We're in the midst of January, and winter can begin feeling a bit bleak. January is sort of a let-down, isn't it? After a string of celebrations starting with Samhain through the secular New Year, it just seems like poor January gets the short-end of the stick. A lot of folks overspent on the holidays so they're feeling the pressure of impending bills that are now coming due.
Many people feel that they need to do the whole "New Year's Resolutions" thing, and they're already getting depressed because they've been unable to keep them. Sosanna's got the right idea with her goal-setting article.
Some folks just feel sort of blah around this time because the trees have shed their leaves, winter is gripping down harder, and it just seems so unpromising to look outside. But, this is the time for looking inside. Loren has a great article on Winter Magic that I highly recommend. Cap'n Dave has a phenomenal piece on the upcoming change and being prepared.
Chicky will have you in stitches with her "lament", and Kathi's talking about my personal sun sign, which just happens to be here today! La'Trice has a mouth-watering recipe, and Karen's got your Pagan Lore. I've got your weekly astrology and divinations covered, and the Shameless Plug is actually an offer for those of you who are Pagan Artists, Writers, Shop owners, etc...
Best of all? Rita Digilova of LaPulia Studio is giving you two new downloads for your Book of Shadows!
So, appetites whetted, let's dig right on in...
Happy Birthday this week to Suze Koenig, Sandy Campbell, Mark Burkhardt, Tish Haymer, Nina Zambrano, Morel Ardell Carr, Margaret Blake, Heather Joseph, Lisa Howard, and Karin Stevens Gronewald. May this be your best birthday ever and may your next year of life be filled with an abundance of blessings.
In the News
Did you know that witchcraft attracts 10-year jail term?
This Ancient Pagan Celebration In Macedonia Looks Truly Bizarre
Pass anti-witchcraft bill from first CA meet: Women
Pastor orders his congregation to eat grass
3 held for killing Gumla woman in witch-hunt
HETN perturbed by Daily Sun's gutter reporting, exaggerated stories of witchcraft
MARBLEHEAD 101: Mammy Redd, Marblehead witch
Pagan Lore with Karen Szabo
Sunday, January 19th
Each year on this date, the Thorrablottar (also known as Husband's Day) is celebrated in Iceland. In pre-Christian times, it was celebrated as Pagan festival in honor of the mighty god Thor, the red-bearded lord of lightning bolts and thunder.
Monday, January 20th
On this date (approximately), the Sun enters the astrological sign of Aquarius. Persons born under the sign of the Water Bearer are said to be inventive, independent, unconventional, and often idealistic. Those born on this day, the cusp of Capricorn and Aquarius, are believed to make the best astrologers. Aquarius is an air sign and is ruled by the planets Saturn and Uranus.
On this date (approximately) in the year 2160, the Age of Aquarius will begin when the Sun moves into the 11th sign of the zodiac. According to many occultists and astrologers, the following two thousand years will be a Golden Age of spiritual enlightenment, mind power, world peace, love, and harmony. However, according to many prophets, the Age of Aquarius will also bring cataclysmic changes in the Earth and its atmosphere.
Tuesday, January 21st
Today is Saint Agnes' Day. On the eve of Saint Agnes' Day, according to ancient legend, an unmarried woman will see her future husband in a dream. Saint Agnes' Day (named after the Roman Catholic child martyr who was beheaded in the year 304 A.D. for refusing to marry) is an ideal time for Witches to cast love spells and prepare love potions and charms.
This day of the year is sacred to Yngona, an ancient Goddess worshipped by the Danish people in pre-Christian times.
Wednesday, January 22nd
This day is the Festival of the Muses. Each year on this date, the invisible spirits that inspire and watch over all poets, musicians, and artists are honored and invoked with Goddess-inspired poetry, Pagan folk songs, music and dancing
Thursday, January 23rd
A Pagan festival known as the Day of Hathor is celebrated annually on this date in Egypt to honor the ancient cow-headed Goddess of heaven, beauty and love. A libation of cow's milk is poured into the River Nile as prayers to the Goddess are recited.
Friday, January 24th
Ekeko, the Aymara Indian pot-bellied god of prosperity, is honored on this date with an annual fair called the Alacitas, which is held in La Paz, Bolivia. In Hungary, a Pagan purification known as the Blessing of the Candle of the Happy Women is performed annually on this date.
