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Book Review: Mystical Mocktails
Title: Mystical Mocktails: 60 Nonalcoholic Mindful Recipes, Rituals, and Affirmations Author: Julia Halina Hadas Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing Date: January 6, 2026 Pages: 224 There are many reasons people chose not to consume alcohol and they, too, deserve special libations. Given that distilleries I have visited offer mocktails along with their spirited options, restaurants have zero-proof drinks on their menus, and non-alcohol bars are gaining in popularity, it’s safe to say the niche choice has become mainstream, making this book well-timed. The 60 mocktails Julia Halina Hadas presents are creative and sophisticated. Each one was carefully crafted with ingredients that align with a specific intention, and grouped into one…
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Book Review: Charm Casting
Title: Charm Casting: Divining with Trinkets, Trifles, Baubles, and Bits Author: Tina Hardt Publisher: Weiser Books Publication Date: November 3, 2025 Pages: 208 Charm casting is an extremely individualized method of divination because the caster controls every aspect: the items, their definitions, the surface on which they are cast, and the meaning of how and where they fall when thrown. Author and professional caster Tina Hardt guides readers to assemble a casting kit, creating their own dynamic oracle using a collection of small, meaningful baubles, trinkets, items from nature, and assorted knickknackery. She has “a dented tin filled to the brim with small and oddly compelling objects” she calls “Wee…
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Beltane & Sex Magick
Today is Beltane! The first day of May and it’s also a full moon, the Flower Moon. Our community needed this rare, powerful alignment this year. However, to break up the monotony, I decided to write a combination article about Beltane and Sex Magick. I figure everyone else will be talking about the Flower Moon, but I was captivated by something else. I have noticed a rise in sex magick on social media lately, particularly during Beltane festivities where many local pagan groups are hosting adult fertility ritual. Unfortunately, I’m still living abroad where there isn’t a big pagan community, so I cannot join in on any of these Beltane…
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Weyland’s Whey 2026 Beltane and Flower Moon Column
Beltane is one of the eight Sabbats of the year. It’s celebrated on May First here in the Northern Hemisphere. This year the Sabbat is even more powerful than usual because it aligns with the Full Flower Moon, which adds an extra dose of lunar energy to the festivities. Should pack quite a wallop. The May Full Moon is called the Flower Moon because this is when the telltale signs of Spring begin to show themselves–especially bright and beautiful flowers blooming. Esbat and Sabbat Combo: The alignment’s a great and powerful portal for earth-based and lunar magicks alike. This time is ripe for releasing emotional blocks beneath the full moon, creativity…
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The Sorcerer’s Notebook: Walpurgisnacht, The Green Devil, and Witches’ Sabbat
Blessed Walpurgis to all, and Beltane Blessings! Today, and specifically, tonight, holds a special power that those of us who endear themselves with the more traditional cunning arts should not only welcome and observe, but work with, and cast effective magick for actual change. Yes, I am getting a little political, but only because current events and regimes threaten to bring us to brink of extinction: either via war and destruction, or via climate change. To be clear, I’m no climate scientist, but, I can read, and read I do; everyday. From the small bit of research I’ve done on the worsening climate issue, we’re already at the point of…
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Weyland’s Whey 2026 Walpurgis Night column
I Looked it Up And I Still Can’t Pronounce it. Walpurgis Night. Many compare it to a Spring Halloween, although the two holidays are quite separate. Walpurgis Night is on April 30th, and originated in Germanic folklore. Historically, people believed evil spirits were especially active now, and that witches–yeah, that would be us–gathered on this evening. The night is named after Saint Walpurga, whose Feast Day is May 1st. Her canonization was meant to replace Pagan practices. The time became a blend of old Pagan rites and newer Christian influences. Walpurgis Night is celebrated in diverse ways in different countries. The most common tradition is large bonfires meant to frighten away…
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Cody’s Column: How to Un 6-21-3-11 Yourself from Christianity as a Pagan
Greetings! “The Earth does not belong to us. We belong to the Earth.” -Chief Seattle If you grew up in the United States, you likely had education about the Indigenous People, but who told you about them? Did your school invite the elders in to tell the stories? Did anyone make a land acknowledgement ever? You likely had education about the kings and queens of Europe. How were the original inhabitants of Europe treated in those histories? Did you hear about the peoples and languages, customs and traditions of early Pagans? Let’s switch to popular culture then for reference. Halloween was my first introduction to witches, demons, monsters,…
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Opinion: New Age Beliefs Are Bullsh*t, and I’m Happy to Tell You Why
“New Age” beliefs seem to permeate the Pagan, Witchcraft and Occult scene today, and frankly, I’m tired of it. I’m not going to write a swear-word laden, ranting and raving article; instead, I’m going to focus my energies in sharing why I hold this opinion, and hopefully validate many of you, too. To clarify any misconceptions, when I refer to New Age beliefs, I do not mean witchcraft, neo-paganism, occultism or eastern-based practices. New Age beliefs and practices are those which appropriate practices from many cultures without due respect to the parent culture and its customs and beliefs, and which beliefs are generally unfounded. Examples include ancient astronaut theory, the Galactic…
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Book Review-Freyja: An Illustrated Guide to the Goddess of Magic, Love and War by L. Dean Lee, Illustrated by The Saxon Storyteller
Book Review Freyja: An Illustrated Guide to the Goddess of Magic, Love and War By L. Dean Lee, Illustrated by The Saxon Storyteller Publisher: Red Wheel 128 Page Full Color, Fully Illustrated Hardcover Release Date: September 16th, 2025 Ah, the last of the Norse Gods series by Red Wheel that I have to review; I’m at once sad, but also excited, to be finishing this series (or what’s been released to us at this point). Freyja was yet another lovely entry into this series by Red Wheel, and just like the others, beautifully illustrated in full color. For those looking to connect with Freyja, this book would be an excellent starting…
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Review: Living Folk Magic
Title: Living Folk Magic: Crafting Your Own Magical Life Author: Mary-Grace Fahrun Publisher: Weiser Books Date: November 3, 2025 Pages: 224 Mary-Grace Fahrun explains the how’s and why’s of folk magic so readers can build an entire folk magic practice. She shares personal experiences and wisdom gained from her Italian family, as well as sharing customs from other cultures and religions. Folk magic is a way of life rooted in ancestral traditions practiced throughout time in all cultures as people sought to understand, connect with, and control their world, especially when other options failed. It blends superstitions, religious beliefs, customs, folklore, and magic. This magic is not separate from mundane…
