Category: Miscellaneous Pagan
Wheel of the Year: The 8 Wiccan Holiday Festivals
For the Northern Hemisphere
For the Southern Hemisphere
In Wicca, we make it a point to honor both feminine and masculine energies, lunar and solar cycles. When we’re practicing our craft according to the lunar cycles, we honor the Moon Goddess with esbats. However, we also have eight solar festivals throughout the year, which are represented by the Wiccan Wheel of the Year.
The Wheel of the Year is a physical representation of the eight pagan festivals that celebrate nature’s life cycles. These eight Sabbats include four solar events — two solstices and two equinoxes — and four cross-quarter events. But how did this calendar come about in the first place?
The Origin of the Wheel of the Year Calendar
Many historians postulate that ancient pagans marked the passing of time by celebrating certain solar events. On top of that, some of their celebrations were a way to mark events that had agricultural significance. Even so, we can’t say that the seasonal festivals we’re about to discuss ever existed in their current forms. So how did we get to the Wheel of the Year we observe today?
Well, believe it or not, the Wiccan Sabbats are a result of decades, if not centuries, of modern interpretations of ancient rites. In fact, some pretty famous scholars unknowingly participated in the…
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Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Axis Mundi
From moonlitpriestess.com
Also referred to as the World Tree, the cosmic axis on which all connected realms are centered.
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Aura
From moonlitpriestess.com
A single or multi-colored light produced by heat energy and electromagnetic energy that emanates from all objects. Some believe the ability to physically see an aura can be developed and used to help in understanding a person’s state of health and personality. Some schools of thought count several layers of auras, though only the one is currently backed by modern science.
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Boline
From moonlitpriestess.com
A white-handled knife (sometimes curved, somewhat like a hand-held scythe) used for inscribing, harvesting herbs, etc. In some traditions, the boline is separate from the white-handled knife and used exclusively in the garden.
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Archetype
From moonlitpriestess.com
Universal pattern, symbol, or figure believed to be of primordial origins; typically used as a form of language between the conscious and subconscious minds. The most famous theories and discussions of the role and importance of archetypes were first proposed by psychologist Carl Jung.
August 2022 Full and New Moon Esbats
From modernwellnesswitch.com
AUGUST 12TH
CORN MOON IN AQUARIUS
Magical Influence: A time of harvest, vitality and appreciation. Focus on health and friendships.
Moon Correspondences:
Plants: Bay, fennel, hazel, sunflower, St Johns wort, rue, cedar, hazel, orange, marigold, chamomile, & alder
Colors: Gold & yellow
Stones: Carnelian, fire agate, cat’s eye, & jasper
Animals: Dragon, crane, lion, phoenix, falcon, & eagle
AUGUST 27TH
NEW MOON IN VIRGO
Magical Influence: This New Moon in Virgo is the time to reset and start fresh. It’s also a good time to reassess your current path and try to avoid making the same mistakes over and over again.
AUGUST PAGAN CALENDAR OF OBSERVANCES
AUG. 1: LUGHNASSADH / LAMMAS SABBAT: First Harvest—Bread Harvest. First Harvest Festival of the Celtic Sun God Lugh.
AUG. 2: Feast of the Black Madonna – Gnostic celebration of the Dark Goddess
AUG. 3: Day of the Dryads – Greek celebration of the Macedonian maiden spirits of woods and water.
AUG. 3-4: Feast of Old Greek Goddess Artemis (Roman Diana) – Defender of rights and liberties, and punisher of rapists and oppressors.
AUG. 5: Celtic Tree Month of Hazel begins.
AUG. 6: Celtic Fire Festival of Tan Hill.
AUG. 9: Druid Feast of the Fire Spirits
– Roman Vinalia Rustica: wine festival of Venus and Pan
AUG. 11-13: Feast of Father Sky – Honoring God as Obatala (Yoruba/Santeria), Ouranos (Greek), Svarog (Slavic), Thor (Norse), Taranis (Celtic), Dyaus (Hindu).
– Celtic Puck Fair – Fertility Festival.
AUG. 12: The Lights of Isis, Festival of the Egyptian Goddess Isis.
AUG. 19: Roman Vinalia: Marriage of Bacchus
AUG. 20: Marriage of the God and Goddess—Sun God enters Earth Goddess and rules Underworld as Lord of the Shadows.
AUG. 21: Festival of Hecate—Invoking her to protect the harvests now that the God resides within her aspect as the Earth Goddess.
