Spells and Magick

Lookie, lookie! My Llewellyn Contributing Author copies have arrived!

This year I am published in the Magical Almanac for the third consecutive year and the Spell-A-Day Almanac for the first time. Blessed Be!

I am grateful to be a member of the Llewellyn family. I find it extremely hopeful and encouraging there are so many who still look to Nature and the Old Ways, for their spiritual nourishment and direction, especially in these trying times.

In the 2017 Magical Almanac, you will find my article “Drumming Up the Sun.” It’s about the Pagan community of Denver, Colorado and our ritual of drumming up the Sun at Red Rocks, for the Winter Solstice. Red Rocks Park has long held a special place in my heart. I am thrilled to have written an article about it.

In the 2017 Spell-A-Day Almanac, you'll find twenty-five spells written by yours truly. I loved writing the spells, I felt like I was writing my own spell book. Some of my favorites are the ones I wrote about the National Parks, Lady Bugs and Samhain.

May my articles along with the other articles and spells, written by some of the most fabulous and magickal people, help to uplift, guide and conjure up goodness on your path.

Prepping for Lammas

It's July and it's hot. It's hard to get our minds around harvest time celebrations, although if the heat is wearing you down, you probably are already entertaining thoughts of cooler days and nights. And since we know Summer will eventually leave us, now is a good time to start thinking about the ritual of our first harvest celebration.

Granted sometimes there isn't much time for ritual prep. I know it's been for hard for me, for many years, to get ahead of the Wheel. Seems we just get over one holiday and the next one is on the horizon. And if you follow the Wheel of the Year, we have eight holidays to prep for and celebrate, which can seem like a lot. Sometimes all one can do is acknowledge the day, perhaps light a candle and blow a kiss. Believe me I've been there. So I am grateful for the times when I can do a little pre-ritual preparing, even if it's only in my thoughts.

Following the everyday calendar, there won't be another holiday until Labor Day in September. It's nice to have the lesser Sabbat of Lammas to break up the long hot Summer. And since Witches are keenly tuned to Nature, we can feel the change coming. As I live in Colorado, the mornings already have a slight chill to them, even as the boiling hot day comes into play.

Llewellyn publishes wonderful resources, books, and hints on how to prepare for the Sabbats. I'm thinking of setting out delicious veggies, plants and flowers. All things which symbolize the abundance of a first harvest, the good stuff the hot Summer days have brought us. We've got a few weeks to go, so of course none of these ideas are set in stone, but it's good to start thinking about it!

Sunday Morning Muse

What is it about Sun Day morning that awakens my muse? Is it the stillness, the quiet, the day of rest, which we've grown up with as a tradition?

Even though the world is now clearly a twenty-four non-stop place, arising early to enjoy the quiet of morning can do wonders for your mind, body and spirit. I've been staying up late, lately, so today I am thankful to have gone to bed early enough to rise early on a Sunday morning.

As a creative person, my muse slips away so easily. She can be with me seemingly forever and just like that, she disappears into the shadows, waiting for me to tease her and acknowledge her back out again.

Today the bird feeder I placed in my yard several weeks ago, found it's first bird. I'm taking it as a sign the Magick is back.

May you find signs to guide you today as well. And may your Sun Days be blessed.