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(The Litha Altar Decoration Set made by Julia can be found among many gorgeous witchy treasures at HedgecraftHouse on Etsy.) Also known As: Summer Solstice, Litha, Alban Hefin, Sun Blessing, Gathering Day, Feill-Sheathain, Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide, Vestalia, Thing-tide, St. John’s Day In addition to the four great festivals of the Pagan Celtic year, there are four lesser holidays as well: the two solstices, and the two equinoxes. In folklore, these are referred to as the four ‘quarter-days’ of the year, and modern Witches call them the four ‘Lesser Sabbats’, or the four ‘Low Holidays’. The Summer Solstice is one of them. Litha is usually celebrated on June 21st, but varies…

Book Review Becoming Dangerous: Witchy Femmes, Queer Conjurers, and Magical Rebels Edited by Kate West and Jasmine Elliott I was lucky to be sent this amazing anthology of personal power narratives to review. Twenty-one personal essays by the same amount of contributors are united by one theme- sometimes, things happen that do NOT want to see us become our best selves, and they go out of their way to try to keep us from thriving. These writers share their personal way they claimed what was theirs, through personal ritual, and tenacity, and how they shine brightly despite everything. These inspirational stories of hope, strength, and triumph deal with topics ranging…

Book ReviewCelestial WatercolorLearn to Paint the Zodiac Constellations and Seasonal Night SkiesWritten by Elise Mahan with D.R. McElroy128 ppThe Quarto Group “Celestial Watercolor: Learn to Paint the Zodiac Constellations and Seasonal Night Skies” is a book that does dual duty. On one hand, it’s as a beautifully illustrated and produced full-color coffee table-style book which is immensely enjoyable to flip through whether you read it or not. On the other, it’s a genuinely useful guide through the world of classic watercolor technique, with watercolor illustrations of the phases of the moon, astrological signs, and the seasonal night skies as examples. These examples come paired with corresponding texts that delve into…

Logan’s Run Bright Blessings, film lovers! I don’t know about you, but I love sci fi from the 1970’s. The more simplified special effects, and the groovy take on “futuristic style” dazzles the eye! The music, and costumes, and the theatrical style acting is more dramatic, and more fun in my opinion than the modern realistic films. In sci fi, I want a new reality, not one I feel could happen today in my world. I watched Logan’s Run for this reason, and just for enjoyment. It delivers, but I also realized, there are some magical truths in it! Here is the trailer you can watch! It’s an MGM film…

Dancer, artist, author, witch, priestess; with this many titles and roles, it’s clear that Annwyn Avalon is kept busy. Fresh from a workshop at Pantheacon, Annwyn was kind enough to talk to Mabh here at PaganPagesOrg about her new book, Water Witchcraft, and other aspects of her work. Mabh Savage: How would you describe the concept of water witchcraft to a complete novice? Annwyn Avalon: Water Witchcraft, simply put, is Witchcraft that uses water as the main modality for their magic and/or they may use water related items, work with water spirits and deities and perform many of their spells or rituals with, on, or near water. A Sea Witch…

Knight of Cups (The Two of Pentacles card is from the artist Ciro Marchetti http://www.ciromarchetti.com/)** Back to the Court Cards! This time, we will revisit the Tarot “Royals” by examining the Knight of Cups. We haven’t talked about the Knights at all yet, so first we will review some basic information. A Tarot deck has 78 cards. There are 22 Major Arcana cards dealing with broader and more far-reaching life experience issues, archetypes that are easy for us to identify with and connect with at some point in our lives. There are 56 Minor Arcana cards that are customarily grouped into four categories or suits that represent the four elements…

Book Review Primal Awareness Reconnecting with the Spirits of Nature By Rob Wildwood Rob Wildwood gives us a perspective on the evolution of First World cultures in this thought-provoking book. The “primal awareness” of the title is humankind’s awareness of the immanence of spirit, consciousness and generative life force alive in every aspect of creation on Earth. Wildwood gives us an overview of how humanity in First World cultures has lost its sense of connection to the natural world and as a result, is now destroying it. The book takes us through the impact of cultural development from the evolution of language into cultural belief and identity, then maturation of…

The Fairy Tale Lenormand This is one of the most adorable deck of cards I have ever seen in any form – be it Lenormand, Tarot, Oracle, or just a deck of playing cards! Published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. (www.usgamesinc.com), with artwork by the very talented Lisa Hunt and with a booklet written by Arwen Lynch, this set of Lenormand cards is sure to delight any level of practitioner. As someone who is still at a beginner’s level (I admit it), I think it would be great for someone who is learning the basics of Lenormand or who is just beyond the basics. And I love the little tin.…

Our Physical and Subtle Anatomy: Part Three Excerpted from Part One… … ”The important consideration is that each system is dependent on the other either directly or through the bridge of another in producing the necessary life force to keep us alive. When we consider the complexity and precision of this life force and its active components that keep us functioning it truly is a profound and deeply humbling analysis. These same structures apply to every living thing in their own way of specificity and in larger scope to the entire universe. It is for this reason that our first point of connection to that which is part of, yet…

We are All Pollinators Every few years I retreat for reasons all my own, in order to take inventory, if you will, of my progression, my journey, and my life. It is never an easy time for me; it usually precedes autumn, as I begin to feel the decay of the annual plants, as the leaves are touched by subtle shades of reds and yellows before ultimately falling to the ground in this beautiful New England scenery. Reminiscent of my own spiritual death and rebirth, I take this emotional and mental inventory. It doesn’t happen every year, not any more; now it happens when things become balanced and stagnation begins…