• Monthly Columns

    The Modern Merlin’s Corner: Lupercalia: The Ancient Pagan Roots of Valentine’s Day

    What is Lupercalia?   It’s a chilly February day, and snow is coming down in my neck of the woods as I write this. I look out my window, seeing the snow fall and am dreaming of warm summer days returning, and my trip to Southern California late last Summer. But, amidst my daydreams, I see a bit of hope; Imbolc is typically when Neo-Pagans celebrate the returning strength of the Sun, and the coming of Spring. For me, Imbolc is about healing, and reconnecting to your inner child/maiden, regardless of gender identity. Lupercalia, celebrated on February 15th, is more focused on love, in all its forms. In my personal…

  • Reviews

    Book Review – Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain by Amy Jeffs

    Book Review Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain by Amy Jeffs Publisher: Andrews McMeel Pages: 384 Rerelease Date: August 23, 2023   Storyland is a collection of tales about Britain, from its origins to much more recent times. This book started as a collection of illustrations, then became a series of articles for Country Life magazine. Those original illustrations have made it into the book, and what illustrations they are! Striking images of otters and boats and giants hauling rocks make this volume a stunning visual feast. Unsurprising, considering that in the introduction the author explains how her experiments with linocut printing were inspired by illuminated medieval manuscripts. I agree…

  • Uncategorized

    As Above, So Below (How the Stars Became Our Hearts)

    Duality: Harvest Blessings     Blessed be the shores of Acheron, Blessed be the coming of the dawn. Blessed be the buds of spring And the bees that gather on.   Blessed be the pure and true. Blessed be the morning dew  Blessed be the pink and green. Blessed be the blue.     Blessed be the heat and sweat. Blessed be the sun. Blessed be the steamy wet. Blessed be the fun.   Blessed are the bees, As they toil to me the honey. And blessed are we. As we toil to make the money.     Blessed be the fires burning. Blessed be the year of turning. Blessed…

  • Monthly Columns,  Uncategorized

    Weyland’s Whey – That Old Familiar Feeling

    Count Them Blessings   I got COVID.  She didn’t.    Are we old?  Not yet!   We love our fur kids!   Our dog’s name is Delinquent….   ….she livers up to it.   Delinquent barks at everything.  One night she warned us of an intruder at our door.   Coffee is awesome!    Wicca is a great comfort.    ** About the Author: Weyland Smith is an eclectic solitaire wytch.  He lives in New Jersey with his girlfriend Sparkle, their two feline familiars and a dog named Delinquent.  Weyland’s interests include writing, crystals and web weaving.  Wey is also a firm believer in reincarnation—in a previous life he was…

  • Monthly Columns

    Poetry – Exclusive for PaganPagesOrg by Mabh Savage ‘Summer’s Last Hurrah

    An exclusive poem for PaganPagesOrg by Mabh Savage celebrating the last heady days of Summer before the Autumn Equinox and the final harvests, via the wanderings of a lone witch.     I say hi to the crows Perched on slate roofs Raucously gossiping   I admire the bees Purposeful in purple Claiming the lavender I dodge the ants Single minded march Carrying more than I   I nod to the magpies Superstition on wings Black and white made grey   I shiver in the breeze Late summer caress A promise of fall (But someone to catch)   I sigh in the sun Warm honey-pour bright The last, loving light…

  • Monthly Columns

    MagickalArts

    What Are the Magickal Arts? … As magickal practitioners we are all “artists” in our own ways, honing our skills of creating magick, weaving patterns of energy that affect change and calling to the most Divine of our natures as we align with cosmos, greater earth and all of the many Beings that inhabit those realms. And, I like where this trend is taking us in exploring the craft in all of forms….   Mabon (aka. Autumnal Equinox) brings the opportunity for restoring harmony in our endeavors as we enjoy the second harvest. This issue we honor…   Magickal Art of Tipping the Balance!     As the Wheel of…

  • Spells & Rituals

    SpellCrafting: Spells for Witches

    SpellCrafting: Starting Beltane Fires Merry meet! This issue’s WitchCrafting column has ideas for making fire starters. If you’d like to take it one step further, you can craft them as a spell. Beltane themes such as burning away that which no longer serves your highest good and greatest joy, planting seeds, and nurturing goals can be incorporated when making fire starters. For instance, toilet paper tubes stuffed with dryer lint can be decorated with Beltane colors (green, soft pink, blue, yellow, red, brown), pictures of flowers in bloom, or a sigil made for a specific intention. On it you can write what you are ready to release, what you desire…

  • Divination Articles

    Tarot with Lady Saoirse

    Tarot with Lady Saoirse Beltane 2023   (Photo by Viva Luna Studios on Unsplash)   Bright Blessings! Some of you may have read my previous column Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times or my film and tv show reviews on Witch & Popcorn. I decided it was time for something new, and at PaganPages.org we are blessed with plenty of people who do Sabbat articles so I don’t have to do another one. I am beginning a Tarot column this issue. Various different topics will be covered, and there are just so many wonderful things to explore about Tarot and card divination in general. I thought for the first…

  • Monthly Columns

    Good God!

    Meet the Gods: Adonis One of the gods associated with Beltane is Adonis, the Greek god of beauty, desire, fertility and renewal. He was born a human, but Zeus later turned him into a god at the request of Aphrodite. Therefore Adonis became known as the god of rebirth, but he is also associated with fertility and vegetation. The most popular belief is that Adonis is the son of Theias, the king of Syria, and his daughter, Myrrha (or Smyrna). According to World History Encyclopedia, the king boasted his daughter was more beautiful than Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty and love. When Aphrodite heard this, she became angry, and “used…

  • Monthly Columns

    MagickalArts

    What Are the Magickal Arts? … As magickal practitioners we are all “artists” in our own ways, honing our skills of creating magick, weaving patterns of energy that affect change and calling to the most Divine of our natures as we align with cosmos, greater earth and all of the many Beings that inhabit those realms. And, I like where this trend is taking us in exploring the craft in all of forms….   Beltane reminds us of our ability to co-create and stand in the power of what is birthed. This issue we honor The Magickal Art of Standing In Your Power-The Magickal Name!   What’s in a name?…