Kansas City Witches Meetup Presents
The Center Spiral
Winter Solstice 2017
Reclaiming the Fire
Cover Image: Emily Gabbert
Letter From The Editor
In the last issue, we started our descent into shadow. The light was fading, and we began the journey into the depths of ourselves, our community, and our relationships. Exploring the darkness to find what has been buried, hidden, tucked away, and begin to understand it. Now, in the deepest dark, the longest nights, we find the spark of life. It is one we may have lost long ago, and it is time to claim it as your own and use it to find your way back to light. With it, you are also claiming the tools that come with fire -- passion, drive, creativity, transformation, courage, and will. Our descent has changed us. We have rediscovered lost passions and illuminated the darkest parts of ourselves. We found outdated, toxic ideologies we need to discard, and hobbies, skills, and interests we suppressed. We found a passion that will come through as love, anger, and righteous indignation all mixed up together. This is what you use to make your world a better place. Through art, activism, leadership, or a service we don’t yet have. Do something that stokes your fire, and don’t be afraid to fail a time or two first. When you claim your own spark of life, you not only light your own way out of darkness, you can light the way for others as well. I would like to give immense thanks to all of those who sent in articles, artwork, creative writing, and pictures for us to use in the magazine. We received some phenomenal work to share with you, and I look forward to seeing more great work from more people in future issues. Thank you for your contributions to help us Educate, Inspire, and Connect.
Image Credit: Emily Gabbert
Emily Gabbert Editor
Cover Doodle: Marietta Williams
Kim Tarwater is a Christo-Pagan Witch, leads a local circle here in the Kansas City area, and is a Reiki Master Teacher in Seichim and Usui. She owns and operates Higher Vibrations Metaphysical Studio where she teaches, counsels, and give readings. She thrives on learning and experiencing all the magic this life has to offer, from cruising on her motorcycle while balancing her chakras to climbing the Qabala from Malkuth to Kether.
The Center Spiral Staff
Laurie Sherman(Urban Crone) has over 30 years of experience in Tarot and divination, Urban Witchcraft, Multicultural Folk Magic and Eclectic Paganism. Recipient of the 2014 KCPPD Community Service Award, she has been a teacher and organizer for the Pagan community for a number of years, including her work with the KC Metaphysical Fair, Kansas City Pagan Pride Day, and has been the Organizer of the Kansas City Witches Meetup since 2012. Laurie Sherman is also a mixed medium and pyrographic artist, as well as a writer.
Marietta Williams is the writer behindWitchy Words: A Witchcraft Blog, a popular online witchcraft resource, and the Circle Coordinator and founder of Circle of Fountains, a local Kansas City coven. A nontheistic witch with emphasis in spiritwork, shadow work and Hermeticism, she's partnered with Pagan Bloggers, Sabbat Box and Cratejoy among others and regularly volunteers as a photographer for the Kansas City pagan community. When not blogging, Marietta works as a professional caricaturist for the KC metro.
Emily Gabbert has been a practicing witch and a follower of a Pagan path for nearly 20 years. She led a group for alternative religions at MU, and was tapped into a society recognizing women leaders for her efforts. She joined the Kansas City Pagan Community in 2013, and has been a co-organizer for the Kansas City Witches Meetup since 2016, receiving the KCPPD Community Service Award in 2017. She is a baker by trade with an interest in all kinds of arts and crafts, and sometimes she writes.
Mike Nichols is the author of The Witches' Sabbats and www.WitchesSabbats.com, both award-winning resources on Pagan holidays. Mike has been a featured speaker on National Public Radio, and local TV and radio programs. He taught classes in Witchcraft for twenty years continuously, beginning in 1970, and owned Kansas City's first occult bookstore, The Magick Lantern. A founding member of the Coven of New Gwynedd, Nichols was the first Wiccan representative on the Kansas City Interfaith Council.
Oddysia is a Witch living in KCMO with her husband of 12 years and Serafina, her 11-year-old tortoise-shell cat. She likes reading and writing, advocating for a saner, more compassionate mental health policy, volunteering, and looking up at the stars when she can. Oddysia got a BA in physics from Benedictine College (where the writing bug bit her) and a MS in psychology from Kaplan University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in psychology with Northcentral University. She is hoping to specialize in mental health policy and practice.
Kimberly Reynolds-Gier has been a practitioner of scholarly eclectic paganism for over two decades. They tell stories, work magic, and teach ritual arts at Gaia Community.
Cara Schwab
Hekaterine Nox, known as “Black Kat”, is a Lushede tradition-initiated Witch with wordsmithing tendencies. Having found the Craft at 18 though a Southern California based Celtic Reconstructionist “church”, she travelled the path of the solitary for many years thereafter. Influenced by Athena and the Morrighan, she is a crafter of fabric and weaver of words with teaching tendencies.
Emaleth Summer is a pagan author and has been a practicing witch for 22 years. She has been becoming more active in the community, and will be hosting the South Kansas City Coffee Coven for KCWMU.
Katarina Elaine M
Alivanna Rose
Contributors
Catherine Boudreau
Hooded Wanderer’s work has led him to develop the Modern American Shamanism program along with his wife Crow Spirit. He has been walking the path of the shaman for over 20 years. He is a shaman, teacher, healer, writer, ordained minister (ULC), and a certified Taijiquan and Qigong teacher.
Ashley Bilke, pagan, artist, and equestrian, is a recent graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute and is the owner and operator of Black Feather Studios where she makes custom costuming, illustrations, and ritual tools. More of her work can be seen at http://abilkeillustration.tumblr.com/ and https://www.patreon.com/blackfeatherstudios.
Kevros Nocte has been a chaos practitioner for close to a decade now and specializes in working with various types of Other-Kin in the astral planes. Kevros has lived in the Kansas City area since birth and lives happily with a rambunctious ball of chaos cleverly disguised as a cat.
McKayla has followed her own path for most of her life often referring to her path as earth spirituality before more recently embracing the pagan name. As for her writing, she's kept her poetry from age fourteen on and has just recently started to share it publicly on facebook: Corvus Poet.
Crow Spirit has studied many healing and occult practices including Native American Shamanism, Celtic Witchcraft and Northern European traditions. Her focus has been healing and spiritual traditions. She has taught classes and written blogs on gemstones, herbs, totems, and symbols. You can read her blogs and contact her at modernamericanshamanism.com.
Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions expressed in any article in this publication are expressly those of the author and the author only. They do not necessarily represent the thoughts and opinions of The Center Spiral Magazine and Staff.
