There are so many ways you can bring your Pagan practice into your kitchen. From what we know about historical paganism, feasting and prepping offerings for the Gods was an essential part of religious life. And looking at historic witchcraft sources we know that a lot of spells and rituals were done right in the kitchen. So today, I’m going to take you into my kitchen and share a few ways I’ve organized and decorated my space to be in alignment with my spiritual beliefs & practices.

1 - Bring a Broom into your Kitchen

One of the most obvious witchy items in my kitchen is the besom (witch’s broom) that I hang on the side of my cabinets. According to folklore a besom kept upright by the front door is said to protect everyone who lives within the home and prevent any evil from entering. My current besom is just a simple cinnamon broom from Trader Joe’s, so don’t feel pressure to invest a ton of money into something like a witch’s broom. I’m definitely of the mindset that Paganism & witchcraft doesn't need to be an expensive practice and if you can make the items yourself, even better.

2 - “Magick” your Morning Beverage

One of my daily routines is making tea so I have a little space on my counter for my kettle. Even though making tea is a super simple task I try to infuse a little witchcraft into this daily routine. I do that in two ways, first by the choice of tea to drink as certain herbs have specific magical properties. For example, today I’m drinking some camomile tea and traditionally chamomile is associated with luck and prosperity. Herbs and spices in general often have magical correspondences so when you’re making tea & food pay attention to which herbs or spices you're using as it might have an interesting magical correspondence that you can use for a bit of kitchen magic.

The other way I like to “magick up” my tea or food is by visualization. For example, when I pour water for my tea I try to visualize a glowing light and healing energy being poured into my cup. Even though it’s super simple, I think it really does help add a bit of positivity to my morning routine.

3 - Bring Nature Inside

Another easy way I like to bring Paganism into my kitchen is by bringing nature indoors so I try to keep fresh herbs and plants nearby so they both help with cooking and create an environment that is more attuned to the natural world. For me this also includes laying out some fruits & veggies so that they’re near at hand and providing a bit of natural decor.

4 - Incorporate Ritual Items in the Kitchen

I have a few items in my kitchen that I occasionally use as offering bowls. Having these items on my kitchen counter help remind me to occasionally prep offerings for deities and nature spirits. Other ritual items, such as candles or chalices, can also function as decor pieces for your kitchen when you’re not using them for ritual.

5 - Tarot Magic

Lastly, a real simple way I infuse magic into my kitchen is by having a tarot card on the outside of my fridge. I love tarot spells and one of the easiest ways to do magic with tarot is to simply place certain cards around your home so that they can impart subtle energy into the space and help remind you to make positive choices. Right now I have the Queen of Pentacles on the door of my fridge as this card represents nourishment and caring for others and one of the main ways I like to care for others and show them my love is by making them food. This particular Queen of Pentacles is from the tarot deck I created, The Key Tarot.

I really hope you enjoyed this little tour of my kitchen and how I like to use it as a Pagan witch. Next I’d love for you guys to share some of the simple ways you bring paganism or witchcraft into your kitchen, so definitely share your thoughts down in the comments.

Recently I’ve been binging the new season of Sabrina on Netflix and I definitely have some things I want to share.  I thought it would be fun to analyze this show a bit and look at the way they choose to portray certain historical elements of Witchcraft and Paganism. Firstly, obviously this show is not trying to be historically accurate and that’s totally fine. I actually really love how campy and ridiculous this series is.  And of course if they tried to accurately portray modern witchcraft the show wouldn’t be nearly as exciting.  Though, I do find it fun that they did bring in some historical elements of witchcraft and that's what we’re going to go over today.

SATANIC WITCHES? 

The first interesting thing about this series is that the witches in the show are Satanic Witches. This is quite a bit different from other tv shows that are inspired by lighter forms of witchcraft, like Charmed for example. I think the way that they chose to portray Satanic witches and their worship of the dark lord is a super fun part of the show as it shows a type of witchcraft that you usually don’t see in pop culture. 

So, did Satanic Witches who worship Lucifer actually exist in history?  Today there are a small handful of people claiming to be Satanic Witches, though historically we don’t have much evidence for this kind of witchcraft. This might be surprising as the most commonly known historic events featuring witchcraft are probably the witch trails in Europe and America where people were killed for supposedly worshiping the devil.  In reality, the vast majority of the people killed were not witches and definitely not satanic witches.  Most of the people who admitted to worshiping the devil were only saying so because they were being tortured at the time.The witch trials as a whole was mostly an excuse for the church to kill off a bunch of protestants, any “undesirables” in society, and anyone who might be still holding on to Pagan traditions. 

