Guest Blog

Guest Blog from Luke Eastwood - author of The Druid Garden

4/1/2021

I have written only a few blog post over the years, as I am not in the habit of doing it; although I suppose I would regard it as a bit like a one-way conversation, in which I need to anticipate what you might want or need to hear from me.

My new book “The Druid Garden” is written very much with two main groups in mind – the Pagan and wider spiritual community and Gardeners, with the intention of bringing the two together like on some kind of mental venn diagram. If you can change how you think about something, it changes how you will behave, so very much the book begins with trying to change perceptions.

Gardening is something that has been happening forever, but only more recently has it become connected with the subject of ethics and understanding of how food, medicine, how we treat nature and each other are all linked with something that has generally been regarded as a hobby.

For the gardening hobbiest this book might help them to look at the world with fresh eyes and discover a different side to the physical world of nature – at least I am hoping that readers will take from this a more holistic and spiritually minded attitude towards their gardens and the wider environment.

Certainly, for a blog connected with Witchcraft, I don’t need to lecture you with information about the existence of spirit or the importance of herbs and what to use them for. There is a lot information in the book about uses of trees and plants on a magical and medicinal uses, but more importantly I have written about how to grow them and how to look after them. Another area I have looked at is how to connect and establish a working relationship with plants or their essence.

Gardening may come naturally to some Witches and Pagans, certainly for myself I just seemed to fall into it, and I do have ‘green fingers’ without fully comprehending how I acquired them. However, I realise that this is not the case with some people – others are attuned to humans, animals, the deceased, spirits etc far more than to plants and very few people have a very strong connection to everything in existence. Just as some many need help in learning to connect to the world of spirit, some others need help in connecting to the plant realm – and this is for whom I wrote this book.

We live in complex and challenging times, the Earth itself is threatened by our very existence due to our insane industrialised mode of living. Many areas of the established norms are being shaken and perhaps will be overturned in the near future. So, I would consider now to be a time for action, a time for stepping up to ‘be the change’ if we want to be part of creating a better world together. This can be done on many levels – through magic, art, personal interaction, prayer and also through practical actions such as political activism, helping someone in need, planting trees and sowing seeds.

In fact sowing seeds is a great metaphor for what lies ahead, I think. We do not know what the result of our actions will be, in fact we may not be around to see our deeds bear fruit in our own lifetime, just as an oak tree will mature long after we have planted an acorn. However, that does not really matter -if what we do now ultimately serves to make the world a better place then surely that is enough in itself?

Luke is a Druid, living and working as a horticulturist in Ireland. He has written several books spirtuality, environmentalism and poetry. His latest book is “The Druid Garden” published by Moon Books. You can see more of Luke’s work at lukeeastwood.com

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The Astrology of Spring Equinox by Lys

3/18/2021

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The Spring Equinox, when day and night are equal all over the world, is marked by the Sun’s ingress, or entry, into Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. This is the astrological new year, when we move into the light, active half of the year here in the northern hemisphere. Our energy is turned outwards into the world, to grow and create and blossom, just like the nature around us. At Spring Equinox, we carry the seeds, lessons and growth of the winter season out into the world. Astrologically, we carry the seeds, lessons and growth of the previous cycle of the zodiac into the new cycle, allowing the divine spark of Aries energy to inspire us to action and movement.

The dragon energy of the earth is awakening at Spring Equinox and Aries symbolises our drive to create, to act and to change. It’s the impulse which moves us to action. In Vedic astrology, Aries is the thunderbolt arising from the primordial waters of Pisces, the new cycle born from the old, new conscious awareness born from the unconscious self. Nature is beginning to show her abundance at Spring Equinox as the sunlight increases, awakening the plant’s powers of photosynthesis and greening the landscape. All is rising, blossoming, blooming, even reproducing, as the world explodes with the Aries force of nature.

Aries is ruled by the planet Mars, known as a warrior god who fights for what he believes in (and sometimes apparently for the joy of it!). Mars symbolises our power to assert ourselves, to be an individual, to take action. The warrior energy of Aries calls us to know our own power – and to use it well, for our own growth and also to benefit others. Mars was originally a pastoral god of agriculture and the countryside, a link to the Green Man whose spark of growing energy is so apparent as the sap rises in the spring. In Babylonian times, this sign was known as the “Hired Labourer”, reflecting the busy agricultural season when extra help was needed for clearing the land and sowing new crops.

The traditional symbol of Aries is the ram and this first sign of the zodiac may also have been connected with the ewe goddess Seret in ancient Egypt, a symbol of fertility and nurturing new life. Hebrew mythology refers to Rachel as the Divine Ewe, the mother of the Holy Lamb. The lamb is a beautiful symbol of Aries energy, springing around the fields at this time of year and reminding us of the power of play. Aries is all about youthful enthusiasm, taking risks and trying out new things purely for the fun of it. The energy of Aries is both innocent and energetic, carrying a kind of purity which comes with the new cycle. The lack of experience can be a challenge but can also be a gift, helping us to avoid the traps of fear, self doubt and overthinking. If we don’t know what can go wrong, we’re much more likely to just take a leap, like a young child exploring the world for the first time. Aries is a pioneer, a risk taker, an adventurer, like the tarot Fool stepping off the cliff, free of burdens or expectations.

There’s a simplicity to this sign which is reflected in the newness of nature all around us. Like the newly risen sun or the newly unfurled leaves, Aries energy is full of promise. Aries also brings us the gift of present moment awareness, an ability to simply be where we are without worrying about where we’ve been or what comes next. Again, this may have been much easier when we were children but every year Aries brings us a reminder of the power of celebrating our existence, the wonder that is the nature around us and the simple joys of life.

