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Mala Beads Mala beads are used when chanting, repeating mantras, or the name of a deity. They are also used to focus your mind during your meditation. The word “mala” comes from the Sanskrit word for garland. The earliest traces of mala beads dates back to at least the 3rd century BCE. However, it is said that Buddha himself gave us the instructions for their use. There is a sutra (teaching) that tells us that there was once a king who prayed extremely hard to Buddha for a simple way to help ease his suffering from all the difficulties he faced. Buddha responded by telling him to get 108 soapnut…

The Hawthorn Tree I was visiting my mom and my aunt the other day out at the ranch, which formerly belonged to my grandma and where I grew up. We were sitting around the old Formica table in the kitchen chatting on about how green everything was, when my aunt said that she was going to have the Hawthorn cut down. “What for?” I blurted out, before remembering that grandma left her the house and surrounding property. She said the thorns were too dangerous. Well okay, yes, the thorns can grow to three inches, but we all grew up with the tree and learned to be respectful of it. My…

Introduction: The rites of witchcraft, whether performed alone or with others, are a form of magic theatre. One goes to them not to sit in the audience but to participate in the performance. Audiences can arrive tired, perhaps somewhat dispirited, prepared to relax and, if possible, receive some form of uplift from the spectacle. This is not the case with performers; they must be vigorous, well-balanced in their energies, with energies pitched high and practically electric. The rite itself should, if performed well, both deepen and further heighten those energies, but one goes to the magic theatre to give and share energy rather than to be lifted out of some…

A Brief Look at Uranus Uranus also goes by Ouranos. He is sometimes known as Father Heaven, or simply, The Sky. He was Gaia’s son and husband, as Gaia created Uranus to cover her all over, and to be as resting place, always secure, for all the blessed gods, and then she created hills and pontos. Gaia and Uranus had many offspring together. Uranus is the father of Cronus, the twelve Titans, the Cyclops and the Hundred Handed. Now, Uranus hated his children, and felt threatened by them as well. He worried they would overrule him, so as soon as each Titan was born, he hid it within Gaia. She…

Celebrating the Forgotten Goddess Within! Hi my lovelies! March is here, yay…bring on that BST and the extra hour of daylight!!! Spring is springing and nature is in full on fertility mode, 50 shades of Grey has nothing on our natural world. The cycle of the Goddess is well and truly underway for the year, the maiden rules once again, all young, beautiful and full of promise. But with everything screaming newness and freshness I can’t help thinking it is all a little past me. Ok, I can feel the vibrancy of the Maiden in nature, but in my inner world that phase is over. At 44 I can’t really…

The Storm Moon Spring sowing The name March came from the God Mars, for this month was sacred to him. Mars is much like the other God’s – Ares’s (Greek), Tiu or Tiwaz (Central Europe), Teutates (celts), and Tyr (Norse). Astrological Signs: Pisces, February 19 – March 20, Aries, March 21 – April 20 Birthstones: Aquamarine Nature Spirits: Mer-people, Air and Water beings who are connected with spring rains and storms. Animals: Cougar, hedgehog, boar Birds: Sea crow, sea eagle Trees: Alder, dogwood Flowers: Jonquil, daffodil, violet Herbs: Broom, High John Root, yellow dock, wood betony, Irish moss Scents: Honeysuckel, apple blossom Colors: Pale green, red-violet Stones: Aquamarine, bloodstone God/dess:…

Yvonne Ryves: Weaving the Web Yvonne Ryves is a practicing shamanic healer, shamanic drum maker, holistic therapist and trainer. Living and working in West Cork, Ireland, she runs courses on energy healing and shamanic work. She has recently contributed to the Shaman Pathways series with the book Web of Life, cited as a new approach to using ancient ways in contemporary times. I caught up with Yvonne to find out a bit more about the book. Mabh: What inspired you to write Web of Life? Yvonne: For some time before I wrote Web of Life, I had been aware of how often I came across ways of working which were…

Back to the Minors this month; let’s talk about the Five of Pentacles. This is a fitting card to consider, as its traditional image shows a woman and a child in rags, braving a cold snowstorm! I live in New Jersey, and we have had some cold and snow these past weeks, so I have just the right frame of mind to delve into this card. The Five of Pentacles is a Minor Arcana card, so we know right away that the message offered by this card will most likely be more immediate in nature, or will most likely be connected to more day-to-day issues. Remember, while on the surface…

Touching Mother Earth I was sitting in my van one morning, quite recently. The windows were open and I was listening to a pretty little bird chattering away as I gazed across the misty fields. It was a cold damp morning, everything tinged with silver and grey. I could hear the distant traffic from the M180,- it sounded like waves on shore. I relaxed and allowed my mind to wander. I began to ponder on the myth, and the hidden purpose of civilization. I found myself sitting in a cave, looking out past a large fire in the entrance. Behind it, I felt protected from wolves and bears, but I…

Freya     Freya, or Freyja, Queen of the Valkyries and Queen Mother of the Vanir, is both a goddess of love, peace and sexuality, as well as the ruler of war and death. As a goddess of peace, she is the spirit of the Earth’s fertility, as she is always there when Spring has awakened, and removes herself from earth in the Fall and Winter. As one of the Vanir, she was a giver of magic, and as such, she taught women chosen by her, magic songs to allow them to see into the future. As Queen of the Valkyries, she clothed herself in a falcon-feathered cloak and her…