Sabbats and Sabbaths

Lughnasadh/Lammas: August 1st

Posted on July 22, 2025 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 been harvested and more are on the way. The only thing left to do is pray for rain and wait until everything is ripe and ready. In the meantime, we can escape the sweltering heat of the day by “sitting a spell” on the porch with friends, sipping glasses of sweet tea and eating a freshly baked peach cobbler! That’s how we roll in North Carolina and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

The first of August is known by several names: 1) Lughnasadh, which is Gaelic for the modern Irish word “Lunasa,” meaning August. It gets its name from the Irish God Lugh of the Tuatha de Danann who created the Lughnasa games to honor his step-mother Tailtiu. It included a ceremony to celebrate the first fruits of the grain harvest. 2) Lammas is the English harvest festival which occurs on the same day. The word is Anglo-Saxon for “loaf mass” and was celebrated by Pagans and Christians alike. 3) Festival of Green Corn, which is the name Native Americans attach to this harvest festival, and 4) Feast of St. Peter in Chains, which is an odd ancient Christian observance that has been removed from the liturgical calendar.

Basically, Lammas is the first of three harvest Sabbats or festivals. This particular one celebrates the first fruits of corn, wheat and barley. Needless to say, this is something to be thankful for, especially in ancient times. A successful harvest meant there would be plenty of grain to last through the cold winter months. The main food for this festival is bread in one form or another. Bread has always been universally symbolic of life, Mother Earth, home, hearth, harvest and vitality. Because of this, ritual bread appears in every religious tradition I can think of.

For early Christians “Loaf Mass” was an adaptation of the Pagan Lammas. In both traditions, bread was baked and presented as an offering to the Divine in thanksgiving for a successful harvest. Here is an ancient Christian prayer that was used on Loaf Mass:

Holy Lord, almighty Father, eternal God, graciously deign,
to bless this bread with Thy spiritual benediction
that all who eat it may have health of body and soul
and that they may be protected against all sickness
and against all the snares of the enemy. Amen.

Some of the bread in the Christian tradition was used to celebrate the Eucharist (Holy Communion) on Lammas. The rest of it was blessed and taken home for the Lammas Day feast. I also discovered that in Anglo-Saxon England this blessed bread was used by some to work magic! According to a book of Anglo-Saxon charms, a Lammas loaf was broken into four bits, which were placed in the four corners of the barn in order to protect the gathered grain.

In modern times, we can celebrate Lughnasadh/Lammas not only by giving thanks to the Divine for a successful harvest, it can also be a day to support local farmers. Let’s face it, they work their tails off to grow the food that appears on our tables. Perhaps we can use this holy day to commit ourselves to buying as much locally grown food as possible. I make a weekly trip to a tailgate market that is less than a mile from my house. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us urban dwellers to connect with our agrarian brothers and sisters. I always have wonderful conversations with the vendors there and I’ve learned a lot about how to cook the fruits and vegetables that are grown by them.

As a final note, my Cherokee brothers and sisters still celebrate the Festival of Green Corn. There is always dancing, singing, drumming and the eating of corn in a number of forms. You can Google the topic for more information.

So I wish everyone a most blessed Lughnasadh/Lammas celebration. If you’re ever in North Carolina I have a glass of sweet tea and a peach cobbler waiting for you!

Posted in Lughnasadh, Wheel of the Year | Tagged Lammas, Loaf Mass, Lughnasadh | 1 Comment

Healing Ritual

Posted on July 20, 2025 by David Taliesin

Here is the healing ritual we used at tonight’s Welcoming and Rainbow Circles. Powerful conversation today!

INCENSE—David Taliesin
Use some kind of healing incense such as lavender or frankincense. Light it and fan the smoke on each participant as you go around the circle. Say something like:

May you be healed in body, mind and spirit. So mote it be.

