As practitioners of magic, we know that learning never truly stops. With each new year we move through, the magical realm beckons us to explore uncharted territories and deepen our connection to the mystical arts. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner looking to expand your horizons or a novice ready to advance, the exploration of advanced practices can offer profound experiences and new insights that deepen our understanding of magic and strengthen our relationship with the spiritual/magical energies in our lives.
Once again, we stand on the threshold of a shiny new year. For many people, this is the time to take stock of the lives we’ve built for ourselves and assess the areas that need change, to make plans to become a new-and-improved version of ourselves by the next New Year. In the context of holiday traditions, we refer to this as making resolutions; but, when working with energies and magical forces, we might refer to it as setting intentions.
While the winter days are darker, slower, quieter, colder, we also find they are a time to gather with friends and family, to enjoy the warmth of company and the cheer of the winter season. It’s a season known both for being a season of joy and togetherness, as well as being a season of isolation and spiritual vulnerability. As opposing as these reputations are, one thing they share in common is the increased need for protective magic.
Protective magic for the winter season doesn’t have to be complicated. Indeed, you’ll often find it’s much the opposite. There are many simple methods of magical protection that we can put to work this winter season, and some of them are things we already do without even knowing. In this piece, we’ll explore winter herbs and ingredients one can use in their winter protection magic, as well as a few easy ways to protect yourself and your space during this winter season. Let’s get started.
Yule has many customs and traditions, and those practices differ from region to region. One of my favorite aspects of Yule is the amount of figures associated with the festival – folk figures unique to the regions from which they hail. For many people, if you ask them about figures they associate with the Yule season, you’ll hear Father Christmas, Krampus, and maybe even a nod or two to Hans Trapp, but there are so many more Yule figures out there! In this post, we’ll meet a variety of these folk figures, and we’ll learn a bit about their Yule tales. It’s my hope that readers of this blog may find a new way of incorporating beliefs or customs of their ancestors or of their homelands (for our readers who are members of diasporic populations), and that, in doing so, their winter holidays may be even just a bit brighter for it. Now, shall we dive in? Who to meet first…
While the Dumb Supper has come to be more commonly known today as a ritual used to honor the dead and our ancestors, its origins are said to lie in a divination rite used to foretell one’s future spouse, and in some rural regions of the United States (particularly within the Appalachian, Southern, and Ozark regions), the use of the term Dumb Supper is still mostly used when speaking of the divinatory practice. Believed to have been brought Stateside by immigrants from the British Isles, the Dumb Supper was practiced in the United States at liminal points in the year, with the hope of revealing the identity of one’s future spouse or beloved.
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.
Halloween takes many forms throughout the United States – a night for parties and pranks; a night for trick-or-treating with family and spinning spooky yarns with friends; and, in some areas, a time for divination, superstition, and dealing with haints. The south has a rich well of folk magic and tradition with plenty of Halloween customs to take part in, and the regions of Southern Appalachia are no different.
Friday the 13th is a date that has a long history of association with superstitions and fears, but for witches and practitioners of magic, it can be a day filled with enchantment, mystery, and opportunity. Rather than hiding from black cats or broken mirrors, practitioners of magic can embrace the unique energies of this day to enhance their spiritual practices. Let’s talk about a few ways in which you can celebrate Friday the 13th as a magical practitioner and tap into its energy.
As the leaves change and the air takes on a crisp chill, the magical energy of autumn permeates the air. This time of year is not only visually enchanting but also spiritually potent. During this period, the veil between the worlds is thin, making it an ideal time to focus on spiritual/magical protection and warding off negative energies.
The origins of Soul Cakes are hotly debated. Some sources say they hail from pre-Christian practices as offerings to the souls of the dead, while other sources cite medieval Christian customs as the true roots. Whatever their origin, the baking of Soul Cakes as an offering or gift to the those of the Otherworld – be they the souls of those passed on, spirits, sìth, or the like – is still practiced in some regions of Europe today and is making a comeback among practitioners of folk magics of Britain and Ireland, those who have ancestral ties to those regions, and among practitioners of folk Christianity, particularly European folk Christian customs, or those who have roots in Christian ways.
These spiced ‘cakes’ or cookies are prepared as gifts for soulers at Allhallowtide (the days of All Saints’ Eve, All Saints’ Day, and All Souls’ Day) and as part of the Halloween, Samhain, and Yuletide celebrations and observances of many. In this post, we’ll explore variations of Soul Cakes, sharing recipes and exploring their different purposes. Let’s dig in!