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    January 24: The Festival of Sementivae

    January 24 is the festival of Sementivae, which is a planting festival that honors Ceres and Tellus. Ceres, of course, is the Roman grain goddess, and Tellus is the earth itself. This festival was held in two parts — the first part was held from January 24 to January 26, honoring Tellus, and was a season of sowing the fields. The second part, which began a week later on February 2, honored Ceres as the goddess of agriculture. Ceres is the Roman variant of Demeter, who is strongly tied with the changing of the seasons. This whole celebration centered around praying for a good harvest in the coming seasons — after…

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    Organize Your Own Pagan Event

    Let’s face it, at some point nearly all of us have read the listings of public Pagan events and festivals taking place somewhere, and wondered, “Why isn’t there something near ME?” Chances are if there’s nothing happening, it’s because no one has taken the time to organize it yet. And if YOU think it would be a good idea, there’s a very good possibility that other people think it would be a good idea. Obviously, while we’re living in the age of the ‘Rona, there’s not a ton of events being planned, but eventually when things settle down, you might decide you’ve had enough of Netflix and Zoom meetings, and…

  • Florida Pagan Gathering – Beltaine 2019

    Join me at Florida Pagan Gathering for their annual Beltane celebration! I’ll be presenting three different workshops: Asphalt, Concrete & Steel – We’d all love to scamper about in a forest or a field being magical and Pagan and witchy… but realistically, that’s not always possible. If you live in a city or suburb, never fear – there are still plenty of ways you can practice a magical life! Learn how to use city and suburban elements in your magical workings and rituals. Flying Solo – Do you practice as a solitary Pagan, witch, or Wiccan? Learn some tried & true tips on a successful solitary practice, as well as the basics…

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    Kids & Pagan Events: They Ain’t Always Welcome

    Okay, so let me preface this by saying I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I’m going to get at least ten hatey emails from people who accuse me of being anti-kid, anti-family, and just an all around horrible human being after y’all read this post. It’s a risk I’m willing to take, because this is something that–as someone who has both attended and organized events–is a pretty important topic. Away we go. A reader says, I was recently planning to attend a big Pagan event, and my husband and I were very excited about going. However, when we asked what sort of kids’ activities would be available…

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    5 Reasons You Need to Go to a Pagan Festival

    Springtime is here, at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere! And that means that for those of us who are part of earth-based spiritual systems, festival season is looming right around the corner. Every year, as festival season rolls around, many of us happily load up our cars, pack tents and drums and coolers, and head off to the nearest community gathering. It’s a chance to spend a weekend–or even a full week–with the people you consider your tribe. However, something else also happens every year: lots of people miss out on those same festivals and experiences. Maybe you’ve thought about attending a festival but just never…

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    Pagan Festival Tips

    It’s nearly spring, which means festival season is looming on the horizon! I’m at the age where my kids can be left unsupervised for a few days at a time –they’re pretty much feral at this point and can hunt/gather their own food–so I allow myself the luxury of going away for a weekend sans familia every now and then. 2016 was really my first big festival year, and I set myself a goal of attending three to four a year, whether they’re weekend camping excursions, or single day events. At any rate, though, there are a few things I’ve learned so far–just from observation, personal experience, and discussion with…

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    How to Host a Drum Circle

    Drum circles are a lot of fun, and if you’ve ever attended a public Pagan or Wiccan event, chances are good that somewhere, someone is drumming. You may not be able to see them, but you’ll feel that pulsing rhythm off in the distance. In addition to being entertaining (and a great stress reliever), a drum circle serves another purpose – that of raising energy. Typically what happens is something like this: First, one or two people will sit down with their drums. Usually, they’re experienced drummers, but not always. One will begin a slow, steady beat, and the other will chime in with something a bit faster and more…

  • Atlanta, GA: Mystic South

    In its second year, Mystic South is an indoor conference born after several Pagans lamented the lack of a large community event serving the Southern region of the US. This three day event is filled with workshops, educational abstract presentations, rituals, community building, and much more. Here’s what I’ll be presenting: Friday, July 13, 11 am: Are You a Sheep or a Dragon? Executive Leadership Principles For Today’s Pagans As the Pagan community grows and changes, those who step into a leadership role – whether by choice or by chance – often feel overwhelmed. Use these top management principles and strategies from the executive suite to help you become a…

Patti Wigington