Now, that doesn’t mean witches didn’t exist in the past, they definitely did but hardly any of them would have been practicing Satanic Witchcraft. So while this aspect of Sabrina is super fun, it’s not really based much in history. 

THE CUNNING

One of the characters in the show has something called The Cunning. In the show this means that she is a seer and can gain information psychically that others cannot.  Historically there are many accounts of women who are considered seers or able to see the future.  The most famous historical seer is probably the Oracle of Delphi, but each culture has their own version of this practice. But why in the show did they use the term, The Cunning? I find this interesting as it connects with a group of historical magical practitioners called The Cunning Folk.  

While the Cunning Women and Men would not have called themselves witches, they were practicing a form of witchcraft. This magical tradition started in the Medieval period and was mostly focused in Britain.  Many of our surviving historical spells and witchcraft traditions come from these people called the Cunning Folk. They used spells, charms, and talismans for a variety of services for their community such as protection, locating missing people and property, helping to heal others, and telling the future. 

In the most recent season Roz speaks with her deceased grandmother who tells her that her family could not call themselves witches because they were good Christians.  This is interesting because similarly the Cunning Folk considered themselves to be Christians and they even often used bible verses in their spells and charms.  I’m not sure if the producers knew this about the Cunning Folk when creating this show but I think this detail is kind of interesting. 

The Green Man & The Wicker Man 

In Season 3 of Sabrina, they come across a group of Pagans trying to resurrect the Green Man.  Historically, the Green Man is a fascinating and mysterious Pagan deity. He is primarily interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, represented in the cycle of growth each spring.  In Sabrina they try to resurrect the Green Man by creating a giant humanoid effigy, more commonly known as the wicker man.  Then they try to sacrifice a virgin, in this case Harvey, by putting him inside of the wicker man. 

The Green Man and the Wickerman are not really related historically though we do have some accounts of a wickerman being created. One of the most popular accounts of pagan human sacrifice comes from Julius Caesar during his conquest of Gaul where he reports to have seen the burning alive of victims in a large wooden effigy. Though considering the Celts were his enemy at the time it is possible he exaggerated some details.  So, while it’s likely that some human sacrifice occurred among the Pagan Celts and Anglo-Saxons we don’t really know too many details and it’s likely that the violence was probably a bit exaggerated. 

As a side note, the whole representation of Pagans in Sabrina was definitely a bit ridiculous. And I find it weird that shortly after the Pagans are defeated, the Satanic Witches stop worshipping the dark lord and start worshiping the Greek Goddess, Hecate.  So even though the Pagans were their enemies in the 3rd season, in the 4th season they kind of become pagans themselves. 

FINAL THOUGHTS

In general, I think this show is super fun and even though they're not aiming for historical accuracy, I do like how they at least tried to incorporate different aspects of witchcraft & paganism in the show.  So, in general I would give this show a 2/10 on historical accuracy.  Though if I were to rate the show as a whole, I’d probably give it a 7/10 because it’s super fun and enjoyable to watch. 

If you’re interested in witchcraft or magic you’ve probably come across the terms Book of Shadows and Grimoire. But what makes these magical books distinct, how are they different, and should you create one for your own practice?

BOOK OF SHADOWS

We’re going to start with the Book of Shadows, which is a much more recent term. You’ve probably seen examples of Books of Shadows in pop-culture, such as in Charmed or Practical Magic. In a nutshell, a Book of Shadows is like a journal where you keep information about your own spiritual practice. This could include spells, rituals, herb correspondences, or really anything that is focused around magic.

So where did this term “book of shadows” come from? The first thing to understand about a “book of shadows” is that it is a neo-pagan term that started being used when the religion of wicca was created by its founder Gerald Gardner. So it is not a term that was historically used by witches or magicians before the 1940s.

Back when Wicca was predominantly organized through covens, each coven would have a communal book of shadows that contain the coven’s specific spells and rituals. Over time wicca has evolved and changed considerably and now there are many more solitary wiccans than those that belong to a coven. Now individual witches are encouraged to create their own version of a Book of Shadows, and there aren't really any formal instructions of what should and should not be included. It’s entirely based on what you personally would like to include, though there is plenty of advice online if you need inspiration on what to add.

