Yule: The Rebirth of Delight

Groundless hope, like unconditional love, is probably the only kind that counts. — John Perry Barlow A BRIEF FOR THE DEFENSEby Jack Gilbert Sorrow everywhere. Slaughter everywhere. If babies are not starving someplace, they are starving somewhere else. With flies in their nostrils. But we enjoy our lives because that’s what God wants. Otherwise the … Read more

Halcyon Days

Halcyon days, now wars are ending.You shall find where-e’er you sailTritons all the while attending With a kind and gentle gale. — Halcyon Days by Thomas Shadwell (1642 – 1692) Winter Solstice draws near, and we enter into the Time Out of Time. Once upon a time, Alcyone (also called Halcyon) was the daughter of … Read more

Magical Trees

O Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide TreeEvergreen and fragrantO Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide TreeEvergreen and fragrantWe bring you in our home to beA sign of life’s eternityO Yuletide Tree, O Yuletide TreeForever green and lovely. Evergreens have long been part of Winter Solstice celebrations. The evergreen trees, such as fir, pine and cedar or juniper, keep … Read more

The Yule Tree

O Christmas Tree © Rachel Cochrane Pagans sing, are you listenin’,Altar’s set, candles glisten,It’s a Magickal night, we’re having tonight,Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland. Blades held high, censer smoking,God and Goddess, we’re invoking,Through Elements Five, we celebrate life,Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland. In a Circle we can light a Yule Fire,And await the rising of … Read more

Preparing Your Magical Wreath

O the Ivy O, she’s the Queen of old,And the Holly he is red.Hang ‘en high in the farm,and us won’t come to no harmTill the Christmas days be told. — Traditional carol from Somerset Both the design and materials of your Solstice wreath can invoke magic. As I explained before, the circular shape is … Read more

Wreath Lore

Love is the vital essence that pervades and permeates, from the center to the circumference,the graduating circles of all thought and action. Love is the talisman of human weal and woe — the open sesame to every soul. — Elizabeth Cady Stanton For our magical working, you will need a wreath and five candles. The … Read more

A Yule Magical Spell

Night Fall #1 – Mary McIntyre ©2003I believe in rainbows and all of that. But there are darker colors …and it’s the shade that defines the light. –– Tori Amos As we work with the magic of timing, once again this year, I invite my visitors to join with me in a magical working that … Read more

Blessings of Thanksgiving!

I give thanks, my dear friends, visitors, participants, and beloveds, for your presence; the gift of being of service to you, the great honor of being a traveller with you on a few miles of your sacred journey. Together we stand at the Great Turning, and in Love and Gratitude we are transformed. Thank you.Blessed … Read more

Chaji

Tea with us became more than an idealization of the form of drinking; it is a religion of the art of life. — Kakuzo Okakura, The Book of Tea Taking tea is a simple, gentle way to work time magic. Not only does it help you to slow down and change your personal pace, it … Read more

Tea Time

Grace fills empty spaces, but it can only enter where there is a void to receive it; and it is grace itself which makes this void. — Simone Weil Did you practice working with the Allies of Time over the past several days? How was it? Have you remembered to invoke their help as a … Read more