Individualistic Witchcraft: Is the Craft Atheistic?

October 1, 2018 By Coby Michael Ward

Putting the “I” in W(I)tchcraft Witchcraft is highly individualistic. Is it more practitioner centered than we give ourselves credit for? Pagan devotional practices are centered around the gods, and are closely aligned with magical practices, one often being called the other. However, the actual craft and art of sorcery is a skill unique to the practitioner like any other artform. This is the individualistic witchcraft that I am talking about. Of course there are those practices that call upon the... Read more

Halegmonath: the “Holy Month” of Mabon

September 17, 2018 By Coby Michael Ward

By linking together the astrological significance, mythology, and historical observances surrounding the festivals of Modern Paganism’s Wheel of the Year; one is able to discover deeper insights and intriguing connections linking the esoteric concepts that comprise the unique flavor of each sacred day of observance. Mabon, despite the modern origins of its nomenclature has significant connections with the ancient myths of Pagan cultures across Europe. The Autumn Equinox is obviously not an exclusively modern occurrence and despite whether or not... Read more

Pagan Pride

September 11, 2018 By Coby Michael Ward

Festivals are a large part of the Pagan year. There isn’t a time of year that you can’t find some Pagan event going on somewhere in the country. Some parts of the country are known for their large festivals, which are attended by hundreds of people within the diverse Pagan and magical community of North America. There are thriving Pagan communities within the heartland of America living in places that on the surface are seen as largely Christian and conservative. ... Read more

Connecting with the Familiar Spirit

August 30, 2018 By Coby Michael Ward

Tutelary or guardian spirits are found in cultures all over the world, with different interpretations for the Holy Guardian Angel of the Golden Dawn to the animal totems of Native Cultures. Personal spiritual allies are an integral part of human nature. Read more

Lunar Herb: Evening Primrose

August 23, 2018 By Coby Michael Ward

Lunar herbs help us connect with the energy of the Moon, bringing its influence into magic and rituals. The moon plays a prominent role in the spiritual practices of Pagans and Witches alike. Read more

The Practice of Esoteric Herbalism

August 10, 2018 By Coby Michael Ward

When many people begin exploring the world of magic, myth and legend one of the first places they turn to is plant magic. There are hundreds of resources on plant based practices, herbalism, and the creation of botanical preparations for both healing and ritual. Some people are interested in the chemical components of plants, others look to their astrological and elemental correspondences or the large body of plant folklore. There are numerous authors that write on the many different facets... Read more

The Astrological Importance of Lughnasadh

July 30, 2018 By Coby Michael Ward

The festival of Lughnasadh, later known as Lammas, is one of the four grand sabbats of witchcraft traditions, and one of the four sacred fire festivals of the Celtic peoples also celebrated by modern Pagans. The four festivals all have fire playing a central role in some way. Read more

This Is Witchcraft: That Which Cannot Be Named

July 23, 2018 By Coby Michael Ward

Witchcraft is the innate ability to work with these tools and discover new ways of wielding them. Read more

Acclaimed Herbalist and Indiana Native

July 10, 2018 By Coby Michael Ward

Joseph Ernest Meyer botanicchoice.com Herbalist, Writer and Purveyor of Medicinal Herbs Indiana is a land of open fields and farmland framed by dense forests, and beautiful lakes. I live in Fort Wayne, Indiana; known for its three converging rivers. So when I discovered that there was a prominent herbalist, and publisher who lived and operated just a couple of hours away I was excited to learn more about him. Joseph Ernest Meyer was born in 1878 and died in 1950. ... Read more

Twilight Sleep: A Collection of Henbane Lore

June 26, 2018 By Coby Michael Ward

Henbane is a magical plant with a history that goes back as far as ancient Greece, Nordic shamanism, and Indo-European tribal cultures. Read more