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Love Offerings & Donations at Pagan Events
I first got involved in the Pagan community back around 1988 or thereabouts, but it wasn’t until some twenty years later that I heard someone use the term “love offering.” At first, no kidding, I thought it was in reference to some kind of sixties-era sex practice, but as it turns out, it’s just a phrase that means a donation. Who knew? Not me, that’s for sure. However, whether you call it a love offering or just a donation, at some point, you may find yourself at a Pagan event wondering if you should toss a few bucks in the pot. The short answer is, yes, if you can, but…
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Animism and the Cosmic Whole
Animism is one of the earliest known spiritual structures. From an anthropological standpoint, it is a belief system based upon the concept of all things having a spirit or soul. Humans and animals have souls, as do plants and trees and rocks, thus eliminating any separation between the mundane world and the metaphysical one. Nineteenth-century anthropologist E.B. Tylor defined animism as a belief that all natural objects – in addition to, but not only humans – have souls. This includes living beings — dogs, horses, birds, etc. – as well tangible items like rocks, mountains, the sea, trees and flowers. It also includes natural phenomena such as earthquakes, wind…
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Tarot History: Pamela Colman Smith
This is an article that originally appeared on my About.com site, but because of a network overhaul, it’s no longer available there. I wanted to share it with you anyway, because so many people forget the contribution that this woman made to the world of Tarot. Of particular note is that Smith was a woman of color, working in the creative arts during the turn of the twentieth century. Tarot History: Pamela Colman Smith The Rider Waite Tarot deck is one of the most iconic collections of images in the metaphysical world. If you see a Rider Waite card, you know exactly what it is. This is the deck that…
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Well, Hey, It’s a Book Signing!
Great news! The Good Witch’s Daily Spell Book is now available through Barnes & Noble, so go ahead and order a copy, or pick one up at your local store! If you’re in the Central Ohio area, though, I’ll do you one better – stop by my favorite witchy store, Blessed Be Spiritual Shop on Saturday, February 25th, from 2 – 4 pm, where I’ll be doing a book signing event! Come on over, hang out with me, and see what Blessed Be has to offer!
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By Sorcery, Charm, or Enchantment
As many of you know, I recently graduated from Ohio University with my B.A. in History. One of my required courses was a Historical Research and Writing class, and it was awesome. After all, it combined three of my favorite things: history, research, and makin’ words! My professor, Dr. Mark Nevin, was fantastic, and over the course of 14 weeks, we each developed a thesis, pored over acres and acres of primary and secondary sources, and finally presented an academic research paper in which we supported our thesis argument with all of the evidence we could find.
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Good Witch Update!
So, Good Witch’s Daily Spell Book was supposed to be released on December 30, just in time for everyone’s annual I Ate Too Much Over the Holidays And Seriously Need a New Me phase. Unfortunately, there’s been a delay in the publication schedule, so if you haven’t spotted GWBSD in your local B&N, that’s why – because it ain’t there yet. However, the good news is that my awesome editor assures me it will be released in February, which is very exciting – it means you can get it in your hot little hands by spring, which will come in handy since many of the spells in it suggest you…
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Holy Cow, It’s a Book Cover and It’s Awesome
Exciting stuff, you guys! Lookie here! It’s the cover artwork for The Good Witch’s Daily Spell Book, which will be out in December, and available in Barnes & Noble stores and at BN.com… And it’s GLORIOUS.
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Join Me at Dayton Pagan Pride!
You guys, I’m super excited to announce that I’ll be presenting at Dayton’s Pagan Pride celebration on Saturday, October 1st! If you’ve been wondering about the magic of household witchcraft, you’re not going to want to miss my workshop – we’ll talk about household altars, kitchen magic, and (totally my favorite part) using mundane items in magical workings. Yes, if you’ve ever pondered how to use things like dog biscuits, a pair of socks, or an adult toy in a magical working, you totally need to stop by for this one. I’m pleased to say I’m in really good company for this event – author Tish Owen, singer Kellianna, and…
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Lammas Decorations
Hey, guys, I made you a thing! Feel free to Pin, share, or download the infographic below, which has a bunch of fun and simple (and cheap) decorating ideas for the upcoming Lammas sabbat! Click on the magic infographic for more detailed info on how to set up affordable and easy Lammas decor.
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Review: Byron Ballard’s Staubs & Ditchwater
This is a review which originally appeared on my About Paganism site – the content has recently gone away (because book reviews generally don’t garner a ton of page views) but since I’ve been delving deeper into Appalachian folk magic recently, this is a good time to re-share it. Book Review: Staubs and Ditchwater: A Friendly and Useful Introduction to Hillfolks’ Hoodoo, by Byron Ballard. I first met Byron Ballard in March 2012, when I visited Asheville, North Carolina, to cover the story of the Buncombe County School District and their religious materials policy. She’s one of those people who makes everyone feel comfy and welcomed, with her earth-mother vibe and say-what-you-mean-mean-what-you-say…
