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Are Talking Boards “Just Toys” Talking Boards, also known as Witch Boards or more commonly Ouija Boards have always been a controversial subject among almost everyone.  Can these boards really be used to communicate with the other side, and if so, why are a lot of these boards sold through toy stores as “games” or novelty items?   How did such things end up being marketed to young children and teens that are often inexperienced with the paranormal?   In fact, a lot of people credit their first paranormal experience to the use of these boards.  A few of these questions are answered in the history of the Talking Board. The Ouija…

Imbolc and the Snow Moon At first glance, this month might seem to present a contrast between the two rituals I will do. February begins with Imbolc and ends with what is commonly called the Snow Moon. When I take some time to walk through Nature, to breathe deeply the Winter air and allow my eyes to see past the obvious, I find a more magickal understanding.  Throughout my walk around the Wheel each year, I seek to find the wonder that lies within the moments I celebrate as a pagan man. For in that wonder, whether it is shouting brightly in Spring flowers or whispering darkly, hidden in the…

Vodun, Voudo, Voodoo Since we are fast approaching Fat Tuesday and Marti Gras, I felt that it would be appropriate to discuss the much maligned religious tradition of Vodun or Voodoo as it is known in the United States.  There are few religious practices that have a more demonized portrayal throughout mainstream religion and the media.  Depictions of zombies, voodoo dolls, animal sacrifices, and possession are images that Hollywood has painted into our consciousness, but are not completely accurate. Vodun’s lineage can be traced back to over 100 African traditions of the 17th century.  The tribal practices and beliefs of these cultures were combined by the slaves brought to Haiti. …

Aphrodite A chill clings to the air yet the sun shines brightly overhead. A tease. A hint of promise. In February we still rest in the belly of winter waiting impatiently for the Wheel to turn & begin another cycle of rebirth. Imbolc reminds us that there’s warmth just around the corner. In a matter of weeks bits of green will assert themselves through the ice & snow. Although traditionally the day belongs to the Celtic goddess Brigid, mistress of the forge & of bardcraft, one might feel the pull of any number of deities at this time of year. It might be tempting to blame Hallmark for this. Thanks…

February is the hardest month. On Alban arthan, the winter solstice, we celebrated the rebirth of warmth and life, always new but also familiar; we rejoiced in the now-lengthening days and what we hoped they would bring. Yet in many ways this solar festival was merely an anticipation, as we looked ahead to the fire festival that begins the month of February: Imbolc, (from Irish, meaning “in the belly”). What we conceived on the darkest night, now begins to quicken within us, and we feel the inner pangs and hungers stirred by this change. Our bodies begin to awaken a little more, yearning to be outside despite the need for…

Recently I had the wonderful opportunity to see my first opera, Le Bome. As I listened to the live orchestra and the singing I thought, life could not be any more exquisite than this. A quite beautiful and powerful performance. But there was a veil over this exquisiteness. At the end of the story we all knew one of the characters would die. Knowledge of this withstanding, as the music climaxed and the character passed I felt tears fighting their way out. I had connected to the characters and their life. I tried to think of cats in yoga poses, whatever I could think of to fight back those unwanted…

Here in the UK we’ve had, so far according to the weathermen, the worst winter for 30 years.  A few days of snow brought much of the country to a standstill with people stranded in their cars and schools shut for days. It was the first time my children (the eldest is 11) experienced what it was like to walk in snow and ice.  And yet when I was a child snow was a regular part of winter and I remember, not fondly, walking to school with cold, wet feet and wishing for the sun to reappear.  I have to confess to feeling pretty much the same way as an…

Journey Toward the Light: Imbolc and Candlemas In early February, a number of cultural holy-days converge, centered on prophecy, purification, initiation, and waiting for light. Two of them, the Pagan celebration of Imbolc, and the Christian feast of Candlemas, are celebrated on February 2nd.  It is hard not to feel that this is no coincidence, but evidence of a deep, underlying unity that links us in our journey toward the light. Imbolc is the 2nd Pagan Sabbat, located halfway between Winter Solstice on December 21, and the Spring Equinox on March 20th.  Days are lengthening. The sun rises earlier, and sets later, and we sense that the Earth is beginning…

The Black Ship By: Malphas The Black Ship by Malphas is a motivating look at the left handed path of the principles of the Pandemonium Mandala. It guides the serious student step by step through the basics and concepts, into the practice and techniques of this interesting form of occultism. It is informative and straight forward; a good read for intermediates and above.

Baba Yaga Stories Who is Baba Yaga? She is the Goddess, she is the Witch, she is the Wise Woman, she is the Crone, she is aged artemis. Baba is Grandmother. In Tibet, fierce demons are Yagas. So she is the Grandmother Demon, Grandmother Dragon, the fearsome, the fierce. Baba Yaga is the subject of many Russian folk tales or fairy tales. She is very very old. How do we know? We are told her nose curves down and her chin curves up and they nearly meet. Since the cartilage in our noses, chins and ears continues to grow throughout our lives, only someone a hundred or more would have…