Two years ago, Brigid charged me with writing and sharing this resource. With my beloved holy day of Imbolc coming up, I wanted to repost the link. It’s a collection of stories, prayers and reflection questions based on 5 aspects of Brigid. Enjoy! You can find the PDF HERE.
At last night’s Welcoming Circle we had a discussion regarding Prosperity Magic. Our closing ritual was s simple midwinter meditation to help us clarify what we want to accomplish during this season of hibernation.
ANOINTING— Brigid Oil
May the darkness of the season enable us to see ourselves
And the world around us in new ways. So mote it be!
CASTING THE CIRCLE—David Taliesin
Guardians of the East, Elemental Powers of Air, your cold winds of Winter call us to turn inward. Help us to use this season as a time for introspection and self-examination. Be with us in our circle today. Hail and welcome!
Guardians of the South, Elemental Powers of Fire, your warmth drives away Winter’s chill. Help us to use this season to feast with loved ones and create community. Be with us in our circle today. Hail and welcome!
Guardians of the West, Elemental Powers of Water, you visit us with the delightful gift of snow. Help us to use this season to awaken our sense of wonder and joy. Be with us in our circle today. Hail and welcome!
Guardians of the North, Elemental Powers of Earth, your majestic evergreens remind us that even in the dead of Winter, new life can be found. Help us to ground ourselves in your healing energy so that we may be transformed and renewed. Be with us in our circle today. Hail and welcome!
Ancient mother of Midwinter, watcher over life and death, the one who rebirths the world, be with us on this winter day! See us through the dark hours and stand with us as dawn births the promise of new life. We are honored by your presence. Hail and welcome!
GOING INWARD—Winter Meditation, Witches’ Datebook 2016, Deborah Blake
Dim the lights and find a spot where you can be undisturbed for five or ten minutes. Sit comfortably and light a white candle. If you want, you can even wrap yourself in a comfortable blanket or shawl. Then say this spell, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths, going deeper inside with each one.
Burrowing like the rabbit, or the bear beneath the ground,
The winter’s hush upon me. I do not make a sound.
Let the world keep spinning without me for a space.
I am turning inward in search of peace and grace.
Activity Sheet—Use this quiet time to listen to what your inner wisdom is trying to tell you. Download the sheet HERE.
DISMISSING THE CIRCLE—David Taliesin
Guardians of the North, Elemental Powers of Earth, in these dark days of winter keep us grounded and surround us with people who make us feel nurtured and loved. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell.
Guardians of the West, Elemental Powers of Water, in these dark days of winter keep us feeling positive and peaceful. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell.
Guardians of the South, Elemental Powers of Fire, in these dark days of winter keep our minds focused on the sacred work you call us to do during this season. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell.
Guardians of the East, Elemental Powers of Air, in these dark days of winter clear all the clutter and distraction of this season so that we may focus on what’s necessary and important. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell.
Great Spirit, who is known to us by many names, in these dark days of winter help us to learn the benefits and blessings of the darkness. Use this time in our lives to make our world a better place. We bid you farewell.
Our Circle is now open but never unbroken
Because it is a circle woven in love.
Whatever energy is left in this space
We return to the earth with a spirit of gratitude.
Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.
Original material as noted ©2026 by David Taliesin, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com
I came across a wonderful tradition which I will have to research further to learn a little more about it’s origins. According to Pagan Christmas, “Even today, priests go from house to house in the Black Forest on January 6, smudging them for protection from evil influences. With chalk sanctified with blessed salt, they write the letters C, M, and B, plus the year, over house and stable doors.”
This ritual is called “chalking the door” and the markings for this year look like this:
20 + C + M + B + 26
The C, M and B are the initials for the traditional names of the Magi (Caspar, Melchior, ad Balthazar), but they are also an abbreviation for the Latin phrase Christus mansionem benedicat, which means “May Christ bless this house.” You can find various liturgies on line for this ritual.