Astrological Magic for Spring Equinox

A phoenix spell for rebirth

At Spring Equinox we celebrate the birth of the new astrological year – this spell allows you to honour and release the energies of the past cycle of the zodiac as well as embracing the rebirth of the new cycle. Its best done at dawn and ideally when the sun is visible, rising in a clear sky. If you can, light a small fire outside but if not, incense sticks corresponding to sun energies like orange, rosemary or frankincense are just as effective. Light your fire or incense and as you do so, name and visualise all that you want to burn away from the past season or zodiac cycle. As you watch them burn, you can write or create a call to the phoenix, calling in what you want to celebrate and the new life you want to bring into being at the Spring Equinox. Allow the incense or fire to burn out and wait for the ashes to cool, meditating on your intent. Once the ashes are cool enough to touch, scatter them to the wind as you speak or visualise your call. You may be aware of phoenix energies around you or you may see a sign in the coming days. Don’t forget to thank the phoenix for hearing you.

Making incense

Making your own magical incense brings together the fire energy of Aries with the strong airy energy which is so often present in the turbulent winds of the Equinox. Mixing equal parts of resin and dried herbs, along with a few drops of essential oil (just enough to hold the dry ingredients together), makes a loose incense which you can burn on charcoal discs. An incense for Aries at the Spring Equinox might include frankincense or copal resin, pine or juniper oil and dried nettle, hawthorn, blackberry or birch leaves. It can be burned as part of your Spring Equinox celebrations and / or as a spell to carry away stagnant energies (many of the herbs associated with this time of year have cleansing properties, including the ones suggested here) as well as carrying your new vision and intentions for the coming cycle.

Moving meditation

Sacred movement is a great way to tune into the fiery energy of Aries and to become aware of your own energy and inner flame as well as clearing away any stagnant energy from the still winter season. Whatever level of physical activity you’re able to do is just fine, whether its simple sitting stretches, walking, dancing, running – whatever feels good for your body right now. The important thing is to do it mindfully, to be aware of the movement and the energy moving around your body. Listen to your body and let it move you, rather than the other way around.

Lys is a pagan astrologer and tarot reader based in London, you can find her on Instagram @wildstarlys or on her website
www.starlys.com

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The Astrology of Imbolc by Lys

1/28/2021

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Imbolc is the first cross quarter festival of the new solar cycle and of the calendar year, falling half way between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Astrologically, it comes midway through the sign of Aquarius, the sign of fixed air. Aquarius is idealistic, visionary and far-thinking. During Aquarius season, we are called not only to align ourselves with collective energies but to contribute to and even change them. Aquarius is the sign of potential, of breaking away from what has been established to try something new, even radical. This is one of the most inclusive of all the signs, reaching for genuine equality and breaking away from hierarchy and tradition, honouring honesty and original thinking. Aquarius energy is about the greater good, the bigger picture, about remembering that there’s more to life than our individual journey. As individuals, we are all part of a wider pattern and Aquarius asks us to acknowledge that pattern and do what we can to fulfil the potential it, and we, carry.

Nature is beginning to awaken at Imbolc and as the days lengthen and the light begins to return we find a sense of clarity and an ability to open up, to stretch mind and body and let go of the sometimes stifling energy of winter and too much time spent indoors. Aquarius is clear cold skies full of stars, the purity of a landscape covered in snow and ice. We can imagine standing on a mountain or a high hill, seeing the land curve away below us, gaining a sense of perspective as we stand above and reach beyond our everyday concerns. Aquarius brings energy from the unconscious and makes it conscious, just as our new vision emerges at Imbolc and we begin to make plans to manifest all the inner growth and change of the winter season in our outer reality.

Traditionally, Aquarius is known as the water bearer and the image for the sign shows a person (for Aquarius is above all a sign of humanity) carrying a jug or urn, allowing the water to flow. Aquarians are often seen as detached or even reserved, expressing themselves through the intellect rather than their feelings and this is often true. But they carry their feelings as well as their ideals, pouring them out for the benefit of humanity. As the Water Bearer, Aquarius contains and observes feelings, seeking to avoid overwhelm and chaos. Their role as the water bearer brings Aquarius an association with fertility and the seeds of life which resonates with the emergence of new life at Imbolc, the beginning of a new phase of growth. The ancient symbol of the urn is associated with the Sumerian goddess Gula, goddess of healing and childbirth, as well as with the Egyptian Nut, the star goddess who poured the milky way from her breasts and the waters of life from her womb to bring humanity into being. The urn of Aquarius has also been associated with the cauldron of Cerridwen, symbolising not just personal transformation but the ability to use that transformation in service of a greater good.

Aquarius is co-ruled by two planets, with Saturn as the traditional ruler and Uranus as the modern. Uranus is the great awakener, mirrored in the awakening of the land at this time. The dynamic between these two great planetary energies describes the mythology of the season. Saturn is the Cailleach, the powerful crone goddess of winter who brings the cold and the frost, still powerful at Imbolc. And Uranus is the process of awakening, of breaking out of the frozen energies of winter to make space for new growth and understanding. At Imbolc we pay attention to the lightning flash of Uranian intuition, the deep inner knowing which shows us the path ahead or at least the first steps along it. Aquarius energy honours independence and self reliance, and so can be associated with virgin goddesses, in the ancient sense of a woman unique and true to herself. Athena, Isis, Minerva and Aphrodite have all been associated with this sign, carrying the potential for fertility as well as staying true to themselves. Aquarius energy is also sometimes associated with the Fates, the weavers of reality who remind us that our personal journey is woven into a much greater whole.

Astrological Magic for Imbolc

Cloud divination

We’ve all gazed at the sky and found shapes in the clouds and it’s easy to extend this and make it a divination practice. As with any divination, start by framing a clear but open question. Make sure its focused enough to give you the answer you need, without being so complicated it’s too difficult to hold in mind. To perform your divination, find a place with a clear view of the sky, whether its a hill top close to home or simply the view from an upstairs window. Gaze at the sky and allow your attention to rest on it gently, at the same time as bringing your attention to your breath. As your breath in, know that you are taking in the air around you, and as you breath out, offer your energy in exchange with the sky before you. When you feel ready, ask your question clearly, ideally out loud. Allow your eyes and your mind to rest on the sky before you and let yourself settle. Don’t be in a rush to “see” the answer, instead engage with your intuition and your feelings. You may see visible images in the clouds or you may see them in your mind. Either way, allow yourself plenty of time to receive your message. When you’ve finished, write about the experience in your journal and perhaps eat a little food to ground yourself.