AUG. 21: Greek Festival of Hecate – To protect the harvest.
AUG. 24: Feast of Egyptian God Osiris – Partner and true love of Isis, and father of Horus; guide of all husbands, fathers, and judges.
AUG. 25: Norse God Odin receives knowledge.
– Roman Festival of Goddess Ops – Lady of the Cornucopia, Bounty of the Harvest and Sustainer of Life.
AUG.27: Feast of Egyptian Goddess Isis – Partner and true love of Osiris, and mother of Horus; guide of all wives, mothers, healers, advocates, and teachers.
AUG. 28: Norse Harvest Festival.
AUG. 29 -Sep 11: Return of Isis – Egyptian festival marking the return to Egypt of Goddess Isis (as the star of Sept/Sirius) and God Osiris (as the rising Nile River).
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Ankh
From moonlitpriestess.com
An ancient Egyptian symbol resembling a cross with a loop at the top. It symbolizes life and cosmic knowledge. Most Egyptian Gods and Goddess are shown carrying one. Also known as the crux ansata, the Ankh is used in modern craft for fertility and health.
Living Liminally: Discerning Good Source Material
One thing that’s important for anyone who relies, to any degree, on sources outside themselves for spirituality – or anything else – is being able to judge a good source from a bad one. So today I want to just run down a quick list of ways to vett sources of any type to decide how much weight you should give to something. Even if a source isn’t perfect it may have value – or it may be immediately tossed out. It depends on how it measures up.
- What sources does this source use? – One of the first things I do with any new source, be it written, video, in person, or what-have-you, is to try to look at what sources that source is using. Are they talking purely from personal gnosis? Are they using academic texts? Are they using other authors based in personal gnosis? Are they using well known and respected sources? Are they referencing conspiracy theorists or known white supremacists? Do they have no sources at all that they admit to? All of these things need to be taken into account. Something that’s entirely personal gnoses isn’t necessarily bad but needs to be understood in that context, while something from a deeply flawed or problematic source will be eliminated.
- Never once the Wikipedia – Okay this is bit ranty right here, but as soon as I see wikipedia listed as a source for anything I’m done with that source. There’s a very good reason that wikipedia can’t be used in college, university, or even high school classes: its notoriously unreliable and oddly biased. Anyone can and does edit wikipedia and while its true that wikipedia cites sources and includes references pretty much any print or online source can be used and there is no quality control. Let me repeat; there is no quality control. The entry on Baobhan Sithe was sourced mainly from modern vampire guides, themselves largely repeating modern urban legends, and from RPG guidebooks. No really. The entry on Finnbheara contained an assertion straight from a fiction novel (I removed it, because remember anyone can edit wikipedia). Please don’t trust anything on wikipedia or any article using wiki as a source. Just don’t.
- What is the author’s bias? – Every author or teacher has biases, that’s just human nature. Figuring out what to think of a source means understanding what that source’s biases are and …
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Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Projective Hand
From moonlitpriestess.com
Dominant hand; generally used to send energy from the body in magick.
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Receptive Hand
From moonlitpriestess.com
Opposite of the projective hand; generally used to receive energy or sense information in the body in magick.
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Natural Magick
From moonlitpriestess.com
Another term for Earth Magick, magick that is drawn from the energies of the Earth, natural objects, the Elements, etc.
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Words are
Hagstone
and
Holey Stones
From moonlitpriestess.com
Another name for holey stones.
and
Rocks with naturally occurring hole through their centers; known for protection and luck; believed that peering through the hole provides the ability to see creatures of other realms.
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Dabbler
From moonlitpriestess.com
Refers to a person who, without proper training and/or education, decides to practice any form of magick; generally considered as harmless in most cases, but can cause ill effects (typically in the dabbler’s own life) due to the lack of required knowledge, awareness, and/or skill depending upon the specifics dabbled in.
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Word is
Incense
From moonlitpriestess.com
Herbs, oils, or other aromatic items which are burned – usually in the censer – to scent, cleanse, purify, or add intention to the air during ritual and magick.
Pagan and Magickal Terms and Definitions
Today’s Words are
Archetype
From moonlitpriestess.com
Universal pattern, symbol, or figure believed to be of primordial origins; typically used as a form of language between the conscious and subconscious minds. The most famous theories and discussions of the role and importance of archetypes were first proposed by psychologist Carl Jung.