Saturday, January 25th
Good-luck rituals are traditionally performed during the Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival (Tet), which takes place annually on or around this date. Offerings are made to ancient deities and ancestors, traditional feasts are prepared, and evil spirits are driven away with whistles, bells, and horns.
I hope everyone has a wonderful week! January seems to be flying by so quickly, so take some time to relax and enjoy the moment now and then! See you next time with more Pagan lore,
Karen
There and Back A-Hen: Just a Bunch of Clucking Nonsense with Melissa Chicky Cassick
The Lutzelfrau’s Lament
(May she forgive my impertinence. I may have taken some small liberties herein; but after all, what is folklore without some enhancement?)
The December holidays are firmly behind us; even Epiphany has gathered up its leftover Three Kings Cakes into freezer containers for next year. Trees and ornaments are tucked up tight in soft cloth and bubble wrap, neatly stacked in Amazon boxes. It’s easy to imagine Santa lounging in front of a fire, making notes for next year’s journey, searching Craigslist for some elves with a tad more IT experience. One can envision the Krampus lovingly oiling his sizable collection of birch switches, and browsing Bondage & Discipline catalogs for clearance stock. But tucked in her hut in the Black Forest, the Lutzelfrau has weightier issues. It’s been a good year, Lutzelfrau-ly speaking: the people of Germany have given her many small gifts, and she is very pleased they still remember her. But a few hundred years ago, such gifts were wonderfully practical: shining glass jars of sauerkraut, long ropes of bratwurst, some springerle with amusing imprints – perfect for dunking – even an elaborate baumkuchen was not out of the question. People made an effort.
These days, though… Ach! What nonsense! She has spent the last several days trying to sort and categorize the oddments which fill her patchwork bag.
Let’s join the Lutzelfrau as she putters about her house, telling her woes to her sympathetic familiar, Plätzchen the cat.
“Look at this, Liebchen! Look at all these tiny foil bags! How many wee cups of coffee do they think I brew every year?” She glares at a label in disgust. “Peppermint Mocha Amaretto Nut Supreme? Are they verrückt?”
She gathers her skirts and moves over to the computer desk. Honest Eckart has been encouraging her to upgrade – he keeps warning her that viruses are coming. But for now she still plods along with an old hybridized Wortmann – mostly because the name makes her giggle.
She logs onto Target, searching for “storage.”
“No, no… no. Nothing that I have to mount on the wall. My thumb still throbs from trying to put up shelves to hold 10,327 ceramic Küchenhexen. Who needs so many kitchen witches? Wirklich? And not one of them looks the least like me. I should sell them all on e-Bay. 300 Euros and you can have die ganze Sache.”
She snickers and turns to Plätzchen. “You know, wee Kätzchen, I did figure out a use for all of those teensy scented candles so many of the Berliners gave me. I am going to toss the whole lot in the cauldron, and make an effigy of Till Eulenspiegel! Then we can melt that gad-about goody-goody down to nothing!”
Opening another tab, she peers over her glasses at the screen. “Find nearest store. Enter country. Enter city. Enter postal code? Enter 16 digit card number… Ach! All I want to do is find out where I can use a five dollar certificate for Coldstone Creamery.”
Turning to her cat again, she says, “I was thinking of having a party, you know? And decorate the house with all of these blown glass ornaments I received. Not the pickles, mind you – good luck or not, they’re nasty looking things. But all those nice shiny ones. Make the house look like a disco dancing place, yes? And we invite all of our friends: Claus, and Berchta, and the Weissen Frau. Not that dreadful Krampus, no. All that tongue waggling -- like Miley Cyrus in a duet with Gene Simmons.”
She looks at the cat for approval of her modern wit, and receives only a cold stare in return.
Mutters. “I’ll set invitations to ‘private’ on FaceBook, then.”
Stepping away from the computer, the Lutzelfrau rubs her lower back reflectively.
“Well, perhaps it’s time to hang up the besom and call it quits, eh? You know, this business isn’t what it once was. People think they’re clever now, or just trying to appease me by slipping me something they’d give an old grandmamma. Not all bad, though…”
She totters to the door, and grabs her walking stick and bag.
“If you need me, I will be up at the hot springs. I have 25,746 teensy little bottles of bubble bath to use up!”
