Category Archives: magic

My Dedicant Oath

Preparation: Offerings to gather: Earth Mother: herbs Outdwellers: beer (to be placed in a separate bowl) Earth: salt Sea: water Sky: incense Manannan (Gatekeeper): beer Nature Spirits: bird seed Ancestors: fruit (apples?) Gods: Whiskey Brighid: Token I made An Dagda: Token I made Return offerings: Oil Additional Needs: Ogham for the omen Wine for theContinue reading “My Dedicant Oath”

Personal Religion

Ireland has captured my imagination, for better or for worse.  A few years earlier, I never would have believed that I would be seriously studying Irish lore, Irish history, considering learning the Irish language, and worshiping the Irish Gods.  A few years ago, the Irish Gods were “the strange Gods with even stranger names.”  In a society thatContinue reading “Personal Religion”

Working with Nature

It was always easy for me to connect with The Nature Spirits.  Upon reflection, I must confess that it was the Nature Spirits who originally helped me decide to turn to Paganism.  I’ve always been an environmentalist.  At a very early age, I started to learn about animals, ecosystems, and the huge amount of damage humans were inflictingContinue reading “Working with Nature”

The Two Powers Meditation

Learning to perform the Two Powers Meditation was not difficult for me.  As a former Wiccan I was often exposed to different meditations and guided visualizations.  One of the most common meditations, the Tree of Life, shares some characteristics of the Two Powers Meditation of ADF.  Each asks us to reach into the upper and lower realms andContinue reading “The Two Powers Meditation”

My Home Shrine

Creating a shrine was not a difficult requirement for me as I’ve been making altars for a few years.  The challenge, however, was making an altar in accordance with a hearth culture and within a Druidic framework.  Having started on a Pagan path through Wicca, I was used to having certain articles on my altar.  When I realizedContinue reading “My Home Shrine”

Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America

Clifton, Chas S.  Her Hidden Children The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America.  Lanham: AltaMira Press, 2006. Many of us come to Paganism with an interest in ancient history.  We wonder who and how our ancestors worshiped and we attempt to follow in their footsteps.  I can speak for myself when I say that when I began studyingContinue reading “Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America”

A Brief History of the Druids

Ellis, Peter Berresford.  A Brief History of the Druids. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, 2003. Each Summer Solstice the news media releases a handful of articles on a modern group of Druids worshipping near Stonehenge.  The photos are of regular looking people wearing long white robes and sometimes white head coverings that look more akin toContinue reading “A Brief History of the Druids”

A History of Pagan Europe

Jones, Prudence, and Nigel Pennick.  A History of Pagan Europe.  New York: Barnes & Noble, 1995.   A side of history that has remained silent for many years is finally revealed in Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick’s work A History of Pagan Europe.  Through exploring the tomes of history, lore, and archaeology, the authors have put together an impeccableContinue reading “A History of Pagan Europe”

Personal Growth

Today was a stressful day.  It was, as I told my husband, the Monday of Mondays.  Getting to work was not difficult, but once I was there it was one thing after another.  There was a lot of absenteeism today.  Many people are out with whooping cough which is kind of uncomfortable.  I took myContinue reading “Personal Growth”