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Shamanism In many ways, my spiritual journey has brought me beyond the more publicised aspects of paganism and deeper into a rediscovery of shamanism. Whereas much of what is practised in the names of many long lost systems of belief is, largely, a modern reconstruction,- there is still a strong shamanistic tradition in many of the surviving indigenous peoples around the world. At a time when the western societies are floundering under the unsupportable system of capitalism, we have much to learn from societies which have lived in a sustainable fashion for most of mankind’s history. But ironically, at a time when we need their wisdom the most, the attack…

Witches Soul Work: Laughter and Ritual                       Usually when we think of ritual or ceremony we think of serious prayer led by serious officiates. We can’t imagine a church ceremony where the priest and the congregation laugh uproariously in lieu of prayer! Yet there are many good reasons why humour and laughter can be used successfully in ritual and many examples from around the world where it does. In Nepal the Gaijatra ceremony, also known as the festival of holy cows (!) featured a parade of participants who had lost loved ones during the previous year. These sad people brought…

Ready, Set, Go! September is synonymous with learning, moving and embarking on new adventures. Not only are we harvesting the rewards of our work earlier in the year, but forging new paths in hopes that these will hold the new plantings later on. For me, this mindset is a constant companion and keeping the creativity flowing is always the goal. I want “everything”! To do, to know, to learn, to be adept at everything! Some might call this a type “A” personality, but it goes much further than this. It is not a need to keep busy, but rather a hunger to take it all in. This has always been…

Etiary: The First Paranormal Social Network   A revolutionary site has come to change the way the paranormal social networking is being used on the internet. Etiary.com is not just a social networking site where members can connect, but also an information center for the alternative subjects of the metaphysical and science. Etiary’s focus is about the veil we can see through in the mundane world, whether it be quantum physics or a magic spell. Frankly, Etiary is a child of modern paranormal perspectives meeting at a conjunction with modern science in most cases. It offers a plethora of options that are selectively geared toward people who are entranced by the…

This month’s Bardic Song is called “Body Mind and Spirit Chant”. It is a simple tune that has body motions to go with the words for easier repetition and the melody line is rather easy. Keep repeating the tune over as often as you wish. The song was originally written as a little exercise for a Drum Corp program that I wrote, when we went to local nursing homes and played drums for the Alzheimer’s patients. As much as possible, all songs are created as a single page in pdf format for easier printing and reading. If you play the piano, these songs are simple enough to pick up right away.…

Venus still Retro in Leo– 14 degrees Tuesday, September 1, 2015 – 12:01 am EDT Goes Direct on Saturday, September 5, 2015 – 6:17 pm EDT The Planet of love and adoration is still going against the grain preparing to trek across the face of the Sun. Affections at this time still seem to be awry in family-oriented Leo. Not to worry, though. Venus is strong-willed and has the capacity to overcome this obstacle. She allows her love and affection to come and go as needed or wanted, sometimes to a fault.     Uranus still Retro in Aries – 19 degrees Tuesday, September 1, 2015 – 12:01 am EDT…

Notes from the Apothecary: Garlic       Not strictly a herb, but in my apothecary, I make good use of whatever is to hand, and currently the garlic from the allotment is drying out nicely in my mother’s pantry. Strongly associated with Hekate, garlic has held magical associations for thousands of years. From warding off the supernatural, to disinfecting rooms, the protective power of garlic has been recognised and revered throughout history. The Kitchen Garden Most of us know garlic for its smell and taste. It is the bulb of the plant that we most commonly use, although the green shoots that we see above the surface of the…

Tara Tara is the Great Goddess in Celtic lore, where her name is the root of *Tor*, a hillock of earth with a spiritual connection to other planes. The name “Tara” is also connected to “Terra”, our Mother Earth. However, the origins of the Tara most known today are in Hinduism, where she was seen as a manifestation of both Kali and Parvati. Her name means *star* and she was thought to have been a Boddhisattava, and a Goddess of Mystery and Mysticism. Tara was adopted into Buddhism and became one of the most popular Goddesses in their pantheon. To them, her name comes from the root “tri”, which means…

The 3rd Chakra As I mentioned previously, when doing any chakra work, it is imperative to keep yourself grounded. While you can use any grounding exercise that you prefer, I have always used this one in my chakra classes: **Stand up, grip toes to the ground, long deep breathing, visualize your roots going deep into Mother Earth, keeping you grounded and centered. Inhale and bring the earth energy up to the base of your spine; exhale and let the energy return to the Earth. With each inhale, receive healing energy from the Earth; with each exhale, release all negativity. This will not hurt Mother Earth, as long as it is…

Nimue Brown: Druidry and Dreams     Nimue is the author of Pagan Dreaming, When a Pagan prays, Spirituality without Structure, Druidry and the Ancestors and Druidry and Meditation. Somehow, despite all the writing she does, she finds time to be an active member of the Pagan and Druid community, run a very popular WordPress blog, work with other Pagan authors and the publisher Moon Books as well as being a musician! I was, therefore, very grateful to grab a few minutes with Nimue, to ask her a few questions about her inspirations, her motivations and her life as a pagan. Mabh Savage: You’re an incredibly prolific writer, with 5…