-
The History of the Sheela na Gig
Although the Sheela-na-Gig is technically the name applied to the carvings of women with exaggerated vulvas that have been found in Ireland and England, there’s a theory that the carvings are representative of a lost pre-Christian goddess. Typically, the sheela-na-gig adorns buildings in areas of Ireland that were part of the Anglo-Norman conquests in the 12th century. She is shown as a homely woman with a giant yoni, which is spread wide to accept the seed of the male. Sheela na Gig image by Amanda Slater / Flickr / Creative Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) Folkloric evidence indicates a long-standing theory that the figures were part of a fertility rite, similar…
-
Saturday Spellwork: The Speed Bump Saga
I’m a big fan of using mundane stuff in spellwork, because there are always things around your house that you can finagle into a magical application. If you’re a parent, especially, I guarantee you that there are plenty of kids’ toys that are going to come in very useful at some point. To illustrate this, I’d like to share a tale from about fifteen years ago, when my twins (who are now high school juniors) were toddlers, and we had a fairly impressive collection of Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars. At the time, I lived on a one-way street in a residential area, and because it was the connector between…
-
Book Update: Wicca Practical Magic
Book update! I know many of you are as excited as I am to get a copy of my new book, Wicca Practical Magic — and you will very soon! There was a slight printing delay and the new on-sale date for the print book is now 6/6 (the e-book will be available a couple weeks earlier on the original release date of 5/23). I want to make this book a real tool for you, one that will impact your practice for the long run, so in response to the delay, I’m putting together an EXCLUSIVE PREORDER GIFT FOR THOSE WHO ORDER THE BOOK NOW! The gift includes a special…
-
Saturday Spellwork: Banishing Magic
I don’t care what anyone says, banishing magic sometimes is a necessity. Sure, there are plenty of people who approach it from the mindset of “Well if someone is that terrible, why don’t you do a spell to help them be kinder and more understanding?” Well, frankly, hell naw. Some people are just awful, and the onus of responsibility to make them less awful doesn’t have to fall upon the rest of us. Some people just need to get gone. And THAT is where a good banishing spell comes in super handy. I’m going to share four of my favorite types of banishing workings, with the caveat (as always) that…
-
You Can Pre-Order Wicca Practical Magic Now!
Guys, I’m SO excited about my newest book! Wicca Practical Magic is available for pre-order on Amazon, both in a print and digital edition! Wicca Practical Magic will be released on May 23, 2017, through Althea Press/Callisto Media, and you’re going to LOVE it! Here’s what some of the advance reviewers have to say: "Patti Wigington has given us a rare sort of book. Wicca Practical Magic is treasure trove for the new practitioner while at the same time being a lovely refresher course for old-timers. This book is an important addition to your Pagan library." —Byron Ballard, author of Staubs and Ditchwater: a Friendly and Useful Introduction to…
