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The Celebration of Eyvind Kelda
May 6 is celebrated by many Norse Pagans today as the day to honor Eyvind Kelda, also called Eyvind Kelve. According to Norwegian history, Eyvind Kelda refused to give up his Pagan beliefs and renounce his gods when King Olaf Trygvason was busily converting his country to Christianity. Around the year 995 c.e., King Olaf ordered Kelda to be tortured and eventually drowned, as a lesson to any Norwegian heathens who might be reluctant to embrace the king’s new faith. There isn’t a lot of information about Evyind Kelda himself, but King Olaf was fairly important for his role in bringing Christianity to the Scandinavian countries. Although he was only…
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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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The Magic of Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor is a hill in Glastonbury, Somerset, England, which is believed to be a place of great spiritual power. According to legend it is the home of the Faerie King, Gwyn ap Nudd, and is a place where the fae live. In addition to otherworldly beings, the Tor has been home to an abbey full of monks during the time of Saint Patrick, and a medieval chapel. There has also been speculation that the terracing on the Tor is the remnant of some ancient labyrinth, in which early peoples worshiped a goddess. For years, legends said that in prehistoric times there may have been a stone circle located at…
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Plant a Goddess Garden
Gardening is a magical act. It allows us to take the simplest form of life–a seed–and plant it so that weeks later it will bloom. Plants and magic have been associated for hundreds (if not thousands) of years, so when spring rolls around and you’re planning your seasonal garden, why not set up a special area to dedicate to the goddess of your tradition? If you don’t have a big yard to plant, don’t worry. You can still create a special goddess garden using a container. Selecting a Goddess to Honor Start by figuring out which goddess you’d like to honor. It’s probably a bad idea to just pick one…
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Raising Magical Energy Through Exercise
A reader writes in, “I had a weird experience at the gym today. While I was using the cycle, I found myself sort of zoning out… and I swear, I think I had an encounter with a deity, with her talking to me and everything. It was almost as though I left my body and went somewhere else. Am I cracking up, or do goddesses actually speak to big beautiful women on exercise bikes? Was I raising spiritual energy as well as generating physical energy?” Answer: Energy is something that is part of us all the time–we’re living beings that are constantly in motion. Some activities tend to increase our…
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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…
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Morris Men and Mummers’ Dances
Morris dancing was part of many social events in rural English towns. Although the dancing was for entertainment purposes, it was also quite theatrical, and dancers often worked for months preparing for a single event. Morris dancing is symbolic, and the dance tells a story, with each dancer playing the part of a specific character. Unlike traditional country dances, in which anyone could participate, a Morris dance was a spectator event. It was used to celebrate special occasions and holidays–events like Whitsun, Beltane, Michaelmas, or even a wake or funeral. Morris dancers in the past were part of an elite guild–membership as a dancer was by invitation only. Once a…
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O Holy Death: Santa Muerte
Although Santa Muerte is not a Pagan figure at all, this increasingly popular symbol of death is attracting some degree of notice among the Pagan community. Why? Because if you’re part of a Pagan path that honors the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, then deities of death and the underworld from a variety of other cultures and religions are worth discussing. Santa Muerte, or Saint Death, has been in the news lately because of her association with Mexican drug cartels. In a Huffington Post article, Professor of Religious Studies R. Andrew Chesnut says of Santa Muerte, “Media coverage, especially TV news, has overwhelmingly portrayed her as a sinister narco-saint,…
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When Tarot Readings Fail… And They Do.
A reader says: I’ve been reading Tarot cards for a few years now and have been practicing on family members and friends. Last week, I was asked to do a reading for someone I had never read for before, and it was a disaster! None of the cards made any sense, and I felt terrible afterwards. Is this normal? While I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s normal–because that word can mean a lot of different things–it’s definitely not uncommon. Really, it does happen, and it happens for a variety of reasons. Sometimes you, as a reader, may just be having an “off” day. Maybe you’re tired, not…
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Pagans with Disabilities, and the Need for Inclusiveness
Did you know that there are a significant number of people in today’s Pagan community who have a disability? Pagans with disabilities find themselves facing a unique set of issues that able-bodied people don’t have to content with. While non-disabled people may automatically assume that “disabled” means “in a wheelchair,” often disabilities are something that we cannot see. Because of this, there are sometimes conflicts between event or ritual organizers, and members of the disabled community. While the Americans with Disabilities Act created a set of guidelines for businesses, employers and other organizations, many people with disabilities are still limited in how much participation they have in their community. Please…
