Month: July 2023

Celebrating Lugnasad

July 30, 2023 No Comments

Although named for the Irish God Lugh (aka Lleu, Lugos, Lugus), Lugnasad (aka Gŵyl Awst) almost certainly ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root word for his name: *leu-g- (black, dark, dim; swamp) or *leug- (bend, bow, twist) + Old Irish násad (assembly, gathering — especially one of a festive or commemorative nature; death, put to death). It most likely means the “Gathering of the Black or Bent One,” but it could also mean “Black Death” or any other such combinations thereof. However, an enormous amount of weight must be given to the first interpretation, simply because Lugnasad is still today often referred to as Black Stoop Sunday, and largely connected with an Irish deity called Crom Dubh (Black Bent One or Dark Bowed One, etc.). This figure is associated, as well, with the Irish God Crom Cruach (Bent or Bowed One of the Mound or Stack [of Grain]), to whom the people made sacrifices in exchange for milk and grain.

Corn Dollies

July 26, 2023 No Comments

We are coming close to the First Harvest Earth Festival, a time to bring in the grain. This is a time of year when country fairs were held and still are…a time to share and show off the best that you have grown. For the First Harvest, it is all about the grain and the symbols that go with it.

Dig Deeper

July 23, 2023 No Comments

In these days of mindless, meaningless, quick, simplistic “See Spot run” rituals that require little to no reading or thought, it is a joy to engage in work that exhibits depth, complexity, and genuine meaning, knowledge, and understanding. It’s just so sad that so many pagan practitioners these days are really only interested in talking the talk — not in walking the walk, in doing the hard work of the Mysteries.

Magickal Cleaning

July 19, 2023 No Comments

When we are set upon cleaning, we rarely think of creating a potion to clean with. But in reality, that is what all cleaning products can be. The fact is that they are either a liquid themselves or a concentrate that you add to water. The fact that this country has so many cleaning products to choose from is mindboggling, and what’s worse is that most of those products are toxic. Thankfully, we do have some nontoxic options, as well. Even still, if you are able and willing making your own, that allows you the opportunity to create exactly what you need for every situation — not only to clean on a weekly basis, but you can also change things up to alter and/or enhance the energy for different seasons or festivals or even for a special spell you have been working.

Magickal Waters

July 12, 2023 No Comments

To further our research in a potions study we’re currently engaging in during our Tuesday Tea chats at COFF. we covered magickal waters — which in and of itself is an interesting topic all on its own. When it comes to waters, you have many different options, from moon, to floral, gem and crystal waters, and even colognes. Waters can be used to enhance any of your workings and are very easy to create, to the point that with some waters, you just need to set a jar of water outside.

A Woman Clothed in Sun

July 9, 2023 No Comments

Lately, I’ve been doing a great deal of research and study on the Welsh Goddesses. Like so much of what I do, this is largely personal work for me, for my own personal spiritual practice. I want to learn as much about Rhiannon, especially, as I possibly can for my work with her at this time, because even though I’ve always felt I shared a special bond with her, simply because my birthday falls on her usually given Feast Day (March 4), it’s still been quite a while now since I’ve been in touch with her.

Glamour Magicks

July 5, 2023 No Comments

I recently attended a talk on glamour magick, a subject we tend to overlook as a very useful tool. The very basic concept of glamouring is to change a person’s perspective. To have them see what you want and not what is there, a temporary mask. Such spells can be used for beautification, with love magicks, for protection, and for other purposes, as well.