Water Magic – a cleansing bath or shower

The element of water is often strong at Imbolc, either in the form of ice and snow, the cold rushing waters as the ice and snow begin to melt, or the rain which brings floods and fertile mud. We can allow these waters to carry away stagnant energy, cleansing and purifying us ready for a new season of growth. A cleansing bath or shower is a powerful way to do this as well as a great way to incorporate magical practice into your daily rhythm. Mixing herbs and a few drops of essential oils with Epsom salts as a skin scrub works to detoxify on every level. Suggestions for a cleansing herb mixture include juniper, traditionally used for both cleansing and protection, with antiseptic and circulation stimulating properties. Vervain is also a powerful herb of cleansing and protection with the added benefit of increasing divine inspiration. As you wash yourself with your herb mixture, visualise any stagnant energy flowing away down the plughole, leaving you sparkling inside and out.

Star meditation

Observing the stars opens us up to an awareness of patterns and the wider web of life, reminding us of our place in the universe. Spend some time simply observing, watching the stars as they wheel through the heavens, the patterns shifting and changing from our perspective as the earth turns beneath us. Then pick one star to make a focus for your meditation, perhaps a particularly bright star or one that you spot regularly. Visualise the light of the star in it’s long journey to reach earth and feel the bright white light bathing you in pure, clear energy. Offer the energy of your breath in exchange and know that you too are made of star stuff, that we are all part of the same universe.

Lys is a pagan astrologer and tarot reader based in London, you can find her on Instagram @wildstarlys or on her website
www.starlys.com

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The Spirits of the Land by Chris Allaun

1/14/2021

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When I was first learning witchcraft and magick my teacher at the time taught me that you can only become so powerful using your own personal energy. Eventually you must seek the aid of the spirits. That is where powerful magick lies. You must call upon and work with a variety of spirits in order to manifest change in the world and the Universe. I have kept these words to heart my entire magical career. Many years later I still think of this wisdom. The Universe is filled with many spirits. There are more spirits in the Universe than there are people or animals. It will help our magick a great deal if we call upon them in magick. Even better, we should have a relationship with them. Pagans have always called upon the spirits. Indigenous healers and shamans create bonds with a variety of spirits in order to seek wisdom and heal the community. Witches from all over the world speak of having animal familiars and calling up the dead for magick. Ceremonial magicians summon the spirits of the angels and planets to create change in the world as well.

There are many different kinds of spirits that the witch seeks to work with. There are gods and goddesses, angels, and planetary spirits of the heavens. There are our ancestors and the hidden company of the below worlds. There are also faeries, elves, animal spirits, and plant spirits who dwell within the land itself. I think it is very helpful for witches to begin with the spirits of the land when they are first learning to work with spirits. It has often been said that we are spiritual beings having an earthly experience. This is a powerful statement. In patriarchal religions it is often taught that the earth is bad or sinful but the heavens are godly and holy. In paganism and witchcraft the earth is seen as our holy mother who gave life to us all. We are also taught that we are incarnated on earth in order to have physical experiences to help us spiritually evolve. The earth is sacred just as the heavens are sacred.

As pagans and witches we celebrate the earth and her cycles. We celebrate the moon cycles and her mysteries. The moon has the power to change the tides of the oceans and affect human emotions and our psychic abilities. We also celebrate how the sun relates to the earth with her different seasons and energies. We honor the planting season, the growing season, the harvest season, and the dark season. All these energies of the earth are important for our survival. It is important to remember that to us magical folk, we see energies as spirits. In fact, we know that all things upon the earth have a spirit. Everything from human beings and animals to trees, rocks, clouds, and rain all have spirits. I remember it this way, just as human bodies have a spirit so to do all Lphysical things of nature have a spirit. These spirits we can call into our spells and rituals for powerful magick.

There are many spirits of the land that we can begin a relationship with. Every tree has its own spirit. Every rock, stone, and crystal has its own spirit. Every flower and plant has its own spirit. Yes, even the rivers, lakes, ponds, and oceans have their own spirits. These beings are sacred and they will teach you so much about natural magick, paganism, and witchcraft. Our physical bodies are of the earth so the spirits of the earth can help us heal our bodies. We must eat, sleep, and have shelter, so these land spirits can help us obtain these things that we need. The spirits of the land can especially teach us the magical and healing properties of herbs, crystals, stones, and trees. Human teachers and books are great, but it’s far more powerful to learn from the spirits themselves. Who better to teach you about nature magick than nature?

Over the last thousand years we have lost our connection to the spirits of the earth. It’s only the few witches, Spirit Walkers, and faery doctors who have retained the remnants of this sacred knowledge. It seems that the more industrial we have become the more we have lost our connection to the spirits of the land. The big question now is how do we reconnect to the spirits of the land?

Anyone can have a relationship with the spirits of the land. You can be from the country, city, or suburb, and you can still gain land spirit allies. The only thing you need to do is be willing to put some time into cultivating a friendship with these spirits. The first thing you will need to do is learn about the geographical history of the land where you live. Even in a city, the land has a rich history of nature spirits. You will need to go online and research what the land was like before it became a metropolitan area. The reason for this is because many times even after the natural land has gone the spirits still remain. If you live in the countryside or suburb it is more likely that the original spirits still inhabit the land. It will help you a great deal to learn the history of the land you live on. What happened there? Did it always look like it does now? Were there any changes?

