Each week, I share three things that have informed or inspired me. This week, I’m gushing over a local bookstore, a podcast episode, and creating ritual spaces in unlikely places. The Little Book Store When I moved to Northern NY a decade ago, Borders was still at the mall. Since they’ve closed, I’ve missed browsingContinue reading “Three Things Thursday: Local Bookstores, Kitchen Magic, and my Sacred Porch”
Tag Archives: food
Three Things Thursday: “Invasives,” a Giveaway, and Dandelion Cake
“Invasives” My latest short story, “Invasives,” is nearing publication in the third issue of Stone, Root, and Bone magazine from Hagstone Publishing. During her lunch break, Justine encounters a startling scene on the docks. She reflects on how she could have handled it, but dealing with invasive species is a tricky matter. Perhaps the riverContinue reading “Three Things Thursday: “Invasives,” a Giveaway, and Dandelion Cake”
Three Things Thursday: Sacred Stitches, “Cooked,” and Novel Aesthetics
Sacred Stitches Each day, I draw an ogham card as an omen. I ask the Kindred what guidance, lessons, and blessings they have for me. Yesterday, I pulled Ioho /Idad/ Yew. Most of my sources refer to this as Idad… I’m very fond of Erynn Rowan Laurie’s interpretation of the ogham, and I embrace thisContinue reading “Three Things Thursday: Sacred Stitches, “Cooked,” and Novel Aesthetics”
The Pea Shelling Rite
I was working in the garden this afternoon. Specifically, I was pulling out the dried pea plants and shelling the pods to save seeds. No matter how frequently we pick and eat fresh snap peas through June and July, the plants are usually tired and brown a few weeks following Lughnasadh. The final harvest isContinue reading “The Pea Shelling Rite”
When Life Hands You Potatoes…
I wanted to use my patio table as a temporary altar to do some work under the full moon. I had forgotten the potatoes I harvested and left there (oops). Then I realized this was perfect! My magic could tap into that fertile potato crop energy. With a clear sky, a bright moon, and aContinue reading “When Life Hands You Potatoes…”
Ways to Celebrate Irish Heritage Day Without Gnashing Your Teeth about St. Patrick and Perpetuating Bad History
I’ve talked about my feelings about St. Patrick’s Day in the past, as well as my reasons for celebrating it as Irish Heritage Day instead. I’ve also shared, and will share again, Morgan Daimler’s excellent post on what we do know about St. Patrick, his history, snakes, etc. Each year, I continue to see theContinue reading “Ways to Celebrate Irish Heritage Day Without Gnashing Your Teeth about St. Patrick and Perpetuating Bad History”
Friends with Weeds?
Like most Americans, I grew up hearing people moan about weeds. My grandmother, an avid gardener, was fussy. She didn’t want anything growing between the cracks of her sidewalk. When she still lived at home, she often poured boiling water over unwanted plants. Old fashioned, effective, relatively eco-friendly in terms of chemical use, but laborious.Continue reading “Friends with Weeds?”
June 2018 Garden Update
July is nearly here, and it promises to be bountiful! I’m grateful for the growth in my garden throughout June.
Winter Solstice Eve
Last year, I took a personal day on the Winter Solstice. This year, I used one for Samhain and don’t feel right asking for tomorrow given various things happening at work. I’m mildly resentful tonight as I work myself exhausted trying to make tomorrow a fun and memorable day for my family. I still haveContinue reading “Winter Solstice Eve”
Divination and Grounding
The #30DaysMagicalRoots challenge started yesterday. True to form, I’m a bit late! Given that it was a major holiday in my tradition, I feel that’s entirely forgivable, right? Right. My family had a lovely, low-key Lughnasadh full of blueberry pancakes, board games, and a big dinner. I also made offerings and went on a run,Continue reading “Divination and Grounding”
Author M. A. Phillips 