May is perhaps one of the most exciting monts of the year, as the bright and joyful birthing energy of spring blossoms into vigorous excitement this month. The newness of life bursts into eager exuberance. The world is growing, stretching, and reaching out to find the wild and extravagant love and erotic sensation. It is [...]
The Second Harvest
There is a day in mid September, usually around the 21-23, where there is balance of daylight and darkness for the second time in the wheel of the year. Here we observe with reverence and respect the return of the powerful dark. Also known as the Festival of Mabon (pronounced MAY-bun, MAY-bone, MAH-boon, [...]
by Gail Wood
The bright, joyful, birthing energy of spring blossoms into vigorous excitement in the month of May and the holiday of Beltane. The newness of life bursts into eager exuberance. The world is growing, stretching, and reaching out to find wild, extravagant love and erotic sensation. It is the perfection of being in the [...]
Art by Jenny M. Heidewald
Beltane is the sensual Pagan festival of fire and fertility, also known as May Day — when we dance around the omnipotent phallic symbol, the maypole. The red and white ribbons woven around the maypole represent blood and semen; the sacred fusion of female and male energies that are the creative [...]
(Spring or Vernal Equinox)
The Festival of Renewal
March is when spring arrives in the northern hemisphere. trees are in leaf, and a carpet of flowers speads over the Earth. Insects are active, birds are building nests, and animals mate and give birth.
The Vernal (Spring) Equinox, when Pagans celebrate the festival of Ostara, which usually falls on [...]
Who are Witches and what are they all about?
Salutations Blessed Ones!
The process of “growing up” is filled with challenges, and that was always alright with me being the fire sign that I am. I love challenges, and the more that come my way I say: “Yeah! bring’em on!”
The first 7 or 8 years of a [...]
(February 1st – 2nd)
The Festival of Lights
Imbolc, (pronounced “IM-bulk” or “EM-bowlk”), also called Oimealg, (“IM-mol’g) by the Druids, as is the festival of the lactating sheep. It is derived from the Gaelic word “oimelc” which means “ewes milk”. Herd animals have either given birth to the first offspring of the year or their wombs are [...]
Falling between the 19th and the 23rd day of December, and also known as the Winter Solstice, Yule (pronounced EWE-elle) is the time when the dark half of the year yields to the light half, marking the shortest day of the year accompanied by what is also known as Solstice Night, the longest night of [...]
Ancestor Night, Celtic New Year
The chilled breeze that flutters the red, orange and yellow leaves, nibbles at the skin, raising goose-bumps. Samhain is upon us. Expect the unexpected if you celebrate this holiday -the Celtic New Year- on All Hallows Eve.
Pronounced SOW-in, SAH-vin, or SAM-hayne – means “End of Summer”, and is the third and [...]
(Summer Solstice – June 21st )
The Festival of Growth
Litha is the season of expansion, when the crops burgeon forth. We forget winter’s cares and spend our days basking under the brilliant light of the Sun. According to the old folklore calendar, Summer begins on Beltane (May 1st) and ends on Lughnassadh (August 1st), with the [...]