Author: A Solitary Pagan

In some traditions, witches may divide the year not only by eight solar and agricultural holidays but also by the Kalends. We celebrate twelve months of the year by the common calendar, plus a special thirteenth month for Samhain. These month cycles are associated with different totemic spirits. Each month is assigned an animal, a bird (or other flying creature), and a tree. Samhain’s totems are T...

People who celebrate Samhain or Halloween in rural areas often partake in slightly different traditions. In some areas, houses are too sparse for trick-or-treating to be practical for families with children. Often in those situations, community members gather in public schools or community buildings and host a communal Halloween party. Along with treats, children get to play games such as apple bo...

MANY PAGANS CELEBRATE modern Samhain on October 31, the same day as Halloween. Some, however, prefer to perform their observances on the full moon closest to the sabbat date. Others consult almanacs to determine the official astrological cross-quarter day. Often it is a quiet, solemn occasion in private Pagan households. Many see it as the most important ritual of the year. Families with small chi...

While most Samhain divination games revolved around marriage questions, people also brought their concerns about health, career, weather, and wealth to the party. Farmers watched their bull to see what way it lay down on Hallowe’en —the direction indicated the direction of most wind through the winter. If Samhain fell on a Wednesday, farmers expected a rough winter. People threw shoes over houses ...

In yet another variation, a woman would throw a blue ball of yarn out a window and chant the Lord’s Prayer in reverse while rewrapping the yarn and gazing out the window looking for the ghostly figure of her future partner. The yarn ball divination sometimes took place with presumed faery participation. In one version, someone threw an entire string of unravelled blue yarn into a limekiln. This pe...

Do you have a goal that seems difficult to reach? Would youlike to change yourself or improve your life in some way?Whatever your personal goal may be, if it’s reasonable andfeasible, this simple but powerfully effective spell can helpyou to achieve it.Casting a spell is not enough to reach most goals, ofcourse. You must also make practical efforts, such asworking out, saving money, attendin...

Yemaya, the Ocean Mother, is a benevolent goddess whohelps human beings in many ways. Originally an Africanriver goddess, her worship was brought to the New Worldby Africans who had been kidnapped into slavery. It spreadthrough North America, South America, and the Caribbean.She became known by different names in different lands, butby whatever name she is called, Yemaya is known for herwillingnes...

When you need love, you can turn to the Love Goddess forhelp. Venus, Atargatis, Aphrodite, Ishhara . . . the Goddessof Love has been known by different names in variouscultures throughout human history. This spell invokes herby many of those names, to alert her that you are availableto give and receive love. Recognize that love works bestwhen it is mutual, reciprocal. You will have the most succes...

What would your ideal mate be like? Would you like to findthat person? This spell helps you to define your search and,if that person exists, to invite her or himinto your life.The spell can be cast at any time, but it is best completedat the hour of Venus (midnight on a Friday night). If youhope for someone who was born under a certain astrologicalsign, cast the spell when the Sun or Moon is in th...

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.— Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s DreamIf you hunger for love (or a lover) to enter your life, this spellis for you. It can be cast at any time, in any place where youhave privacy and will not be interrupted, but it is best castoutdoors, froma balcony or other high place.Optional: incense, music, candles, ritual garb, or whateverhelps you to alter y...

You take a red or pink candle scented oil(or perfume but oil is recommended) which is your favorite, and you taker a piece of red construction paper, or plain white paper and color it red, and cut out a heart. You turn out all lights and make sure your away from anything that will cause a disturbance. You light the candle (turn off the lights) put it in the center of the paper heart, drip a couple...

Take five white candles and arrange them in a pentagram. Place a black candle, which symbolizes the curse, in its center. The ones afflicted by the curse must speak the words revealed here: Evil curse that blights our livesBe lifted now and fleeThese candles’ lights overcome the darkFrom its grasps, set us free.