So, should you create your own Book of Shadows? Creating a magical book and calling it your “book of shadows” is a great idea if you are wiccan. After all, the term “book of shadows” was created by the founder of wicca. But what if you’re not wiccan, perhaps you're a traditional witch, or maybe you're just a pagan that wants to write about their spiritual practice. If this applies to you, then I think it’s totally fine to record your own magical text, but I probably wouldn't call that text a “book of shadows.”

GRIMOIRE

What is a Grimoire and how is it different from a “book of shadows”. Well, they actually have a lot in common as both a Grimoire and a Book of Shadows can contain things like rituals and spells. However, we’ve already established that a Book of Shadows is a wiccan term. So a Grimoire, by contrast is a magical book that is not associated with wicca and wiccan beliefs.

While the term book of shadows was created in the 1940s, the word Grimoire goes back way further. The term Grimoire originates from the French word ‘Grammaire’ which simply means a book that’s written in Latin. By the 18th century this word Grimoire started to be used to refer to historical books of magic.

And what are historical books of magic? Well there are a ton of them and they go way back in history. The earliest known written magical text comes from ancient Mesopotamia, where incantations were inscribed on cuneiform clay tablets. Of course the practice of writing about magic continued to Ancient Egypt and later to Greece and Rome. Though these ancient magical writings were not written in a codex or what we would call a book. So, can they be considered a Grimoire, maybe - maybe not.

Most texts that we would nowadays call Grimoires, were written starting in the Medieval period and were often created by figures called Ceremonial magicians. Ceremonial magicians, like the famous John Dee, were not enemies of the Christian church like you might think. Many were wealthy individuals who experimented with the intersections between science, faith, and magic. They recorded their rituals, experiments, and findings in books that would now be considered Grimoires.

So when we think about the main difference between a Book of Shadows and a Grimoire, in my personal opinion a Grimoire represents something that is historical in nature. Most of the time when we are interacting with a Grimoire, we are studying historical magical texts and the spells, rituals, and techniques that they contain. So, that begs the question - can you write your own modern Grimoire? Well I think you can but if you choose to do so I would structure it so that it includes at least some historic and ancient magical spells, techniques, and practices. Of course, this is my own opinion and you are free to do whatever you’d like.

If you are interested in learning more about historic grimoires, and historic magical practices. I would highly recommend these two books - Grimoires by Own Davies and The Book of Magic: From Antiquity to the Enlightenment by Brian Copenhaver.

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to the Grimoire and Book of Shadows. Please share your comments down below.

Have you ever heard the song Here We Come A Wassailing? This is one of my favorite songs to listen to this time of year, and when I looked into it I was pleasantly surprised to see that there is more to this song than meets the eye. So what is Wassailing and could there be some Pagan history behind this holiday tune?

The word Wassail may come from the old Norse phrase “ves heill” which means “be healthy,” though it’s more commonly believed that it derives from an Anglo-Saxon greeting that means to be in good health. Traditionally after someone would say Wassail, the common response is “Drinc hæl” which means “drink and be healthy.”

Wassail first appears in English literature in the Pagan poem Beowulf in the lines:
The rider sleepeth,
the hero, far-hidden; no harp resounds,
in the courts no wassail, as once was heard.

The word Wassail also makes an appearance as a toast that occurred right before the Saxon battle of Hastings began in 1066 CE. An Anglo-Norman poet wrote that in the last feast before the battle he heard a cry of:
Rejoice and wassail
Pass the bottle and drink healthy
Drink backwards and drink to me
Drink half and drink empty.

But it goes deeper than this because Wassiling is not just a phrase, greeting, or a toast - it’s lots of different things. While the word Wassail can refer to the act of toasting, it can also represent the beverage that was drunk during the toast. Today, Wassail is a popular holiday beverage and there are many different recipes for this drink. One of the oldest versions of Wassail is called Renwein, which is a spiced wine that resembled the ancient Roman drink called hypocras. The drink survived into the middle ages and became a popular wassailing drink among the wealthy.

