Have a Blessed and Magical Samhain!
Monday April 30, 2012
Happy Samhain!Image © Getty Images
If you're one of our readers in the Southern Hemisphere, it's the time when the Wheel is turning towards the dark half of the year, and ... Read More
A Blessed Beltane to All of You!
Monday April 30, 2012
It's the Beltane season for our Northern Hemisphere readers, and the traditional time to begin observing the fertility celebrations. If you lived in rural England a few centuries ago, you'd ... Read More
Notes from the Cauldron: Weekly Roundup April 22 - 29
Monday April 30, 2012
Wondering what you might have missed this week at About Pagan/Wiccan? Well, there's all kinds of new content, a bunch of blog posts, updates to older articles, and tons of ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Walpurgisnacht
Monday April 30, 2012
Walpurgisnacht is a blend oftraditions old and new.Image © Getty Images
In parts of Germanic Europe, Walpurgisnacht is celebrated each year around April 30 - right around the time of Beltane. ... Read More
More Religious Speakers in Public Schools Cause Concern
Sunday April 29, 2012
We've been following the goings-on in Asheville, NC, where the Buncombe County School Board has finally adopted a policy of neutrality regarding the presentation of religious material from outside groups ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Deities of the Season
Sunday April 29, 2012
Horned gods appear as symbolsof Beltane fertilityImage © Getty Images
If you live above the equator, you're preparing for Beltane, a time of great fertility -- for the earth itself, for ... Read More
Pagans and Morality
Saturday April 28, 2012
A while back, I overheard a discussion between a couple of friends who were talking about how wonderful it was to have the Ten Commandments as a basis for living, ... Read More
Paganism and Minors
Saturday April 28, 2012
This post is from a year ago, but I really have to rerun it, because at least once a week, I get a very sweet email from someone who wants ... Read More
BeliefNet and Why Pagans Can't Live in a Vacuum
Saturday April 28, 2012
I've taken a couple of days away from the blog to work on other projects, and when I cam back I found eleventy-five gazillion emails pointing me over towards a ... Read More
Religion is Key in Political Support
Saturday April 28, 2012
A new survey indicates that American voters are far more likely to choose their presidential candidate based upon religious beliefs - although I'm not entirely sure that this is a ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: The Hobby Horse
Saturday April 28, 2012
Beltane is a time of lust and sex and fertility, and few symbols are as representative of this as the hobby horse. In England, the hobby horse tradition goes back ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: The Green Man
Friday April 27, 2012
The Green Man representsnature's fertility.Image © Patti Wigington 2008
For our ancient ancestors, many spirits and deities were associated with nature, wildlife, and plant growth. After all, if you had just ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Celebrating Flowers
Thursday April 26, 2012
Celebrate spring with flowers!Image © Getty Images
Depending on where you live, you may well be getting ready for planting season -- and few things symbolize spring as well as flowers! ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Decorate Your Altar
Wednesday April 25, 2012
For our northern hemisphere readers, it's Beltane, the Sabbat where many Pagans choose to celebrate the fertility of the earth. This Sabbat is about new life, fire, passion and rebirth, ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Plan Your Menu!
Tuesday April 24, 2012
Green Man cake© Patti Wigington 2009
Beltane is almost here, and it's a great time to get together with family and friends. After all, the weather is finally decent, the sun ... Read More
Scottish Pagans Deny Horse Attacks
Monday April 23, 2012
From the Blame the Witches files, there's been a series of reports out of Scotland that prompted the country's SPCA to put out a warning after three horses had their ... Read More
April 23: Veteran's Pentacle Day
Monday April 23, 2012
On April 23, 2007, the pentacle was added to the list of emblems approved by the Veteran's Association for deceased Pagan and Wiccan soldiers. Thanks to all the folks who ... Read More
Notes from the Cauldron: Weekly Roundup April 16 - 22
Monday April 23, 2012
Wondering what you might have missed this week at About Pagan/Wiccan? Well, there's all kinds of new content, a bunch of blog posts, updates to older articles, and tons of ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Magical Braiding & Weaving
Monday April 23, 2012
Braiding can be a magical task.Image © Getty Images
It's almost Beltane, so let's look at some Beltane magic that will get your creative juices flowing! In many traditions of Paganism, ... Read More
Free Arbor Day Trees
Sunday April 22, 2012
Did you know that Arbor Day is coming up on April 27? Just a little over a month away -- and in some areas, it's already time to start thinking ... Read More
Kids and Pagan Events
Sunday April 22, 2012
Sometimes, you need to leaveyour darlings at home.Image © Getty Images,Licensed to About.com
The topic of children at Pagan events - and what to do with them - is always a ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Legends and Lore
Sunday April 22, 2012
Many Beltane customs relateto fertility.Image © Getty Images
Beltane is a season rich with customs and traditions from around the world. Did you know that morning dew collected on Beltane is ... Read More
How to Outline a Circle?