On January 6th my plan is to go outside, read the story of the Magi from the gospel of Mathew, smudge the entrance to my house and mark the lintel with chalk. One article I read suggested that this ritual could be used any time during the Christmas and Epiphany season with other suggested uses such as blessing a room in a nursing home or hospital (get permission first!) or to set aside a Bible study meeting place, choir practice room, nursery, or youth area at church. This would be a fun activity that even the youngest members of your household could participate in and enjoy. Happy Epiphany!
Copyright ©2026 by David Taliesin, sabbatsandsabbaths.com
After the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem in Judea, in the reign of King Herod, some astrologers from the East arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so too was all Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and teachers of the Law in the nation, and questioned them as to where the Christ was to be born. “At Bethlehem in Judea,” was their answer, “for it is said in the prophet –’And you, Bethlehem in Judah’s land, are in no way least among the chief cities of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler—who will shepherd my people Israel.'”
Then Herod secretly sent for the astrologers. He found out from them the time of the appearance of the star. Sending them to Bethlehem he said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. When you have found him, bring word back to me, so that I, too, can go and worship him.” The astrologers heard what the king had to say, and then continued their journey. The star which they had seen in the east led them on, until it reached and stood over the place where the child was. At the sight of the star they were filled with joy. Entering the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and fell at his feet and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests, and offered to the child presents of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. But afterward, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road. [Matt 2:1-12, OEB]
When dealing with Christian scripture my approach is to distinguish between two t’s. The little “t” is the historical truth of the story being told. The big “T” is the overarching truth of what the writer is trying to tell us. In the case of the story of the kings/magi/astrologers, it’s the big “T” that is more important.
As Matthew tells the story of the birth of Jesus, it’s interesting to note that his first worshipping community were foreigners whose spiritual path was different from Judaism. What do we know about them with what little information we have in the story? Many Bible translators render the Greek word MAGOI as either kings, wise men, or magi. MAGOI is probably best translated as magicians, astrologers or sorcerers. It is the name given by the Babylonians, Medes, Persians, and others, to the wise men, teachers, priests, physicians, astrologers, seers, interpreters of dreams, augers, soothsayers, sorcerers etc.
In the Arabic Gospel of the Infancy, the MAGOI are described as follows, “And it happened when the Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea at the time of King Herod, the magicians arrived from the East in Jerusalem as Zoroaster predicted.” Essentially the MAGOI in Matthew’s story could have been followers of Zoroaster. If this is the case, they would have been from Parthia or Persia (now called Iran) whose primary religion was Zoroastrianism at the time. Zoroastrianism was a very old religion. It began about 6th or 7th century BCE by the prophet Zoroaster. It had its origins in a priestly caste of ancient Medes. Their religious leaders were seen as shaman or medicine men who specialized in the interpretation of dreams. Furthermore, the gifts of frankincense and myrrh that are mentioned in the story were commonly used during incantations and spells which lends credence to the possibility that the Magi were, indeed, medicine men from Persia.
I share this information with you because it puts a whole different spin on the story. They are not “we three kings of Orient are” as the well-known song goes. Instead, they are practitioners of magic, astrology, and dream interpretation which simply makes me smile. Jesus received them, and the holy family welcomed their gifts. Too bad so many Christians are hostile to other spiritual paths. The MAGOI are welcome in Matthew’s gospel so those who follow Jesus should do the same.
Epiphany blessings! Copyright ©2026 by David Taliesin, http://www.sabbatandsabbaths.com
In this season when the world around us—including many of our family and friends—is focused solely on Christmas preparations, it can be hard to carve out space for observances such as Yule or the Winter Solstice. What’s a good Pagan to do?
I’ve found it’s best to focus on simple observances and rituals throughout the month of December instead of trying to do something big on December 21st. For example, my household has a big Christmas tree, but I also keep a sweet little Yule tree in my den. It’s decorated with Yule goats, a few ornaments, dried orange slices, and cinnamon stick bundles with a star anise glued to them. I also have some paper stars I made from old sheet music. Do whatever brings you joy and captures the essence of the season.