Another version of the Wassail drink, called “Lambs Wool” is mentioned by none other than Shakespere himself during his play A Midsummer Night's Dream. This version of Wassil involved a dark beer that was whipped to create a frothy texture and then crab apples were floated in the drink. Shakespeare describes this version of Wassail in the lines:
Sometimes lurk I in the gossip's bowl
In very likeness of a roasted crab
And when she drinks, against her lips I bob,
And down her withered dewlap pours the ale.

Traditionally Wassail was drunk in a bowl not a glass, and often people would dip their bread in the bowl or float toasted bread on top of the drink - this is where the word “toast” as a drinking term comes from. Beyond just being a drink and phrase, wassail is also a verb and “to go wassailing” is a tradition that likely has some fascinating Pagan origins, especially in the western region of England. The production of hard-cider was traditionally and still is today essential to that area. In this region Wassailing is not just about toasting the health of their fellow man, it’s also important to toast the health of the cider apple trees.

Each year people in this region go out into the orchards, drink in hand, to sing to the spirits of the apple trees and this tradition is called Wassailing. The purpose of the singing is to wake the trees and scare away any evil spirits. The singers will also sometimes place cider-soaked bread in the branches of the trees to ward off evil spirits. There is also an English folklore spirit called the Apple Tree Man who is honored during the Wassailing. The Apple Tree Man is the name for the oldest tree in the orchard and it is believed that the fertility of the orchard as a whole derives from this tree spirit. Extra attention is given to the eldest tree in the orchard and people may honor the spirit by pouring cider into the roots. As with all modern folklore traditions we may never know their true origins, but I think it’s pretty clear that this practice of wassailing the orchards taps into ancient Pagan practices and beliefs.

Wassailing as a practice does not just occur in the orchard, some people take their singing door to door. This was kind of like a trick-or-treat version of caroling, where people would sing but usually expect some kind of payment. This practice fits in with the idea that the holidays were a time where social expectations would be lifted. During the holidays the poor expected privileges which were usually denied to them. This included the right to enter the homes of the wealthy and drink their booze in return for singing a wassailing song or two. These activities were known as “misrule” and often were presided over by a “lord of misrule” who coordinated all kinds of inappropriate revelry. These “misrule” traditions go all the way back to Saturnalia activities from Ancient Rome and were translated into the twelfth night celebrations still practiced today.

Over time many of these Pagan influences of Wassailing were forgotten. Authors like Washington Irving and Charles Dickens helped create a more idealized version of Wassailing as just a warm and peaceful Christmas & New Years tradition. Though I hope after reading this you’ve come to see that Wassailing is not just a Christian tradition.

So why is Wassailing important? On the one hand toasting with the word Wassail is a way to connect with the past and bring it to life. It’s a way to celebrate community, culture, and your connection to nature. And for us Pagans it has even more importance because it helps us tap into ancient traditions and beliefs. When you say “Wassail” you’re honoring pagan-inspired literary works such as Beowulf. You’re celebrating the apple harvest and the ancient spirits that live in the orchards. And you’re honoring a tradition of topsy turvy misrule that goes all the way back to the Roman solstice celebration known as Saturnalia. So get yourself a drink, grab a couple friends and head to the nearest apple tree to give thanks and celebrate this time of year. Wassail!

1: There isn’t one way to do things

When I was starting out it was pretty overwhelming as there is so much variation in pagan practices. I was kind of hoping that I could find one book or one teacher that could show me how things were done - but it doesn’t work like that. As a Pagan you have to decide which path and traditions resonate with you and the way you do things might be completely different from other pagans.

2: Labels often don’t mean anything

When I was starting out and meeting other pagans I would occasionally meet people both online & in person who said they were a high-priest or a high-priestess. I initially found this really exciting but the truth is anyone can call themselves a high priest or priestess so take everything you hear with a grain of salt. There is no formal hierarchy or system of granting titles so you need to be cautious about taking people at their word.

3: My Practice would evolve

I started out as a Wiccan but over time my practice has evolved away from Wicca and more towards Pagan-reconstructionist practice. While I used to do lots of spells and Wiccan rituals, now I focus on reviving Pagan traditions and understanding their origins. Don’t be surprised if your beliefs and practices also change over time.

4: The Amount of Research Involved

Building a Pagan practice takes a lot of research and reading. In my view a large part of Paganism is learning about ancient history and figuring how we can bring that historical knowledge and beliefs into the modern day. This takes a lot of digging into old manuscripts and texts so get ready to spend lots of time with your nose in a book. To be honest, I’m a bit of a history nerd so this is really one of my favorite aspects of Paganism.

