(Special) Fun and games.

Time to have some fun this spring.
Today we'll be covering some fun little games to entertain you on those long warm days.

Ok, we'll start with energy ball. I bet you're getting the image of dragon ball z style glowing and AAAAARRRR ing. But no, this is a chilled out and fun game that's sort of like playing catch with water balloons.
You rub your hands together and concentrate on throwing a ball of energy to between them. One you've created it you  can throw it to someone, or at them. They'll get an instant feeling of cold water exploding over them. It's a fun and harmless game to play for people aged 2-99.

As its spring and all those flowers, birds and animals are out it's a great time to go spotting. Just go for a walk and see how much you can see. Feed the birds (seed not bread, it's better for them) and the squirrels. It's highly liberating feeding a wild bird directly from your hand.

It's also a great time of year to put together new robes, find a wand, paint, draw, make music, take pictures. In fact anything creative. It's a time of life and freedom so go out and use this time wisely.

Also a great time to get the whole town together. Get the maypole out and dance like it's 1699. Share food and drinks. A barbecue is great and fresh fruits are abundant. Socialise and  get some sunshine.

Plant some new flowers and watch them grow. Caring for something outside of yourself can be highly fulfilling. Plus flowers always small nicer alive than cut.

For all of you out there who prefer the ''creepier'' side of life as we move towards Beltane spirits get a lot more active, so it's a perfect time for a ghost hunt. But remember, be legal, respectful and safe. No bringing things home.

It's a nice time to make wishes in the evening too. You'll need paper, pencils, a fireproof bowl or fire pit, kindling and a match or two. Write your wishes on the paper, fold them up then place them in the fire, careful not to burn yourself. As the sparks rise see your wish rising, and hope for it to be granted.

Be romantic, be spontaneous, be a child at heart, eyes open to the wonder of the world, and most of all, be safe.

Spells, rituals and rights.

Yes we're finally here, the fun stuff. But first a not so fun tip.

Choose your gods well. If you are doing a fertility ritual no NOT use a god of death. You and I both know where that will end. People have done it and suffered the consequences.

You don't have to use a specific name so stick to 'god' and 'goddess' if you're unsure. Please.

Next, always cast a circle, even for the 'smallest' spell.

To bring new opportunities your way

You'll need:

Everything for your circle,

I piece of cotton large enough to make a small pouch in white,

white string,

a small piece of paper,

a pen,

a single hair from your head.

This is best done under a new moon and is the quickest spell I know. Have what sort of opportunities you want to attract in your mind before you begin.

Open your circle and get ready to begin. Write what sort of thing you want on the paper, such as “job opportunities” and place in the cotton. Pull the hair and place it on top. Close up the cotton around the paper and hair and tie with the string. All the time thinking of your objective.

Close your circle and carry around the pouch until you feel the benefits. Then bury.

To dispel negativity

You will need:

A feather for each negative action or feeling,

string,

a safe place to work as far from your home as possible.

Open your circle and bind the feathers together, imagining that you are tying each negative feeling to a feather. Next place the feathers down and ask that these negative emotions be carried away from you on the wind. Wait until the first breeze moves the feathers, then politely and gratefully close your circle.

To bring good dreams

You will need:

A handful of lavender (dried or fresh),

A small piece of rose quartz,

A few drops of jasmine oil,

A small blue pouch.

Open your circle and ask for what sort of dreams you wish to bring. Place your ingredients inside the pouch and tie shut. Close your circle and place the pouch under your pillow. When all energy has run out of it or become stale, take out the quartz and purify, then bury the rest.

A ritual for home spiritual spring cleaning

You will need:

Salt and lots of it,

A vacuum cleaner,

Yes that's it. Pick a day when it's warm enough to keep all the doors and windows open. Spread the salt around the whole house and leave for at least an hour with the air circulating around the building. Then vacuum up the salt starting from the center of the house and working towards the edges (and top down) then empty it. This is best just before the bin collection day.

Basic fertility spell

Note: If you do not have the finances or stability to have a baby, don't even try. (I know, common sense, but still)

You will need:

Symbols or items to represent the male and female aspects,

Red ribbon,

A small plant,

A dish of water.

Open your circle. Bring your symbols together and tie them loosely with the ribbon, before placing them in the dish of water. Ask for increased fertility politely before adding half of the water to the plant. Drink the other half yourself (or share with a partner, whoever the spell is to benefit). Close your circle. Remember to care for the plant afterwards.

Healing a broken heart spell

You will need:

Something of the lost partner (not alcohol or anything that would explode or give off toxins in a fire.),

A candle,

Fireproof dish (big enough for the item),

A bucket of water or sand,

And indulgent ice cream.

