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A Witchy Irish Pub
A couple of years ago I wandered down an old, narrow street in Kilkenny City, Ireland and saw a pub sign featuring an arched-back, black “Halloween” cat. Naturally that tripped my witchy senses, so I went up for a closer look, and saw that “Kyteler’s” was the name on the sign. “No freaking way!” I said to myself, excited, because that could only mean this was the pub formerly owned by Dame Alice Kyteler, and I’d just found it completely by accident. My inner history nerd was doing cartwheels. Dame Alice became famous—or infamous—in 1324 for being the first person recorded as being accused of witchcraft in Ireland. Unlike many…
What’s Energy Supposed to Feel Like? How Do I Know I’m Doing It Right?
Wiccans and Pagans often use the word “energy” to mean the power that emanates from living things, deity, the earth, or all three. Geek that I am, I have likened it more than once to the Force from Star Wars, “It’s an energy field created…
The Wiccan Welcome Wagon
There’s a weird paradox with open Wiccan events. Many of these events exist to help newcomers learn more about Wicca and get a foothold in the community while providing local Wiccans a chance to do ritual or socialize together. But when a community…
Sheela-na-Gigs: Girl Power
If you’re fortunate enough to be wandering around a medieval church or castle in Ireland or the UK, gazing at the many carvings adorning the arches or cornices, you might see a hideous face grinning at you from between the saints. If you…
A Visit to the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic
Cornwall, in the southwest of England, is steeped in magic and folk traditions, from the Padstow ‘obby ‘oss to the ways of the cunning folk and pellars. Tucked into a cleft in the rugged northern Cornish coastline, the small village of Boscastle hums with this old magic. “You…
Why Do I Have to Wait?
I get some variation of this question in my inbox at least once a week, if not more often: I’m thirteen. Will you be my teacher? And by the way, don’t tell my parents I emailed you. I’m sixteen, but I can’t find…
How Do I Find a Wiccan or Pagan Teacher?
Before you try to connect with a teacher, it helps to answer some or all of the following questions for yourself. What do you want to learn? Are you interested in learning about Wicca or Paganism in general or a specific tradition or…
