Category: Paganism

Fairy - Dragonfly - Gothic - Victorian
Experts, Middle Ages, OCD Vampire, Paganism

The Strange And Magickal Origin Of Fays

When thinking about fairies, we often lean toward the little, tiny female entities with charming laughs and small dragonfly types of wings. But what is a fairy, really?

What does Fay Mean And Where Does It Come From?

The word fay saw the light of day in the early Dark Ages. Its spelling varies from fae, fay, fey, and fairy, which all mean the same. We can also see lesser-known variations such as faerie, fairie, fayrye, and feirie.

However, the spelling faerie, adopted in Middle English, later became the word fairy. The word means “enchanted” or anything related to charm. The word itself, borrowed from Old French faerie, came from the same meaning, “realm of the fays.”

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Unknown's avatarOCD Vampire1 Comment
England - Stonehenge - Paganism - Celtic - Druidism
Experts, Middle Ages, OCD Vampire, Paganism, Witch History

The Secret Knowledge Of The Age Of Druidism

In the writing world, we often use folklore and legends. But Druids are not part of the usual characters in novels. Their secrecy might be to blame.

Why Did I Fall Into The Rabbit Hole Of Druidism

Upon research as a medievalist enthusiast, looking for various types of witches, the word Druid popped into my head. Many associate druids with fantasy or games such as Magic The Gathering or Dungeons & Dragons. But there is much more to them.

Druids are not as known as other Celtic folkloric people, such as Leprechauns, Faeries, Elves, and Trolls, to only name a few. The influence of the Celtic culture in fantasy literature is significant and provides solid roots. But druids are different.

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Unknown's avatarOCD Vampire1 Comment
Apothecary - Books - Magick - Witchcraft
Experts, OCD Vampire, Paganism, Witch History

Witchphobia Is Happening, Leading To Dangerous Hatred Toward Witches

The hate for witches goes back millennia and is still present in our time now, worse than it has been in centuries. Why are people so afraid of witches? Read to find out!

Is It The Fear Of The Unknown Or Something Else?

While I would like to believe it is only the fear of the unknown that drives people to hate witches, it’s more complicated than that. People who hate witches often are also religious. 

It’s part of those people’s education growing up to fear and hate witches. Some religious people find witches silly because they don’t know what it is to be a witch. However, others believe they know what a witch is and hate us for it.

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Unknown's avatarOCD Vampire2 Comments
Yuletide
Paganism

The Celebration Of Yuletide Is More Than A Decorated Tree

Many people love Christmas and for excellent reasons. However, we know it was stolen from pagans who celebrated the winter solstice. Was it? So, what is Yuletide?

An Overall Look Of Yuletide

Jól is the old Norse word for Yule; in Old English, they called it géohol. It signified the hunting season after the harvest time was over. It would happen in December. But Yule itself is an ancient tradition and celebration of the winter solstice going back thousands of years among the Norse and Germanic people.

Yule was stolen during the Christianisation of the Germanic and Norse people. Christmas happens at the heart of Yuletide to ensure that people observe the religious holiday celebrating the birth of their saviour. Christianisation was quite strict back in those times, and appropriating Pagan holidays would solidify a conversion.

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Unknown's avatarOCD Vampire1 Comment
Experts, Halloween, OCD Vampire, Paganism

What Is The True Purpose Of Halloween

Pagans, witches and goths alike were all Hollywoodified and categorized as people who sacrifice for rituals and speak to the devil. Halloween is no exception to the rule. So, what is Halloween?

The Horrible Reality That We Live In

When scrolling around on social media, I came across one person who said she posted a picture of herself in a Halloween costume. Nothing alarming, but then she mentioned Christians trying to tell her that Halloween is a day of sacrifices for Pagans and witches.

I don’t take well to people who spread wrong information. That is because I know how much damage it could cause. The truth and solid facts are important because they can hurt a group of people or anything that isn’t responsible for the lies being spread.

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Unknown's avatarOCD Vampire1 Comment
Pagan
Experts, Kasey Hill, Paganism

What Is The Gates of Life and Death

Paganism and Witches alike follow the Wheel of the Year. There are reasons for each celebration, and sometimes, there are darker reasons. The Gates of Life and Death is one of them.

When Energies Comes Out

For years, witches, Wiccans, and pagans alike have attested how Samhain was the thinnest veil during the year, marking it as the Witch’s New Year since it welcomes transformation through spiritual death. 

However, as I have attuned to nature, the energies during the months leading up to Samhain typically arise in September when the turn of the year starts in June, so the reflected energies should align with the sun’s waning. 

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Unknown's avatarKasey Hill1 Comment
Mabon - Fall - Witchcraft
Experts, OCD Vampire, Paganism

The September Equinox We Know As Mabon

Fall is many of us’ favourite seasons. We wait for the turning of colours, the temperatures lowering, the rain coming in, the smell of the earth swirling in the wind mixed with hot beverages and comforting perfumes of cinnamon and cloves. So, why not celebrate Mabon, too?

The Wheel Of The Year Stops On Mabon

The Wheel of the Year is a holiday calendar quite precious to us Witches who practice Nature celebrations. Many of us know Samhain due to many movies and Yuletide going through a revival with the Frozen franchise and Krampus.