Open the circle. Light the candle and if you are truly ready to left go and begin healing, set the item alight in the fireproof dish. As it burns imagine them drifting away to a new life and the warmth of the fire filling your heart. Cry if you need to and let go of all pent up emotion. When the fire has burnt itself out breath deeply and feel the air lighten you and bring you renewed confidence and freedom. Close your circle. Then you can feast on your ice cream. (Anything with dark chocolate in is best.)

This one will probably be constantly updated so check back :)

Altars (How to be an OCD Witch)

Your altar will often be your focal point for any working you do. It holds your tools, your statues if you have them and is the focus of magic. Altars can be made from anything. Some people build purpose built ones from wood and stone, or use outside influences to place things on top. Some covens may be very lucky and have a stone table in their working area to use. Others of us buy tables, wooden blocks and stone tables to place all our stuff on. In Solitary Witch, by Silver Ravenwolf (this is an example of a fluffy bunny book. She's great for base spells and base ideas, but she tends to be wishy washy, flouncy and wordy to me and Myotishia) she references ideas for the practitioner that has pushy parents or live with people that do not understand. She even mentions using a skateboard. But I would advise against that.

Altars are referenced to represent the womb of a woman, the circle of creation with everything it needs all in one place. The staples of a good Altar differ between practitioners. You could ask a hundred and hear different things. The rule of thumb is:-

Have something to represent the male (Wands are good, stag horns, anything phallic, use your creativity and daggers too)

Have something for the woman (the chalice is common. This can be as ornate or simple as you wish. Or a bowl, something to hold water. A chalice is useful to hold the wine (or non-alcohol beverage for those that are not old enough or have an aversion to drink.))

A representation of the four elements (refer back to see what we suggest or think of your own)

Wine and cakes (use our recipes or make your own)

Working tools (if you need a pestle and mortar, bring one)

A pentacle (ornate or as simple as you wish, one is plenty. You don't need it, but it is commonly used)

Candles (witches need light dammit)

This list can change depending what you are doing and when you are doing it. Sometimes you will have other items added because of the time of year. Pick and choose or add your own. It is your altar.

We have a chopping board as our altar when we use it. But because of our situation we tend to be 'spontaneous witches'. Myotishia just did one, no altar. Our last altar was the roots of a gorgeous big tree that shared in our cakes and wine. It all depends. Do try to have a cloth though if you use an altar that doubles as furniture or is expensive, candle wax is a paaaain! We got some on the floor...damn thing won't go (sigh).

Overall an altar is like a Pagan, all over the darn place. Messy or clean, compact or huge, it's yours. Personally, the world is my altar (stands skyclad in silhouette).

The all important circle.

I find the word circle to be a little misleading as it presents the idea of something 2D. The circle is like a protective bubble you create around your work area. This can be created and affected in multiple ways.

Firstly you should decide beforehand which deities you are going to be working with during this session. For beginners I would stick with the Goddess and the God. Simple. You don't even have to assign them a name. You could list names that they fall under, or if you have chosen your pantheon you could name your Goddess and God by the name that they go under in the pantheon. HOWEVER: make sure you say it correctly. Saying the wrong name is like saying the wrong name during sex. Awkward!

Then choose your space. Always have plenty of room for a make-shift Altar (section to come soon) and if you have yourself a group of people, make enough room so they have at least an arm distance between. Circles are your protection, so everyone needs to be inside the circle when it is cast.

You need to have 4 large candles, you can either have them on the floor, or have four people holding them depending on how you are doing this. You then need to have 4 representations of the elements. A candle for fire, a bowl of water (you can guess that one), jar of dirt and a feather for air. The consensus is that when you start to open the circle you 'call the quarters'. You call the energies from the four elements to your circle to keep watch. You can keep them nameless, or again name them if you know your pantheon. Now at this point you should consecrate any tools you plan to use, ready for the ritual. Also bless the wine and cakes to eat later. I would talk about sayings and things that should be recited, but personally myself and Myo never do say anything verbally. We like the quiet version of proceedings. Since we never say anything it's better if you make up your own words, or researching some from other books. I would suggest Kate West again, as she does simple sayings. I personally don't want to make a big song and dance, anything too wordy loses points with me, but it's up to you.

Now, this is how the elements are placed and how you should call them.

Air = East

Fire = South

Water = West

Earth = North.

You should always invoke a circle sunwise, deosil or clockwise. That is how the world runs and how things are bought to life. You should never attempt to open a circle the wrong way, that can just bring about bad things. As you open the circle imagine a light starting in the center, casting down a veil of protection. My colour is purple, it looks like a bubble when done. Imagine things bouncing off as you make it. You can practice at home by making a safe bubble for yourself by just visualising it.

You open the circle, you can sprinkle water if you wish to make a marking that will disappear when dry. Do your workings, then close.

Closing the circle is a must, no matter how urgent you are. Leaving an open circle means you have kept various deities stuck in your circle, after they have helped you, how rude! Circles can also decay and send out bad luck and all sorts. To close you can go widdershins, or anti-clockwise. Just keep any items that have been used to banish something away from the closing, because that would reverse the effect. You also close the quarters after eating the wine and cakes and leaving some for the leaving deities. Pack up and leave the area as you found it.

