Sabbats and Sabbaths

Ancestor Ritual

Posted on October 15, 2018 by David Taliesin

Here is the group ritual we did last night to close The Welcoming Circle. Thanks to everyone who attended.

Ancestor Ritual October 2018
The Welcoming Circle
Written by Tree Higgins

Calling of Quarters

Hail, Guardian of the East! Keeper of sacred winds
that carry our love beyond this realm.
Hail, Guardian of the East, stand and protect this sacred circle!

Hail, Guardian of the South! Bearer of the Phoenix
who dies in fire and is reborn of his own ashes!
Hail, Guardian of the South, stand and protect this sacred circle!

Hail, Guardian of the West! Keeper of all the rivers of crossing!
Hail, Guardian of the west, stand and protect our sacred circle!

Hail, Guardian of the North! Keeper of the earth
from whom all things rise and all things return!
Hail, Guardian of the North, stand and protect our sacred circle!

Anointing

I will now anoint those willing so that the light once shared with the departed
may shine for awhile here.

(While anointing) Let the love you have been given
and the love you gave
be the light that shines through the Veil.

Ancestor Ritual

The Veil is thin and our departed loved ones near.
We stand here and now to honor those
who have passed from our sight but not our hearts
and to honor our ancestors whose sacrifices and choices
made it possible for us to be here today.

We will take a moment in silent reflection for those we have lost. (PAUSE)

I will give each of you a paper to write a name of the beloved dead on so it can be offered up in reverence and honor. If you need more than one paper, please help yourself. (Hands out papers and pens)

When you are ready, you may bring it to the candle and burn it. Whisper your words to the one on the other side of the Veil as you release the scraps of paper).

(As they bring forth the scraps of paper)
We send these with respect and love to the other side of life.
We send joy for the good things we shared,
honor for the struggles we shared
that ultimately made us stronger
and we send that sense of wonder
that connected us when you were here
and still endures now that you have moved on.

Hail the Ancestors who made us.
Hail the dead who loved us and with thanks
we now let you go again on your new paths.

Blessed be those who remain here with us now.
Blessed be those gone beyond.
We can all walk in balance now.

Releasing the Quarters

Hail, Guardian of the North! We thank you for your watch.
We release you now. Please go freely on your way.

Hail, Guardian of the West! We thank you for your watch.
We release you now. Please, go freely on your way.

Hail, Guardian of the South! We thank you for your watch.
Please go freely on your way.

Hail, Guardian of the East! We thank you for your watch.
Please go freely on your way.

Now the circle is open but it is never unbroken
because ti is a circle woven in love.
Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again!

Posted in Prayer, Samhain, Spirituality | Tagged ancestor, Pagan, ritual, Samhain, Wicca | Leave a comment

Mabon Labrynth

Posted on September 23, 2018 by David Taliesin

Thank you Mother Grove Goddess Temple in Asheville, NC who constructed a beautiful labyrinth for their Mabon ritual Saturday night. I only had my cell phone camera with me but love this shot! Photo ©2018 by David Taliesin.

Posted in Mabon | Leave a comment

Urban Gardening: A Little Space Goes a Long Way

Posted on July 4, 2018 by David Taliesin

While it’s too late in the growing season to begin a new garden, I wanted to encourage you to begin dreaming and preparing for next year. Two years ago I started a medical herb garden in my front yard which is the only sunny spot I have. (A huge oak tree shades the backyard.) There were already some plants that were established in this space including lavender, bee balm, yarrow and roses. I made the bed a little wider and have been adding to it for the past two growing seasons. This is the result!

garden1801

My small garden contains medicinal herbs, bee-friendly flowers and a few perennials that add color during various seasons. Believe it or not, here’s the list of what’s growing in this small plot of land:

Anise Hyssop, Bee Balm, Black Eyed Susan, Calendula, Chamomile, Feverfew, Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Knockout Roses, Peppermint, Phlox, Queen Anne’s Lace, Rosemary, Rue, Salvia, White Sage, Wild Bergamot (Monarda), and Yarrow!

garden1802

Most of these are perennials so they will come back year after year. Now that this garden is established, it will take only a small amount of money to keep it going in terms of compost, a few new plants, etc.

My gratitude overflows and the yield of medicinal herbs out of this little space is quite amazing! I can’t believe how far its come in such a short time. I love working in this space. It’s a place of peace and joy for me.

So, perhaps you’ve had a dream of planting a garden, medicinal or otherwise, but have been hesitant because of space, cost, etc. I encourage you to GO FOR IT! You can create a beautiful and magical space in less time than you think!

