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Bright Blessings.   Fall is here, and we are rapidly moving towards the final harvest, Samhain.   In years past, my Samhain articles gave information about historic observances in Pre-Xtian times, including historic sites. I always include a working, and some personal anecdotes as well.   This month, I had the opportunity to talk about ghoulies, ghosties, long leggety beasties, and things that go bump in the night with horror writer, and director Michael Williams.       He and his team just released a fun, and creative horror called The Atoning, which I reviewed, and highly recommend all of you watch. I would like to thank Michael, and his…

A very wise friend recommended that I start a Mother Book: a safe space to vent all my thoughts about mothers. Even, especially the not so pretty, not so generous thoughts now have their safe place, their private page in this journal. This is a relief. I am the writer of this book as well as the only reader of this book.   My book starts with the following words: “I have a mother and I am a mother” My own mother’s favourite quote about motherhood is: “God couldn’t be everywhere – that is why He made mothers!”   We live in a polarised world of putting mothers on a…

Notes from the Apothecary: Pumpkin     It’s that magical time of year again, where anything that can be fragranced or flavoured seems to take on the aroma of a combination of vanilla and pumpkin, with the emphasis on the sweetness of this gorgeous gourd. But why do we revere the pumpkin at this time of year? The answer comes from Irish Celtic history, and the seasonal nature of the fruit (yes, it’s a fruit!) itself.   The Kitchen Garden Although the pumpkin, like other squashes, originated in North America, it can now be found all over the world. It’s classed as a ‘winter squash’ due to the fruits ripening…

Baba Yaga (Photo Credit – journeyingtothegoddess.wordpress.com) In Slavic and Russian folklore, Baba Yaga is the old woman of autumn. She was a fearsome witch-like woman with iron teeth, who rowed through the air in a mortar, using a pestle as an oar. As she travels, she sweeps away all traces of herself with a broom made of silver birch. She is the epitome of the fairy-tale witch, who lives in a hut deep in the forest, this hut having the legs of a chicken and would spin around and around. Its’ windows are its’ eyes. This hut is surrounded by a fence on which skulls are placed, with eyes a-blazing.…

With all of the technology available to us today, you’d think life would be easier. Certainly, we don’t have to do many of our daily chores by hand if we choose, but still, stress remains one of the biggest threats to health (source). So what can be done to manage stress? The first important thing is to recognize that we might not even realize we are being affected by stress. So it’s important to work some practices into our daily routine that help us deal with the stress that we may not even be aware of. The biggest problem with this for most people is finding the time. So here…

    Bad Witch’s Guide to Pinterest   I am a bad witch. There are a long list of reasons why I am a bad witch. Having been out of the broom closet for some considerable number of years I would on occasion get asked “but you’re a good witch though?” My response to that depending on the person asking but I found I started to say “yes, a very, very good witch” rather darkly as it usually got the point across. It might surprise you to find out I like Pinterest. However my major problem with it is the “magick” and spellcraft on there is often utter twaddle. I…

      The concept of the Dark Night of the Soul is one that is experienced at specific times during the work of those on a spiritual Path.  It is described as a state of utter loneliness, despair and the sense that the Divine has forsaken you. It is a moment that stands the test of true “faith” for in that hour of disconnect the realization of separateness and the intense yearning for union with the Divine are brought to the forefront of the experience.  This descent into a type of abyss is what serves to strengthen the resolve and conviction of the human and releases the vestiges of…

  Samhain is famed to be the best day of the year to talk to those who have crossed over, and in this October’s meditation, we’re going to do just that.  Whether the dead talk back is up to you (and them.)   Before you begin this meditation, think about who you’d like to talk to and what you’d like to say.  What emotions do you need to express?  Are you hurting?  Angry?  Or are you peaceful and excited to take the opportunity to communicate with a lost loved one?   There is no wrong answer.  If you are hurting or angry, this meditation could help bring you peace.  If…

Altars When you Have No Space   Merry meet.   Dorm rooms, studio apartments, extended-stay suites and RVs are some of the places where there is likely to be no space for an altar.   (This curio shelf, found posted on Pinterest by At Wayfaring Stranger Outfitters, can hold a collection of magickal objects.)   Since I am preparing to live in an old school bus converted into a tiny house, space for an altar will be scarce. Searching for ideas, I came across some that might work for those of you who think you have no space you can make sacred.           (This small wooden…

Enchanting Apple Crisp   To me, it is not a proper Samhain celebration without a dish made of apples. Apples are sacred to several of my favorite goddesses and long ago, I took the name “AppleQueen” as a magical name. Apples, harvested in the fall, are a perfect offering for this Sabbat. Hecate is the goddess of Samhain but do not forget that Pomona, the goddess of Apples, has her own feast day November 1. Influenced by the Romans, the Celts easily integrated this feast day into their own Samhain festivities and later, when the Christians came, and Pagan rites went underground or were turned into some other acceptable form,…