Simple eh?

Cleansing, mind, body and spirit.

Before any working you do you need to be clean. It's a matter of respect and hygiene. I don't need to tell you the basics of having a bath/shower but you can always go the extra mile before working.

If you have a bath:

Run a nice, deep, hot bath. Add three drops of lavender oil to the water, put on some soft music and light a few candles. Wash your hair first then get an all natural washing product (soap or gel) and wash from head to toe well. After that, rinse off and relax in the water, closing your eyes and listening to the sounds of the water mixing with the music. Breath deeply and meditate on what you plan to do later. When you feel fully relaxed and clean, rinse with a little fresh water and drain the tub. Air dry if it's warm enough, if not, wrap yourself in a nice warm towel.

If you have a shower:

To relax is a tad more difficult but not impossible. Turn on the shower to warm and pop on the radiator or whatever heating you have for the bathroom. Once the room is warm get undressed and head into the shower. Wash your hair with a pleasantly scented shampoo and conditioner before washing from head to toe, once again with an all natural washing product. After that stand under the water, taking deep breaths, close your eyes and feel the mix of water and air on your skin. Meditate on what you plan to do, until you feel clean and energised, before walking out of the shower and air drying. Then switch the shower off.

recipe corner.

Yes guys and girls all pagans should at least know how to make beans on toast. I've never met a pagan who can't cook for themselves, and here's a few fun and easy recipes to start you off ^_^

Bread

500g strong white flour , plus extra for dusting
1 pinch of salt (honestly I'm not a fan of using salt in my cooking, but for bread I allow a pinch)
7g sachet fast-action yeast
3 tbsp olive oil
300ml warm water (not hot)
Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl. Add the yeast to the warm water and stir gently before adding to the mix. Then ad the oil and mix into a dough. Kneed then leave to sit in a warm space, covered, for ten minutes. Place on an oiled tray and bake at 200°C for 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. 

Biscuits

You'll need them. They're great for use instead of cake as they're a heck of a lot easier to store and carry. They taste great and you can cut them into any shape you like.

3oz granulated sugar,
6oz butter,
7oz plain flour,

Crumble sugar and butter together then fold in the flour into a dough. (add water if it doesn't hold) then roll out and cut before placing on a greased tray and cook on 150°C until golden brown. Don't cook too long as they can swiftly turn into rocks. If you like crunchy biscuits leave to cool. Otherwise, eat warm.

You can add a fourth ingredient if you wish, this will often symbolise the dark of the moon and I always add this out of respect. You could add honey, chocolate, cocoa, cinnamon or fruit. In fact anything you like, you're the one baking.

Cough relief steam

We all get those colds, those sniffles and coughs. Nothing can really stop them in the long run, but there are ways to sooth the cough.

1 bowl of boiling water,
1 towel,
3 drops of eucalyptus oil,
2 tbsp of honey,
2 tsp of salt,
1 teabag,

Place the ingredients with the boiling water in the bowl, pop the towel over your head, close your eyes and relax letting the steam soothe that cough away.
(Jenjen recommends a good cup of tea afterwards ^_^ Just use a new teabag.)

Oils

There are many uses for oils, from helping you sleep, to anointing yourself. Always use a good quality base oil such as extra virgin olive oil, as many essential oils are not safe to put onto skin neat.

Lavender- Sleep and healing.
Jasmine- said to be the scent of the goddess.
Citrus- aids alertness and concentration.
Peppermint- healing of the stomach.

These are just a small handful to start you off. Please research the oils fully before using.

Your kitchen
No I don't mean remodelling. Here's a few things you should always have in your kitchen so you'll never be caught short. 

Flour (this one is obvious, it has so many uses that of course you need it.)
Salt (once again, so many uses and not all for cookery.)
Ground ginger (perfect for when you're having stomach troubles)
honey (antiseptic, soothing and amazing on toast.)
Eggs (a main part of any cake)
Oats (if all else fails, porridge will do)
Milk (Got to have that calcium.)
Fruit (fresh or tinned)
Veg (whatever you like)
Meat (for feasts or sandwiches, gotta have that protein)
  

The poor pagan (or “how to make the most of the free things.”)

Remember, not all pagans are wealthy coven owners and most of us have very little money to pump into crystal wands and silk robes. Paganism is earth based and so many of our tools can be picked up for free. I found my wand, naturally fallen from a tree on a walk. Most of your corner symbols will be found naturally and even your light source can be natural, remember you don't have to work at night. I find working in the day can be very fulfilling if you can find a quiet enough space.

Sadly not everything is free but they can be cheaper than average. Medieval fairs can be a great source of supplies as many pagan sellers take the opportunity to sell in front of mainstream markets, ad because many items are one offs they can be at highly discounted prices.

