wiccanseminary

Ebb and Flow of a Sabbat

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 15:15:23 GMT

The Ebb and Flow of a Sabbat: Embracing the Season’s Energy

One of the most enduring conversations in Wicca and paganism is about timing: When is the “right” moment to celebrate a sabbat? Historians look to ancient traditions, astrologers track celestial alignments, and traditionalists hold fast to dates that have been honored for generations. Some practitioners prefer the night before; others insist on the exact astrological moment. The truth is, this debate has been ongoing for decades—and perhaps it misses the deeper point.

At WSTS, we take a holistic approach. We plan around calendar dates for practicality, holding rituals on the Sunday before the sabbat so our community can gather without conflict. But spiritually, we teach that a sabbat is not a single point in time it’s a living current of energy. It rises, crests, and flows out as the next wave begins. These energies overlap, creating a rhythm throughout the Wheel of the Year.

Think of it like surfing: the magic isn’t only at the crest—it’s in the entire wave. While many aim for the peak moment, the whole season carries power. This perspective frees us from rigidity and invites us into a more organic relationship with the cycles of nature.

When we view sabbats as seasons, we step into a deeper spiritual truth: nature doesn’t move in abrupt stops and starts. The Earth’s energy shifts gradually, like tides. The sabbat is a doorway, not a deadline. Its essence is felt before and after the “official” date, and that liminal space is rich with magic.

This approach honors the ebb and flow of life itself. Just as the moon waxes and wanes, so do our intentions, our energy, and our spiritual focus. By embracing the season, we allow ourselves to align with nature’s rhythm rather than impose a rigid schedule upon it.

This Yule, I embraced this philosophy through a simple yet profound ritual: wishes. Beginning after Samhain, I wrote down heartfelt wishes—not goals or resolutions, but pure hopes, like those we made as children. Each day since the Solstice, I’ve burned one, releasing it to the universe.

By now, I’ve forgotten most of what I wrote, which makes the act even more magical. It’s a ritual of trust, gratitude, and surrender sending positive energy into the world without clinging to outcomes. Each burning is a prayer; a spark of intention carried on the wind to the divine.

This practice transforms Yule from a single day into a season-long celebration. It deepens my connection to the cycles of nature and reminds me that magic thrives in openness, not control.

What does this teach us? That the sacred is not confined to a calendar. The sabbat’s energy is a river, not a stone. When we ride its current, we experience:

Trust in the Universe : Letting go of rigid timing teaches surrender.
Connection to Nature : Seasons, not dates, guide our spiritual rhythm.
Joy in Simplicity : Wishes, like childhood dreams, rekindle wonder.
Expanded Magic : A season-long practice amplifies energy and intention.

Even though the Solstice has passed, its energy lingers. The afterglow is still potent, inviting us to savor, reflect, and create. Growing up, Yule was “one day and done.” Now, it’s a flowing, vibrant experience that enriches my practice and my soul.

So, ride the wave. Celebrate the season. Let your rituals be fluid, your magic expansive, and your heart open to the rhythm of the Earth. May your Yule season be rich with meaning, and may the coming year bring blessings beyond measure.

Bright Blessings!

The Celebration of Yule and Winter Solstice

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 19:31:37 GMT

The Celebration of Yule and Winter Solstice

As the year’s darkest night approaches, something magical happens when the sun begins its slow return. This turning point is celebrated in Pagan traditions as Yule, a festival that in modern practice has become aligned with the Winter Solstice. It’s a time of hope, renewal, and connection to nature’s rhythms. More and more people are rediscovering these ancient practices, weaving them into modern life as a way to slow down, reflect, and celebrate the light that follows darkness. In a modern Pagan and Wiccan practice Yule is usually celebrated on the Winter Solstice, which is often on December 21st, but because it is an astrological event it moves around a bit. In 2025, the solstice happens on the morning of December 21, 20225.

Yule has deep roots in ancient Pagan cultures like the Norse, Celtic, and Germanic peoples. For them, this time of year was a turning point in the season. Longer days meant survival, growth, and abundance. Communities honored this turning point with feasts, fires, and rituals to welcome back the sun. Over time, many of these customs like decorating with evergreens and exchanging gifts found their way into later winter holidays, including Christmas. So, when you hang that wreath or light a candle, you’re echoing traditions thousands of years old.

The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, but it’s also the promise of brighter days ahead. In Pagan cosmology, this moment symbolizes balance the dance between darkness and light. It’s a powerful reminder that even in life’s hardest seasons, renewal is always on the horizon. Themes of rebirth, hope, and transformation make Yule a deeply spiritual time for reflection and gratitude. Rituals to celebrate this holiday often revolve around a final release of things from the current year, an expression of gratitude and wishes for the new year.

Picture this in ages past: a roaring fire, candles flickering, and homes adorned with evergreens, holly, and mistletoe. These weren’t just decorations they were symbols of life enduring through winter’s chill. Feasting brought communities together, and offerings were made to deities tied to the sun and fertility. Every ritual carried meaning, reinforcing the belief that light and abundance would return.

Fast forward to today, and Yule is alive and well among modern Pagans and Wiccans. Many celebrate by blending old traditions with new ones lighting candles, crafting Yule logs, and creating altars filled with seasonal greenery and sun symbols. Rituals often include meditation, intention-setting, and even spell work focused on renewal and prosperity. Seasonal crafts like wreath-making or herbal sachets add a creative, hands-on touch to the festivities.

Yule is rich with symbolism:

Yule Log : Burned to invite warmth and light, often decorated with herbs and ribbons.
Wreaths : Their circular shape represents the eternal cycle of life.
Evergreens : A sign of resilience and continuity through harsh times as well as the ever-living goddess.
Deity : The Holly King often appears in Yule lore. As the old Holly King dies, the new Oak King is born.

Beyond the candles and feasts, Yule is a time for inner work. It invites us to embrace both darkness and light, to honor endings while welcoming new beginnings. Many people use this season for journaling, meditation, and making wishes for the year ahead. It’s a gentle reminder that growth often starts in stillness. Here at WSTS we will set our goals at Imbolc, but Yule is the time to dream of what we might want in the coming year.

Yule’s magic lies in its timeless message: hope, renewal, and the beauty of life’s cycles. Whether you follow a Pagan path or simply want to feel more connected to nature, Yule offers rich traditions and meaningful practices. This season, why not light a candle, hang some evergreens, and celebrate the returning sun? You might just find a little extra warmth in your heart.

Have a Blessed Holiday Celebration!

The Magic of Asking . . .

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 16:13:26 GMT

The Magic of Asking ‘Why’: How Skepticism Transforms Your Spiritual Path

Let’s start with a simple question: What if everything you believed was wrong?

Sounds unsettling, right? But that’s exactly why skepticism is so powerful. At its core, skepticism means asking questions instead of blindly accepting answers. It’s not about being negative or dismissive; it’s about staying curious and making sure what you believe actually holds up. And when it comes to magical studies, where mystery and intuition often take center stage, skepticism isn’t just helpful; it’s essential.

Think of skepticism as your mental filter. It helps you pause and question assumptions before you let them shape your worldview. Many people accuse those who practice skepticism as being cynics or negative. Here’s the key difference:

Healthy skepticism asks, “Is this true? How do I know?”
Cynicism says, “Nothing is true.”

One opens doors to learning; the other slams them shut. If your question opens the door to learning, it’s positive and helpful. If your question is used to berate, challenge or deny then it’s negative and not helpful to anyone’s growth. Being skeptical doesn’t mean rejecting everything. It means keeping an open mind while asking smart questions. You’re not saying “No” you’re saying, “Tell me more.”

Here’s the cool part: skepticism doesn’t limit you; it expands your horizons. It sparks curiosity, pushes you to dig deeper, and keeps you from blindly following trends or authority figures. In a world overflowing with misinformation, skepticism is your shield. We often become mesmerized or entranced by someone with a lot of charisma or who looks like they are amazing and wonderful. Asking questions, skepticism allows us to not follow a fairy down the path into a dangerous situation. Once you have assured yourself that this person has your best and highest good in mind, then give your belief loyalty and support. But before you do that, it is healthy to ask questions!

Now, let’s talk about magic. Spiritual and magical practices thrive on faith and intuition, but without skepticism, they can slip into dogma or fantasy. By questioning, you create space for authentic experiences that feel real because you’ve tested and explored them. Skepticism doesn’t kill magic; it makes it personal. It also keeps you safe emotionally and spiritually. Once you have researched, explored and asked good questions, then commit!

Good questions to ask:

Ask: “Why?” and “What evidence supports this?”
Double-check sources and look for bias.
Stay open-minded and question without shutting down possibilities.

Asking questions doesn’t mean you have decided; it means you are considering. However, flooding someone with questions that demand they defend their position isn’t considering. It’s trying to prove your view is correct. There are often no “right and provable” answers in magic. Something that works for me might absolutely not work for you. That is why we say Wicca is an experiential religion. Your experience is the answer to many questions and no matter how many times a teacher tells you the answer, you won’t really understand it until you experience it.

Skepticism isn’t the enemy of belief it’s the partner that keeps it honest. So, here’s your challenge: apply skepticism in your daily life and spiritual journey. Question, explore, and discover what truly resonates with you. Follow that and release the rest. Someone else may find resonance with what you find untenable. It doesn’t mean you are right, and they are wrong. It means that path isn’t for you, and you can release it without a lot of drama and negativity.

Because magic is the most powerful when it’s real for you.

The Alchemy of Desire: Transformations Through Life’s Sacred Stages

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 15:11:54 GMT

The Alchemy of Desire: Transformations Through Life’s Sacred Stages

In Wicca and Paganism, as our population ages the question of how is Sacred Sexuality expressed in our lives as we age. Beyond the Great Rite in ritual or a May Pole dance at Beltane, must someone who has been a practitioner leave the practice as they age? Or can someone older begin the practice as they have more time in their life to focus on their personal pleasure?

Sacred sexuality is a living current in a river that flows through every season of life, reshaping its banks as we grow. It is not bound by age or appearance; it is a spiritual force that deepens with wisdom, softens with compassion, and expands with experience. To walk this path is to honor the body as temple, desire as prayer, and intimacy as a gateway to the divine.

The body is not merely flesh; it is a sacred archive of every joy, sorrow, and ecstasy we have ever known. With age, this archive becomes richer, layered with stories and sensations that younger bodies cannot yet fathom. Wrinkles are not signs of decay; they are hieroglyphs of wisdom. Scars are not imperfections; they are sacred seals of resilience. We don’t stop being sexual beings as we age, even if our desire and our physicality changes.

Mystical traditions teach that the body is the first altar. We talk about the body as a receptacle for deity when we invoke in Wicca, so treating the body as sacred is an important part of that practice. As we age, this altar becomes more potent, vibrating with the energy of lived experience. Practices like body blessing rituals, where we anoint ourselves with oils or scented waters while speaking words of reverence and empowerment, remind us that every curve and crease is holy. Breathwork and slow, intentional movement such as yoga or qigong allow us to feel the body as a vessel of divine presence.

Desire is not a flame that burns out; it is a fire that changes color. Desire naturally ebbs and flows at any age. In youth, it may blaze with urgency; later, it glows like embers, warm and steady. This transformation is not a loss; it is liberation. Freed from the tyranny of performance and cultural scripts, desire becomes spacious, soulful, and deeply attuned. It becomes something we want instead of an urgent need. Something to look forward to instead of something that must be catered to.

Sacred sexuality invites us to see desire as a creative life force. When we reclaim desire in later life, we reclaim our connection to the cosmos. Erotic energy becomes prayer, a way of saying yes to life. Practices like eye-gazing, breath synchronization, and heart-centered touch can awaken this energy gently, reminding us that pleasure is not about speed it is about presence. Pleasure is something to be savored and reveled in.

