Witchvox - New Articles This Week
The Sustainability of Music in Paganism [Alfred Surenyan]
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 10:00pmThe Neo- Pagan Movement has now been active for roughly 50-60 years. The movement included the birth and growth of several different religions including Wicca, Feri, Reclaiming, Druidism, and many other traditions. Any type of organization, religious or non- religious that the human race participates has included many of their artistic values; and music is among them. Music has been a part of civilization since the pre- historic man. Man has been creating organized sound since the forming of the
One Soul Mate Or More? [Étaín]
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 10:00pmSo lately there have been many posts about love spells so it seems that with spring fever in the air people are seeking out that lasting relationship, the one who will make all their dreams come true and the one who will do the dance with them lifetime after lifetime.Does such a person exist? In my personal experience yes. This person does exist however there may be many persons who would fit into that category. Other people with that soul-link who may not necessarily be that perso
In Defence of the Masculine [Luthien]
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 10:00pmWhy is it that far fewer men than women are attracted to Paganism, and specifically in Wicca far fewer still? Why do covens that celebrate and practice a religion that promotes a balanced gender polarity often aim but struggle to have equal numbers of male and female members? Does the idea of dancing round in a circle holding hands fill the average male with horror? Perhaps so, but there is a reason that many men can and do combine normal, socially accepted male hobbies with a spiritual lifest
The Many Moons of Planet Earth [Serendipity]
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 10:00pmOk, maybe that is a bit misleading. When we look up into the sky we clearly see one nice, big moon so a more accurate title would be, and quot;The Many Aspects of Earth's Moon, and quot; but my title is cuter. Before we move on to discussing Blue Moons lets look a little at the history of our moon. Our moon began as a mass of debris that was thrown into orbit around our planet after something very large hit our planet at just the right angle. It didnt hit the earth head on or it would probably
Grounding, Centering and Balance [Nita]
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 10:00pmOver the years I have told people hundreds of times to ground their energies, center their energies, and balance their elements. It is supposed to be taught everywhere and be common knowledge. Yet most people do not know how to do this properly. I have had an experience recently that has proven how important this is in life. It is important to relax, unwind, and do many things. I will give a few simple methods.Grounding:Grounding is essential to clearing out negativity when you h
What Do You Do When The You-Know-What Hits The Fan? [Dove]
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 10:00pmWell I wish I knew the answer to that one. Im an expert in needing to know the answer because lately, I really have been asking the question.About a year ago I found out that my best friend had developed breast cancer. Not the kind where we take a little tumor out and you go home and all is well. No the kind where we give you chemo from hell and then cut you breast off and then burn up your skin with radiation leaving you with an opening in your chest which has not healed yet! This was
The Power Of Positive Thinking [Lady Wolfwind]
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 10:00pmIve learned a lot over the years. Ive done a lot of thinking and have come to a lot of conclusions of why my life is the way it is. As Ive mentioned in a previous article, my grandparents raised me. Two loving individuals who made sure that I never needed nor wanted for anything brought me up. As I think back, years later in my life, I know now how blessed I was to have had them. Also, as mentioned before, they both passed when I was quite young and quite ill equipped to deal
My Spiritual Journey [Willow]
Wed, 06/30/2010 - 10:00pmI grew up in a mixture of city and country. You might say I grew up in a mixture of Christianity and Paganism as well, although I was only taught Christianity. My mother was born to a thoroughly Christian man who had converted his wife before their marriage. She was not a Christian when they met although to this day she is the one who will preach the Bible at me more than anyone. They raised all of their children in the Christian religion and my mother adhered to it like nobody's business. Every
James H. Stevens [Rev. David Sparks]
Sat, 06/26/2010 - 10:35pmThis is a remembrance and honor of James Stevens. First of all, our hearts go out to James' beautiful family, Jose, Cindy, Sarah, Tammy, and Josh, with granddaughter Emma. They need to be honored for their love, care, and honor of James throughout his life and this recent illness. The Stevens family remembers James as a wonderful husband, father, and friend. We remember James as Elder, Founder of Summerland, leader, and friend. Before any of us met James, his life began here in Decatur o
Pagan Values: Faith and Magic [Circe's Child]
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 5:40pmWhat is faith? That question creates a conundrum for Pagans. We identify ourselves as Pagans because our views differentiate us from other religious groups--specifically, our views about Deity/Deities. Its how we relate to those Deities that brings up the question of faith. Were in a unique position, we Pagans. Those of us who follow traditions such as Wicca and similar systems believe in magic; we believe that we can alter our world in certain ways using ritual, creative visual
