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Brendan Howlin is a Druid grade member of the order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD). He has been Senior International Tutor for Bards and Ovates for 13 years, and Science Correspondent for Touchstone, the journal of OBOD for 13 years. He is also co-founder of Surrey Druid Grove. Brendan is also Director of Postgraduate Research at University of Surrey. I’ve been fascinated by his upcoming book, The Handbook of Urban Druidry, and set out to find out a little more from the author himself. Mabh: I think when most of us consider Druidry, we don’t often think of the term ‘Urban’ as being associated. Can you tell me a…

The Complete Book of Tarot Spreads by Evelin Burger and Johannes Fiebig Published by Sterling Ethos, New York Soft cover, 160 pages.   I was never a reader who was drawn to spread books; right from when I picked up my first Tarot and attempted to tackle a Celtic Cross Spread, I found spread books to be limiting and confining. I prefer to create my own spreads, tailor-made for each of my seekers, and for me the construction of a spread works best if I begin from scratch rather than modifying an existing spread created by someone else.  I was pleasantly intrigued, however, by the Complete Book of Tarot Spreads.…

Zozo          You know how it is, you’re scanning the web looking for the latest in scary or bizarre happenings, and then something catches your interest next thing you know you find yourself in a spiral of stories and theories.  However, there comes the rare occasion when several stories match exactly or are eerily similar.  This is a rare occurrence in the paranormal community so when it does happen you can sense the universal excitement in the air.      I came across this the other night.  I can’t even remember how I got there but soon I was reading, stories upon stories of an entity that refers to itself…

The Gates of Sound   You breathe deeply into the meditation of grounding; preparing and anchoring yourself in anticipation of entering sacred space. You step forward and cross the threshold of ritual space and pass between two drums placed on either side of you echoing the rhythm of your heartbeat. A rush of energy moves through you and you immediately feel the core of your center respond in resonance.  Boom-boom, boom-boom; each dual strike syncopating the placement of one foot in front of the other carrying you into the space of magick and arriving through the Gates of Sound.   Music soothes the soul, quiets the mind and sets the…

Sacajawea Not much is known about Sacajawea. The most reliable sources, concerning her life, her capabilities, her personality and her imprint on history, come from the journals of the men with whom she traveled to the Pacific coast.   I think we all know who Sacajawea was – at least those of us who are students of history. For those who don’t, let me introduce you to a true warrior woman.   She was born somewhere between the years 1787 and 1790 in the area we now call Idaho. Her father was a chief of the Shoshone tribe, and her mother, well, let’s just say most womens’ names were not…

April Fools Day – Sun in Aries – 11 degrees Tuesday, April 1, 2014 – Midnight EDT April Fool’s Day or All Fool’s Day is accepted worldwide on or about April 1st as part of the old Roman holiday celebrating the Goddess, Hilaria. It is a day of fun and joking around. Folks pull pranks and practical jokes upon each other. From the old days, a paper fish could be smacked upon your back and the utterance “April Fish!” would be chimed by all. Today, there are many practical jokes played upon the computer. Stick a piece of tape under the mouse and watch what happens to the next person…

Reading Tea Leaves   My grandmother, my mother’s mother, read tea leaves.  She was a devout Roman Catholic, but she knew all kinds of ways of telling the future, from tasseography to nature’s omens to playing cards.  Gramma was also a wealth of common-sense sayings. Tea-leaf reading was a kitchen event; a woman activity.  She would make a pot of tea, and pour out cups for each of us and tell us each to think of a question – something that we might have been praying for.  She explained that the tea leaves often told us what Jesus and Mary and the holy saints had in store for us.  She…

Ostara Fashion: “The Wicked Witch Of The East” But not the one from Wizard Of Oz! This one comes straight from my imagination, and is a combination of an Ostara witch and a Matushka from Russia. My quest for the perfect garderobe continues. I´m in the process of designing and making five outfits for each Sabbat. Smart enough to go to work in, but at the same time so comfortable to throw a cartwheel in. I like to get dressed in the morning, and then forget all about the whole existence of clothes for the day! And just stay fabulous with no further effort… =)   This witch combines the…

SUBLIME EQUINE ~ Gift of Freedom ~   I have seen things so beautiful they have brought tears to my eyes. Yet none of them can match the gracefulness and beauty of a horse running free. Author Unknown This is a journey into the Gift of Freedom, 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. Allow yourself…