As we age, we step into archetypes that carry profound spiritual power. The Crone or Sage is not a figure of decline but of sovereignty; they hold the keys to mystery and transformation. They have loved and experienced pleasure many times and know how this practice can enlighten and transform. The Elder Lover is a keeper of erotic wisdom, teaching that intimacy is not confined to the bedroom but woven into every act of tenderness. That touch between intimate companions can help transcend the stress and pain that life sometimes brings.

Working with these archetypes can be deeply mystical. Through guided visualization, journaling, and ritual, we can invoke their qualities within ourselves. Imagine lighting a candle for the Crone and whispering: “Teach me the beauty of endings and the magic of beginnings.” These archetypes remind us that sexuality is not just about orgasm it is also about depth and connection.

Hormonal shifts, physical changes, and emotional evolution are not obstacles they are initiations. Each change invites us to surrender old identities and embrace new forms of pleasure. Sacred sexuality teaches that adaptation is not a compromise; it is creativity. When joints ache, we explore positions of ease. When energy wanes, we discover the ecstasy of slowness and the amazing wonderfulness of sensual touch. It is not the burn of youthful desire, but the low fire that lasts well into the night, allowing lovers to return again and again to the sensuality of touch. Stoking fires until they burn bright and then settle into a glow.

Mystical practices like yoni and lingam blessing rituals, chakra meditations, and sound healing can help us integrate these changes with grace. They remind us that sexuality is not static; it is a spiral, always inviting us deeper into the mystery of embodiment. It grounds us in the reality of the moment, inviting us to extend the moment and resonate in an infinite breath.

Sacred sexuality across life stages is a pilgrimage, a journey from the outer landscapes of desire to the inner sanctum of the soul. It asks us to honor the body as holy, to embrace desire as divine, and to share wisdom as a sacred gift. In doing so, we transform aging from something to fear into a luminous rite of passage. We bring pleasure, beauty and spirituality along with us into a time of life where things slow down, and our focus shifts from struggle and work to days of leisure and connection.

Last night,
I saw the realm of joy and pleasure.
There I melted like salt;
no religion, no blasphemy,
no conviction or uncertainty remained.
In the middle of my heart,
a star appeared,
and the seven heavens were lost in its brilliance.

~ Rumi

** In January of 2026, Magic 392: Introduction to Sacred Sexuality will be offered at WSTS. This can be taken as an elective in a traditional program, as a stand alone class or as part of our new Professional Skills Program track of classes. If this post interests you, this course will allow you to delve deeper into the topic. Register Here!

From Table to Soul: How Gratitude Deepens Our Spiritual Journey at Thanksgiving

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:49:42 GMT

From Table to Soul: How Gratitude Deepens Our Spiritual Journey at Thanksgiving

This week many of us will be holding Thanksgiving celebrations here in the US. Being thankful is a part of this tradition for many people. At WSTS we teach our students a gratitude practice as they go through their courses. Gratitude is more than a polite “thank you”. It’s a profound psychological and spiritual principle that shapes how we experience life. At its core, gratitude acknowledges the blessings we receive and fosters a sense of humility and connection. This practice helps us to put our focus on positive things and turns us away from negative destructive thought patterns.

Thanksgiving, a cherished cultural tradition, is deeply rooted in gratitude and community. While the holiday often centers on food and festivities, practicing gratitude during Thanksgiving can transform it into a deeply meaningful experience, one that nourishes the soul as much as the body. It brings our secular holiday in line with our spiritual practice.

The holiday season can bring joy, but it also comes with stress and expectations. Gratitude acts as a spiritual anchor, reducing anxiety and grounding us in what truly matters. Reflecting on blessings during Thanksgiving gatherings increases happiness and life satisfaction, reminding us of abundance rather than scarcity. This mindset builds resilience, helping us navigate challenges with confidence. Many of us come from families that don’t share our Wiccan beliefs. This causes stress at family gatherings. Some of us have chosen to celebrate with our chosen families instead of our birth families. In all cases, looking for what is positive and good in our lives helps us to make this holiday more enjoyable.

Science affirms what spiritual traditions have long taught: gratitude benefits the body. Expressing thanks during Thanksgiving rituals can lower blood pressure and support heart health. Mindful reflection on blessings before bed improves sleep quality, while inner peace and spiritual harmony strengthen the immune system. Thanksgiving becomes not just a feast for the senses, but a tonic for overall well-being. What the mind thinks writes on the body. This is a basic concept taught here at WSTS, and it’s backed by science. We ask all our students to practice a gratitude ritual each day and many of our students attend online devotional rituals daily provided by Children of the Crossroads , an ATC Affiliate in Spokane, Washington.

Gratitude is contagious. When families and friends share what they’re thankful for at the Thanksgiving table, or elsewhere, empathy and compassion flourish. These moments deepen interpersonal bonds and create positive communication patterns. Framing conversations around appreciation shifts the tone from criticism to connection, making Thanksgiving a catalyst for stronger relationships.

Some Practical Ways to Cultivate Gratitude:

Journaling: Write daily gratitude entries with spiritual reflections.
Verbal Expressions: Share thanks during traditions like a gratitude circle or at holidays.
Mindfulness & Meditation: Begin each morning with a gratitude ritual infused with spiritual intention.

If you don’t have a gratitude practice, Thanksgiving inspired gratitude can become a year-round practice. Sustained gratitude nurtures mental health, creates a positive feedback loop for personal and spiritual growth, and fosters compassionate communities. When gratitude becomes a lifestyle, its benefits extend far beyond the holiday season.

Gratitude enriches mind, body, and spirit, and Thanksgiving offers the perfect opportunity to embrace it fully. This year let’s move beyond the turkey and trimmings. Use Thanksgiving as a springboard for a lifelong gratitude practice that transforms your life and the lives of those around you. As you find your peace and a more positive outlook, this will affect others around you. We don’t live in a vacuum; what we do causes ripples that others see and feel and sometimes want to emulate.

As you gather this Thursday with your friends and family or if you are on your own this year, pause and reflect. What are you truly grateful for? Perhaps your gratitudes are small and simple or you have been blessed by the Gods and have much to celebrate, either way carry that spirit forward not just for a day, but for every day.

May you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Wiccan Apprenticeship

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 22:49:49 GMT

The Initiatory Path Isn’t Just Another Class: How Service Shapes the Student’s Spiritual Growth

In Wicca, personal students enter an apprenticeship with their teachers. Usually this is referred to being an initiatory student. This is similar to the apprenticeship system which existed in the Middle Ages, where a young person went to live and work with a master in a particular job or craft and over time was taught the job or craft and eventually went out on their own to work and live. During their time as an apprentice, they did service to the person teaching them as an exchange for the knowledge and skills they were learning.

There are many occupations today that still use this system in some form. It works best with studies that are practical and require physical knowledge versus a completely academic program. Plumbers, electricians, and mechanics often use this system. In Wicca we call this experiential learning. Things that can only be learned and understood by experiencing them. While in all these occupations, there is a certain amount of book learning that must happen before the experiences start to make sense; the learning isn’t complete until the student has had the experiences.

In Wicca apprenticeship or an initiatory path is not a passive experience. It’s not just about sitting in a classroom, taking notes, and memorizing facts. It’s an active, embodied journey rooted in relationships. At the heart of this path lies a powerful principle: service as sacred learning.

In Wicca, acts of service whether cleaning the ritual space, assisting in ceremonies, or preparing tools are offerings. They honor the Craft and strengthen the bonds within the community. Service becomes a devotional act, a way to express reverence beyond words. In an initiatory path, this service is also a way to free up your teacher’s time so that they can teach you more. Helping them with their work allows the student to learn more and gives the student more practice. There are more opportunities for the teacher to teach the nuances of performing ritual work, herbs, metaphysical theories, and leadership principles.

Unlike traditional classes, apprenticeship thrives on participation. Apprentices learn by setting altars, crafting ritual tools, and supporting ceremonies. These hands-on experiences teach more than technique; they cultivate intuition, presence, and spiritual discipline. It grounds the book learning in body memory and creates after much practice someone who understands their field in what appears to be an intuitive or natural fashion as if they just have always been this way. This is mastery.

Service fosters trust and accountability between mentor and student. It’s not about servitude; it’s about mutual respect and shared responsibility for the sacred work. The teacher comes to know the student in an intimate way through shared experiences which give both teacher and student the opportunity to reveal their deepest beliefs and values.

Helping the teacher isn’t just practical; it’s spiritual. Through service, apprentices receive teachings not only in words but energetically, absorbing wisdom through shared action and intention. Recently, there was a meme that passed through my social media feed which talked about a study done by scientists on how the energy of one person’s thoughts and feelings affected the other person. It's awesome that science is catching up with what magical practitioners have known for a long time! Spending time with your teacher allows you to develop synchronicity with them. They anticipate what you will think and do, and you will do the same with them. This creates an amazing magical working relationship.

Even the simplest tasks of sweeping the floor or washing chalices become meditative when approached with mindfulness. These moments teach humility and the sacredness of the ordinary. They also teach discipline. All tasks are sacred and holy when performed with devotion and reverence. The circle must be cleaned, and this teaches that everyone is responsible for this, not just the teacher.

All too often in our modern world, there is an attitude of “that’s not my job”. In Wicca there is no job that isn’t a practitioner's job. If you are a solitary practitioner, you must do all the work! When working in a group, the elder clergy can’t do all the jobs for that many people. Everyone must help. In the beginning, a new student doesn’t have enough knowledge or experience to do complicated jobs but needs to lend their energy to the success of the group and so often they begin with simple jobs. Those are just as important as complicated jobs. If the floor is dirty and dishes are everywhere, a sacred ritual can’t be performed in that space.

Many groups have created procedures for how this progress from simple work to more complex work happens. At WSTS, Freshmen watch, Sophomore’s begin to call quarters in rituals, Juniors begin to write and lead rituals and Seniors perform leadership roles throughout the seminary and in rituals. This mirrors more traditional Wiccan group structure as students learn.

In addition, resistance, ego, and expectations often surface during service. Facing these challenges becomes a form of shadow work, building emotional resilience, and deepening self-awareness. They are tests of ego and suitability for future leadership roles. The ATC, our Mother Church, teaches servant leadership. You will find elders doing simple jobs as well as more complicated work. All clergy serve the group.

In Wiccan tradition, readiness isn’t proven through exams but through consistent, mindful contribution. Service demonstrates commitment and integrity, qualities essential for initiation. Reliability and a willingness to do what Goddess calls you to do is demonstrated in your willingness to do the work that is needed for every moon or sabbat. Each student grows at their own pace, but higher-level work is not available until the student has demonstrated competence and reliability with the simple work. Wiccans value book learning, it is where we often begin a student, but the practical service and competence is just as important in becoming clergy.

Mastery comes from years of serving and learning. At WSTS we often say that there are no shortcuts to this process. Wiccan apprenticeship is a transformative path where service is not a chore but a sacred practice. It shapes character, deepens spiritual understanding, and weaves the apprentice into the fabric and the wisdom of the tradition.

Nature, Spirit, Self . . .

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:43:32 GMT

Nature, Spirit, and Self: A Wiccan View of the Sacred

In the rich tapestry of Pagan traditions, of which Wicca is one, the divine is not a distant force residing in some unreachable realm it is here, now, and everywhere. Many Pagan worldviews, both ancient and modern, tend to emphasize immanence : the idea that the sacred is woven into the fabric of nature, the human experience, and the soul itself. This stands in gentle contrast to the transcendence often emphasized in other religions, where the divine is typically seen as above and beyond the material world.

One of my friends, a Zen Buddhist monk, and I were discussing the nature of the divine. The conversation began very transcendent in its concepts, but before we were done, we both had reached an agreement of immanence and the idea that no one can really know the answer to this topic until we die but that continuing to consider it and discuss it allows us to grow and develop each in our own religion. This continuing dialogue within oneself or with others, is part of my definition of what it means to be a priestess.