5: Pagans are often Anti-Organization

Getting a group of Pagans together can often be like herding cats. Most pagans are uncomfortable with rules and hierarchies and this is most likely due to the fact that many pagans grew up in a Christian household and are looking for a religion that is opposite from what they grew up with. While absence of rules and structure can be liberating this aversion to organization also isolates us a bit. It’s no coincidence that solitary Pagans are now the norm.

6: Being Pagan can be Lonely

Unlike more mainstream religions, most Pagan groups do not meet very regularly and can sometimes be tricky to connect with. There are a ton of paid witchy and pagan workshops you can attend, but it’s tough finding events that are free. For me, I’ve definitely felt lonely from time to time and one of the reasons I created a YouTube channel is so that I could connect with other Pagans.

7: It would profoundly change my life

Paganism has inspired and helped me in so many ways. It’s helped me connect more with nature and the cycles of the seasons. It’s helped me connect with my ancestors and learn more about their history. And most importantly, it’s provided a greater sense of meaning and purpose in my life.

What things do you wish you knew before becoming pagan? Share below in the comments! ✨

Today we’re digging into another fascinating Christmas tradition that may have Pagan origins.  I am of course talking about the Yule goat that is a popular tradition in Nordic countries this time of year. You can find the Yule goat just about everywhere in Sweden, Norway, and Finland.  He appears in Christmas ornaments, holiday decor, and most famously as a giant effigy in the town of Gävle, Sweden.  This giant Yule goat is really fascinating as people try to burn it down every year.  The giant goat consists of a large metal frame that’s covered in straw so it’s pretty easy to light on fire and in the past 50 years the goat has been destroyed around 35 times. The town has tried lots of different ways to protect the goat - they’ve set up a fence, security cameras, and have even had guards stationed but often someone still finds a way to light the goat on fire. 

So how did a goat end up becoming the symbol of Yule?  Well, it possibly goes back to Pagan times.  Thor happened to have a chariot that was led by two large goats. These goats are mentioned several times in the Norse sagas and they were kind of immortal magical goats. Repeatedly in the tales Thor would butcher and eat the two goats but they would miraculously return to life the next morning.  

There is also an interesting ancient tradition called the juleoffer or “Yule sacrifice” where a man dressed in goatskins and carrying a goat-head effigy would be symbolically killed and returned to life the next day, just like Thor’s goats. This rebirth metaphor also fits in really well with the winter solstice as on solstice night the sun goes through its own rebirth. Early Christians, were obviously not happy with this pagan tradition and in true Christian fashion they proclaimed the Yule Goat as a demon.  This fear of the Yule goat continued well into the 17th century and there were many tales featuring a demonic Yule goat roaming the countryside demanding food and scaring children. Over time the Yule Goat eventually lost its bad reputation and became a benevolent symbol of Christmas.  In folk art you’ll often see the Yule goat caring Santa’s holiday presents as they go from house to house.  Or, sometimes you’ll even see Santa riding the Yule Goat. 

I don’t know about you but I really feel that each year more and more people are starting to discover and appreciate Pagan Yule traditions.  And I find it so fun that I could share the story of the Yule goat with you today.  

Yule is right around the corner and I think it’s finally time we talk about Krampus.  He’s one of my favorite monsters and his story provides some fascinating insights about the intersection of Christianity and Paganism.  

Krampus is a half-goat, half-demon monster from central European Folklore. The name Krampus derives from the German word Krampen, which means “claw,” and most depictions of Krampus show him with big claws, sharp horns, and oddly long red tongue. Krampus is the devilish companion to St. Nicholas and they both arrive together on the evening of December 5, which is known as Krampusnacht.  St. Nicholas rewards the nice children by leaving presents, and Krampus beats those who are naughty with birch branches and sticks.  And in some stories it is said that Krampus eats the naughty children and takes them to hell. 

So where did the legend of Krampus come from? Well, some believe that Krampus has Pagan origins and that he is the child of the Hel, the Norse Goddess of the underworld.  Another theory is that Krampus is a representation of the horned God of Witches. In an article about Krampus published in 1958, Folklorist Maurice Bruce wrote:

“There seems to be little doubt as to his true identity for, in no other form is the full regalia of the Horned God of the Witches so well preserved. The birch – apart from its phallic significance – may have a connection with the initiation rites of certain witch-covens; rites which entailed binding and scourging as a form of mock-death.”

