When NASA named its new lunar program Artemis, some of us in the Pagan community felt a spark of recognition. After decades of space missions named for gods, heroes, and mythic figures, this one landed differently. Artemis isn’t just a name — she’s a living archetype, a presence many of us honor in ritual, devotion, or quiet personal practice. She is the Moon’s guardian, the liminal huntress, the protector of the wild and the vulnerable. She is independence, intuition, and... Read more
What happens when we die? Some variation of that question has been on my mind lately. Nature has its own cycles, and our lives also have their own rhythms. Right now, I’m at the end of what I call my personal “death season.” Many of my loved ones chose the first quarter of the year to die. Not all of them passed neatly between January 1 and March 31, but enough did that this time of year always feels heavy.... Read more
There’s a particular kind of hush that settles over the last week of February — a pause between breaths, a soft and subtle shifting that’s easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. The wheel is turning, yes, but it’s not rushing. It’s stretching, yawning, blinking awake. These final days of winter carry a magic all their own, a liminal quality that invites us to slow down and listen to what’s stirring beneath the surface. For many Pagan traditions, this... Read more
When February arrives, many modern Pagans immediately think of Imbolc. It’s a beautiful sabbat full of light, hope, and the first whispers of spring. But if we widen our gaze beyond the Wheel of the Year, we discover a landscape rich with other ancient festivals that once shaped this time of year. These celebrations—Roman, Norse, and Anglo‑Saxon—reveal a deeper story about February: a month of thresholds, purification, protection, and preparing the land for the growing season ahead. Let’s take a... Read more
The Lunar, or Chinese, New Year arrives on February 17, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse. In Chinese astrology—a traditional system based on the lunar calendar—each year is assigned an animal and an elemental quality. The zodiac follows a 12‑year cycle, with each animal returning again and again, but shifting elements as it moves through time. According to mythology, the Jade Emperor once held a great race for all the animals; the first twelve to cross the finish... Read more
We have survived 2025 and now we find ourselves looking 2026 in the eyes. At the beginning of the year, many of us like to look ahead and see what to expect from the year. At The Broom Closet we see an uptick in people wanting readings about the year ahead this time of year, and it is something we often encourage people to do. One way to see what the next year may bring is to look at the... Read more
What gift do you get the witches or Pagans in your life for the holidays—or any occasion? Choosing gifts for loved ones can be tricky. Sometimes it feels impossible to shop for someone who seems to have everything. Or maybe you’re wracking your brain trying to find something for a person whose interests (or spiritual path) differ from your own. If you love a witch but struggle to find the right present, this guide may point you in the right... Read more
The Wild Hunt is a spectral, nocturnal horde which was recorded in folklore all throughout ancient, medieval, and even early modern Europe, but was especially concentrated in the Germanic lands of northern Europe. Wild Hunts typically involve a “soul-raving” chase led by a mythological figure escorted by a ghostly or supernatural group of hunters passing in wild pursuit. The Wild Hunt swept through the forests in winter, the coldest, darkest part of the year, when ferocious winds and storms howled... Read more
Our ancestors are often at the forefront of our minds this time of year. We’ve just celebrated Samhain and my Norse kindred just held our Winter Nights’ ritual last night. November 1st is Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day. We spend a lot of time remembering our ancestors and beloved dead. As humans, we spend a lot of our time thinking about the past and the future, but we are not particularly good at thinking about the present.... Read more
The God, the divine masculine lives in all of us—not as dominance or detachment, but as presence, protection, and purposeful action. Just as the goddess archetypes rise and fall with the turning of the Wheel, so too do the gods within us awaken, mature, and retreat in rhythm with the seasons. These archetypes are not bound by gender. They are energies, invitations, and mirrors. They offer us ways to embody courage, clarity, devotion, and depth. In a world that often... Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In