In cultures like Ancient Greece, Rome, and among the Celts, deities were intimately connected to the natural world and daily life. Zeus ruled the skies; Demeter governed the harvest, and Brigid tended the hearth and the forge. These gods were not abstract concepts they were part of the landscape, the seasons, and the rhythms of community life. To honor them was to honor the earth, the cycles of nature, and the human experience itself.

This immanent view of divinity fostered a sense of spiritual intimacy. Sacred groves, rivers, and mountains were not merely symbols; they were embodiments of the divine. Worship was not confined to temples but extended to fields, forests, and homes. This is still true of Wiccans today. We much prefer to worship in nature and not inside buildings. When we do worship within a building, we are much more likely to choose one with open spaces, lots of plants, perhaps a building connected to a fountain or garden, and large unobstructed windows!

This belief of immanence causes many Pagans to be concerned for the environment, support laws and reform in how we treat each other and our food. The belief that we are all connected means that Pagens often value consent and more natural solutions to problems. They tend to grow their own food or be very aware of how it is grown and processed. Many of them choose simpler lives and to live off the grid to be more involved with the nature around them. They support clean water and clear air reforms. Certainly, there are many non-pagans who also do these things, but for many Pagans this is a part of their spiritual belief system.

Beyond public worship, ancient Pagan mystery traditions like the Eleusinian Mysteries and Orphic rites delved into the inner dimensions of spirituality. These schools taught that the soul carried a divine spark, and through ritual, initiation, and personal transformation, one could awaken to this inner divinity. Today’s Spring Mysteries Festival that is hosted by the Aquarian Tabernacle Church (ATC) , continues this work for modern Pagans.

The journey inward was sacred in those ancient cultures. The divine was not only in the world, but it was also within the self. This perspective laid the groundwork for spiritual practices that emphasized personal gnosis, or direct spiritual knowledge, as a path to enlightenment.

Contemporary Pagan paths like Wicca, Druidry, and eclectic witchcraft have revived and reimagined these ancient ideas. Practices such as drawing down the moon, invoking deities, and working with archetypes reflect a belief in the divine as present and accessible. We work with crystals because of their divine energy and look at the skies as a map given to us by the divine.

Self-initiation and personal gnosis are also central to many modern traditions, empowering individuals to forge their own spiritual paths. The divine is not something one must seek in distant heavens; it is something one can experience directly, here and now. Wiccans find the divine in their morning prayers as well as within themselves as they move through their day.

Many Pagan practices view the body and soul as a temple of the divine. This belief shapes values around self-respect, body positivity, and mental wellness not just as personal goals, but as spiritual acts. Working to heal your trauma or correct your diet or attending to your health are all part of a religious practice for many Pagans.

Caring for oneself becomes a form of devotion. The sacred is not only in rituals and altars, but also in breath, movement, emotion, and thought. To honor the self is to honor the divine. Here at WSTS, we often remind students to be kind to themselves. To speak to themselves as if they are being spoken to by the divine who has their best and highest good in mind for them every day.

Pagan and Wiccan perspectives on immanence offer a profound invitation to see the world, the self, and the community as sacred. In a time when many seek deeper connection, healing, and meaning, this worldview reminds us that the divine is not far away; it is already here. It lives in the turning of the seasons, the rhythm of breath, and the quiet magic of everyday life. For Wiccans and other modern Pagans, this is not just a belief; it’s a way of being. To walk this path is to honor the sacred in all things, and to remember that we are never separate from the divine; we are part of it.

“Wicca's temples are flowered-splashed meadows, forest, beaches, and deserts.”
― Scott Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

A Wiccan Afterlife

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 15:45:28 GMT

Exploring the Cycles of Soul and Spirit

As we approach Samhain this week, the season calls for us to consider our experiences from this year and at the heart of this is a Wiccan view of the afterlife. This past Sunday WSTS celebrated this season in an online ritual. Many Wiccans will celebrate this Friday, October 31st and others will celebrate the astrological date this year, which is on November 6th.

In Wiccan spirituality, death is not an end it is a transition, a doorway, and a return. The concept of reincarnation and the afterlife is deeply woven into Wiccan theology, offering comfort, continuity, and a profound sense of spiritual purpose. While beliefs may vary among traditions and individuals, most Wiccans embrace a cyclical view of life, death, and rebirth that reflects the rhythms of nature and the Wheel of the Year. A belief that this life is not the end, but a continuation of a much longer journey gives many Wiccans comfort in hard times. There is a purpose to our lives.

At the heart of Wiccan belief is the idea that the soul is eternal and evolves through multiple lifetimes. Just as the seasons turn and the moon waxes and wanes, so too does the soul move through cycles of incarnation. This is also reflected in The Wheel of the year with Ostara as our birth into this year, Beltane as finding our love, Litha as stepping into our adult responsibilities, Lammas as the first harvest of our work this year, Mabon as the second harvest and preparing for our year to end, Samhain as our final harvest of the work of this life and turning to reflection, Yule as our gratitude for what this year has brought, Imbolc as our planning for our next year’s incarnation. The Wheel of the Year follows the larger pattern of reincarnation from life to life.

Many Wiccans believe that we are born into this world to learn, grow, and experience. After death, the soul rests, reflects, and eventually chooses to return often with karmic lessons to resolve or spiritual goals to fulfill. This process is not punishment or reward, but a natural unfolding of spiritual development. Our trials, tribulations and celebrations in this life are based on our overall soul evolution from life to life just as the Wheel of the Year follows our work from year to year.

The concept of an afterlife is central to Wiccan views. It is often described as a peaceful, beautiful realm where souls go to rest between incarnations. Unlike the binary heaven/hell model found in some other religions, this is a place of healing, reflection, and reunion. This place of rest is called many things depending on the tradition of Wicca being followed.

In the Afterlife:

Souls may meet loved ones from past lives.
They review the lessons of their most recent incarnation.
They prepare for their next journey, choosing circumstances that will support their growth.

Some traditions describe the afterlife as a realm of light and nature, filled with forests, rivers, and sacred groves or beautiful fields such as the Elysian Fields which are all a reflection of the Earth’s beauty in spirit form. WSTS and the ATC work within a Greek Pantheon so we tend to use the Elysian Fields or just the Underworld when referring to this place.

Wiccan belief in reincarnation is often tied to the concept of karma, though not in a punitive sense. Karma is seen by many Wiccans as an energetic balance where what we put into the world returns to us, often across lifetimes whether positive or negative. This encourages ethical living, compassion, and personal responsibility. What we do or don’t do in this life affects not just the rest of this life but those that come in the future.

Rather than fearing judgment, Wiccans are encouraged to live in harmony with the Wiccan Rede: “An it harm none, do what ye will.” This principle supports the idea that our actions shape our spiritual path and influence the lessons we encounter in future lives. All humans have human experiences, how we react to them determines what we learn from the situation and this in turn determines what we will choose in our future lives so that we can continue to learn and grow as spiritual beings. This idea also reflects that each of us has our own lessons and path to follow, which may or may not be the same as someone else. All our lives are sacred and have a purpose whether they are the same or not.

Many Wiccans explore their past lives through meditation, dreams, or guided regression. These experiences can reveal patterns or unresolved emotions. They can also deepen understanding of our current relationships and of our current struggles.

The exploration of past lives, past lessons and the results of those experiences are often a large part of the Wheel of the Year with rituals done to help us move forward in our evolution and release that which is no longer needed or no longer serves us in our soul journey.

Reincarnation in Wicca is not just about individual souls it’s about connection. The belief affirms that we are part of a larger spiritual ecosystem, where all beings are interconnected. This fosters reverence for nature, animals, ancestors, and the divine.

It also encourages humility: we are not separate from the Earth, but part of its ongoing story. Our souls may return in different forms, cultures, or circumstances, always learning and evolving. Some Wiccans believe that we return with friends and family from previous lives as we all work together to learn our lessons and evolve. For those Wiccans, community extends beyond this life and into the next.

Wiccan views on reincarnation and the afterlife offer a hopeful, empowering perspective on death. They remind us that life is sacred, that growth is eternal, and that love transcends time. A popular song by Lynda Millard “We Do Not Die” expresses the idea that those who have left this life are just on the other side of the door in the next room. This concept is very comforting as we live our lives as Wiccan practitioners. Whether you’re grieving a loss, contemplating your soul’s journey, or simply seeking spiritual meaning, the Wiccan path invites you to see death not as an ending but as a sacred turning of the wheel.

Lessons of the Underworld . . .

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 17:35:08 GMT

Lessons of the Underworld – A Wiccan Perspective

In Wiccan and Pagan traditions, the Underworld is not a place of punishment or dread it is a sacred realm of transformation, introspection, and ancestral wisdom. As the Wheel of the Year leaves Mabon and turns toward Samhain, the veil between the worlds thins, inviting us to journey inward and connect with the mysteries that lie beneath the surface of our everyday lives. The pace of life often slows down in the darker half of the year and even if our modern world doesn’t allow it to, we feel the need to nest and pull inward.

When we talk about journeying through the Underworld at this time of year, we don’t mean the actual Underworld, but a metaphorical space where we confront our shadows, release what no longer serves us, and prepare for renewal. It is not to be feared but honored as a vital part of the spiritual cycle. Darkness is just darkness, not something that is evil or bad. It feels uncomfortable because we can’t see what is coming and this place of “not knowing” is uncomfortable. People want to be in control and knowing what is going on around them makes them feel safe.

In mythology, we see some powerful archetypes to guide our descent. Hecate, the torch-bearing goddess from Greek mythology of crossroads and liminal spaces, stands as a guardian of the Underworld, illuminating the path through darkness. She teaches us to trust our inner wisdom and embrace the unknown. She acts as a guide holding her torch high so we can follow her teachings as we journey through this time of year.

Persephone, whose descent into the Underworld at Mabon marks the seasonal shift into winter, embodies the rhythm of death and rebirth. She journeys through the underworld and discovers her power. Her journey transforms her into the Queen of the Underworld. She teaches us about the transformation that can occur when we look within ourselves and bravely face those things we don’t want to acknowledge most of the time. While her return each spring reminds us that transformation is cyclical, and that light follows darkness.

Honoring our ancestors and guardian spirits during this time deepens our connection to lineage and legacy. Through ritual and remembrance, we invite their guidance and acknowledge the continuity of life beyond the physical realm. This time when the veil is thin allows us to find reunion, remembrance, and sometimes resolution with those who have gone before us. It is a time for us to consider where we are on our journey and to look to those who have gone before us for guidance.

Key Lessons from the Underworld:

Letting Go : The Underworld teaches us to release attachments, outdated beliefs, and ego-driven desires. In shedding these layers, we make space for authenticity and growth. When we die, we can’t take the things that we are attached to with us. Learning to release things frees our spirit to seek new experiences and evolution of our spirit.
Facing the Shadow : Shadow work involves embracing the hidden or suppressed aspects of ourselves. By acknowledging our fears, wounds, and contradictions, we reclaim our wholeness. Looking within and processing the hidden or suppressed parts of our personality allows us to achieve acceptance and to see where we need to work on an issue that is difficult, so we avoid it most of the year. This time of year, brings these things into the light and that’s one reason we have so many family dramas at this time of year and people get depressed. These shadows can feel overwhelming, but looking at them and processing them helps to lighten the load.
Transformation : The metaphorical death at Mabon starts our transformation spiritually. Physical death is the ultimate transformation. Wiccans and Pagans consider this to be one part of the cycle of life. This time of year, calls us to work on transforming those things that need to change in our lives. Evolving spiritually as new understandings come from our shadow work and reflections.
Wisdom of Silence : In the stillness of the Underworld, we learn to listen. Intuition, dreams, and subtle signs become our guides, offering clarity and insight that the noise of daily life often obscures. Our busy lives distract us from just being. Sitting in silence and stillness gives us time to acknowledge issues and process new understandings. Stillness and silence allow us to come to know ourselves as we spend time with just ourselves and learn to stand in our own personal power. When you truly know yourself, you have found your personal power. It will radiate in the choices you make as your values and goals will be clear for you.

