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Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica Stinging nettles grow in an awful lot of places – Britain, Europe, Asia, North America, Australia, South Africa and Japan.  They will grow in river valleys and on mountainsides, in farmyards, hedgerows, roadsides, woods, ruined buildings and any patch of wasteland. They normally grow around 2-4’ high but in the forests they can grow much, much higher.  The plant has square, fibrous stems and long, sharply toothed, heartshaped leaves, both the stems and the leaves are covered with coarse stinging hairs.  In summer nettles have bunches of small green catkins with male and female flowers on separate plants.  Several types of butterfly choose the nettle as…

The Ego and the Spiritual The ego plays an interesting role within each of us. Some believe it is our conscious and its role is to, in no better terms, look after us from/with the external world. Some call it the little voice in our head often telling us why we should, or should not, undertake certain actions. The American Heritage Dictionary defines ego as: “…the division of the psyche that is conscious, most immediately controls thought and behaviour, and is most in touch with external reality.” In terms of the ego and the spiritual, it is another aspect that makes up “self”. In using this perspective, ego can either…

Relaxing Facial Steam For this you will need the flower and or leaves of the following 4 herbs: Chamomile Lavender Peppermint Rosemary Put 1/8 cup of each herb and approximately 4 cups of water in a pot and bring to a boil.  Remove from the stove and pour into a glass bowl.  Take a towel and place it over your head and place your head 6-8in. above the steam.  Allow your head to remain this distance above the steam for no more than 5 minutes.  Rinse your face with cool water and apply a skin moisturizer if you feel it necessary. Caution: It is not recommended you do this more…

Peace for Family Spell This spell is primarily when you are wanting to restore peace within your family (immediate and/or extended); however, you can alter the words to focus on friends, co-workers, etc. should you wish. Items you will need: * Family picture of all people included in the focus of your spell (if not all in one picture, separate pictures is fine.) *4 White Candles * 2 Blue Candles * Altar or work space for setting up your spell * Incense (use an incense that has properties relating to peace – (see attachment to this spell, 2nd page, for list of scents that have peace inducing properties) * Chamomile…

History of Litha (MidSummer) Also known as Summer Solstice, Litha, Alban Hefin, Sun Blessing, Gathering Day, Feill-Sheathain, Whit Sunday, Whitsuntide, Vestalia, Thing-tide, St. John’s Day In addition to the four great festivals of the Pagan Celtic year, there are four lesser holidays as well: the two solstices, and the two equinoxes. In folklore, these are referred to as the four ‘quarter-days’ of the year, and modern Witches call them the four ‘Lesser Sabbats’, or the four ‘Low Holidays’. The Summer Solstice is one of them. Litha is usually celebrated on June 21st, but varies somewhat from the 20th to the 23rd, dependant upon the Earth’s rotation around the Sun. According…

I came across this project for a birdbath in a gardening magazine and loved it.  Most pagans I know consider their gardens as a kind of sacred space, and more ofter than not wildlife interaction is something that is almost spiritual in and of itself.  Attracting that wildlife to you garden space gives you far more enjoyment than the space alone. This is a slightly more detailed and complicated project than similar ones I have done in the past but it is very unique and well worth doing.  The directions and supplies needed are as follows: Materials 40 pound bag of concrete, 40 pound bag of sand, Roll of plastic…

The Pentagram and Pentacle There are many different opinions and stereotypes when looking at a symbol like the pentagram or pentacle. Many people have misconceptions when it comes to them and here’s hoping for a little bit of clarification. Both the pentagram and pentacle are both very significant and share many similarities, but let’s first look at the differences.  The pentacle is a five pointed star encased within a circle. The circle is known to represent infinity and protection, also the cycles of life and nature. The circle touches all the points of the star to show that the elements are all connected and balanced. Usually for clothing, jewelry, books,…

Pagan Theology:  The Mountain While I think both of us would really like to avoid any reference to Miley Cyrus in this column,  I am going to talk about the mountain, and the climb [1].   We all have our own mountain, and our own path.  For some its steeper, for some, higher.  Sometimes its wooded and we, like Dante, can’t quite see where we are headed.  For others it is so rocky and barren they can barely stand it.   Many people decide on the Christian path, even if they don’t stick to it and their mountain looks really different from the one Christ actually climbed.  Others, the secularists, turn away…

In the realm of smoke and mist, a maiden searches for true loves kiss. From lips of a fairy, soft as a breeze, she falls in love beneath the trees. His eyes emerald green, his hair like the night. His gaze made her innocent soul take flight. They lay together beside blue crystal streams and talked about their hopes and dreams. His to be mortal, hers to be his neither happy with what is. To cross the veil she’d have to lose her life, the thought of this filled her with strife. All her family would be gone. If this didn’t work, she’d be all alone. She would give it…

Celtic Spells, Chants, Charms, Prayers of Making, Evoking, or Binding All 3 are acknowledgments of the laws of nature. The first Welsh Spell says the spirit of water and earth elements shines even when the moon is dark. The second Gaelic Spell speaks of the Serpent’s Breath of Life & Death, and our will to make. The third English Spell describes how three aspects can be parts of one whole; as with the symbol “Y”. 1. Welsh Spell of Making A elfyntodd dwyr sinddyn duw, cerrig yr fferllurig nwyn, os syriaeth ech saffaer tu, fewr echlyn mor necrombor llun. 2. Gaelic Spell of Making (in Modern Irish Gaelic) Anáil nathrach,…