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The Rites of Death for Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times I get to pick the topic this time! It is one that addresses a major rite of passage, and perhaps the one that is most frightening and painful. Death. Over the course of human civilization, beliefs as to what happens to us after our bodies die have changed drastically. Many favor the belief that upon death, we go to a beautiful place and are reunited with loved ones. This is certainly what I like to believe. Not everybody has seen it that way over the years, and we all know monotheistic faiths tend to favor a belief in…

Frau Holle/Hold/Hulde (Photo Credit: www.udagen.de) Frau Holle is a Germanic/Scandinavian Goddess, who is celebrated at the Winter Solstice. The wonderful Maria Gimbutas believes that Frau Holle pre-dates most of the Scandinavian pantheocon. It is said that Holle lives in a cave nestled in the mountains or at the bottom of a deep well. She is Maiden. She is Mother. She is Crone. As an Earth Goddess, she represents fertility and growth, as well as being the feminine spirit of the woods and plants. Her special plants are in the evergreen family, such as mistletoe and holly. Her tree is the Elder, which is called “the medicine of the common people”,…

Witch Balls The last few months a certain object demanded my attention. In books, in my dreams, on the internet in places you wouldn’t expect… It took me some time before I figured it out, but in the end the message was clear: ‘the universe’ wanted me to pay attention and learn about… witch balls! Of course I had heard about them but I never really did something with it. Witch balls are hollow spheres of coloured glass that often contain a few thin fibres strung inside. They seem to originate in cultures that believe in harmful magic , evil spirits and such, to ward those off by hanging a…

Living with Spirituality For me, Neopaganism is about reaching out to the universe and listening to the messages that spirit gives us. This is not always an easy task,- accepting the advice of spirit does not always guarantee an easy passage through life. Listening to spirit, or the “God(s)/Goddess(‘s)” is a path which is open to everyone, regardless of belief. Even an atheist who follows their “hunches” is doing exactly the same thing. The beauty and the freedom of neopaganism lies in the acceptance of many paths to wisdom and guidance. My own journey consisted of finding the “truths” in many beliefs, until I reached a point of total acceptance…

Heirloom Holiday Cutout Cookies I have been studying and practicing the skills associated with the Pagan and Wiccan religions for over thirty years now. My Book of Shadows, once a small spiral notebook, has grown to three large notebook binders, organized by subject and carefully maintained. Much of my information was copied from library books but nowadays I am more likely to print directly from the internet. I am a fairly eclectic witch – I live with the seasons and work to develop my divinatory skills – as a solitary, my rituals are very quiet and quite Zen-like in their simplicity. I am also unapologetically Dianic and see no reason…

    Lesser Sabbat – Winter Solstice, circa Dec 21 Other Names: Jul (“wheel”, Old Norse), Saturnalia(Rome ~December 17 & 18), Yuletide(Teutonic), Midwinter, Fionn’s Day, Christmas (Christian~December 25), Xmas, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year Animals/Mythical beings: yule goat (nordic), reindeer stag, squirrels, yule cat, Sacred White Buffalo, Kallikantzaroi-ugly chaos monsters(greek), trolls, phoenix, yule elf, jule gnome, squirrels, wren/robin Gemstones: cat’s eye, ruby, diamond, garnet, bloodstone Incense/Oils: bayberry, cedar, ginger, cinnamon, pine, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, wintergreen, saffron Colors: gold, silver, red, green, white Tools,Symbols, & Decorations: bayberry candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells, mother & child images Goddesses: Great Mother,…

Dreaming Goddess – Dream So many mixed messages, half-truths, untruths, misstatements, lies. How do you know what to believe? These are scary times. And sometimes it can be hard to know where to turn. Who to believe. Who to not believe. Enemies become allies, allies become enemies. All in the blink of an eye. Moves played out again and again. And you feel helpless in it all. Dream the world as you want it to be. Set your intentions on making your part of the world just that tiny bit better than it has been. Dream a dream of peace and cooperation, love and tolerance, and acceptance. Dream a world…

Uranus still Retro in Aries – 16 degrees Tuesday, December 1, 2015 – 12:01 am EDT Goes Direct on Friday, December 25, 2015 – 4:12 pm EST Uranus is that Planet that hates to be confined. It is known as the “break out” Planet for that reason. When retrograde, Uranus can be responsible, more traditional and relaxed, but it feels bound by the obstacles surrounding it. As Uranus goes retrograde in Aries, there is a feeling of enthusiasm and courage to take responsibility. It is not a time to worry about what others think about you. Do your own thing at your own pace and life will be grand.  …

It’s All About the Lavender   Here are some beauty recipes whose main ingredient is lavender.   Lavender and Rosemary Soap   Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) each have a mild yet stimulating effect on skin. Both are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and beneficial for treating wounds, blemishes, boils, dermatitis, fever blisters, and more. Begin this soap by making and infusion of fresh lavender flowers and rosemary leaves. To make an infusion, pour one cup of steaming hot water over three tablespoons of dried or fresh lavender flowers and rosemary leaves (proportioned as you like) and steep for ten minutes. 3 cups glycerin soap base 1/4 cup lavender flowers/rosemary leaves infusion 1 1/2 tsp. lavender oil…

Peace Practice Merry meet! This year, I find myself wanting to create peace more strongly than I have in a long time. It seems to be a theme in my life, or perhaps the title of this chapter of the journey. As the whole world seemingly gears up for a frenzy of holiday shopping, decorating and partying – all during a time of uncertainty and unrest – I long to snuggle under a blanket of still snow and listen to music that lulls me into calm, feeling safe and staying grounded until Imbolc brings its energy shift and the stirring of new life. Without knowing it, I was searching for…