Category Archives: Wheel of the Year

Beltane: Bonfires and May Poles, Oh My!

Posted on April 26, 2024 by David Taliesin

Beltane is celebrated on May 1st or at moonrise on April 30th. This Sabbat marks the halfway point between the spring equinox and the summer solstice. Almost everything about this holiday is debated and/or shrouded in mystery. Every source I … Continue reading →

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St. Brigid’s Cross

Posted on January 23, 2024 by David Taliesin

I love the simple beauty of St. Brigid’s crosses. In Ireland, they are made from rushes and contain a beautiful woven square in the middle with four equidistant arms that are tied at the ends. They make these crosses for … Continue reading →

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Imbolc vs. Candlemas

Posted on January 20, 2024 by David Taliesin

Even some of my Wiccan books get this one wrong! Imbolc and Candlemas are not the same holiday, but they are tried together thematically as we shall see. Imbolc is a Gaelic celebration that usually occurs on the night of … Continue reading →

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Great Wheels of Fire

Posted on December 13, 2023 by David Taliesin

Imbolc is the celebration of the first stirrings of spring after the dark days of winter. Ancient Pagans celebrated the holiday by lighting ritual fires to lure back the sun. One of the most popular customs among the Celts was … Continue reading →

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Oktoberfest, Rally Day and Mabon

Posted on September 21, 2023 by David Taliesin

Several years ago, while I was on vacation in Munich, I got the opportunity to attend the city’s infamous Oktoberfest. The best way I can describe it is a county fair on steroids! There are amusement rides for the kids, … Continue reading →

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Lughnasadh/Lammas: August 1st

Posted on July 28, 2022 by David Taliesin

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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Marking Time, Part 2

Posted on July 16, 2022 by David Taliesin

I gave yesterday’s post a little more thought and came up with a theory as to why many Christians are, unfortunately, antagonistic to their Pagan brothers and sisters. If Christians view time in a linear fashion, then everything new that comes … Continue reading →

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Marking Time, Part 1

Posted on July 15, 2022 by David Taliesin

In his insightful book, Pagans and Christians: The Personal Spiritual Experience, Gus DiZerega explores the different ways Pagans and Christians mark time.  Regarding Pagans, he says “The Pagan view of cyclic time leads us to focusing more on process than … Continue reading →

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Time Keeps On Ticking

Posted on January 2, 2022 by David Taliesin

People mark time in different ways. Some of us carry a physical calendar with us to keep track of events and appointments. Others use a virtual one on our cell phones. Some have four seasons and all the delightful changes … Continue reading →

Posted in Advent, Beltane, Christmas, Easter, Epiphany, Imbolc, Lent, Liturgical Calendar, Lughnasadh, Mabon, Midsummer, Ostara, Samhain, Wheel of the Year, Yule | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Seasons of a Magical Life: Book Review

Posted on September 16, 2021 by David Taliesin

Byron Ballard lives and breathes Appalachian culture and magic. Her roots in this region run very deep with many generations of her ancestors calling this land home. She pours her depth of knowledge and experience into what may well be … Continue reading →

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