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Skillet Pork Chops with Rice and Tomatoes There is nothing like an heirloom recipe. I cherish the ones I have from both of my grandmothers and my mother. To me, it’s a way of preserving the magic that they instilled in me from an early age – that of kitchen witchery. I doubt that they would have looked at it in that way – I know my mother wouldn’t! – but magic in the kitchen is magic in the kitchen, no matter how you term it. This is an old recipe of my Gramma Mac’s. Like so many recipes of that era, it doesn’t give very good directions and in…

The Making of… Mr. & Mrs. Deer A few years ago after a full moon celebration with friends we were drumming and talking about making our own drums. Most of us had never done that before, but together we shared some experience. We decided then and there to get this show on the road! We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into though…. We prepared the best way we could and started fresh. We couldn’t find a lot of info on the www, except for some video’s on YouTube. I decided to document the process in pictures, for ourselves and for others that might be interested. Here’s the…

Raven Grimassi: Communing with the Ancestors I was sent a copy of Raven Grimassi’s latest book, Communing with the Ancestors: Your Spirit Guides, Bloodline Allies and the Cycle of Reincarnation, and was immediately intrigued by the beautiful style of writing and the inclusive nature that encompasses people of all paths. A full review of the book will be available on Pagan Pages next month, but in the meantime, I was lucky enough to get the chance to ask Raven some questions about this fascinating volume. Mabh Savage: Tell us about Communing with the Ancestors. What was your main aim with the book, and what type of reader will get the…

IX CHEL (Photo Credit: fullmoonhealingarts.com) Ix Chel is the Mayan Snake Goddess of the Water. She is the Goddess of the moon, childbirth and weaving. She is also a Fertility Goddess, who brings the rain to feed the crops and who insured fertility by overturning her sacred urn. She is the weaver of the circle of life. She is the Goddess of the Moon and healing, overseeing the medicinal plants and herbs, healing and the phases of the moon. Her name Ix Chel is broken down to Ix = Goddess of the feminine and Chel = Rainbow or Light. Some of her many names are: Lady of the Rainbow or…

Tangle-wood   Photo by Vivienne Moss   As I walk along the moss covered earth, I find myself lost in thought. The worries of my mundane life slowly fall from my shoulders as I soak in the rich scent and the sweet sound of Nature. At times I feel like an imposter among the untouched trees of the forest. But not today. Today I feel connected to the wooded land I find myself in. Tendrils of Willow reach out to tap me on my shoulder, reminding me to wake up to the wondrous world that I am blessed to be a part of. This is that magical moment I have…

Creating Effective Quarter Calls   If you look in any book on magickal practice or on the internet and you will quite easily find all manner of prose for calling or inviting the energies of the cardinal quarters into your sacred space. The positive in this is that it gives a variety of personalization and adaptation to you to use as points of comparison for your own versions suited specifically to your working. This very benefit is also the biggest detriment. Simply reciting a call to the energies because you thought it was powerful, well written or sounded very mysterious and “witchy” is reckless. Moreover, words – more so, when…

Notes from the Apothecary: The Elder Tree     We’ve always had elder trees in the garden, for as long as I can remember. As you get to my parents’ house there is one hanging over the privet hedge into the street. The branches home to birds ranging from tiny tits to massive woodpigeons; the roots threatening to burst through the tarmacadam of the pavement. As you walk through the gate there are four more elder trees guarding the side of the house, and every year there is an enormous harvest of both flowers and berries, and still plenty left for the every-hungry birds. When I was quite small, a…

      Kiara Episode: 10 Perhaps because their two hearts were now linked by love, as Kiara slipped into fever, so did Jeremiah. Although miles apart, even in their fevered dreams they sought each other out. For days they both wandered lost, through the nightmare world of fever that some call the land of the dead. Jeremiah was to remember later, that he had seen her. There was an image in his head of her reaching out to him. He could see her pale hands almost touching him before she was swept away like leaves in the wind. He heard her call out that she would find him. He…

Two Book Reviews Merry meet. Small books are fun to grab and travel easily. This month, we’ll take a look at two that are about spells. Little Cauldron of Good Luck Spells by Midia Star, first published in Great Britain in 2004, is a collection of more than 40 spells and charms to bring about good fortune. Dedicated to “all those who are down on their luck right now,” this 128-page book offers a magical helping hand. There are good luck spells for an audition, travel and selling your home. Others cover business, finances, love and health. Nearly all take up two pages, assuring that nothing is too complicated. Tools…

  Elves, Pixies, Leprechauns and Faeries How many readers truly believe in their existence? Be honest with yourself. Have you ever seen one? Felt one around you? – Heard one? – Spoken to them and had you query or request answered?. I have. I do not believe in the Faeries. – I am forced to accept their existence because of their interaction and influence on my life in this past 8 years. I have been to many “Pagan” rituals and events. Some, – such as my Hand-Fasting ceremony, were so powerful that even family and friends were aware of the spiritual energies which were present. My wife, Tina is a powerful…