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An Exploration of Deities and Their Animals As a pagan, I recognize the intrinsic connection that we have with our animal brethren as our ancestors did. Even in our folklore throughout the centuries deities and mystical leaders have changed shape from human to animal and back again.  Is this a literal transformation or just a reference to our close connection to the animal world? Oftentimes we feel a bond with one particular animal, again this is reflected in our deities such as Athena whose totem was the owl, Rhiannon whose animal figure was a horse, or Bastet the cat Goddess often depicted with a septum piercing and kittens wandering around…

The Magic of Herbs There has always been a natural association between the Craft and herbal work.  Before the advent of modern medicine, it was typically the village wisewoman or midwife whom people consulted when they were in need of cures for their ailments.  Witches learned the properties of the plants growing in their environments and put them to good use.  Brews and potions were used to extract the essence of each herb for consumption, while poultices could be created to apply to wounds or rashes.  Many modern Wiccans and witches draw on this tradition in their own practice, as a more earth-centered alternative to pharmaceuticals. Of course as a…

Go down into the cave of darkness discover the seedbeds of life seasons of otherness Mundus Archetypus, the surging sea of energies. As flowering plants turn in prayer toward the sun receive the gift of life.  Reflect on this: How at the summit of creation’s mythic mountain grows the center-most mystic tree. Pathways spiral and always there is the mothering abyss of mystery. Consciousness is but a twig or sometimes branch… But don’t forget the underEarth of roots: the tangled nest. Pilgrim, as you ascend stop for contemplation now and then. Dreamlike in the shadows breathe the ancient potencies of night. Feeling flows in heartbeats. Confess if you are green…

Peatbog Records For all of you have never heard Peatbog Faeries they are the very nature of musical polyglot and that incongruent philosophical collection makes Peatbog Faeries faultless. And in this their new, first live album it is evident that once again with their undeviating approach they have integrated their deeply seeded Scottish roots with a constantly evolving mix of Celtic, Rock and blues genres, with the enchanting array of pipes and whistles, fiddles, brass, guitars and drums only add to the intoxicatingly beautiful sound that once again reaches the depths of my being, filling my soul with a plethora of enchanted instrumental magnificence. So if you only purchase one…

Midsummer is considered a fire festival, but it is also a water festival as well. Rivers, lakes, wells and springs were considered holy and pilgrimages were made on this holy day to make offerings, solicit cures and work magick. The magick people would work would either refer to nourishing the crops (Russia), granting fertility to childless women (Scotland) or ask for healing (England). In exchange for these, offerings of pins, flowers and coins were made to the Guardian Spirit or the Water Nymphs. This guardian was not always seen in human form; instead they would sometimes appear as a frog, mermaid, a winged serpent or a fly. In any form,…

Welcome to the May Issue of PaganPages! We hope you all have a safe and wonderful Beltaine. Be sure to visit out page and tell us what you did for the holiday! We love to see how our readers celebrate and learn new ways to honor the seasons. This issue is very exciting. We have an exclusive interview with Ghost Hunters International’s Barry Fitzgerald and an interview with Eliza Blanchard author of A Child’s Book of Blessings and Prayers. Our good friend Celia has also updated us on her May Appearances to share with our readers, so be sure to check that out! We hope you have a happy and…

With mainstream media placing the vampire subculture in the spotlight, society has begun to wonder who or what causes an individual to choose such a lifestyle.  Society also ponders and searches for reasonable yet scientific explanations that would cause an individual to exhibit vampiric-like traits.  One of these scientific explanations comes from the medical field, and that explanation is called porphyria. The word porphyria comes from the Greek word porphyros, meaning reddish-purple (Melton 486).  A reference to reddish-purple or purple color is made because people who suffer from the rare disease typically have darker urine.  This urine may appear even darker after exposure to light.  The purple color is caused…

The Days of May May, the fifth month of the current Gregorian calendar and the third month of Spring’s rule, derives its name from the Roman Springtime goddess Maia, whose divine powers encouraged the growth of crops. The traditional birthstone amulets of May are the emerald and the agate; and the hawthorn and lily are the month’s traditional flowers. May is shared by the astrological signs of Taurus the Bull and Gemini the Twins, and is sacred to the following Pagan deities: Artemis, Diana, Faunus, Flora, Pan, and all gods and goddesses who preside over fertility. During the month of May, the Great Solar Wheel of the Year is turned…

Beltane in Ireland For this issue of Sacred Sites we begin by wishing you a Happy Beltane! This month we are in Ireland with a group of travelers exploring sacred sites. We hope you’ll journey with us in spirit as we make our way across the mystical emerald isle. This will be an interesting opportunity to experience the difference in celebratory styles, not only culturally speaking, but from within the Irish community itself. We will meet a transplanted American living in County Kerry, a solitary Witch, in the heart of Ireland and a member of Teampall Na Callaighe that lives in Kells. In the upcoming issues of Pagan Pages we…