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Dear Reader, Welcome to ‘It’s In the Cards’ for www.PaganPages.org. At one time this column appeared in Finer Things Magazine in New Haven, CT, and I am very pleased to be writing my column again; this time for the Pagan Community. Every month, I will do a tarot reading for one person whose question I choose for this column. Also, by writing me, you will have a chance for a free tarot 10 minute reading on the phone. If you would like to contact me about purchasing a reading, please visit my web site at www.SubRosaMagick.com or write me at [email protected]. Since I first began reading for the public 13…

Today, we look at Rhiannon, the Celtic goddess of Inspiration and of the Moon, hailing from Wales.  She is known as the “Divine Queen of the Fairies.”  Her story is one of triumph and tragedy and we can learn how to bear an injustice while still keeping our joy.  Here is Rhiannon’s story. Rhiannon (her name is either “Maid of Annwn” or a variant of Rigatona, “Great Queen”), is a version of the horse-goddess Epona and of sovereignty.  One day, Pwyll saw her riding her horse – a beautiful woman wearing gold.  He sent his fastest horseman after her but she outruns them.  On the third day of this, she…

Years before I rather, due to unforeseen circumstances, fell under the potentially incendiary term of becoming a Christian Witch, I was intrigued by the concept of the Triple Goddess. The subtle beckoning of both the Triple Goddesses Bridget and Hecate tugged at my heart, yet I felt hesitant about calling upon Them or inviting Them into my life. In many ways, I was quite drawn to Hecate, but I harbored a bit of fear or should I say a deep respect regarding her Dark Mother/Crone aspects. I wasn’t sure I could safely handle those aspects. The Goddess Bridget had been turned into St. Bridget by the Catholic Church.  Try as…

Trance-Portation: Learning to Navigate the Inner World By Diana L. Paxton, 2008, Weiser Books. ISBN: 9781578634057 If there is still someone on your yuletide shopping list who needs – do we have a gift suggestion for you! One of the more notable books out this year is Diana L. Paxson’s Trance-Portation: Learning to Navigate the Inner World. A thorough guide to trance and shamanic journeying, it is written specifically for those of us who have trouble “letting go” and reaching trance. Better known for her works of fantasy, which include the well loved Westria series and the classic Avalon series (with Marion Zimmer Bradley), Paxton’s skill with words shines through…

New Year’s Eve Asatru Festival of 12th Night (12/31) Hogmany (also as known as Hogmany, Hogmanay, Hogmannay, Hogmarmay, Hogmena, Hagmena, Hagmenai, or Hogg-night) is the Scottish New Year’s Eve Festival that commemorates the solar divinity Hogmagog.  Hogmagog, sometimes called Gogmagog, the God of the Sun, is really two divinities, Gog and Magog.  Gogmagog is the chalk figure carved into the earth at the Wandlebury near Cambridge.  This deity was divided into two giants, Gog and Magog.  Gog, the male fertility aspect, is the male consort of Magog and the spiritual guardian of London.  Magog, the female fertility aspect, is far more important.  Britain’s Megg’s Hills are named for her and…

Lesser Sabbat – Winter Solstice, circa Dec 21 Other Names: Jul (“wheel”, Old Norse), Saturnalia(Rome ~December 17 & 18), Yuletide(Teutonic), Midwinter, Fionn’s Day, Alban Arthuan, Christmas (Christian~December 25), Xmas, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year Animals/Mythical beings: yule goat (nordic), reindeer stag, squirrels, yule cat, Sacred White Buffalo, Kallikantzaroi-ugly chaos monsters(greek), trolls, phoenix, yule elf, jule gnome, squirrels, wren/robin Gemstones: cat’s eye, ruby, diamond, garnet, bloodstone Incense/Oils: bayberry, cedar, ginger, cinnamon, pine, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, wintergreen, saffron Colors: gold, silver, red, green, white Tools,Symbols, & Decorations: bayberry candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells, mother & child images Goddesses: Great Mother,…

Faeries, Elves, and Other Kin: The Woman of Peace and the Spirit of the Air (Bean sidhe (Banshee) Announcing mortal’s deaths with her keening cries Piercing throughout the night rising and falling like the oceans waves White Lady of Sorrow spirit of the air Mourning and forewarning the ancient Celts and their decedents with her unearthly cries Woman of peace, her voice blending in with the mournful cries of loved ones left behind The Faery woman contrasts against the nights black skies Eyes red from crying, her face pale Cloaked in a raiment of grayish-white clinging to her tall slender frame Her hair of silver and gray streaming down to…

WHAT DO YOU CALL SPIRITUALISM? I recently had the privilege of being asked to collaborate on a project in helping create a difference, globally. I met some amazing women that brought home how the awareness of our spiritual self is becoming increasingly familiar and common. It is refreshing to be able to talk openly with these successful and intuitive women about metaphysics, auras, and understanding the power of each of our energies. I can tell you the room was so hot as we all commenced talking about what it is that brought us there. After this, it got me thinking about spiritualism in general. We can give thanks to “The…

Yule The sun was setting over the hills, casting warm yellows and pinks across the early evening sky. The snow that had fallen lightly throughout the day shone like a lake of diamonds The trees down by the creek had caps of white, knit by the delicate snowflakes of winter. The high priestess stood in the doorway of her cottage, Herne and Sebastian taking their positions on either side of her feet. She waved happily as the coven members cars pulled down her drive. As each disembarked from their cars, she could feel the energies rising all around. This Yule ritual was going to be truly a magical experience. Everyone…

Although best-known for her fantasy work such as the Westria series, Diana Paxson recently came out with a book on shamanic journeying and trancework called Trance-Portation which came into my hands recently and quite swept me away. A frequent reader on the topic on altered states of consciousness and both traditional and neoshamanism, I found her take on the subject fascinatingly fresh and exiting, and couldn’t wait to ask her some more questions. PaganPages: Firstly, could you tell us more about yourself? Diana Paxson: I grew up in southern California, but have lived in Berkeley since graduating from Mills College. I also did an M.A. in Comparative Literature at UC…