Periodically, I get emails bemoaning the lack (or sadly short life span) of Pagan shops. There are hundreds of Pagan and Wiccan-themed shops that start up and fail each year. Why? Because they don't have the business they need to stay solvent. Small and locally-owned Pagan businesses do need support from the community -- otherwise, they're going to disappear. Why should you patronize a local Pagan shop? Here are a few reasons it's important: Supporting Pagan Shops.

Readers, where are your favorite Pagan/Wiccan shops located, and why do you love them?

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If you're up in the northern hemisphere, it's Litha, and it's a great time of year to get outside and reconnect with the natural world. In addition to growing your own magical herbs in your garden, in many areas you can harvest herbs from their natural environment -- in the wild. This is known as wildcrafting, and is becoming a popular pastime. If you're one of the many Pagans or Wiccans who enjoys working with herbs, you may want to look into wildcrafting. However, much like any other natural resource, herbs must be harvested responsibly. Here's how to be a responsible and ethical wildcrafter: Wildcrafting Herbs

Don't forget to sign up for the free Seven Day Litha Class!

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During the Pagan festival season - which typically begins around Beltane and ends after the harvest -- there are a lot of opportunities to meet new people. Some of those people are folks we form lasting bonds and friendships with. Others... not so much. Let's face it, many modern Pagan paths are rooted in fertility religions, so most Pagans are pretty open about sexuality. Because of that openness, it does occasionally come to pass that we meet someone at an event (or elsewhere) that we find ourselves attracted to.

However, being part of a fertility religion does not give us license to practice irresponsible behavior. Here are a few things to keep in mind when interacting with potential hookup partners: Pagan Sexual Etiquette  

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Litha is approaching in the northern hemisphere, and it's a time when the gardens are flourishing, flower beds are blooming, and we're all outside as much as possible. It's time to celebrate the sun, so try to set up your Midsummer altar outside if at all possible. If you can't, that's okay -- but try to find a spot near a window where the sun will shine in and brighten your altar setup with its rays. Celebrate the season with symbols of the sun - solar discs, golden candles, and bright sunny colors like yellow and orange. Add plants -- sunflowers are perfect -- and the fruits of your garden. Be sure to read Setting Up Your Litha Altar for ideas.

Did you dress up your altar for Litha? Share a photo of your altar with our readers - we'd love to see what you did! Submit a picture, tell us what's on your altar and why, and tell us a little bit about how you celebrated this Sabbat! Remember, your submission MUST include at least one photo. Use our new Altar Submission Form to share your photo.

Want to see photos of previous years' altars? Visit our Litha Altar Photo Gallery.

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