The Magickal Pen

Waking Up

Breathe deeply. The time is almost here. We stayed out in the sun’s full light and knew that the days would shorten and the time for quiet and rest would be ticking down to the day that soon will be.

We’ve waited through the first harvest, as wheat and grain were cut and the grain lord nourished and filed our bellies. We’ve waited through the second harvest and the last of the root and sacrifice of the animal gave promise that we would survive the increasing darkness ahead.

We called to the ancestors and stood at death’s gate seeking the way and offering up plates of food and drink to those beloveds long past. The veils parted and their gossamer form billowed out in the chill of purposeful winds. And, the cry of the banshee cut sharp and strong like shards of ice.

We settled in deeply to…

Just Breathe…

The Light Within the Shadow-Part Three

Read Part One here..
Read Part Two here..

Now, is an excellent time to begin a practice of meditation and reflection. Meditation can take many forms, not just the traditional pattern of sitting quietly in contemplation. Any time we spend in reflecting on our inner nature can become an act of meditation. Be sure to breathe deeply into these moments….

In meditation, I allow my breath to slow and deepen into the darkness and move along the paths of my own creation that I have tended to in the previous months in preparation for this time of going within. These paths are often mired with the thorns and treacherous roots of inertness, illusory thoughts and judgments that I have used as the trappings of who I am in the world. My Shadow has nurtured each and knows the weakness and strength of…

Image: Ellen Vaman

The Light Within the Shadow of the Solstice
The Work of Self
This is Part 1 of a 3-Part Post

For most of us the turning of the Greater Wheel to the Winter Solstice is one of welcoming the return of the Light of renewal and strength, the promise of increasingly longer hours of daylight and anticipation of warmer weather and a more outer world focused time. This change is subtle in physical form as this is also when the cold of the Winter  will remain for a few months more prompting us to retreat indoors as the early arrival of evening’s darkness envelopes and calls us into the warmth and light of home.

Each year, I do my work of Self, both within my Tradition (The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel) and personally to call forth this return of Light. And, I also find myself retreating…

We Are Waiting!

Breathe in the night knowing that there is a Light soon to be birthed in the darkness and we stand as co-creators; the Hermit soon to emerge from the slumber of unknowing….

Move slowly and
Speak not a word
And we may catch
A glimpse of HIM yet.

The night is dark
But I have seen the
Icy thread of HER cloak.

Crystal blue eyes and
Hair black as the midnight sky
Grace a face of pale beauty
Poised on a body that is tall and lithe.

She has etched the night sky with
Fingers long and fair painting starlight and
Holding the breath of new dawn
In HER hands’ cupped embrace.

SHE has embraced the world
In the longest of nights.
HER Promise held deep within.

The forest is hushed and white with snow
Ice crystals glisten round and all of life.

Patiently holds strong in…

The Lantern of Truth
Tarot Spread

Today’s post is a special Tarot spread that can be used anytime you are seeking deeper insight into how to stoke those fires of light that dispel the darkness and illuminate growth. It aligns with the six-pointed star that is held within the lantern of the Hermit. This being the product of the greater work of turning within and allowing to grow a light of consciousness that shines brightly in any circumstance and on all planes. I have also given a little hint as to the Qabalistic references of the card’s placements (not necessarily the traditional assignations :).

A Little Numerology:

The Hermit- Key IX

Nine (9)is the number of endings and beginnings and initiatory experience. This is the final single digit number that relates to the individual and unique “you”. Wherever nine occurs there is opportunity for growth; but, only if you…

A Journey into the Dark

My offering today is an audio of a pathworking that I have used at various points in the solar year. It is a journey of courage taking you into the darkness of seeking the light. Enjoy…..

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A Pathworking of Light and Dark

Yuletide  Celebrations

Todays post focuses on some of the ways the season of Yule is celebrated. Although in many cases the celebration of Yule coincides with the astronomical date of the Winter Solstice, they are distinct in that Yule is a seasonal observance that often lasted longer than the single Sabbat date it is traditionally assigned of Dec. 20/21 (the Winter Solstice).

The season of Yule begins on the date of the Full Moon in late November or the first few weeks of December, and the season continues for two lunar months. In some Saxon-based traditions, the official celebration of the Yuletide does not actually begin until Mothers’ Night (the solstice) and continues for a week or two after this.
These celebrations may last from 10-12 days after the Solstice date which nicely coincides with New Year’s celebrations. During this time, feasts, gifts-giving and gatherings mark the celebrations.

The Witch’s…

Reflection In the Dark

Today is an excellent day for finding solitude and quietly reflecting in the darkness. During this busy time of the year when you are called to be more social and engage with others, the energy of the Solstice calls us to that same level of engagement and interaction with ourselves. This is why you will often see the increase in articles about stress-free holidays, meditation and simplifying. Let’s do just that!

As we carry the energies of the previous Sabbats forward in the continual cycle, there is much that is accumulated from those experiences and our daily interactions in the world. The dark half of the year begins at the Summer Solstice in June and what we have brought to fullness begins to wither in its exuberance and vitality. This is a natural process of the ebb – peak and flow of natural cycles.

Lughnasadh provided…

Butterfly Wings

Today’s post is a little gift of flash fiction I wrote many years ago in the spirit of the season. Enjoy...

The birds woke me early this morning! Their insistent chirping sounded like a chorus of excited children calling me to come out and play. I stretched and sat up looking out through my small window; it’s glass reflected with morning’s first light. I could see the small wooden gate of the garden I had planted earlier in the Spring. This was my refuge. I had spent months poring over seed catalogues and I had lovingly selected each flower that would grace its landscape. The design had come easily and the natural placement of tall trees offered just the correct amount of shade and light.

I dressed quickly in my favorite tank top and shorts. The light was streaming in through the window of the front door…

Solstice Correspondences

It’s always fun to sort through all of the things that are relevant and have been used for celebrations of the Sabbats. There are so many for the Winter Solstice/Yule because of the cluster of other holidays that occur during this time of the year. Many of the Christmas decorations and traditions were appropriated and adapted from the pagan practices.

Over the next several days I’ll be highlighting some of these correspondences and offering some additional perspectives that you may wish to incorporate into your celebrations. So, let’s get started with some of the more common….

Symbols Commonly Used:

• Solar Imagery– represents the return of the Sun’s light and strength;
• Holly-the red and green of rebirth;
• Candles– representing the light of the Sun and used to call that light back, bringing warmth;
• Evergreens-representing the defeat of death and winter because they remained green throughout…