The Vernal Equinox marks the Spring festival of Ostara. Not known to have any strong connections to ancient Pagan celebrations, it’s been adopted by Neo-pagan traditions as a turning point in the cycles of the seasons in the Wheel of the Year, the solar cycle. The Equinox marks the half-way point in the Earth’s elliptical [...]
Imbolc falls around February 1st or 2nd, and is the predecessor to our modern Groundhog Day, when we divine whether we will have a quick end to winter or more cold days ahead. The name Imbolc or “in the belly” comes from this time of year in Ireland when the ewes become pregnant. It is [...]
The four elements—earth, air, fire, water—are representations of life-force/universal/divine energy. The idea that everything, All That Is, breaks down to one or more of four elements comes from the belief that all things are connected. When the four elements are imbued with the fifth element of spirit, we have life! Without the elements, life cannot [...]
We don’t usually refer to it as “Halloween.” This holiday has been observed for hundreds of years in one form or another. What we witches and wiccans celebrate today largely comes from the Celtic New Year, Samhain (pronunciation depends on the region, but generally “sah-when” or “soween”). The annual cycle begins with death, rather than [...]
As with all spiritual paths, each is a lifetime of study, so trying to do even one path justice in a few paragraphs just won’t happen. Wait, isn’t a witch a green hag with a wart on her nose, a fictional character suited to hang out with the likes of Dracula and the Mummy? This [...]
Shamanism can mean a lot of different things, it is probably a term that is over-used these days because it is so non-specific. In my view it has become an umbrella-term for earth ways, living in tune with nature and her cycles. It evokes a sense of ancient wisdom, a simpler way of living life [...]