Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Stephanie Woodfield, author of Celtic Lore & Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess, Drawing Down the Sun, and the new Dark Goddess Craft. For those seeking to build a relationship or devotional practice with dark gods, offerings can often be a stumbling block. What do I give as an offering? How should it be given? And how does one dispose of it from their altar? Some people approach offerings simply as presents. What do I get for the war goddess who has everything? But it's not quite a present exchange involving gods. When we think of offerings in this way it comes with some of our preconceptions connected to other types of gift giving.

Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Stephanie Woodfield, author of Celtic Lore & Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess the new Drawing Down the Sun. Have you ever noticed that stepping outside on a sunny day, and feeling the warm sun on your skin, can put a smile on your face? Or that you may feel less motivated during the winter months? For most of us, a couple of minutes of sunlight is the source of our daily vitamin D, which plays a role in a healthy immune system, and our mental health (among other things). Studies have even shown that sunlight boosts the brain's levels of natural antidepressants and mood lifting chemicals, compared to the brain's levels on darker days. The

Ah, how I love the first stirrings of February...the subzero temperatures, the constant scraping of frost off the windshield, the frequent snow showers, and the road-salt-encrusted boots. Lovely! But even more than that, I love leaving it all behind and attending PantheaCon, now in its 20th year. I've blogged about PantheaCon before, so I will spare you the details and cut to the chase - Llewellyn is hosting a hospitality suite this year, so if you're attending we'd love to see you! Publisher Bill Krause, publicist Kat Sanborn, and I will be taking turns hosting discussions, author events, and book launch parties in room 1057 all weekend! Here is our full schedule - see you

While summertime is the busy season for outdoor Pagan festivals and gatherings, it’s indoor Pagan conventions that dominate the calendar in February and March. Here is a quick run-down on upcoming events PantheaCon, Convocation, and Paganicon, and which Llewellyn authors you’ll be able to see there. PANTHEACON: February 15-18, 2013 The grande dame of indoor Pagan conventions, PantheaCon is held over President’s Day weekend every year and attracts more than 2,000 guests annually. This year Llewellyn will have a table just outside the vendor room for author signings and giveaways, so come by and visit us! I will also be chairing two panels; one on community (Friday afternoon) and one