Every year I hear the same refrain "Put Christ back in Christmas," and every year I shake my head. No one faith owns Christmas, it's a combination of various elements, some pagan, some Christian, and some cultural. Christmas is not yours or mine, it simply is, and it belongs to anyone who cherishes it. Read more
Are the "controversies" that inspire the Pagan Blogosphere actually the issues that we as a community are wrestling with on a day to day basis? Or is there just a small group of Pagans shouting at each other in some small corner of the internet while everyone else is at circle singing whatever chant we are all still allowed to sing together? Read more
I’ve been running a small circle in my living room since March of this year. It’s been rather informal, while sticking to a few of the ritual tropes that my wife and I have been using for the last few years. When we were first starting out we met simply for esbats (more technically on the friday closest to a full moon). This fall we added sabbats to the mix, along with American holidays so that we are averaging about... Read more
I’m taking a few days off for Thanksgiving, but thought I would provide a few links and other things until I return on Monday (or Tuesday). Lots of great stuff coming up in December, and then lots of traveling and other assorted things in January and February (some of it will be really crazy!). And for those of you wondering, yes, those are my cats. Evie (Eee-Veee, short for Evening) is the little one on the left, and the tortie... Read more
It’s the Holiday Season, and that means it’s time for gift guides and other assorted odes to capitalism. The “spend spend spend mania” that grips this time of year can be a bit much to take, and for those of you who sit out The Holidays I don’t blame you. However, if you are one of the millions of Yuletide gift-givers, here are a few ideas that lie on the more Pagan-side of things. Happy Holidays! MUSIC Boxsets and even... Read more
It's rare to feel "perfect love and perfect trust" in circle, and I was lucky enough to feel exactly that way this past weekend. After a long year I'm home, I'm happy, and I'm thankful for all the wonderful people in my life. Thanksgiving might not be a sabbat in the traditional sense, but I'm glad that it offers me that moment to reflect on all I've been given. Read more
During Wiccan-style ritual Pagans interact with deity in several different ways. In my estimation there are three distinct ways we do this: Calling to deity, interacting/feeling the energy of deity in the circle, and drawing down the moon. Read more
When most of us think about Modern Wiccan Ritual, we tend to think of calling quarters, casting a circle, and inviting deity into the circle. Those are all magickal things in their own right, but to me the most incredible part of ritual is Drawing Down the Moon. How many other faiths let you talk to deity? There's something incredibly powerful about the idea of being in a room with the Divine, and not just feeling the presence of the divine, but being able to literally talk and interact with the gods. Read more
Samhain ended for me sometime near 3:30 am early Sunday Morning on November 4 when I finally drifted off into a fitful few hours of sleep. In past years the Halloween season meant one ritual, trick or treaters, and a giant party. This year the time of All Hallow’s resulted in three rituals, a handful of kids, and several pounds of leftover candy. It wasn’t the best Halloween season I’ve ever had, but it was certainly the best extended Samhain... Read more
I feel like posting anything unrelated to the Election would get overlooked, so I’m here to simply say, that if you live in the United States, VOTE! I don’t really care who you vote for, as long as you remain true to yourself. Would I like you to vote for Hillary Clinton? You bet, but how you vote is your business, I’ll be happy just as long as you do it. Voting is one of the great legacies of ancient... Read more
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