Saturday April 21, 2012
A reader asks, "I was wondering if you know where I can find cords to mark the circle on the floor? I've looked at various Pagan/Occult stores, but can never ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Green Man Cake
Saturday April 21, 2012
Bake a Green Man cake for BeltaneImage © Patti Wigington 2008
The Green Man is an archetype often represented at Beltane, which is right around the corner for our Northern Hemisphere ... Read More
AZ Bill Will Offer Bible Elective in Public Schools
Friday April 20, 2012
It seems like every time news comes out of Arizona, it has to do with some law being passed that makes me tilt my head and go HUH? Once again, ... Read More
The Sounds of Stonehenge
Friday April 20, 2012
What did Stonehenge sound like?Image © Getty Images
This is just so groovy I had to share it. We occasionally discuss sacred sites here at About Pagan/Wiccan, and the magical significance ... Read More
Bible Checklist Item Leaving AF Inns
Friday April 20, 2012
If you're a member of the United States Air Force, when you travel or relocate to a new post, you may find yourself staying, at some point, in an Air ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Fire Incense
Friday April 20, 2012
Blend some Fire Incense for Beltane.Image © Patti Wigington
If you're one of our Northern Hemisphere readers, and planning your Beltane celebrations right now, spring is beginning to get seriously underway. ... Read More
Initiations and Dedications
Thursday April 19, 2012
A reader asks, "My friends and I formed a small NeoWiccan group a few months ago, and things are working out well. We keep things pretty informal, but we all ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Fertility Magic
Thursday April 19, 2012
Spring fertility magic can bringbountiful fall harvestsImage © Getty Images
It's almost Beltane in the Northern Hemisphere, and that means it's time to talk about fertility! Did you know that in ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Maypole Altar Centerpiece
Wednesday April 18, 2012
Make a Maypole for your Beltane altarImage © Patti Wigington 2008
For many people, a Maypole Dance is the best way ever to celebrate the fertility holiday of Beltane... but let's ... Read More
Norway Approves Shamanism as Religion
Tuesday April 17, 2012
The Sami people are the indigenous people of Norway, and for centuries practiced Shamanism as their religion. During the spread of Christianity, the Norwegian church attempted to eradicate this nature-based ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: MayDay Cone Basket
Tuesday April 17, 2012
Make a cone basket to fill with flowersImage © Patti Wigington 2009
In some rural societies, May Day flower baskets were a perfect way to send a message to someone you ... Read More
DC Pagan Library Opens Its Doors
Monday April 16, 2012
Capital Witch reports that the Open Hearth Foundation Pagan Library has officially opens its doors - and this is a big deal, because I'm pretty sure it's one of the ... Read More
Notes from the Cauldron: Weekly Roundup Apr 9 - 15
Monday April 16, 2012
Wondering what you might have missed this week at About Pagan/Wiccan? Well, there's all kinds of new content, a bunch of blog posts, updates to older articles, and tons of ... Read More
Earth Day is April 22
Monday April 16, 2012
Every year, when I post my annual "Hey, Earth Day is coming up!" blog entry, I inevitably get emails from people who tell me (1) Earth Day isn't a Pagan ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: The Bale Fire
Monday April 16, 2012
The Bale Fire has a long history.Image © Getty Images
One of the hallmarks of any Beltane celebration is the bonfire, or the Bale Fire (this can be spelled a number ... Read More
Reader Email: Love Offerings and Donations
Sunday April 15, 2012
This is an older post, but since the Pagan event season is gearing up once more, it's a good time to revisit the topic:
A while back, I got an email ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Horse Magic and Folklore
Sunday April 15, 2012
Horses are often a symbol of fertility.Image © Getty Images
Over the course of time, many animals have developed a great deal of magical symbolism. The horse in particular has been ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Hold a Goddess Rite