The next step in establishing a relationship with the land spirits in learning to tune into them and connect. Go outside and take a few breaths. Imagine your heart chakra opening up and being open to the energies of the land. How do you feel? What scents do you smell? What does the land look like? What do you hear? Spend some time simply connecting to the energies of the land. Try not to judge your experience. Just feel. Just breathe. Do this exercise during the day and at night. I will tell you that the energies are very different from day to night. Always remember to journal your experiences.
Once you have spent a few days connecting with the energies of the land it is a good idea to leave offerings. Offerings can be water, food for the animals, wine or ale, bread and honey, or anything you think is appropriate. Even though bread and honey is traditional, remember that bread is not good for animals to eat. By the way, if an animal eats food offerings this is a sign that your offerings were accepted. However, if animals do not eat your offerings it’s ok because the spirits received the energies of the offering. When we give offerings to the spirits of the land we are establishing an energetic and spiritual connection. Think of it like this, when we do something nice for a friend they will know you care about them and want to do something for you.

At this point you can go further in your understanding and connection to the land spirits. One of my favorite things to do is to perform an energetic heart connection to the spirits of the land. It’s a very easy technique but so powerful. Find a tree, rock, bush, or plant that you are spiritually attracted to. Leave a little offering of water or wine. Place your dominant hand on the tree, rock, bush, or plant. Now send a beam of love from your heart to the spirit at the center of the natural object. Now, wait a few moments. In response, the natural object will send a beam of energy to your heart. Keep sending the energy back and forth. You can also speak to the land spirit. Introduce yourself and speak with the spirit just as you would to anyone. Spirits sometimes speak directly to your mind in words, but sometimes they don't. They may speak to your heart and you may feel what they are feeling. This is good because it's simply a different way of communicating. By doing this technique over time you will learn to speak the language of the land spirit. Once this is done and you feel that your relationship with the spirits of the land is strong you may invite them into your spells and rituals for powerful magick and healing.

Written by Chris Allaun
Website: chrisallaun.com
Facebook: Chris Allaun: Author. Teacher. Healer

Twitter: @chris_allaun
Instagram: chrisallaun

Our Sarah reviewed Chris' book this week too, to have a looksie at what she thought click here

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The Astrology of Yule by Lys

12/17/2020

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Astrologically, the Winter Solstice is when the Sun moves into Capricorn as well as marking the longest night and the seed point of the return of the light. This year the Solstice will be especially powerful, with a Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn at 0° of Aquarius on the same day. This conjunction happens every twenty years and always marks a shift in society, a shift which is likely to be heightened this time as this is the first Great Conjunction in an air sign after many decades of conjunction in earth signs. Simply put, this means that the Solstice this year marks the potential seed point of a whole new era, a shift away from materialism, money and the physical towards more innovative ways not just of thinking but also of organising society and understanding ourselves.

Saturn is also the ruler of Capricorn so carries special power at this time of year. Of course, we all know him as Old Father Time but the stark and sometimes limiting energy of Saturn is also carried by the goddesses of winter, the Crone goddesses who remind us of the wisdom and power of maturity. For me, Saturn is often the Old Bone Mother, who strips us bare of masks and exposes our deepest self. Capricorn energy is all about structures and Saturn forces us to examine our inner and outer structures. If they are not strong enough, or if they are too strong and have become calcified, they are torn down, broken apart. And so we learn our lesson, and so we build new and more flexible structures.

In Scotland, the goddess of winter is the Cailleach, who forms the land by dropping rocks from her creel as she strides across the mountains. The mountain is a powerful symbol for Capricorn energy, the slow steady ascent to a goal which may often seem out of reach. Capricorn is known as one of the most ambitious signs and also the most likely to succeed, for Capricorn folk know the value of hard work and are willing to take the time they need to get where they want to go. Capricorn is the sign of cardinal earth, taking the initiative to bring the dreams and visions of Sagittarius, the preceding sign, into manifestation This is the spark of light which is reborn at the Winter Solstice, the active principle which carries our energy out into the world.

Nature slows down in winter, retreating back into the earth to gather and replenish her strength. But she too carries the initiating earth energy of Capricorn, for the new spring buds are already on the trees and deep in the earth, early bulbs are sending out their first shoots. Deepening our roots at this time of year will sustain us, just as it does the nature around us, until the days lengthen and the light returns. Since Samhain, we have been seeking out the seeds of the next cycle in the fertile dark. The spark of energy as the sun is reborn at the Solstice is the beginning of the return of outwardly focused activity and we can take our first tangible steps in manifesting our new vision.

Capricorn is the sign of the goat and in Scandinavian tradition, the Yule goat was traditionally made from the last sheaf of corn at the harvest and saved for the Winter Solstice celebrations, carrying the energy of the last solar cycle into the new solar cycle. The Yule goat was also a quiet spirit who made sure that winter celebrations were carried out properly and a figure who brought presents for the children, either as Father Christmas’s helper or more likely in its own right before the tradition of Father Christmas became popular. The Yule goat may be linked to the worship of the god Thor and is also known from ancient proto-Slavic beliefs and early medieval traditions. It also formed a part of the tradition of wassailing or carolling, with folk going from house to house dressed in costumes, singing songs and playing pranks. The custom of wassailing has been revived in recent years here in the UK as a way of honouring the gifts of the land and especially the fruit trees, and usually takes place early in January, still under the sign of Capricorn. There are also links here with the tradition of the mumming play, trickster energies at work at what T.S. Eliot called “the still point of the turning world”. Capricorn is often seen as a serious sign, but it carries a wry and self deprecating humour which is reflected in these trickster traditions. There’s also the Roman festival of Saturnalia, when the convention and hierarchy normally deeply valued by Capricorn are turned upside down for a few days.

Winter Solstice is a time when we connect with our extended family, reflecting the Capricorn need to embrace tradition and honour the past, the Yule traditions passed down through the generations.. In the cold and dark of winter, we return to Capricorn values of security and stability, rooting down into what we value the most. We feast to remind ourselves that abundance will return, to nature and to the world, invoking the Capricorn cornucopia or Horn of Plenty.

Astrological Magic for the Winter Solstice

Meditating in silence

Although we celebrate the return of the light at the Winter Solstice, this is still a time of dark and quiet. Take some time to sit in silence and in darkness. Notice how it feels – do you resist it and long to turn on a light? Can you sink into the creative potential of it? After a while, light a candle, perhaps speaking an intent for the coming cycle. Pay attention to the shadows as well as the light and honour the whole.