To bring Underworld wisdom into daily life, consider using these darker months to journal, meditate, or engage in rituals that connect you to ancestors and the divine. You might want to create an ancestor altar, perform symbolic acts of release (EX: writing and burning what you wish to release) or physical acts of release (EX: cleaning out a closet and getting rid of things that you no longer want or need). Take time to rest and reconnect with yourself and your loved ones. This is sacred work and not the laziness that our Western World tells us it is.

The Underworld is not an end it is just one part of the journey through our year. It can be a beginning cloaked in mystery. By embracing its lessons, we emerge with deeper insight, resilience, and spiritual clarity. May you find courage in the descent and wisdom in the silence.

Why Becoming Wiccan Clergy Matters in Today's World . . .

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 02:40:01 GMT

Why Becoming Wiccan Clergy Matters in Today’s World . . .

In a world marked by rapid change, spiritual uncertainty, and ecological crisis, the role of Wiccan clergy has never been more vital. As more people seek meaningful, earth-centered paths and inclusive communities, Wiccan clergy are stepping forward to guide, teach, and inspire. In the United States many of our rights are being challenged and the clergy of all religions are vital in helping to support our citizen in their daily struggles. Wiccans need this support as well from their clergy.

We live in an era of transformation. Social structures are shifting, environmental concerns are escalating, and many are questioning traditional religious frameworks. Wiccan clergy offer a grounded, nature-based spiritual path that speaks to the soul of this moment. Wiccans and other Pagan leadership hold the values as touchstones so that the people can return to their center when the world tosses them about.

As clergy, you become a beacon for seekers navigating uncertainty. You help others find balance, healing, and empowerment through rituals, teachings, and sacred connections. You also serve as a bridge reaching out to spiritual leaders of other faiths to foster mutual respect and interfaith dialogue. There are spiritual truths in all religions and in trying times, it is important for the clergy to stand together against the secular assault so that the community can find healing, support and calm refuge.

Wicca is deeply rooted in reverence for the Earth. As clergy, you are not only a spiritual guide but also an advocate for the planet. You lead rituals that honor the cycles of nature, teach practices that reconnect people with the land, and inspire others to live in harmony with the Earth. Nature calls us home when the world gets overwhelming. Clergy stand as a reminder to return to nature and to protect nature so that it is always there to return to for future generations.

In a time when ecological awareness is critical, Wiccan clergy play a unique role in modeling sustainable, sacred living. Through research, education, and community engagement, you help others rediscover their place in the web of life. Teaching skills that are basic survival, like gardening, beekeeping, and foraging, help to bond Wiccans to the earth and ensure that they always have security with nature.

Wiccan clergy are community builders. You create sacred spaces both physical and spiritual where people feel seen, supported, and empowered. You facilitate intergenerational wisdom-sharing, ensuring that the knowledge of elders is passed on and that younger generations feel welcomed and valued. Bringing the community together builds strength in difficult situations.

Whether through seasonal festivals, moon circles, or workshops, you provide opportunities for Wiccans to gather, celebrate, and grow together. In doing so, you nurture a sense of belonging that is essential for spiritual and emotional well-being.

Being Wiccan clergy also means being a public voice for spiritual diversity and religious freedom. You help dispel myths and misinformation about Wicca by educating the public, engaging in interfaith work, and standing up for the rights of all spiritual paths. Wicca teaches that each of us has our own path with the divine. Following ours doesn’t mean interfering with another’s path. Diversity makes us stronger and more resilient.

Your openness and authenticity can inspire others to embrace their own spiritual truths. By living your values and serving your community, you become a role model for those who may be quietly seeking a path like yours. Simply being who you are authentically helps others to find their own way, even if it turns out not to be yours. At WSTS, many students begin as seekers searching for how they want to connect. Sometimes that is with our community, but if it turns out it’s not, they have still learned much, and we as a Seminary have served our purpose to educate and support the community.

To Begin the Journey with WSTS

If you feel called to serve as Wiccan clergy, Woolston-Steen Theological Seminary (WSTS) offers a structured, supportive path to help you grow into this sacred role.

Start with Purpose: Explore WSTS’s mission and values here on our website. Reflect on your spiritual calling and what it means to serve. When you’re ready, apply here .

Then Engage in Deep Learning: Participate in coursework that covers Wiccan theology, ritual practice, ethics, and leadership. These studies are designed to deepen your understanding and prepare you for real-world service.

Finally, Grow in Community: Build relationships with mentors and peers who walk the path with you. Begin serving your community in small but meaningful ways through volunteering with WSTS and the other ATC organizations as you evolve into your clergy role.

Becoming Wiccan clergy is not just a personal journey it’s a commitment to serve, to lead, and to heal. In these times of great change, your voice, your presence, and your wisdom are needed more than ever.

Are you ready to answer the call?

Roots and Remembrance

Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:48:31 GMT

Roots and Remembrance: The Sacred Shift from Mabon to Samhain

As the wheel turns and the days begin to balance between light and dark, Mabon fades and Samhain approaches reminding us to pause, reflect, and reconnect. For many of us at WSTS, this is a sacred time to honor our ancestors, celebrate our families, and feel the deep spiritual threads that bind us to the Earth and each other. This season asks us to reconnect with our ancestors and family. I just returned from a visit with my family and many lessons appeared for me during that visit. We incarnate in order to learn lessons and our families are often where they begin and continue until we have resolved them.

This is a time when the veil begins to thin, and many of us feel our ancestors just a little closer. Whether it’s lighting a candle on the family altar, sharing stories around the dinner table, or simply walking in nature and listening for their whispers, this season invites us to remember and consider how our lessons from this year have gone. At WSTS, we encourage students to create a small ancestral space like a photo, a keepsake, or even a favorite recipe passed down. It’s not about grandeur; it’s about connection.

Sometimes, honoring our ancestors means healing old wounds or simply saying, “Thank you. I see you. I carry you with me.” Ancestor work can help you with your current lessons and the lessons that you have with your living family. We have classes that deal with these issues.

In Wiccan households, it’s common to mark this time with shared meals, storytelling, and rituals that honor both the harvest and the bonds we’ve built. Some families bake bread or make cookies together, using recipes passed down through generations. My family has recipes from my grandmother that are popular at this time of year. Other families gather around the altar to offer gratitude that is not just for the physical abundance that they may have, but for the emotional and spiritual support they give each other.

At WSTS, we’ve seen our student’s families create their own traditions: crafting seasonal decorations, writing blessings together, or even doing a group tarot reading to reflect on the balance in their lives. It’s not about doing things “right” it’s about doing them together, with intention and love. Our students explore this in our Wheel of the Year classes at this time of year.

This time as we move towards Samhain and our reunion with our beloved dead reminds us that family is sacred. Whether it’s your blood relatives, your chosen kin, or your spiritual community, this is the time to celebrate those connections and nurture them.

As Wiccans, we often feel the presence of our ancestors more strongly during this time of year. It’s not just about honoring them, it’s about listening. Whether through meditation, ritual, or quiet reflection, many of us use this time to ask for guidance, offer gratitude, or simply feel their presence.

When we gather, share stories, or perform rituals together, we’re not just celebrating the season, we’re reinforcing the sacred bonds between us. Some families light candles for loved ones who’ve passed, others share memories or create offerings together. It’s a way of saying, “We remember. We’re still connected.”

At WSTS, we often talk about how spiritual practice is woven into everyday life. The time between Mabon and Samhain is a beautiful reminder that our ancestors walk with us, and our families whether chosen or blood are part of that sacred circle. Join our Seminary circle on Sunday nights where our Junior Class offers rituals exploring these themes. Join Ritual Here

During this season as the leaves turn and the air begins to cool, may you find balance in your heart and peace in your spirit. May your ancestors walk beside you, whispering wisdom and love. May your family gather close, sharing laughter, stories, and the warmth of connection. And may this season remind you that you are deeply rooted, divinely guided, and never alone.

How are Donations a Part of Keeping the Balance?

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 21:31:22 GMT

How are Donations a Part of Keeping the Balance?

In Wicca, a nature-based spiritual path rooted in reverence for the Earth, the Divine, and the cycles of life, donations hold a deeper meaning than mere financial support. They are a sacred act as an extension of energy, intention, and gratitude. Wicca extolls the virtue of balance in our lives and donations help to keep the balance when given to groups and people who enrich the donor's life in some way.

Wiccans believe that whatever energy one puts into the world whether it is positive or negative will return to you. Donations, whether monetary, material, or time-based, are seen as acts of positive energy exchange. By giving freely and with good intent, practitioners align themselves with the flow of abundance and spiritual reciprocity. They send out into the universe that they have enough resources and some to share.

Donations to covens, temples, or spiritual leaders are often viewed as offerings to the Divine, not just to the groups or people who receive the donation. Just as ancient pagans left offerings at altars or sacred groves, modern Wiccans may donate to support the upkeep of ritual spaces, tools, or community events. This act is not transactional but devotional. It’s a way to honor the gods, goddesses, and spirits that guide and protect them. A donation of time, material or money shows the universe that you value what you receive and that you wish to give back.

When a donation is made with a clear, heartfelt purpose such as supporting a healing circle, a sabbat celebration, or a community ritual, it becomes a form of magickal working. The act of giving becomes a spell in itself, charged with the donor’s will and desire to manifest good in the world. It shows Spirit that the donor realizes that good actions need support so that they may flourish.

Wicca emphasizes community and shared responsibility. Wiccans follow the idea of personal responsibility in their actions and in their relationships. Donations help sustain the spiritual and practical needs of covens, teaching circles, and solitary practitioners who offer guidance. This support fosters a sense of interconnectedness, where each member contributes to the well-being of the whole. Support of relationships with groups, circles, and teachers honors this belief in balance and personal responsibility. We are all responsible to support the good things in our community and the things that we receive bounty from so that they can flourish.

Giving is a powerful expression of gratitude which is a core spiritual value in Wicca. By donating, practitioners affirm their trust in the universe’s abundance and their role as stewards of that abundance. It shifts the mindset from scarcity to generosity, reinforcing the belief that what is given in love returns in love. Donations also show gratitude to what is being provided for the donor. Gratitude is one of the ways to attract abundance into one’s life. Donations offer an opportunity to practice this principle.

In Wicca, donations are not just acts of charity. They are rituals of intention, gratitude, and spiritual alignment. Whether it’s a coin in a cauldron, a handmade candle for a sabbat, or time spent helping a fellow practitioner, each offering is a thread in the sacred web of life. Through giving, Wiccans deepen their connection to the Divine, the Earth, and each other.

In our modern world, so many of us think of money as a separate type of resource. Somehow it holds a different fascination for us in the Western world. Whether one donates goods, time, or money, all are sacred, and none are better than the others. They are each useful in different ways.

Many of us are blessed with gifts and the time to give them, consider volunteering with a group that fulfills a need or one that supports a belief and does good in the community. All groups and leaders need donations of time and ability to help with the work that they do for the community.

Some of us have items that will be the perfect answer to a group’s needs and at just the right time and may allow the ritual or class to take place when otherwise it would not have. Consider offering items that groups or teachers need so that they can continue to do the work. Communities benefit from the services that groups and leaders provide.

Often, we think that we don’t have enough money to be able to donate something significant to a group or leader. All monetary donations are much appreciated as many things in this modern world require funds to keep the doors open. To keep the festival running year after year or to make sure the sabbat celebrations are available each season. After all many hands make light work and many $1 donations make bills go away!

Fall is in the Air - Mabon is Coming!

