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(Oh-star-ah) – Lesser Sabbat – Spring/Vernal Equinox, March 20-21st – when the Sun enters Ares Other Names: Ostre, Oestre, Eostre, Rites of Spring, Eostra’s Day, Lady Day, First Day of Spring, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Alban Eiler, Bacchanalia, Mean Earraigh, Pasch, Caisg, Pess Date: Spring Equinox (March 20-22 in Northern Hemisphere) or when the Sun is 1 degree Aries. Symbolism: The beginning of spring, new life and rebirth, the God and Goddess in Their youth, balance, fertility Goddesses: all love, virgin, and fertility Goddesses; Anna Perenna (Roman), Aphrodite (Greek), Astarte (Canaanite, Persia, GrecoRoman), Athena (Greek), Cybele (Greco-Roman), Blodeuwedd, Eostre (Saxon Goddess of Fertility), Flidais (Irish), Gaia (Greek), Hera, Ishtar (Assyro-Babylonian),…

Ostara Blessings!   Herbs to use in your magic at Ostara: lily of the valley, tansy, lavender, marjoram, thyme, tarragon, lovage, lilac, violets, lemon balm, dogwood, honeysuckle, oakmoss, orrisroot, sunflower seeds, rose hips, oak, elder, willow, crocus, daffodil, jonquil, tulip, broom (Scotch or Iris), meadowsweet, acorn, trefoil (purple clover), vervain.   Incense, Herbs and Woods   Violet, honeysuckle, narcissus, and lemon make good incenses for Ostara — the scents should be clear and light, floral and evocative, but not overwhelming or intoxicating. Herbs associated with springs include meadowsweet, cleavers, clover, lemongrass, spearmint and catnip.   If you want to use wood in your spells and rituals, ash has a strong…

Poppets             A Poppet is a doll created in the likeness of another person which is used to cause change. There are also poppets that are created for the betterment of the earth, and in cases like that a Poppet will be made to look like, for example, a Goddess like Gaia. They are very connected to Goddess magick because of the creative expression and insight in the creation, and the actual breaking of life into the Poppet. Poppets have been used for thousands of years and are often feared in society. They have many other names like “Fetish, Mommet, Moppet, Bud-will and Pippie, but are unfortunately associated to evil…

Raising the Cone of Power   One way of casting a spell which is suited to covens of from four to twelve (plus a leader) is to form an image of the magical aim and then cast this into the astral, through the Height, after building up power through the Witch’s Mill and the Witch’s Rune. While the visible part of the temple is the magic circle within which coveners work, this is conceived as a plane bisecting a sphere.  The highest point on the sphere is called ‘the Height,’ and the lowest point is ‘the Deep’.  The upper half of the sphere can be visualized by all in common,…

My Power Animals   Some refer to them as totems, totem animals, spirit guides, animal guides, etc. I simply call them power animals. There are several definitions and uses to distinguish. I learned several, but to me my power animals are always with me. In meditations they accompany and/or guide me. I can ask them questions, or to bring me somewhere or to someone. I want to share with you how I met my power animals. I know a person can have temporary power animals too, but at the moment I have two permanent ones with me.   Years ago I was at a workshop with Gavin Bone (author, lecturer…

Last but by far not the least of the Six cards of the Tarot Minor Arcana is the Six of Wands.  As we’ve come to discover, in the Tarot Minor Arcana, the Six cards are kind of unique.  This is in part because of the properties of the number 6, and in part because of the properties of the Sephira corresponding to the Tarot Sixes on the Tree of Life.  Before we talk about the Six of Wands, if you haven’t read October’s essay on the Six of Pentacles, and in particular the information regarding the number 6, please do so now.   The Six cards of the Tarot offer…

A Shamanic View: Cultural Misappropriation One thing that has come up a couple times in our local pagan discussion group is cultural misappropriation. Usually when this comes up in the media it’s about stealing fashion or culture.  But what about when it’s spiritual or religious? I think the usual rule tends to be, “ask ten pagans and you’ll get twelve answers.” I’ve already said some things about appropriating the title ‘shaman.’ This time I want to talk about rituals, ceremonies, healing or divination techniques, and so on. One example to start with would be the sweat lodge. This made headlines a few years back when people died in one that…

Musings concerning correspondences   A correspondence is something that is a close similarity, connection or equivalence to something else. Some witches and magickal practitioner will insist that correspondences are vital and must always be considered when spell casting however I tend to disagree. Yes, they can be very helpful with the stimulation of mental focus but in my opinion they are not a necessity. If a witch is successful in manifesting her or his intention without the use of correspondences then why would anyone desire to complicate things?   Since everything holds an energetic signature, I find that correspondences aid in the alignment of a spell’s intention or goal. If…

What Inspires You?   This first post launches my new monthly column entitled The Magickal ARTS. The intent is to forge and strengthen the connections between magickal/spiritual practice and the visual and performing arts. Music, dance, literature, visual art and more are woven throughout both our mundane and magickal pursuits and act to heal, inform, change and enliven us.  Some are overt in their impact and others are transparent; yet profound in the vibration and energy offered. These tools inspire us to reach deeply into the stores of our own creative endeavors. The arts engage us at emotional levels reaching into our soul’s hunger to feel, to gain experience and to ultimately…