Honouring our limits and exploring our potential

Capricorn and its ruler Saturn are associated with boundaries and limits, energies which contain us but might also hold us back. Use the following journal prompts as starting points for some free writing to explore your own inner and outer structures;
How do I limit myself and why? Where do these limits come from?
What mountains am I climbing? What will happen when I reach the summit?
What do I seek to manifest in the new solar cycle?

Spellcraft with clay

Shaping our intent with clay is a great way to represent slow building energy and create results which will last. Focus on an issue which will need time to manifest or be resolved and for which you want to create lasting results. Shape your clay to represent that intent, visualising the results as you work. You can carve images or symbols to build layers of energy. Air dry or oven dry clay can be painted once its dry, so you can add some colour magic as you decorate it. When it’s finished, leave your figure somewhere it will remind you to take the concrete actions you need to bring your intent into manifestation.

Time in nature

Spend some time outdoors, walking or simply being out in nature. Try to make it a reasonable period of time, as long as you can bear without getting too cold. Capricorn energy builds slowly and takes its time and taking our time is a powerful magic in itself. Pay attention to the bare bones of nature, noticing the shapes of the trees and of the landscape. Seek out signs of the dying year in the seed heads and bare branches and also signs of the new cycle in the leaf buds on the trees. Allow yourself to sink deeply into the energies and sensations of your own body as well as the rest of nature.

Feeding the birds spell

This spell tunes us in to the energies of give and take, the resources around us. Many of us feed the birds in winter and this simply everyday action is a great way to integrate our magical practice with our everyday rhythms. Whether we’re putting out food in your garden, filling a window feeder or scattering food in a suitable corner of a local park, we can make it an offering to the deities and spirits we work with and to the land which sustains us. Before you put the food out, charge it with energies of abundance and thriving. Then as you scatter the food, give thanks for the abundance you’ve received, offering it back to the land and to life.

Lys is a pagan astrologer and tarot reader based in London, you can find her on Instagram @wildstarlys or on her website
www.starlys.com

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The Astrology of Samhain by Lys

10/22/2020

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As one of the cross quarter festivals, Samhain falls during the zodiac sign of Scorpio and indeed some people celebrate astrological Samhain when the Sun is exactly half way through Scorpio, on November 7th this year. Scorpio is the sign of fixed water, intense and passionate. All of the water signs are feelings-driven and sensitive and Scorpio can take this to extremes, carrying us deep into the shadowy realms of the emotions, tuning us in to a deep well of feeling. Scorpio energy is profoundly tuned in to the cycle of life, death and rebirth, our power to transform ourselves and the world around us. This is a sign of willpower, courage and determination, where we learn from deeply felt experience. We cannot transform ourselves simply by reading about it, we need to put the work in, on both the inner and the outer levels. In Scorpio season our intuition and imagination are strong as we turn inwards, learning from the deep instinctive knowledge we carry in our bones.

We connect with our ancestors at this time and Scorpio carries the energies of our emotional inheritances, the patterns handed down to us through our family line. Shifting these can be painful but is powerful work with the potential to liberate our ancestors as well as ourselves. Scorpio is the sign of elimination as well as regeneration and during Scorpio season we can slough off old energies, emotional patterns which no longer serve our growth. Both Samhain and Scorpio urge us to embrace energies of release, to honour the necessity of death, to allow our creative selves a fallow period. Scorpio is the release from form, which we see in the nature around us at Samhain. The trees have, for the most part, shed their leaves, plants wither and die as winter approaches, animals hibernate or retreat to find shelter. But a closer look at the skeletal trees reveals the buds already developing in anticipation of the following spring. This is a season of both creation and destruction and the two are inextricably linked. The Samhain fires were lit for purification, to purge negative energy and leave the way clear for a new beginning and Scorpio partakes of this same dynamic.

At Samhain, the nights are longer than the days and Scorpio energy reminds us that darkness is important, it’s the crucible from which all is born, the source of our creative power. At Samhain, as the Sun travels through Scorpio, we can connect with all of our darknesses - the personal, the natural and the collective. It’s a time of mystery and transformation, of metamorphosis and healing. In the stillness of Samhain night, in the deep waters of Scorpio, we can sit with our darkness, giving our attention to our shadow self, our inner processes. We consider what is reflected in the waters of the unconscious, especially this year with Mercury also retrograde in Scorpio at Samhain. Mercury retrograde in Scorpio brings us an awareness of how our unconscious selves affect our conscious awareness and our everyday lives. Scorpio pulls us deep into the source of our emotional responses, often conditioned from a very young age, and asks us to examine them, to acknowledge their power. In Scorpio season, we are plunging into the still pools and submerged feelings at the heart of ourselves, seeking understanding and buried treasure.

Each sign of the zodiac is ruled by a planet and the modern ruler of Scorpio is Pluto, or Hades, Lord of the Underworld. Pluto, due to his links with the Roman god of wealth Pluton, also rules buried treasure and hidden abundance. In embracing our shadow self, we may also awaken our bright shadow, the luminous parts of ourselves we often give away for fear of not fitting in. Our creativity, our desire and ability to speak out, our most passionate self expression, all of these can be reborn in Scorpio season. This is a deeply liminal time, the pause for breath as the old year recedes and the new awaits birth at the Solstice.

Scorpio energy is linked to gods and goddesses of the underworld, the Dark Mother who rules over
life, death and rebirth. The Babylonian goddess Tiamat, often represented as as dragon, made Scorpion women to guard the passage to the underworld. Tiamat was linked to the primordial ocean, source of all life, the deep waters and powerful tides of Scorpio. The goddess Hekate can also be linked with Scorpio energies, both in her modern guise as the goddess of witchcraft and thresholds and her older form as a version of the Great Mother, ruling birth, death and rebirth. All journeys to the Underworld, right back to Inanna in Sumerian times, are associated with Scorpio energy, as well as the deities encountered there, such as Ereshkigal, sister to Inanna (but quite likely actually a much older deity). We also see the energies of Scorpio in Dark Mother goddesses, the Black Madonna of Christian tradition and the Veiled Isis of Egypt and modern day occultism.