Other activities might include making a magical simmer pot or a witch ball to set your intentions for the coming year. There are plenty of instructions online for both of these. If you’re not a crafty person, simply light a candle, brew your favorite hot beverage, and claim some “me” time for meditation and reflection. It doesn’t need to be complicated. Do whatever your heart tells you to do to help you tap into the energy of the season.
Yule Blessings, David T
Copyright © 2025, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com
“It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”—Chinese Proverb
As we approach the Winter Solstice, the days continue to get darker and darker. Likewise, the world around us feels like a darker place as well. The headline news brings a fresh new horror every day: mass shootings, global warming, political hubris, war, and the like. I find that many people around me are anxious and afraid of what the future will bring. When we put the insanity that is the secular American Christmas on top of this, it makes many of us feel like hiding behind locked doors and not coming out until at least January 1st.
Since this is not an option for most of us, how do we cope? What tools do we need in our spiritual toolbox to navigate this dark season in all of its layers of meaning? Here’s my list of things we can do to light a candle in the midst of the darkness. No matter how bad things may seem, we all have the power to make a positive change in our lives and in our world. Feel free to add your own coping strategies in the comment section of this post:
Limit the time you spend on social media. Psychological studies suggest that social media sites don’t contribute to us feeling closer to others. In fact, they can make us feel isolated and depressed. Furthermore, inflammatory and reactionary posts and comments can make our blood boil. Don’t get sucked into the drama!
Take a walk out in nature. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a walk down a city street or a stroll through the countryside, turn off your computer and/or cell phone and connect with nature. Breathe deeply and look at the flora and fauna that are around you. It’s good for the soul (and also a great way to get away from that obnoxious relative who pushes all your emotional buttons)!
Avoid the 24-hour news cycle spin. Yes, bad things are happening in our world but you don’t have to wallow in them. Get the highlights, hold the situation in your thoughts and/or prayers, send healing energy if that’s a part of your spiritual path, and move on with your day!
Practice random acts of kindness. Do something loving for your spouse, your family, a neighbor, a coworker, or a total stranger. Volunteer for an organization that is making a difference in your community such as a food pantry, homeless shelter, abused women’s shelter and the like.
Breathe, breathe, breathe. Find a meditative practice that works for you. Channel your inner Elsa and learn to let it go! Let go of worry, obsessive thoughts, etc. I do this on a daily basis and it makes a big difference in my life. Click on the “meditation” link on my site for suggestions.
Lower your expectations for the season. It doesn’t matter whether you celebrate Solstice, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza or Yule. We often have a mental “to-do” list running through our heads that is probably too ambitious. Yes, it’s great to create memorable moments for those we love, but they’ll enjoy them a lot more if we’re not cranky and stressed when they arrive.
Copyright ©2025 by David Taliesin
Below is the ritual we used at tonight’s Welcoming Circle. The discussion sheet for our opening can be downloaded HERE.
SURVIVING TOWER TIME
CASTING THE CIRCLE—Protection Prayer, adapted
Using an athame, cast the circle saying the following:
The Light of the Divine surrounds us
The Love of the Divine enfolds us
The Power of the Divine protects us
The Presence of the Divine watches over us
Wherever we are, the Divine is. All is well.
CALLING THE QUARTERS—David Taliesin
Guardians and Ancestors of the East,
Spirits of Air,
Powers of intuition and inspiration,
We ask you to be present with us
In our Circle today!
Hail and welcome!
Guardians and Ancestors of the South,
Spirits of Fire,
Powers of discernment and illumination,
We ask you to be present with us
In our Circle today!
Hail and welcome!
Guardians and Ancestors of the West,
Spirits of Water,
Powers of compassion and peace,
We ask you to be present with us
In our Circle today!
Hail and welcome!
Guardians and Ancestors of the North,
Spirits of Earth,
Powers of protection and prosperity,
We ask you to be present with us
In our Circle today!
Hail and welcome!
Divine Presence who is known to us by many names,
We ask you to be with us
In our Circle today!
We need your help to navigate these difficult times.
