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Born to the Bee: A Samhain Ritual to Connect to Your Ancestors
Bees in Folklore and Myth Long ago and still today, many cultures believe that bees can travel to the Underworld and will deliver your message to a deceased loved one. If that loved one has a message for you, the bees will deliver that, too. Several years ago, I created a Samhain ritual around that…
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The Harvest and John Barleycorn
WE DIDN’T NEED A SCARECROW I’ve shucked a lot of corn. When I was growing up, a good portion of our garden was always devoted to growing sweet corn. We ate it, froze it, and gave most of it away. I can say without exaggeration that our corn never had bugs. Not a single ear.…
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Yemaya, Part 2: The Middle Passage ~ Aug 25, the Day of Healing
In Part 1 of this article, I explored the connection between seashells and the Yemana, the Yoruba Orisha known as the Mother of All. I shared rituals inspired by cowrie shells, murex shells in general, and in particular, the Venus Comb Murex. With Yemaya in mind, I designed those rituals to help women discover and…
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Yemaya, Part 1: Shell Rituals Inspired by the Yoruba Orisha
Science shows that all human life began in Africa. So it’s no surprise that on the west coast of Nigeria we find the orisha Yemaya, Goddess of the Seven Seas, known as the “Mother of All.” Yemaya is often shown with conch shells. She fills them with her comforting voice. She is also shown with…
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Lammas, the First Harvest Festival: Pay Debts? Forgive Debts?
In the Old World of my Celtic ancestors, August marked the beginning of the harvest season. Country fairs called people from the fields where they grew crops and from the open lands where they grazed herds. August heralded a time to acknowledge hard work and enjoy its rewards. Lughnasadh, Lammas, and the Highland Games The…
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A Valentine’s Day Ritual for One
My local gift shop, grocery store, pharmacy, and post office all sell greeting cards. Annual holidays transform the rotating racks according to the seasonal emblems – witches, turkeys, evergreen trees, hearts, and shamrocks. For Valentine’s Day there are options for a person’s husband, wife, son, son-in-law, grandson, daughter, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, brother, sister, mother, father,…