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 18:25:36 GMT

F all is in the Air - Mabon is Coming!

WSTS is predominantly an online seminary. We have a small campus in Index, Washington where The Aquarian Tabernacle Church, our sponsoring religious body, is located, but most of the staff and students are not based in Washington state. We reside, quite literally, all over the world! We have teachers and staff across the United States and Canada, with one of our staff members currently residing in Australia and one student in Korea.

We are a very broad cultural group and so the seasons change differently for us as we walk the Wheel of the Year and celebrate the sabbats. Though our seasons may differ across hemispheres, the Wheel turns for us all. Whether Mabon brings falling leaves or blooming flowers, its energy invites balance, gratitude, and connection.

Where I am in Georgia the air is changing, and summer is coming to an end. A few days ago, I witnessed that in person as I walked through a local public historical garden at one of our historic homes. The grounds at Barrington Hall are always beautiful, with a lavender festival being held earlier this summer. Their garden is one of my favorite spots to just slow down and stroll.

On that day, what struck me was the very busy insect life. Bees were plentiful and buzzing all around; the butterflies were also out and fluttering amongst the late summer flowers. I also noticed one flower being visited by a damselfly! I’ve never really thought of them as pollinators, but obviously they have a part to play in that process.

While the day was slow and lovely, the insects were very busy – almost rushed, but certainly very focused on their task of finding the right flowers to visit and acquiring their goal of gathering nectar. Their energy was in contrast to the lazy day that I was strolling through. They felt the coming seasonal change and were not wasting a day.

As I sat under a large pecan tree in the back of the house, I considered how in tune the insects were with the energy of the season. Mabon is coming, the fall equinox brings with it many things for us who follow the path. It’s more than just a harvest festival as it brings us together for a final celebration before we enter the dark half of the year. Before we slow down and ponder our year, consider our progress, and heal from any challenges that our year brought us. As the day and night stand in perfect balance, so too are we invited to pause and reflect on what we’ve sown, what we’ve reaped, and what we must release. After Mabon, we head deep into the underworld to find Samhain and our beloved dead.

As I sat under the beautiful pecan tree with ripe pecans hanging from the branches and dropped ones all over the ground, I considered how out of touch many of us are to what the bees, butterflies and damselflies seemed to know. The pecan tree, with its abundant fruit and deep roots, stood as a quiet sentinel of the season’s wisdom. In many traditions, trees are seen as keepers of ancient knowledge, and this one seemed to whisper: ‘Prepare. The turning comes. Change is coming!

As Wiccans, we talk about walking the path and we spend time noticing the seasonal changes and celebrating the sabbats along the way. But we are often immersed in our very busy, very rushed lives and unless we take time to reconnect with the earth and nature, we miss what the insects know naturally. As humans, we look up and go, “Wow! Where has the year gone?” or some such thought. The insects and the animals who live immersed in nature don’t lose track of time; they are very aware of where the wheel is at any time. They spend their lives in the present moment.

At WSTS in our Wheel of the Year classes, we talk a lot about connecting into the season and nature as our year progresses. There are assignments to help students do this and teachers to give feedback on their journey. We create a scaffold to what is natural for the bees and the squirrels. It is ever an often necessary part of us humans to remind ourselves to go outside and walk through a piece of nature, even one cultivated like the garden I visited so that we can reconnect with that rhythm all around us.

We think about it, but Wicca is experiential. I can tell you about how amazing my stroll through the garden was and you can imagine how it would feel, but the act of actually doing it is what is needed. Imagining it doesn't bring the same effect to your nervous system, though it certainly does affect your nervous system. The surprise of finding a damselfly pollinating wouldn’t have been in my imagination unless I had gone and seen it flitting from flower to flower. Pleasant surprises are part of the effect of standing in nature. Five senses all engaged at one time and nary an email or text message to be found! Out of our brains and into our bodies.

I invite you to spend some time experiencing the amazing Mabon energy that is rolling across the Northern Hemisphere for the next few weeks. Invite some of the connection with Mother Earth into your body and allow her to bring some healing and ease your mind by engaging your other senses and sitting solidly in your body.

It’s good for the soul . . .

" Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher. " : — John Muir

Ethics of Wiccan Living

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:08:11 GMT

Harm None : The Guiding Advice of Wiccan Living

Exploring the Wiccan Rede and the Path of Compassionate Responsibility

In Wicca, ethics are not dictated by rigid dogma but guided by a principle both elegant and profound: “An it harm none, do what ye will.” Known as the Wiccan Rede, this phrase, which is part of a larger piece of work, serves as a cornerstone of Wiccan morality, encouraging practitioners to live with intention, compassion, and personal accountability. The Rede calls upon us to be better people.

There are many versions of the longer poem by several different authors, however, Doreen Valiente is credited with the phrase, “ An it harm none, do what ye will ” from 1964. The link above is to one of those versions. The longer version of the Rede also includes advice on many things from how to cast a circle to which wood to burn in a sacred fire, but it’s the final phrase that is most often quoted.

Rather than a list of commandments, the Rede offers a spiritual compass, one that honors free will while emphasizing the sacred responsibility that comes with it. Taken out of context or without a deeper understanding it is often misunderstood. The final phrase in the Wiccan Rede is often interpreted as a call to do no harm, but its deeper meaning lies in mindful living. It invites Wiccans to consider the ripple effects of their actions on themselves, others, and the natural world. It also calls upon them to consider how their actions in this life will affect future lives, since most Wiccans believe in reincarnation.

Key themes the Rede includes freedom of choice, tempered by ethical awareness and non-harm as a spiritual discipline. The Rede encourages living in harmony with the interconnected web of life. The Rede does not prohibit action it encourages thoughtful action. It asks: Is this choice aligned with love, respect, and balance?

Ethical Spell Craft and Magical Responsibility

In Wiccan practice, magic is a sacred tool, not a shortcut or weapon. It is manifested intent coupled with ritual and tools. The Rede reminds practitioners that intention matters, and that magical workings should be approached with care and integrity.

One ethical consideration is to avoid manipulation of others’ free will. Here at WSTS we often say, “we are a consent culture”. This is included in our sacred workings as well. We seek consent in healing or energy work, and we use our energy to uplift, protect, and heal not to control or punish. We promote flexibility and withholding judgement on others’ actions and intent. Students are encouraged to reflect on the karmic consequences of their actions, understanding that energy sent out returns often magnified. Many Wiccans believe that what you do, think, speak and support returns to you from the universe. That means that we think consciously about our actions before prayer, magic, ritual, etc.

Compassionate Living in Daily Life

The Rede extends beyond ritual, and it shapes everyday choices. Wiccans strive to live in ways that honor the sacredness of all life. Most Wiccans honor boundaries, both personal and spiritual. We tend to consider and live economically sustainable lives to respect and support the earth and we tend to support justice in our politics, laws and community putting the wellbeing of all community members as a priority.

This path is not about perfection, but about conscious effort. It’s about striving to be a force of healing and harmony in the world. To contribute to the world in a positive way and to limit harm when possible.

Navigating Complexity: When Harm Is Unavoidable

The Rede is aspirational, not absolute. Life presents situations where harm may be unavoidable such as setting hard boundaries, defending oneself, or making difficult decisions. In these moments, Wiccans are called to act with discernment and weigh options with compassion, with accountability, accepting the impact of our choices and making amends when needed. Most Wiccans try to learn from ethical challenges so that we can evolve spiritually.

The Rede does not demand passivity it encourages responsible action rooted in love and respect. The Rede teaches that not acting when your neighbor is in trouble affects all of us as humans who live on the planet.

To “harm none” is to walk a path of awareness, empathy, and spiritual integrity. It is a daily practice of aligning one’s will with the greater good, of honoring the divine in all beings, and of living in harmony with the cycles of nature and spirit. It calls Wiccans to seek the best and highest good of all involved even when that might mean that personal desires and wants get set to the side. Many Wiccans use The Rede as a guide to become better people.

In Wicca, ethics are not imposed, they are chosen. And in that choice lies the power to transform ourselves and the world around us.

Sacred Simplicity

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 14:38:41 GMT

Sacred Simplicity: Finding Meaning in the Everyday

In Wicca, the sacred is not confined to temples or altars it lives in the breath of the wind, the flicker of candlelight, and the rhythm of our daily lives. Sacred simplicity is the practice of honoring the divine in the ordinary, of weaving magic into the mundane. It is a path of mindfulness, reverence, and deep connection to the cycles of nature and spirit. It is the act of being intent driven with daily activities and rituals in your life. Intent to make something sacred is part of the process. We often act by rote each day and sacredness comes from focus.

The Everyday as Enchanted

Wiccans know that the world is alive with energy. Every stone, tree, and stream holds a spirit; every moment is a chance to commune with the divine. When we stir herbs into a pot of tea, sweep our floors with intention, or greet the sunrise with gratitude, we are not just living, we are practicing our Craft. Take a moment to consider what tea to drink or what the tea you have chosen is bringing into your life. We often think our manifestations aren’t working, but they are. They are working exactly how you create them. Each action you take and each thought you have manifests your reality. Acting in a rote manner can sabotage your magic. Find the magic in your life!

“Magic is not something you do. Magic is something you are.”
— Starhawk

Living in Rhythm with Nature

The Wheel of the Year teaches us that life moves in cycles birth, growth, harvest, rest. By aligning our lives with the Sabbats and moon phases, we learn to slow down and listen. We plant seeds in spring, both literal and metaphorical. We give thanks at Lammas and Samhain. We rest in winter’s stillness. In this rhythm, we find peace and purpose.

Our Western mindset fights against this. Getting into the flow of nature requires deliberate action. If we go with our default, we often move too fast, work when we should be resting, and this affects our ability to connect into the life around us.

“As above, so below; as within, so without.”
— Hermetic axiom embraced in Wiccan philosophy

The Magic of Intention

In Wicca, intention is everything. A simple act, when done with focused will, becomes a spell. Lighting a candle for clarity, placing a crystal on your desk, or whispering a blessing over your morning coffee these are not grand gestures, but they are powerful.

This doesn’t require a lot of preparation or set up. It requires that we are present in this moment. That our focus is here and not on the past or on the future. Being present in this moment is key to finding the sacred in your everyday life.

I started by making it a ritual to literally stop and smell my roses when I left or returned to my home. It grounded me in the beauty around me. If I had a lot of things to bring into the house, when I was done, I went back out to complete my ritual of smelling my roses. When the roses weren’t in bloom, I smelled the other flowers or checked on my toad house to see who was home. This simple 5 minute practice helped me to ground and see the wonderful things in my life. It helped me to connect into my yard and my land and to the seasons of where I lived.

Now that I live in an apartment and no longer have roses, I look to see what is blooming in my apartment landscaping or see which insect life is buzzing or crawling around. The habit of checking in with the nature around me is now automatic and I find some really interesting things!

“Once you can see and feel and know directly, magic is forever transformed.”
— Ivo Dominguez Jr., Keys to Perception

Decluttering the Spirit

Just as we cleanse our homes with smoke or salt, we can cleanse our lives of what no longer serves. Sacred simplicity encourages us to release excess whether it’s physical clutter, toxic relationships, or outdated beliefs. By doing so, we make space for clarity, creativity, and connection with the divine.

Our Western mindset encourages materialism and the collection of things. This bleeds over to our mental and emotional life as well. We don’t need so much of what we carry in our minds and our hearts. The Wiccan practice of release asks us to evaluate and let go of things that no longer serve us several times a year at Sabbats and monthly in the moon’s cycle.

This doesn’t mean we don’t acknowledge the pain that those things brought us, but there is no reason to continue to carry what doesn’t serve us. We can’t grow spiritually, weighed down by anger, hate, and unending sorrow. Much like the plant that continues to seek the life-giving light of the sun, we are called to continue to seek spiritual connection and growth. The key to this is discovering how to release these things in a healthy way, not burying them undealt with, but processing them and then letting them go.