Saga's Spirit with Loren Morris
The Magic of Winter
While we are all dreaming of spring and gardening and interacting with nature, we need to remember that we are still officially in winter, and will be until the middle of March. It seems that people are always trying to rush the seasons instead of enjoying them for what they are. Each season holds it's own magic.
Winter is a quality and restful 'downtime' for nature and it can also be a quality and restful downtime for you. Downtime is healing on all levels and it is needed. It is a great time for introspection, for delving into your inter-most you and finding your past year's moments and examining them, whether they are beautiful, or sad, or happy, or just downright scary. This is the time to examine your life's direction in detail and determine what turns you need to take to make you keep to your life's path and re-connect with yourself.
Winter is also an excellent time to connect with the magic of nature. The glittery snow, the glittery star filled sky, the silence, the darkness. What magic! What I wouldn't give to see the aurora borealis and connect with that magic hanging above. Well, one day. One day.
Take the time to tune into yourself and tune into nature. Capture the magic around you, fill yourself with it!
Read the rest of this article at Saga's Cottage Blog
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http://www.Sparkle and Shine with Sosanna
Goal Setting
Continuing on the avenue of what most typical January storylines are all about; this week I’m focusing on goal setting.
I am an extremely goal oriented person. I like to have lists and check things off. I like to get up each day and know what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. I want to know what the end is. This year I’ve set a few goals for myself.
I’m looking to further my knowledge of Hecate. I’m looking to expand some of my writing projects. Not so much in the number of projects but more in the way of publications. I’ve been working on my Hecate Devotional project as well as a contributions to several outside publications that will be published soon. So a major goal this year would be to see my work in publications.
My next goal is to show some of my clay work at Pagan Pride Raleigh this year. In November I purchased a kiln and a pottery wheel. I’ve been documenting my progress on the wheel and will be sharing those over the next few months. I want to have my first pieces fired by mid May and have a complete set of offering bowls available in less than 250 days. Tight schedule but I’m up for the challenge.
Finally, I have created a goal for myself to become stronger. I need to set boundaries and allow myself to be able to stand up for myself and be ok with telling others no. I need to be able to understand that sometimes there are bullies out there who do nothing with their lives but seek out people who are vulnerable, and abuse that position to their own gain.
Even though, they may have taken a large portion of 2013, they are not allowed to have my 2014. This is one goal I plan to keep.
Namaste &; Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(
Uncharted Seas with Cap'n Dave
The Winds of Change
Today, January 19th, marks the Festival of Lights in honor of Neith, the Egyptian Goddess of…well, a lot of things, really. She is a fierce warrioress, huntress, and is said to be the weaver of the world itself. She is also said to be the mother of Ra, the God of the Sun, and here is where it gets interesting…
Moses and his followers fled their captivity in Egypt. Well, Moses went up onto the mount for a long time, and his people found themselves abandoned, for the most part. So, they went about their ways as they knew them, for the many, many years they had been captive in Egypt. Then, finally, Moses comes down with news of a new religion – the God of Abraham had spoken with him up there and here’s what He had to say…but then, he saw his people below, “worshipping” an “idol” of a golden calf (according to Exodus 32, that is).
Neith is often depicted as having a cow’s head. Would it not, therefore, stand to reason that her offspring, the God of the Sun, is depicted in this imagery as a calf? The metal, gold, is associated with the sun…could it be, instead, that they were merely following along the religious beliefs that they had become associated with for so long in Egypt?
Suddenly, we have an upstart religious guru touting a young religion said to be the “one true faith” who goes into a massive temper tantrum because his people aren’t listening to his words anymore, but are instead reverting to the spirituality that they had known before…even if it wasn’t indigenous to their own ethnic background. Well, boo hoo.
My beliefs aren’t from my ethnicity either, but quite frankly, I’d rather not be beholden to a jealous deity who goes into a snit at the sight of any other worship going on! My beliefs aren’t from my ethnicity either, yet my beliefs are deep and true…to me. My “personal relationship”, as it were, is just that…personal – far more so than any that was thrust upon me by my family, my friends, my peers, and society in general. I don’t just go through the motions. I don’t just abjectly bow down because I’m expected to. In fact, I think that Yemaya would throw me into some boulders again if I ever did!
That brings me to the deities of my faith. Through syncretic association, Neith’s European counterpart is Athena – both warrior Goddesses. Another warrior Goddess, though not syncretically related, is Oya…and is She ever making Her presence known as I write this!
