The mantra becomes one’s staff of life and carries one through every ordeal. Each repetition has a new meaning, carrying you nearer and nearer to God. — Mahatma Gandhi Have you started collecting your beads yet? Assuming you have 1) your intention and 2) your prayer, including each part of it, it’s time to gather … Read more
In the traditional Chinese lunar calendar, this is Chung Yuan — the Moon of the Hungry Ghosts. Back on the New Moon, the Gates of the Underworld were flung open, allowing ghosts and spirits of the dead access to the world of the living. The spirits spend the month visiting their families, feasting and being … Read more
Prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action. — Mahatma Gandhi In case you have never used a rosary, mala, or other prayer bead tool (I certainly had not when I first made mine), the idea is to construct a circle or line … Read more
Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna; Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Inanna… – The Goddess Chant, various artists Today we actually begin to create and work with our prayer beads. As I have explained, I learned this from Donald Engstrom-Reese in 2003 at SpiralHeart Witchcamp. So my directions will be based on how … Read more
The preserving shrine is nature and what is preserved in it. The preserving shrine is memory and what is preserved in it. – Irish Brehon law My magical heart-sister, Isar Danu, was the first who ever told me about Reclaiming Witchcamps back in the mid-90s, when she started attending them. Officially called “Summer Intensives,” they … Read more
It is bad luck to fall out of a thirteenth story window on Friday. — Anonymous Before we get started on our Gratitude Journey (and please stop back by this weekend, when I will share some background on those Blessed Beads I featured here on Wednesday).. a pause to note this special day. Yes, beware, … Read more
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. — Thornton Wilder With this week’s New Moon that follows the celebration of the First Harvest, we now transition into the Fall quarter of the year. “Fall?!?” you say. I know, I know. Here in North … Read more
Sunset Rainer Maria Rilke Slowly the west reaches for clothes of new colours which it passes to a row of ancient trees. You look, and soon these two worlds both leave you, one part climbs toward heaven, one sinks to earth, leaving you, not really belonging to either, not so helplessly dark as that house … Read more