July 13 Today in History
Today’s Important Historical Events
1772 Captain James Cook begins 2nd voyage aboard the Resolution to the South Seas to search for Terra Australis (Southern continent)
1832 Source of Mississippi River discovered by American geographer Henry Schoolcraft
1943 Greatest tank battle in history ends with Russia’s defeat of Germany at Kursk, almost 6,000 tanks take part, 2,900 lost by Germany
1966 A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada founds the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna movement) in New York City
Today’s Historical Events
574 John III ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1174 William I of Scotland, key rebel in Revolt of 1173-1174, captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Henry II of England
1522 Hunger appeal by women of Utrecht
1558 Battle of Gravelines: In France, Spanish forces led by Count Lamoral of Egmont defeat the French forces of Marshal Paul des Thermes at Gravelines
1568 Dean of St. Paul’s London, Alexander Nowell perfects a way to bottle beer
1573 Haarlem surrenders after 7 months to Spanish army
1643 Battle at Roundway Down: Royalists beat parliamentary armies
1645 Aleksei Romanov succeeds his father Michael as Tsar of Russia
Today’s Historical Events in Film and TV
1923 The Hollywood Sign is officially dedicated in the hills above Hollywood, Los Angeles. It originally reads “Hollywoodland” but the four last letters are dropped after renovation in 1949
1939 Frank Sinatra makes his recording debut, with The Harry James Orchestra, singing “From the Bottom of My Heart” and “Melancholy Mood”
1956 WCBI TV channel 4 in Columbus, MS (CBS) begins broadcasting
1978 BBC bans Sex Pistols “No One is Innocent”
1987 Federal judge throws out Bette Midler‘s $10 million suit against Ford Motor Co, who used a sound alike voice for their TV commercials
1988 Sting performs his 1st Rain Forest benefit at the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
1994 Former NFL running back, broadcaster and actor O.J. Simpson (charged with murder) gives hair samples for testing
2005 TV police procedural “The Closer” debuts on TNT starring Kyra Sedgwick
Today’s Historical Events in Music
1668 Van Marco Cesti’s opera “Il Pomo d’Oro” (the Golden Apple or Tomato) premieres in Vienna
1935 Richard Strauss resigns as chairman of Reichskulturkammer
1946 Musical revue “Tidbits of 1946” closes at Plymouth Theater, NYC. after 8 performances
1979 George Harrison releases single “Faster”
1984 Eddie Van Halen makes a guest appearance, performing “Beat It”, in a Jacksons concert, in Dallas, Texas
1984 Jeff Beck quits Rod Stewart’s tour after 7 shows
1985 “Live Aid” concerts held at both Wembley Stadium (London) and John F. Kennedy Stadium (Philadelphia) raises over $70 million for African famine relief
1987 Kylie Minogue releases her debut single “Locomotion”
Today’s Historical Events in Sports
1881 Wimbledon Men’s Tennis: William Renshaw beats defending champion John Hartley 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 for first of his 7 Wimbledon singles titles
1885 Wimbledon Men’s Tennis: 5 straight Wimbledon titles for William Renshaw; for second consecutive year he beats Herbert Lawford 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5
1886 Wimbledon Men’s Tennis: William Renshaw beats Herbert Lawford for the 3rd straight year 6-0, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 for his 6th consecutive Wimbledon championship
1895 Wimbledon Men’s Tennis: Wilfred Baddeley beats Wilberforce Eaves 4-6, 2-6, 8-6, 6-2, 6-3 for his third Wimbledon singles title
1896 Philadelphia outfielder Ed Delahanty becomes second major leaguer to hit 4 HRs in a game as Phillies lose 9-8 to Chicago Colts at the West Side Grounds, Chicago
1900 Phillies beat Pittsburgh 23-8
1919 Boston Red Sox pitcher Carl Mays walks off mound blaming teammates for lack of support in field
1924 Albin Stenroos wins Olympic marathon (2:41:22.6)
Mysterious ‘Lord of the Universe’ Deity from Ancient Palmyra Finally Identified
The identity of an unknown god described in inscriptions from the ancient city of Palmyra, located in modern-day Syria, has long baffled scientists. But now, a researcher declares that she has cracked the case.
Palmyra existed for millennia and the city flourished around 2,000 years ago as a center of trade that connected the Roman Empire with trade routes in Asia, such as the Silk Road.
The anonymous deity is mentioned in numerous Aramaic inscriptions at Palmyra and is referred to as “he whose name is blessed forever,” “lord of the universe” and…
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