Letter from the Editor The Center Spiral Staff Contributors From the Stars An overview of upcoming astrological events of note Turn of the Wheel Imbolc Ostara Into the Light by Emaleth Summer Luna’s Lair An advice column from Luna Motherowl Deity Cafe Brighid Prometheus Fire in the Belly of the Earth by Kevros Nocte Musecraft Featured Artist Pencraft Featured Creative Writing Dance of the Fire Witch by Catherine Boudreau In the Cards Tarot Card Overview Crystal Corner Stone Overview Gifts of Gaia Herb Overview Charming of the Plow by Hooded Wanderer Out of the Cauldron Homemade Lotion Bars Healing Chicken Soup Fire Within the Shadow Land by McKayla Contemplative Crone Recurring Contribution from the Urban Crone Community Voices Responses to a question posed on Facebook Bookshelf Resoures for further reasearch Next Issue Theme and Call for Content Thank you
Table of Contents
by: Kim Tarwater
December 21st– Merry Yule December 25th– Merry Christmas December 26th– Kwanzaa Begins January 1st– News Year’s Day January 2nd– Full Super Moon 2:24am (Cold, Winter, Old, Stay home) Energy of new beginnings and healing. Workings with money, protection & strength. January 15th– Martin Luther King Day January 16th– Religious Freedom Day New Moon 8:18pm January 31st– Blue Moon/Total Lunar Eclipse 8:27am February 2nd– Imbolg/Lughnasadh/ Candlemas/St. Brigid of Kildare Blessings Happy Groundhog Day February 14th- Valentine's Day/Ash Wednesday February 15th– New Moon 4:05 pm February 19th– Presidents Day March 2nd– Full Moon 7:51pm (Chaste, Quickening, Storm, Wild, Ice, Snow, Hunger) Energy workings in the astral realm. Workings in banishing, empowerment & purification. March 8th– International Women’s Day March 11th– Daylight Savings begins March 17th– St. Patrick’s Day New Moon 9:12am March 21st– Ostara/Spring Equinox Blessings Retrogrades December 22nd– Mercury turns direct March 8th – Jupiter goes Retro
From the Stars
Image credit: Ripley Herndon
Imbolc. Candlemas. Oimelc. Brigid’s Day. Regardless of its name, it is the first day of February in the middle of what is often the bleakest part of winter. What better time for a fire festival? We can celebrate the flame with candle, bonfire or fireplace. Fires of purification, inspiration, passion, life, and will. What better time to light those fires than in the midst of the bleak, cold winter. Imbolc celebrates the first stirrings of springtime. We may not see much of it yet, but the earth is beginning to stir, those first sparks of life and spring are just beginning to waken. This is a good time to start planning what you will be planting in the months ahead, both literally, if you garden, and magically. It is also a good time to bless those seeds and light your flame. Candle magic is a great way to do just that, and candles have a huge connection to this holiday. This is Candlemas, when the Catholic Church blesses all liturgical candles for the year. While, as witches, we do go through a great deal of candles and planning for the entire year is difficult, you can still use this magic to bless a few for some special purposes. This is also a great time to make candles if you are so inclined. This holiday has also been called Oimelc, a Gaelic term for “ewes milk.” This festival marked the beginning of lambing season, so using dairy products - particularly those made from sheep milk - is perfect for this time of year. Perhaps the most blatant association we tend to have with this holiday is the Goddess Brigid. She is a Goddess of poetry, smithcraft, and healing. She still has a sacred well at Glastonbury (now dedicated to her Saint aspect), and her sacred flame is still kept at the convent there, now tended by nuns instead of priestesses. She even has associations with lambs, cows, and the dairy we get from them. In fact, pretty much all of the associations we have with Imbolc can be found in Brigid as well. Imbolc is a holiday for that first spark of spring. A time to use the fire of life to purify our homes, our lives, and ourselves to make room for the great new things we will be nurturing in the months ahead.
Turn of the Wheel
by: Emily Gabbert
Imbolc
by: Marietta Williams
Image Credit: Marietta Williams
Ostara
A scientifically observable event, modern Ostara is based on a wide variety of European celebrations marking the passing sun over the equator in such a way that creates a nearly equal night and day. The 2018 spring equinox will fall on March 20that specifically 11:15 AM here in Kansas City and marks the beginning of spring on the Wheel of the Year. While its origins range from the return of the Babylonian Inanna to the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre, from the Norse Charming of the Plow, and even the Roman Liberalia, common themes emerge: The spring equinox celebrates the return of the light and thus the return of the growing season. Modern Ostara focuses on both the practical application of growing food for the upcoming year by planting seeds now that the ground is fertile along with emphasis on personal and spiritual growth. When setting up your altar, pastel colors like pinks, lavenders, yellows, and sky blues are a great way to set the spring theme, but black and white in equal amounts will also invoke the balance of night and day. Add symbols of growth and new life, such as sprouts, seedlings, eggs, and eggshells. Include items that represent the fertility of the land and animals such as caterpillar, bumblebee, chick, or rabbit symbols, fresh soil, honey, and milk. If you have pets, be cautious with seasonal flowers like lilies or daffodils as those are poisonous to many of our animal friends. The vernal equinox often includes deities of love, fertility and balance. Goddesses like the previously mentioned Inanna and Eostre are a great start. Persephone is sometimes associated with Ostara because she has returned from the underworld and Demeter has allowed the ground to be fertile once again. Legends of the Roman god Mithras sacrificing a bull that created the moon, night sky, and the fertility of the land connect this god to the equinox as well. Finally, Wiccans typically celebrate the Maiden form of the Triple Goddess during this season. Equinox rituals focus on balance, fertility, growth, the planting of seeds and goals, and the blessings to come. Ostara herbs include acorn, ginger, honeysuckle, iris, violets, and other spring flowers while gemstones include rose quartz, moonstone, bloodstone, red jasper, and amethyst. Dyeing eggs, planting seeds, creating goals, and the ever-popular spring cleaning can be combined with your celebrations. Common foods feasted upon during this holiday include symbols of growth, fertility, and light such as eggs, mint, lamb, citrus, honey, milk, leafy greens, sprouts, and sweets.
