The Autumn season, with its emphasis on balance and continued surrender to the cycle of the seasons, has me reflecting on the Wiccan virtue of humility. Humility can be defined as: the quality of having a modest view of one's value or importance. freedom from pride or arrogance the absence of any feelings of being better than others In general, it is the state of being humble, which is essential for growing and learning as part of the Wiccan path. Coveners must be humble as

The wheel of the year turns again as we meet the Autumn Equinox. Like the Spring Equinox, this day brings equal day and equal night. In the spring we planted the seeds of our hopes and longings for the year ahead. At the Autumn Equinox we continue to harvest and be thankful for what we have gained and accomplished. Many celebrate the Autumn Equinox much like Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States. It is a time to share time with loved ones, enjoy the foods of the h

August 1st is the celebration of Lammas, the first of three harvest festivals. It is the time to begin reaping what was sown, physical crops and emotional/spiritual actions, and enjoy the accomplishments. The fall equinox is the second harvest festival and Samhain is the third. The word Lammas stems from "loaf mass", a Christian event, and bread is one of the main attractions of this holiday. However, this time of the season was celebrated before Christianity. Bread can be m

Power is a complex concept. In the context of Wicca, power is the building of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual energy. It is fueled by the personal power we each have within each other and the energy that flows around us. It is all connected and filtered in different ways. It is important to not use up all our personal power; we must learn to access and direct the power around us. In witchcraft, we build power through other sources to direct towards spells and ritu

Celebrate Beltane by honoring your senses.

There can be a lot of perceived mystery and secrecy in the world of witchcraft and Wicca. Today, I would like to share a few thoughts on this topic and why I think a level of secrecy is needed at times. First, let’s consider the Witches’ Pyramid, which consists of actions related to the four elements that inform magical workings or ritual. Air influences us “to know.” We have to know what we want and have a clear intention or goal. Fire urges us “to will.” We must

A Self Portrait Finding the Beauty Within I chose to focus on the virtue of “Beauty” during the start of spring because the beauty of nature’s various colors return. For me, beauty is hard to define because it is subjective to each person. As I was beginning to write this post, I kept thinking of my own song “All Is” which touches on some of my thoughts about the concept of beauty. Initially, this song was an exercise in paring up idioms and considering some of t

What are the theological or cosmological concepts underpin the way you create sacred space? - From Dark Mirror by Yvonne Aburrow A mandala done in chalk pastels. Circle and spirals. Prior to my experiences in Wicca, I would say I started developing the skill of "creating space" in my music therapy work. That often consists of being aware of who is in the room and what kind of support is needed in the moment. I tune into the energy level of the room whether it is more humorou

When I was a beginner witch (I still very much feel like a beginner witch most days), I was given a list of recommended books covering topics such as history, basic craft elements, ritual, etc. There are countless books about witchcraft, and many others recommend reading as much as you can as part of your learning. Reading is enjoyable to me and it brings different perspectives into my awareness. While still in outer court, I decided to read “Traditional Wicca: A Seeker’s Gu

Over the next couple of months, I will be reviewing the virtues that are found in the Charge of the Goddess as adapted by Doreen Valiente. The 8 virtues include Mirth, Reverence, Strength, Beauty, Honor, Humility, Power, and Compassion. We will be starting with STRENGTH, which we need now more than ever in the midst of the current events in the world. Per Merriam-Webster strength can be defined as: · the quality or state of being strong: capacity for exertion or endu