Making your own bread and cakes can also be very satisfying and much healthier than store bought things as at home we do not use additives.

You can make many of the tools you can use such as a scrying mirror. This can be made with a photo frame and black paint to create a black mirror. Remember, just because something's black, doesn't mean it's evil.

Small crystals can be found very cheaply all over the place, even in jewellery as they've become very popular.

And remember, your kitchen cupboards are a wonderful source of ingredients (well duh huh?).

Feasting and festivities. (or “partying like a witch on mead”)

In times of old everyone drank like fish, because the water was disgusting most of the time. So a good amount of mead is never a bad thing. Feasting in Pagan terms usually means a celebration. A time when the doldrums of gruel like food was thrown off and a bountiful feast was had. It has had special meaning for religious reasons. Feasting like a Goddess or God was seen as actually giving the higher beings your food. Celebrating in the name of a higher being was a popular way to show your faith.

The most bountiful feast would be after the autumn harvest. Every food that was gathered then would be used in a fantastic celebration. Yes some would be saved for the hard winter but mostly they would eat their fill, because they would have been hungry the rest of the year. Some of the feast food would be 'consecrated' (given a blessing) and then left outside the feasting area for visiting beings to take and eat. The same can be said with wine, some was left for the beings.

Now, festivities. Maypole dancing is one example. Wrapping ribbons around a phallic staff while dancing around was in celebration of Beltane (there are a million and one spellings for this) because of the fertility festival. It was believed that doing activities bought you closer to the higher beings and made you reap the benefits of the particular Goddess/God. Being close to your chosen deity was seen through doing acts that would please them, or acts that the deity has done to get their powers.

(Credited to Jenjen :) )

My own kind of magik.

Magik is a personal thing. Some like big rituals that last three hours and take months to set up, others prefer silent, solitary, spells that need only the right time of night. You are welcome to follow spells and rituals written by others if that is comfortable for you but if not you can change or write your own as long as you're clear about what you wish to do. A coven is good for this as you can discuss any issues you are having with someone a degree higher than you.

Personally I am the quiet solitary type, though I have done group work before, an lead it. I find I need order and peace to work that I have only found in a few people. Though honestly I do wish I could work in/ find a group.

Love spells (or “why you can't play with the human heart”)

Before we start I may have a little rant. In waterstones, our only local bookshop, they have a tonne of this crap. “Love spells for the teenage witch”, “How to get a man through magic”, dear gods people actually eat up this stuff. And what's more many believe it.

There are a few things magik cannot change, death, matters of the heart and human ignorance to name a few. Love falls under this. You can ask for help to find the one for you but you CANNOT make someone love you. Usually if I see a 'love' spell in a book I put it back and try and wipe it from my memory as any witch worth his/her salt would never spout this nonesence for monetary gain. /rant

Sorry about that, it's a personal issue of mine.Well I think it made my point... moving on...

Familiars.

A familiar can be any animal that is close to you, but remember, they choose to be your familiar not the other way around. And as the name suggest they must be familiar to you. This can be a family pet or a stray animal that follows you around, or even a wild creature that you are particularly close to.

This animal may sit with you or be nearby during your workings, protecting or aiding you and lending themselves to your purpose.

A friend of mine's familiar, a lively dog, ran off while out for a walk. Upon it's return it was carrying a very large branch that it dropped at his feet. It showed no interest in playing fetch only giving t stick up. When my friend finally looked at it he realised that it was charged. After thanking the dog he turned the stick into a staff that served him well for many years.

My cousin has a rook that follows her around. He is an old bird and noisy but is relaxed and silent when she is working. He stayed nearby during our last ritual together and only cawed to keep away anything that would interrupt us.

Remember, take care of your familiar and it will care for you.

Covens.

Covens are primarily Wiccan but that doesn't mean their aren't other groups. A coven can be any number of people from three upwards and are usually lead by a high priest and priestess. Either of these can lead without the other but I find it's better to balance out with both if possible. There have even been internet 'covens' though these are hard to lead and hold together in an organised way, ending up as more of a place for solitaries to share ideas. Nothing wrong with that but it can hardly be called a coven.

Covens can be as different as snowflakes, some are single gender, others mixed, some follow a single pantheon, others are more wide ranging, some take newcomers and others wont. It's a matter of finding the coven that suits you.

Covens do the same as solitaries but in a group, so it could be said that generally there is more power in numbers. The attraction of a coven is the availability of support, resources and someone to look up to.

Covens meet for the main festivals to celebrate , and often for the full moons, and other times for other means of development. Some hold training sessions at the new moon and meet to swap ideas.

A coven should be like a family, supporting each other in every aspect and accepting each other for everything they are and are not. This brings the trust needed to work often very sensitive rituals.

As with any other orderly group there are rules but these are set by each coven in itself, often to keep order and regulate attendance.