Oya controls the wind. She fights with lightning and thunder. Coincidentally, this is also the time of Thorrablot – a sacrificial feast in honor of the Norse God, Thor…also a warrior entity, and also one who fights with lightning and thunder. Perhaps it is just this time of year, when the winter storms tend to manifest, that we associate so many deities of war, wind, and thunder with it? Or at least their feast days…a time for definitely staying connected to Nature and to the winter months in particular, because if we don’t pay attention to them, they will most certainly let us know they’re there…whether we like it or not!
This is Oya’s time – a time of change, often violent change, as we begin winding down from winter and move toward the storms of spring. Oya’s feast day is coming up soon. Imbolg, to be exact!
As a sailor, I take a special interest in Oya (and She in me as well), for I am not only upon the domain of Yemaya, I am also at the mercy of Oya’s whims. These two have some history between them – not all of it good – so I truly have to be on my guard, especially in this coming time of change.
Winter still has us all in its teeth, but the grasp shows signs of weakening. Warmer times are coming, but the storms that lie just beyond the horizon are waiting…it’s the old Boy Scout motto before us all: Be Prepared!
Ashé!
The Spice with La'Trice Lott
This week I thought I'd do a quick and easy dessert.
Rustic Apple-Pear Tart
Ingredients
Refirgerated pie crust
FILLING
2 cups thinly, sliced peeled apples
2 cups thinly, sliced peeled pears
3/4 fresh cranberries
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
TOPPING
1/4 cup all-purpose
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Remove crust from pouch and unfold. Place on cookies sheet. Smooth out creases.
In a large bowl combine filling ingredients; toss to coat. Spoon filling on to crust spreading to wirhin 2 inches of the edge.
In a small bowl mix together 1/4 cup flour, brown sugar and butter. Sprinkle evenly over filling. Fold edges of crust over filling, pleating crust to fit and leaving 5-6 inches in the center uncovered. Brush crust with milk and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of sugar.Bake at 425º for 10 minutes. Reduce tempature to 350º. Sprinkle almond over filling and bake at 350º for 20-30 minutes or until edges are golden brown and fruit is tender.
Sunshine's Meanderings with Kathleen Lane
Sun in Aquarius
We have more Aquarians in my family than any other sign. The rest of the birthdays are scattered around but this has been the focus sign for generations.
I am not a Sun Aquarian but my moon is solidly settled there with my sun in Virgo. In some ways this is a good thing, but in others it drives me crazy. Aquarians are amazing idea people. That is just the way their minds seem to work and those wonderful off-the-wall ideas just fly out of nowhere. I love that part of the Aquarian mentality and it is wonderfully creative. Those middle of the night epiphanies are great unless you try to share them with your sleeping Capricorn husband. He somehow doesn't find those moments of brilliance appealing in the middle of the night. Plus he tells other people about his "crazy" wife. One of those lovely little recording gadgets is a good idea.
Sadly, my creative Aquarian is trapped in a Virgo head. And the Virgo part finds the creative side as irritating as my sleeping husband does. The creative part of my mind goes back to sleep after one of those blinding moments of brilliance and leaves the prosaic Virgo to lay there awake pondering and trying to sort out the hows and whys.
All of the Aquarians in the family are visual people who can "see" their vision and they invariably try to share that vision with others. Sometimes it works and other times the looks they get speak volumes. It is difficult to be a visonary in a world of blind people.
This Week in Astrology
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| Aquarius by Josephine Wall |
Sunday, January 19th
10:51pm Sun is in Aquarius (Kallan's Sun Sign! WOOHOO!)
Monday, January 20th
2:34 am Disseminating Moon
3:55pm through the rest of the night Moon Void of Course
Tuesday, January 21st
Moon VoC until 7:34am then moves into Libra
Wednesday, January 22nd
Morghan Renee Barnhart's birthday (Kallan's granddaughter), so while it may look like all is quiet in the heavens, that little Aquarian girl is creating chaos on earth ;)
Thursday, January 23rd
9:57am-4:43pm Moon VoC, then moves into Scorpio
Friday, January 24th
12:18am Last Quarter Moon
Saturday, January 25th
8:54am-12:10pm Moon VoC then moves into Sagittarius
Weekly Horoscopes from DarkStar Astrology
Weekly Divinations with Kallan Kennedy
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| The Artist's Inner Vision Tarot |
Number: 1
Planet: Mercury
Key words: Manifestation, Skill, Logic, Intellect, New Beginnings
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a magician as "a person who has the power to make impossible things happen."