Love, Lust, and the Natural Order of Things [Fire Lyte]
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 5:40pmLove spells. Is there any kind of spell more representative of a witchs magic? The steaming cauldron filled with flowers, herbs, and more unmentionable materials. The words and actions summoning up great power. The pictures or poppets or images of the desired beloved. The ensnared lover who suddenly has fallen utterly and hopelessly in love with one whom he or she previously had found repulsive. Love magic is as old as magic itself, and in modern day witchcraft, it is some of the most f
The Meaning of Sacrifice [Ryan Smith]
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 5:40pmSacrifice often conjures up images of loss and bloodshed in the popular imagination. Just think of the images of priests in arcane garb with a young, innocent virgin tied down on an ancient altar about to have her heart ripped out in a ritual to appease a greater power. This is a common image, and misconception, that circulates in the popular imagination among others that is at best a superficial representation of what sacrifice really is. Sacrifice, on the contrary, is not an act of loss or har
Solstice of the Soul [Maggi Horseman]
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 5:40pmYesterday I was thinking about how many times the idea that we die alone is portrayed in literature. There is a tension between turning toward our families for support, comfort and sharing the journey and the dark, quiet moments where we must turn inward. I have always agreed that the really hard, personal work, no matter how close you are to people or how many loved ones you have, is done alone. Daily practice, meditation, shadow work, whether you are solitary or in a magickal working g
A Summer Solstice Primer [Krishanna]
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 5:40pmSummer Solstice is celebrated with festivals and rites reaching from Scandinavia to North Africa, marks the suns maximum height in the sky, making it the longest day and shortest night of the year. Before the calendar was changed in the 18th century, the Solstice was celebrated on the 4th of July. Now the date of the summer solstice varies slightly from year to year. This year it happens to fall on June 21st but generally the actual can vary from June 20th through June 24th, with some solstice
A Love Spell That Worked [Morgan Firescry]
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 5:40pmI once did a love spell. I used tarot cards symbolizing the exact type of man I wanted. Other things went into it as well. Timing, my altar, appeals to the Goddess, etc. My wish was for a man of character who could fulfill my needs both spiritually and mentally, and sexually. I prayed for nothing less than I deserved. What I got was so surprisingly amazing, I almost decided never to do a spell again. Why? Because I got everything I ever needed. My prayers where answered beyond even what I could
So Your Magic Has Failed You [Iritar]
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 5:40pmSo you find yourself in a position where things did not turn out as you had hoped. You've lost your house, your spouse, and your sanity to whatever situations have occurred in your life. Your spells and energy work seemed to have failed.Hope has always been recognized as a great virtue that you can have to endure travesty. Faith is in essence a measure of your capacity to Hope. Faith is the belief in what is not seen.But with magic, hope is different. Hope can be self-defeating b
Healthy Witches Heal The World [JenSki]
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 5:40pmRecently I had a discussion with a fellow follower of the craft that was expressing concern at the fact that she was not having any success with any type of magick she was trying. Even simple meditation seemed to be out of her reach, and she could not determine what the cause was. She had tried basic grounding rituals, various forms of meditation and spells to help with her concentration, but nothing was working for her. I recalled her mentioning a few months prior that she had not been
The Earth, the Gulf Disaster, and Coping with Death [Celeste]
Wed, 06/23/2010 - 5:40pmWhen I first heard about the BP oil spill, it was on Facebook. It had already been a couple of weeks since the spill happened. One of my friends had posted as her status, Every time I hear about the spill in the Gulf, I cry Confused, I searched Google and read the blog posts, the newspaper articles, and saw the pictures.And I was too appalled to even cry. See, whenever Im scared, I know Im scared because the back of my head feels cold and almost as if theres too much not
Phoenix and Ashes Retreat [TXsueMOM]
Sat, 06/19/2010 - 10:14pmAppropriately enough, this group is a local grass roots effort, by the kids who grew up at the Gathering of the Tribes festivals. The old organizers had to move on with their real lives, leaving a huge hole where this beloved festival had been in place for over a decade. Every Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend the VA pagans would flock to the woods for a 5 day event full of classes, shopping, fellowship and community.The kids have taken up the torch and are bravely carrying the traditio
Rev. Rodney Dysinger [Nimue]
Wed, 06/16/2010 - 10:39pmSeveral weeks ago I was informed via email of the passing of this very special person, Rev. Rodney Dysinger. Although I hadn't seen Rev. Rod in several years, he and I kept in close contact via email. However once he became ill, that contact became almost non-existent. When I heard of his death, I started thinking about all the times we shared and how his presence would always be a part of me.I first met Rod when Heritage Temple was just starting up as a Correllian Shrine in Columbus Ohi