Posted in Herbology | Tagged garden, gardening, medicinal herbs, urban | Leave a comment

The Ethics of Wildcrafting

Posted on June 2, 2018 by David Taliesin

mugwort On a recent walk with my dog, I came across a nice patch of mugwort on a favorite trail of ours. I made note of its location and watched it grow for several weeks, hoping to harvest some of it for an Old World Mugwort Lemon beer. (Mugwort was used as a bittering agent before hops became the standard.)

This past week we were back on the trail and, much to my shock and horror, ALL OF IT was gone. To add insult to injury, the plants had literally been pulled up by the roots! It was as if it had never existed in the first place.

To whoever did this unthinkable act of carnage, I can only say YOU SUCK! How in the world did you think this was okay? Granted, mugwort grows in abundance in our area but if you did this to mugwort, what’s to stop you from doing it to any other plant you please, including those that are on the United Pants Savers “to-watch” and “at-risk” lists.

Here’s the thing, because wildcrafting is becoming more popular we need to develop strict personal ethics about what we harvest and what we don’t harvest. The old rule of thumb in Wiccan circles is that you can harvest a third, but I think that’s being overly-generous. If I harvest a third, then you harvest and third, and someone else harvests a third, there is nothing left of the plant.

I don’t care if you use it for ritual or medicinal use, we’ve got to protect and preserve these valuable treasures we’ve been given by our Creator. This is both a moral and spiritual imperative. Anyone who claims to be “in touch” with nature is a charlatan if they act so carelessly and recklessly. I have no respect for you whatsoever. Rant over!

My own personal ethics regarding wildcrafting is that I first try to grow what I need in my own garden. If I have an abundance of anything, including young plants in the spring, I give them to others to use. I try to plant what I think I will need during the year and no more. I’m also cultivating bloodroot because it’s on the “At Risk” list. My plan is when I have enough plants to divide I’m going to plant them in a nearby forest so they can continue to multiply and flourish.

Whatever I cannot grow myself I try to wildcraft. When I find the plant I need, I make sure there is plenty of it in the area. If not, I leave it be until it’s plentiful. Then when I decide it’s okay to harvest, I take only what is absolutely necessary for whatever project I’m undertaking. For example, the Mugwort Lemon beer I make only needs 0.3 ounces of dried herb which is not a huge amount. I only harvest the tops and leave the rest of the plant to continue to grow.

I’m sure many of you already have a strong ethic regarding wildcrafting. If you haven’t thought about it before, I hope you’ll consider the story I’ve shared with you in this post. Blessed be!

Posted in Herbology, Uncategorized | Tagged ethics, wildcrafting | 1 Comment

Drying Rose Petals: Now That’s Easy!

Posted on May 28, 2018 by David Taliesin

Who doesn’t love the beauty and color of roses? However, they only last for all too brief a time. Here’s a quick and easy way to preserve the petals for ritual, magical and decorative purposes. (I’ll write more on how to use them later!)

1. Pick the petals when they still have their color but are getting ready to fall off the flower. At this point in their bloom cycle they come off very easily.

2. Place the petals on a double sheet of paper towels in your microwave.

3. Place another sheet on top and nuke those babies for 40 seconds to begin with and 20 second increments afterward until they are dry. (Mine took about 80 seconds) Make sure the petals don’t touch or they’ll stick together!

4. Take them out of the microwave and let them cool off. Then let them sit for another day or two to make sure they’re completely dry. Easy and beautiful! Yes, you can lay them outdoors to dry naturally but the sun fades their color. I know some people prefer this method but why not take advantage of modern technology every once in a while?

Posted in Herbology | Tagged drying, Pagan, preserving, rose petals, Spirituality, Wicca | Leave a comment

Spiritual Gardening

Posted on May 3, 2018 by David Taliesin

Calendula blossoms drying. Photo by David Taliesin

This weekend is the big herb festival in my hometown. My general rule of thumb is that I take a certain amount of cash with me. When the money is gone, fun time is over! Then I get the joy and privilege of planting all my little preciouses in my garden and watching them grow.

I don’t know if you’re a gardening geek like me, but my growing of medicinal herbs is a spiritual as well as a physical process. Yes, I get lots of exercise as I prepare the soil, weed the garden, tend to the plants and harvest them. But it’s a spiritual process as well. I begin by making sure I’m grounded and centered. I take this peaceful energy with me into the garden and try to impart it to the plants. I talk to them (yes, I really do!) and give them words of encouragement as they grow. Come harvest time, I also thank them for the bounty they provide from which I make tinctures, healing creams, etc.

