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She walks amidst the shadows of the night, the radiance of the moon her only light She reaches the place where the waters meet the shore Feeling the power deep in her core She looks up to the moon, a wonder to behold its’ energy calls out to her reaching her very soul Her arms slowly rise up, breath coming slow, but steady She stands between sea and stars until the moment she is ready With one last movement, her arms fall, drawing down the moon into herself answering the Goddess’ call (Photo Credit: Pinterest.com)

Knot Magick Merry meet. A simple yet powerful way to cast a spell is by putting knots in a cord. It could be for protection, healing, invoking energies or giving yourself confidence. Sailors once had witches put wind into knots, so if they found themselves in a calm, they could untie one of the knots to get wind to fill their sails. Before beginning, fix your desire firmly in your mind as you feel what its like to have what it is you are asking for. A round silk cord or other natural fiber is generally preferred, but anything from a shoelace to yarn to ribbon can be used. You…

I can’t remember a time when I haven’t enjoyed the autumn season. Cool days, the crunch of dried leaves underfoot. Even living in a city, I can see and hear the signs of a changing season around me.   I think it very fortunate that the part of SE London where I live has many green spaces, as they are called. These aren’t just the obligatory park either. Nearly every street has hardy trees planted along it. Grassy patches and flower beds abound. And just like their counterparts in the countryside, they change and grow and shed their leaves when the nights grow longer and the days grow cooler. I…

Samhain 2016 for Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times Bright Blessings! Samhain is upon us! Many of y0u had your celebrations in the past week, and some of you will have yours this week. Thanks to the wizardry of Jennifer, our editor, here at Pagan Pages, I can post links to past Samhain articles here if you’d like to look over them. Here is 2015’s Samhain article: https://paganpages.org/emagazine/2015/10/celebrating-the-old-ways-in-new-times-12/ And here’s the article for 2014’s Samhain article: https://paganpages.org/emagazine/2014/10/celebrating-the-old-ways-in-new-times-2/ Both articles explore some history and pre-Christian practices. This year’s Samhain article is going to specifically focus on something that is quite controversial in some of our communities- the revelry some engage…

                                  Welcome   Our Samhain Issue is sure to please.  We have many great features this month for your reading pleasure…such as…   An interview with Joanna van der Hoeven, best-selling author, teacher, and co-founder of Druid College UK.   A review of the book “The Yoga Back Book,” by author Stella Weller.  “The natural solution to freedom from pain.”     An informative Sacred Place, Sacred Space article this month, from Susan Morgaine, on Goddess Temples in the U.S.     Seeing the Signs this month Gives us a lesson on Tarot and the…

The Celtic Cross Samhain is traditionally a time of divination. Some methods – such an apple and tossing the peel over your shoulder and seeing the design of the peel – have gone down in history as “folk love magic”, since the apple peel, left overnight on the hearth, will set into the letter of your true-love. We did this as children. In my own Samhain rituals, I always use tarot cards – tarot cards have always been my first and favorite form of divination. I first picked up a deck in 1988 – a Rider-Waite deck – and I have never stopped loving the feel and the ease of…

Water is Life Merry meet. I am among the many pagans who want to support the warriors at Standing Rock. Two sisters in my coven – Debra Cohen and Janet Coffa – wrote a ritual that more than a dozen women chose to participate in at a Mabon retreat. I’m sharing it below in the hopes that you will use it to enlist the support of others in this important effort. The protectors, the warriors at Standing Rock represent each and every one of us who understand the need to protect our environment, our multicultural values and the very Earth that supports us. The statement “Water is Life” is true…

THE YOGA BACK BOOK BY STELLA WELLER A Book Review The sub-title to this book is “the natural solution to freedom from pain”. Since almost everyone has suffered from back pain at one time or another, not to mention those who suffer from daily, chronic back pain, this book could be a lifesaver, if used correctly. Ms. Weller’s background is as both a registered nurse and a yoga therapist, so her information comes from both a yogic and medical path. The book is extremely informative. It not only describes the exercises, it includes photos of each one, plus its’ variation, if there is one. (Note: Making adjustments is very important…

Culling Time Come September when autumn winds start to chill our focus is on the harvest. I have friends from all over who are busy canning and preserving fruits and vegetables they have grown in their gardens. Those of us who don’t have access to a garden or allotment may be looking at ideas we planted in the spring. How have they grown? Are they ready for harvesting and completion? The focus is very much on bringing in the harvest, whether literal or symbolic, but little attention is given to the other part of this season – this is a time of culling. For the farmer, this meant looking at…

Apples   Apple Magick is very popular on Samhain. Whether you are trying to divine who your next lover will be or paying tribute to an ancestor, apples abound on this holiday. Here are a few ways to bring apples into your home for the holidays…. Burn Apple Blossom incense in your workings, on your altar, or to give the room a nice smell. Eat some apples.  They have wonderful health benefits.  You can read some of what those are here. Make a new wand using the branch of an apple tree. Use them in your recipes for a Samhain meal. A Simmer Pot is a great and easy way to…