Happy Imbolc to You! May Dear Brighid Bless You Today and Always

Brighid of the mantle, encompass us; Lady of the lambs, protect us; Keeper of the hearth, kindle us; Beneath your mantle, gather us; And restore us to memory. ~ Caitlín Matthews, A Blessing for Hearth Keepers The ancient celebration of Brighid, Imbolc, or Candlemas, as some may call it, falls around Feb. 1 and 2, … Read more

Tonight is Mother Night, and the 4th Candle Lighting

Dark shepherdess of many a golden star, Dost see me, Mother Night? ~ From The Electra of Euripides Hail and Merry Meet on this Eve of the Winter Solstice. This is the night we light our 4th candle. This is the night of the great celebration of Mother Night. Today is the last Sun Day … Read more

Another Invitation for Magical Work, Besides Tomorrow’s Candle Lighting…

Dear Magical People ~ I hope you are preparing your wreath and candles and are planning to join us tomorrow at sunset (wherever you are!) for the first week of our Solstice Sun Wreath Advent ceremony. I’ll be posting some ideas and specific suggestions tomorrow morning, for our first lighting. I don’t want to add to … Read more

Happy (American) Thanksgiving

Praise Her from whom all blessings flow. Fruits of Her harvest to bestow. Sustain us as we change and grow. Praise Mother Earth our ancient home. Blessed be. ~ a Pagan Grace, author unknown Happy Thanksgiving! As Caitlin Matthews points out in her beautiful and essential The Celtic Spirit: Daily Meditations for the Turning Year, … Read more

Not Wordless. Instead, Let’s Call It Word Wednesday.

(click for a more readable version). Here’s the thing. Words matter. So, we are NOT going to call these insane thugs by the name of our beloved Queen of Heaven anymore. And we are not going to use the word Islamic in association with them because what they are doing is, in fact, an abomination … Read more

Samhain Blessings and All Hail the Beloved Dead

I am the hallow-tide of all souls passing, I am the bright releaser of all pain, I am the quickener of the fallen seed-case, I am the glance of snow, the strike of rain. I am the hollow of the winter twilight, I am the hearth-fire and the welcome bread, I am the curtained awning … Read more

Every Day Is Sacred: Navratri 2015 Begins

O Goddess Durga! My mother! You, the mother of universe, It’s you who takes care of it And removes glooms of hearts. from Prayer to Goddess Durga, by S. D. Tiwari Praises and blessings to the Divine Mother of All, Durga Ma! Her Autumn festival begins today! Navratri, the Nine Night festival in celebration of … Read more

Blessings of Mabon, 2015

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 by Caitlín Matthews, A Celtic … Read more