But if we go in order and remain with the big eight celebrations it starts with the Winter Solstice called Yuletide, then Imbolc, followed by the Spring Equinox called Ostara.

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Unknown's avatarOCD Vampire1 Comment
Beltane - Pagan
Experts, Kasey Hill, Paganism

Midsommar The Real Festivity And Not The Horror Movie

Midsommar is more than a horror movie taking place in Sweden but is a pagan practice going back centuries and is practised to this day, gaining popularity every year.

The Summer Solstice 

June twenty-first is the cross-quarter day of the Summer Solstice, or as some call it, Midsummer and Litha. It is the longest day of light in the year, with the shortest night of darkness as the northern pole of the Earth tips toward the sun. It marks the first day of summer astrologically and the midpoint of summer beginning in spring. 

The growing season is in full bloom as farmers tend to their summer crops. The Solar God and Goddess are sprinkling their blessings of fertility all across the land. The first day of Summer coincides with the sign of Cancer.

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Unknown's avatarKasey HillLeave a comment
Beltane - Pagan
Experts, Kasey Hill, Paganism

Beltane, An Ancient Pagan And Wiccan Practice On The First Of May

The First of May is the Beltane Day for those who practise witchcraft or are Pagans. It is part of the Wheel of the Year. But what is Beltane, and how does one celebrate it?

A Little History

Beltane, also known as Cétshamhain and Lá Bealtaine, is the last of the spring fertility festivals. It is the mark of the end days of spring and the beginning of the summer days to come in June. 

People would douse and relight their household fires from the bonfires of Beltane. Beltane and Samhain divide the year into two primary seasons. Beltane is the summer—Light part, and Samhain is the winter—Dark part, marking the passage into the growing and resting seasons. 

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Unknown's avatarKasey Hill1 Comment
Deer - Autumn
Experts, Kasey Hill, Paganism

Paganism Is Growing, And So Is Mabon

We often put aside pagan practices for the commercial ones that spread throughout all stores and houses. However, after centuries, for the first time in forever, Paganism is pushing back and here’s a holiday for you!

How Holidays And Celebrations Happen In Paganism

The Wheel of the Year is split into eight segments called Sabbats. They honour the Moon Goddess and the Sun God while celebrating the cycle of life of the sun. They focused the eight Sabbats of the year on the Solar Rites of Wicca. As life comes and goes, the Wheel represents it.

The Sabbats comprise the four “quarter days” known as solstices and equinoxes. So, the other four days include the four midpoints in between, known as the “cross-quarter days.” The embryonic growth, the birth, the life, and then the death of the Sun God portray nature’s seasons and the life of a Wiccan.

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Unknown's avatarKasey Hill4 Comments
Black Cat
Experts, Paganism, Paranormal, Paula Phillips

Northern Norway’s Witch Trials

On Bookstagram of late last year, a new book was advertised and caught my attention. The book is loosely based on the true story of the Vardo Witch Trials.

About The Book

The Mercies by Kiran Millwood Hargrave takes the readers to the island of Vardo. We are pulled into the very experience the witch trials caused in Vardø in the year 1621.

Through the eyes and mind of Maren, we see the stories of the women of Vardø. We also share the Commander’s wife’s point of view, Ursa, who is responsible for sending the authorities to the village. 

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Black Cat
Dora Esquivel, Experts, Paganism

What Are Familiars According To Western Demonology

Familiar is a word that starts gaining popularity among new comers in witchery and the paranormal. The popularization of the word comes from pop culture but it has a quite ancient meaning.

Familiars, What Are They? 

You may have heard of the term “familiar spirits” in paranormal shows like The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina or Supernatural, but this word is also mentioned nine times in The Bible. The first mention of this phrase is found in Leviticus 19:31: 

“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.” 

King James’ Bible
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Unknown's avatarDora EsquivelLeave a comment
Crystal
Experts, Paganism

What Is The Broom Closet? And Why Is It A Thing?

Broom Closet: a term used by the Pagan community for those who haven’t yet revealed their religion to others.

 Fear Of The Unknown

Quite a few years ago, I got an Awen tattoo on my index finger. When I returned to work a week later, a fellow employee—who was a Christian and was kind to me (before this incident)—asked what it stood for. 

When I told them it was a symbol for inspiration and divine illumination for poets, writers, artists, and creatives, they asked about God [Christian God] and what I believed. She interrogated me, and I felt I couldn’t be honest, so I said whatever she wanted me to say, and I’ve been trying to hide my tattoos ever since.

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Unknown's avatarL. A. MacielLeave a comment
Pagan - Altar - Witchcraft
Experts, Paganism

The Witch’s Corner with L.A. Maciel

Welcome to our new weekly segment with L.A. Maciel and The Witch’s Corner! Here, you’ll find answer to questions about witchcraft you never thought about before!

A Witch’s Introduction

There’s a common phrase amongst writers that are writing about ourselves is difficult. I would have to agree. And it’s not just the concept of feeling narcissistic in this case.

It’s about self-preservation. You see, I am a witch. Well, I’m a pantheist pagan with animistic leanings, but I still practice witchcraft in one of its many forms. And this reality can cause problems.

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Unknown's avatarL. A. Maciel2 Comments