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Goddess Iagentici       I live on the sacred island of Montreal in Quebec. This island has been the home of the Mohawk, one of the five nations of the Iroquois, for many hundreds of years, some say thousands of years, until the white men came and took it from them. As Witches we connect with and honour the land so we can also honour the gods of the people who lived here before us. Sadly most of us don’t even know their names! Although we don’t worship the gods of the Mohawk, we can still light some sage or a candle on our altars to thank them. This…

Gratitude ritual Merry Meet. Astrological Lughnasadh occurs this year on August 8, as does the cross quarter date. That means if August 1 came and went without an opportunity for a ritual, you still have time to celebrate the first harvest – literally and figuratively. Two days later is a super full moon in Aquarius. On full moons, I like to give thanks for the abundance and blessings in my life. We are so quick to ask for what it is we need, want and desire, I think we sometimes forget to give equal time to rituals of gratitude and celebrating the gifts we have received. Remember, what has become…

This month’s Bardic Song is called “Casting the Circle”. It is a simple tune that has 4 lines for easier repetition and the melody line is rather easy. When I initially created this song, I wanted it only to be three lines long to go with the 3 Circles you can cast around Sacred Space, but it was more natural to create 4 lines for rhyming. 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. If you don’t have the musical inclination, a wav…

Wheel of Year info Lughnasadh (Lammas/Loaf-mass) Friday, August 1, 2014 – 6:11 am EDT (sunrise)   Names: Lammas, Lughnasadh, Festival of Lugh, August Eve (July 31st), Loafmas, Festival of Bread, 1st Harvest, Bread Harvest, Festival of First Fruits, Gwyl Galan Awst (Welsh) Date: Aug 1st (sometimes celebrated on the eve at sunset – July 31st) Astro Correspondence: 15 degrees Leo Color: tans, oranges, yellows and reds Food: grains, cakes, breads, fresh fruits, mushrooms, lamb, berry pies, wine, ale, beer Common Info: Story of Lugh, Handfasting/Handparting, 1st Harvest Fest (grains mostly), Story of John Barleycorn as the Corn King (corn is synonymous with grain),   Lughnasadh is the Sabbat that celebrates Lugh, the God…

Witch bottles   Merry Meet This month’s craft is a magical tool that is centuries old: a witch bottle. It protects the witch from malicious witchcraft and sorcery – as well as from evil and harm. For this you will need small, squat glass jar with a lid that’s perhaps the size of a baby food jar. Assemble a collection of sharp objects, preferably rusty, such as nails, razor blades and bent pins. Shards of broken glass, burrs and thorns are also good. Their purpose is to deflect ill fortune and bad luck. You’ll also need sea salt, a red string or ribbon, and black candle. Fill the jar about…

A Wonderful Book About divination For the past few months, I have been busy transcribing my diaries. I have the years 1978 to 1989 completely typed and saved electronically, and I am currently working on 1990. I also have 1996 and 1999 done, as well as parts of 1993. I plan to change the names and some of the pertinent details and make it into a novel, while keeping it in a diary form. The years 1987 and 1988 were the start of a spiritual journey. Being of a bookish nature, I searched through libraries and book stores to find all the books I could on women’s spirituality, astrology, the…

Bright Blessings, This is my first submission to Pagan Pages, and in it is a short intro to who I am and what this column will be about- as well as an article. By the time I finish this, I will have a title! (I think) Right now, I’m writing about the Sabbats and a little history on them and suggestions on how to celebrate them. I will also include suggestions for celebrating the Sabbat once Circle or the High Day event has finished. Many of the Pagans I know tend to extend their devotions outside of ritual, and like the Pre-Christian Pagans we follow in the footsteps of, our…

The No-Makeup Makeup for Lammas Lammas is the time of year to take it easy, relax, and enjoy the warmth of summer and the sun. By now my skin is it´s most tanned, and looks best with minimal makeup. Effortless and natural beauty is the core here. Making it look like I´ve just rolled out of bed in the morning, and simply looking good as is. The truth is far from it, but nobody needs to know, right?! Here´s the diy to my nude makeup for Lammas:   This is the naked truth, the bare beginning, a clean face with only moisturizer on it. I have not much to celebrate,…

I just love the name Sojourner Truth. I don’t think I have ever come across a name as wonderful as Sojourner Truth. She was born around 1797, or perhaps 1787. Records of slave children were not kept. Standard practice at the time. Her name at birth was Isabella Baumfree. She was born in Ulster County, New York and spent her early years living and working on the farm of her family’s owner, ninety-five miles north of New York City. Between 1806 and 1808, Sojourner Truth was sold as a slave three times. A very inauspicious start to life, I’d say. But the circumstances of her early life did not stop…

FROG PRINCE ~ Gift of Transmutation ~ In nature, there is less death and destruction than death and transmutation. Edwin Way Teale This is a journey into the Gift of Transmutation, a state of natural harmony with all life…and yourself…deep within the Universal Soul, of which you are a cherished and intimate part. Allow yourself to go on this inner journey…into the Spirit of your Beautiful Infinite Self. For here is where you shall find your Truth. Begin by getting comfortable. Find a space that feels at ease with your body, and allow yourself to get into a soft state of relaxation. Take some deep, healing, cleansing breaths…gently inhale and exhale…slowly and…