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Ancient Breasts Deep within you, whether you are aware of it or not, is your primal need for breast. It is part of you; it was born with you. It has been with you for millions of years. When you emerged into the world of air, hunger came with you. And linked to hunger was the remedy for hunger, already known to you. You had, at birth, the skill to guide yourself to it by touch, by smell, by warmth, by sweetness. You had, and still have, internal, ancient coding to find the breast and suck. ‘Find the breast and suck.’ This message sings in you, in every one of…

Thoughts on the Village in Paganism It Takes a Village to Raise a Child…. this proverb, saying, cliché is often bandied about in society.  While the origins of the saying are debatable, the meaning behind the term is one that I have always thought to be important.  As parents and as pagans how does this philosophy apply to our lives?  And do we practice it or should we even practice it? As humans evolved we lived in groups to ensure survival.  Our societal structure was vastly different from how it is today.  We hunted, gathered, ate together, lived together.  Our living was done in units.  The women and men probably…

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…

Halloween Black Cat Magick: calling upon the Egyptian Bast We know the day as Samhain, but the non-magickal call it Halloween.  And what is Halloween without the iconic black cat; fluffy tail, arched back and seated on the back of a witches’ broom.  Besides being associated with Witches, how did the infamous black cat get to be the unofficial ambassador for the holiday?  Well, many goddesses have had feline companions of one sort or another including the Norse Freya and the Greco-Roman artemis-Diana but the goddess that is possibly best known as a cat is the Egyptian Bast. Bast, or Bastet, wasn’t always as we know her today, she started…

On the History of Ireland History of Irish Myths Well this author was thoroughly impressed to discover that Ireland has a rather rich historic mythological background. I also suspect that it wouldn’t be considered “myth” had Christian monks not been the ones recording everything. The fact that they are of a tradition, caused me to hesitate, but then again, if it had been my own tradition doing the recording, then, maybe I wouldn’t feel that way. This will mark the beginning of a series of articles studying the different periods of the history of Ireland. If you would like to read about the history of your own tradition please feel…

“Web of Desire Rite” A solitary ritual to help you capture and bring something into your life. Supplies Silver cord Five thin nails Small wooden board A tea light candle and holder God and Goddess candles and holders A small bell Anointing oil of your own choice Small piece of paper and a pen Additional short length of the silver cord Offering of food and drink Chalice, plate and offering bowl Preparation Spend a lot of time thinking about something that you want to capture and bring into your life. It could be a new sense of self, such as peace and harmony or something tangible like a new friend…

The Grace of Her Smile More of Monique’s artwork can be viewed at: http://www.artwanted.com/artist.cfm?ArtID=20904

North American Eclectic Wicca As practioners, or those interested in alternative spiritual paths, we are often left on our own to learn and discover the options available to us.  As with any journey it begins with a willingness to take the first step.  It’s my hope that this article will help some of you start your own journeys and give you an idea of the options available to you. When I started my own path over 11 years ago I had no idea what was out there.  I didn’t realize that there were so many different Traditions and Paths. I will cover both the well known and those that are…

Raven Digitalis Interview (Photo by Anna-Varney Cantodea) Pagan Pages: First, tell us about your books and please include links where we can purchase them. Raven Digitalis: Sure. My first book, Goth Craft: The Magickal Side of Dark Culture focuses on the intersection of the Gothic culture and magickal spirituality. It explores things like the magick of music, shamanic body modification, Necromancy, the place of depression, and a number of social issues. My second book, Shadow Magick Compendium: Exploring Darker Aspects of Magickal Spirituality, does away with the subculture element and simply explores darkness—the Shadow—in its numerous expressions. This is divided into the chapters The Internal Shadow, The External Shadow, The…

Reincarnation, the Key to History Bacically, “Reincarnation” is the idea, or belief that each of us live many lives on earth and that in any given life we are what we have made ourselves in former lives, or, are in some way continuing some task or goal that we have undertaken previously. Many, especially those who subscribe to the so-called “Eastern Religions”, believe this to be under the law of cause and effect otherwise known as karma. In this view, our blemishes we have indulged and made a part of our personal self, our strengths and talents we have earned and unfolded. Similarly, what happens to us in life, if…