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Candles in the Dark of Winter A moment of breathing in and calming our energies. The light of a candle flame attracts focus to it. It draws us inward as a fire draws us close on a cold night. Lighting a candle is a simple ritual and one that can be done anywhere. The Celtic calendar is followed in our house and February is the time we honor Bridget.  The making and blessing of candles marks this time in  Celtic pagan homes as well as Catholic homes.  Candlemas is the christian name for this month’s holy day.  Friends and neighbors are lovely to invite for a morning of candle making. …

Brigid The coming of spring Pulses in the vains Of rivers hushed Underneath the strained Ice that cracks A trickle Becomes a stream Flowing freely Love unrestrained If I could find The threads of hope I’d weave a blanket For those sick or old For those in need Under the snow Kept silent in winter Till the new seeds grow Harvest the light Keep the darkness away Send Brigid Send peace on it’s way

Long and Round Barrows: Neolithic Monuments to the Dead The Neolithic time period was very important for Pagans as it was in this time that people began to settle down, claim boundaries and start farming. By this time the moon was already regarded as the Goddess, but with the farming people began to see the wheat swell and grow with the power of the sun, and with this the sun became regarded as a masculine force- the God. One thing that the Neolithic people are known for is the creation of the long and round barrows, which were grave mounds, dedicated to the dead. The first to come about was…

Azulicite The moonstone like qualities create a translucent blue shine on one end of the gem.  When inserted between four fingers and four toes, it is an excellent meridian cleanser and balancer.  The use places the eight small stones in position and relaxes to allow the work to progress.  The hands can be moved into scared positions to enhance color variation in the healing.  Tingling and itching indicates the meridian is releasing.  Five to ten minute application son both hands and feet are excellent.  This procedure is especially use for practitioners using their hands in healing work, as it allows the individual to resume balance quickly after taxing sessions.  Azurite…

Madame Mora’s Herbal This class is designed to show the practical application of herbs to assist with everyday needs.  The lessons printed will not outline “magical” uses for the herbs, but, if questions on this topic rise, please feel free to ask. Also, please remember, the information in this class is a look at herbal therapies that may show promise as adjunctive treatments to conventional medical approaches, and is not meant to give specific recommendations or advise for the treatment of a specific illness, nor is it intended to be a replacement for good medical diagnosis and treatment. Lesson 4 Detox tea These will help cleanse your insides of unwanted…

February Assignment: Black and White Answers This assignment is rather simple, but effective when done with dedication! At bedtime, go through your normal ritual with a few additions: cover your eyes when you are ready for sleep, even if it is dark out. If you have a phone in your room, unplug it or turn the ringer off. If you can, close the door. Lay on your back. Clear your mind. Silence your mind. Of course, this is always easier said than done so if you are out of practice silencing your mind, take a few nights to get the hang of it again. Don’t rush this assignment, remember that…

Are you cyclically confused? In a ceremonial quandary? Completely clueless? Wonder no more. *Ask Your Mama™ Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Spirituality and Didn’t Know Who to Ask™ by ©Mama Donna Henes, Urban Shaman A Question of Mental, Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Sex Dear Mama Donna, I am a woman in my middle years and the excitement and sizzle of sex seems to have been turned off at the spigot. I am always comparing myself with the hot younger me who I seem to have lost. Is this the end of passion for me? Help! I want it back! Frustrated in Phoenix Dear Frustrated, Oh, honey, this is…

It Doesn’t Have To be That Way I was on facebook today and I happened to read a status message from a fellow witch that spoke about not believing in white light and rainbows but in facing life’s battles with sword in hand. It mentioned how it would be nice to have a positive outlook on everything but that the reality is that not everything is positive and not everything should be met with positivity. The message made me pause with a frown and I proceeded to politely disagree. I do believe that there is light and dark in life and I do believe that there is a contrast that…

Ten Tips for a Healthy Heart Ó Susun S. Weed Excerpt from: New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way, Alternative Approaches for Women 30-90 by Susun S. Weed Celebrate Valentine’s Day by celebrating your heart. Wise Woman herbalist Susun Weed gives us a few simple, easy ways to nourish and tonify that vitally important little organ. Here are ten easy steps to better heart health: 1.       Stop smoking. Nourish yourself with a handful of sunflower seeds and a cup of nettle or oatstraw infusion daily for 4 to 6 weeks before quitting. Sunflower seeds reduce the body’s craving for nicotine by filling the nicotine receptor sites. The infusions strengthen…

Awakening Divine:  Living Magically in the Dead of Winter At the end of January, we find ourselves deeply nestled inside; inside our homes, inside our work and inside our Self.  We find ourselves going deep within, partly as protection against the harsh winter, but also because our soul yearns to discover the wonder and magic of our inner Self.  So after Yule, we find ourselves deep beneath the surface until the Wheel turns again at the beginning of festival, at Imbolc. The holiday of Imbolc or Candlemas marks the middle point of winter, the cusp, the balance point where the deep winter, ruled by the Crone Goddess Cailleach, gives way…