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Ritual and Food Allergies
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…
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How to Find a Pagan Teacher
If you’re someone who’s new to Pagan religions – or if you’re someone who’s been Pagan a while and wants to branch out a little – you might find it of benefit to yourself to find a teacher or mentor. However, many people decide that “finding a teacher” means just randomly posting on the Internet, asking strangers to contact them. This is not the ideal way to find someone who can teach you about spirituality, for a variety of reasons. Let’s look at some of the things you should do if you’re looking for a Pagan teacher – and some of the things you should really try to avoid. Know…
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Dream Catchers: Popular, But Not Pagan
Peruse any Pagan shop or selling website, and chances are good you’ll stumble, at some point, across dream catchers. While these are popular items that have made into the mainstream, particularly in the metaphysical community, they’re not specifically Pagan, at least not in the context of modern Neopaganism – much of which stems from European beliefs and practices. In fact, dream catchers actually have their beginnings in Native American spirituality. It is believed that dream catchers originated with the Ojibwe, or Chippewa, peoples of North American. Tribal communities existed primarily around the northern part of the United States and the southern regions of Canada, in particular, around the Great Lakes.…
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Bread Folklore and Magic
When Lammas, or Lughnasadh, rolls around, many modern Pagans celebrate the harvest of the grain crops. This is nothing new – for our ancestors, the grain harvest was a cause for great celebration. A successful harvest meant families would be able to bake and store bread through the winter – and that could mean the difference between life and death for many. The word “Lammas” comes from the Old English phrase hlaf-maesse, which translates to “loaf mass.” Today, it’s not uncommon to find a celebration of bread at a Pagan festival during the Lammas season. There are a number of different ways that bread itself can be incorporated into a…
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Lammastide Warrior Meditation
At Lammas, the harvest is kicking in. This is a time of year when the masculine energy of the earth is in full swing. For starters, it’s the season of the spirit of grain, and a time to honor Lugh, the craftsman god. Lugh was not only a craftsman, but a gifted smith and swordsman. The season from late summer to the middle of fall is often a season of heightened energy for those who identify with the warrior soul. The warrior in today’s society is someone who understands the idea of right action. He or she follows a code of honor, and abides by that code even when it…
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The Aonach Tailteann Games
When Lammas, or Lughnasadh, rolls around at the beginning of August, it’s often a time for local festivals, country fairs, and harvest events. Believe it or not, this isn’t a new tradition at all. The Aonach Tailteann was a fair held by the High Kings of Ireland in County Meath, and some early historians believe it originated during prehistoric times. Also spelled Óenach Tailteann, this fair was a combination of the political assembly, marketplace, and games of skill and strength. Origins and History of the Aonach Tailteann According to the Irish Book of Invasions, the hero and god Lugh himself organized the first of these fairs, in his aspect as…
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Unity Through Community
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Cultural Appropriation and Why It Matters
Cultural appropriation is a term you may see referenced in many discussions of modern Pagan religion. It refers to, quite simply, the appropriation of one culture’s practice and belief system by another, but without the true cultural context. For example, NeoWiccans who integrate totem animals, vision quests, and sweat lodge sessions as an homage to Native Americans – but who are not Native Americans themselves, and do not understand the usage of those practices on a cultural level because of it – could arguably be accused of cultural appropriation. Be aware that different people view cultural appropriation in different ways. Some see it as a form of flattery – a…
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Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535)
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim was born in Cologne, France, 1486, but beyond that, little is known about his early years. In 1499, he entered university at Cologne. Over the course of his education, he learned eight languages, and studied alchemy and hermetic philosophy. He took a position as secretary to Maximilian I, king of Germany and Rome, and spent a good deal of time socializing with scholars and nobles. According to scholar Charles Nauert, rumor has it that Agrippa formed or joined a secret society in Paris at this time. Agrippa the Educator & Feminist In 1509 Agrippa joined the teaching staff at the University of Dole, France, where…