“To choose to live a life of simplicity is to choose to live a life of power. It is to choose to live lightly, to let go of the burdens that weigh us down, and to walk freely upon the Earth.”
— Starhawk, The Earth Path: Grounding Your Spirit in the Rhythms of Nature

The Divine in the Details

Wicca teaches that deity is immanent and that deity dwells within us and around us. When we pause to admire a spider’s web, to feel the earth beneath our feet, or to breathe deeply under the full moon, we are in communion with them. There is no need to visit a special place or a certain time to connect in with the divine.

I lived once at a home with a second story deck in the backyard surrounded by trees. At that level, I was literally in the trees! Prayer was easy on that deck. Feeling deity surrounding me was easy on that deck and I used it often to feel the divine in my life. I took my sorrows and my joys there.

Now, I live in an apartment and no longer have access to that space. My balcony is small and the trees are far away, but what I do have is the amazing stream that runs through my apartment complex and if I stand on the balcony I can hear the water bubbling and gurgling down below and if I stand still, I can see the many birds and squirrels who come to the stream. I hear birdsong and laugh at the squirrel antics and am connected to the divine in those moments. My connection is not dependent on place or time but awareness and being present in that moment.

“The Earth is our temple, and the sky is our cathedral.”
— Traditional Wiccan saying

A Witch’s Path of Grace

To walk the Wiccan path is to walk in awareness. Sacred simplicity is not a retreat from life, but a deeper engagement with it. It is a reminder that every moment holds potential for magic, that every breath is a prayer, and that the divine is always near if only we choose to see.

Walking a sacred path is remembering to be present in this moment, to see the beauty and life around you and know that you are a part of it; not apart from it. Find those moments and do them again and again. Build the connection that you want in your life.

“Live your earthly life fully but try to see the spiritual aspects of your activities as well. Remember—the physical and spiritual are but reflections of each other.”
— Scott Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

What is Sacred Dance?

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:12:02 GMT

What is Sacred Dance?

Movement as a Spiritual Practice:

In every culture and across every era, dance has served as more than just entertainment. It has been a bridge between the physical and the spiritual, the individual and the divine. Sacred dance, in particular, is a form of movement that transcends performance and enters the realm of spiritual practice. It is a way to embody prayer, express devotion, and connect with something greater than oneself.

I have worked with world dance traditions for over 30 years and most of them incorporate some aspect of sacred dance. When I became a Wiccan Priestess, I brought that practice into my religious experience. Whether that is dancing ecstatically or in a more defined way in ritual or personal practice, dance connects me to the divine in a personal and profound way.

Most dance historians believe that secular dance grew out of sacred dance. First there was sacred dance and then it moved into secular performances. Reclaiming our sacred dance connection can be a profound addition to your spiritual practice.

Sacred dance refers to intentional movement performed as an act of worship, meditation, or spiritual connection. Unlike secular or performance-based dance, sacred dance is not primarily about aesthetics or technique. Instead, it is about presence and intention. It can be practiced alone or in community, in silence or with music, and in formal rituals or spontaneous moments of inspiration.

Historical and Cultural Roots:

Sacred dance has deep roots in many spiritual traditions. Some of them are listed below:

Hinduism : Classical Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Odissi originated as temple dances, performed as offerings to deities.
Sufism : The whirling of the Mevlevi dervishes is a form of moving meditation aimed at achieving spiritual ecstasy and union with the divine.
Christianity : Early Christian communities incorporated dance into worship, and some modern denominations continue this tradition.
African and Indigenous Traditions : Dance is central to ceremonies that honor ancestors, mark life transitions, and invoke spiritual forces.
Judaism : The old testament marks many instances of sacred dance for those of the Jewish faith.

The Body as a Vessel:

In sacred dance, the body becomes a vessel for spirit. Movement is not just physical it is symbolic, expressive, and transformative. Dancers often report feelings of transcendence, healing, and deep inner peace. The repetitive nature of some sacred dances can induce altered states of consciousness, similar to those achieved through chanting or breathwork. Whether you are dancing a Kirtan or a Guedra, the connection to the divine through movement can be profound for both the dancer and those watching.

Sacred dance can take many forms, including:

Ritual Dance : Performed during religious ceremonies or festivals.
Ecstatic Dance : Free-form movement that allows participants to release inhibitions and connect with their inner selves.
Liturgical Dance : Choreographed movement integrated into religious services.
Contemplative Movement : Slow, mindful gestures used in meditation or prayer.

Why People Practice Sacred Dance:

People are drawn to sacred dance for various reasons:

Spiritual Connection : To feel closer to the divine or to nature. This is often expressed in ecstatic dance done by an individual alone or in a group setting.
Healing : To process grief, trauma, or emotional blockages.
Community : To share a collective experience of reverence and joy. Dancing as a community in ritual or at a festival is the most common public expression of sacred dance.
Embodiment : To integrate mind, body, and spirit in a holistic way. This is often used as a form of invoking deity in many traditions.
Story Telling : Sacred dance is often used to tell religious stories and myths for ritual and festival attendees. Many Asian traditions still do this today. Dance crosses the boundaries of language.

Sacred Dance Today:

In contemporary times, sacred dance is experiencing a revival. It is being embraced in yoga studios, spiritual retreats, interfaith gatherings, and even therapeutic settings. Movements like 5Rhythms , Dance Church , Dances of Universal Peace , and Authentic Movement reflect a growing interest in dance as a path to inner wisdom and spiritual awakening.

Here at WSTS, I teach Sacred Dance in the course Dancing the Divine. I work with sacred dance at Spring Mysteries Festival as the choreographer for the rituals that take place over that weekend. Incorporating sacred dance into the festival has brought a new level of experience for those who attend and has expanded my own practice in new and wonderful ways. The Well Dance done to honor Demeter is becoming a dance many of us in the Spring Mysteries Community know and love.

Wicca has several dances that are done in ritual settings that are sacred. Spiral Dances or the Witches' Rune Dance done while reciting the rune in ritual are both powerful experiences for most of us.

Sacred dance reminds us that spirituality is not confined to stillness or silence. It can be dynamic, expressive, and embodied. Whether through a graceful gesture, a rhythmic stomp, or a spontaneous twirl, sacred dance invites us to move with intention and in doing so, to move closer to the sacred.

Lammas: A Sacred Turning Point

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 14:50:58 GMT

Lammas: A Sacred Turning Point

As the Wheel of the Year turns toward Lammas, Wiccans and other Earth-centered spiritual practitioners pause to honor the first harvest, a time of both celebration and contemplation. Lammas, traditionally observed on August 1st, is a sabbat rich with spiritual meaning, rooted in the rhythms of nature and the eternal dance between life and death. The Astrological date for Lammas in 2025 is August 7th when the sun is in Leo at 15 degrees.

WSTS celebrated Lammas this past weekend with a weekend of Workshops, Student Monologues, and our Senior Class Lammas Ritual Sunday night at 6pm PST. As a Seminary, we came together to consider these themes and how they are reflected in our lives. As an online seminary, it is important that our students have the opportunity to celebrate with one another, and Lammas is traditionally a community event as bringing in a harvest often took the entire community in the ancient world.

Gratitude and Abundance

Lammas invites us to reflect on the gifts of the Earth and the fruits of our labor. It is a time to give thanks not only for physical sustenance like grain, fruit, and vegetables, but also for the emotional, spiritual, and communal harvests we've cultivated throughout the year. We acknowledge the gifts we’ve received from the Gods this year as we look at our first harvest.

In ritual and meditation, many Wiccans may:

Bake bread as a sacred act of gratitude.
Offer thanks to the land, ancestors, and deities.
Journal or speak aloud the blessings they’ve received.

Gratitude at Lammas is not passive, it is a conscious recognition of the abundance that surrounds us, even in times of challenge. It reminds us that every seed planted, whether literal or metaphorical, has the potential to bear fruit.

Here at WSTS, our students look back to the goals they set at Imbolc and reflect on how they have manifested or if they haven’t why that was what happened. We encourage our students to be reflective of the gifts they have received and of the things they have accomplished. This includes their spiritual growth from this year.

The practice of gratitude is a foundational principle at WSTS as it changes how students see the world. We encourage and, in some courses, require that students practice private or public gratitude on a daily basis. We encourage our students to attend the ATC Devotionals held on Discord M-F. This is a place where attendees share their gratitudes, but also their joys and sorrows and allows them to connect each morning before their day gets started.

Sacrifice and Transformation

With harvest comes sacrifice. The grain must be cut to feed the people; the sun begins its descent toward the darker half of the year. In Wiccan practices, this is often symbolized by the sacrificial death of the Grain God, who gives of himself so that life may continue. The idea of sacrifice also comes to us from Celtic Mythology and the story of Lugh’s great feast to honor his aunt, where they also traditionally sacrificed a bull for the ceremonies and games held at Lughnasa.

Spiritually, Lammas asks:

What must we release to move forward?
What parts of ourselves are ready to be transformed?
What sacrifices have we made, and what have they taught us?

This theme encourages shadow work, introspection, and the honoring of endings as sacred beginnings. Transformation is not always gentle, it can be fiery, painful, and profound. But it is also necessary for growth. The light and the dark live in all our lives, with joy and sorrows alongside each other as we walk the path.

Our students are asked to acknowledge those who have sacrificed to help them get where they are today. Our ancestors, mentors, teachers, and parents from the past, but also those who have sacrificed for them this year. We also ask our students to acknowledge the sacrifices they have made as friends, partners and parents this year for others. What we do affects others, even if only indirectly. The idea that we live in a vacuum is alienating and causes us to lose compassion for others. When we understand how we fit into the greater whole, we have purpose and feel seen.

The Balance Between Light and Dark

Lammas marks the waning of summer, a subtle shift toward the introspective energy of autumn. The days grow shorter, and the light begins to fade. This balance between light and dark is not a drawn line in the sand, but a fading of one energy into the next as the year progresses. The shorter days, which began at the summer equinox at Litha, become more pronounced at Lammas. Historically, our ancestors began to plan for the long winter that was to come. In our modern practice, we look towards the changing seasons and begin to plan for the slower days of fall and winter.

Wiccans may explore:

The duality of joy and sorrow in the harvest.
The interplay of masculine and feminine energies.
The need for rest after periods of intense growth.

This balance teaches us that light cannot exist without shadow, and that both are sacred. Lammas is a reminder to honor the fullness of life the blooming and the withering, the gain and the loss, the joy and the grief.

Wiccans often say we serve the balance. The sabbats help us to remember this as we walk the Wheel of the Year each year. They provide us with touchpoints to reflect and make sense of our lives as we deal with our day to day challenges. Balance allows us to experience both sides of the light and the dark. Seeking the balance encourages us to both give and allow others to give to us, with honor and reverence.

Lammas is more than a seasonal marker; it is a spiritual threshold. Through gratitude, we honor what we have. Through sacrifice, we prepare for what’s to come. And through balance, we embrace the mystery of transformation.

Whether celebrated in circle or solitude, Lammas offers a moment to pause, reflect, and realign with the rhythms of the Earth and the wisdom of the soul.

Your Time on the Path

Karadwilliams@wiccanseminary.edu (Kara Williams) — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 13:50:26 GMT

Your Time on the Path . . .

Wiccans talk a lot about “walking the path”. This phrase implies the journey, not the destination. Yet our current secular culture doesn’t prepare us for this. In the US we are in a hurry to reach the destination, to “climb the ladder” and when students begin studying here at WSTS or in their personal studies or with a coven, they bring that mindset or “programing” to their experience here.

In Wicca 101, 102, 103 we talk about “reprograming” mindsets and thought patterns that don’t work for us. This idea that we need to “get it done” and move on hinders spiritual development. It’s a barrier in the way of becoming clergy. It takes time, reflection and inner work to become clergy and to grow spiritually. This program of study isn’t the same as attending a regular school and the mindset needs to be different.

