Uncategorized
-
Support Your Local Witchy Shops!
Many towns and cities are home to Pagan shops, but unfortunately they tend to come and go. It’s a rare Pagan shop indeed that lasts more than a few years — your favorite store may be there one day, and vanish the next. That’s partly because, like any small independent business — a locally-run Pagan shop depends on local customers for its livelihood. If customers don’t patronize these shops, they vanish, because it’s not cost-effective to run a business that’s doesn’t make a profit. Here are five reasons you should support local Pagan businesses if possible: Local businesses build the local economy. It’s a no-brainer that local businesses help the…
-
Nutting Day: Make Your Own Nutella!
Around the middle of September, the nut season starts. Hazelnuts ripen in the hedges, and they have long been connected to folklore and legends. Hazel is associated to the Celtic tree month of Coll, from August 5 to September 1, and the very word Coll means “the life force inside you.” Hazelnuts are connected to wisdom and protection, and are often found near sacred wells and magical springs. Hazelnuts can be used in workings related to divination and dowsing – tie a ripe one onto a string and use it as a pendulum! In the British Isles, September 14 was the day when children would forage in the woods to…
-
The Silly Sacred School Supplies Celebration
This is a ritual that I originally posted on my About.com site, but it has vanished into the aether, after About became ThoughtCo, and eventually LearnReligions. However, school is starting up again for a lot of us, so I wanted to share this, because it’s ridiculously fun, and it’s a great way to transition your kids into a new year with a new teacher, and celebrate your spirituality in a goofy and irreverent way. The Silly Celebration of the Sacred School Supplies In many Pagan traditions, it’s customary to consecrate your magical tools before beginning your practice. This creates a magical link between you, the tools, and the divine, and…
-
Hey Guys I Made You a Thing
So last week was terrible for a number of reasons but holy cow, this one is shaping up to be magnificent! I got a box of these — it’s The Daily Spell Journal! Have you ordered yours yet? If not, you can grab a copy right HERE on Amazon. If you happen to be local to the Columbus area, you can get yours in person at the official Daily Spell Journal Launch Party on August 27, at Blessed Be Spiritual Shop! Oh, also… watch for Another Big Announcement in about a week 😉
-
Why Would a Pagan Have a Bible?
A reader says, “I’ve got a weird situation and I need some advice. I’ve been Pagan for a long time, and I’ve made a point of studying a variety of religious paths just because I think it’s a great way to expand my knowledge base – plus it helps out a lot when I’m discussing religious matters with someone of another faith. I have dozens of books from different religions, including a Bible. Because this was my great-grandmother’s that she brought over from Germany before World War II, and is a family heirloom, I keep it displayed in a place of honor on my shelf. Recently, another Pagan was in…
-
Teaching Minors About Pagan Spirituality
Here’s a quickie preliminary disclaimer: Keep in mind that for the purposes of this discussion, we’re NOT talking about teaching your own kids. This is a question about teaching spiritual principles and practices to someone else’s child. Anyhoo, away we go. One of the emails I get a LOT goes along the following lines: “I’m really excited to learn about Paganism, but no one will teach me! By the way, I’m thirteen–can you help me?” There are some pretty important implications of teaching Pagan religions (or any other religions, for that matter) to someone who’s underage, and a number of points that need to be addressed. Particularly when it comes…
-
Can I Lie to My Parents About Paganism?
This is an older post that was originally on my AboutDotCom page, but has vanished into the aether thanks to reorganization. I wanted to share it here, because when I go to festivals and other events, I talk to a TON of people, many of them teens and young adults, who have issues with family being… less than supportive. If you’re a Young Seeker and mom/dad/grandma/Aunt Thelma are struggling with acceptance of your beliefs, this one’s for you: ———– A reader asks, My parents don’t think I should study Wicca because our family is Christian. I’m thinking about just telling them I’m not studying Wicca, but doing it anyway and just…
-
10 Things To Study In Addition to Paganism
This is an article that originally was published on my About Paganism page, when it was part of the AboutDotCom network, but has since vanished because of changes and weird restructuring. ———————————- I know, it stinks. You finally sat down and had The Big Talk with your parents and they still won’t let you practice Wicca — or any other form of Paganism — in their house. It’s not fair, you might just hate them for a few minutes, and they’re the meanest parents ever. Take heart — there’s a positive side to this. If you can’t practice Paganism while you live under their roof, that means you’ll have all…
-
HALP I Can’t Eat That: Navigating Food Allergies at Ritual
A reader asks, “My coven does a cakes and ale ritual at every Sabbat. I just got diagnosed with Celiac disease, and I’m wondering what I should do. I can’t eat the cakes because they’ll make me sick, and if we use beer for the ale, that could have a negative effect on me as well. I don’t want to miss out on the ritual, though, and be the only one who doesn’t participate. Are you familiar with anyone having a similar problem? Any suggestions on how to deal with this?” Answer: As a matter of fact, I’m familiar with this situation on a first-hand basis – I’ve been gluten-intolerant…
-
Keep a Dream Journal
Many Pagans put stock in dream meanings — for a lot of us, it’s important to keep track of what our dreams are telling us, because it may be important. Dreams can be prophetic, in that they may tell us of things yet to come, or they can be therapeutic, a way of our subconscious acknowledging problems that have to be resolved. One great way to get in touch with your dreams and their meanings is to keep a dream journal. By keeping a dream journal, you can help yourself remember what you dreamed about even when the dream is no longer fresh. Also, you can begin looking for patterns…
