New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
Today we celebrate the first official harvest of the season. It is a time to celebrate the abundance you have gathered. Whether this is the fruits of your garden or the fruits of a harvest in other areas of your life, now is the time to celebrate and be thankful for all you have achieved so far this year. Create a small collage with pictures, words, statements, sigils, stickers, or anything that represents your achievements for the year. This will need to be placed on your altar or in another ...
In many locales there is a definite chill in the air. We crave warmth, color, and brightness, but often we see and feel the opposite. Today is the shortest day of the year. Witches realize the age-old battle between the Oak King and the Holly King is being acted out, ultimately leading to renewal and rebirth. You can savor the stories of olden times, but participating in the drama of the day is even better. Dress your home for Yule! Gather holly, cedar, and pine clippings and set them out in a ...
Can you believe it's almost the Winter Solstice? Also called Yule, Midwinter, and many other names, this is a sacred time for those of us who walk in alignment with the seasons. (For folks in the Southern Hemisphere, it is currently approaching Midsummer.) Because we are soon to formerly welcome back the Holy Sun/Son at this time, let's put a little fire in our step to amp us up in preparation! At nightfall, simply light a candle of any color. (Black, white, and fire colors are ideal.) When ...
Beigiessen (which translates as "lead pouring") is an old German Yuletide tradition where lead in a spoon is heated up over a candle flame and then poured into cool water. The shapes of the lead are then interpreted to see what the new year will bring. Because heating up lead feels both messy and dangerous, in our house we have adapted this tradition using candles. Instead of heating up lead, pillar candles are lit and the wax is allowed to drip into a large bowl of water. The cooled pieces of ...