Saturday April 14, 2012
Celebrate spring by honoringthe goddess of your traditionImage © Patti Wigington 2008
When Margaret Murray wrote her ground-breaking God of the Witches, in 1931, scholars quickly dismissed her theory of a ... Read More
Spells, Charms, Workings, and Hexes
Friday April 13, 2012
A reader asks, "I've heard a variety of terms including, but not limited to: working, spell, summoning, hex, curse, initiation, banishing, charm, jinx, and also various combinations of these terms. ... Read More
Buncombe SB Approves Religious Policy
Friday April 13, 2012
We've been following the story of North Carolina's Buncombe County School Board, which has spent months considering a policy of neutrality when it comes to religious materials in classrooms. As ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Family Abundance Rite
Friday April 13, 2012
Celebrate the joys of family at BeltaneImage © Getty Images
Beltane is coming up in just a couple of weeks, and although this is a celebration of fertility (and despite that ... Read More
Pagans and Prayer
Thursday April 12, 2012
Recently a friend of mine -- who's not a Pagan -- had a family member with some medical problems, and she asked all of her friends on Facebook to please ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Morris Men and Mummers
Thursday April 12, 2012
Morris men appear at many spring festivalsImage © Getty Images
Morris dancing was part of many social events in rural English towns. Although the dancing was for entertainment purposes, it was ... Read More
Reader Mail: Can I Use This Wand in Ritual?
Wednesday April 11, 2012
A reader asks, I got a wand at the Harry Potter World at Universal Studios. It's the only wand I have and I chose it because I thought it was ... Read More
Are You a Disabled Pagan?
Wednesday April 11, 2012
I've recently been working on some content about the unique set of challenges faced by people in the Pagan community who are dealing with mobility issues due to disabilities. If ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: The Birds and the Bees
Wednesday April 11, 2012
Bees are a sure sign of springImage © Getty Images
As Beltane approaches, you may have noticed that as spring unfolds, a magical thing begins to happen outside. In addition to ... Read More
Why I Have No Problem with Tim Tebow
Tuesday April 10, 2012
Apparently football player and generally-all-American-good-guy Tim Tebow made a big Easter Sunday appearance at some church rally in Texas. As you can imagine, being not-Christian and horribly sports-challenged (I had ... Read More
Schools and Pagan Students
Tuesday April 10, 2012
We spend a lot of time - way more than I'd like, honestly - discussing all the ways that Pagan students have issues at school. Cases like that of Christopher ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Faerie Lore
Tuesday April 10, 2012
Do faeries live in your garden?Image © Getty Images
Some Pagan and Wiccan traditions include a belief in otherworldly beings, such as the Fae. Like Samhain, Beltane is a time when ... Read More
Rare Sarcophagus Found in Egypt
Monday April 9, 2012
Well, don't I feel silly? A reader passed this story along to me, and it looked nifty so I wanted to share it. However, I neglected to realize that it's ... Read More
Int'l Pagan Coming Out Day on May 2
Monday April 9, 2012
Someone once asked me when I had "come out" as a Pagan, and it was kind of a weird question, because for me it was never a matter of coming ... Read More
Notes from the Cauldron: Weekly Roundup April 2 - 8
Monday April 9, 2012
Wondering what you might have missed this week at About Pagan/Wiccan? Well, there's all kinds of new content, a bunch of blog posts, updates to older articles, and tons of ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Plan a Goddess Garden
Monday April 9, 2012
Plant a goddess garden.Image © Getty Images
For our northern hemisphere readers, spring is on the way, and it's time to begin planning your plantings. Gardening is a magical act. It ... Read More
For Journalists Who Write About the Occult
Sunday April 8, 2012
I've covered a boatload of stories here at About Pagan/Wiccan that are relevant simply due to their own lack of relevance to the occult community - in other words, there ... Read More
Reader Mail: What are Witch Wars?
