Pagan Living Magazine
WINTER 2015
Vol 5 Issue I $12.99
Contents Merry Meet, Merry Starting Over It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Horoscopes For the Body, Mind, and Spirit It Begins With A Cup of Tea Learning a New God: Hades Learning a New Goddess: Hel Alters - Creating Sacred Space Working With The Ancestors 4
6 7 9 15 21 25 27 29 33
Dark Time Beckons By Lady Maya HPS Golden Crescent Coven And Now A Word About Winter! Questions Asked and Answered Can A Witch Be Solitary for Too Long? Making A Living Out of Your Passions The Colorful Cranberry Creating A Yule Log PLM Media Guide Get Out and Meet Thy Fellow Pagan Merry Meet, Merry Part
35 36 37 41 46 48 54 55 57 64
Pagan Living Magazine is published four (4) times a year by WitchWriters.com Farmington, NM 87499. 505.419.6494. Four (4) issue subscriptions delivered by postal mail: in the U.S.: $40, Canada $55, Overseas $80. Four (4) issue digital PDF subscriptions delivered by download: $40.
Š The Pagan Federation
MERRY MEET, MERRY STARING OVER
T
here are times when we all have had to start over. The journey of the Fool through the Tarot has taught us that. The top of the tree of life is merely the bottom of the next. Every experience we go through gives us the skills to move to next level, and so it is with Pagan Living.
This issue brings a return and new beginning to Pagan Living Magazine and along with it, new owners. My wife and I are very happy to be granted the opportunity to return Pagan Living Magazine to production and we hope we can continue to build on the work done by Tenae S. We hope to continue to do both the Pagan Community and the magazine justice. We hope you, as the reader, can find things which will help to make your life easier and more fulfilling. 6
Owner, Art and Design, Social Medias: Johnny D. Adams Editor and Advertising Sales: Amy L. Adams IT: Jonathan Adams All Contents remains the Copyright of the author/artist 2015WitchWriters.com. Online: www.paganlivingmagazine.com On Social Media: facebook.com/paganlivingmagazine
5
It Begins With A Cup of Tea
before life becomes crazy with having to host parties, taking away the rum from Aunt Martha, or going cross-eyed trying to put together a bike at 2 By Star Wolf am for little Johnny, lets create lication is meant some sacred space in your to help you cope home. with those daiIf you are like me, “spring ly struggles of cleaning” is done twice a year, handling conflict, making yourself once in the spring and once available to your again in the fall. At least that community and is the plan, but life happens putting a little joy and sometimes that schedule into your life, I’ll doesn’t work. There are those focus on one item times when you are looking at at a time. I’ve all the Samhain items that need been doing this to go up or perhaps, you have for so long, that bits and bobs scattered about when asked this from your latest sewing projquestion what is ect for Witches Ball, whatever Pagan living, my the case may be, sacred space response is that must be created for your own it is simply liv- sanity and it begins with a cup ing. It’s not about of tea. (See Clear Thoughts focusing only Tea) on those 8 times per year in which De-Cluttering you might put on Pick one main room to your pointed hat start out with such as the kitchand wave a wand about; it’s about en, dining room, living room being aware of or foyer/entry way. Next, have everyday actions 5 boxes/containers labeled: agan Living can mean and trying to live a life in which keep, sale, donate, trash, and ‘I don’t know’. As you go so many things to people. you are true to yourself. through your items, be quick Ask the question, ‘how do Although our new year is about it and don’t think too you live a magickal life’ and just starting, for many, the winter you’ll get as many respons- months can be overwhelming, es- hard on any one item. Before es as there are gods and pecially if you are trying to blend you know it, you’ve managed goddess’. But as this pub- your celebrations with family. So, to clear out 80% of your movies (only keeping those that if the Internet went out, you have something to watch), you can actually close your cupboards and oh look, there’s an actual I feel that all projects should start with a good cup table to eat at! When we start to of tea. By all means have your favorite as you gathclear the clutter from our lives er your thoughts on how to tackle the project ahead. and get rid of those things that If you’re feeling adventuresome, here’s one that I like no longer serve a purpose, we to brew up: make room for better things 2 parts Rosemary, 1 part Basil, 2 Parts orange peel, and have the ability to calm 2 parts Lemon Balm, 1 part Eyebright, 4 parts Oolong, our minds as well. ½ part Elderberries, . Now that you have your (The ‘parts’ measurement is whatever you use boxes, what do you do with to measure with; use throughout the mixture).
P
Clear Thoughts Tea
Learning a New God: Hades
Johnny D. Adams when you ask most Pagans what they are doing in their free time, we normally respond – reading.
It seems strange to me
but when I took over this magazine, I wanted to do a section in each issue that is devoted to learning about a different God and Goddess. While that sounds great, to begin with, this would mean that: at two deities per issue, four issues per year, it will only take a little over 2,500 issues to cover the topic; we are still talking over six hundred years of material. It is no wonder
On the other hand, once I had this series in mind (it just wouldn’t leave me alone), the next question was who to start off with. To tell you the truth, it is still difficult to understand why, the one who sat like a child kicking the back of my chair to get my attention is: Hades. Which, to be honest was really strange. Although I know about the Greek Pantheon and some of their Gods and Goddess, Hades would have been the last one I would have thought about choosing. But as things go, it kind of makes since, after all, this is our winter issue. Plants are dead or dormant. We just passed beyond Samhain and all of its fun. The weather has us stuck indoors. While
HADES IN RECENT MOVIES Hades has been in the movies. In 2010, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief played by Steve Coogan, and the remake of Clash of the Titans and its sequel Wrath of the Titans played by Ralph Fiennes. He is depicted as an antagonist in all three but only evil in Clash and he turns into an ally in Wrath. In the Disney 1997
film Hercules, Hades appears as the main antagonist. Unlike the mythological Hades, this version is a fast-talking, evil deity; a combination of Satan and a dodgy Hollywood agent. He plans to overthrow Zeus and rule the Universe, and to kill Hercules before that so the hero doesn’t foil his plot. The character was voiced by James Woods.
