Author: A Solitary Pagan
What is a handfasting
A handfasting is a wedding or betrothal ceremony, and to be handfasted is equivalent to being married or betrothed. Before we get into the details, let’s back up a bit and have a quick history lesson. In most of pre-Christain Europe, weddings were fairly straightforward affairs, and this was especially true for northern Europe and Celtic lands. Two families came together and they worked out a deal...
A Ritual For Harmony
This ritual can be used when, for example, a colleague, family member or friend is intruding in your life, but you do not want to hurt their feelings. It can be very successful if you have received one too many phone calls or visits at inconvenient moments from a friend or neighbor. It may help to ward off constant interference in your projects by your boss or a colleague at work, or possessivenes...
A Sun Magick Ritual For Energy
Because it can be dangerous to look directly at the Sun, catch your sunlight close to noon in a large crystal or in water in a brass dish. As before, ‘inhale’ the sunlight via the crystal or water with your eyes open. Hold the Sun breath, counting ‘One and two and three’, then close your eyes and exhale the darkness of your doubt, anger or lack of confidence. With practice, this will become a sing...
A Ritual Using Light And Cosmic Power
The following ritual can be carried out anywhere at all, as direction is not important. It is most powerful when performed standing beneath a tree that perhaps has stood for hundreds of years. If sunlight is filtering through the leaves, so much the better. You can work alone, with a group of friends, or in a more formal group. You may want to decide in advance on a focus for the power, for exampl...
Sunday Magick
Associated with our most powerful planetary influence, the Sun, which rules over things such as individuality, creativity, vitality, will power, and optimism, Sunday is the perfect day to celebrate who you are as an individual, and ideal time for self-expression, creative projects, music, dancing, and perhaps spending time with loved ones. Today, I recommend taking advantage of its power, energy, ...
Gris – Gris
In Vodun, charms or talismans kept for good luck or to ward off evil. The original gris-gris were probably dolls or images of the gods, but most gris-gris today are small cloth bags filled with herbs, oils, stones, small bones, hair and nail clippings, pieces of clothing soiled with perspiration and/or other personal items, gathered under the direction of a particular god and designed to protect t...
SAFE & ETHICAL GUIDELINES FOR WILDCRAFTING
Wild crafting, as we practice and promote it, is making a commitment to deepen your connection to the natural landscape and take responsibility for its regeneration. It is learning about the plants around you, how they reproduce, where they live, and what they need to thrive. It’s about stewardship, taking responsibility for the health and well being of the plants, and only collecting them when yo...
Winter Solstice
Time: For three days from sunset on or around 20 December (20 June in the southern hemisphere) Focus: Rebirth, the return of light, the triumph of life over death, spiritual awakening, light in the midst of darkness, faith that the Wheel will turn and the life cycle begin anew. The mid-winter solstice pre-dates organised religion. When early humans saw the Sun at its lowest point and the vegetatio...
Herbs for Magical Intention
Anger– alyssum Animal Magic – cloth of gold Anti-Theft – Garlic, Juniper, Arthritis – buckeye Astral Projection – belladonna, Dittany of Crete Awareness – anise Balance – Holly, pine Banishing – black salt Beauty – aloe, Avocado, Catnip, Flax, Ginseng, Maidenhair, marigold, passion flower Binding – black salt, dragon’s blood Birth – Birch Blessings – elder flowers, lemon, myrrh Bullet-Proofing – e...
Herbal Cures for anxiety: LEMON BALM
This zesty scented herb is actually part of the mint family and is said to promote a feeling of calm. Like lavender and chamomile, lemon balm is also said to encourage restful sleep and is a powerful antioxidant.
Growing Your Herbs Indoors
Many herbs will grow well in pots on sunny windowsills, in window boxes, hanging baskets and in tubs or barrels in a sun room or on a balcony. There should even be enough space on one large, south-facing windowsill to grow a selection of the basic flavoring herbs or a row of scented herbs that can be used for making tisanes. If you have a sunroom or baloney, then 4 tubs planted with mixed annuals ...
Basil
Other Names Albahaca, St. Joseph’s Wort, Sweet Basil General Information Basil is a member of the mint family with a characteristic square, hairy stem, labiate flowers and opposite leaves. It has a rich, spicy aroma reminiscent of the other mints with a hint of clove. Flowers appear as a whorl in summer and are usually white or pale pink or purple. Varieties Sweet BasilOcimum basilicum W...