Articles Index
Is Your Spirit Guide Really There To Help?
Many people believe they have spirit guides. But what are some of the warning signs you should look for when dealing with otherworldly beings? Here are some ways to tell if you spirit guide isn't really there to guide at all.
What Is a Spirit Guide?
Lots of people believe they have spirit guides -- but how do you know that it's not just your imagination? Learn about some of the different types of spirit guides.
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535)
One of the best known occult writers is Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. Born in France, he was periodically denounced but never formally accused or tried for his interests in magic and the occult. His work "Three Books About Occult Philosophy" was a major influence on later thinkers such as John Dee, and examined the idea that the magic of the natural world was linked to the magic of the Divine.
Incense 101 - How to Make and Use Your Own Incense
For thousands of years, people have used fragrant flowers, plants, and herbs as incense. Using smoke to send prayers out to the gods is one of the oldest known forms of ceremony. From the censers of the Catholic church to the Pagan bonfire rituals, incense is a powerful way to let your intent be known. You can make your own quite easily, using a blend of herbs, flowers, wood bark, resins, and berries. Most of these are items you can grow yourself, find in the woods, or purchase inexpensively.
Setting Up Your Mabon Altar
The time of the autumn equinox is known as Mabon. This is a day to celebrate the second harvest and the balance between dark and light. Here are some ideas for dressing up your home and sacred space for your Mabon celebrations.
Herne, God of the Wild Hunt
In British lore, Herne the Hunter is a god of vegetation, vine, and the wild hunt. Similar in many aspects to Cernunnos, Herne is celebrated in the autumn months, when the deer go into rut. He is seen as a god of the common folk, and is typically recognized only around the Windsor Forest area of Berkshire, England.
Michaelmas
In the British Isles, the festival day of Michaelmas is observed on September 29, and still ties into the harvest season. Learn about the significance of this date in rural British communities.
What is the Summerland?
What is the Summerland? A concept often found in NeoWiccan traditions of modern Paganism, the Summerland related to our view of death and the afterlife.
What is Vodou?
Vodou, sometimes referred to as Voodoo, is a religion that blends Catholicism with West African diasporic faiths. Learn more about how Vodou evolved, and who still practices it today.
What is Stregheria?
What do people mean when they talk about the Stregheria tradition of modern witchcraft?
Meditation 101: An Overview
Ever wonder what meditation is and how it works? Now's your chance to get the basics on meditation and what it can do for you.
Author Profile: Isaac Bonewits
Meet author and Pagan educator Isaac Bonewits, founder of Ár nDraíocht Féin, and a leader of the modern Pagan movement.
The Bighorn Medicine Wheel, Lovell, WY
The Bighorn Medicine Wheel isn't easy to get to, but it's been recognized as a place of spiritual power for hundreds of years. Sacred to several Native American groups, the Medicine Wheel is steeped in mystery.
Setting Up Your Lammas (Lughnasadh) Altar
August 1 is known as Lammas, or Lughnasadh (it's February 1, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere). This is a day to celebrate the beginnings of the harvest, when the grain and corn is gathered. It's also a time, in some traditions, of honoring Lugh, the Celtic craftsman god. Here are some ideas for dressing up your altar for your Lammas (Lughnasadh) celebration!
Legends and Lore of Bees
Where does the phrase "busy as a bee" come from? Why is honey the nectar of the gods? Let's look at some of the folklore and legends that surround the magical bee.
Setting Up Your Samhain Altar
The evening of October 31 is known as Samhain. It's a time to mark the endless, ongoing cycle of life and death. Here are some ideas for dressing up your home and sacred space for your Samhain celebrations.
Graveyard Dirt in Magical Workings
Have you seen a ritual or spell calling for the use of graveyard dirt? While it might seem a bit odd, graveyard dirt is used in many magical traditions for a variety of workings. Learn about why you might want to use some, and how to properly obtain it.
Spring Equinox Celebrations Around the World
Although for Wiccans and Pagans this time of year is known as Ostara, many other cultures and belief systems embrace the Spring Equinox as a time of celebration. Learn about some of the many holidays and festivals held around the world.
Easter Eggs: Pagan or Not?
Are Easter eggs considered Pagan traditions or not? After all, the egg is a fertility symbol... but how did the egg come to be associated with rabbits?
Artemis - Goddess of the Hunt
Artemis was a Greek goddess of the hunt, and like her twin brother Apollo possessed a wide variety of attributes. Some Pagans still honor her today because of her connection to times of female transition.
Brighid - Hearth Goddess of Ireland
A daughter of the Dagda, Brighid is one of the classic triple goddesses of the Celtic pantheon. Many Pagans and Wiccans honor her today as a goddess of the hearth and home, and divination and prophecy.
Februalia: A Time of Purification
As times and spiritual needs changed, a number of different gods and goddesses were honored during the celebration of Februalia. This is a time of purification and cleansing, as well as of making offerings to the divine.
Hathor, Egyptian Goddess of Women
Hathor was an early Egyptian goddess who embodied the sacred feminine, womanhood, and joy. Learn about Hathor and why she was important to the women of ancient Egypt.
Geb, Egyptian God of Earth
In Egyptian mythology, Geb and his twin sister Nut play a crucial role. He is a god of the earth and all it contains. Geb is the father to many of the most important Egyptian deities.
Osiris - King of Egyptian Gods
Osiris was the son of earth and sky, and beloved of Isis. He is known as the god who taught mankind the secrets of civilization. Today, he is honored by some Pagans as a god of the underworld and of the harvest.