Every spring is a time of renewal, of life surging forth for another round of growth. It is honored in religions, and in many regions of the world. I'm told that in Iran, 13 days are set aside for celebration. Perhaps this is part of the renewal we all need:...

I approach this winter solstice in a kind of blindness. Some say that huge celestial alignments will birth an age of partnership. I'm all for it, and many people plan to celebrate.

The work of this moment is in darkness, and the preparation is about letting go....

I share this spell as a gift, for pondering or repeating. So far, I have found myself yelling it out loud in the face of the winds, rains and blowing sand of Hurricane Sandy.

A Samhain Spell/Prayer by Donald L. Engstrom-Reese

May all that is hidden be...

Once again, the summer is winding down and fall approaches. The day of roughly equal light and dark comes, a point of balance on the wheel of the year and another time to weigh in on changes. Change is one of the few constants in life, along with the constant...

This year's Lammas observance falls on a full moon -- a time of intensification of emotions, pulls of nature and illumination. Known as the first harvest in the agricultural cycle, this is a time for gratitude for what has already come to fruit (or vegetable). Then comes the exploration of...

This year I've left the summer solstice behind, and traveled to the winter solstice. At home in New England my friends have planted gardens weeks earlier than usual and are already harvesting.

I have left behind the longest day of the year, and traveled to Rio de Janeiro, where...

This year's celebration of Imbolc begins the turn toward spring, although with 59 degree weather in Boston it's unclear whether we've had winter. With only six weeks of winter left, this is the time to set intentions and clear away the clutter, composting it in preparation for new...

This year the dark season is one of the busiest ever. In addition to honoring the dark, to snuggling into warm sweaters, to worrying about unseasonable warmth, and appreciating sharp cold, I add the Occupy opportunity. In my three main towns, Hyannis, Boston and New York, there are inspiring and...

In this week leading up to Samhain, there are dramatically high tides, a dark moon and cold coming after an unseasonably warm month. The darkness each night seems so early; the turning of the wheel is upon us. This is an excellent time of year to listen to the rustling...

Last year at this time I wrote on the spiritual meaning of the summer solstice,

"The solstice, sometimes called midsummer because by now farmers have long done their planting, is technically the first day of summer. It both ushers in the warmest season, and reminds that the season...

May Day (at least in the Northern hemisphere) heralds the delights of the coming warm season, with intoxicating fragrances of spring flowers and flowering trees to delight the senses. Warming days and shedding of coats signal more pleasures of the coming summer season. Time to celebrate, with a bit of...

What festivities and what a feast! The vernal equinox is now considered a global holiday, part of the world's cultural heritage. The celebration at the United Nations included the ambassadors of more than 10 countries speaking to a full house in the General Assembly hall. Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, India, the...

Whatever the ground hog does or doesn't do, we're half-way there. Early February marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Spring, that glorious season of renewal, is starting now according to Pagan tradition. Despite the Northern Hemisphere's snow and cold, Pagans celebrate Imbolc and the returning...

Winter Solstice, Dec. 21, 2010 packs a celestial punch with a full moon and a full lunar eclipse, visible in the Americas if we're lucky enough to have a clear sky and energetic enough to be up. The eclipse will be visible after midnight EST, reaching it's maximum at 3:15...

The secular holiday of Thanksgiving is generally an expression of thanks celebrated with family, friends or chosen community. The act of giving thanks is important; it has an alchemical power and with practice can be profoundly transformative.

Many religious and spiritual traditions encourage giving thanks including Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism,...

Halloween, or Samhain, is celebrated in many ways, some religious, some spiritual and many secular. It is a religious holiday that has entered the general American cultural ethos and is celebrated with trick-or-treating and costume parties. The vivid orange and black colors associated with the day bring to mind the...

Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, the shortest night, and a tipping point: from here on out the days get shorter and the nights get longer. The solstice, sometimes called midsummer because by now farmers have long done their planting, is technically the first day of summer. It...