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(Loo-nas-ah) Major Sabbat (High Holiday) – Fire Festival August 1, 2 Other Names: Lunasa (meaning August), Lughnasaad, Lughnasa Celtic),First Harvest, August Eve, Feast of Cardenas, Feast of Bread, Tailltean Games(Irish), Teltain Cornucopia (Strega), Ceresalia (Ancient Roman) Harvest Home, Thingtide (Teutonic), Lammas (Christian). Laa Luanys, Elembious, Festival of Green Corn (Native American) Animals and Mythical beings: Griffins, Basilisks, Roosters, Calves, Centaurs, Phoenix Gemstones: aventurine, citrine, peridot, sardonyx, yellow diamonds, citrine Incense and Oils: wood aloes, rose, rose hips, rosemary, chamomile, eucalyptus, safflower, corn, passionflower, frankincense, sandalwood Colors: red, orange, golden yellow, green, light brown, gold, bronze, gray Tools, Symbols, and Decorations: corn, cornucopias, red, yellow flowers, sheaves of grain (wheat, barley,…

On Modranacht, which is variously celebrated on December 24th or, in northern tradition, a bit earlier, the Three Maternae or Mothers name the newborn Oak King, the Child of Promise. Giving him a name involves divining his destiny for the next half-year, for the waxing year is the time of his reign. This illustrates the connection in traditional cultures between names and destiny. In our modern cowan 1 culture, we receive names that are little more than noises, but which might reflect sentiment on the part of our parents. Often a favorite aunt or uncle’s name is reproduced in the first or middle name of the newborn child. But the…

The Mystical Handbag Remember the movie Mary Poppins? Mary had this great carpet-bag. When she opened it she pulled out the most amazing stuff, a wall mirror, a floor lamp, a coat rack, etc. The children were awestruck that such large items could be contained in such a small bag. That’s magic, well of the movie kind anyway. Though we don’t usually carry a carpet-bag around with us today, we do carry handbags, purses, book bags and the like. These usually contain the essentials that we need to get through our day. But we as Witches, Healers and Magic workers often carry the tools of our trade with us. Hand…

Welcome to the July Issue of PaganPages   This issue is packed full of all your Lammas Information   A Review of Annie Finch’s Book “Spells: New and Selected Poems       Also, We have an Interview with Author Laura Perry     You can visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and our Etsy. 

Mercury still Retrograde in Gemini – 24 degrees From the beginning of July, Mercury is retrograde, but has been stationing for several days to go direct later. At the onset of the month computer glitches are either trying to cause issues one last time or they are subsiding. How are your health issues? Waning? Mercury goes direct later on July 1 in Gemini – 24 degrees. See below for more information.     Saturn still Retrograde in Scorpio – 16 degrees Saturn’s appointment for non-discernable  discipline continues to cause issues on a personal level, which stretches into our personal lives. Folks are recognizing the fact that you aren’t your “normal”…

Let’s cement what we learned last month when we talked about the Queen of Pentacles, by examining another Tarot “royal,” the Queen of Swords. First, a review of information we talked about last month. A Tarot deck has 78 cards. There are 22 Major Arcana cards, with numbers from 0 to 21; the Majors usually deal with broader and more far-reaching life experience issues, archetypes that are easy for us to identify with and connect with at some point in our lives. There are 56 Minor Arcana cards that are customarily grouped into four categories or suits that represent the four elements (sometimes called “Pips” or “Pip Cards”), with numbers…

Shadows Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again…. As I told you before I’ve always been a moonchild. I love the night. The dark gives me a safe, cosy and peaceful feeling. Life slows down, I slow down. I enjoy walking my dogs in the middle of the night. Deserted streets, the sound of silence, soft moonlight. A ship blows its horn in the distance. A lone cyclist races home through the dark. A pub owner turns off the light and closes the door. He smiles and nods. He knows me, a fellow night owl… I really don’t understand why ‘dark’ or ‘black’ has a…

Aine, Goddess of the Sun   In Wicca today we often associate the sun with the God and the moon with the Goddess but in fact there are many sun Goddesses in many cultures. At the time of Midsummer when the sun is at its peak we connect with that energy in our rituals and our meditations (also in our bar-b-q on the deck!) Three Celtic Goddesses are associated with the sun, Aine, Brighid and Olwen. Aine was one of the great Irish Goddess who represented the spark of life. Her festival was celebrated on Midsummer’s eve. Later she was remembered in Christian times as the fairy queen in south…

Litha Fashion: Polka Dot Tunic   Nautical style is such a classic that it is always a fashionable summer look. Trends make the shapes and forms of the clothes change, but the style remains. You know, red-and-white and blue-and-white stripes, white pants, navy blue with white accents, etc. In many cases I like to do things differently, but here I´m all in the same boat with everyone else. I simply love the nautical style, and it flows, along with the 1950´s theme, through pretty much my whole Litha Collection. Here is one way I like to wear it:         A classic feminine look of white polka dots…

Stones   A popular form of divination is runes. It is a set of ancient Germanic letters or inscriptions that legend says came to the Norse god Odin, a relentless seeker of knowledge and wisdom. It is said that he pierced himself with his spear and hung from a branch of Yggdrasil, the World Tree at the center of the Norse cosmos, for nine days and nights, sacrificing himself for the knowledge of the runes, which was revealed to him. He passed on the knowledge to Freya. Heimdall, the god who guards the Rainbow Bridge, taught the runes to man. Runes are an oracle that can be consulted for advice.…