Author Archives: David Taliesin

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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

Persephone Myth Revisited

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 →

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A Gothic Witch’s Oracle: Deck Review

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 →

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Hurricane Helene Grief Ritual

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 →

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The Norns Still Weave: Discovering the Teutonic Sense of Time

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 →

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Protection Ritual

This is the closing ritual we did at last night’s Circle. ANOINTING FOR PROTECTION [David Taliesin]7-9 drops of Hyssop Essential Oil1/4 cup olive oi May the Divine Presence protect youand keep you safe from all harm. CASTING THE CIRCLE—Protection Prayer … Continue reading →

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Airmed, Irish Goddess of Herbalism: The Deep Dive

Over the past two weeks, I’ve done a deep dive into Airmed, the Irish Goddess of Healing Herbs. I turned to academic sources, which definitely offered more information and analysis than I found online. Here’s a summary of what I … Continue reading →

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Lughnasadh/Lammas: August 1st

August has a rhythm all it’s own, especially in the South. These hot, humid days force us to slow down our pace a bit, and why not? The soil has been tilled. Gardens have been planted. Many vegetables have already … Continue reading →

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Healing Ritual

Here is the healing ritual we used at tonight’s Welcoming and Rainbow Circles. Powerful conversation today! INCENSE—David TaliesinUse some kind of healing incense such as lavender or frankincense. Light it and fan the smoke on each participant as you go … Continue reading →

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A Goddess Oracle Deck That Stole My Heart: Caitlin McCarthy’s Divine Creation

When I first started working at Asheville Raven & Crone, Caitlin McCarthy’s artwork immediately grabbed my attention. Her black-and-white depictions of goddesses were not only stunning, but also incredibly powerful. They became instant bestsellers at the store, and it’s easy … Continue reading →

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Airmed: Irish Goddess of Healing Herbs

Most modern Pagans are familiar with Brigid—Irish goddess of the healing well, blacksmithing, poetry, and keeper of the sacred flame. But fewer know of Airmed (also spelled Airmid, Airmeith, or Airmedh), another powerful Irish goddess closely tied to healing, herbalism, … Continue reading →

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