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...
(5) Comments | Posted December 21, 2011 | 12:55 PM
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...
(368) Comments | Posted October 31, 2011 | 7:25 AM
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...
(48) Comments | Posted June 21, 2011 | 11:20 AM
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...
(7) Comments | Posted April 30, 2011 | 10:37 PM
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...
(3) Comments | Posted March 22, 2011 | 11:10 AM
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...
(122) Comments | Posted February 1, 2011 | 6:28 AM
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...
(112) Comments | Posted December 20, 2010 | 6:02 PM
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...
(2) Comments | Posted November 25, 2010 | 10:09 AM
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,...
(78) Comments | Posted October 30, 2010 | 6:20 PM
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...
(621) Comments | Posted June 21, 2010 | 2:56 AM
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...

(1) Comments | Posted February 2, 2012 | 10:29 AM