Spyrit Dancers' Musings On All Things Wiccan

This is an awesome article about an Anglican Priest who attended a Witch Camp to perform slight-of-hand stage magic to pagans who believe in another type of magick. You can read the entire article here.
I love his last paragraph.  If only all religions were so open to what we have to offer each other!

I’ll always be a priest. It’s where it all began, and the beauty of the unpolluted Christ-message is still enough to send shock waves of love rippling down my spine. But when I spend time with pagans and absorb the openness, warmth, magical-power and sheer delight in being human, I catch a glimpse of what the church ought to, and (perhaps) could be like.

I hunted around for themes again today, and found the one that is currently on my blog.  To me, it symbolizes Balance.  To the left, a woman looks to the left as the sun rises.  To the right, a man looks to the right of a cloudy dark side.  Ying and Yang.  Sun and Moon.   Goddess and God. The circle of the year.  All of it to me is represented in the images across the top and bottom.

As Wiccans, we all have to find that inner balance within us.  How to live our magickal life that is close to the earth, yet still work in the modern world and keep food on the table.  Balance family, work, meditation, and our connection to our Goddess and God.  To balance the dark and light parts of the path.  I am one who believes in harming none, which includes myself and those around me.  Yet, it doesn’t mean I’m perfect and never get angry at situations or people.  Balance is learning not to pick up your wand/spell/power and focus and direct it when you are upset.  Like most in the craft, been there, done that, with bad karmic results.

Finally, I think it is apropos to select this the day before Summer Solstice.  When Day and Night are equal and in balance…another reason this theme calls to me.  So as this day progresses towards tomorrow and a day of balance, enjoy the new theme.  Let me know if anyone has issues with readability.  I’ve tested it in Firefox, IE, and Chrominum so hopefully it looks great for you too.

Great article in the Seacoast Online.

Every Oct. 31 millions of children and adults dress up on Halloween in hopes of a trick or a treat. For most, Halloween is nothing more than a night of fright and make believe at a local costume party, but to some this is a very sacred time and is more than just candy corn and hot cider.

In America and other countries, communities of modern day witches, wiccans, druids and pagans gather in homes, parks, public buildings or a secluded forest to celebrate the feast of Samhain (sow-in), an ancient Celtic fire festival meaning “Summer’s End” that traces back more than 2,000 years to ancient Europe. During the morning of Samhain, the Celts would gather up the final harvest of the year as they prepare for the start of the three darkest months of the Celtic calender, which begins at Samhain and ends at Imbolc (Feb. 1), the start of the Celtic spring and midway point between the winter solstice and vernal equinox.  Click here to read the rest of the article. Always nice to see positive press for Wiccans!

Imbolc is the first of three spring festivals and celebrates the turning of the year from winter to spring.  Imbolc invites the earth to awaken from its winter slumber and release the icy grip to bring forth warmer days.  Tradionally, this was the Feast of the Torches, and at sunset, people would light lamps or candles in every room of the house welcoming the sun’s rebirth, and lengthing days into their home.

Here where I am, we have been having warmer days since January, but in many parts of the country winter is still ruling.  Even the poor groundhog who peeked his head out today predicted 6 more weeks of winter.  A lot of people get depressed or dreary during this time of year, wondering when the winter will ever end.

Today, burn some candles, or turn on the lights and invite spring into your heart.  Take heart that days are lengthing, and spring will soon be here.   This is a good day for changing your decorations on your table, or doinga good “spring” cleaning.

You might also do what I plan on doing…looking through my supplies and getting my seeds ready for early planting in my greenhouse as this is the time of year for me to start thinking about that in my part of the country.  I’ll also be working my garden soil, getting it ready for the first plantings next month.

However you celebrate it, or wether you call it Imbolc, Groundhog Day, or Candlemass, rejoice that spring will soon be here.