Into the Underworld: Psychopomps and Deities of Death

Death. The prospect of death – the word alone – has stirred fear and discomfort amongst the vast majority of people since mankind first came to understand mortality. Death isn’t simply death, but a time when something meets its end, when a light is dimmed, when a door has closed. Death, whether literal or figurative, plays a role in many magical practices and customs, including (though not limited to) divination, spirit work (in its many forms), ritual work, and spell crafting. It is no surprise then that, as death plays so significant a role in magical practice, there are countless folkloric, religious, and mythological deities, spirits, and figures that are associated with (or represent) death, figures that are often also associated with magic in some form or another. This post will explore some of the many deities, spirits, and figures of death, their roles in the crafts of many magical practitioners, and how death deities and figures are incorporated in different practices associated with spirit work.

Folklore, Misc., Spirituality & FaithKeziahDecember 1, 2023pagan gods, deities, death, death deities, psychopomps, spiritwork, spirit work

At the Witch's Table: Recipes for a Samhain Feast

Samhain is a Celtic Pagan festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Thanks to its place on the Wiccan Wheel of the Year, it has also been incorporated into the practices and observations of many other practitioners of magic and Paganism. In its modern observation, Samhain is a time of celebration, reflection, and remembrance. As the veil between the worlds thins, it presents a perfect opportunity to gather with one’s friends, communities, and loved ones to share a feast that honors the bounty of the earth and the spirits of the departed.

A Remembrance Altar: Using Sacred Space to Honor Your Ancestors

As the month of October unfolds and the daylight hours grow shorter, many witches and other practitioners of magic begin to turn their thoughts to honoring their ancestors. One practice that allows us to express this desire to reconnect with our honored dead is the creation of an ancestral altar or shrine. Creating an altar dedicated to honoring one’s ancestors is a magnificent way to connect with your roots, remember loved ones who have passed, and tap into the themes of death and remembrance associated with the autumn season.

The Nornir: Norse Goddesses of Destiny

The Nornir (Nornir being plural for Norn; sometimes pluralized as the Norns) are female beings of tremendous power who are responsible for crafting and controlling the fates of all living things, as well as managing the delicate workings of time. Even the fates of the gods are in the hands of the Nornir.

Ancestor Work: An Introduction for Beginners

Ancestral work is a term and concept that I’ve been questioned about a fair few times within the last year. As someone who has always been overwhelmingly approached about divinatory practices, strengthening one’s psychic abilities, and developing one’s magical craft in general, it was impossible not to notice the uptick in public interest in ancestral work and practices. I have to say, I’m quite excited at the prospect of so many stepping into this field because ancestral work is important when it comes to individual spiritual growth and exploring, understanding, and building one’s own unique world of magical craft.

An Cailleach: Mother, Goddess, Witch, Crone

An Cailleach – hag, crone, ancestral goddess, mentor, divine mother; all these things and then some, the figure an Cailleach has been venerated (and by many feared) throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man (where she’s known as Caillagh ny Groamagh) for ages and is still worshipped and revered today within those lands and by practitioners of Gaelic paganism all around the world. She is called an Cailleach, which is a title rather than name. The word ‘cailleach’ is found in Irish and Scots Gaelic and means ‘hag’ or ‘old woman’ but can also be translated to mean ‘witch’.

The Otherworld: Spirit Realms of Celtic Lore

The Otherworld is a realm not quite separate from our own, all around us and yet not always accessible or visible to us. It has been interpreted as one expansive world and as having numerous realms and kingdoms within the one Otherworld, and is home to many beings – gods, fairies, and spirits of all sorts, along with some of the most honored and beloved dead.

Journaling for Witches: Techniques to Enhance Your Magical Practice

Journaling and other forms of personal writing are used throughout communities of all kinds. Keeping a journal can be done in many ways, and take many forms (including handwritten notes/notebooks, blogs, audio recordings, and videos). Regardless of the specific form or method of journaling, keeping a personal record of one’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences can have many benefits.

Celebrating Yule: A Midwinter Festival

There are many ways to celebrate Yule. Although the Yule celebrations of pre-Christian history lend themselves primarily to modern Heathen observations, the holiday itself has evolved into many different midwinter traditions. These rituals and traditions are observed by witches and Pagans of all traditions and backgrounds, and the many variations of Yule ritual reflect this.

Animal Spirits in Witchcraft & Magic

Practitioners of magic and witchcraft often forge special relationships with the animal realm, whether the animals they work with are physical beings, spiritual presences, or representations of. Our affinity for animals—in our homes and in nature—can be a big part of our magical and spiritual identities. But how can we utilize that to empower and improve our magical crafts?

An Exploration of Mabon

Mabon is one of the eight festivals on the Wheel of the Year, and is the second of the Wheel’s harvest festivals. Like Lammas (which celebrates the beginning of the grain harvest), Mabon observes the harvest of the orchards and gardens, which farmers would be able to assess their harvest, give thanks for what they were able to bring home, and plan for the rest of the year.

Four Simple Rituals for Manifestation

Manifestation isn’t actually witchcraft—though it can certainly be incorporated into magical practices if you want to do so. It comes from something called the New Thought (or Higher Thought) movement, a spiritual movement that actually started in the 1830’s. It didn’t just pop up one day on the internet. In fact, there have been people writing, lecturing, and teaching about these ideas for almost 200 years. The Law of Attraction (upon which our understanding of manifestation is based) is part of a larger set of spiritual beliefs and practices which focuses on personal divinity, personal power, and the life-changing impact of cultivating a more positive frame of mind.

Exploring & Creating Personal Symbolism for Power-Raising, Divination and Spellwork

In the practice of magic (just as it is in literature, theater, and artwork), symbolism is a vehicle for deeper understanding. It is a language that expresses things which may not be as impactful or powerful if we were to lay them out in plain speech. It allows us (with or without the use of words) to convey messages of spirit, power, energy and emotion that are otherwise beyond description. Our understanding of these symbols can manifest as complete thoughts of which we are aware and cognizant—but it can also manifest as bodily sensations, shifts in one’s mental or spiritual energy, or the alteration of one’s perception.