Regardless of which origin story is correct, we do know that the legend of Krampus became associated with the holiday of Christmas during the European conversion to Christianity.  This was something that really annoyed the church and they tried to ban Krampus from Christmas celebrations. Though the church was definitely unsuccessful at this and I can see why.  When it comes to holidays, the fun traditions are always the Pagan ones, so there isn’t much incentive for people to stop them.  

It seems that Krampus is becoming more and more popular each year. In Bavaria, there’s been an artistic revival of making amazing hand-carved Krampus masks.  These masks are often worn during the Krampuslauf, which is where people dress up as Krampus and parade through the streets and try to scare all the spectators.  While the Krampuslauf is most popular in Germany and Austria, I could definitely see it becoming a thing here in America too.    

One of the interesting things about Krampus is that many believe his expanding popularity was a reaction to the commercialization of Christmas.  But now, it’s oddly become full circle and instead of a symbol against commercialization, Krampus himself, has unfortunately become pretty commercialized. It seems nothing is immune nowadays from commercialization. But as a Pagan, I love Krampus. I think his story is super fun and celebrating Krampusnacht can be a great way to honor Germanic pagan traditions.  Additionally, Krampus is a great example of how Pagan folklore can break-through Christain oppression and continue to thrive in our modern day world. 

So many of you have reached out asking for help finding a pagan path.  Making this choice can definitely be confusing, there are so many different pagan paths you could follow.  And before I start I should say that you don’t even need to follow one specific path, you can decide to be an eclectic pagan and pull in elements from different paths.  Though if you do want to follow one specific path there are a few things to consider when making your choice.  While there are many paths out there, today I’m going to introduce you to two of the most popular pagan paths so you can see if either of these paths might be a good fit for you. 

What is Norse Paganism?

We’re going to start with Norse Paganism, which recently has seen a huge resurgence in interest which is super exciting!  Modern Norse pagans base their beliefs and worldview around the old Norse religion which developed in the Proto-Norse period (around the 1st Century CE).  This religion primarily flourished in Scandinavia and Iceland but during the Viking age expansion it spread to other areas in Europe.  That’s why when you study a God like Odin you’ll find lots of variations on the spelling of his name and his various attributes. 

Norse Paganism is similar to many other forms of Paganism in that it has a specific cosmology and a collection of different Gods and Goddesses.  There is an origin story on how the world came into being and the famous tree Yggdrasil and the 9 different realms make up a large part of this cosmology.  

Primary Sources

So what should you read to see if you connect with this path? Unfortunately, very little religious content written by the Norse Pagans survives.  However, we do have some important texts about Norse Pagan beliefs that were written down after the area converted to Christianity.  If you are starting out with Norse Paganism, I would recommend reading the Poetic Edda and the Prose Edda.  These sources reveal the Norse Pagan cosmology and they contain the many stories about the Gods.  Reading these texts will help you decide if you connect with this particular pantheon. 

I would also recommend reading The Havamal, which is more of a guide on how to live.  The Havamal contains wisdom about topics like how to be a good host, how to maintain strong friendships, and how to ensure your legacy is remembered by future generations.  This is a great text to help you understand the culture of the Norse Pagans and what they valued in society.  While you’re reading the Havamal, ask yourself if you share these values and if you find the bits of wisdom inspiring.   If you do feel inspired by these Norse texts it’s a really good indication that Norse Paganism might be for you. 

The Norse Deities 

There are two main groups of deities in Norse Paganism, the Æsir and the Vanir and you’re probably already familiar with many of these deities.  The most popular deities in the Æsir are Odin, Thor, and Tyr.  In the Vanir the most popular deities are probably Frey and Freyja.  Along with the Æsir and the Vanir you also have spirits of the land, ancestral spirits, and other beings such as the Norns, the dwarfs, and the giants. 

Unfortunately, we don’t know much about how the Gods and spirits were historically worshiped.  Though today the practice of giving offerings, such as food or alcohol, is one of the main ways Norse Pagans connect with the Gods.  And if you are considering the Norse path, the giving of offerings will most likely become one of the main ways you interact with the Norse Gods.  So ask yourself how you feel about the practice of giving offerings and if it’s something you would enjoy doing.