My favorite plants to work with are lavender, lemon verbena, lemon balm, calendula, echinacea, and peppermint. I also choose herbs that bees love such as bee balm, wild bergamot and anise hyssop. Giving my support to the bees is important to me and I enjoy watching them have a ball amidst the flowers I grow.

So, if you look at gardening as just another chore on your list of things to do, try adding a spiritual element to it this year. The bonds we form with our plants can be both sacred and profound. They give us more than we often realize. Blessed be!

Posted in Creation Spirituality, Herbology, Litha, Spirituality | Tagged gardening, Herbs, spiritual | Leave a comment

Coyolxauhqui: Aztec Moon Goddess

Posted on April 5, 2018 by David Taliesin

Coyolxauhqui may be a goddess you are not familiar with. Most Pagans I know are drawn to lots of European deities as well as those from Greek and Egyptian mythology. However, the legends from Central America are often overlooked. I have been fortunate enough to tour a number of Aztec and Mayan ruins on my trips to Mexico and fell in love with the art and stories of these amazing ancient cultures. In this post I’d like to introduce you to Coyolxauhqui ((koh-yol-SHAUH-key) who is the moon goddess of the Aztecs.

There are two versions of her story. According to the Ancient History Encyclopedia, the first version depicts Coyolxauhqui as the mother of Huitzilopochtli, the sun god. A conflict arises when Coyolxauhqui insists on staying at the sacred mountain of Coatepec (Snake Mountain) instead of following her son’s plan of resettling at Tenochtitlan which, historically, became the capital of the Aztec empire. Huitzilopochtli got his way by decapitating her and eating her heart. Then he led the Aztec people to their new home.

Coyolxauhqui Stone, ca. 1469 Museo del Templo Mayor, Mexico City

This version is NOT my favorite the two. Some scholars see it as a legend of warning to the enemies of the Aztecs who often suffered the same fate if they were captured. The Coyolxauhqui Stone, which was discovered in 1978 at the Templo Mayor (main temple) in Tenochtitlan, is one of the most well-known art images we have this this goddess. She is depicted on the stone as decapitated and torn from limb to limb. Some Chicana feminist writers have tried to redeem this image as a symbol of the struggle of women against both colonialism and male patriarchy.

The second version of the story is the one that I find to be the more powerful of the two. You will find many variations of this tale online but this is the way I like to tell it: One day
Coatlicue, the earth goddess, was sweeping the floor of the temple on Coatepec (Snake Mountain), when a tuft of feathers fell from the sky. She tucked them into her belt and later discovered that they had disappeared. She also discovered that she was mysteriously pregnant.

Coyolxauhqui Statue, J Paul Getty Museum, photo by Jonathan Cardy

Her daughter Coyolxauhqui felt dishonored by the pregnancy so she hatched a plot along with her 400 brothers, to kill their mother. However, this was not to be. The child Coatlicue was carrying was none other than Huitzilopochtli, the sun god. When Coatlicue was about to meet her demise Huitzilopochtli was born as a full grown man. He was armed and ready for battle and decapitated Coyolxauhqui. Her body tumbled down to the base of the temple and was broken into pieces.

Coatlicue regretted such violence. So Huitzilopochtli threw Coyolxauhqui’s head into the sky to form the Moon so that his mother would be comforted in seeing her daughter in the sky every night. Huitzilopochtli also attacked his 400 brothers. Those who survived became the Southern stars in the sky.

In this version of the legend we see several powerful themes emerge. The first is the triumph of the sun over the moon and stars which is a common theme in Aztec and Mayan mythology. It’s seen as a daily struggle where the sun god is reborn every day. Stories similar to this appear in many ancient cultures. I see it as the story of the Wheel of the Year where both day and night have their place and purpose in the great cosmic dance. Darkness and light, feminine and masculine, goddess and god, each one is a gift and a blessing to all of us. When they are out of balance, we all suffer.

The second theme that emerges for me is a story of transformation and rebirth. Coyolxauhqui was literally torn apart. She was broken and defeated. However, her rebirth came as she ascended into the sky and became the moon goddess. The cycles she travels from new moon to full moon and back again, speak to us of fertility, rebirth and regeneration. When I see a picture of the Coyolxauhqui Stone, it reminds me that there is always hope. We may feel like we’ve been broken and torn apart by oppressive powers and people, but this incarnation of the Divine Feminine reminds us that we can rise from death to new life. We can be recreated and make the journey from brokenness to whole. Blessed be!