At the seminary, don’t be in a rush to check off boxes and “move on”. Yes, get your assigned work done in a timely fashion, but you don’t benefit from rushing it. You might have the “grade” you want, but you will have missed vital experiences that aren’t part of the grade. You might have passed the class, but you will have missed the point. Be present in this moment as you work.

I’ve studied Wicca for many years, and I’m not done! I will continue to seek out and reexamine old knowledge as I walk this path. I attend conferences and when I do, I sit in on 101 classes because someone else will approach this information differently and may well teach me something new or allow me to consider or reconsider my own conclusions, experiences, and understanding of the work. I always learn something in a class, even if it’s only how not to do something. Be a student! In Wicca 090, we tell the story of making sure that your cup is not too full so that you are open to learning new things. If you rush through, you slosh your tea all over or worse yet, you miss getting tea at all!

That is what it means to walk the path. To continue to grow and learn and develop. Ask to audit a core class once you’ve passed if a new teacher takes over the class. Ask for more from your teachers, not less. What is their reading list on the subject? Is there an opportunity to assist somewhere so that you learn and serve? Reframe your perspective so that you see the work as teaching you and not as something to be avoided or survived.

We are all busy and life will throw a lot of obstacles in our way as deity asks, “Are you sure you want this?” Standing as clergy states to the universe that things of a spiritual nature are the focus of your life. So, when you find yourself wanting to do less in class or in coven, ask yourself why.

Being clergy, being a servant of the Gods means continually learning and growing. Reprogram the secular education concept of doing the least you can to get out of the class. Ask for more! You deserve it.

“... Keep pure your highest ideal; strive ever towards it; let naught stop you or turn you aside.”

~Charge of the Goddess by Doreen Valiente

How to Clean a Blade

Karadwilliams@wiccanseminary.edu (Kara Williams) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 14:32:16 GMT

How to Clean and Care for Your Athame'

Most Wiccans have altar tools. Religious items that hold special sacred purposes that we use on our altars and in our rituals. All of these tools are very personal to each practitioner. Some Traditions have specific types of tools or tools that are made in special ways. The Athame' is one that is well known in Wicca - no matter how you pronounce it!

In the tradition that I am a part of, the athame' is a tool of air. It cuts and slices the air and the veil so that we can cast circle and draw pentacles to call quarters. Other traditions place it elsewhere. At WSTS in our Ritual 101 class, we tell our students that we can make a case for all of the tools to sit in different elements, it's your personal practice that determines where to place them. However, when working with a group, we all need to put them in the same place so that we are all in focused energy in ritual. So please, place your athame' where it works for you!

One of the things that comes with owning an athame' is cleaning it so it doesn't rust. Some people use a blade type that isn't prone to rust and so this isn't as much of an issue, but if you have never worked with more natural metals, it adds something to the tool. My first athame' was a gift from a friend and very dear to me. The story of how I how learned to keep it from rusting after dipping it in wine each ritual is below and was written years ago, when I was new to the craft. I've edited it a bit for clarity, but otherwise this is pretty much the original article. Hopefully, you will find useful information in it. Oh yeah, Athena had a hand in this event as my first patron deity - it was the first time she spoke to me!

Years before I began walking a Wiccan path, I had acquired a dagger from a friend. I dearly wanted to use this blade as my athamѐ, but it was a steel blade and extremely rusted. To be honest I wasn’t sure it was salvageable as when a blade is that rusted it can become pitted and ruined. Over the years I had heard from several friends about how to clean a blade and was confident that I knew what I was doing. For some reason I never could get to the store to pick up the supplies needed. One day I was driving past a Lowe's and heard "Turn Left". I turned left into the Lowe's parking lot as instructed and had this magical experience!

I couldn’t locate the supplies that I thought I needed, so I went in search of a clerk to assist me. While asking one gentleman where to find something, he said I had to talk to a different clerk. When she arrived she asked what I wanted the supplies for and I told her I needed to clean a rusted steel blade. Her reply was, “Oh don’t use that stuff – you’ll ruin the blade! Come with me.” Off she sped in her motorized wheelchair, and I had the first clue that Athena was guiding me that day. I spent the next hour and a half getting a class in how to restore, clean, and care for blades! Turns out she had a degree in metallurgy and specialized in making swords! The following information comes from this wonderful lady who shared her knowledge that day, even though she kept saying, “I really don’t like talking with people.”

After successfully following her instructions I returned to Lowe's to tell her how my project went. I couldn't find her and was told that no one in a wheel chair worked there! I think Hephaestus paid me a visit to help me out that day. At any rate, this still ranks as one of my most magical experiences in the craft and really taught me the lesson of listening to deity when they speak!

CAUTIONS: The following information is for cleaning and caring for steel blades only! There are many types of blades out there made from other metals and I have no idea how this process would affect them. Also, use care when working with a sharp tool – it is very easy to cut yourself or otherwise damage things or others. Even dull knives cut. Please read all instructions before beginning!

Supplies Needed:

Soft cloths

Rubber gloves

Block of wood

Dremel tool with appropriate sanding attachments (cleaning/polishing kit)

Paste wax

Light #4 polishing compound

Naval Jelly rust dissolver

STEP 1:

Use a block of wood to place the point of the blade into so that the blade doesn’t slide and cut you or anything else. I found in working with my blade that it was small enough that this step wasn’t needed throughout the process, but a larger blade would definitely require one.

Using rubber gloves and a soft cloth, apply the naval jelly to one side of the blade and allow it to sit for about 10 – 15 minutes. Wash off under running water and check results. If rust is still visible, reapply until all rust is gone. Repeat on the other side of the blade. Be careful not to get this on the finger guard of the blade if it is not rusted or made of steel as it will damage the metal. This stuff is amazing! It will eat the skin off your hands, so make sure to use rubber gloves and to clean all of it off the blade before moving on to the next step! Use soap if necessary.

STEP 2:

Use the heavier duty cleaning compound that comes with the Dremel kit (if you don’t have a kit then you’re looking for a #2 or #3 cleaning/polishing compound) and one of the polishing cushions to begin polishing the blade. Run the polishing cushion through the compound and then apply it to the blade. The compound is rather dry. This makes the blade turn black while you are polishing.

Work from the hilt to the point while polishing and make sure to work with the grain of the metal! Not sideways across the blade, but lengthways down the blade. This way the energy will flow from the hilt to the point and you won't mess up the finish of the blade. You may have to work sideways right at the hilt, just don’t spend a lot of time there and be sure to blend the edges of that out and down the length of the blade. Repeat on the other side. Wash the polishing compound off under running water – using soap if necessary.

STEP 3:

Repeat Step 2 using the #4 polishing compound and a new cleaning pad. Wash. At this point your blade should be free of all rust and be well polished. If not repeat until it is! Once you do the next step, you can't polish any more without starting all over.

STEP 4:

Use rubber gloves, wooden block, and soft cloth to apply the paste wax after letting the blade dry thoroughly! Do not begin waxing until the blade, hilt, etc. is completely dry. I let mine sit over night to make sure. Otherwise, it will rust again and you will have to start over.

Apply a layer of wax, rub in, and wipe off excess. Allow wax to dry. Repeat this procedure on both sides of the blade at least 3 times, allowing the wax to dry between coats, to ensure a good seal on the blade. If you’ve been using the Dremel tool, this is the step that is the most likely to cause you to cut yourself! Be Careful! The wax will not affect the cutting edge – assuming you want or have one - you would sharpen the blade before applying the wax. Most of us don't keep an actual sharp edge on our athame'. It seals the blade against humidity and skin oils so that it should not rust again.

After several years, you may want to reapply a layer of wax. If you were using the blade to cut things with, you would want to wipe it clean after use and wax as needed as the use would cause the wax to wear off the blade surface. You should always clean and dry your athame' after dipping it into the wine so it doesn't go into the sheath damp as that will cause issues as well, both with the blade and the sheath.

Simple Really!

That is all there is to it. It took me two days to do this because I allowed it to dry before beginning the waxing process. It is a really simple procedure. If you don’t own a Dremel tool, it will take longer as you have to do the cleaning/polishing by hand. This is also the perfect time to add energy and intent to your athamѐ. Enjoy your new blade – care for it well and it will last you a lifetime!

Note:

I just recently retired this athame' and it was still spotless. I have never needed to repeat this process. That was over 19 years ago. May your results be as wonderful!

Mystic South 2025

Karadwilliams@wiccanseminary.edu (Kara Williams) — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:23:24 GMT

Mystic South 2025: A Personal Journey Through Magic, Community and Growth

Every July, I find myself eagerly packing my bags for Atlanta, GA, to attend one of the most soul-nourishing events of my year Mystic South , a vibrant pagan conference that has become a cherished tradition in my life.

My partner and I began attending in the very first year of 2017. That first event came with its fair share of challenges, Atlanta was dealing with a major water issue, which caused problems at the hotel, but even amidst the chaos, something magical happened. The hotel staff and conference organizers handled everything with such grace and care, and I was completely amazed. That year, Mystic South captured my heart and formed bonds in adversity with the other attendees, and I’ve returned every year since.

Each year, the conference evolves. Sometimes there’s a theme, sometimes not, but there’s always a rich tapestry of rituals, workshops, academic presentations, concerts, shopping, and pure joy. It’s a place where learning and laughter go hand in hand, and where I always feel both inspired and at home.

Since 2018, WSTS has had a table at the conference, and in 2022, I began presenting workshops myself. (2021 was a pause for all of us due to COVID.) As a presenter, I’ve always felt supported and valued Mystic South is incredibly well-organized and welcoming to speakers. Heather Greene and Marla Roberson do an amazing job at leading the volunteers who put on this conference. Their team obviously works hard, because it shows in how well the conference runs.

This year felt especially meaningful. WSTS had a strong presence with a table in the common area and five of our graduate students and faculty presenting workshops. We were thrilled to see so many of our undergraduate students attending as well, and our annual Meet and Greet was the biggest it’s ever been. We ran out of cards and brochures, which was a great problem to have!

2025 WSTS Presenters:

N’Mier Laveau, WSTS Graduate Student – “Past Life Exploration 101”
Petras Maygar, WSTS Graduate Student – “Deliciously Divine: An Introduction to Kitchen Witchery”
Brenna Grace, WSTS Dean of Ministry and Faculty – “The Eleusinian Mysteries”
Trisha Parker, WSTS Faculty and Enrollment Officer – “Gardening with the Moon”
Kara D. Williams, WSTS Seminary Dean and Faculty – “13 Wiccan Moons – Creating Ritual”
Belladonna Laveau, Arch Priestess of the ATC and WSTS Faculty – spoke on the COG Panel: “Collective Work and Resistance for a Vibrant Pagan Future”

Being surrounded by so many of our students and faculty made this year feel extra special. But even beyond that, there’s the joy of reconnecting with old friends and familiar faces, people I only get to see once a year, but who feel like family.

Some personal highlights for me this year included:

The Friday night concert with Lynda Millard and Ginger Doss—absolutely touched my soul!
A deeply enlightening North Asian Shamanism workshop with David Shi.
The Covenant of the Goddess (COG) Panel, where I listened to powerful discussions from leaders in our community about navigating these challenging times.
A workshop on manifestation with Pamela Chen, which gave me new ways to look at the tools I already use and to deepen my own practice.

And of course, I always treasure the chance to connect with fellow authors. This year, I had a lovely conversation with Susan Walter while we were both signing books at The Sojourner Whole Earth Provisions' Author Table. Last year, I met Daniela Simina in the same spot. These moments of connection and shared passion are what make Mystic South so magical. Thank you to Heron Michelle for providing the space for those connections to take place!