by: Emaleth Summer
INto the Light
The time between Samhain and Yule is a time of darkness. It begins on the longest night of the year as the cold seeps into the earth. The birds stop chirping and move south. Winds of change begin to blow and we wait out the time until the light returns. Many people see the colder months as a time of hibernation. Studies show that winter is the most common time of year for people to become depressed or ill as they stay indoors and becoming stagnant. Fight this feeling and use this quiet time wisely. I see this as a time of reflection, a time to look back on where we have been and how we will continue our journey. It is a time to see our growth or our shortcomings. It is a time to reflect on how we might better ourselves and our lives, and continue our journey to enlightenment. Use these darker months to take stock of what has been working in your life and what needs to change. Don’t force change to happen but rather simply process the past year to consider how things might improve. Reflect on your relationships, your professional life, your social life, and your spirituality. Consider those things that perhaps it is time to let go as well as things you wish to bring into the light. As we approach Imbolc, we begin to look forward to the coming of the light. It is a time to make plans for the next year and for the future. The time of cold and darkness is coming to an end. While it is still some months until the Summer Solstice, the light is slowly returning. Spring is just around the corner and we can begin to look forward to the seeds we might plant. With this preparation, you will be able to plant the seeds of change at Ostara. By letting go of that which no longer serves us and our purpose, we can begin to contemplate those things we want to see spring to life in the coming year. During the time of the equinox, you can begin to plant these seeds. Look for a new career, go back to school, look for a healthy relationship, become more social, or maybe make a commitment to extend your spirituality and further your journey along your pagan path. We can bring ourselves into the light, and spread that light to the world These are the seeds that will grow into a bountiful harvest as the year progresses. Consider them carefully. It is true that you reap what you sow. Will you plant seeds of hope and prosperity or seeds of discontent and chaos? Make the conscious decision to plant those seeds that will best serve you and others in the next year. The light is coming. We can look forward to it, even while the earth sleeps. We can take to heart that the darkness in nature and in our lives will pass. We can rest assured that the darkness will not last. We can bring ourselves into the light, and spread that light to the world. Make the choice to come into the light.
Dear Luna, I have practiced witchcraft off and on for about 2 years but every time I read something on the subject I have bad dreams! I only practice with good intentions, never hurting anyone or anything so I don't understand why I have bad dreams. I back off after my dreams because they scare me. Do you have bad dreams? Does this mean I shouldn't practice? Rhonda Hi Rhonda! I am not much of a dreamer but I would almost bet others share your experiences. Definitely keep a dream journal or at least write down key notes about your dreams or nightmares so you can look up interpretations for ones you feel stand out or affect you more. You may find that they have very little to do with your practice. If you were raised to fear the mysteries and the terms of occult practices, this type of conditioning can result in feelings of guilt and fear. That is a form of psychic attack. Take some time to tap into your Source of energy and what it means to you. Do you trust it? Does it serve you well? Where does it come from? Write these down to meditate on. I believe the more you understand about the way you practice and why you practice in these ways can give you a sense of peace and validity in the path you feel you should walk. This is something I feel should be done often for they may change like the seasons. In time these nightmares will dissipate as your heart and soul come together to conquer any lingering guilt and fear. If not, well, time to pull out the big toys to defeat this attack. Look up different types of spells on banishing nightmares. Find the medium that you feel comfortable with and set clear intentions! Cast them away to never return, for they do not serve you and show nothing to learn! Luna
with Kim Tarwater
Luna's Lair
Image Credit: Kim Tarwater
Know that there are no simple, unimportant questions, and none too off the wall. I can say that my answers will be honest to my truths, loving from my heart, and straightforward from my personality. I will reply to all email questions, and will choose a few questions & answers for publishing in each edition. Send all questions to asklunaslair@gmail.com.
by: Hekaterine Nox
Brighid
Artwork by: Alivanna Rose
Deity Cafe
https://www.historicmysteries.com/celtic-goddess-brigid-saint-irish-myth/ http://www.druidry.org/library/gods-goddesses/brigid-survival-goddess Tending Brigid’s Flame, Awaken to the Celtic Goddess of Hearth, Temple and Forge by Lunea Weatherstone
Known by many derivations of Brighid (Brigit, Bride or Brigid), this Solar Goddess’ stories are often intertwined with the Catholic saint, St. Brigid of Kildare, from their efforts to convert Ireland’s pagan communities. Her ancient Gaelic name means “exalted one” and she is the Patroness of healing arts, fertility, poetry, music, prophecy, agriculture, and smithcraft. She is represented as a Triple Goddess because of her influence over inspiration fires, hearth fires, and the forge fires. As a Goddess of the Celtic Tuatha Dé Danann, Brighid was the daughter of the Dagda (an earth God) and Boann (a Goddess of fertility). When she was born, she had flames shooting from her head which connected her to the cosmos, and drank milk from a sacred cow that came from the spirit world. Subsequently, the cow is one of her symbols. She is most associated with the first solar sabbat of Imbolc, which is the time when winter is almost over and the coming of the light is celebrated. At this time, corn dollies were made in her honor, or a Brighid’s Cross, where the four arms of the cross are equal and represent a crossroads junction that is equal between light and dark. In Ireland, she is also known and venerated as the Goddess of the Well, representing the womb of the earth and an element of rebirth. Many wells, all over Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Britain are dedicated to her, and worshippers visit mostly at dawn or dusk, when the light is equal between dark and light. Ribbons of color are often left as offerings in the trees that surround these wells. Brighid belongs in a modern Pagan’s pantheon because of her ability to inspire on so many aspects. If someone needs help at home, call to Brighid the Goddess of the hearth. If someone needs inspiration to write that resumé to land them a highly desired job, Brighid’s influence over wordcraft could be requested. I see Brighid’s influence in my life as I am a “jack of all trades, master of none”. Her ability to bestow inspiration on my writing, my workings with hearth magick, and her mastery over divination is a direct channel on my readings for other people. Seek Brighid on your own through a variety of resources and see if her influence can aid you in your workings with Deity and Magick.
Image Credit: https://tinyurl.com/ycgznn83
The story of Prometheus, thief of fire and benefactor of humanity, is a complicated one. He appears in myth as creator, deceiver, rebel, prophet, and martyr. He molds the first humans from clay, and teaches them all the skills necessary for civilization. When Zeus thinks of destroying Prometheus' creations in favor of a new race, Prometheus turns his back on the gods to take up humanity's cause. He prevents the cataclysm and negotiates customs of ritual and sacrifice that help define the Greeks' relationship with the gods. Prometheus deceives Zeus in this negotiation, so that he accepts the least edible parts of sacrificial animals as the gods' portion, leaving the meat to the human celebrants. Zeus, angry at being tricked, hides fire away from mortals. This fire is the material fire of cooking, warmth, and sacrifice, but also the metaphorical fire of art, skill, and knowledge. Prometheus, on behalf of bereaved humanity, ascends to the heavens to steal the fire back by concealing it in a fennel stalk. Zeus retaliates by chaining Prometheus on the peak of Mt. Caucasus, where he is tormented by an eagle who tears out the Titan's liver over and over again. What motivates someone to incur such suffering? Prometheus must know the consequences his actions bring. His ability to know the future is noted again and again in myth, and even gives him his name ("pro-mêtis", signifying "forethought"). Is it love for his creations, or anger at oppression of the powerless? Is it a desire to rebel against the established order, or to set himself up as equal to the king of the gods? Different tellers of his story would have us see him in each of these lights. Whichever interpretation you choose, one theme remains constant: power lost can be won back, if someone is willing to pay the price.Ancient worshipers of Prometheus ran torch-lit races in his honor, and wore rings of iron and stone as remembrances of his chains. Victory wreaths and floral garlands were also sometimes described as tokens of Prometheus' suffering and redemption. In modern practice, we might also honor him with acts of courage and commitment in the creative arts and in service to one another. His story calls upon those with more power and privilege to wield it on behalf of those with less, and to be willing to take risks in the process—by so doing, we too may reclaim our lost fire.