we like to think our money issues don’t affect our lives, they have a huge effect on our Yule events. Wait, I know you read that last line and thought, “what does money have to do with Hades?” Trust me, we’ll get to that. First, who is Hades? Hades is the Greek god of the Underworld. The oldest son of Cronus and Rhea. At that time, it was told- the children overthrew their parents and took their positions. Cronus had done that to his father and to avoid this, Cronus had swallowed his children when they were born so they wouldn’t overthrow him. When Zeus was born, Rhea fed Cronus a stone and sent Zeus far away. When Zeus was grown, he returned and gave Cronus an emetic which caused him to regurgitate his children, the children went on to overthrow Cronus and the other Titans. After the war, Hades and his two brothers, Poseidon and Zeus, drew lots for realms to rule. Zeus got the sky, Poseidon got the seas, and Hades received the Underworld; the unseen realm to which the souls of the dead go upon leaving the world as well as any and all things beneath the Earth. The “any and all” things beneath the Earth is the one thing which people miss about Hades and why I noted money before. As the ruler of all things beneath the Earth, this means Hades is ruler of all things under the Earth Coolidge, Olivia E.
Working With The Ancestors N ow that we are head-
ed into the winter months, the days are becoming shorter and the nights are becoming longer and longer. There is chill in the wind that seems to go right to our bones. The leaves are brown and the vegetation seems to be dying. This is the time that most Pagans and magickal groups turn their attention to the Ancestors. At Samhain, we decorate our altars with skulls, black candles, and pictures of our deceased loved ones to give them honor and perhaps offerings. Then at the end of the season, we take down our decorations and prepare for Yule. But, what about the rest of the year? What about the Ancestors during the light time of the year?
By Rev. Chris Allaun
Patriarchal religions often describe the afterlife as some far away place. They teach that once you die, you go somewhere to never be seen again by the living. Pagans do not necessarily believe this to be so. Some Pagans believe that upon death, your energies and spirit merge with the land, sky, trees, and rivers. With this thought, the land becomes more sacred than we already believe. Other Pagans believe that there is a veil that separates the “worlds” and that those who know how to part the veil are able to help the Ancestors come and go from the spirit world to our world. The Ancestors can add much power to your magickal and spiritual work. They can help you with divination, spell-craft, and spiritual protection of the home.
To get started with our ancestor practice, you must first build an Ancestor altar. Find a space in the living room. You want them to be a part of your life. Never put them in a closet our some secret space. We do not hide our loved ones when they are alive; we do not want to hide them in death. If you are “closeted” by your spiritual practice, simply tell your guests that you want to remember your Ancestors. I have found people find honor in this. You will then need to decide “who” will be on your altar. I always say trust your intuition. If it feels right, then use that Ancestor. If not, then don’t. You can use a pendulum, the tarot, or runes to divine who is best suited for your altar. After you have decided who goes on your altar, you will need to find pictures. You may have to do some thorough research on this. I often have students who swear up and down that they have no pictures of great aunt Thelma, only to have their mother pull out some dusty old photo albums long forgotten. If your relatives will not give away a picture of an Ancestor, ask if you may scan it. The picture may not be perfect, but it will do. You will want to have three to four ancestors on your altar. Any more than that, then your altar will feel crowded. Place an offering bowl in front of each picture. The offerings will be of water or some kind of food. Try to stay away from food with a lot of salt. Salt drains a spirit’s energy and does more harm than good. Foods I often use are pasta, rice, beans, breads, and fruits. Now, you will place one candle in the center of the altar. There is no need for many candles. One is plenty. Every day, light your Ancestor candle and say a prayer 33
Can A Witch Be
Solitary For Too Long? By Johnny D. Adams
e h T ful y r r o r l e o b C n a r C M
BY SHAWNEE KIRCHER
any of us associate
the Cranberry with Thanksgiving – Cranberry Sauce, Cranberry Chutney, Cranberry Jam, and Cranberry Pastries – but did you know the Native Americans used Cranberries for much more than a simple tartly sweet treat? Folk medicine has touted the benefits of Cranberry juice for the treatment of urinary tract infections for centuries, and recently, modern medicine has supported this finding, due to the proanthocyanidins inherent in Cranberries that inhibit the growth of E.coli in the urinary tract. In addition, Cranberries are very high in Vitamin C and used to prevent vitamin deficiencies such as scurvy. The name “Cranberry” is thought to have derived from the observation that cranes liked to eat the berries, while others believe that the blossom looks like that of a crane’s head. In Victorian Flower Language, the Cranberry blossom symbolizes the giver extending kindness to the receiver. Cranberries have also symbolized the Earth’s abundance, which is why we still offer them at our Thanksgiving feasts. Eastern Europeans believed Cranberries could reduce fever and cure cancers. Romans believed Cranberries were used in Pagan rituals practiced by the indigenous island tribes and aided their enemies to see at night. In the 1800’s, German physicians noted an increase in hippuric acid, a known anti-bacterial, in the urine of those who recently consumed Cranberries. Researchers are now considering Cranberry’s effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of urinary tract infection. “At Chemong Lake, great medicinal virtue was attributed to the Cranberry; it was administered raw when treating for dysentery; and a cranberry poultice was applied to relieve wounds, inflammations, tumors, etc.” (Journal of American Folklore - Volume 1, Page 156 - 1888). 48
“The Indians have great belief in the efficacy of poultices of stewed cranberries, for the relief of cancers. They apply them fresh and warm every ten or fifteen minutes, night
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