• Monthly Columns

    Weyland’s Whey, August 30 2024 Column, Tiny Familiars

    Weyland’s Whey, August 30th, 2024 Good Morning, Good Morning I like writing my column in bed.  It violates just about every feng shui rule I can think of, but this way I can spread out my notes and New York Times and listen to music while I work.  My fierce little doxie and familiar Delinquent joins me, pressing her furry little buttski against my hip while she keeps a close eye on the open bedroom door, ready to defend me from any invaders who might try to barge in.  On my other side, our rescue Yorkie (and five pound familiar) Morsel slumbers in his own little bed, one ear standing straight up…

  • Monthly Columns

    The Modern Merlin’s Corner: The Magick in Music

    Photo Credits: Shutterstock photo “Spiritual Music”  As I began writing this column entry, I realized that to some, this entry may seem as if I’m bragging, etc., so I wanted to take a moment to explain my reasoning for writing about it at all, which is two-fold: 1. To give thanks, and 2. To Share Wisdom and Magick I’ve learned and gained through these experiences. Before moving any further, I want to thank the Gods and Goddesses, Ancestors, and Spirits for the blessings I’ve received this year. This article is a direct result of those blessings and lots, and lots of hard work on my end to make certain goals…

  • Monthly Columns

    Weyland’s Whey, August 17th 2024, “Sounds Like Salem”, Conclusion

    Weyland’s Whey, August 17th 2024, “Sounds Like Salem”, Conclusion For Your Deliberation It takes a village to help an idiot!  And here are some of the townies who make me look good twice a month! Mihos.  I’ve mentioned him a lot in this column.  And with good reason.  He’s my Renaissance man.  And he’ll be penning his own column in PaganPages real soon!  (Watch for Crystal Clear!) Hershey.  My go-to guy for all things Spanish.  He’s fluent, I’ve got the working vocabulary of a grade schooler.  Maybe a preschooler… Crystal.  Hershey’s partner and lady love.  One of the quickest and smartest people I know.  I seek out her advice quite often. The Brain.  This guy’s…

  • Monthly Columns

    Weyland’s Whey Lughnasadh 2024 Column

    Lughnasadh It’s pronounced LEW-NAS-AH.  One of the eight Pagan Sabbats, the focus is typically on an early harvest aspect and/or celebrations of the Celtic god Lugh.  During the Middle Ages it included large gatherings for ceremonies, athletic contests, horse racing and feasting, among other activities.  More recently, Lughnasadh observances were typically held atop hills and mountains.  The tradition of climbing hills and mountains has survived in some areas, reinterpreted as Christian pilgrimages.  (I’m thinking Sound of Music in robes, but that can’t be right.)  Since the late twentieth century, Celtic neopagans (us, kinda) have celebrated Lughnasadh–or observances based on it–as religious holidays. Hey, any excuse for a party! (Sources: Wikipedia, learnreligions.com)…

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    The Modern Merlin’s Corner: Trance States using Entheogens and Sacred Plant Medicine

    Article Cover Photo Credits: Pinterest search for “psychedelic witchy art” My reason for writing on this subject is because my column entry last month mentioned using trance state to connect with local spirits of place, the Land, etc., and so, I decided after checking with the publisher, that I would share my knowledge in this area, and give you my tried and true method of using Entheogenic plants to reach a trance and visionary state and maintain it. This is my preferred method of contacting the Otherside, doing journeying, and the like, but which entheogenic plant I use varies by day, purpose, how I’m feeling, etc. I will not give…

  • Monthly Columns

    Good God!: Kalfu

    Kalfu (also Kalfou or Carrefour) is the Haitian Vodou God of Intersections. His name literally means “the crossroads,” which is the point where four roads emerge or two paths cross. It is also the point where magic manifests, where choices are made, and fates are forged. He is thought of as “the devil at the crossroads.” a terrifying god, a red demonic beast equated with Saten. One of their most powerful gods, Kalfu allows or denies spirits to cross into the real world “with an understanding into the nature of chaos and creation, good and misfortune, and injustices,” according to Wikipedia. Although other spirits know him, he often remains a…

  • Monthly Columns

    Weyland’s Whey July 13th “Sounds Like Salem” Part Two Column

    Weyland’s Whey July 13th “Sounds Like Salem” Part Two Column “Tact is after all a kind of mind reading.”  –Sarah Orne Jewett Sounds Like Salem, Part Two: Here There Be Pirates” Salem is most famous for witches, real and imagined, past and present, sure.  But there were pirates here too.  Lots of ’em.  And plenty roamed the North Shore during the Golden Age of Pirates (1650s to the 1730s). Guys like Black Sam Bellamy, who captured over fifty ships in the course of his career, including famous slave ship Whydah Galla.  Black Sam was one of the youngest and richest pirates ever, nicknamed the “Prince of Pirates”.  He and his crew perished…

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    The Modern Merlin’s Corner: What’s in a name? The Power and Magick Behind Names

    Names are some of the fundamental words we learn when we’re being taught how to speak any language. Every thing has a name. Every place has a name. Every one has a name. Place names, surnames and first names, middle names, magickal names are just some examples we see everyday, Pagan or not. In magick, both ancient and modern, it’s a pretty well accepted fact that having a spirit (or person’s) name, gives power over them. Examples of this are abundant in the Medieval Grimoire tradition, especially in works like The Goetia and other well-known grimoires. Knowing a deity’s name doesn’t give you power over them, but it does help you connect to their current of energy, and…

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    Weyland’s Whey, 2024 Litha/Dyad Moon Column

      “In Wicca, rituals are ceremonies which celebrate and strengthen our relationships with the Goddess, the God and the Earth.” –Scott Cunningham   Doubleheader Say it “LEE-tha””.  (Don’t fret if you’ve had it wrong for years, I just learned how to pronounce it last week.)  I prefer the name Midsummer, cause to me it just sounds cooler.  Either way, this Summer Solstice Sabbat celebrates the year’s longest day.  The focus is usually on the power of the sun. This year’s Litha overlaps the June esbat.  To me, that definitely adds another layer to the celebration!  I plan to do a Sun Salutation in the morning and a Full Moon circle…

  • Monthly Columns

    Weyland’s Whey, June 17th Column, Faun Review

    “Magick is the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with the will.” –Aleister Crowley MUSIC Review Faun German group.  Pagan, folk, medieval music and darkwave.  Performances combine medieval and modern instruments like the hurdy-gurdy, lutes, bagpipes and celtic harp.  Their vocals are in diverse languages including Latin, Greek, German and English.  Formed in 1998. I had the good fortune to score a telephone interview with one of the band members a few years ago during my first stint with PaganPages.  (How many years ago?  Oh, about umpteen, back when I was still in my frisky fifties!)  It was an absolute pleasure and the friendliest interview I’ve…