New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
In many locales there is a definite chill in the air. We crave warmth, color, and brightness, but often we see and feel the opposite. Today is the shortest day of the year. Witches realize the age-old battle between the Oak King and the Holly King is being acted out, ultimately leading to renewal and rebirth. You can savor the stories of olden times, but participating in the drama of the day is even better. Dress your home for Yule! Gather holly, cedar, and pine clippings and set them out in a ...
In one of the subplots of The Merchant of Venice, Jessica (Shylock's daughter) elopes with Lorenzo. It's true love. In act 5, they are sitting together and gazing up at the sky. Lorenzo's speech is one of Shakespeare's most evocative:How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!Here will we sit and let the sounds of musicCreep in our ears: soft stillness and the nightBecome the touches of sweet harmony.Sit, Jessica. Look how the floor of heavenIs thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: ...
Fall is a time of quick changes and bright colors. In temperate zones, the temperature drops and witches know the harvest is almost complete. On this early fall day, it's time for deep engagement with the lively and colorful side of nature. Go outside and collect elements of fall that call to you. Please take your time! These may be maple, elm, birch, hawthorn, oak, hickory, or hazel leaves. You may be drawn to pine cones, nuts, rose hips, fallen branches, gourds, or the last vestiges of life ...
As the wheel of the year continues to turn ever so rapidly toward a new year, let's take a breather today and slow things down. The goal is to move forward these next few months with greater intent and purpose. It is time to create a potion to add to your bath. First, take a small piece of aquamarine and let it sit in a bowl of spring water under the moonlight for three hours. Aquamarine ushers in peace, instills courage, and purifies. It is a symbol of sea goddesses from across the globe. It ...
