Witches&Pagans #36 - Gods, Goddesses, & the Glorious Divine

Who do we worship? How do we find Them — or, how are we found by Them? Whatever our path, the divine is part of our lives and practices. In this issue of Witches&Pagans we share the experiences of priests, devotees, writers, artists, dancers, spirit workers, and everyday people as they live in relationship with the Divine. This special issue features:

Focus on Understanding the Gods

“To Walk with Orisha: The Path of Connectedness.” Manny Tejeda-Moreno leads us on a path replete with Spirit, power, and passion. "To Soar with the Butterflies: Sigyn, Lady of Compassion.” Erin Lale describes the ancient lore — and modern gnosis — of this underappreciated Norse goddess. "His Name Means Ecstacy: Exploring Sacred Marriage in Northern European Traditions” by priestess Shirl Sazynski.     "Riding with the Frauen.” Discover the hidden goddesses of Germanic culture with loremistress Heidi Parton.

“Wisdom of the Holy Isle: Gods & Goddesses of Avalon.” Explore the deities of the Celtic Otherworld with Síthearain Nicleòid. Focus on Daily Devotion “Religio Romana.” Roman polytheist Virginia Carper describes her day-to-day practice of having a proper relationship with the Gods.

“A Party for Parvati.” Want a truly humbling experience? Go to where people who are indigenous to your practice shop, by Deborah Castellano.

“Surrounded by Deity.” Irisanya reveals what’s it like to be devoted to many gods and goddesses at the same time. Focus on Pagan Living

Our columnists weigh in on bringing the divine into your life, including:

Raven Grimassi – The Gods in Old Witchery

Jamie Della – Rose Geranium: a plant of love

Hecate Demetersdatter – How I Found the Goddess

Deborah Blake – Where is Your Inner Goddess?

Jason Mankey – Relationships with the Gods are Reciprocal

Diotima Mantineia – Looking Out for Saturn

H. Byron Ballard – I Love the Big Mama: Don't You?

Archer – A Pagan View of Jesus

Christopher Penczak – Seers are Artists & Storytellers

Ivo Dominguez, Jr – Drawing Down the Great Ones

Thorn Mooney & Eurus offer answers to your witchy questions. In this issue: "How Do I Connect to a God?"

88 pages, published in September, 2018.

Witches&Pagans #34 - Creating Ritual

Whatever your path, whether you are a devotional Polytheist, a Wiccan priest/ess, a root worker and witch, an arch-Druid or a naturalist Pagan, doing ritual is almost certainly part of your spiritual path. In this issue, we explore the many diverse ways in which ritual creates, nurtures, connects and reinforces our bonds to the Gods, the Spirits of Nature, and to each other in community.

 This special issue features:

“Getting to Know Your Story: A Talk with OBOD Chief Druid Philip Carr-Gom.” Gail Nyoka chats with the renowned English druid about the elements of ritual, Druidism, and following the Awen.

"Eolas ar Senchais: Illuminating Ancient Celtic Ritual.“ It’s sometimes difficult to know real lore from invented nonsense, so what’s a Celtic-inspired ritualist to do? Author and druid Sithearan NicNeoid leads the way down the road to authentic knowledge of these ancient paths.

“Druid Ritual Style.“ The rituals of Ar nDraiocht Fein (“Our Own Druidry” in Gaelic), are known for their careful design and elaborate nature. ArchDruid Kirk Thomas lays out the structure, meaning, and theology of these foundational rites.

“Eleusis by the Sea: Wandering Witch at Spring Mysteries.” Natalie Zaman takes a personally significant journey to meet the Gods at the yearly ritual drama held by the Aquarian Tabernacle Church.

“Forged in Flame: Creating a Reclaiming Beltane Ritual.” Irisanya draws back the curtain on the art of creating the legendary rituals of the Reclaiming witchcraft tradition.

PLUS “We Come from the Land Down Under: Retrofitting Ritual for Southern Hemisphere Pagans” by Lee Pike.

Our columnists also weigh in on ways to bring meaning into your solitary (and family) rituals, including:

Raven Grimassi in “Solitary Ritual & Aligning Ourselves with Power"

Hecate Demetersdatter in “How to Create a Successful Group Ritual"

Deborah Blake in “What’s Your Ritual Style?”

Jason Mankey in “Was Your Last Ritual a Disaster?"

Diotima Mantineia in “Astrological Timing for Your Next Working"

H. Byron Ballard in “Ritual and Theatre?”

Shirl Sazynski in “The Names of the Gods”

Christopher Penczak in “By Love, Will, and Wisdom”

Thorn Mooney & Eurus in “Two Many Witches”

88 pages, published in June 2017