What is the Wheel of the Year?
The Wheel of the Year is a Pagan cycle of eight seasonal festivals, celebrating phases of the sun, and interlaced with Wiccan deities' mythic cycles, marked by solstices, equinoxes, and sabbats.
Deity Deep Dive: Nyx
Nyx's Grove discusses the Greek primordial Goddess of the night, Nyx, her origins from Chaos, her many children, and a favorite myth involving her son Hypnos. The author shares a deep, personal connection with Nyx.
What is “Deity Deep Dive”?
Join us at Nyx's Grove for "Deity Deep Dive," where we'll explore and learn about various gods and goddesses. Share your deity interests in the comments!
Getting to know Serenity
A mother of five, aspiring artist, and neurodivergent, finds solace in YouTube influencers and dreams of a spacious home in a culture-rich locale. Her fears center on family support amidst socio-economic challenges, while her motivation is her children's ease of life. Content with her physical self, she seeks wisdom in communication and decries sports' misplaced societal value. Her proudest accomplishment is finding the will to live, and her daily life is a blend of creativity, parental duties, and longing for personal time amid the chaos. She values experiences over material gifts and finds joy in simple things like music and laughter, with a longing for a well-organized space and personal growth.
Let’s Talk Tarot!
Today's post explores tarot reading, clarifying that initial tarot decks were playing cards, with cartomancy emerging in the 18th century. The post explains reading basics, including personal practice and deck personality. The author emphasizes the importance of cleansing decks and intent during readings, and shares their challenge of finding sufficient people to read for in order to improve their skills. The conclusion underscores that there is no singular correct approach to tarot reading.
What is an Initiation to Pagans?
An initiation in Paganism, especially Wiccan covens, signifies admitting someone into a group with a ritual, indicating both physical and spiritual change. In historical Gardnerian Wicca, initiation was required, tracing lineage to founder Gerald Gardner. The traditional wait time before initiation is a year and a day, a period also reflected in legal terms. Opinions vary on the necessity of initiation; some deem it essential, others accept self-initiation, while some dismiss its importance altogether, advocating for personal dedication rituals as a form of constant learning and self-assessment.
Do You Need a Coven to be a Witch?
No coven is needed to be a witch; it's a personal choice. Covens are simply like-minded groups, often of witches, that work together in their practice, potentially strengthening their magic. However, solitary witchcraft is equally valid, allowing practitioners to work independently and at their own pace, possibly fostering a stronger personal connection to their craft and deities. Ultimately, whether to join a coven or practice alone is an individual decision, with neither option diminishing one's authenticity as a witch.
Heathenism
I’ve mentioned in the past about how I resonate primarily with the Norse pantheon of deities, and because of this I’ve been looking very heavily into Heathenism, which is also…
The Different Types of Wicca
The author explores several Wicca branches, noting their similarities and subtle differences. Gardnerian Wicca emphasizes the goddess and secrecy, while Alexandrian balances deities and ceremonial magic. Seax Wicca is public and modifiable, aligning with Germanic deities. Dianic Wicca focuses on feminine energies, and Eclectic Wicca blends various traditions, allowing individualized practice. This overview serves as an introductory guide to Wiccan paths.
What is a Pagan?
A Pagan is someone who practices a religion outside the main world's religions, often nature-based or polytheistic. Originating from early Christian derogatory labels, modern Paganism is diverse, without strict doctrines, allowing personal interpretations of faith, rituals, and magic. Reasons for being Pagan vary, including personal empowerment, tradition, or seeking a hands-on belief system.