There can be many roles in the coven other than the high priest and priestess, these include the shopper that gathers the supplies for the coven, the candle maker as every coven will use many many candles, the tarot reader, the herbalist which I see as a very important roll, the web master (in this day and age it's a useful person to have) and the woods person keeping the whole coven safe while working outside. There are many other rolls that can be unique from coven to coven.

Time for a little terminology boys and girls:

• A candidate is a person that wants to join a coven but the coven has not decided if they wish to take them yet.
• An aspirant, or neophytes, is someone who has joined a coven and has taken their oath but has not reached their first degree initiation.
• An initiate is anyone who has been initiated into the coven.
• The coven Oath is a promise made by a candidate to keep the secrecy of the craft and the coven.
• The first degree is where the aspirant makes their promise to begin their learning and to walk the path of the witch. This is seen as the new moon and the maiden aspect, full of enthusiasm and ready to absorb knowledge.
• The second degree is where the initiate begins learning to teach. The full moon and the mother, having knowledge and understanding.
• The third degree is where the initiate is ready to start their own coven when the time is right. The dark of the moon and the crone, age and wisdom.

Originally someone who wishes to be part of a coven would study a year and a day before meeting and working with their coven members at their first degree initiation. A year and a day, or more, after that they would take their second degree initiation. Much later they would take their third degree.

So if you do decide to join a coven, be a good covenor, be enthusiastic and ready to learn, and most of all turn up on time.

(You can find this and much much more in “The real witches coven.” by Kate West. It's an amazing book and perfect if you want to learn more.)

Bliss (or “the pagan life cycle”)

Some children born in pagan families are blessed before they're even born. The community is very welcoming and children are often thrown a Wiccaning instead of being christened. This is an equivalent welcoming into the world.

When the child has grown up, found the love of their life they can be hand-fasted which is an equivalent to getting married. There is also a hand parting ceremony for if the relationship simply doesn't work out. Paganism understands that people don't stay together forever and can simply fall out of love. It's one of those sad facts of life.

When the couple wants a baby there are fertility spells to help them along if they wish. Then, once the lady is pregnant there is a ritual that is called a belly blessing. Blessing the unborn child and wishing it health and happiness.

As the couple move on in life and retire some go through a wizzening as they are celebrated and pass on their wisdom.

Finally, when we pass on, as with any religion, there are funeral rights.

In paganism we are helped throughout our entire lives.

Coming out of the broom closet

This can go as well as it can go badly, that's why some people never admit their faith to those around them. If your family could truly never accept it then maybe it's better not to tell them. It's a sad truth. But if you do want to tell others, try telling a friend you trust first. See how they react and if they'll help you if things to go badly.

Next it's the parents. Admitting something big to your parents is probably one of the scariest thing you'll ever have to do, but remember, they love you. Try and be as educated as you can beforehand to answer any questions they have, or misconceptions they bring up.

A common one is that pagans worship Satan. The simple answer is that Satan is a Christian concept so pagans simply do not believe in him.

Another is that we all go bouncing around forests naked, shagging anything that moves. This is wrong as paganism can be very quiet and revolve around personal reflection and meditation.

If all else fails you can walk away from any argument and let them cool off. Sometimes shock does strange things to people's logic.

Overall? Relax.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

This means for everyone. Pagans are well known for their tolerance, most of the time. I've never found another faith so accepting, and that means for everyone. We don't get to choose. We have respect for all beings. Why am I drilling this in? Because part of pagan belief is not converting others. People will come to the faith if they want to but it is not our job to preach. Only answer questions if others ask.

We respect those of other faiths and their right to believe what they wish, hoping that they will treat us in kind. We respect the earth and all creatures. Now this doesn't mean going super vegan and never using a product made from a tree, it means respecting where our food and power comes from. Try and get those free range eggs and responsibly sourced paper, but if you can't understand that that is modern life.

Do some recycling and plant a tree or two, do charity work if you can and that's it. That's what respect means to me.

Why it's ok to be “fluffy bunny” sometimes.

We all have to start somewhere, somewhere safe and easy. This is the fluffy bunny stage. It's novel and new. You hug trees, run around in fields and frolic. All fun and games. Then you start your study, get your first wand, your first robe, maybe even your first personal alter. You meditate, read tarot, celebrate the festivals and even do your first spells. Wonderful. You really begin to enjoy your new faith.

Great. Now it's time to move on to the more serious stuff right?

Well, not if you're not ready.

It's not something you can turn your back on so it's an important decision. If you're not ready for that then that's ok. Be who you are, not who anyone expects you to be or who you think others expect you to be.

We will not all join covens. We will not all become high priests or priestesses. That's life.

You can't turn the lights on then complain it's too bright.

Rights and rituals through the year.

