House Blessing and Witch Bottle

It took us a year, but we finally got around to a house cleansing and blessing of our new home, and decided to throw in a witch bottle for good measure! [continue reading]

6 Minutes of Witchcraft: Regarding Experienced Witches, Newbies, & Books

I just listened to Laura Tempest Zakroff’s “6 Minutes of Witchcraft – A Message to Experienced Witches” where she talked about recommending introductory books to seekers. Would you recommend your favourite beginner books to a newbie today? Popular books from the 1970s (Margot Adler, Starhawk), 1980s (Raymond Buckland), and 1990s (Scott Cunningham, Silver RavenWolf) may not be

Celebrating Litha/ Summer Solstice 2017

Originally posted on Nature is Sacred:
Happy Summer Solstice everyone. It is the Summer Solstice or Midsummers Day in the Northern Hemisphere. The word Solstice comes from the Latin “Sol” meaning sun and “Sistere” meaning to stand still. It is the longest day of the year with 15 hours of sunshine. The sun is at its…

Celebrating Beltane/ May Day 2017

Originally posted on Nature is Sacred:
Happy Beltane/ May Day everyone. Beltane, meaning “bright fire” is one of the four great fire festivals of the ancient Celtic cultures. In ancient Irish culture it was the time when both the Tuatha De Danaan and the Milesians came to Ireland and was originally celebrated when the Hawthorns…

By Land, Sea and Sky

It has been quite a few years since I started my pagan path. In that time, I have been initiated into a Wiccan tradition and eventually obtained my Second Degree, as well as immersed myself in learning more about Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, Reconstructionism, and Celtic and Germanic history, mythology and folklore. But when I restarted my life in a

Winternights

Winternights (Vetrnætr) is one of the three major festivals celebrated in pre-Christian Scandinavia, the others being midwinter (Yule, Jól/Jólablót, Hökunótt) and the beginning of the summer raiding season (Sigrblót “Victory Blot” or Sumarmál). Snorri Sturluson wrote of these festivals in the Ynglinga saga of the Heimskringla: “There should be a sacrifice at the beginning of

Sacred Wonders of Britain

Sacred Wonders of Britain (BBC, 2013) Archeologist Neil Oliver sets off on a journey to reveal the sacred face of Britain, an ancient landscape of belief and ritual that lies hidden just below the surface of the modern world. From Britain’s remotest islands to the heart of its cities, Neil searches for clues that tell

Skadi, the Snow Queen

Skadi, Skade, Skathi (Norse), Sceadu (Anglo-Saxon) Skadi (Skaði) is a female jötunn (giant) and goddess of winter, snow, mountains and the hunt. She is also associated with independence, wilderness and wisdom. Skadi lived in the highest reaches of the snow-covered mountains. She was described as being tall and beautiful with long black hair, silver armour,

Artwork of Thalia Took

I’m a huge fan of Thalia Took. Her Goddess artwork can be seen throughout my blogs as I love her drawing style, her use of vibrant colours, and interpretations of the Goddesses (and now Gods!).

Pagan Origins of Christmas

Christmas as we know it today has developed from a variety of origins, including pagan ones!  Things like the evergreen tree, mistletoe, gift giving, and even the birth date of Jesus have come from pagan sources. Yule The Winter Solstice is celebrated around December 20-23 (northern hemisphere), the shortest day of the year.  Yule celebrates