Prometheus
by: Kimberly R., Gaia Community
Fire in the Belly of the Earth
In this part of the world, during the winter months, it is hard to think of tropical heat and sea breezes. And yet when I think of the volcanic islands of Hawaii, that is what springs to mind. These beautiful islands, centered in the Pacific Ocean, were created eons ago by the magma vent currently underneath the Big Island of Hawaii. In the Hawaiian Pagan tradition the islands were thought to be made by the Volcano Goddess Pele (Pel-eh). In fact, most people with some knowledge of Hawaii are familiar with her mythos. However, to me she is more than just her stories, she is my sister—the ancestral connection to my heritage. It is this time of year that we all take a breath and thank the ancestors and furthermore, start to look ahead to the future. Pele is my passion, she is the iron rod to prod my productivity and the warm hug that congratulates me on my successes. She is wholly family as much as she is an Akua. The Hawaiian word Akua is strange in itself. It is usually translated as “God/Goddess” but in fact, it is best translated as a sort of ancestor. The Hawaiians even believe that once, their Gods were also humans who walked the Earth, but had so much mana (spiritual power) that after death they transcended into Godhood. In fact, many families in days of old would even claim heritage to the Gods. Although this is not unheard of (many kings and emperors have done this), with the Hawaiians it was not just about gaining a title—it was about family and kinship with the world and beings around you. Take a deep breath and review your relationship with your Gods—for it should always be a symbiotic one, not a parasitic one. In fact, this nuance in translation is part of the reason I cannot have Pele at the center of my personal pantheon. She is my sister, an ancestor—not some stiff statue upon my altar. This brings me to a point of inner reflection that Pagans need to think about. Take a deep breath and review your relationship with your Gods—for it should always be a symbiotic one, not a parasitic one. In fact, before I switched to my current personal pantheon, I had a problem with my two patron deities pulling my soul towards the astral. I was becoming apathetic to my physical anchor. When I realized this I broke my relationship with those patron deities and started to look at something to help my physical anchor—which lead to Pele initially. In my younger years I had tried to pray to several other Gods and Goddesses—Bast, Anubis, Poseidon, Hecate, etc. However, none of them responded because they would not claim me or would not provide a healthy relationship for my path. A way in which I like to explain the concept of mutual claim is in the following analogy. If one is born to American parents on an American military base in Japan—that person is American. That person can learn Japanese, know the culture, the history, and love the country, but that person will never be Japanese (ethnically) however hard they may try. This is much like how the Gods work—they lay claim to each person’s soul or essence. When you find the God(s) or Goddess(es) that has claimed you—it is like creating a perfectly harmonious song, humming together on the same vibration. It becomes an equal endeavor by both (or all) parties involved. Paganism is unique in its approach to the worship relationship between an acolyte and his or her deity. It is supposed to be a two-way street, both participants should feel as though they are benefitting from the interaction. This interaction is also inherently more personal than the typical monotheistic paths. And yet so many pagans are taking monotheistic religions and trying to label it as Paganism. By this I mean that many have kept the monotheistic view of a completely infallible deity that is too pure of light to even be looked at. An image of a deity that must be kowtowed to. We are Pagans, not mice. Many of the pagan or native faith traditions are based around warriors and healers—those who stand side-by-side with the Gods to aid in their endeavors as much as the Gods aid in our own. So it is during this time of inner reflection we should look to our own personal flame. How can we best feed that inner fire? It is our inner passion, our inner drive to do better. I rekindled my dying fire by looking to the fire in the belly of the Earth—my Akua Pele. It is time we all look within and learn to feed our own personal fire. Build your own fire that lies just beneath the surface, the life force within—just as the volcanic magma is the lifeblood of the Earth. Furthermore, just as the magma can break the surface—so can yours. And although that drastic change can cause a sudden impact on the surrounding area, do not be afraid. For just as the magma burns the Earth, it also creates it. Thus, the chaotic cycle of destruction and rebirth. For as we know, growth can be painful, can be rapid, but can also lead to new opportunities and joy. Your deities should always be helping you to grow—for stagnation of that inner fire is death to the creative soul.
by: Kevros Nocte
Image Credit: https://tinyurl.com/y7szl2qy
Continued
with Katarina Elaine M
How did you get started in your work? As a toddler, before I can even remember, I was drawing and coloring on every surface I could find. I have always been an artist. A career in art was something I chose after one immense summer arts festival in Ireland. That week, there were so many artists and performers selling all sorts of things on the street that I wanted to give it a try also. I made my first prints of some colored pencil sketches and sat on the street with only a blanket and artwork to sell. A bit to my surprise, people bought my drawings! I have been attending shows and festivals since. Where do you pull inspiration from? I am deeply in love with nature and all creatures! I am also a devoted eclectic Wiccan. My inspiration comes from the elements around me, animal symbolism, and also from dreams and journey meditations. What mediums do you work in and why? Chalk pastel is my favorite medium to work with. It has the ability to appear both soft and harsh, and it is wonderfully messy! I also frequently use colored pencils because they can capture so much fine detail.
