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Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times for March 2018 Bright Blessings, I write this on February 19, and it is a pleasant fifty-seven degrees Fahrenheit outside, with a soft, misty rain. My crocus, hyacinth, and daffodils are pushing their green fingers out of the earth, and I have the sliding glass door open to allow some of the nice, fresh air into the house. My husband was saying it “feels like” Spring yesterday. I corrected him, “It IS Spring, and it started the first week of February.” I explained Spring is not something that starts all in one day, but is a season that unfolds gradually, and people miss…

THE MAGIC CIRCLE Shamanic Ceremonies for the Child and the Child Within A year ago I wrote a brief review of this book on Amazon but in this review I will expand on what I wrote in February 2017: “This is an amazing source book for families, schools, grandparents and youth leaders in different capacities. It offers a breath-taking range of ideas and ceremonies – ranging from fast and simple to more complex. These ceremonies can help children and young people navigate life transitions and events. From losing a loved one, taking courage, the magic of our own body, the weather, animals, ancestral sleuthing and so forth the possibilities are…

As Above, So Below Learning any kind of divinatory method takes a lot of practice. Yes, some people have a natural skill. But even those people practice, practice, practice. I cannot stress it any stronger. You have to get out your cards, shuffle them really well, and lay them out. Not just once, but twice, three times, four times or more. And not just once a day. Several times a day. It is often said that you can’t read your own cards. It is also said that you can’t read your cards everyday or more than once a day. This is pure hogwash. When you are learning a skill, repetition…

Egg Spells Merry meet. Eggs are one of Ostara’s most prevalent associations. Like all seeds, it contains the promise of a new life. It is a potent symbol of fertility because it contains the power to become something: a chicken, a turtle, a bird, a fish. Eggs are a symbol of abundance, prosperity and the rebirth of nature. In some traditions, the entire universe is portrayed as an egg. That makes them very magickal. At Ostara, the Wheel of the Year is perfectly balanced. Day and night are of equal length. Masculine and feminine, inner and outer, dark and light are also balanced as the world begins to come alive.…

About five years ago a man with a gun was arrested outside the inner city primary (US equivalent elementary) London school two of my three children attended at the time. I am a European. To put a very fine point on things: I am Dutch. Like most European people I have not grown up in a “gun culture”. The only people carrying guns I encountered during the first 20 years of my life were policemen and soldiers. People who carried a gun for professional reasons. It was understood that those guns would be used only by those trained professionals in truly exceptional (read emergency) situations. Here are the facts about…

The Crystal Seer by Judy Hall   Power Crystals for Magic, Meditation & Ritual Hardback, 176 Pages Publisher: Fair Winds Press   While the title of this new books sounds a fantasy series I’d like to read, I came to read Judy Hall’s new book with glee. She is one of my favourite writers about crystals and “magic, meditation and ritual” sounded right up my alley! I was positively giddy to read this book. I must firstly congratulate the author on her fine work, yet again. Yet this book would not be what it is (which is glorious) without Timothy Samara, and John Van Rees, Jr. The layout and design…

Notes from the Apothecary: Dill Feathery and fragrant, the herb dill is so much more than just a flavouring for fish dishes or pickles. This magical herb has been used for centuries as a medicine, and as a potent tool for magical practitioners. From a muscle toner for Greek athletes, to a medicine for treating boils, this versatile herb is truly fascinating. The Kitchen Garden You can find dill growing wild, so if you manage to harvest a few seeds, or purchase some from your local supplier, you could cultivate a little patch of dill yourself. It likes loose soil with good drainage, and you can plant the seeds directly…

Corned Beef and Cabbage This is not going to be an essay of whether to celebrate St. Patty’s Day or not. I know that many Pagans do not celebrate St. Patty’s day with the righteousness of Jehovah Witnesses not celebrating Christmases and almost every other holiday. I am not one of those people. When I was growing up Catholic in the 1960’s and 1970’s, Saint Patrick’s Day was a secular holiday that was celebrated in my public school – it didn’t have anything to do with the Catholic Church at all – nor did Valentine’s Day, for that matter – another thoroughly secular holiday, only celebrated in my public school.…

Bringing Joy to the World Sanjiv Chopra and Gina Vild Compel Readers to Find Happiness by Living a Purposeful Life     “Mark Twain famously once said, ‘The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.’ Hence the title, ‘The Two Most Important Days: How to Find Your Purpose and Live a Happier, Healthier Life,’” said Sanjiv Chopra, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, bestselling author and sought-after inspirational speaker.   (Sanjiv Chopra)   He co-wrote the book with Gina Vild, associate dean and chief communications officer at Harvard Medical School.   (Gina Vild )  …

(en)LIV(en)ING with the Muses-The Love of Erato This the Fourth posting of the (en)LIV(en)ING with the Muses Series During a weekend in Boston with my daughter while she was at the Boston Conservatory, we went to the Museum of Fine Arts. We came to one of the hallways and I looked up and saw a beautiful dome painting of the Nine Muses and Apollo by John Singer Sargeant. As I scanned the image I imagined what type of energy would be in abundance as the Muses danced in free abandon around Apollo, God of the Sun. I thought about the sensuality of this energy and the grace and ease with which it…