New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
Today is Mehrgan, the Persian festival of autumn that honors the goddess Mehr, the spirit of love, friendship, and commitments. Altars to Mehr are decorated in bright colors and include bunches of dried marjoram, an herb associated with Venus and Aphrodite and often used in happiness and love charms. To honor Mehr and ensure happiness in the coming year, fashion a poppet of her to keep in your home. Wash and dry a generous bunch of fresh marjoram. Form a head, arms, and body by tying off ...
The autumnal equinox is a potent time occurring at a precise astrological moment, but the period leading up to autumn is more of a mood shift that many of us feel deeply, especially in the Northeast, where the visual changes are dramatic. The cooler temperatures and decreasing daylight also mark a shift in energy. This can be a very creative time, so harness that creativity to bring you into the winter season. To welcome this energy, turn your altar into an autumn landscape. Place acorns, ...
Sadness is not something that's restricted to the autumn or wintry seasons. Generally, feelings of sadness mean that something is dying in your life-as difficult as it is, this means that new possibilities can come to fruition. If you experience summertime blues, it's worth considering herbal medicine, behavioral modification, or even therapy in some cases. In addition to these suggestions, you can create your own spell by searching for autumn leaves in the summer. It's likely that you can find ...
Merry Samhain! This ancient Pagan holiday is one of the most preserved in the modern Western calendar. To honor this sabbat, my community burns poppets to represent the banishing of our own unwanted dark sides. Though the dark is not anything to be afraid of, everyone has habits, thoughts, and emotional experiences that they are not proud of. Samhain is the ideal time to send these things to the Underworld, never to return. Simply stitch a black poppet (a small human-shaped dolly) out of black ...