CALLING THE QUARTERS—David Taliesin

We turn to the East and call upon the Guardians
and Elemental Spirits of Air,
Powers of communication and mental clarity.
May your energies flow through us
and heal our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Hail and welcome!

We turn to the South and call upon
the Guardians and Elemental Spirits of Fire,
Powers of transformation and vitality.
May your energies flow through us
and heal our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Hail and welcome!

We turn to the West and call upon
the Guardians and Elemental Spirits of Water,
Powers of love and tranquility.
May your energies flow through us
and heal our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Hail and welcome!

We turn to the North and call upon
the Guardians and Elemental Spirits of Earth,
Powers of grounding and stability.
May your energies flow through us
and heal our bodies, minds, and spirits.
Hail and welcome!
We call upon the gods and goddess of healing
to aid us in our work today:

Brigid, Celtic goddess of healing and keeper of the sacred well.
Airmed, Celtic goddess of healing arts and herbal magic.
Asclepius, Greek god of medicine and healing.
Artemis, Greek goddess of healing, especially of young women and childbirth.
Eir, Norse Goddess of healing.
Archangel Raphael, Angelic power of healing, guidance, and protection.
Sekhmet, Egyptian goddess of healing and medicine.
Hekate, goddess of crossroads and magic who guides those who are lost or seeking transformation.
Gaia, our Earth Mother, who heals us and sustains us,
As well as all other Divine forms whose names are written in our hearts and spoken by our lips.
You are all most welcome here!
We are blessed by your presence!
Hail and welcome!

HEALING RITUAL—David Taliesin

Lead the group through a brief meditation to ground and center. Encourage participants to breathe deeply and let go of stress. Visualize roots growing from their feet into the earth. Ask them to focus on the area where they need healing, whether that’s physical, emotional, or spiritual.

Raise energy as a group using the Druid tone chant Oh, ee, ah. Oh—Energy is raised. Ee—pull it back like a bow. Ah—energy is released into the circle.

When ready, tell them to direct this energy either to themselves and whatever needs to be healed or visualize sending it to others who are in need of healing.

DISMISSING THE CIRCLE—David Taliesin
We turn to the North and give thanks to
the Guardians and Elemental Spirits of Earth
for helping us in our healing work today.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell.

We turn to the West and give thanks to
the Guardians and Elemental Spirits of Water
for helping us in our healing work today.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell.

We turn to the South and give thanks to
the Guardians and Elemental Spirits of Fire
for helping us in our healing work today.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell.

We turn to the East and give thanks to
the Guardians and Elemental Spirits of Air
for helping us in our healing work today.
Stay if you will, go if you must. We bid you farewell.

All thanks and praise to the Divine healing powers,
Who have called us to be healers as well.
Strengthen our bodies, minds and sprits,
So that we might be forces for good,
Helping to heal our broken and troubled world.
Stay if you will, go if you must.
We bid you farewell.

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.

Posted in Magic, Spirituality | Tagged circle, healing, ritual | Leave a comment

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

Posted on July 17, 2025 by David Taliesin

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 to see why—they spoke to something deep and primal.

One day, I overheard a rumor that Caitlin was working on an oracle deck. I can’t even describe the excitement that surged through me. I knew without a doubt that I needed to get my hands on one the moment it was released. But, as life often goes, time got away from me. Flash forward a year and, somehow, I missed the October 2024 release date. In my defense, we were recovering from Hurricane Helene, and my mind was understandably elsewhere.

Then, just last week, five copies of the deck appeared on our store cart, ready to be shelved. I didn’t hesitate for a second. I grabbed one immediately, paid for it, and immediately ripped the seal off the box. What I found inside was everything I’d hoped for—and more.

The cards feature various goddesses, each paired with a word that encapsulates one of her core qualities. The deck is beautifully crafted: sturdy, with a perfect weight, and a size that feels just right in your hands. As I flipped through the cards, I discovered names of goddesses I’d never encountered before. Thankfully, Caitlin has included a wonderful companion book that provides a brief summary of each goddess, which was incredibly helpful for expanding my knowledge.