Now for the fun stuff. One thing pagans are known for is their parties and these are annual, here comes the yearly rundown :

Samhain - (pronounced sa-wen) 31st October. This is when the veil between the world of the living and the dead is thinnest, the mother becomes the crone and the god becomes the hunter for the winter. It is also when farmers would have completed their work for the year and would get ready for winter. It's the perfect time for a seasonal feast. Jacket potatoes are amazing for this time of year. Sausages are also traditional as the herbs and spices would preserve them over winter, so bring out the meat. Pumpkins and other autumnal veg are good too and fun to make a mess with while preparing. And finally apples are the fruit of choice this time of year. Go nuts.

For entertainment try apple bobbing. It was said that the first woman to catch an apple would be the first one to marry. I can't argue as I was always the first with the apple and I was the first one to marry.
Yule- 21st December. This is the festival of the rebirth of the sun. This is as it is the shortest day so the days could only get longer from there. The lord of holly finally gives way to the lord of oak and the lighter days begin to return. Nuts, turkey, winter veg and all those trimmings are what we need for this one. Jam and other preserve desserts are great too. Indulge that sweet tooth and do a little baking. Bread is a lot of fun and great to shape. Plus don't forget the good old Yule log. Decorate with all those rich green leaves like holly and add a little glitter if you must. Remember mistletoe is poisonous so a plastic version may be safer for a home with animals or children. And of course the Yule log. In modern times this has become a decadent chocolate roll with cream. Along with this coma educing sugar treat find your local wood-cutter and ask for a large log. The Yule log was meant to burn to the end of winter, keeping the house warm. So if you have a hearth (lucky so and so's) get a log big enough to fill the space and decorate with evergreens. Then light it. If, you are like us with no pretty space to burn things, buy a large log but carve out holes for tea-lights. Or, if you have young-un's (or are prone to setting yourself alight) you can substitute with fake battery candles or bright and shiny paper. Say your wishes for the year and the Spring to come, and watch the pretty fires burn.
Imbolg- 2nd February. This is where we celebrate the first signs of spring. The Crone become the maiden again. Colours of the season are white, yellow and light green. So candles of those colours would be a good idea. Lamb is on order for dinner and we can finally shake off the canned goods and salted meats, because everything is growing again! Time to get the candles out and make the world shine, we're fed up of all this darkness. This festival is counted as a fire festival but moreso about the light not the heat of the flames. So using fake candles for the light is appropriate. Making a crown of lights is a lot of fun. Using evergreens and battery pack LED's (to save the burning hair). Though if you are brave you can make it with candles and something to catch the wax. Birthday candles are great because they burn longer and make less mess.
Oestara- 21st March. This is the celebration of spring in all it's glory when the chicks have hatched and the hares are seen once again in the fields. This celebrates the fertility of the land, when everything blossoms and comes to life. Vernal Equinox now, to those who don't know this is when day and night are equal. And when we start to clean up for the year. Once again lamb is on the platter (baaa) and nettles and dandelions are on the menu, be it salad or a full bodied drink. Great time for a garden party and hand out packets of seeds as a gift (eating or planting). Also the great time for an egg hunt! If you are talented enough you could prick eggs to empty the yolk, then paint the shells. Hide them where you can and set a challenge. Whoever finds the most eggs wins a small prize, but everyone gets a prize to make it right. Children will love this.
Beltane- 1st May. This is another time when the veil is thin but more mischievous spirits come out to play this time. The Goddess going from being the maiden to the mother and the God becomes her consort, in other words, fertility festival! When unattached women would get together, children born of this occasion would be counted as children of the God. To ensure fertility people would jump over fires at this time of year and animals would be driven between fires to encourage pregnant animals. Picnics are perfect around this time of year. And mead is a favourite (though ask any witch and they will admit to a tipple or four of mead around any festival). Daisy chains are also fun things to do around now. And of course the traditional maypole.
Litha- 21st June. The celebration of the longest day . The Oak and the Holly king begin to fight again, where the Oak kind falls and the Holly king takes over. Orange veg and fruit are good at this time of year. Picnic and BBQs are great now, same as hefty salads. Deserts are brilliant, because it is getting hot around this time of year. Bring out the ices. Fun time to reenact the battle of the Oak and Holly king. If you have a large group of people you can split into teams and have a battle. Make sure the Holly king takes the reins.
Lammas- 1st August. This is also known as loaf-mas. This celebrates the beginning of the harvest. This time of year is perfect for baking bread, rabbit is the meat of the season but you can always substitute with meat pies and pasties. Now you can make a corn king that can be slain. Get some corn sheafs and fashion a man, then chop him down with a sickle (if you can stand the danger) otherwise you can throw things at him. When the corn king is dead, bury or burn him. A safer method is to pass him around a group of people, taking a piece each until he falls apart.
Madron- 21st September. The day and night are of equal length at this point. This was also when people would be able to find out how well the harvest had been. It's a great time to set aside grudges and arguments, a time of balance. The world is your oyster with food, because of the bountiful harvests. But always make sure it is fresh. Geese are well known to be eaten this time of year as well as roasted chestnuts. Good time to play conkers and break your fingers while doing it.

