-
Weyland’s Whey, 2024 Litha/Dyad Moon Column
“In Wicca, rituals are ceremonies which celebrate and strengthen our relationships with the Goddess, the God and the Earth.” –Scott Cunningham Doubleheader Say it “LEE-tha””. (Don’t fret if you’ve had it wrong for years, I just learned how to pronounce it last week.) I prefer the name Midsummer, cause to me it just sounds cooler. Either way, this Summer Solstice Sabbat celebrates the year’s longest day. The focus is usually on the power of the sun. This year’s Litha overlaps the June esbat. To me, that definitely adds another layer to the celebration! I plan to do a Sun Salutation in the morning and a Full Moon circle…
-
Deck Review: The Dragon Rider’s Oracle by Christine Arana Fader, Illustrated by Elena Dudina
The Dragona Rider’s Oracle by Christine Arana Fader, illustrated by Elena Dudina, published by Earthdancer, an imprint of Inner Traditions publishing. For those who love Dragons, this 43 card deck is different from the rest, in that each card not only features a Dragon, but also a “Dragon Rider”, various spirits and deities that the author has come across in her mediumship sessions. Each card then takes on two messages, as each spirit and dragon have a message for their respective cards, which can be found in the guidebook accompanying the deck. The deck itself comes in a sturdy box with an attractive cover, featuring the art from one of the…
-
Book Review: Secrets of Greek Mysticism by George Lizos
Secrets of Greek Mysticism: A Modern Guide to Daily Practice with the Greek Gods and Goddesses by George Lizos, published by Hampton Roads Publishing, an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser runs a total of 240 pages. The book begins with Lizos explaining his own cosmological views, as well as the nature of divinity and the Gods and Goddesses. Lizos then goes on to discuss the relationship between humans the Gods and Goddesses, before beginning a section exploring in more depth, the 12 Olympian Gods and Goddesses. Each of the 12 Olympians has a section that covers the deity’s virtues, as well as hymns, prayers, and meditations with those Gods and Goddesses. The…
-
Weyland’s Whey, June 17th Column, Faun Review
“Magick is the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with the will.” –Aleister Crowley MUSIC Review Faun German group. Pagan, folk, medieval music and darkwave. Performances combine medieval and modern instruments like the hurdy-gurdy, lutes, bagpipes and celtic harp. Their vocals are in diverse languages including Latin, Greek, German and English. Formed in 1998. I had the good fortune to score a telephone interview with one of the band members a few years ago during my first stint with PaganPages. (How many years ago? Oh, about umpteen, back when I was still in my frisky fifties!) It was an absolute pleasure and the friendliest interview I’ve…
-
Book Review: Pagan Portals: Dragon Magic by Rachel Patterson
Here Be Dragons… Pagan Portals: Dragon Magic by Rachel Patterson is another lovely addition to one of my favorite Pagan publication series. For those unfamiliar, Pagan Portals is a series of short, introductory books on various deities, magicks, etc., by Moon Books. I received an e-book copy of this wonderful book, and it doesn’t disappoint, either, especially if you’re a lover of Dragons and their lore, myths, and power. Patterson begins by addressing myths from around the world pertaining to Dragons, from Chinese myths, to Ancient Greek, Roman and Egyptian myths, various Catholic and Orthodox myths with Dragons, Middle Eastern, Celtic and Norse, and even more world myths of Dragons, giving the unfamiliar…
-
Book Review: Alive with Spirits by Althaea Sebastiani
Overview of Alive with Spirits Alive with Spirits: The Path and Practice of Animistic Witchcraft by Althaea Sebastiani, published by Weiser, is a book that I’ve been personally excited to read since Weiser mentioned it on social media. Sebastiani doesn’t disappoint, either. She starts off with what I consider a thesis on the philosophy of animism, in that it isn’t something you believe but rather, something you embody through daily practice. Sebastiani continuously breaks down societal barriers and programming that prevent most from fully taking on this worldview. She states that Animistic Witchcraft and Polytheism typically go hand-in-hand (and from experience as a Polytheist and Animist, I concur), but that other paradigms of Witchcraft also…
-
Good God! – Helios
Helios is the Greek god of the sun and solar activity. A second-generation Titan, he was the son of Hyperion and Theia; his two sisters were Eos (the Dawn) and Selene (the Moon). Helios lived in a golden palace at the end of the earth. Each morning Eos would create the dawn in the East, making way for her brother to drive his golden chariot across the sky, pulled by four fire-breathing (sometimes winged) horses – one of the most recognizable images in Greek art. When he reached the West, he hid in a golden goblet on earth that carried him back to the East while Selene would begin her…
-
Book Review- The HooDoo Tarot Workbook By- Tayannah Lee McQuillar
As someone who was born with a natural curiosity and drive to learn all there is to learn about everything, I absolutely love when a writer gives background and insight into the subject they are discussing; so it was only natural that I devoured every word of The HooDoo Tarot Workbook by Tayannah Lee Miller. The author does a fantastic job of not only explaining The HooDoo Tarot Deck, but also giving some insight and personal knowledge on the topics. This is a fantastic way to learn more about HooDoo even if you aren’t looking to learn a new deck. Her explanations about each person, plant, and card come from…
-
Book Review – The Marie Laveau Voodoo Grimoire by Denise Alvarado
Book Review The Marie Laveau Voodoo Grimoire by Denise Alvarado Publisher: Red Wheel/Weiser 240 Pages Release Date: February 5, 2024 “Alvarado skillfully uses Laveau as a conduit to bring to life voodoo’s rich history (she takes particular care to examine its West African roots) and modern applications. This bewitching compendium is ideal for those seeking to expand their magical horizons.” —Publishers Weekly Marie Laveau is known as the Queen of New Orleans Voodoo and is remembered and honored by pagans from all backgrounds and beliefs. As a hoodoo practitioner and rootworker, I was excited to get this book. Author Denise Alvarado is very upfront about how she put this book…
-
Book Review: Everyday Magic by Marie D. Jones and Denise A. Agnew
Book Review: Everyday Magic by Marie D. Jones and Denise A. Agnew Publisher – Visible Ink Press – 2024 305 pages Published – 2024 Everyday Magic is subtitled – How to Live a Mindful, Meaningful and Magical Life. It’s the subtitle that gives us a hint of what the overall intent is for the book. As you begin to move through the pages it becomes very clear that this is not about mysticism but about the magic that we can all put back in to our everyday lives. How we can be mindful of all of the day to day things – Nature, Gratitude, Service and…
