He saw the garden of Eden…and…came to a tall, dark tree..and told to go up…near the top of tree a beautiful woman, like the Goddess of Life…gave him a rose.— W. B. Yeats Like the Rosicrucians, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn used the rosy cross as a representative symbol. They also had a … Read more
Rose of all Roses, Rose of all the World!You, too, have come where the dim tides are hurled.Upon the wharves of sorrow, and heard ringThe bell that calls us on; the sweet far thing. — William Butler Yeats The rose, Queen of the Garden, has had a long history of beauty and mystery, joy and … Read more
Iris © Josephine WallIris on saffron wings arrayed with dewOf various colours through the sunbeams flew. — Virgil In these beautiful days of Spring, we continue our journey with the Graces, particularly noting the gifts of the Grace, Thalia. She is the giver of mirth, growth, and flowering. In Greek mythology, Iris is the messenger … Read more
A basket of tulips and a pot of daffodils, Bring to my home sunshine, cheer and encourage good will.By the elements of earth and water, I bless these blooms,May their springtime energy spread into every room. For the good of all, with harm to none,By earth and water, this charm is done! — Ellen Dugan, … Read more
O the Ivy O, she’s the Queen of old,And the Holly he is red.Hang ‘en high in the farm,and us won’t come to no harmTill the Christmas days be told. — Traditional carol from Somerset Both the design and materials of your Solstice wreath can invoke magic. As I explained before, the circular shape is … Read more
We are a circleWithin a circle,With no beginning,And never ending… — Circle Chant by Rick Hamouris For our magical working (see yesterday’s post), you will need a wreath and five candles. You may be familiar with the Christian tradition of lighting candles on an Advent wreath. Our spell will be a reclaiming of that practice, … Read more
The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.— Eden Phillpotts (1862-1960) Whatever your beliefs about any secret societies, conspiracies, hidden agendas and so forth behind the genesis of our nation’s currency, the cash we now use certainly has symbols and mottoes that represent a return to the idea … Read more
Scorpios are arguably the most intense members of the zodiac. Even when they appear self-controlled and calm there is a seething intensity of emotional energy under the placid exterior. Sometimes Scorpios are accused of holding grudges, which is not really true. It’s just that Scorpios rarely forget anything, and are ready to defend themselves if … Read more
The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind… ‘Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; posterity are virtually involved in the contest, and will be more or less affected, even to the end of time, by the proceedings now. — Thomas Paine We are … Read more
I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion.— Thomas Jefferson If we are to know and … Read more