Reflections on my journey with Mama Earth and Grandmother Moon
Blessed be at this time of Equinox, when Mama Earth is balanced for night and day, dark and light. Whatever you celebrate at this time of year, the astronomical birth of Autumn or the astronomical birth of Spring, take some time to reflect on your own rebirth and renewal. What new pages can you turn… Continue reading Equinox Apple Ritual & Blessing
I have started to gather and dry some ingredients for my planned Fall Equinox loose incense blend, for using in my celebrations and rituals throughout Autumn. I'm using ethically foraged ingredients and, so far have, oak leaves and moss, pine needles, wild hops, a few pine cones (under the leaves!), Rowan berries, Rosemary and Sage.… Continue reading Autumn Incense
Wassailing the Apple Trees, by Pauline Baynes Wassailing Traditions My first awareness of wassailing — from the old Anglo-Saxon phrase Wæs þu hæl meaning “Drink and be healthy” — was as an alternative name for door-to-door carolling at Christmas. In exchange for a song, one was given some grog (essentially a mulled wine or cider)… Continue reading 12 Days of Solstice: Wassailing
Some of the earliest gods and goddesses from ancient cultures are associated with heavenly bodies — the Sun, the Moon and the stars— and with the Earth itself, each attributed with a specific energy (feminine or masculine) and with specific functions, not unlike today’s Christian saints and their “patronage” (e.g. Saint Cecilia, patroness of musicians;… Continue reading August Full Moon: Celebrating Diana, goddess of The Hunt & Moon
I treasure the time I spend at my personal altar. It anchors my day, bringing a moment of stillness, timelessness, magic, clarity. There, I disengage from the sounds and distraction of the busy world outside and step into my own sacred space. I breathe differently when I’m there... slower, more deeply. I move differently... more… Continue reading The magic of one’s own Sacred Space
Hekate / Hecate is a Greek goddess associated with magic, witchcraft, necromancy, the underworld, childbirth and crossroads. Her time is that of the Dark Moon, the time of release and renewal. She is honoured at the 30th (always her special day!) of each month, at the Dark Moon and at the beginning at sunset… Continue reading See all paths with the wisdom of Hekate
The Equinox arrives today, on September 22nd at 1:02 PM Pacific Time / 20:02 UTC. For those in the Northern Hemisphere, this Equinox marks the astronomical start of Autumn and is known by many in the Pagan or Wiccan communities as Mabon, as Alban Elfed (Light of the Water) in Druid communities, and as Cónacht Fómhair (or Meán Fómhair) in Irish Gaelic For those… Continue reading The Magic of the Equinox: a transformative step in the Spiral Dance of the Year
I love this quote from Henry David Thoreau, which – for me – perfectly captures my thoughts about Lughnasadh (aka Lammas) and other harvest festivals: that true abundance is intangible and that we are a speck in the immense cosmos around us, a piece of star dust in the human form. Each year at Lughnasadh, I… Continue reading Lughnasadh Ritual and Magick: Abundance, Rebirth and Coeur-age
The Wheel of the Year is turning. It feels like Beltaine was just yesterday, and yet this week in the Northern Hemisphere we welcome the Summer Solstice, also known as MidSummer or Litha. The Solstice — from the Latin for “standing sun” — arrives on Wednesday, June 21st at 4:24 UTC (Universal Time), which is… Continue reading 25 Ways to Celebrate Summer Solstice Celtic-style
This Sunday in Canada (May 14th) - and in many countries around the world - we celebrate Mother’s Day. For some of us, this is a joyful day when we can spend some time with our mother… honour her… laugh with her…. share memories (and cake!). And for those of us who are mothers or… Continue reading Honouring our Great Mother on Mother’s Day
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