(Much of this info was taken from “The real witches kitchen” by Kate West. It's an amazing book. Pick it up.)

Health and safety

In many workings you'll be using candles so fire safety is paramount. Keep a bucket of water or sand around to put out any small fires and possibly a fire extinguisher if you can get hold of one. Keep your hair tied back if you're working over fires or candles. You don't need that trip to A&E. This applies to sleeves and robe skirts too. I don't want to see anyone in the paper because they were found rolling around in their underwear after accidentally setting their robe sleeves alight.

Next, do not drink herbal potions that are not intended for ingestion. This is important as many people have ended up in hospital or dead because they thought that just because something is herbal it's harmless. Deadly nightshade will kill you, plant or not.

Know your workspace. Often you'll be working at night so you'll want to know your area like the back of your hand. Even in your own garden you don't want to end up sitting in a flower bed, and if you're out you don't want to go walking off a fifty foot drop.

Dress for the weather. If it's minus fifteen you don't want to be working skyclad, no-one would blame you for wearing a thick coat and a hat. Skyclad in the snow only equals you freezing your bits off.

Always cast a circle. It's just common sense. You lock your doors before you go to bed so lock your spiritual doors before beginning work.

Use blades responsibly. These things are sharp tools, not toys. I know it's common sense but I refuse to be sued.

If you are working in a group have a qualified first aider. An ambulance can take twenty minutes, a cracked skull takes a lot less.

If you're on your own always make sure someone knows where you're going. Even the best of us can slip and get hurt. And if all else fails, take your mobile phone, fully charged and credited.

Glossary

• Skyclad: naked (let all the giggles out now thank you)
• Circle: A safe space you create before any working using a visualised circle of energy.
• Besom: Broom
• Deosil: clockwise
• Widdershins: anticlockwise
• Athame: (see Tools of the trade)
• The law of threefold: “Everything you do, good or bad, will return to you times three”. Mathematical karma people.
• The witches reed: “Do as you will, but harm none.” this is a Wiccan one but is a great rule for any pagan belief.

Tools of the trade

As in almost all religions at one point or another you will have some sort of sacred item. Here we have a few and a little explanation of what they are and why they're used.

• Wand. Yes these are real. You don't have to use one but they help channelling energy. They can be made from stone, crystal or wood and are personal to you. You can buy them if you wish but I find the best method is to head to woodland and find a fallen twig that appeals to you. Once you have your wand you can decorate it as much or as little as you like. Just remember, it's a tool not a glow stick.
• Broom. Not for flying on I'm afraid. You can use a broom to cleans a space before working, or in creating a circle. We'll come to that later so don't worry about it too much yet.
• Athame. This is a ceremonial knife, though modern ones are completely blunt. These are used in a similar way to wands and are often used as symbols for guess what, yes, a knife.
• Herb cutting knife. A knife for cutting herbs... that's it.
• Robes. These can be anything as long as you only use them for working, that's if you have any at all. Many modern pagans have black jumper and trousers for outside working as it's more comfortable and safer. These are work clothes so try not to have too many bells and whistles, and make sure that they're suitable for the weather in your area. It might get pleasantly warm in the circle but you won't be there forever. And if you don't like robes you could always go skyclad.
• Cup or chalice. It's a cup... It holds liquid...
• Book of … Well, there are many names for this book but you'll use it to write anything you learn, any spells or rituals you work and pretty much anything that pertains to your faith. For those still in the broom closet a lockable diary is perfect for this.
• Candles. For lighting and fire symbols. And many spells for that matter.

These are your most basic tools, we'll cover extra things later.

Basic Beliefs (your God has a 9 inch what?)

Lets start by saying this, you can believe what you like about Paganism, I'm not gonna tell you who is what and such. Now, there are probably more Goddesses and Gods associated with Paganism then you could shake a big stick at.

To be honest the basic belief of most Pagan 'Pantheons' (meaning a sect or culture. Such as Egyptian, Greek and Norse are examples) follow the principle that there is a Goddess. She created everything and is therefore the mother of everything. However, she couldn't do this alone and a God followed her, aiding her in everything she did. He is usually ritually sacrificed in some way (Osiris for example), but always comes back. There are then usually Goddesses and Gods that are in charge of certain areas of the respective world, feelings and acts. They also usually have statues and corresponding festivals associated with them. The various Goddess' and Gods are called upon for help in everyday tasks and around various times of year dependant on their use.

Mostly belief systems are based around how the world began and moral stories. These stories are passed down through the generations and retold by the eldest of the group, around the fire or at festivals. This is why it's hard to research most of the Pagan beliefs and a lot of them could have been lost over the ages. Word of mouth can be lost very easily and our ancestors were not ones for detailed analysis' of everything they did, the best you got were pots and pans. So everything we know now came from writing on the walls, Egyptian texts and very very lucky accounts of people passing on by word of mouth. However, we have probably lost so much more to the ages.