That is a perfect description of this Tarot energy. The Magician card is about expressing creative energy, the commencement of an endeavor, acting with confidence, willpower, and the ability to affect change.
"The Magician Tarot card typically appears in a Tarot reading at a time in your life when you have the creative power and energy to create a new life cycle for yourself. You have the ability to take the power of the Universe and manifest your desires." ~ Biddy Tarot
This is the time to take advantage of your innate ability to create what you want and manifest it. This is practical magic at its finest. This is the power to tap universal forces and use them for creative purposes. The way to do this is to act without fear.You have to believe in yourself and be willing to put that belief to the test. You create your own miracles. The primal forces of creativity are yours if you can claim your power and act with awareness and concentration. Make it so!
Totem: Crow
Crow, as a totem, has different meanings to different cultures. Crow is the keeper of Sacred Law- not man-made law, but the Universal Law. Crow is a master of illusion. Crow people must walk their walk and talk their talk. Crows are seen as guardians of ceremonial magic and healing. In some cultures, crows are considered bad omens. Of course, you can bet that I'm not one who ascribes to that. Crows have always kept me from making mistakes, or warning me against danger or that something was happening with my family.In my experience, crows interact differently with different people, which is why I believe there are so many different ways of viewing them. They are the smartest of all birds. They can not only recognize human faces, but will pass that information along to their young- to the 3rd generation down- particularly, if the humans are unkind to them. A human will be marked by crows as good or bad and then it will take at least 3 generations for that human to be given a chance again. I find myself to be a lot like them. I am not one who forgives and forgets. I tend toward just cutting people out of my life and moving on, steering very clear of those folks in the future. If you are a MorRhiogan Child, crows will be with you through your life for various reasons, as they are Her totem.
Overall, Crow's message is about change and manifesting it in your life. If you have been working toward a goal, Crow shows up to tell you that it's just about time for things to come to fruition. More than ever, you should pay attention to the omens and signs around you. Crow could also be warning you that you are either spreading yourself a bit too thin, or that you need to stop scattering your energy and focus on what you really want to manifest in your life.
Crows see the world cross-eyed. This is important, because Crow may be asking you to change your perspective in order to manifest your desires. Look at everything from different angles, and see changes you might need to make to bring you what you want.
Remember that Universal Law is not the same as what we think of as "reality". You can bend the laws of physics with your will. Crow can show you how if you are willing to be open to its teachings.
Kallan Kennedy is a professional Tarot and Totem reader. If you are interested in learning about your own personal totems, or would like a tarot reading, please use the contact form at the top of the page.
Norse Magic and Mystery with Rita Digilova
This week, I'm bringing you two beautiful pages of instruction on the Nine Worlds of The Norse Mythology. Here are photos of the pages (Click on the link in between them to download from LaPulia Studio). If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below, or visit me at the LaPulia Studio Facebook Page. I look forward to receiving your feedback!
Download the pages here:
The Shameless Plug (well, sort of)
There is a cost to list your site, as it keeps pages updated. The fee is $20.00 (USD) for one year. Everything will be listed alphabetically and by categories (For example, Pagan Authors, starting with the letter A). Your photo/logo, website link(s), Facebook, Twitter, etc... and contact information can all be listed for that low price.
I would like to publish this by Ostara/Spring Equinox (Mabon, Autumn Equinox for the Southern Hemisphere). If you are interested in participating, please use the contact form at the top of the page or email me. I hope to get lots of responses, as this is something I believe we are all interested in. I can work out payment arrangements with new startups, so don't let price be the thing that stops you from participating. I really want this to be a community-centric thing. Thank you!
That's it for this week's Stew. Mull. Digest. Enjoy!
The Sunday Stew is a free, e-publication delivered every Sunday as a loving gift to the Pagan community. All submissions are the intellectual property of their authors, and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the blog owner. All photos used are used with permission.
We welcome your feedback! Please be sure to tell us how we're doing and give us suggestions for improvement. You can leave a comment here (remember, they are moderated so it may take some time for yours to appear), use the contact form at the top of the page, email Kallan, or comment on Kallan's Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!