The Gift of Darkness It is at Samhain, perhaps more than any other time of the year, that we as a culture, confront darkness. Why is this? There are a multitude of answers; because the nights have grown longer, the veil between the worlds is thin, or maybe it is because this time of year has become a cultural metaphor for the darkness within ourselves. Samhain is a time of mystery, when the veil between the worlds is thin, yet also is the veil between our light self and dark self. It is here on this night, that culturally we confront our hidden selves and revel in them. Unabashedly and unashamed on this one night of the year we draw our masks from our spiritual selves and place them on physically, then rush head long into the dark and glorious night! Yet there is much more to confronting our dark selves than a costume and paint. Author Timothy Roderick writes of a time, in the not to distant past when the cowan called the craft of magick the “black arts”. Black sign...
Posts
Charge of the Maiden Goddess
Listen now to the words of the Bright Maiden. She of old, who was called ; Brigidh, Artemis, Minerva, Idunn, Rhiannon, Blodeuwedd, Parvati, Chang 'e, Kore, Eostre and by many other names. I am the first light of the dawn that sweeps away weariness and banishes indifference. I am the promise of spring jutting from beneath the soft warm blankets of snow. Life renewed. I am the hatching egg opening from infinite potential to choose a path and destiny all my own. I am innocence coupled with wild abandon and lively curiosity that blow the dust off stale knowledge. I am the young flame that sparks inspiration, fueling a spirit of creativity and discovery. By my hand the beauty of your art, poetry, music and smith craft burst free. When my song fills your heart you will know me. I am enchantment, excitement and the carefree erotic aura that send men and Gods preening. I am the huntress running free through the woods in pursuit of my quarry, my hou...
Beltane Lore, Legend and Celebrations
Beltane, also spelled Beltaine, is the Gaelic name for either the month of May or the festival that takes place on the first day of May. It is the third of the three spring fertility festivals on the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. The other two spring fertility festivals being Imbolog and Ostara respectively. Beltane is a cross-quarter, on the Wheel of the Year, marking the midpoint in the Sun's progress between the vernal equinox (Ostara) and summer solstice (Litha). Beltane stands opposite Samhain on the wheel, as two very important celebrations. Beltane, also known as May Day, which is derived from the Irish Gaelic 'Bealtaine' or the Scottish Gaelic 'Bealtuinn', meaning 'Bel-fire', the fire of the Celtic god of light (Bel, Beli or Belinus). He, in turn, may be traced to the Middle Eastern god Baal. May Day , of course resides in the month of May which is named of the goddess Maia, a Greek mountain nymph. Maia is iden...
The Wiccan Rede: Fairly Take and Fairly Give
(This is a continuing discussion line by line of the full Wiccan Rede. See the first post in February for the full rede and beginning of the discussion.) Live ye well and let to live; fairly take and fairly give. Living Well Many websites, commercials, and books are dedicated to the art of living well. Our consumer driven society is obsessed with it. What does it really mean? From a material point of view to live well, might be to live comfortably from a financial standpoint, have a few things that make you happy. Have a few people with whom you are close to and exist in a somewhat enjoyable manner. Lets look at this from a different perspective. Living well, can also be a standard to which to hold yourself. We as wiccans and pagans, actively work to create a better life for ourselves, better communities and a better world. In doing so, we take on the role of the steward, the caretaker. As stewar...