New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
In winter, everything is cold and dark. When no one is home, the houses, too, stand dark, covered in unmelting snow—but those with people inside shine bright and warm, spilling golden light through their windows. Now is a good time to bless your home. For this blessing you will need a slice of bread ( preferably homemade) and a pinch of salt (preferably sea salt). First hold the bread and say: I bless this bread, the staff of life,May it be free of loss and strife. Then hold the salt ...
Early winter is the holiday season. Many cultures feature major holidays at this time: some fixed, like Christmas, some based on astronomical events, like Yule, and others more variable, like Hanukkah. If you have friends from many traditions, you could wind up celebrating all month long. This creates a sense of holiday spirit. Sometimes all the excitement can get exhausting, though. Here is an invocation for the Holiday Spirit to help you through this time. You will need a symbol of your ...
The Rural Dionysia was a festival of fertility, travel, and entertainment. People baked phallic bread loaves and poured offerings of wine and water. They traveled from town to town visiting friends. They held games, contests, plays, concerts, and other revelries. During the modern holiday season, people also travel, so now is a good time for a blessing. For this spell you will need wine or grape juice, plus a bit of ivy, such as a sprig of silk leaves, a metal brooch, etc. Raise the ivy to ...
On this day, the Romans celebrated the Festival of Feronia. They worshipped her as the goddess of the harvest and abundance. They held a fair in her honor, with a market and entertainment. They offered the fruits of the harvest to her in a sacred grove. This is a good time for a spell of gratitude. If possible, visit a farmers’ market to choose the best offerings from the current harvest. If you have a garden, you can also make offerings of things you have grown. Make an altar covered ...