Astrological Magic for Samhain

Scrying and divination

Scorpio energy has a deep rooted urge to know, to penetrate the mystery and discover hidden knowledge. The already thin Samhain veil is thinned even further by Mercury retrograde in Scorpio this year, making it an especially good season for scrying and divination. Many people do a tarot, oracle or rune reading for the coming year at Samhain. Or you can take a more intuitive approach, scrying in the flames or smoke or the Samhain fire or in a bowl of water, allowing images to form and speak to your intuition.

Astral travel, deep meditation and shamanic journeying

Scorpio season is the time for inner travels, for journeying to the Otherworld in our preferred way. Whether you use a drum or drumming recording or a different method of altering your consciousness, the path to the Otherworld is clearer than usual at this liminal time. Travel to seek help, to offer help, or simply to make a connection.

Working with dreams

Our dreams also bring a powerful connection to the Otherworld and keeping a dream journal by writing down what you remember when you wake is a powerful practice. We can also consciously seek to incubate a dream by meditating on a question or issue as we fall asleep, asking our guides that we receive insights in our dreams. Over time we build up a kind of personal library of symbols which allow us to interpret our dreams more easily.

Shadow work

The dark time of the year is the natural time to work with our shadow selves, facing and learning from our fears, investigating our conditioned emotional responses. By journaling or meditating on our shadow we gain self knowledge as well as the power to transform and grow. This can be intense work so keep some clear boundaries in place, casting a protective circle around yourself as you work and making sure to ground yourself with food and drink afterwards.

A Scorpio ritual for release

Cathartic rituals to let go of toxic energy are especially powerful at this time of year. A simple ritual for release allows you to honour everything which has brought you to where you are today, acknowledging its power before letting go of those energies which no longer serve your growth. This ritual can be done any time between Samhain on October 31st and astrological Samhain on November 7th.

Gather some loose incense to burn on charcoal or loose herbs, an unlit candle and a fireproof container.

Extinguish all the lights in the house, open the windows to let the darkness in and simply sit with it. Allow yourself to become comfortable with the lack of light, to see and to feel the beauty in the darkness.

Holding your herbs or incense in your hand, summon all those energies from the year that you are ready to release – stagnation, sorrow, pain, negativity. Pour them into your herbs, noticing that without the emotional impact you attach to them, they are simply energy.

When you are ready, light a candle and use it to light your charcoal or fire, throwing the herbs into the flames, allowing the energy to transform and be released.

Re-light all your candles from the flames and turn your awareness towards the light and fire of Sagittarius, which will come in due time.

Lys is a pagan astrologer and tarot reader based in London, you can find her on Instagram @wildstarlys or on her website
www.starlys.com

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The Astrology of the Autumn Equinox by Lys

9/17/2020

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Astrologically, the Autumn Equinox is marked by the Sun moving into the sign of Libra, at 2.30pm on 22nd September this year here in the UK. Just as the sun is rising and setting at the midpoint between it’s most northern and southern positions, and the days and nights are of equal length, the sign of Libra marks the midpoint of the cycle of the zodiac, the fulcrum on which the whole annual solar cycle balances. The first six signs, from Aries through to Virgo, describe the individual journey of learning about the self. Libra is the first sign to look beyond the individual and begin to form relationships with external energies, with other people and also with the world around us. This is the beginning of our connection to society, starting with our one to one relationships. Libra season, heralded by the Autumn Equinox, is a time to check in with those relationships, to pay attention to the people who mean the most to us and the connection between us.

Like the often turbulent weather at this time of seasonal transition, Libra carries an energy of balance which can bring plenty of movement as we work to bring ourselves and the world around us into balance. We may be moving between polarities and even extremes, so that whilst Libra is known as the sign of peace, balance and harmony these are not static states but rather ideals which shift and change as we grow and as the world around us shifts and changes.

Libra is the sign of cardinal air, bringing a proactive energy to her ideals, making this a good time for activism and working for social justice. Justice is an abstract ideal in the sign of Libra but also a lived reality, bringing a kind of karmic energy into play. Libra asks us to act with integrity, to be honest with ourselves as well as with others about the consequences of our actions, to do what is right even if it’s not the easiest option. Libra reminds us that the personal is political, asking to make our choices with integrity and an awareness of collective energies and the divine order.

Libra also brings a connection to the harvest energy of the Equinox, as we take stock of our achievements and review our choices. This is the sign where the self meets the other, showing what is being mirrored back to you by your circumstances or the people around you. There’s no need for judgement, of ourselves or of others, but we can accept what is and use it as fuel for our growth. Autumn Equinox is a time to celebrate and honour our emotional, spiritual and psychic harvests as well as the physical.

The sign of Libra is linked to ancient goddesses of justice like the Egyptian Maat, the spirit of natural order who weighed the hearts of all those who died and decided whether they would move on. The heart in this case is the symbol of morality and right action, linking Maat to the Libran association with love and relationships. She is called “Guardian of the truth and justice of the universe, Guardian of the rhythm and order of the cosmos”. In Greek mythology, Themis was the powerful goddess of Justice, birthing both the Horae, the daughters of seasonal time and also the Moirae, the three sisters of Fate. September 21st to October 20th, when the sun was in Libra was known as the reign of Mother Justice. The goddesses Ishtar and Inanna were also associated with justice and the divine order and indeed in ancient times, justice was the province of the Great Mother in her avenging or mediating aspect. Justice as an abstract concept of law and order is a much more recent invention and Libra has rulership over both.

The shadows are lengthening as the Equinox approaches and again they hold a clue for our inner work and our spiritual practice. Libra season is a great time to work with our shadow as we move into the dark season of the year, reflecting on who we are and the version of ourselves that others are reflecting back to us. We might be taking ownership of projections or acknowledging the parts of ourselves that we’ve hidden or denied, allowing us to build more authentic relationships as well as finding inner healing.

