Ah Samhain. My favorite holiday. It’s the time of “ghoulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties and things that go bump in the night.”* It’s also a bit easier to talk to our ancestors now. They are there, just on the other side of the veil. And they are eager to speak with us. Most just want to say hi and send their love, but others have messages, questions, and issues. I have found that communing with my ancestors is not only emotionally rewarding, but also helpful in a practical sense. And so every November first, after the excitement of Samhain, we throw a Dumb Supper for those who have gone before. It’s actually quite simple. • Fix a nice dinner. • Set a festive, seasonal table with one extra place for your ghostly visitors. • Light the candles. • Cast a strong circle that will allow only friendly spirits in. • Greet your ancestors and invite them to dinner. • After the greeting no one… Read More »

“Even After All this time The Sun never says to the Earth, “You owe me.” Hafiz    

“Away in a meadow all covered with snow The little old groundhog looks for his shadow The clouds in the sky determine our fate If winter will leave us all early or late.” Don Halley In the United States, most of us are familiar with Punxsutawney Phil and his fascination with his shadow. But in Ireland, another beastie signals the beginning of the end of winter. The Irish watch for the snake, the chthonic symbol of transformation, to slither out of her hole and bring forth spring. The Carmina Gadelica, an amazing compendium of Celtic folklore, prayers, etc., has this to say about Imbolc/St. Brigid’s Day, the Celtic Groundhog’s day. On the day of Bride of the white hills The noble queen will come from the knoll, I will not molest the noble queen, Nor will the noble queen molest me. Early on Brigid’s morn The serpent shall come from the hole, I will not molest the serpent, Nor will the serpent molest me.

Tav is the final letter of the Hebrew alphabet (or aleph-beth) and is associated with The World, the final card in the major arcana. It means signature or mark. The earliest representation of this letter was an equal armed cross, which is the astrological glyph for Earth and has come to symbolize the four quarters of the earth and the four elements. The four figures at the corners of the card also stand for the four elements and, of course, the four quarters of The World. See “The World, Part I.” It also symbolizes the union of masculine, conscious mind (vertical line) and feminine, not conscious mind (horizontal line) into a perfect whole. This is essentially what The World key is all about.  The cross evolved to an “x” in middle Semitic script. On a treasure map, “x” marks the spot where, after a long and arduous journey, the seeker will find the treasure. The World is, indeed, the treasure at the end of the… Read More »

Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year; and it’s stuck smack dab in the middle of weeks of other really long, cold nights. Humans, as well as the rest of Mother Earth, are solar powered. Without the Sun, our planet would be a frozen ball of rock hurtling through dark, empty space. And so Winter Solstice is essentially all about light—especially for those of us who live above the 40th parallel. We invoke it constantly and fervently. Drive down almost any neighborhood street in the northern US after 5 o’clock. See what I mean? But at this time of year you can never get enough, and so I have posted two amazing displays for your light-starved eyes. This is a most spectacular offering. Click on the pic and scroll down the blog for an “amazing” video : And this is Carson Williams’ display–the one that probably started it all in 2005–and my personal favorite. Just click on the pic and scroll down to… Read More »