The Community

Community is a big part of Norse Paganism.  When reading the Havamal you find that there are many passages about the importance of maintaining friendships and a strong overall community.  Most modern Norse Pagans likewise seek to form groups and meet often so that they can worship the Gods together as the ancient Norse Pagans would have done.  So if you’re looking not just for a spiritual path, but also a strong community, then Norse Paganism might be a really good fit. 

What is Celtic Paganism?

Historically the Celts were a collection of tribes that existed primarily in Ireland, Britain, France, and parts of Spain.  And since the Celtic world was quite large there were a lot of variations in religious practice. One of the unusual things about modern Celtic Paganism is that it usually ties together the culture and beliefs of two vastly different time periods.  The majority of Celtic Paganism is based around the Celtic world which started to evolve in 1200 BCE.  However, most modern Celtic Paganism also tends to incorporate the prehistoric stone circles and mounds such as Stonehenge and NewGrange.  This is a bit odd as these structures were made around 3000 BCE and were built by a group of people that were very different from the Druids and other Celtic peoples. So if you’re considering becoming a modern Celtic Pagan keep in mind that you’ll likely be working with quite a huge timespan featuring a variety of different cultures. 

Primary Sources

Like Norse Paganism we don't have much material that was actually written by the Celtic Pagans.  This is in part because the Celts viewed the oral tradition as more important and sacred. Most of the primary sources we have actually come from the Romans writing about the Celts, so the content is biased and not always reliable.  Additionally, there are a lot of valuable sources written after the conversion to Christianity and while these sources are also likely biased they do provide valuable information about the Celtic deities.  To get started, I recommend these Irish and Welsh sagas: Cath Maige Tuired, Lebor Gabála Érenn, Mabinogion.

The Deities

Understanding the Celtic deities and cosmology is a bit tricky so if you’re considering following this path be ready to do a lot of research.  Many of the popular Celtic deities such as The Dagda, The Morrigan, Brigit, and Lugh are considered part of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The Tuatha Dé Danann live in the underworld but still interact with humans, especially in places like the ancient passage tombs which were viewed as portals to the underworld.  They were considered more like a supernatural race of humans who had special powers.  However, this could just be because most of their stories were written by Monks who may have wanted to diminish their status as deities. 

Many other Celtic Gods and Goddess are also localized and based around sacred sites so it can be tricky to connect with these deities if you don’t live in the region.  Additionally, folklore is a large part of modern Celtic Paganism and many believe that the surviving folklore contains traces of Celtic Pagan wisdom that survived the conversion to Christianity.  For example, the stories about the Fae could be considered a modernized version of the Tuatha Dé Danann.  So if you have a strong affinity for Fairy-lore then modern Celtic Paganism might be a really good fit for you. 

The Community

Like Norse Paganism, being part of a Celtic pagan community isn’t just about the deities or spiritual beliefs. It’s also important to engage with areas beyond religion.  In the case of Celtic Paganism, you can also find community by learning other facets of Celtic culture, such as language, music or dance. 

There is also a large community of modern druids that is pretty active.  The druids in Celtic times were religious leaders and teachers and the modern Druid community is a great place to start if you are looking for someone to teach you the ways of Modern Celtic Paganism. 

I hope you enjoyed this introduction to Norse Paganism & Celtic Paganism.  Do either of these pagan paths resonate with you?  Share down below in the comments.  

It’s almost time for Thanksgiving, one of my personal favorite holidays. We’re all familiar with the classic story of Native Americans dining with Pilgrims. But, our modern day Thanksgiving has deeper Pagan roots than many may be aware of. So let’s dig into the history of this holiday and reveal some surprising Pagan elements.

Part 1 - The History

In America, it’s believed that the first Thanksgiving took place in 1621, but this was not the first time people gathered to give thanks for the Autumn harvest. In fact, people have been celebrating the harvest for millenia and our Thanksgiving meal is just a modern incarnation reflecting these ancient celebrations of autumn abundance.

Most of our modern holidays, like Christmas and Easter, are a combination of Pagan and Christian traditions. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, doesn’t have as much of a Christian influence. While Thanksgiving is not tied to any one specific religion, it’s traditions are quite similar to a number of ancient Pagan harvest celebrations. For example, in ancient Rome they celebrated the holiday of Cerelia, which honored the harvest goddess of grain called Ceres. There are around a 100 different harvest Gods and Goddesses from Greek & Roman culture so it’s clear that celebrating the harvest season was a key feature of their spiritual beliefs.

