New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
This is the festival of San Juan, or John the Baptist, believed to have been born six months before Jesus. As with many Christian feast days, its origins are pagan. At Midsummer, the herb known as St. John's wort is blooming with bright yellow flowers. The herb has many uses in healing and is effective for mild depression in capsule and tincture form. There is some risk of blood pressure spiking if these forms are combined with certain foods, but drinking an infusion of St. John's wort is ...
Today is the summer solstice (Midsummer) and the longest day of the year! No matter what our gender, we all have masculine and feminine aspects to ourselves. To maintain a healthy balance, we must both honor and recognize these dual aspects. Today, with the sun at the peak of its power, is the perfect time to honor our relationship with the divine masculine that resides within all of us. Here is a simple Midsummer-themed invocation you can recite today in recognition and honor of your ...
Midsummer is an excellent time to craft your own tools. Finding things while you hike in the woods or stroll along a beach always feels satisfying and creates a personal connection with a wand or an altar piece. Take your time, and look around while you are out and about. One of my favorite wands was made from three thin willow tree branches that I gathered right after a storm. Braiding the strands and allowing them to dry for a Full Moon cycle made for an excellent ritual wand. I've been ...
One of my coven sisters is emphatic about the need to sacrifice personal "Drama Llamas" before public spiritual or social gatherings. Though the term is humorous, the necessity is grand! Because the Midsummer sabbat is coming up, you may wish to bring your focus to the drama and social silliness that surrounds your life. Keep in mind that "drama" is not a one-sided phenomenon: even the most "anti-drama" person can be dependent on gossip and the emotional roller coaster. To hlep dismiss ...
