As the first sign in the zodiac, Aries is the first one to get things started, initiating projects and leading others. The Ram is adventurous, ambitious, impulsive, enthusiastic and full of energy. Arians are pioneers both in thought and action, and are very open to new ideas. Aries loves freedom and absolutely hates feeling controlled. … Read more
Today is the first full day of Spring! It is one of the eight holidays celebrated by Earth-based religions, for it is the celebration of the Equinox. Also called Ostara (from which we get the name, “Easter”), it is celebration of the renewal of life after Winter’s long darkness and fallow time. This year, the … Read more
Also known as Lady Day or Alban Eiler (Druid), on this day, night and day stand in perfect balance. After today, the hours of daylight will surpass the hours of darkness. It is a time of fertility, mating, new growth, and life renewing itself. Eostre, the Saxon Goddess of fertility, and Ostara, Her German aspect, … Read more
Grey snow,flooded by the rays of sun, thaws slowly,in the rhythm of the spring birds…— Valentin Gabriel Cristea Today is the last day of winter. For the past year, every day, I have been celebrating each season by writing about its accompanying Element. Last Spring, we moved together through the realms of the Guardian of … Read more
Dark of the Moon New beginnings Dark of the MoonPlant a seed tonight Dark of the Moon What we envision Will come to be by the Full Moon’s light. Not only is this New Moon the first lunation that will take us into Spring, but it brings a partial solar eclipse (only visible in Asia … Read more
So now… making this blog ever more actually blog-like, I am inserting this extra post here today to invite you to share your observations of the arrival of Spring. As a Witch, I celebrate all of the Earth’s seasons with joy and reverence, but I must say the turning of the Wheel from the barren … Read more
Today is Trefuilnid Treochair (Truh-FWEEL-nid Tray-oh-CARE) in the Celtic traditions. This is considered the premier national feast day of Ire. The name of the holiday means “the triple bearer of the triple key,” and it refers to the God, Teutates (Too-TAH-tace). Teutates is an ancient trident-bearing God of Ireland. He is a God of war, … Read more
Alone in greenwood must I roam, Hollin, green hollin, A shade of green leaves is my home, Birk and green hollin.— Traditional folk tune For centuries throughout Europe, holly has been believed to repel evil, and this belief lingers to the present day. The old Pagan traditions of bringing holly boughs into the house in … Read more
O the Ivy O, she’s the Queen of old, And the Holly he is red. Hang ’em high in the farm, and us won’t come to no harm Till the Christmas days be told — Old Carol from Somerset, England There are some 300 species in the genus Ilex, which is more commonly known as … Read more
The holly and the ivy, When they are both full grown, Of all trees that are in the wood, The holly bears the crown. –Old Yule carol Today, Marj, my favorite botanist, waxes poetic about the magical holly: “Holly” came from “holy,” or at least from the same source word. Here in eastern North America, … Read more