That evening, I took the deck home, consecrated it, and drew my first card. Not surprisingly, it was Brigid. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud, as Brigid is the goddess I’ve worked with most closely in my magical and spiritual practice. Of course she showed up first! As I continue to work with this deck, I’m excited to deepen my understanding of the divine feminine archetypes it celebrates.

I’m notoriously picky about my oracle decks, and I only own a select few. But this one? It’s a very welcome addition to my collection—and one that I know I’ll treasure for years to come.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Caitlin McCarthy, Dark Goddesses, oracle deck | Leave a comment

Airmed: Irish Goddess of Healing Herbs

Posted on July 16, 2025 by David Taliesin

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, and the mysteries of medicinal plants. As a graduate of the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine and the herb manager at Asheville Raven & Crone, I spend my days immersed in the very realm she governs. Her story resonates deeply with my path.

Airmed is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a powerful group of deities in Irish mythology. She is the sister of Miach, a gifted healer whose life was tragically cut short by their father, Dian Cecht—the god of medicine—out of jealousy or fear of being surpassed.

According to legend, after Miach’s death, Airmed wept at his grave. Her tears nourished the earth, and from it sprang all the healing herbs of the world—365 in total, one for each of Miach’s joints and veins. Airmed carefully gathered and arranged them on her cloak, recording their properties. But her father, consumed by envy, scattered the herbs to ensure that no mortal would ever know their full potential. Only Airmed remembers the complete knowledge of their healing powers.

This myth speaks to me deeply. In my own herbal practice, I find that there is always more to learn—some new plant, some overlooked remedy, some ancient wisdom rediscovered. The story of Airmed reminds us that true mastery is both a gift and a journey.

As I continue to work with these plant allies, I may begin to invoke Airmed more intentionally. Perhaps she will guide your healing work, too—whether in the garden, the apothecary, or within your own sacred practice.

Posted in Herbology, Uncategorized | Tagged Airmed, Airmid, Goddess, healing, herbalism, Irish, medicinal plants | Leave a comment

Eir: Norse Goddess of Healing

Posted on July 15, 2025 by David Taliesin

As I was preparing for this coming weekend’s Circles at Asheville Raven & Crone, I came across a divine name I was not familiar with: Eir, Norse Goddess of Healing. Her name means “help” or “mercy.” As best as I can tell, it’s pronounced [eh-r or air] since the “e” would be the runic letter Ehwaz and the “r” is softy rolled. However, it appears to be [eye-r] in Icelandic so the jury is still out on the proper pronunciation. [I lean toward eh-r.] Somehow, I think she would answer to both since it’s about the intent in our hearts more than anything else.

There is actually very little info written about her even though she appears briefly in the Poetic Edda, Prose Edda and skaldic poetry. Perhaps the best detail we have is in the Prose Edds where Snorri Sturlesson says she is the best of physicians among the gods. However, there is no story or description of her realm attached to it.

Ocean Keltoi, who runs an excellent YouTube channel says that taking all literary sources into consideration, “she is associated with healing and seems to blur the line between goddess and valkyrie, as well as Aesir and Jotun (giant). And it could be concluded that she is a goddess who just doesn’t care about the lines between Aesir and Jotun and instead focuses on healing all those who have injury regardless of who they may be.”

My take on this is that Divine Energy is all the same energy that reveals itself to us in many forms. Some people may appeal to Brigid, Archangel Raphael, Jesus, Gaia, Asclepius, Artemis, etc. when performing healing work. It stands to reason that Eir is a Nordic version of the same energy. This Divine energy responds to us, no matter what name we attach to it. Does that make sense?

To be honest, there is no way we can do a deep dive on Eir because there is so little info to go on. The scholars I came across when researching this blog post had lots of different opinions on this subject with little or no agreement between them.