Harvest celebrations were also vitally important during Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Pagan times. In Britain these traditions evolved into a holiday called Harvest Home. Historically, the date of Harvest Home differed each year as it was celebrated when all of the autumn crops were finally harvested. The final cartload of food was paraded through the town and a big Harvest Supper was celebrated among the villagers. Apparently these harvest suppers started to get a bit out of hand, and in 1867, were described as “unrestrained riot and excess.”

In addition to Harvest Home, a separate religious holiday called the "days of thanksgivings" was practiced in the Church of England, in which people set aside one religious day of their choosing to "give thanks to God." We get the name “Thanksgiving” from this Christian tradition, while the feasting commonly associated with Thanksgiving largely derives from the Harvest Home celebrations.

Luckily for us Americans, our harvest Thanksgiving celebrations were never commandeered by the church and as such they remain pretty Pagan to this day. Here in America, a lot of our imagery around Thanksgiving shows a shared meal between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. It could be said that this rosy view of our first Thanksgiving meal together is largely misleading and helps to obscure the many atrocities the colonists committed upon the Native Americans. The Native Americans, like the ancient Pagan peoples of Europe, understood the importance of honoring and respecting the harvest. And during the first American Thanksgiving that took place in 1621, the Native Americans paused to give thanks to many spirits and deities that aided in the bountiful harvest.

Part 2 - The Symbols

There are three key symbols that are common to Thanksgiving celebrations: the cornucopia (aka the horn of plenty), the turkey, and corn. All these symbols were viewed as very important among Pagan societies. Let’s begin with the Cornucopia, which was an important symbol in ancient Greece and Rome. A cornucopia is a horned shaped basket that is usually filled with harvest fruits and vegetables. This symbol goes back to a story from Ancient Greece where a goat pulled off his horn and offered it to the God Zeus. This was a magic horn that would refill indefinitely with food and drink ensuring that Zeus would never go hungry. To give thanks to the goat, Zeus made the goat’s image in the night sky, which became the constellation we now call Capricorn.

The Cornucopia was also incorporated in statues and money across ancient Rome and was often used in representations of the goddesses of grain Ceres and the goddess of luck Fortuna. The cornucopia has even made an appearance in American currency. After all, the cultural identity of early America is largely inspired by ancient Greek & Roman culture and their systems of government.

The next symbol I want to mention is the Turkey, which is the centerpiece of the American Thanksgiving dinner. Many Native American tribes view Turkey as a symbol of fertility and abundance. As a totem animal, Turkey reminds us of the importance of our relationship with the land as the land is the source of our nourishment and sustenance. Turkey feathers are also viewed as especially important and are used in ritual wear and in smudging ceremonies. So when we eat Turkey at Thanksgiving we are celebrating & honoring the connection we have with our sacred land and the animal spirits.

Lastly, corn is often used as a symbol to represent Thanksgiving. Corn, also called maize, was a key staple crop among the Native Americans and it played an important role in their spiritual beliefs. In some tribes Corn itself was seen as a spirit and often it played a role in ceremonies. Historically, it is also believed that the Native Americans taught the pilgrims how to grow and harvest corn and without that knowledge they would have never survived the harsh winters.

Part 3 - Sports???

One last thing comes to mind when I consider our modern Thanksgiving day celebrations and that is football. So why would something like football be connected to a harvest meal? Well, Celtic pagan harvest festivals usually included some type of sport or competition. For example, during the harvest festival called Lughnasadh people would participate in the Tailteann Games which included sports like archery, wrestling, and chariot racing. Another famous Irish Pagan harvest festival is Samhain, which historically was the time to gather the whole tribe together for feasting and athletic competitions. So today in America, like the ancient Celts, we enjoy watching sports along with our harvest feast.

Often they say history doesn’t repeat but it does rhyme and that’s how I view our modern American Thanksgiving celebrations. Thanksgiving touches something deep in our subconscious, a desire to celebrate the abundance of nature with our community before the long winter begins. I think our modern American Thanksgiving is a way to subtly tap back into how the harvest was once celebrated during Pagan times - a time when we honored the spirits of the land by being with family, feasting gratuitously, and watching large men pummel each other for our entertainment.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Comment down below your thoughts and share your favorite Thanksgiving dish. ;)