Author Archives: David Taliesin

Unknown's avatar

About David Taliesin

My name is David Taliesin. I'm an writer, teacher and retreat leader who explores the connections between Christian and Pagan Spirituality. E-mail me with any personal comments you'd like to share and I will do my best to answer them. You can also contact me through my Facebook page www.facebook.com/davidtaliesinauthor

Surviving Tower Time: Sheet and Ritual

Posted on November 16, 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Samhain/All Saints: The Great Cloud of Witnesses

Posted on October 30, 2025 by David Taliesin

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Samhain | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Samhain Divination Ritual

Posted on October 19, 2025 by David Taliesin

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Samhain | Tagged , | Leave a comment

How to Kill a Witch: Book Review

Posted on October 16, 2025 by David Taliesin

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Spirituality | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Persephone Myth Revisited

Posted on October 15, 2025 by David Taliesin

The story of Persephone is a familiar one in Pagan circles, yet it has never really appealed to me because of the violence toward women associated with it. The basic story, as I understand it is that Persephone, the daughter … Continue reading →

Posted in Goddess, Ostara | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Gothic Witch’s Oracle: Deck Review

Posted on October 13, 2025 by David Taliesin

In the introduction to his guidebook accompanying A Gothic Witch’s Oracle, Raven Digitalis writes, “I think it’s safe to say that Witches have long been portrayed a little bit Gothy, and Goths are traditionally known to look a bit, well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Magic, Spirituality | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Full Hunter’s Moon: October 6th

Posted on October 6, 2025 by David Taliesin

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, the Algonquin Native American tribes referred to October’s full moon as the Hunter’s Moon because it was time to go hunting in preparation for winter. As the days grow visibly shorter, perhaps we can use … Continue reading →

Posted in Esbats, Samhain | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Hurricane Helene Grief Ritual

Posted on September 22, 2025 by David Taliesin

At Yesterday’s Welcoming and Rainbow Circles we talked about processing grief as we approach the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene. Here is the closing ritual we did: GRIEF RITUAL ANOINTING FOR GRIEF [David Taliesin)Asheville Raven & Crone’s Grief Oil May … Continue reading →

Posted in Spirituality | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Norns Still Weave: Discovering the Teutonic Sense of Time

Posted on September 8, 2025 by David Taliesin

I’ve been reading Kveldulf Gundarsson’s Teutonic Magic: A Guide to Germanic Divination, Lore, and Magic, and came across an intriguing passage about the Old Teutonic concept of time: “Perhaps the most notable difference between modern thought-patterns and those of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Magic, Norse/Germanic Spirituality, Runes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Lughnasadh: Origins to Modern Celebrations

Posted on August 19, 2025 by David Taliesin

In my last post, I cleared up a common misunderstanding about Lughnasadh. After consulting multiple reliable sources, I’ve come to the conclusion that, according to early Irish tradition, it was Lugh who created the festival to honor his foster mother, … Continue reading →

Posted in Lughnasadh | Tagged | Leave a comment