Posted in Goddess | Tagged Aztec, Coyolxauhqui, Goddess, moon, Templo Mayor, Tenochtitlan | 5 Comments

Blue Moon: Mar 31

Posted on March 29, 2018 by David Taliesin

When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars that You have established; what are human beings that You are mindful of them, mortals that You care for them? [Psalm 8:3, NRSV]

The night of March 31st is the second blue moon we’ve had this year. (The first one was January 31st and we won’t see another one until 2020!) This does not mean that the moon will appear with a blue hue. That’s another phenomenon altogether which is caused by volcanic eruptions or an exceptionally large fire. The kind of blue moon I’m talking about is when there are two full moons in one month. The second is known as a blue moon.

There are a lot of opinions regarding what we should do when a blue moon occurs. Some treat is just like any other full moon and take advantage of its ritual power. Others see it as a special gift that should be used for special purposes. A number of those who fall in the second camp see it as a time to write down the goals we wish to accomplish during the remainder of the year. Since this blue moon falls in March, which is a time for seed planting and germination, it might be a good time to reflect on what dreams and goals we would like to plant in the soil of our lives during this season of growth and new beginnings.

As I was thinking about what ritual I wanted to create for this blue moon, the words from the above Psalm came to mind. I picture the Psalmist staring at the heavens with the full moon shining luminously upon him/her. This sight inspires him/her to ponder one of life’s greatest mysteries: The Divine Presence who created everything the Psalmist sees also draws near and pays attention to him/her. If that’s not a humbling and powerful experience, I don’t know what is!

So, this blue moon, I’m going to ponder the same mystery the Psalmist did. I’m going to go outside and sit in silence, taking in the majesty and power of the blue moon. I will create space for the Divine Presence to speak and to inspire me regarding the magical work I need to be doing for the remainder of the year. When my vision feels clear, I will write down these goals along with what steps I need to take in order to accomplish them. Then I’ll celebrate the occasion by dancing under the light of the blue moon (if no one’s watching!) and sing a song praise and gratitude to the Great Mystery whose presence is known to us in so many varied and wonderful ways! Blessed be and Amen!

Posted in Esbats, Wheel of the Year | Tagged Blue Moon, Christian, Esbat, Pagan, Spirituality, Wicca | 1 Comment

Empowering Your Emotions

Posted on March 11, 2018 by David Taliesin

Here is a copy of tonight’s ritual at The Welcoming Circle. We had a powerful discussion about how all emotions serve holy purposes in our lives.

EMPOWERING YOUR EMOTIONS

ANOINTING WITH DARK SUN OIL—David Taliesin (It was charged during the solar eclipse of 2017.)

Whatever emotion is causing you harm,
May it be transformed into a source of power and strength.

CALLING THE QUARTERS—David Taliesin

We turn to the East and ask the Elemental Spirits of Air
To be with us tonight.
Guardians and Ancestors, teach us the value of fear
Which alerts us to danger
And helps us to prepare for battle.
Hail and welcome!

We turn to the South and ask the Elemental Spirits of Fire
To be with us tonight.
Guardians and Ancestors, teach us the value of anger
Which give us the motivation we need
To fight for what is just and true.
Hail and welcome!

We turn to the West and ask the Elemental Spirits of Water
To be with us tonight.
Guardians and Ancestors, teach us the value of sadness
Which helps us to mourn what we have lost
And becomes a healing balm for our hearts.
Hail and welcome!

We turn to the North and ask the Elemental Spirits of Earth
To be with us tonight.
Guardians and Ancestors, teach us the value of envy
Which challenges us to look within
And discover the gifts we already possess.
Hail and welcome!

Divine Presence, Great Mystery,
Who is known to us by many names,
Guide us in our process of discernment tonight.
Teach us how to harness the power
Of all the emotions we experience in life.
Hail and welcome!

A PERSONAL EMOTIONAL JOURNEY—David Taliesin

Instruction: Make sure everyone has a pen and paper.

On the table there are four different colors of yarn, each corresponding with one of the directions.

To the East we have white, which represents FEAR. To turn “white as a ghost” is a common expression associated with fear. When used negatively, fear can paralyze us. Fear can render us helpless and make us want to hide from whatever challenges we need to face in life. If you feel like FEAR is holding you back this week, take one of the white strings and sit with it. Tie it around your wrist if you like. Use the paper to explore the nature of your fear and to seek Divine wisdom regarding how you can use this emotion in a positive way in your life.

To the South we have red, which represents ANGER. To burn “red with anger” is a common expression associated with this emotion. When used negatively, anger can cause us to harm others physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Anger can cause us to make rash decisions without thinking them through. It can quickly set things into motion we cannot take back. If you feel like ANGER has a stranglehold on your life this week, take one of the red strings and sit with it. Tie it around your wrist if you like. Use the paper to explore the nature of your anger and to seek Divine wisdom regarding how you can use this emotion in a positive way in your life.

