Articles — 2017

There’s a widespread assumption that being involved in a Pagan community means signing up for a whole lot of drama. And unfortunately, there’s often some ugly reality underlying the belief that Pagan groups are ruled by discord. Disputes over leadership, differences of belief, and just plain old nasty gossip are some of the unwelcome distractions that lead to the all-out conflicts known as witch wars. The term “witch wars” brings to mind dramatic, wizardly battles with wands clashing and sparks flying. Yes, hexes and psychic attacks are sometimes a component of witches’ feuds. But it doesn’t take black magick to...

Do you know the difference between a triskele and triquetra? If you don’t, you’re not alone! Lots of people ask us this question when shopping for a special symbolic piece of jewelry. Learn about these two sacred emblems and how they’re used in Pagan practice. Triskele We’ll start with the triskele. (Sometimes it’s called a triskelion—same thing, both terms come from the Greek words for “three-legged.”) The triskele is a triple spiral with equally spaced arms or legs. There are lots of different variations of this symbol. The spirals can be curved or sharply angled, single- or double-lined. Sometimes the...

“Are you going to want the wolf refill package?” she asks me over the phone. I’m buying an assortment of pewter animal charms for my shop. “It’s by far our best-seller.” I can believe it. Wolves are superstars. I imagine the disappointment of my customers as they rifle through a bin for their cherished wolf totems, only to find a bunch of swans and ladybugs. I get two wolf refill packages. The skunk and manatee charms, I learn, have been discontinued—probably melted down and recast into more wolves. I decide right then and there to keep my mouth shut if...

Jasmine has been cultivated for centuries for its delicate white flowers and heady floral scent. It is regarded as one of the most mystical of all flowers. Jasmine hails from the Middle and Far East, where it once graced palace gardens and inspired poets. The name comes from the Persian “Yasmin,” meaning fragrance. In the language of flowers, Jasmine symbolizes purity and grace. The flowers bloom in the evening, leading to colorful nicknames for Jasmine such as “Queen of the Night,” and “Moonlight on the Grove.” In the Witch’s pantry, Jasmine is available as dried flowers and as a scented...