"Moth to Flame"
Musecraft
"Magpie"
What advice do you have for aspiring artists? Most of the advice I give is about education. If you are thinking of being an artist one day, don't get yourself into serious debt taking classes until you have figured out for certain what you want. There are many forms of art and many ways to be a successful artist. The education requirements aren't always about having a BFA. https://twitter.com/katarinaelainem https://www.etsy.com/shop/KatarinaElaineM
"Firebaby"
"Absenth"
Where do we go to find more of your work? My work can be found on most social media; I keep Facebook in particular always updated! Information about which shows I attend, sneak peeks of art in progress, and neat sketches can be found there. Search Katarina Elaine M and follow me! After each fair or festival I list remaining prints and crafts on Etsy for online sale as well. https://www.facebook.com/katarinaelaineart https://www.instagram.com/katarinaelainem
A Tap On The Shoulder A tap on the shoulder A nudge in the side A poke in the arm The alarm is blazing I hit the snooze button I turn the alarm off And sink back to oblivious sleep Poke, nudge, tap – damn someone is persistent I awoke with a start My path becomes clear Synchronicity is rampant around me People wander in and out of my life “When the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear” The road is long but the journey is fun The adventure may never end May the Gods give me strength and continual hope The only thing that didn’t escape Pandora’s box Forward I go, learning all the way I have grown but my work is not done Blessed Be!
by Oddysia
I Have the Power The top is so near The victory is mine I’m climbing and climbing I have the power The power to move forward The power to overcome My triumph is at hand And I’m laughing at the demons I sent the negative twin away She’s gone and I never wish to see her again I will never go back to what I was before Never again The victory is mine I have the power!
Pencraft
The Phoenix Like the phoenix, I rise from the ashes I agonized and clawed my way up The fiery trials were horrifying Like a woman in childbirth, The pain was great The journey was hard and treacherous But the phoenix has to be tried by fire In order to rise out of the flames I am a phoenix, Enjoying my freedom Freedom from mental illness Flying higher and higher
by Catherine Boudreau
Dance of the Fire Witch
She walked out of the woods and into the clearing like she owned everything before her. She was dressed in loose clothing that floated around her as the breeze moved through the glen. She raised her hands above her and swayed her hips in a magickal dance as she chanted in a tone so soft only she and the Goddess knew what she was saying. It was a clear crisp night and the moon was full as it rose up over the trees and hills and hung there watching. A giant orange orb, its light shimmering in the water of the brook as it babbled and made its way across the rocks and down the slightest drop of the hill. She brought her hands down and straight out to the side. Smiling, she slammed her palms together in front of her and a bolt of lightning struck the ground igniting the fire that would burn for the remainder of the night. As she stood in the clearing, barefoot upon the Earth, the water running in the brook, the breeze wafting about the clearing and the fire burning before her, she knew that she had brought all five elements together this night. She danced around the fire. Swaying in rhythm to a melody only she and Gaia could hear. Slowly moving in the night as a tribute to her Matron and her love and devotion. The fire was nearly smokeless. It burned with flames of deep red at the base and flowing into bright orange before it turned to yellow at the outer edges with its extreme tips radiating a green that can only be found in nature. When she had exhausted herself of dance, after hours of circling the flames, she came to a rest at a place she felt was right for her to meditate. She reached into the pouch hanging from her waist and removed a handful of crushed sage and lavender with some cedar and Palo Santo dust mixed in. She threw it into the flames as she chanted some more in a cadence most humans could not understand or would even approve of. She rocked back and forth, gyrating as the chanting grew in volume and intensity until it reached its crescendo. Everything became unnaturally quiet. Only the crackling of the fire and the sound of the brook were heard. The aroma of the smoke filled the air and she took several deep breaths of it into her lungs and quieted as she went into a deep meditative trance and gazed into the fire. The flames morphed into various shapes, playing out events and scenes before her, showing her the faces of friends and enemies as she gazed unblinking at the flames of hope and possibly despair. She saw things most would fear. Even others like her shied away from the flames of knowledge for fear of the unknown. But, she took it all in stride because she had seen it all before and always came away stronger and full of new knowledge and understanding. She had reclaimed the fire, lost by many a soul, many years ago, when she was just a maiden. She had nurtured it as a mother, and now knew it as a dear old friend, as a crone. Everything became unnaturally quiet. Only the crackling of the fire and the sound of the brook were heard She rose from her knees and once more danced around the flames in joy, with thanks and understanding in her heart. She danced and chanted until the sky began to lighten in the east and the moon began to slip once more from sight. As she came to a halt, she stared once more for a lingering moment into the flames and then said a single magickal word and the flames slowly faded until they were a single little fireball that rose up into the air and nestled neatly into her outstretched palm. She closed her hand around it and brought it to her chest and slowly opened it, pressing it into her chest to allow the flame to return back into her heart where it belonged. She held out her skirt and made a neat little curtsy to the Earth. When she rose up, she turned and walked from the clearing. As she entered the woods, she smiled. She was a daughter of the Old Ways. She walked the ancient path. She was a dreamer. She was a lover of nature. She was a healer. But, most importantly, she was a Witch. A Fire Witch, who danced with flames in her heart.
Image Credit: Catherine Boudreau
Number: 2 Element: Water Planet: Moon Letter: Gimel
Where The Magician represents power, intellect and control in the tangible world, the High Priestess signifies the deeper, spiritual mysteries of the Universe. This card denotes that which is mysterious, sacred, or anything veiled, be it spiritually or in everyday life. The High Priestess can deal with occult situations, including spellwork, witchcraft and divination, as well as the sacred ways and training of the deeper Mysteries and Mystery Traditions. This inner knowledge is symbolized on the card generally by the Torah on her lap, or some tome of ancient teachings. The pomegranate in the background represents the mysteries of underworld and shadow work. Other symbols, such as her headdress, tie this card to Kemetic, Hermetic and Eleusinian traditions. The High Priestess also represents the Divine Feminine in its purest and completely integrated form (maiden-mother-crone), symbolized by the presence of the three phases of the moon usually depicted as a headpiece or some other adornment, as well as the crescent moon at her feet. Her throne sits between two pillars, one dark and one light, depicting balance. The letters B and J of the pillars she sits between stand for Boaz and Jachin, the pillars from King Solomon's Temple. Boaz is roughly translated as "completion" and Jachin is "beginning,” placing the High Priestess between the end and the beginning and further enforcing the concept of balance.
Image Credit: https://tinyurl.com/yaov53m8
by: Laurie Sherman
In The Cards
The High Priestess
Confidence
Motivation
Crystal Corner
Creativity
Protection
Sacral Chakra
Image Credit: https://tinyurl.com/ydzcu8ou
Courage
by: Crow Spirit
Vitality
Success
Carnelian
The focus of this issue is “Reclaiming the Fire” and the best stone I can think of for the inner fire is Carnelian. To me the inner fire is creativity, sexuality and empowerment, and carnelian helps with all of those. Carnelian is a form of chalcedony ranging from orange to red, to red-brown and is found in South America, England, India and Australia. It has a hardness of 7 and is sensitive to oils and acids. It is often found in stalactites and rock linings where mineral rich water evaporates. Putting carnelian in sunlight is said to intensify its color. Historically, carnelian was often used in deal rings and worn on the breastplate of High Priests. In the middle ages, it was worn to prevent enchantment and the “evil eye”. In Egypt, it was called “blood of Isis” and was worn for protection and placed on mummies for safe passage through the underworld. In some Oriental cultures, it was worn to protect from Evil sorcery and prevent sickness. Healing energies: stopping excessive blood flow from lacerations or bloody noses, energizing and purifying the blood, spleen and pancreatic issues, kidney stones, menstrual cramps, enhances sexual energies, and helps shrink tumors. Magical energies: helps with courage, public speaking, protection, career success, aligns energy bodies, creativity, astral travel, opens doors and speeds manifestation.