So, if you feel called to work with Eir in your healing work, I say go for it. If you already do, let me know about your experiences with this Norse deity. I’d love to hear your story.

Posted in Norse/Germanic Spirituality | Tagged Eir, Goddess, healing, norse | 2 Comments

Runes and Recovery: A Message For Challenging Times

Posted on July 6, 2025 by David Taliesin

I’m currently recovering from minor surgery, and during a particularly rough day this past week, I felt called to reach into my rune bag, hoping for a little guidance and encouragement. Normally, I draw a single rune. But this time, three came out together, as if they had something important to say — not just about my healing, but about the larger world we’re living in.

The runes were Tiwaz, Laguz, and Othala.

Here’s the message they offered — one that speaks not only to my personal journey but, I believe, to the collective moment we find ourselves in as a nation:

Tiwaz — This is the rune of the spiritual warrior. It calls us to act with courage and integrity, to stand up for what we know to be just and true. Inaction is not an option.

Laguz — Representing water and flow, Laguz reminds us to stay grounded and calm, especially amid the noise and chaos of the world (and social media). Clarity comes when we choose stillness over reaction.

Othala — This rune speaks of heritage, home, and community. It encourages us to lean on our loved ones, our chosen families and tribes, for support — and to offer that same support to others whenever we can.

If you’re reading this, maybe this message was meant for you, too. Wishing you strength, peace, and blessings on your journey.

Posted in Runes, Spirituality | Leave a comment

Come Hail or High Water

Posted on July 1, 2025 by David Taliesin

Sometimes, we need a reminder of just how resilient nature truly is—a quiet nudge that encourages us to believe in our own ability to recover and thrive.

In September 2024, Asheville faced the fury of Hurricane Helene. The storm left our beloved landscape scarred and stripped bare. Trees were downed, gardens flattened, and the once-lush surroundings looked desolate. It felt like a loss not just of beauty, but of stability.

Then spring arrived—and with it, hope. Little by little, green returned to our yards and mountainsides. Like many in our community, I found comfort in planting again. Nurseries and farmers markets were buzzing as people selected herbs, flowers, and vegetables to fill the empty spaces in their gardens. It felt like we were all planting more than just seeds—we were planting hope.

But on May 8th, just as new life had begun to take root, a fierce hailstorm swept through the area. It tore through delicate hostas, pounded flower beds, and threatened the young plants we had just lovingly tucked into the earth. I remember rushing outside as soon as the hail stopped, anxiously inspecting every stem and leaf, silently willing them to survive.

And then—something amazing happened.

May and June brought steady, generous rains. Day by day, my garden began to thrive in a way I hadn’t seen in years. My medicinal herbs grew taller and more vibrant than ever before. Elderberry bushes bent under the weight of fruit. Flowers bloomed with a richness and intensity that made me stop in awe. Even my tiny fig bush, planted just a week before the storm, surprised me with its first few fruits—small, but full of promise.

Time and again, nature reminds me that new life can blossom even after the harshest conditions. It’s a lesson I’ve needed to learn—and one I want to share.

Whatever storm you may be facing right now, I hope it is soon followed by a season of growth and renewal. Nature holds that hope for all of us. Hold on to it. Let it nourish you.

Blessings! David T

Posted in Creation Spirituality, Wheel of the Year | 1 Comment

Divination Group Ritual

Posted on June 16, 2025 by David Taliesin

This is the ritual we did at both yesterday’s Rainbow Circle and Welcoming Circle. Enjoy!

DIVINATION RITUAL

CANDLE LIGHTING—David Taliesin
Sprinkle some eyebright into the flame of the central pillar candle. Say…

May our time together bring clarity to those who seek it.
May we gather wisdom for the journey that lies ahead of us
So mote it be!

CASTING THE CIRCLE—David Eck (adapted form of the Protection Prayer}
Use an athame to cast the circle [mine is made of quartz] Say 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,
Divine powers of insight and discernment,
Aid us in our work today.
May it help us to see the way forward more clearly.
Hail and welcome!

