Stress causes success, duress causes durability. Our ability to chew on bitters and yet survive shows our G-dly inner spark. — Rabbi Moshe Tzuriel Yesterday, I wrote about dandelion tonic, a liver cleanser that our wise grandmothers often made for their families, as it was believed to help purify the blood in the Springtime. The … Read more
Blessings on thy sunny face,In my heart thou hast a place,Humble Dandelion!— Helen M. Johnson The Wheel of the Year has turned, and even though many people reading this may still have to deal with snow and ice a while longer, Spring time is inexorably unfolding. As we welcome the signs of Spring, one of … Read more
Spring is when you feel like whistling,even with a shoe full of slush.— Doug Larson The Wheel of the Year has turned, and even though many people reading this may still have to deal with snow and ice a while longer, Spring time is inexorably unfolding. Here in the woods of North Carolina, the bloodroot … Read more
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