a Cat Podcast Three Paths, One Journey, No Cat In this highly informative & entertaining podcast, three family members embroiled in wildly divergent traditions gather in one room to discuss, debate, and flat-out argue about their magical, mythical, and mundane lives, all for our education and pleasure. While Waiting to Hear This Month’s Casts, Why Not Catch Up on Last Month’s… Episode 91: Spirit Guides and Familiars – Car, Gwyn, and Ode discuss the nebulous origins of the modern spirit guide, the witch trial origins of familiar spirits, what the difference is, whether it…
Peeking in the Shadows: Crafting a Book of Shadows and Light Second Edition
Last month I shared some documents with you to consider adding to your BOS. This month I want to share some brainstorming prompts to use as you fill more of your BOS pages. On first glance this month’s article may appear less robust than most but I assure you that if you work with each of the questions in a thoughtful and authentic way, you will have more than enough to keep you occupied. So, let’s get started. Some of these will become checklists for crafting your own rituals. Others are in the moment wanderings and others are for the intention of having a strong foundation to grow upon. Be…
The Goddess of Ten Thousand Names
Healing Goddesses (Previously published July, 2015, with some modifications) Like so many others, I am saddened, devastated and scared by the outbreak of this horrific and deadly virus that has stricken our world. This month’s Goddess column will be on just a few of the Healing Goddesses, whom I ask to please look kindly upon us all, to send us the strength and courage that we will all need to persevere through this. Coventina The British Goddess of springs and wells, she was also a Goddess of abundance and inspiration. Her sacred well, located in Northumberland, is considered a sacred healing site. Anaita While there is not much information…
Notes from the Apothecary
Notes from the Apothecary: Jack by the Hedge I don’t get a huge amount of time to spend keeping my garden super tidy, but that’s ok, because I like it to run a little wild. Because of that, we get plants that come in from outside the garden, often spread by birds and small animals, or simply by seeds blown in on the wind. Once such plant which is a star of British verges and hedgerows is this lovely plant, pictured. It has many names, but my favourite one is Jack by the Hedge, Latin name Alliaria Petiolata. Jack by the Hedge is also called Garlic Mustard, or even Poor…
Pandemic: A Ceremony from the Universe
(art by Aman Dalal) What if the universe is trying to get us to slow down? To stop producing. To stay home and let the earth breathe a little without all the extra pollution we cause daily. To take a step back and realize how we really impact earth and one another. That we aren’t as significant or in control as we think we are. A virus can come through and wipe us all out but earth will still be here. We are all connected. Just like we can spread a disease, we can also spread love, kindness and positivity. Use this time for reflection of your contribution and…
Gael Song Second Edition
The Hidden Gem of Solitude With most folks staying at home during this pandemic, I thought an article about solitude might be helpful. I’ve lived a contemplative life for twenty years now, mostly by myself, writing, meditating, in complete silence 90% of every day. Besides three mornings of volunteer work a week, my life is very, very quiet. When my last daughter went off to college twenty years ago, I chafed against the isolation but within a very few months, I began to cherish it and still do. What I discovered fairly quickly is that silence opens the doorway to the Otherworld. In general, beings on the other side…