Guardians and ancestors of the South,
Divine powers of decision-making and judgement,
Aid us in our work today.
May we learn how to separate truth from deceit.
Hail and welcome!

Guardians and ancestors of the West,
Divine powers of empathy and love.
Aid us in our work today.
May it be a source of healing for our weary souls.
Hail and welcome!

Guardians and ancestors of the North,
Divine powers of stability and prosperity,
Aid us in our work today.
May we find a way to overcome any obstacles
That are keeping us from moving forward.
Hail and welcome!

We honor Sophia, holy wisdom of the Hebrew people.
We honor Thoth and Hermes Trismegistus,
Keepers of the secrets of the universe.
We honor the Norns weaving our destinies,
and Oðin who pursued knowledge at all costs.
We honor Cheridwen, keeper of the cauldron of knowledge.
We honor Ganesh, god of wisdom; luck, and new beginnings.
We honor Pythia, the Oracle at Delphi
and Athena, goddess of wisdom and war strategy.
We honor the ancient seers of all cultures,
And all forms of the Divine
Who guide us faithfully each and every day.
Hail and welcome!

DISCERNMENT RITUAL—David Taliesin

First part of the exercise is to practice grounding so that participants feel connected to the energy of the earth. The second part is to pull divine energy from above and let these two energies intermingle in our bodies. Go with whatever imagery this looks like to individual participants.

Then have them direct this energy through their dominant hand [or both if you’re magically ambidextrous!] toward a spread of oracle cards. The goal is to have them select one based on its “temperature” or vibration. Not every one has this gift of discernment but the hope is that some may uncover it for the first time.Have them pick one card that will give them wisdom for how to navigate the rest of the week.

When everyone has done this, have their share what they experienced if they’re willing.

CLOSING THE CIRCLE—David Taliesin
Guardians and ancestors of the North,
Divine powers of stability 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,
Divine powers of empathy and love.
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,
Divine powers of decision-making and judgement,
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,
Divine powers of insight and discernment,
We thank you for your presence in our circle today.
Stay if you will. Go if you must. We bid you farewell!

We give thanks to the Divine Presence
Who goes by many names
And who appears in many forms.
We thank you for your willingness to guide us
During these difficult times.
Stay if you will. Go if you must.
We bid you farewell.

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.

Posted in Magic, Spirituality | Tagged Divination, ritual | Leave a comment

Old Norse Concept of the Self

Posted on April 10, 2025 by David Taliesin

In traditional Christian theology, there are three separate parts that make us who we are: body, mind, and spirit. Thanks to St. Paul, most Christians share the belief that these three are at war with one another. Our spirits struggle to triumph over our bodies (flesh) as well as our minds (our thoughts and desires). As far as I’m concerned, it’s downright exhausting. It’s also contradictory to my lived experience. The Christian mystic and Buddhist in me is always seeking to bring these three into harmony with one another. Most of the time, I’m fairly successful in this endeavor. I do not view the body as evil or weak. In fact, it is the temple where the Divine chooses to dwell. Furthermore, we cannot neatly separate these three things since they are intertwined with each other. If I’m constantly thinking negative thoughts, it tends to show up in illness in my body. If I’m having a spiritual crisis, it clouds my judgment and scrambles my thoughts. I think you get the point.

Recently, I did a deep dive into traditional Norse spirituality and its concept of the self. While there is no standardized set of components, there are four that consistently come up in the source materials I examined. They present a very different view of what makes us who we are. I’ll cover them briefly in this post and then I’ll go into more detail later. I don’t completely resonate with this set of components either, but I found them utterly fascinating. They are quite different from the traditional Christian view.

The four components that make up the self are hamr, hugr, fylgja, and hamingja. While these four parts exist together, they can also detach themselves from one another in certain circumstances. This makes them a lot more flexible and fluid than the traditional Christian view of the self.

