TAROSCOPES

Most folks know Samhain as Halloween, but for many modern Pagans, Samhain is considered a Sabbat to honor the ancestors who came before us, marking the dark time of the year. It's an excellent time to contact the Spirit world with a seance because it's the time when the veil between this world and the next is at its thinnest. The timing of contemporary Samhain celebrations varies according to spiritual tradition and geography. Many celebrate Samhain over the course of several days and nights, and these extended observances usually include a series of solo rites as well as ceremonies, feasts, and gatherings with family, friends, and Spiritual community. In the northern hemisphere, many Pagans celebrate Samhain from sundown on October 31 through November 1. Others hold Samhain celebrations on the nearest weekend or on the Full or New Moon closest to this time. Some Pagans observe Samhain a bit later, or near November 6, to coincide more closely with the astronomical m...

It is the time of the Autumn Equinox, and the harvest is winding down. The fields are nearly empty because the crops have been plucked and stored for the coming winter. Mabon is the mid-harvest festival, and it is when we take a few moments to honor the changing seasons and celebrate the second harvest. On or around September 21 (or March 21, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere), for many Pagan and Wiccan traditions it is a time of giving thanks for the things we have, whether it is abundant crops or other blessings. It's a time of plenty, of gratitude, and of sharing our abundance with those less fortunate. Rituals and Ceremonies Depending on your individual spiritual path, there are many different ways you can celebrate Mabon, but typically the focus is on either the second harvest aspect or the balance between light and dark. This, after all, is the time when there is an equal amount of day and night. While we celebrate the gifts of the Earth, we also accept tha...

What is Lion’s Gate Portal? Every year, August 8 is believed to be the day when the Lion's Gate Portal opens. This remarkable cosmic conjunction is considered to be auspicious for your manifestations. It is an excellent time for manifesting abundance, prosperity and more. The Lion's Gate Portal is believed to open when the star Sirius aligns with the Sun in Leo, creating a time that is considered to be fortunate for bringing wonderful things into life. This day falls on the eighth of the eighth month. Significance The celestial alignment bridges our planet Earth, the star Sirius and the Orion belt, creating a portal of enchantment and success. This happens when Sirius becomes visible again due to the Sun's yearly passing by the star. It occurs during Leo season (between July 28 and August 12), but it is the most powerful on August 8th. In numerology, eight is believed to be the powerhouse number representing luck, prosperity and positive energy. When...

At Lammas, also called Lughnasadh, the hot days of August are upon us, much of the earth is dry and parched, but we still know that the bright reds and yellows of the harvest season are just around the corner. Apples are beginning to ripen in the trees, our summer vegetables have been picked, corn is tall and green, waiting for us to come gather the bounty of the crop fields. Now is the time to begin reaping what we have sown, and gathering up the first harvests of grain, wheat, oats, and more. This holiday can be celebrated either as a way to honor the Celtic God Lugh or as a celebration of the harvest. Grain has held a place of importance in civilization back nearly to the beginning of time. Grain became associated with the cycle of death and rebirth. The Sumerian God Tammuz was slain and his lover Ishtar grieved so heartily that nature stopped producing. Ishtar mourned Tammuz, and followed him to the Underworld to bring him back, similar to the story of Demet...

Litha, also known as Midsummer or the Summer Solstice, is an ancient festival celebrated by various cultures around the world. Litha has its roots in ancient agricultural societies that heavily relied on the Sun for their livelihoods. The festival marks the peak of the Sun's power and the longest day of the year. Celtic mythology associates Litha with the Oak King, representing the waxing power of the Sun. Bonfires were lit during Litha to honor the Sun's strength and ensure abundant harvests. In Norse traditions, the Solstice was celebrated with bonfires, feasts, and ceremonies dedicated to Freyr, the Fertility God. Where does the name Litha Come from? The name "Litha" is derived from Old English and has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon calendar. The term "Litha" is believed to be related to the word "liþa," which translates to "gentle" or "calm" in Old English. It refers to the period of the Summer Solst...

What is the Zodiac? The zodiac is a belt-shaped region of the sky that extends approximately 8 degrees north and south (as measured in celestial latitude) of the ecliptic or ecliptic plane, the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year.  Also within this zodiac belt appear the Moon and the brightest planets, along their orbital planes.  The zodiac is divided along the ecliptic into 12 equal parts, called ‘signs’, each occupying 30 degrees of celestial longitude.  These signs roughly correspond to astronomical constellations. The signs have been used to determine the time of the year by identifying each sign with the days of the year the Sun is in the respective sign. In Western Astrology, the time of each sign is associated with different attributes.  The zodiacal system and its angular measurement in 360 sexagesimal degree originated with Babylonian astronomy during the 1st millennium BC. It was only then communicat...