Fill us with your wisdom, courage and strength.
Hail and Welcome!
RUNE MEDITATION SHEET—David Taliesin
Make sure everyone has a handout and a pen. Ask them to mediate on the three runes from the opening presentation using the sheet they have in front of them. When everyone is finished, allow an opportunity for them to share what they wrote.
DISMISSING THE CIRCLE—David Taliesin
Guardians and Ancestors of the North,
Powers of Earth, protection, and prosperity,
We thank you for your presence in our Circle today.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!
Guardians and Ancestors of the West,
Powers of Water, compassion, and peace,
We thank you for your presence in our Circle today.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!
Guardians and Ancestors of the South,
Powers of Fire, discernment, and illumination,
We thank you for your presence in our Circle today.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!
Guardians and Ancestors of the East,
Powers of Air, intuition, and inspiration,
We thank you for your presence in our Circle today.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell!
Divine Presence, who watches over us,
Be with us during Tower Time.
May Kenaz light the way,
Algiz protect us,
And Ansuz empower our speech.
We bid you farewell!
And now the circle is open but never unbroken
Because it is a circle woven in love.
Whatever energy is left in this space
We return to the earth and to the animals around us
Who need its strength this winter.
Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.
Copyright ©2025 by David Taliesin, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us. [Heb 12:1. NRSV]
As we approach the celebration of Samhain as well as All Saint’s Day, I love the term the writer of Hebrews uses to describe those who have made the transition from our world to the next. The “great cloud of witnesses” in Hebrews are those who sit in the eternal stadium seats, cheering us on, as we “run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” I have always found this image to be rather comforting. It reminds us that the blessed dead still have a role to play in our lives as a source of wisdom and strength.
So who makes up this great cloud? One of my mentors, Byron Ballard, gave three distinctive classifications of the blessed dead in a class I attended. In looking at each, I hope it expands our understanding of who makes up those we label as our ancestors.
ANCESTORS:People in your direct bloodline who are dead.
BELOVED DEAD:People you honor who are not your ancestors who are also dead.
MIGHTY DEAD:Those you claim and honor as your ancestors. Heroes, writers, warriors, people who inspire you who, again are dead.
On my ancestor altar this year there are a few that fall into each category. I have pictures of my Ancestors such as my great-grandfather and his family. I also have pictures of the Beloved Dead such as dear friends who are no longer with me. Finally, this year’s Mighty Dead include Scott Cunningham whose magical work continues to resonate with me and inspire me and Tich Nat Hahn who passed away since last Samhain. His spiritual as touched many and helped us to become better versions of ourselves.
Everyone’s great cloud of witnesses is different, yet each of us has people who continue to inspire, challenge and comfort us even thought they are no longer with us. Who are the Ancestors, Beloved Dead, and Mighty Dead you are honoring this Samhain/All Saint’s Day?
Copyright ©2025 by David Taliesin, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com
This is the ritual we did today at both Circles.
ANCESTOR RITUAL
ANOINTING WITH OIL—David Taliesin
Divination oil from Asheville Raven & Crone
May the Ancestors impart their wisdom to you tonight.
May the Great Spirit make clear what is hidden from your sight.
CASTING THE CIRCLE (David Taliesin)
Use sacred smoke such as incense as you go around the circle chanting the following. You may use a feather to waft the smoke if you like.
Dark spirits fly away. Let only peace and love remain.
CALLING THE QUARTERS (David Taliesin)
Elemental Spirits of the East and of Air, keepers of wisdom and mystery, whisper into our ears all that we need to know. May the cool fall breezes that rustle the leaves beneath our feet point us in the direction we need to go. Hail and welcome!
Elemental Spirits of the South and of Fire, purifiers of heart and mind, burn away the clutter and confusion from our lives so that we may have absolute clarity regarding your will for our lives. May the bonfires of fall that give us light and warmth, bring comfort to our weary souls tonight. Hail and welcome!