This conference fills my cup every single time. If you’ve never been, I can’t recommend it enough. Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner or just beginning your journey, Mystic South offers something special, a space to learn, grow, connect, and celebrate the beauty of our diverse pagan paths.

Wicca and Nature

Karadwilliams@wiccanseminary.edu (Kara Williams) — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 19:22:40 GMT

Balance in Nature: How Wicca Reconnects Us to the Earth

In a world increasingly dominated by screens, schedules, and stress, many are seeking ways to feel more rooted, calm, and connected. For some, the answer lies in a spiritual path that honors the rhythms of the Earth: Wicca.

Wicca, a modern pagan religion with deep reverence for nature, offers a rich tapestry of practices that help individuals reconnect with the natural world. Through rituals, seasonal celebrations, and mindful interaction with the elements, Wiccans cultivate a sense of calm that can be profoundly healing in chaotic times.

Walking with Intention

One of the simplest yet most powerful ways that Wiccans reconnect to nature is a nature walk. While any walk outside, casual or otherwise is calming and good for us, a focused walk with the intent to really see and experience nature has even more benefits. It is an opportunity to observe, listen, and attune to the subtle energies of the Earth. Particularly the earth where we reside. Spiritual connection to the earth doesn’t require a trip to Thailand or some exotic place. Wiccans connect where we are with the land that we live on. Practitioners may pause to acknowledge a tree, collect a fallen leaf, or simply breathe in the scent of the forest. These walks are not just exercise; they are acts of communion.

When I was growing up, I used to hear the phrase, “stop and smell the roses”. A walk done with intention helps to place you in the present moment. Smelling and experiencing what is happening to you in this moment. Much of our stress comes from worrying about the past and the future. Those are moments which are gone or have not yet come. The present moment is the moment we are in and the one we have the most power to effect change in. Connecting with the land and environment around us connects us to the present moment, where clarity can be found and where we receive the most healing.

Celebrating the Wheel of the Year

Central to Wiccan spirituality is the Wheel of the Year, a cycle of eight seasonal festivals known as Sabbats. These include the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days like Beltane and Samhain. Each Sabbat marks a turning point in the Earth’s journey around the sun and invites reflection on themes such as growth, harvest, rest, and renewal.

By aligning with these natural cycles, Wiccans find a rhythm that contrasts sharply with the relentless pace of modern life. Seasonal rituals, whether lighting candles at Yule or dancing around a Maypole at Beltane, offer moments of stillness, celebration, and connection.

Celebrating the sabbats helps to keep you connected to the world around you. Are the trees shedding their leaves? Is the air growing hotter or colder? What flowers and plants are in bloom? Is it time to gather the vegetables from the garden or go to the store and get seasonal items you can only get then?

Just as nature walks place you in the present moment, celebrating the sabbats also brings you to this time and this place. It allows you to find the cyclical rhythm of the world. The seasons happen over and over again, just a bit differently each year. Last year spring was later and hotter, this year spring is lovely and rainy. It’s still spring but it’s just a bit different. Much like our lives and our own progress, things come around over and over again, but just a bit differently. It’s those differences that show us the many facets of our journey here on planet earth. How we’ve grown and learned or how we haven’t.

Honoring the Elements

Wicca also emphasizes the sacredness of the four classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. These elements are not just symbolic—they are experienced as living forces. Earth represents stability and the resources of this world; Air, intellect and inspiration; Fire, transformation and passion; and Water, emotion and intuition.

In ritual, Wiccans call upon these elements to create sacred space, using tools like crystals, incense, candles, and bowls of water. This elemental awareness fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world and reminds practitioners of their place within it.

Wiccan rituals bring the spiritual into the physical for connection. Rituals calm us and give us a space to relax out of the busy rush of activity around us. They allow us to reconnect with the divine and who we are and strive to be as we journey on the planet. Bringing nature into ritual space is an important part of Wiccan ritual. Those same elements used in ritual, then bring comfort and calmness outside of that space, serving as a reminder of the time and feeling of connection that is found within ritual.

Balance in Chaotic Times

In times of personal or collective upheaval, Wiccan techniques such as visualizing roots growing into the Earth or holding a stone during meditation can provide a sense of calm and clarity. These practices are a return to what is real, tangible, and enduring. They are reminders of our connection to the whole planet and the other people who reside here with us. These techniques also allow us to recenter ourselves to who and what we want to be and remind us of what we believe when the world around us calls for us to forget that and just react.

As climate anxiety, digital overload, and social fragmentation continue to rise, Wicca’s earth-centered spirituality offers a path back to balance. It teaches that healing begins not in isolation, but in relationships. Relationship with the land, the seasons, and the sacredness of life itself. Our worship and connection reside in nature, which the divine created, and which we are intricately a part of.

Blessed Be!

Wicca and Community

Karadwilliams@wiccanseminary.edu (Kara Williams) — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:23:58 GMT

Wicca and Community: Finding Support in the Circle

Wicca and Community: Finding Support in the Circle

In a world that often feels fragmented and fast-paced, many practitioners are searching for a community. Community supports a sense of belonging. At its heart, Wicca is a living, breathing community of people who gather in sacred spaces to share wisdom, celebrate the seasons, and support one another through life’s challenges. Those who belong to a local group, coven or church have a community, but many are searching for a larger community of common interests. Solitary practitioners may not wish to be part of a local group, but they too like to attend other events of like-minded people. In addition, there are many people who have not found their local group or who practice in an online community and want something local in addition to their online community.

The Power of the Circle:

In Wiccan tradition, the circle, where our rituals take place, is more than a shape. It’s a symbol of unity, equality, and sacred space. Whether cast for ritual or formed in friendship, the circle represents a place where all are equal, all are heard, and all are held in spiritual connection. Unlike other religious spaces, a circle places the clergy within the people, not outside of the people. Within this space, Wiccans find not only magical energy but also emotional support and shared purpose. When times are difficult, a circle allows them to relax in a safe space of other people who are also struggling. A circle allows them to offer support and receive it.

Covens: Spiritual Families:

Covens are small, often close-knit groups of Wiccans who meet regularly to practice together. These groups offer:

Mentorship from experienced practitioners
Shared rituals that deepen spiritual connection
Emotional support during personal or collective hardships
A sense of belonging that can be hard to find elsewhere

For many, a coven becomes a spiritual family. One that celebrates your growth, holds space for your grief, and walks beside you on your path. Covens are usually small groups. Groups that grow larger usually become Wiccan Churches and begin serving the greater community. For some, small groups are what feeds their souls. The intimate connection of close and well-known people is important. For others a larger Church that supports the greater community is what feeds their soul. They search for more activities, events and ways to serve, like festivals, food banks, hospital and prison ministries. They are fulfilled by giving back in a larger way. Both groups provide connection and spiritual guidance. Both are valuable to the practitioner.

Online Wiccan Communities: Magic Across the Miles:

In the digital age, Wiccan community has expanded beyond the forest glade or local home of a clergy member and into the virtual realm. Online groups, forums, and social media circles allow practitioners from around the world to:

Share ritual ideas, spells, and personal experiences
Ask questions and receive guidance without judgment
Celebrate sabbats together through livestreams and video calls.
Find connection and encouragement, even in isolation

These online spaces are especially vital for solitary practitioners or those in areas where Wicca is less visible or accepted. The online community has grown since Covid and hosts online festivals, classes, and organizations such as seminaries, like WSTS. Members of online communities often hold in person gatherings and meet ups at local festivals or even plan cruises together like the ATC’s Witches on the Water! These are spiritual and meaningful engagements and the people who participate find lasting relationships with deep connections.

Online communities also offer convenience that local groups don’t have. Weather rarely is a factor in their ability to meet, and there is no travel time or fees spent on gas or hotels! They don’t replace in person groups, but they do offer a rich experience for those that can’t find a local group or have other life limitations like odd job schedules or health issues that prevent them from fully participating locally.

Seasonal Festivals: Celebrating the Wheel of the Year:

Wiccans mark the turning of the seasons with eight sabbats. Festivals that honor the Earth’s cycles. These gatherings, whether public rituals or private celebrations, are powerful opportunities to:

Reconnect with nature and the divine
Meet like-minded souls in a spirit of joy and reverence
Reflect on personal growth and set intentions for the coming season

From the fires of Beltane to the quiet reflection of Samhain, these celebrations remind us that we are part of something larger - a rhythm, a community, a sacred dance of life. They offer a variety of activities from rituals to classes and celebratory bonfires! Bonding around a fire is often a part of outdoor festivals.

In the last decade, more and more indoor hotel-based festivals and conferences have begun happening. From the ATC’s Spring Mysteries Festival in Seattle to Summer Magick Fest in Florida or Mystic South in Atlanta to name a few, these hotel-based events have become more popular in the broader Pagan Community.

During times of uncertainty, grief, or transformation, Wiccan communities offer more than ritual. They offer resilience and comfort. They remind us that we are not alone, that healing is possible, and that magic is real when shared with others.

Whether you find your circle in a coven, an online group, or a seasonal gathering, know this: you are part of a web of wisdom, love, and sacred connection. And in that web, there is always support.

Blessed Be!

Misconceptions About Wicca

Karadwilliams@wiccanseminary.edu (Kara Williams) — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 21:51:10 GMT

Misconceptions About Wicca

Despite growing awareness and interest in alternative spiritual paths, Wicca is still widely misunderstood. This nature-based, earth-honoring religion is often misrepresented in the media and pop culture, leading to confusion, fear, or even ridicule. This fear and misunderstanding between Wicca and other more accepted religions in the United States causes bigotry and negative associations. Let’s clear the air and debunk some of the most common myths.

❌ Myth #1: Wiccans Worship the Devil

✅ Truth: Wiccans don’t believe in or worship the Devil .
The concept of the Devil is rooted in Christian theology, not Wicca. Wiccans honor divine forces in nature, often represented by a Goddess and a God, or other archetypes. The Horned God, for example, is a symbol of fertility and wild nature not evil. Many academics believe that the Horned God became combined with images of the Christian Devil to denigrate the previous pagan religions.

❌ Myth #2: Paganism, which Wicca is a part of, Is One Religion

✅ Truth: Paganism encompasses many earth-based paths and is often used as an umbrella term .
It includes a wide variety of spiritual paths such as Wicca, Druidry, Heathenry, Hellenism, and more. While they share common themes like reverence for nature and seasonal cycles, each path has its own beliefs, deities, and practices.

❌ Myth #3: Witchcraft and Wicca are the same thing

✅ Truth: Witchcraft is a practice and Wicca is a religion. Most Wiccans follow the Wiccan Rede: “An it harm none, do what ye will.” Wiccan ethics emphasize personal responsibility and non-harm. Magic is used for healing, protection, growth, and connection—not manipulation or harm.

❌ Myth #4: Wicca Is Just a Trend or Aesthetic

✅ Truth: Wicca is a deeply spiritual path with roots in ancient traditions.
While modern Wicca was formalized in the 20th century, it draws from pre-Christian European practices, folk magic, and mystery traditions. It’s not just about crystals and moon water—it’s about living in harmony with nature and spirit.

❌ Myth #5: You Have to Be Initiated to Be a Real Wiccan

✅ Truth: Wicca includes both initiatory traditions and solitary practitioners.
Some traditions, like Gardnerian or Alexandrian Wicca, require formal initiation. But many people practice solitary or eclectic Wicca, crafting their own path through study, intuition, and personal experience.

❌ Myth #6: Wicca Is Anti-Science or Anti-Modern

✅ Truth: Most Wiccans embrace science, technology, and critical thinking.
Wicca encourages personal exploration, questioning, and direct experience. Most practitioners are scientists, educators, and professionals who see no conflict between spirituality and science.

Wicca is a rich, diverse, and life-affirming spiritual path that deserves respect and understanding. By debunking these myths, we open the door to greater acceptance, curiosity, and connection. Finding common ground allows us all to live in harmony.