Libra season call us to learn to balance the outer world with our inner world, the light with the dark. Libra energy calls us to reconcile opposites and dualities – the seen and unseen, the known and unknown, the active and the receptive. As the cycle of the zodiac moves from an individual focus to look outwards for the first time, we may be considering the personal lessons we’ve learned and how we can take them out into the world.

Astrological magic for the Autumn Equinox

Spend time in liminal space or times

Tuning in to liminal energies is a great way to tune in to the changing season and also the changes taking place within ourselves. This year more than ever, we are all aware of just how much uncertainty there is in our lives and how we need to navigate our way through as best we can whilst also accepting that often, certainty just isn’t possible. We are always in a liminal state of some kind. Sitting outside at twilight, spending time on the beach or the edge of the woodland, even in the doorway of your home, we can experience being in both states and neither, all at once, learning the art of living with the paradoxes which so often define us.

Meditate or journal on your relationships

All of us have relationships, whether they are with other people, the spirits and beings around us or simply with our inner self. Take some time to consider what they mean to you, on what they bring you and what you offer in return. Often our relationships are out of balance, with one person doing the giving and the other the taking, in which case consider how you might restore equilibrium.

Watching sunrise and/or sunset

Taking the time to honour the sunrise and sunset is a brilliant way to tune in to the natural order and the great cosmic cycles of change. By the Autumn Equinox, the timing is perfect for us to experience both without having to get up too early or stay up too late, helping us to stay aware of the shift between light and dark as we move through our day.

Pay attention to shadows and darkness

The lengthening shadows are often clearer than ever around the Autumn Equinox, assuming we still have some sunlight of course! On a sunny day, take some time to be aware of the shadows around you, breathing deeply and paying attention to any feelings which arise. Spending an evening in darkness can also be a powerful practice as we shift into the dark season of the year. Whether you’re at home or out in nature, check in with your feelings. Does natural darkness bring feeling of fear or comfort? What do you like or dislike about it?

A prayer to Ishtar

This ancient prayer to the goddess Ishtar can be incorporated into your Autumn Equinox celebrations, invoking the energies of Libra and the divine order

Queen of Heaven, Goddess of the Universe
the One who walked in terrible chaos
and brought life by the law of love
and out of chaos brought us harmony
and from chaos she has led us by the hand.

Lys is a pagan astrologer and tarot reader based in London, you can find her on Instagram @wildstarlys or on her website
www.starlys.com

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Witch by Laura Perry

9/10/2020

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Witch. That’s a powerful word that conjures up images of people finding a source of strength in a difficult world: women under patriarchy, poor people in systems of class inequality, people of color in cultures of oppression. People using magic and perhaps a connection with the divine to forge their way forward in life. It’s a potent word, one that I avoided using to describe myself for a long time.

For a long time I called myself a Pagan, a priestess, a spiritworker, an herbalist... but not a witch. Then I got to thinking about what all those terms mean, all wrapped up together. To start with, my spiritual practice these days centers around my ancestors and Modern Minoan Paganism. If I’m really honest, both of those practices are about empowerment, and both involve “witchy” activities like communicating with spirits and working magic.

Ancestral reverence puts me at the end of a long line of people who worked hard to survive, many of whom turned to magic to solve their problems well into the Christian era, even as recently as my great-grandparents’ generation. Like most people, the majority of my ancestors were just like me: ordinary people doing their best to make their way in the world, using whatever tools they had available to make that a little easier. And of course, talking to dead people isn’t exactly considered normal in modern western society.

The other main component of my spiritual practice, Modern Minoan Paganism, is a revivalist Pagan tradition that points back to the Minoans of ancient Crete, a Bronze Age culture where women appear to have held equal status with men. You can see how that might be appealing to people nowadays, both women who have long chafed at inequality and men who are more than a little tired of having to compete for alpha male status (not to mention nonbinary people, who would have been far more accepted in a matrilineal society where a gender binary wasn’t necessary to maintain the paternity of children and the ownership of property). And like everyone else in the ancient world, the Minoans probably used magic to improve their chances in life, from protecting their trading ships and their livestock to improving their health and their business success.

In the modern western world, there’s a stereotypical image that goes with the word witch: a nasty old woman furtively casting spells in order to avenge imagined wrongs others have inflicted on her. But that’s the image our culture has forced on us. The ancient Romans threw curses around like crazy (google “defixiones” to find out about the lead tablets they wrote those curses on) and they’re still portrayed positively in the history books.

Why did witches end up with such a bad rep? Could it possibly be because what they do is subversive, designed to combat the inequity that’s built into the system? Because what they do refuses to be constrained by society’s idea of what’s normal, acceptable, or polite? Because sometimes, the mundane avenues of action that are available to us just aren’t sufficient to achieve justice?

Ultimately, I realized I really am a witch after all. I’m still all those other things – priestess, spiritworker, and so on – but underlying all those practices is the working of magic, the moving of energy to make life better, not just for myself but for my family and my community as well, both living and dead. I like to think my ancestors would be proud.

Laura Perry is an artist, writer, and the founder and lead facilitator of Modern Minoan Paganism. And yes, she’s a witch. In addition to her work with MMP, Laura is a third degree Wiccan priestess, a Reiki master, and a longtime herbalist and naturopath (N.D.). When she’s not busy writing, drawing, or leading rituals and workshops, you can probably find her digging in the garden or giving a living history demonstration at a local historic site. You can find her online at https://www.lauraperryauthor.com/.

