New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
Can you believe it's almost the Winter Solstice? Also called Yule, Midwinter, and many other names, this is a sacred time for those of us who walk in alignment with the seasons. (For folks in the Southern Hemisphere, it is currently approaching Midsummer.) Because we are soon to formerly welcome back the Holy Sun/Son at this time, let's put a little fire in our step to amp us up in preparation! At nightfall, simply light a candle of any color. (Black, white, and fire colors are ideal.) When ...
We are about a month after the summer solstice. Now nature begins to take a pause. You can just feel it. The rush of spring growth is over and the climb begins toward the harvest. Even weeds seem to grow more slowly now. Take a tip from nature and take a pause yourself. For this spell you'll need a clock or watch and a piece of fabric. Perform this spell when you won't be disturbed. Shut off your phone. Place the clock or watch and the fabric on your altar. Cover the clock with the fabric. Say ...
Saint John the Baptist's feast day is celebrated on this day by people of different religions all over the world. Many believe that this holiday is an evolution of Summer Solstice celebrations from pre-Christian people. This may be the case, but there is one religion that has fully embraced the celebration of Saint John's Day, and that is Vodoun. On Saint John's Day in New Orleans, people gather and celebrate John the Baptist by performing headwashing rituals, which is a traditional cleansing ...
The Wiccan and Neopagan sabbats that are not equinoxes and solstices occur on dates that are similar but not astrologically precise. We are currently in the midst of astrological Beltane. Take a bottle of your favorite wine, kombucha, or other nonalcoholic beverage. With a flashlight in hand, safely travel to a calming, hidden place after nightfall. Using a black permanent marker, draw crescent moons on the bottle. Meditate and then visualize the obscured moon enchanting the liquid. Once ...
