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White It is winter now, utterly. I gaze out the window at snow falling on the landscape, covering the Earth in a blanket of sleepy contemplation. The world seems cleaner, sharper. I find myself sleeping more, and in my sleep, more dreams. Even while awake, I sometimes catch myself drifting in a stasis of no-thought, like an unconscious meditation. Gently, gently, the whiteness covers all. The branches that seemed so verdantly green and brown in summer now appear as black twigs, reaching for the sky in stillness. “All is calm, all is bright.” Silence descends, and it seems as if there is no growth or life at all. Yet beneath…

Experimenting with Electronic Voice Phenomena Electronic Voice Phenomena, or EVP, is the observation of disembodied voices or sounds captured on audio equipment that were not present or heard by the observer at the time of recording and are attributed to communication with spirits; this is also related to Electronic Video Phenomena.  The concept of EVP has had an impact on popular culture as its popularity in entertainment, in ghost hunting, and as a means of dealing with grief has influenced literature, radio, film and television. EVP Session Various explanations have been put forward for EVP by those who believe it to be an example of paranormal phenomenon.  These include discarnate…

Magic:  Made up Explanations Before I got busy and started to talk about other things I was working on a series of columns devoted to understanding magic.  The question that I am trying to answer is “how does magic work?”  In a previous column I developed a typology for how you might go about answering that question, with explanations dividing up into three categories:  systematic, individual, and theistic.  Systematic explanations develop some sort of system that, if followed, results in magic.  This ranges from science, to sort of science, to just plain made up systems.  Individual and theistic explanations appeal to something other than a system, like yourself or your…

Removing Obstacles with Ganesha Ganesha is an Indian God with the body of a man and the head of an elephant. The God of wisdom and prudence, he is sometimes called Ganapati, Ganesa or Gajani and he is known as the God of Scribes and Merchants as well as the Lord of Obstacles. For the purposes of January, we will use Ganesha to help us make wise decisions for the coming year (it is the time to make New Year’s Resolutions after all!) as well as to help to clear the obstacles that lie in the way of getting our goals accomplished.  But before we get to work, let’s take…

Letting it Flow I attempted to force out a Family Values article this month but in the interest of practicing what I was preaching I decided to try again next month.  The flow was not happening. Going with the flow in parenting is a lesson that is hard to keep up with.   It is a challenge that is constantly facing us and it seems that kids move with natural rhythms with more ease than we do.   If they are tired they sleep, if they are hungry they eat.   When we try and inflict our ideas of schedules and such we can often present a conflict to the very primal…

The Energetic Journey of the Past Year 2009 has finally come to a close. In some respects it seemed to take an eternity with the fluctuating energies and influences from the four mercury retrogrades as well as the planetary shifts endeavouring desperately to gain some balance. In another way, it seems that, like many years before, the year comes to a stand still nearing the end of December and then the previous months are forgotten. We omit the journey, the lessons and the choices we made to be exactly where we are today. It tends to feel as though the years come and go in what seems a blink of…

*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. Winter in the Hedge The Wheel has turned again, and I find myself standing in a threshold. Thresholds are the most magical and mysterious of all places, and ones in which anything can happen. But they can also feel scary, because we don’t know what’s on the other side. Yet, I have walked by my faith for many years, and know that there is a plan for me, and I am living it. It…

Marjoram Marjoram (Origanum majorana or O. Vulgare ) is also known as Joy of the Mountain, Knotted Marjoram, Marjorlaine, Mountain Mint, Pot Marjoram, Sweet Marjoram and Wintersweet.   It is indigenous to the Mediterranean and can also be found in the United States.   It is considered a cold-sensitive perennial herb.  Marjoram is sometimes mistaken for Oregano. The Greek and Romans considered this herb as a source of happiness.  Today, people who are depressed use it to lift their spirits and bring happiness.   Marjoram can be burned to help with life changes. Marjoram is used in love spells and to bring love to you.  It is also placed in food to strengthen…

Happy Birthday Each of us was born at a particular time, on an exact day, in a specific month, in a certain year. This day is commonly known as our birth date. With our birth date and the coordinates of the place we were born, we are able to establish the alignment of the planets, sun and moon. This information is used to determine our individual natal chart. This chart has the ability to establish our path in life by graphing the patterns of energy that were brought into this dimension by our birth. A witch would find this chart beneficial for determining which type of magick he or she…

Well, holiday season has begun and that leaves most of us thinking about presents. That’s an especially difficult situation if all  of your children happen to be adults. Well, for me, in at least one case I don’t have any trouble at all and never have. My oldest son collects plushies… That’s right, Erik the Aweful… Master Sergeant. E. J. Choron of the United States Army… age 28… collects plushies and always has. He has over 300 now, and has been working on his litle “family” ever since, literally, the day he was born. Erik was born on Christmas morning, December 25th, 1981, I was there for the delivery, but…