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Diana Queen of the Witches             For those of you reading my last few articles you probably noticed that I am using phrases from the Charge of the Goddess as my inspiration for the topics and the Goddesses. The Charge of the Goddess was written by Doreen Valiente (1)  based on Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches by Charles Godfrey Leyland (2). He claimed that it contained the traditional beliefs of Italian witchcraft as conveyed him in a manuscript provided by a woman named Maddalena, whom he referred to as his “witch informant”.  In Leland’s Gospel, Aradia is portrayed as a Messiah, who was sent to Earth in order…

As far as something simple and effective, I don’t think it gets much simpler than smudging, also known as saging or smoking, a space to rid it of negative energies.  It has been my experience that this is the most well known and most widely used way of smudging. Smudging, or the sacred smoke bowl blessing,  is a powerful cleansing technique started by The Native North Americans which actually dates back millennia.  Most traditional cultures, including the Zulu, and Chinese, for example, have age old rituals for blessing and cleansing.  It is impossible to say for certain when smudging actually began, but early civilation came to know that the smoke…

If you ask a group of Pagans why they left the religion they were brought up in, I’m willing to bet that a majority of them will cite restrictive rules as at least one of the reasons. And yet, when you get down to it, aren’t rules part of the reason we turn to a religion? Don’t Wiccans have rules just as complex and important as the those of Catholics? Isn’t the Rede really the same thing as the Golden Rule? Pagans, if we are honest, love rules just as much as any other religion. This past month I’ve been studying two religions at once. The first is Buddhism, but…

The Zombie Apocalypse? For a while now I’ve been noticing a concentration on the apocalypse in the media; particularly the Zombie Apocalypse. Even the government has been putting out information on how to survive the zombie apocalypse.  After all, if you’re ready for that, you should be ready for most any other emergency or disaster, right? I can’t help but wonder why we seem culturally obsessed with the end of society. What does this say about us as a people? Have we collectively given up hope in being able to make big changes for the better without some massive disaster forcing us to? And why zombies? Are we, as a…

Scarcity and Abundance at Lammas   Lammas or Lughnasadh? I must admit I use the names quite interchangeably – although ‘Lammas’ is easier to both pronounce and spell!. ‘Lughnasadh’ is the name of the Celtic festival marking the death of the golden God Lugh meaning literally ‘The Wake of Lugh’. Lammas is the Saxon name for the festival marking the beginning of the grain harvest and means ‘Loaf Mass’, i.e. the celebration of the first loaves produced from this year’s harvest. Celts and Saxons alike held celebratory festivities in gratitude for the beginning of harvest, but it is also a time tinged with a little sadness, for without cutting down…

Let’s continue the theme of uncomfortable Swords cards.  Last month, we talked about the Three of Swords, that card of pain and isolation and betrayal.  If you haven’t read it yet, take a few moments now to do so.   In my opinion, there are two other Swords cards besides the Three of Swords that are not that much fun: the Five of Swords and the Seven of Swords.  The thing about the Five and Seven of Swords is that sometimes it is not easy to differentiate between them.  You know by now my method for dealing with this issue: break the cards down to their most basic ingredients.  …

Common Name: Pokeweed Folk Name: Pigeon Berry Parts Used: leaf, shoot/stem, root, fruit/nut Planet: Uranus Element: Air Gender: Masculine Medicinal Uses: Shoots are eaten after they are properly boiled for a long period. The anti-inflammatory root is given for swollen throat glands. It is purgative and narcotic, expels phlegm, soothes arthritis, kills sperm, and, with the leaf, treats fungal infections. Further research has shown that a component of Pokeweed is useful to the immune system and has proteins that inhibit flu, herpes, and leukemia. This herb must be used with care, respect and expertise because used wrongly it can be deadly. Folklore: The Declaration of Independence was written in fermented…

Is Wicca a Valid Religion?   Many individuals perceive Wicca as a religious system that allows those of us, who identify as Wiccan, to follow a path that “caters to our desires” instead of “following God’s Commandments” and because of this they consider Wicca to be our own invention and not a valid religion. Well, honestly, while others may perceive the religion of Wicca, my religion, in this way – I do not. Wicca is a valid religion.   Wiccans view our planet Earth as a living being. She is Gaia, our Mother and all life (animal, planet, mineral) that flows from her is sacred. No one life is more…

Originally called Sextillis by the Romans, was later named Augustus in honor of Augustus Caesar. August is the eighth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the third month of Summer’s rule. Traditional birthstone amulets of August are the peridot and the sardonyx. The gladiolus and the poppy are the month’s traditional flowers. August is shared by the astrological signs of Leo the Lion and Virgo the Virgin. During the month of August, the Great Solar Wheel of the Year is turned to Lammas, one of the four Grand Sabbats celebrated each year by Wiccans and modern Witches throughout the world. Gathered harvest are celebrated during August. Corn Moon Astrological…

Merry Meet and Welcome to the July Issue of PaganPages Emagazine!   Just as the summer can guarantee heat, we guarantee a Great Issue!   This issue is packed full of articles to get you started on your magickal journey, as well as, articles to help those already into their paths.        Be sure to visit us on our Etsy Site for Beautiful Jewelry, Supplies, and Goodies.     We are currently looking for a columnist to review blogs, sites, podcasts, etc…  If you are interested email [email protected]   Happy Reading!!!