Author: A Solitary Pagan

This is an easy way to start developing a relationship with and offering healing to the neighborhood you live in. Crystals are great allies for shamanic work and can be used very effectively for environmental Shamanism. All crystals have their own energy or spirit, and we can work with them to shift the vibrations around us. Gather a few small pieces of clear quartz crystal that you can leave as o...

The Festival Of Wisdom Time: Sunset 31 October-sunset 2 November (30 April-2 May in the southern hemisphere) Focus: Ancient wisdom, moving between the dimensions, the intersection between past and future and so a present that is not limited by time and space; welcoming the ancestors, confronting and overcoming fears of ageing and mortality. This festival recalled in the modern world as Hallowe’en,...

We have discussed the importance of gratitude, and this is truly a cornerstone of integrating Shamanism into your daily life. This is a quick and simple exercise that you can practice on a regular basis to engage in intentional gratitude. It will help you shift your perceptions and recognize the gifts that are offered to you on a daily basis. Find a quiet place where you can be undisturbed for 10 ...

Wine, just as it is, constitutes a powerful entheogen. The Dying and Resurrected God is embodied int he wine in the form of Dionysos — and in Jesus, for that matter, whose symbolism and mythology associates him with the wine. Dionysos, though, is the “Twice Born” God of the Vine, and his cup is the offering of ecstasy and madness. “I am the vine,” he says, and he offe...

Entheogen is a Greek derived word that means “generating the divine within.” An entheogen, therefore, is a psychoactive substance that is used in a religious, spiritual or shamanic context. Traditional Witches have used entheogens of several types for centuries, as recorded in the lore of mythology, in the records of the trials and persecutions, and in the regional indigenous shamanic practices&nb...

In addition to the Sabbats, the Wiccan year contains 12 (sometimes 13) Full Moon celebrations, known as the Esbats. While the Sabbatstend to focus celebration on the God and his association with the Sun, the Esbats honor the Goddess in her association with the Moon.Covens traditionally meet on the Esbats to celebrate a particular aspect of the Goddess, such as Aphrodite, in a celebration of abunda...

Winter Solstice (Yule): December 20-23Considered in most Wiccan traditions to be the beginning of the year, the Winter Solstice is a celebration of the rebirth of the God. It is the shortest day of the year, offering a welcome reminder that even though the cold season is still just getting underway, it doesn’t last forever, as the days will begin to lengthen again after this point. Some consider t...

The Sabbats are old pagan customs, and tradition that follow The Wheel Of The Year. Each Sabbat is associated with herbs, flowers, fruits and grains that best represent each unique season. These fruits of labor are the embodiment of each part on The Wheel Of The Year. Incorporate them into your seasonal spells and rituals, great for manifesting your goals and wishes with herbal power and love. Her...

Runes are an alphabetic script used by the peoples of Northern Europe from the first century C.E. until well into the Middle Ages. In addition to their use as a written alphabet, the runes also were a system of symbols used for magic and divination.Runes are loaded with power. I use them in spellworking, usually etched on a candle. In fact, inscribing candles with runes is a common magickal practi...

Runes are not just for divination, there are many other ways to put them to use. There are necklaces, bracelets, and earings that have a rune on them. Most occult stores carry them in stock, or you can easily find them online. For example.. Looking for a job? Wear/carry the fehu rune while putting out apps and doing interviews.Candles can easily be carved with a rune, or you can buy one already ca...

While the early Celtic Christians invented Old Jack, the British Isles had other monsters to fear tracing back to their Pagan days. Yet others reflected the evolving political history of the Isles. Early on, people carried lanterns on Samhain night and went out in groups lest they run into any of a host of wicked characters. They might run afoul of a Pucah (or Pookah) a shapeshifting faery prone t...