Gifts of Gaia
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) is a densely branched, bushy shrub with hairy green leaves and lovely pink or red flowers. The Hebrew wordmor, meaning “ bitter",and the Greek wordmyrrhaare translated as “myrrh". Oil-like myrrh drips like tears from the gray bark of the trunk and branches of the shrub. Myrrh is listed as one of the most ancient of herbs and is today still considered one of the most valuable and loved among all herbs. It's highly valued aromatic resin made it an extremely important item of trade. Growing in what is now the Arabian peninsula and in Northeast Africa, it was bound for Egypt, which imported great quantities from Palestine. In 1570 B.C. Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt, sent five ships to the land of Punt, in search of this precious resin. It was one of the ingredients in anointing oils, perfumes, and incense. Egyptian women carried “pearls” of myrrh in a tiny flask with a chain around their necks. It also served as a fumigant in the temples and was used in preparing the body for burial. Since ancient times myrrh has been used as a mouthwash and gargle for sores in the mouth and throat. In the Greek and Roman world it was used for everything from eye infections to hemorrhoids. It also served as a local anesthetic to treat wounds, inflammations, ulcers and stomach problems. It was given to both mother and child in post natal care. Myrrh has potent antioxidant, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antifungal benefits. Myrrh oil can help with respiratory problems, digestive ailments, gum and mouth diseases and overall immune system health. Myrrh is safe for most in small doses but could cause a rash when applied directly to skin, and diarrhea when ingested. Greater than 2-4 grams can cause kidney irritation, heart rate change, and could lower blood sugar. Myrrhs Yin energy is subtle yet powerful in magical workings. It can be used to break hexes, banish/release obstacles, clear the home, attract spirits, bring inner peace, rebirth and renewal. It is also used in sex, angel and animal magic. It is closely associated with Jupiter, the Moon, and Saturday.
Image Credit: https://tinyurl.com/orom3bq
Myrrh
by: Hooded Wanderer
The month of February usually means that the harshness of winter is starting to come to an end. This was important to our ancestors because it generally meant that their food stores were also coming to an end. This time of year, it is important to keep a positive outlook and stay focused on the warmer more fertile spring weather yet to come. For many pagans and heathens, February is the time of year where they honor and celebrate Imbolc/Candlemas and Charming of the Plow respectively. Charming of the Plow is an agricultural ritual for fertility of the land performed in Northern Europe. During this twelve day period, the Pennsylvania German/Heathen culture celebrates everything from Entschtanning (emergence), making scarecrows, and Groundhog Day, to a celebration honoring the female ancestors. Charming of the Plow represents hope for the coming spring and a time of fertility. Modern people often lose sight of giving thanks to the land itself. A large number of people in this country live in cities or urban areas and this tends to unintentionally disconnect them from the land that is hidden under all the concrete and steel. We, as a society, sometimes lose sight of the fact that the land protects and provides for us throughout the year. Charming of the Plow provides the perfect ritual to reconnect with the land as well as the Wights and the gods/goddesses. During this celebration, we honor specific deities in the Northern European pantheon. These deities are known as the Aesir, Vanir, and the Gygjur (Female Giants/Jotuns). Nerthus is a giantess and she is Mother Earth and the mother of the god Thor. Freyr (Vanir) is the fertility god, Frigga (Aesir) is the goddess of the hearth and family, and Odin (Aesir) represents the dark god at this festival and he reminds us that winter is not quite over yet. Another important group that a number of Heathens work more closely with than the gods and goddess are the Land Wights (Land Spirits). The Land Wights can make your land a fertile paradise or a barren nightmare, so it is wise to keep them in mind during this ritual. The outline for the ritual, Charming of the Plow, is pretty straightforward, designed to encourage fertility and new growth in the upcoming planting season. Some traditions also take this time to bless the tools of their trade to ensure a fruitful year for their business as well. I will share a generic heathen ritual that draws from a few different regions of Northern Europe. We, as a society, sometimes lose sight of the fact that the land protects and provides for us throughout the year. The basis of the ritual is as follows: Gather grain based foods (bread, cookies, cakes, etc.), a horn, water, oil, and your plow. The plow can be whatever tool you use to break up the ground in your garden (an actual plow, spade, tiller, or trawl, etc.). The first thing to do once you are outside is pour a small amount of oil on your plow to bless it. Traditionally, simple songs of thanks and blessings were sung while doing this. Most of these songs have been lost to time or altered for use by the Christian church. You may simply voice your thanks or create your own songs. Once the plow has been blessed, you are ready to make a few small furrows in your garden. You do not have to plow your entire garden area at this time. Then offer the bread, cakes, or cookies to the soil. As you are offering the grains, give thanks to the gods, goddesses, and Land Wights individually for their blessings. To end this ritual, pour a horn full of water onto the soil to symbolize the spring rains. To keep up with the tradition of this time of year, to honor the female spirits and ancestors, I would also like to share a simple tradition from the Rus people. The Rus, or the Vikings that settled in Russia, used to have the women of the tribe plough the borders of the village to ward off illness and calamity each year. Our Pagan and Heathen ancestors had a number of smaller supplemental rituals that went along with Charming of the Plow. What I have always found interesting is that these supplemental rituals had to do with cleanliness and safety issues. The first set of rituals honors the hearth goddess Frigga. This is the time to clean out your hearth, your fireplace, and remove all the partially burned candles from their holders. This can also mean any fire pits you have in your yard. Traditionally after these things are clean, you should light a new fire using birch. This is in your fireplace or a candle in each room. The second supplemental ritual involves Spring cleaning of the whole house. This does not have to be done in one day. Traditionally, you have until April 30th, or Walpurgisnacht, to finish cleaning your home. This is done in preparation for the goddess Holle’s return - but that, of course, is another holiday for another time.