To the West we have blue, which represents SADNESS. “Feeling blue” is a common expression associated with sadness. When used negatively, sadness can paralyze us. It can cause us to withdraw from the support of others. Sadness can put us in a spin cycle of depression, regret and mourning that never ends. If you feel like SADNESS is holding you back this week, take one of the blue strings and sit with it. Tie it around your wrist if you like. Use the paper to explore the nature of your sadness and to seek Divine wisdom regarding how you can use this emotion in a positive way in your life.

To the North we have green, which represents ENVY. To turn “green with envy” is a common expression associated with this emotion. When used negatively, envy can cause us to do whatever it takes to possess what we desire, even if it is harmful to others. Envy can also make us blind to the blessings we already have in our midst. If you feel like ENVY is holding you back this week, take one of the green strings and sit with it. Tie it around your wrist if you like. Use the paper to explore the nature of your fear and to seek Divine wisdom regarding how you can use this emotion in a positive way in your life.

[SPACE FOR QUITE DISCERNMENT. This is followed by an opportunity to anyone to share what insights they gained during this time of meditation.]

DISMISSING THE CIRCLE—David Taliesin

Guardians and Ancestors of the North,
Elemental Spirits of Earth,
Teach us how to use envy
As a force for good in our lives.
May it challenge us to work harder
For the resources we need to accomplish
The Holy Work you have called us to do.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the West,
Elemental Spirits of Water,
Teach us how to use sadness
As a force for good in our lives.
May it call us to journey within
And emerge a stronger person.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the South,
Elemental Spirits of Fire,
Teach us how to use anger
As a force for good in our lives.
May it inspire us to fight for that
Which is just and true!
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!

Guardians and Ancestors of the East,
Elemental Spirits of air,
Teach us how to use fear
As a force for good in our lives.
May it alert us to situations
That might cause us harm,
And get us ready to either fight or flight.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell!

Divine Presence, Great Mystery,
Who is known to us by many names,
All of our emotions are gifts from you.
Teach us how to use them wisely
To bless and benefit ourselves and others.
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, merry part, and merry meet again.

Posted in Magic, Spirituality | Tagged emotions, Magic, ritual, Wicca | Leave a comment

What If…I’m Dreaming of a Green Christianity

Posted on March 6, 2018 by David Taliesin

What if…Christians could let go of their need to be “right” and listen to the voices of other spiritual paths? Is it possible for us to let go of our sacred cows and learn from others who also have deep connections to Spirit, community and creation? How would this change the way we practice our faith?

What if…our faith followed the cycles of the seasons instead of the liturgical calendar? What if the teachings of Jesus were organized in a way that explored the themes of birth, growth, harvest, and rest? How would this affect our role as stewards and caretakers of the planet?

What if…we could listen to the voices of minority groups of followers of Jesus whom mainstream Christianity tried to snuff out? What do ancient Christians like the Gnostics and the Essenes have to teach us about Jesus that might add to what we already know?

What if…I’m asking some pretty big questions these days. Some of my Christian friends would think I’ve lost my mind, but my spiritual life has been turbocharged by what I’ve learned from my Wiccan and Pagan friends. My connection to our Creator is more intimate and peaceful. My relationship with the natural world is infinitely stronger and deeper. I now sense that everywhere I walk is Holy Ground, and my life will never be the same again.

Perhaps you’re a Christian and you’re reading this. If traditional forms of Christianity are working for you; if they make you feel deeply connected to God and more loving toward your neighbor and creation then don’t change a thing!

If, however, traditional Christianity is snuffing the life out of you; if your faith feels like its only based on what you believe about God rather than on your relationship with God, then I want you to know you’re not alone. There are lots of “seekers” out there who are longing for a more intimate connection to both the Eternal One and creation that traditional Christianity is not providing for them.

I’m not sure what to call my vision yet but, for lack of a better term, I’m dreaming of Green Christianity. I envision an earth-based Path for followers of Jesus that is eclectic (draws from many sources), individual (recognizes that everyone experiences the Holy in their own unique way), and elemental (works with the energies of nature to promote healing and harmony).

My ultimate goal is to produce resources to help others who are interested in stretching their faith beyond the confines of traditional Christianity. I plan to write a book that takes the teachings of Jesus (from the Bible and other sources) and places them on the Wheel of the Year. So far, the timing for this project has not been right but it will happen!

So, are you in? Will you dream of a Green Christianity with me? I know you’re out there, so don’t be afraid to let your green light shine!

Posted in Creation Spirituality, Liturgical Calendar, Spirituality, Wheel of the Year | Tagged Christian, Pagan, Spirituality, Wicca | Leave a comment