Paganism: A New Vision of Family

Last updated on: November 1, 2011 at 9:10 am By Star Foster

Samhain has passed, Thanksgiving is looming and it’s a season for drawing close to family. When a sizeable chunk of the Pagan community has some degree of difficulty interacting with their biological family, this time of year can be challenging. Some of us are estranged from our families due to religious differences, some because there isn’t any acceptance of our sexual orientation or lifestyle by our biological families, and some for other reasons, good reasons such as abuse. For those... Read more

Samhain and S.A.D.

Last updated on: October 31, 2011 at 8:57 am By Star Foster

Why do we love a season that makes us feel like crud? Even The Bloggess has been going through a funk and she’s made of awesome and rainbow ninjas sprinkled with sarcasm. I’m always tempted to hibernate through this time of year, and wake up at Yule. So although I have a lot to write about, I have been sternly warned I’m not allowed to go crazy. Instead of rushing about trying to pull together a post, take care of... Read more

A Brief Note to My Future Daughter

Last updated on: October 29, 2011 at 9:10 am By Star Foster

I have a Samhain ritual to attend tonight, and I’m honestly a bit overwhelmed and considered playing hooky from the blog today. Then I saw this post on “purity pledges” at the Friendly Atheist. It reminded me own my own fundamentalist Christian youth and of something I once read on a Pagan forum years ago. A man said it was his hope his daughter would have several marriage partners before she was married. He said he believed if his daughter... Read more

The Scariest Job On Earth

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 at 3:22 pm By Star Foster

Ok, maybe not the scariest, but it’s on up there in the toll it takes on the well-being of the worker: Pagan blogger. Oh, of all the nightmares and spectres we will tantalize ourselves with over the Halloween weekend, I’d like to float a few ghouls past you to send a chill down your spine. So grab some popcorn, dim the lights and snuggle up in your blankie as I reveal the scariest things about being a Pagan blogger. Why... Read more

Regarding the War on Halloween

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 at 9:57 am By Star Foster

I’ve been joking about writing a piece on “the War on Halloween” for a few weeks now, because from a Pagan perspective it’s such an absurd topic. Yet the more I joked the more it seemed a good idea. You see, the truth is, Halloween is a secular holiday. It doesn’t belong to any religion. What we know as Halloween today began as an excuse for bored Edwardians to party and scare the crap out of each other. It kept... Read more

Taking A Stand Is Dangerous Business

Last updated on: October 27, 2011 at 11:18 am By Star Foster

Taking a stand and speaking your mind has always been a dangerous business. All yesterday I thought of K. Pythia Theocritos’ guest post on Daughters of Eve: I can smile, laugh, offer witty comebacks with a hint of “sista-speak”, but never, ever, disagree or venture to correct. In the pagan community I’ve sensed being two steps away from the territory of“uppity negro.” I’ve seen it in the eyes of 40 year old women, hell bent on using their “Irishness/Scottishness” as... Read more

13 Songs for Hallows

Last updated on: October 26, 2011 at 10:12 am By Star Foster

Like many of you, I’m extremely busy in October. Just as nature is drawing me into a time for quiet repose, I find I have more to do and accomplish than ever. As I am gearing up for projects to be tackled, my spirit is longing for long hours in meditation and quiet solitude. So although I was saving it for this weekend, here is my song list for Hallows. 13. Dante’s Prayer – Loreena McKennitt When the dark night... Read more

Book Review: Christian Day’s The Witches’ Book of the Dead

Last updated on: October 25, 2011 at 10:20 am By Star Foster

I don’t generally bother to review books I don’t think I’ll care for, especially with a stack of books I actually want to read waiting on me. Not being Christian Day’s biggest fan, I was reluctant to read The Witches’ Book of the Dead but I was intrigued by some of the reviews as much as I was repelled by others. So I read it, and here’s my opinion of it. Make of it what you will. The Good Overall,... Read more

Longing for Hallows

Last updated on: October 24, 2011 at 9:17 am By Star Foster

I considered trying some humor today. Writing about the “War on Halloween” or something like that. Yet, all around me leaves are blazing and drifting slowly to the ground. The afternoon light makes the mountains glow like molten gold. I’m in love with this season. It’s strange how seductive the season can be. The oranges and golds, the chill in the air, the scent of woodsmoke and the waning light all mean one thing: we are being drawn into darkness.... Read more

Traditional Witchcraft on the Internet

Last updated on: October 23, 2011 at 8:51 am By Star Foster

I get some weird messages online. Sometimes it’s the worst kind of gossip attributing disgusting and malicious acts to people who would surely be in prison if such things were true. Sometimes it’s people offering to be my secret occult advisor or who claim special knowledge because they own Gerald Gardner’s old chamber pot. Those are messages I can generally safely ignore. Sometimes, though, people have a weird idea in their heads, and it’s an idea I hear repeated until... Read more