Charming of the Plow
Image Credit: https://tinyurl.com/y8au3zke
Ingredients -2 ounces (1/4 cup) Shea Butter -2 ounces (1/4 cup) Beeswax -3 tablespoons Coconut Oil -10 drops of Essential Oils (optional)
1. In a double boiler, melt shea butter and beeswax over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. 2. When shea butter and beeswax are almost completely melted, add coconut oil and essential oil. Stir well to combine. 3. Pour melted lotion base into molds and allow to completely cool. I used silicone baking molds and placed my lotion bars in the fridge to harden. 4. Store in a cool dry place until you're ready to use. Rub between your hands to heat and dispense. If for any reason you need to remold, just heat and re-pour!
by: Cara Schwab
Out of the Cauldron
Homemade Lotion Bars
Image Credit: Cara Schwab
Witchy Tip:: If you suffer from SAD, infuse your lotion bars with mood lifting oils and herbs like St. John's Wort, Lemon Balm, Gingko Biloba, Valerian Root, and Green Tea. If you can't find essential oils, steep the herbs in the melted oils for at least 20 minutes, then strain out the pieces.
Healing Chicken Soup
Ingredients:: 2 tbsp butter or oil 2 tbsp flour 1 large onion, diced 3 stalks celery, diced 2 cloves garlic, chopped fine 2 qts chicken stock or water 1 whole chicken, cooked and shredded 2 bags frozen corn 2-3 bags frozen broccoli 1 tbsp paprika 2 tsp cayenne 1 tbsp rosemary ¼ c lemon juice 1 tsp thyme 2 tsp mustard (dry spice or liquid condiment) Salt and pepper Dumplings:: 1 c flour 1 tbsp milk 1 egg
1. Collect your ingredients. Cut your veggies and herbs, if you are using fresh. Make sure your chicken is in small enough pieces to be eaten with a spoon. 2. In a very large soup pot, sweat the onions, garlic, and celery in butter or olive oil. Cook until they are translucent. 3. Add flour and stir to mix with the butter. Pour in the chicken stock as soon as the flour and butter are mixed and stir well. 3. Bring it to a simmer, then add corn, broccoli, and chicken. Adjust amounts as you see fit, butleave room for the dumplings. 4. If the liquid level in your soup pot is low right now, add some more chicken stock or water. This is a brothy soup and the broth should be near the top of the pot. Also add the lemon juice and all of your herbs and spices. Adjust these to taste as needed. 5. Let the soup simmer, and combine flour, milk, and egg in a bowl (add a pinch of salt and pepper). Mix with a fork. It will be loose and crumbly with pieces of varying sizes. Sprinkle the dumplings in with your fingers, breaking up the pieces as you do so. They are small pieces that kind of resemble cauliflower when they cook. 6. Let your soup cook for about 15 minutes or so and adjust your seasoning with any of the herbs, spices, salt and pepper until it tastes like you want it to. Serve with some saltines or crusty bread!! Tips: Soup is a really flexible thing to make. You can easily adjust the seasoning any way you like. Leave out chicken and use veggie stock if you are not a meat eater, or add different spices and herbs for different flavor. If you want more heat, try adding some different peppers or some hot sauce. Play with what you have in your kitchen and what sounds good with the flavors in this soup.
Fire Within the Shadow Land
by McKayla
I light up the darkness by putting pen to pad because my passion burns strongest when my world is shrouded in darkness—for my muse has always been my Lady Depression. I want to share with you a moment of my history. A turning point of my life while in the depths of my own shadow land. A place where depression is my muse and poetry is the burning passion which keeps my soul alive. At times that passion may be a raging pyre of anger or a mere flicker of candlelight to illuminate the spill of ink. Where, in the hours late at night there are times when all I can do is write. Times like these memories I share of jumbled time and space, something like two years passed. In a time where I found myself—a reflection in a mirror that I could not recognize as my own bruised and battered face. Locked up in a psych ward with no recollection of how I got there, why I couldn’t leave, and no explanation to every bruise I found upon my skin. Each person in the hall I passed, with their whispers and bluntly stated questions, just confused my mind more and more. Until they placed a notebook in my hand, I was unable to even attempt to make out details or memories of what had occurred. Nearly everything in my life was being uprooted and pulling me deep into the shadows. Though it was a difficult few months of psych wards, toxic relationships, and a high stress job, it took my blood-stained quill that dripped the words of my poetry—of my soul—onto the paper in a shifting perception that has helped mold my writing style today. At times that passion may be a raging pyre of anger or a mere flicker of candlelight to illuminate the spill of ink. As I sift through page after page, notebook after notebooks of poems from my time in the shadow land I find poetry of strange titles, poems with phrase after phrase from people in the meetings I sat in picking apart the relatable words they shared. I find poems telling that kid to fuck off. Poems written about my peace being found in the depths of the waters. To poetry from two writers challenging one another in the long white halls, and words of anger defense. Words of a late night writing spell when a friend knocked on my door to bring me out to the halls white as the snow in their name. Introspective became the game and these are the words that formed. Nerves are raging on. March to the beat of a young free heart. Making new friends. In the hours of dark. Trying my best, not to act in spite. Though times may be hard. And the nights ever so long. I feel hopeful for plans I’ve made for tomorrow's day. Though you may find me kept to myself. Once you peak my interest. I begin to ramble on. About the things that fill my soul with passion. As the poem states in its last line let me ramble on- so to speak- of my burning passion of poetry. The fire in my soul leaves embers of poems with each passing moment. When all I feel I can do is yell and scream in anger, I write. I write until the ink ceases to flow and I find myself becoming centered once more. Not only do I find my fire in anger, but also in my depression, and within love. Though my shadow land from two winters ago has sparked the change internal- I go into this season of winter kindling the fire. The fire in my soul leaves embers of poems with each passing moment. Kindle with lines of empowerment as I honor my own fire where I write to heal myself. I share the warmth it had brought me to know I am not alone. So that we may sit around a burning fire releasing the old and speaking into the flame words of love and to give thanks for it's warmth. Honoring the power the flames do hold to return the words to ash.