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Excerpt from "The Pregnant Goddess" by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

8/6/2020

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Excerpted from The Pregnant Goddess by Arin Murphy-Hiscock. Copyright © 2020 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Exploring the Triple Goddess

The triple-aspect concept is a purely human construct, used to help us organize our thoughts. One such classification is obvious: the Mother aspect of the Goddess is the one most clearly associated with pregnancy and motherhood. Goddesses of childbirth tend to also be Mother goddesses, which makes a certain amount of sense, although it is interesting to note that there are also selections of various cultural Maiden and Crone aspects who oversee pregnancy and childbirth. The Crone is experienced, has reached a point where she possibly has had several pregnancies herself, and has delivered others. The association of the Maiden aspect with pregnancy and childbirth is slightly more complex. In our modern society, we tend to assume that the term maiden means “virgin,” or sexually uninitiated, which can confuse contemporary women who expect a goddess associated with pregnancy or childbirth to have at least some firsthand experience of the process. In fact, the Maiden aspect refers more to the idea of a free young woman, beholden to no one and in control of her own life and destiny. Artemis of Greek myth is one such virgin figure who defends and protects women in childbirth. In some versions of her myth she is said to have assisted her mother, Leto, with the delivery of her twin brother, Apollo.

These three separate aspects of the Goddess can be problematic when you’re trying to figure out how you fit in. Each aspect possesses several levels and depths of meaning. Often, however, these multiple meanings and associations become overshadowed by the stereotype associated with the aspect.

Part of the mystery of the Goddess is that the three aspects are in fact defined by one another. The Mother is a mother as compared to the Crone and the Maiden; the Maiden is a younger woman as compared to the two older aspects. There are no clear-cut divisions between these aspects either. One does not cease being a Maiden at a defined moment or with a specific act. It can be argued that every woman holds all three aspects within herself, with one simply more prominent at any given time. Every woman’s personality and spirit reflect all three aspects simultaneously, and she can call upon any aspect to help her understand a situation or challenge.
None of these aspects are “good” or “bad.” Each aspect encompasses both dark and light. For example, the Mother teaches us to nurture, but an overabundance of nurturing leads to smothering a child’s independence as the mother clings. The natural love of a mother can turn to anger and resentment under certain conditions.

Remember: the triple aspect of the Goddess is a relatively modern concept, applied to the goddesses of other cultures in general by neo-pagans. It is by no means a universal formula.

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Contaminated Sacred Spaces by Kevin Groves

7/16/2020

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Today I just had to get out of the house. I've been keeping as isolated as possible in the current circumstances at home, but this has led to a slight crisis as far as my spiritual practices go. It's not like I have people in the house who are repressing my beliefs, far from it, even if they do in fact have different spiritual paths they respect mine. No. Its lack of, or more accurately, contamination of my primary sacred space.

Like many I've been working from home the last few months and the question early on was where could I set my work space? The only place left was the room I use for ritual purposes. Yes, I know that sounds privileged and all, but there is a long history to how our habitation in this house as changed over the years. That room tends to be mine. Its the room you will often see as the background to any YouTube or video recordings I've done. Its a place I can go to write or be with my deities. It is also the only room with an open fireplace – that is another story.

Anyway, this room now contains my desk (a metal folding camping table in fact before anyone thinks it's some huge ancient wooden thing!). Wires are everywhere for the laptop and bumph I need for work.

It is decidedly unspiritual. This is the problem. Now, many pagans perhaps won't find this a problem for the out doors is where many go. Not so for me. I'm Kemetic, the majority of my ritual work tends to require a dark enclosed room where the odd candle (or fire) and shed loads of incense can be lit. Neither are helpful outside.

Due to my presence on a daily basis in this special room, the sacredness of it has now been utterly stripped. Even attempts to cleanse and not look at this mundane day time life hasn't helped (which is quite easy in the dark until I trip over a wire or thump against the desk). The 'otherness' that I have for this space has gone from my head. I know quite well that my deities who live in this space don't care – life has to continue no matter what the circumstances. For me though, I need that head space both for magical, spiritual and mental reasons.

Luckily it hasn't been of any critical concern as most of my forty or so festivals occur in later in the year, however, a crucial seven day festival that follows the summer solstice has really come home to me. To start with I wasn't concerned. The day of the summer solstice is the only festival ritual I perform outside in day light. Not so the rest of the rituals at this time. I need to do them three times a day for the next several days in the dark with my deities.... But I couldn't. For the first time in decades I couldn't do it. I couldn't find that specialness both because of the room and it's contamination and perhaps too the unacknowledged stress.

That really hurt. The gods I work with I know understand. We've been here a few times in different ways over the years, but what I really needed was some connection, some mark of time that in this isolation has been seriously lacking.

Today I had to get out of the house. The only option I had left was to find the only other place that provides spiritual peace other than my now contaminated sacred space; The beach. It was perhaps ideal that today its blowing a gale and the sea is wild and there were no one else on that beach. I'm a secret sea witch I think. I asked the roaring chaos of wave and foam and the Kemetic forces that I attach to them for help as well as a few other things. I found a couple of 'hag stones' too as is my usual routine when performing adhoc 'rituals' on the beach. One I've kept (to join the pile of unremembered stones by my fire place) and this one I threw back to the sea as an offering.

I felt a little better. Be it the release, spray, wind or time out side. I don't know. Perhaps I'm not alone in having such an experience, and in these strange times I cling to the hope that I will regain this 'otherness' in the space I love.

Kevin Groves is a cyber-pagan and solitary practitioner from Kent, who from a young age began to, and still works, almost exclusively with the Egyptian goddess Selket within a Kemetic and Chaos Magic framework as magician, healer and mentor. A contributor to Children Of Artemis events and many local pagan projects and groups, his first book 'A Path Laid Bare' is available from The Wolfenhowle Press, with his ‘House Of Kiya’ series of booklets on various magical subjects and a new series on Kemetic practice available 2021. Also founder of kemetictemple.uk a home for UK kemetic folk and houseofkiya.co.uk

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Guest Blog from Luke Eastwood - author of The Druid Garden

The Astrology of Spring Equinox by Lys

The Astrology of Imbolc by Lys

The Spirits of the Land by Chris Allaun

The Astrology of Yule by Lys

Astrological Magic for the Winter Solstice

The Astrology of Samhain by Lys

The Astrology of the Autumn Equinox by Lys

Astrological magic for the Autumn Equinox

Witch by Laura Perry

Excerpt from "The Pregnant Goddess" by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

Contaminated Sacred Spaces by Kevin Groves

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