Articles — groups

3 (Big) Wishes for 2023

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

3 (Big) Wishes for 2023

The fake tree is glittering, the stockings are hung. It's time to reflect on the end of the season. Because we are approaching both the Winter Solstice and January 1, this post is one part Yule wish list, one part New Year's resolutions. I've been thinking about what I would wish for the Pagan community if I could have anything at all—and also, what I might be able to do to bring it closer to reality. Everything on this list is a pretty big ask. That is because it is Solstice Eve and getting dark at 4 PM, and I...

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Honoring Pagan elders: Five simple ways to show your love

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Honoring Pagan elders: Five simple ways to show your love

It’s no secret that we live in a youth-oriented society. There’s the Maiden, and the Mother, and…who’s that old biddy over there? As Pagans, we tend talk a lot about respecting the elder folks among us. But our actions often fall short. For the health of our communities, and out of kindness to those who have served before us, we all should work toward understanding and appreciating our Pagan elders. What is an elder? In some groups, it is a formal title earned after some years of doing clergy work or rising within a degree system. Occasionally it is used...

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The witch's home bar: 6 occult-inspired bottles to charm your guests

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

The witch's home bar: 6 occult-inspired bottles to charm your guests

Everyone knows that witches throw the best parties…but what do you pour when witches gather? No dry-ice Halloween cocktails or gummy snakes or blood-red punch on this list. We’re interested in the real top-shelf mojo: Bottles with a witchy heritage, the patronage of a Pagan deity, or mind-bending botanicals. Whether you’re stocking your bar for an evening Sabbat, or you’re a full-time witchy imbiber, here’s six witch-approved bottles to sample at your leisure. (No, I don’t recommend trying them all in one evening...or all in one drink.) Taste these libations on their own, or get creative with magickal mixed beverages....

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Online witchcraft schools: What you should know

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Online witchcraft schools: What you should know

Thinking about deepening your witchcraft studies by attending school? Welcome to the future—it’s pretty amazing here! One of the blessings of the information age is that it is easier than ever to connect with a teacher, especially in arcane subject matter that was once available only to a select few. Most witchcraft schools exist primarily in the online sphere, where rent is cheap and information can flow freely across distances. Online education has some disadvantages compared to face-to-face instruction. You will likely complete your studies by downloading lessons and interacting with your teacher(s) over email, video, and forums. (Hogwarts, it...

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Five hard truths about magick

Posted by Michelle Gruben on

Five hard truths about magick

Of the many laws of magick, there are a few that you’ll never see on a T-shirt or affirmation board. Here, we’ll cover some of the tough stuff: The harsh, the unsettling, the ambiguous facts of living an enchanted life. This article was inspired by some recent discussions of false positivity—that is, the habitual repetition of encouraging words and images. In short, false positivity means well, but it does harm by shutting down discussion of anything problematic. You can’t hide the truth forever—and when you try, it seeps out in sneaky and unexpected ways. There are certain aspects of magick...

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