Artwork by: Ashley Bilke
Don't Fear the Reiving
This time of year is my busy season. It starts somewhere around early September with KC Pagan Pride Day and plows straight through to the end of the year like some calendar driven steam engine, event after event marching into the next year. November and December are especially busy with holidays and family time. This means that there are just some things that end up pushed to the side. One of these things is that deep cleaning and clearing thing: Picking up the clutter, clearing the dust bunnies, and all those housey things that lend themselves to be put off over and over again. The downside of this, besides things being messy and dusty, is that it also creates energy issues that can affect your emotional well being. Stagnant energy can begin to pool in places where energy isn't flowing and can turn nasty. This can also affect any protective wards you have in place in your home along with any spell work you attempt to cast. The end of the year is the perfect time to not only clean and purge those things you have no intentions on taking into the new year but really put somewitchcraftinto what you are doing. The way in which I attack this goes beyond just the physical cleaning and purging. I do what is called Reiving. Reiving is the process of cleaning with intent. You are not just removing the dust bunnies but consciously removing the negative energy as well. As you dust, clear the clutter, vacuum, do the dishes or the laundry, put forth your intent that these actions are removing the negative energy from the space. One of the things I do to help with the Reiving process is add an energy cleansing decoction to my cleaning and dusting supplies. This decoction includes herbs and essential oils and cleanses space as well as break hexes as you never can be too sure! I store it in a jar that includes crystals, imbuing the liquid with their energy, and a quartz point to boost the effects of the spray. I also have a small string of crystals on the handle of my vacuum to further help the cleansing process. You are not just removing the dust bunnies but consciously removing the negative energy as well. Another part of my cleansing process is to make sure all my crystals take a trip outside. Sunlight and moonlight cleanse and recharge crystals, and it doesn’t hurt to blow the dust off in the process. I have even let them sit out in the rain to be cleaned with the exception of my pieces that cannot get wet. This can also apply to any statuary that you may have placed about, even if it is only for a little while. It will help to not only blow off the dust but the negative energy as well. End of the year Reiving is a good time to give thought to what energy you want in your space and what you need to cleanse away and ward against. Clutter can be a negative energy collector. Piles of stuff that no longer serve a purpose or has not made it to where they belong not only creates clutter and personal stress, but blocks a home’s energy flow. This causes energy to pool and take on a negative aspect. Take the time to put it away, or throw it out of your home. Paper objects that no longer serve a purpose or have negative connotations should be burned as a means of releasing additional negative energy. I mean, do you really need to save those pictures and letters from a horrible relationship? Think about it. This process as a whole will open up the energy flow of your space and make it feel better by leaps and bounds. Once you have finished Reiving, finished moving all that negative energy from your space, you need to actively invite positive energy in. Nature abhors a vacuum, and not following through with replacing the energy you removed with new, positive energy simply invites negative energy back in. This can be done by walking around with incense or a candle or saying something about asking the universe to fill this space with light, love and prosperity. You can even light a small candle in each room saying the same thing. I like using candles that smell warm and homey to me, like vanilla, amber, frankincense and myrrh, etc. These are warm, positive scents that fill a space with a wonderful feeling. Along with refilling your space with positive energy, you should make sure to reset any protective wards that you have in place. Wards are energetic protective barriers put in place on a physical location - in this case your home. They can be as complex or simple as you wish. Do some research to find what works for you if you do not have a method of warding. It isn’t a requirement but it does help to keep some uninvited negative energy from entering your space. End of the year Reiving is a good time to give thought to what energy you want in your space and what you need to cleanse away and ward against. It is important to remember that all things collect not just dust but energy. Physical cleaning that mindfully utilizes the cleansing of negative energy will help to clear all that, as well as any negative energy we may have brought in with us from the rest of the world. That is all that Reiving really is: Mindful comprehensive cleaning which opens the flow of your space for positive energy to come into not only your home, but your life. May your New Year be filled with positive energy. Blessings, Urban Crone
with Laurie Sherman
Contemplative Crone
Tapping into that feeling in your gut that feels strong and a bit scary when we are young. You get more comfortable with it as you get older and can learn to utilize that energy that is passion and life force. -Vera Harrison
What do you think it means to "claim your fire"?
Community Voices
Metaphorically, to "claim our fire" is to reject the ability within ourselves to create (or engender) chaos and destruction, and instead to offer all of the beneficial aspects of our internal flame: Hospitality, generosity, education, protection, and ingenuity. -Wolf Friedman
Claiming who you are, the drive for life. -Brent Mizell
To claim your fire is to live authentically true to oneself. Be wild, be free, make no apologies for who you are. But apologize when necessary. Finding your voice and using it for whatever it is that sets your soul on fire. To speak your truth and not let the outside world quiet your voice. To love the life you have, and know pain is making you grow . To live a life of passion, bravery, honesty. To love without expectations or limitations. To be graceful while also being a force to reckon with. Finding your power, your voice, what fills your heart, and standing up for it. -Dana McCurter Harris
I feel that claiming your fire is about embracing the primal side of your humanity. To acknowledge your fears and madness, and then recognize your ability to endure and survive even in the coldest and darkest of circumstances. -Katarina Elaine
My inner fire is my passion to be my true and authentic self, without doubt, fear and insecurities. To be impeccable with my word and assertiveness for what I desire. To be a voice for the downtrodden and a warrior to protect those that I love. It is my sensuality and sexual desire. It is my love of beauty and art, and it is the warm compassion that I feel for humanity. It is the living spark of hope that resides in me when I feel lost and the perseverance that sustains me when I claw my way back from the underworld. -Ripley Herndon
The Witches' Sabbats by Mike Nichols Click here to buy
Celebrate the Earth by Laurie Cabot Click here to buy
Bookshelf
Prometheus: Archetypal Image of Human Existence by Carl Kerényi Click here to buy
Herbs & Things by Jeanne Rose Click here to buy
The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Thomas Easley Click here to buy
Brigid: History, Mystery, and Magick of the Celtic Goddess by Courtney Weber Click here to buy
Healing Plants of the Bible by Vincenzina Krymow Click here to buy
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic by Scott Cunningham Click here to buy
Tending Brigid's Flame by Lunaea Weatherstone Click here to buy
Do you have an article you'd like to send in? Are you interested in writing for one of our recurring articles? Do you have some cool photos we can use? Would you or someone you know be interested in submitting your artwork or creative writing? Send it all in to thecenterspiral@gmail.com Our theme for the next issue is "Seeds of Intention", and we will be covering Beltane and Litha. If you have any questions, send them to the above email. We will take any submission at any time, and if it does not fit with the upcoming theme we will hold your submission for a future issue. Deadline for the Spring Equinox 2018 issue is March 1, 2018
Spring Equinox 2018
Seeds of Intention
Thank you!!!
We appreciate the support of all of those contributing articles, images, creative works, time, editing, advertising, sharing, and moral support while we put together our magazine. We could not do it without you. - The Center Spiral Staff -
An extra special Thank You to The Center Spiral staff. This would not have happened without the help of all of you. You are all an amazing inspiration, team of support, and integral in making this become a reality and continue to grow. Thank you. -Emily Gabbert
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