Elemental Spirits of the West and of Water, vessels of peace and compassion, may our thirst for justice and equality be quenched. May the fall rains which nourish the roots of the trees, give strength to the dreams you have planted in us. Hail and welcome!
Elemental Spirits of the North and of Earth, stewards of hearth and home, gather around us the community we need to make us feel safe and loved. As the fall harvest continues, we ask you to bring about a harvest of good things into our lives, Hail and welcome!
Everyone face toward the center of the circle. (David Taliesin)
A PRAYER TO THE BLESSED DEAD (Llewellyn Sabbat Essentials)
Hail matriarchs! Hail patriarchs!
Come here, remember with us,
remember yourselves,
as grandmothers, grandfathers,
as mothers, fathers,
as uncles, aunts,
as sisters, brothers,
as daughters, sons.
We remember you with stories
of warriors, of peacemakers,
of healers, of teachers,
of farmers, of city builders,
of poets, of philosophers,
of people we loved.
In memories of you dwell living feeling.
This is your spark, eternal—an ember cherished,
a light passed from one generation to the next.
SHAMANIC DRUMMING AS WE MEDITATE AND LISTEN FOR WISDOM (David Taliesin)
Use a prerecorded drumming session or do it live. This is the background to keep the mind occupied so you can receive messages from the Ancestors and/or Spirit. Write down anything you’d like to remember.
CLOSING (David Taliesin)
Elemental Spirits of the North and of Earth, we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!
Elemental Spirits of the West and of Water, we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!
Elemental Spirits of the South and of Fire, we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!
Elemental Spirits of the East and of Air, we thank you for your presence in our circle tonight. Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!
CLOSING CONTINUED (adapted from John Beckett, patheos.com, Under the Ancient Oaks)
Ancestors we knew in life,
Ancestors whose names we know not,
Ancestors of Spirit, and Ancestors most ancient;
we thank you for attending our circle
and blessing us with your presence.
May there be peace and love between us now and forever.
Stay if you will, Go if you must!
We bid you farewell!
CLOSING CONTINUED (David Taliesin)
Great Spirit whose hidden wisdom
Has been revealed to us tonight,
We give you thanks.
Give us strength to act upon what we have learned,
And illumine the dark days of autumn
With your insight and creativity.
Stay if you will. Go if you must,
We bid you farewell!
And now the circle is open but never unbroken
Because it is a circle woven in love.
Whatever energy is left in this space
We return to the earth with a spirit of gratitude.
Merry meet and merry part, and merry meet again.
Original portions ©2025 by David Taliesin, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com
How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy by Claire Mitchell and Zoe Venditozzi, is not an easy read, but it is essential reading in 2025. The two authors formed the Witches of Scotland campaign to shine a light on the historic injustice of the Scottish witch trials. As a result of their work, on International Women’s Day 2022, the First Minister of Scotland issued a formal state apology—the first time in 300 years there had been any formal recognition of those accused and put to death. The authors were also responsible for designing the official Witches of Scotland tartan.
The book is clearly a labor of love. It contains exhaustive research on the people who were unjustly incarcerated, tortured and murdered. Along the way, they clear up many misconceptions regarding what actually happened during these trials. They also include narrative vignettes that put the reader in the shoes of various people involved—both victims and persecutors. This information in the book is heart-wrenching to read at times, especially when they describe the methods of torture used to extract “confessions.” However, this is a crucial part of the story, and they do not shy away from the gory truth.
Yet this book is not simply about the Witches of Scotland. It also compares those events to the Salem witch trials in America and explores how the two persecutions differed. I was surprised to learn that the Salem trials were much smaller in scale than I had previously thought. Furthermore, a public apology was issued much sooner in America than the 300 years it took to receive one in Scotland.
Finally, the authors connect their research to what is happening to women around the world today. This is especially eye-opening when we consider what’s happening in the United States and the ongoing attempts by conservatives to restrict women’s rights and silence their voices.
This is one of the finest books I’ve read in a long time, and I’m certain I’ll be referring back to it time many times. Don’t miss it!
David Taleisin, ©2025, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com
Sabbats and Sabbaths 