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The Self-Sufficient Hedge The Hedgewitch lives in the space between the Village and the Forest. Between the mundane and the magical. S/He lives with a foot in both worlds. This column is dedicated to the Hedgewitches of the planet earth. As some may recall, I moved to a small farmstead in coastal Oregon a year and a half ago. A tiny cottage situated on a few acres of land, half covered with ancient spruce, hemlock and fir. Immediately I began digging gardens, and within a month had installed 6 fluffy baby chickens into my laundry room to brood. The move came as a direct result of job-loss, with a downturn…

Sexy Herbs Herbs that influence sexual functioning are safe, easy to use, and highly effective. They can improve desire, performance, and frequency for both men and women. Down There the Wise Woman Way includes specific information on using my favorite sexy herbs, including: oatstraw, schizandra, ginkgo, fenugreek, ginseng, tribulus, ginger, marijuana, damiana, potency wood, yohimbe, guarana, and dendrobium. Plus information on sexy foods, and the effects of supplements such as arginine. Oatstraw infusion is my favorite sexual tonic, for both men and women. It frees up, and thus increases, the amount of circulating testosterone. This aids lubrication, improves blood flow, increases stiffness, amps up interest, and heightens enjoyment. Postmenopausal women…

Lori was born July 8th, 1960 in Saint Paul Minnesota. She is a free-lance self-employed artist working out of her home studio in Andover Minnesota. She has been selling her artwork in Galleries and shops since 1982 and to collectors throughout the world with a large following in the UK, Spain and Australia. Lori is a self-taught artist working mostly in acrylics and watercolors. You can find Lori’s work in numerous formats, from prints to greeting cards, mousepads, mugs, cross stitch patterns, stamps and patches. Lori’s official Web site is lorikarels.com where you can find information about purchasing her originals or contact her for commissions as well as links to…

While trick or treaters with their sing song voices roam your streets, struggling under the burden of bags groaning with sugary abundance and pagans and witches alike watch the face of the Goddess become Crone, we here in the Southern lands will dance joyous and unashamed around phallic poles wrapped in brightly coloured ribbons, celebrating the regeneration of life with the return of the sun. Auhh summer, It didn’t seem that long ago that I fought a battle to somehow try to adapt to a turning wheel that knew only, dry and drier and hot and hotter. Everywhere I looked the land was burnt bare, trees stood parched in hot…

Science and Psychics- The Tech of Paranormal Research Most of the intellectual rhetoric thrown back and forth between skeptics and parapsychologists concerns the types of tools used during investigations; sometimes even those within the field of psychical research will argue among themselves for or against certain techniques and tools. Since the field is one which attempts to quantify and classify phenomena that are, by definition, cultural, religious, and fundamentally unknown, it is somewhat acceptable to utilize devices and techniques of a more “mystical” nature. Many times the use of arcane devices and psychics can help lead the team to an area of interest or heightened activity, and sometimes even actual…

Progressive Muscle Relaxation As the Wheel of the Year turns to winter, it is natural for us to turn inward as well, using the increasing darkness to help us concentrate on internal matters and to work with trance states and meditative journeys. Progressive muscle relaxation is a simple but useful technique for quieting the body so that the spirit can engage in these experiences without being distracted by external influences. It can also be used as part of a larger meditative practice to help us recognize where we tend to experience stress physically and learn to release that tension. Describing stress as a feeling of pressure or tension isn’t just…

Numerology Numerology is the study of numbers, and the manner in which they reflect certain character tendencies, as an integral part of the cosmic plan. Each letter has a numeric value that provides a related cosmic vibration. The sum of the numbers in your birth date and the sum of value derived from the letters in the name provide an interrelation of vibrations. These numbers show a great deal about character, purpose in life, what motivates, and where talents may lie. Experts in numerology use the numbers to determine the best time for major moves and activities in life. Numerology is used to decide when to invest, when to marry,…

The Reign of the Cailleach The rich Autumn colors begin to fade and leaves fall gently to the ground. As the days shorten and the sun sits low in the sky, something stirs within the bones of the earth, and she awakens. She is Cailleach, the veiled one. Said to be daughter of the Winter sun, mother to all gods and goddesses and grandmother to all peoples and races of the earth. Wise and cunning, bright eyes and sharp of wit, she sets forth with her magical staff to freeze vegetation and call down the snow.  It is on November 1, in her honor, that we celebrate the festival of…

Guilt For Samhain this year our group will be putting on a ritual themed around the idea of atonement.  Not the “feel bad, please forgive my rotten mess” kind of atonement, but the idea of reviewing the past year, our actions, and their effects in order to see what we can do to affect our fates in the coming year.  In structuring the ritual I began to realize just how closely aligned atonement, review, contemplation, actions, effects, and other items normally associated with all these bad ideas of “sin” and “guilt” are closely aligned with the Pagan concept of fate. For Christians all these ideas are very closely linked through…

Other Names: celtic ~ Summer’s End, pronounced “sow” (rhymes with now) “en” (Ireland), sow-een (Wales) – “mh” in the middle is a “w” sound – Greater Sabbat(High Holiday) – Fire Festival Oct 31-Nov 1(North Hemisphere) – Apr 30-May 1 – The Great Sabbat, Samhiunn, Samana, Samhuin, Sam-fuin, Samonios, Halloween, Hallomas, All Hallows Eve, All Saints/All Souls Day(Catholic), Day of the Dead (Mexican), Witches New Year, Trinoux Samonia, Celtic/ Druid New Year, Shadowfest (Strega), Martinmas or Old Hallowmas (Scotttish/Celtic) Lá Samhna (Modern Irish), Festival of the Dead, Feile Moingfinne (Snow Goddess), Hallowtide (Scottish Gaelis Dictionary), Feast of All Souls, Nos Galen-gae-of Night of the Winter Calends (Welsh), La Houney or Hollantide…