HAMR—Hamr is literally translated into English as “skin,” but it is much more than that. Arith Härger, who runs an excellent self-titled YouTube channel, says “There is a clear difference between the lik (body) and the hamr which is the appearance of that body.” So think of the hamr as our “form” or “appearance” that can be changed by the hugr (mind). Therefore, it is not necessarily a fixed or static thing. The best example of this in Norse thought are the berserkir, warriors who believed they could change their hamr into the form of a bear or wolf.

HUGR—Hugr is best translated as “mind” or “thought.” It’s what forms our personality and includes our emotions, intuition and will. It was believed that people with a strong hugr were able to affect someone else just by thinking about them. The hugr leaves the body upon death.

FYLGJA—A fylgja can be thought of as a guardian spirit or guide. It was believed they often took on the form of an animal that reflected the owner’s personality such as a raven if they were smart or a fox if they were a bit of a trickster. They could also take the form of a human. A flygja could travel away from the body and warn their owner of spending danger. It could also appear in the dreams of another person the owner was going to interact with the following day. This is the most fascinating aspect of the self and I will definitely discuss it in more detail in a later post.

HAMINGJA—The hamingja is the mount of power and illumination a person possesses. Some people think of it as luck or good fortune, but I believe it goes much deeper than this. It’s the skills, intelligence, and strengths a person has that can be used to influence wealth, power and success. An individual’s hamingja could also be passed on to their descendants when they died. Most sources I’ve read say this part of the self was always female, even for men.

Posted in Norse/Germanic Spirituality | Tagged fylgja, hamingja, hanr, hugr, norse, self | Leave a comment

Nauthiz: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Posted on April 1, 2025 by David Taliesin

As part of my spiritual practice, I usually draw a single rune from my bag each day and then take note how I see its energy being played out in my life and my interactions with others. Today, I drew Nauthiz and, at first, I wasn’t sure what Oðinn was trying to tell me. I spent some intentional time in meditation and it finally dawned on me why it appeared on this particular day.

Nauthiz is a rune of constraint, hardship, or need. It gives one the feeling of being bound, i.e. being in a restrictive situation with little room to move. The Tarot card that comes to mind when I think of Nauthiz is the Eight of Swords which, traditionally, pictures someone bound by rope and blindfolded. They are surrounded by swords which are stuck into the ground. It’s not a hopeless situation. It simply calls us to take small, careful, deliberate steps in order to escape the difficulties we find ourselves in.

The positioning of Nauthiz in the Elder Futhark’s Second Aett confirms its meaning. Sandwiched in-between Hagalaz (hail) and Isa (ice), it is a rune that is surrounded by challenges on both sides. However, all is not lost since the hardships we face are often a catalyst for growth and transformation.

My goal has always been to give an experiential interpretation of the runes on my blog rather than just regurgitate their meaning. So here’s how I see Nauthiz playing out in my life as we enter into the month of April. I had a number of health challenges in March that left me feeling sick and most of the time. My body was depleted and exhausted and my spirit wasn’t in much better shape.

This week, I finally feel like myself again and, yesterday I made a vow to do two things: 1) move every day, doing some kind of activity such as walking, yoga, etc. and 2) spend intentional time at my home altar meditating and doing energy work. These aren’t huge, life changing decisions but they will definitely help me to build up my strength, both physically and spiritually, and get me ready for the “next big thing.” My drawing of the Nauthiz rune today feels like Oðinn’s seal of approval that I’m on the right track. Small and stead steps are what I need to take at this point in my spiritual journey.

The rune poem I wrote to help me remember its meaning is as follows:

David Taliesin Rune Poem:
NAUTHIZ can make someone feel bound
But freedom can always be found.
With careful steps and cunning mind
A way forward you will surely find.

Posted in Norse/Germanic Spirituality, Runes | Tagged constraint, nauthiz, need, norse, Runes | Leave a comment