Now. Pagan beliefs seem to follow a matriarchal system. The women of the group were, not in charge so to say, but were seen as perfectly equal. Their input was highly thought of, as their wombs created life. Men, were equal. They hunted and gave the women their children. No-one was higher than the other. This is the same in any ritual working if you join a coven and when doing your work. But more on that in another episode.

Some beliefs had more Goddess' and Gods than others. Some only had the Goddess and God, others had a Goddess/God for everything, down to Nataero the Roman God of lost things.

And to another important point, the afterlife. Most pagan religions believe in reincarnation and an afterlife you go to, 1 while you're reflecting on the lessons of your old life and waiting to come back to earth, and 2 when you have learned all you can from your time on earth. In Wicca this is called the Summer-lands. A blissful place where you can celebrate or relax eternally. But there are differences from religion to religion.

Do's and don'ts

Yes ladies and gentlemen there are do's and don'ts. Most of these are a matter of politeness and etiquette, and are not etched in stone, they're just a guideline. Let's begin:

Do

• Research! Read up and learn. Paganism values knowledge. You don't have to go on a course or write essays but just pick up a book and read it before bed, meditate on a subject, google terms and talk to others.
• Have an open mind. This can all be a lot for someone not brought up in a pagan household and can be a bit of a shock. Just relax and absorb what you can.
• Make sure it's for you. Paganism isn't for everyone, the same as any religion. Learn about it and if you don't feel comfortable then keep looking for a faith that suits you. Paganism is wide ranging and it could be said that there's something for everyone, if not? Be glad that you have some new knowledge.
• Observe the world around you. Many pagan religions link in closely with the earth so it's a great idea to observe nature. Even in a big city you can watch the birds. Nature can tell you a lot about yourself and how you effect the world. That window box dying? Time to move it somewhere else, or check out any toxins in the water.
• Learn basic baking. It's fun and makes feasts so much easier. This is just advice to be honest. ^_^
  Don't
  
  
• Wear a tonne of pentacle jewellery. You don't want to look like an eighties rapper so tone down the pendants. Seeing someone covered in pentacles is obnoxious and even the most out and proud pagan would find it distasteful. A small pentacle is as powerful as a big one. Here less truly is more.
• Scream to the world that you are a witch. This is impolite and, one again, completely obnoxious. So many kids that have only ever seen tv witches do this and it has become an automatic eye roll. Say you're pagan if you must and leave it at that. Once again, less is more.
• Join just because it's different or 'cool'. You wouldn't go to any other church just for that so treat paganism with the same respect.
• Leave your books and tools out. People you don't want to could find them/damage them/touch them/throw them away. These things should be important to you and a cheap bookcase will keep them safe. A tidy pagan is a relaxed pagan.
• Start practising until you are sure you know what you're doing. Be careful what you wish for. In fact I have a personal story for this one. A good friend of mine had heard his friend had gone missing. This girl was nowhere to be found and her boyfriend was distraught. My friend cast a spell simply to find her safe and sound. Look at that wording. She was found safe and sound, in another man's bed. Yes, be very careful what you wish for.
• Spill blood. No beginner or intermediate spell would EVER ask for this. If you must give of yourself give a lock of hair. It's health, safety and hygiene people. More on this later.
• Mix your pantheons. During a spell you may call on a god and a goddess, but these must both be from the same pantheon. Separate pantheons do not get along. Think of shoving two opposing football teams in the same locker room.

First rule of fight club

Don't talk about paganism. For many years being pagan meant never telling anyone. It was simple survival as until relatively recently you could still be executed for witchcraft. Thanks to the pharmaceutical industry that was thankfully repealed and we can now be out and proud pagans without fear of being thrown in the local lake and accused of turning people into newts, even if they did get better before the trial.

Some older pagans, especially those in active covens, still keep to this rule for the safety and privacy of their members. They also take on “witch names” to keep their identities secret, as sadly though it is now legal to be pagan people can still be very closed minded. This is all fine. If you want to have your privacy that's your choice and it can often be a very good one. Being in the broom closet is not a crime.

What is Paganism?

A pagan religion is defined as any none Abrahamic religion (such as Christianity or Judaism) but when we hear the word pagan in a modern context we think of earth religions. Wicca is probably the most well known earth religion but there are many others such as Druidism and Shamanism. I may probably get a lot of flack for using a lot of terminology that many serious pagans consider “new age” but as it gets my point across in a clear way I hope I can be forgiven.

The new age movement is often frowned upon by the serious pagan community due to the way it spawned the popularisation of earth religions, giving way to many people who do not study and know very, very, little of the true meaning of the faith.

Ok, I've been very serious up until now so it's time to relax with some cake and wine and move on.