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As I write this, it is the middle of January, 2017. It is a cold, dreary, overcast day in Massachusetts. A perfect day to journal, to meditate, to contemplate. It is also the week of the inauguration of a president-elect that many, many people feel is repugnant, an insult to the office of President. I must say that I am one of those people. Everything I stand for and believe in runs completely counter to what that man represents. I have been on my spiritual path for four decades; yes, 40 years. I am a daughter of the Goddess. I love my path. I love my Goddess. I love to…

Spiralled Edges – New Beginnings and Imbolc Chaos and Change I had an entire idea for a nice article about Imbolc and how it symbolises new beginnings in our lives. But I’ve torn that all up, in a figurative sense, because of all that is happening around the world in recent weeks. The US has a new president, Great Britain is poised to leave the European Union, and refugees are fleeing yet another war in yet another country. Right now, the whole world is really chaotic, and really rather scary. As human beings, we tend to not like chaos and change. Change can be dangerous our subconscious tells us. People…

Smoky Quartz   (image courtesy: Shijewels https://www.etsy.com/shop/shijewels)   Smoky Quartz comes in a range of shades from near clear with just a hint of the color that it’s named for, to such a dark color that it emulates the deepest and richest terra firma. No matter the color, these crystals radiate an earthy warmth that seriously gives me a sense of home. You know, that warm comfortable feeling that you get when you’re snuggled up under the softest blanket on the couch when everything feels right in the world and there’s no place you’d rather be? Well that’s exactly how I feel when I’m holding these crystalline beauties.   (image courtesy:…

Garni Temple of Armenia (Photo Credit: www.traveltoarmenia.am) The Garni Temple is an ancient Pagan Temple located southeast of the city of Yerevan, overlooking the Azat River. In the first century CE, Tridates, the Armenian King, dedicated this temple to Mihr, also known as Mithra, the Zoroastrian God. The inscription upon the temple reads, “The Sun God (Helios), uncontested King of Great Armenia built this temple and impregnable fortress in the 11th year of his reign” Helios is the Roman god of the Sun who is loosely connected to Mihr, and to whom, apparently Tridates associated himself with. Strangely enough, the Armenian Travel Bureau’s website indicates that the temple was actually…

Showing Our True Colors Merry meet. Maya Angelou said, “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” This ritual illustrates that. A pagan discussion group that meets at True Colors, a non-profit organization in Connecticut that supports sexual and gender minority youth, planned a ritual that drew nearly 20 individuals. Looking at the circle that formed, you would probably notice the diversity in ages, genders, skin tones and styles. The broom we decorated became a symbol of how much we had in common. We got a large selection of yarns in various colors and cut 20 pieces each to a length longer than the broom we intended to…

LIBERTAS As I write this, it is the day after the presidential inauguration of 2017, and the day of the Women’s March(es) across the country and around the world. Millions of people, the majority of them women, took to the streets to protest what many see as a threat to the personal freedom of many communities, not only in the US, but everywhere around the globe. They see a threat to justice. They see a threat to liberty and freedom. They are afraid, and rightfully so. With this in mind, it seems a perfect time to speak of Libertas. Libertas was a Roman Goddess; her name is the Latin word…

Pagan Portals: Brigid by Morgan Daimler Published by Moon Books, 2016     Morgan Daimler’s books tend to flutter around the higher reaches of the Amazon charts (other book sellers are available) and for good reason. She writes in a very accessible way whilst backing up her historical fact and mythology with sources, and pointing out when something is based solely on her own experience. My last foray into her books was Pagan Portals: The Morrigan- Meeting the Great Queens. This appealed greatly to my own passion for Celtic spirituality and deities, in particular the different ways these deities are interpreted and honoured by different people. This volume whetted my…

              Welcome   ____________________________________________________________   Happy New Year!!  We have a wonderful new issue for you this month to start the year off right, with great features like..     A Tarot Deck Review of The English Magic Tarot Deck.   The theme of the deck is set in the 100 years or so beginning with the Reformation Period and the reign of King Henry VIII and running through the end of the reign of Elizabeth I.       An Interview with Barbara Meiklejohn-Free: The Highland Seer.  Author and Shamanic practitioner, she has a variety of hats, including flautist, singer, and seer.  She was recently…

    February 1, 2 Other Names: Imbolg (im-molc)(em-bowl’g) (Celtic), Candlemas (Christian), Brigantia (Caledonii), Oimelc, Festival of Light, Brigid’s (Brid, Bride) Day, La Fheill, An Fheille Bride, Candelaria (Mexico), Chinese New Year, Disting-tid (Feb 14th, Teutonic), DisaBlot, Anagantios, Lupercalia/Lupercus (Strega), Groundhog Day, Valentines Day. Animals & Mythical Beings: Firebird, dragon, groundhog, deer, burrowing animals, ewes, robin, sheep, lamb, other creatures waking from hibernation. Gemstones: Amethyst, garnet, onyx, turquoise. Incense/Oil: Jasmine, rosemary, frankincense, cinnamon, neroli, musk, olive, sweet pea, basil, myrrh, and wisteria, apricot, carnation. Colors/Candles: Brown, pink, red, orange, white, lavender, pale yellow, silver. Tools,Symbols, & Decorations: White flowers, marigolds, plum blossoms, daffodils, Brigid wheel, Brigid’s cross, candles, grain/seed for…

  January – Hand with Seeds: Holding Power in your hands You hold the seeds of change and growth. This is your time for a new start. A new way of being. The seeds of change aren’t far away. They are within your grasp. Now what are you going to do with them? Will you fling them away? Will you grasp them tightly to you? Or, will you plant them and allow them to grow? February – Ewe: Self-Worth Somewhere you learned to not trust in yourself. Somewhere you learned that you do not have worth. Your worth is not in who you know. Or the money you have accumulated.…