Sunday April 8, 2012
This is a post from last year, but I'm going to share it again in response to a couple of emails I've gotten lately:
A reader asks, "I keep hearing the ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Crafts for the Craft
Sunday April 8, 2012
Let's face it, it's kind of hard to walk into your local big box discounter and find a section where they sell items marked "Beltane Decorations." Fortunately, if you're ... Read More
Samhain Countdown: Death & Dying
Saturday April 7, 2012
If you are one of our Southern Hemisphere readers, then for you, this is the season when the earth is dying a little more each day, the air is getting ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Hold a Bonfire Ritual
Saturday April 7, 2012
Hold a Beltane bonfire ritual!Image © Getty Images
Spring is underway and the greening of the earth has returned as Beltane approaches. The Beltane bonfire is a tradition that goes back ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: Flowers and Fertility
Friday April 6, 2012
Flora was a goddessof fertility and flowers.Image © Getty Images
The ancient Romans had a celebration for just about everything, and the arrival of spring was a time to honor Flora, ... Read More
Samhain Countdown: History and Legends
Friday April 6, 2012
© Getty Images
Are you one of our readers below the equator? Then you're getting ready to welcome the dark half of the year, beginning at Samhain. Contrary to an odd ... Read More
Samhain Countdown: Spirit Guides
Thursday April 5, 2012
Are you one of our Southern Hemisphere readers, getting ready for Samhain? This time of year, lots of people are interested in doing work involving spirit communication. That's all well ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: The May Queen
Thursday April 5, 2012
The May Queen is a symbol of theearth at springtimeImage © Getty Images
In some Wiccan traditions, the focus of Beltane is on the battle between the May Queen and the ... Read More
Samhain Countdown: Divination
Wednesday April 4, 2012
© Getty Images
While those of us above the equator are gearing up for spring and Beltane, our friends in the Southern Hemisphere are preparing for Samhain -- and it's a ... Read More
New Finds Reveal Rites To Osiris
Wednesday April 4, 2012
A new discovery in Upper Egypt has revealed a fascinating find of animal mummies, offering archaeologists some hints as to rites honoring the god Osiris. The team discovered a cache ... Read More
Wiccan Lottery Winner Offers Advice
Wednesday April 4, 2012
At the end of August, 2007, Ellwood "Bunky" Bartlett made headlines when he became the first openly Wiccan lottery winner of the MegaMillions jackpot. The media latched onto Bartlett almost ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: The Maypole Dance
Wednesday April 4, 2012
The Maypole is a symbol of Beltane fertilityImage © Getty Images
The Maypole is one of the traditional symbols of Beltane, and let's not kid ourselves about its purpose: it's a ... Read More
Beltane Countdown: May Day History
Tuesday April 3, 2012
Celebrate Beltane on May 1© Getty Images
Beltane kicks off the merry month of May, and has a long history. This fire festival is celebrated on May 1 with bonfires, Maypoles, ... Read More
April 6: Celebrate the Wind Moon
Monday April 2, 2012
Spring is well underway, and now that April's here, it's still soggy in a lot of places, but there's hope yet. As the saying goes, those April showers will bring ... Read More
Notes from the Cauldron: Weekly Roundup Mar 26 - Apr 1
Monday April 2, 2012
Wondering what you might have missed this week at About Pagan/Wiccan? Well, there's all kinds of new content, a bunch of blog posts, updates to older articles, and tons of ... Read More
Reader Mail: Ritual Sex and Festival Hookups
Sunday April 1, 2012
A reader asks, "I keep seeing references to the Great Rite and "ritual sex." I was sure I read somewhere that Wiccans didn't have sex in rituals. What's the deal?"
While ... Read More
Share Your Pagan Blog With Our Readers
Sunday April 1, 2012
Are you a Pagan blogger? Want to share your blog listing with our readers? Now's your chance! Use our handy-dandy submission form to send in information about you, your blog, ... Read More
Reader FAQ: How to Plan a Ritual?
Sunday April 1, 2012
Reader MombaiMama says, "A group of friends have formed a sort of loose-knit coven/study group, and we'd like to begin holding rituals to celebrate the Sabbats. The problem is that ... Read More