One of my favorite parts of my spiritual practice is the creating of shrines and altars. It marries my inner Martha Stewart with my Priestess self in creative, soul-nurturing ways. When I was younger, the idea of having a home altar in our Episcopalian house would have been shocking and faintly sacrilegious. But non-Protestants the … Read more
Samhain Blessings to All! Today is the Great Festival of Samhain (pronounced SAH-wen, or SOW-wen), which marks the third and final harvest and summer’s end. This is the ancient Celtic New Year and also the New Year for many traditions of modern Pagans and Witches. This is the midpoint between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice … Read more
Hail! Journeyer of the Heavens, Queen of Brightness, King of Beauty! Gifts of gladness richly bringing, Autumn sheaves and red leaves’ fall. Generous be the heart within us, Open be our hands to all, Justice to be in equal measure, Harvest thankfulness our call. ~ Greeting to the Autumn Equinox Caitlín Matthews, A Celtic Devotional … Read more
Lammas Bread Blessing Bless the earth that grows the grain, Bless the water that gives us rain, Bless the wind that helps seed spread, Bless the fire that bakes our bread. – Words by Diane Baker, music by Anne Hill, Serpentine Music The Wheel of the Year turns today, and across the Northern Hemisphere, we … Read more
Glory of the Day-Star, hail! Lifter of the Light, Burnisher of the Sky. Gifts of love to earth are bringing, Summer’s shimmer, dew’s delight. Dancing be the heart within us, Open be our souls to bliss, Courage vanquish every shadow, Greet Midsummer with a kiss. Caitlín Matthews Celtic Devotional: Daily Prayers and Blessings Happy Solstice … Read more
Hand in hand, with Fairy grace, Will we sing, and bless this place. ~ Titania, from William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, today is the last day of Spring. This is Midsummer’s Eve, the night before the sabbat of Litha (Summer Solstice). Besides Samhain and Beltane, this … Read more
Old English folk wisdom reports that if you say, “Rabbit! Rabbit!” or “White hares!” the very first thing on the first day of the month, you will have good luck for the month. So if you are just now logging in, and have not said a word to anyone yet, you’re in luck, if your … Read more
Song of Beltane by the glorious Caitlín Matthews from Celtic Devotional: Daily Prayers and Blessings I am the calm, I am the quickening, I am the intoxication and the force, I am the silence, I am the singer, I am the stallion galloping to its source. I am the bright pavilion and the feasting, I … Read more
This May Eve, as I burn, Year wheel take another turn. Fire flame and fire bright, Bless us on this May Eve night. Today is May Eve, Walpurgisnacht, Beltane Eve! One of the most magical nights of the year, in Germany, Walpurgisnacht begins at sunrise today and ends at sunrise on the first day of … Read more
One must feel grateful that the idylls of the forest are still being acted, and that there are still those whose vision is quick enough to catch sight of them and whose pens have the cunning to put before others the glimpses. ~ Lady Rosalind Northcote, early 1900s This time next week, I’ll be at … Read more