Tag Archive | witchcraft

In the eMail Room

Dealing With Passive/Aggressive Communications

I get lots of mail. LOTS of mail. 99.9% of the time it’s quite nice, with questions, compliments and requests for assistance. The typical stuff.

Every now and then, it’s not so nice. And though there are varying levels of rude and nastiness, the ones that get me laughing, and often get a response are the passive/aggressive ones.

I received one of those today. I’ve had a few students, and fellow Metaphysical ministers ask me how do you handle these? How do you not let them get to you? Well that’s easy really. I’m not what those people “expect” me to be, so it’s easy not to fall into their trap and react the way they “expect’ me to react. Continue reading →

Merry Imbolg & Lammas

Jan30

Celebration of the Sun

The Festival of Lights and Fire

The time of Spring is upon us here in the Northern Hemisphere as the Sun begins his return to warm our hearts and extend his light in our day. His return rings in the first of the Spring Holidays known as Imbolc, Imbolg, Brigid’s Day or the Festival of Lights.

In the Southern Hemisphere the summer is marked by its peak of the Sun during the Fire Festival. It is the time of Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas or the Fire Festival which honors the Celtic hero Lugh. It is the first of the Pagan Harvest Festivals and the time of year to thank the Tuatha Dé Danann (the Faeries) for their help in our gardens.

These Sabbats (Pagan Holidays) are observed on February 1st or 2nd, depending on one’s personal Tradition (spiritual denomination). Because Pagans celebrate on a Lunar Calendar schedule, our holiday observances actually begin at sunset on the evening before the scheduled day.

Those who recognize February 1st as the observed holiday, will begin their rituals on January 31st. And for some places in the world, that’s already tonight.

Everyone here at Springwolf Reflections and Spring’s Haven extend our wishes to you and yours for a wonderful and joyous celebration of the warmth. Where ever you are in the world,

May Your Season Be Blessed with Abundance and Happiness

Interfaith Prayer For Olympic Peace

Jan23

The Winter Olympics Begin
February 6, 2014

A World Wide Event
February 1st, Saturday at 12:00pm Eastern U.S.

As concerns mount over next month’s Olympic games, Russian President Vladimir Putin is insisting he’s got things under control. Many governments are offering assistance and making plans to protect their athletes. The U.S. announced they are making emergency evacuations plans for Americans in case something does occur.

There is an overwhelming atmosphere of concern, dread and fear associated with the Olympics. This negativity adds to the growing concern of violence. We’re asking that all those interested, share in a unified world wide moment to hold the coming events in positive energy in thoughts of peace and safety.

Join us and other organizations around the world for an interfaith moment of peace on Saturday February 1st, at 12:00pm Eastern.

It doesn’t matter where you are. It doesn’t matter if you’re religious, spiritual or atheist. Everyone who would like to send positive thoughts of peace is welcome to be part of this event. You don’t need to attend a meeting, go to a special location or leave your home even. Where ever you are at this time, simply take a moment to add your thoughts and/or prayers to this world wide energy event.

For 2 minutes, close your eyes and think of Sochi, Russia. Imagine the City and the surrounding villages blanketed in peace and love. Think of all the young men and women who have worked so hard to share their talents and abilities with their fellow competitors being safe and secure. See family and friends, and people from around the world visiting Sochi for the games, making new friendships and enjoying their time cheering on their favorite competitors in the games. See them all under a blanket of peace, compassion and love. Safe and secure from the moment they arrive, until the moment they arrive home in their own town and country.

If you desire to say a prayer during the 2 minutes, we invite you to do so. You can join in and recite this prayer we will be saying. Or you can share your own prayer to bring peace and safety to the games, the city and all the people within it.

During the Olympic games in Sochi Russia,
May all beings everywhere find peace in their souls,
May all peoples find kindness toward their fellow humans,
May our differences subside and be replaced with compassion,
May we discover understanding and acceptance of each other,
May peace ring through our voices and actions,
May the actions of all come together in love and kindness.
May all those attending the games be held in safety,
May the all arrive and return to their homes protected and secure.
And so it is that peace and kindness reign over us all.

You can find many prayers and blessings of peace at The Chaplaincy Institute, An Interfaith Community. They have many beautiful prayers for peace at The Peace Seeds. You can choose one of theirs, create one of your own, or simply hold good thoughts for these Olympic games in your head.

We hope you’ll join us and these other cities around the world for this special 2 minutes of positive thoughts and prayers for safety and security during these Winter Olympic Games.

Washington, D.C. Sat 12:00pm	Buenos Aires Sat 2:00pm	Rio de Janeiro Sat 3:00pm	London Sat 5:00pm	Paris Sat 6:00pm
Cairo Sat 7:00pm	Tehran Sat 8:30pm	Sochi Sat 9:00pm	Kathmandu Sat 10:45pm	Astana Sat 11:00pm
Bangkok Sun 12:00am	Beijing Sun 1:00am	Tokyo Sun 2:00am	Brisbane Sun 3:00am	Wellington Sun 6:00am
Pago Pago Sun 6:00am	Honolulu Sat 7:00am	San Francisco Sat 9:00am	Calgary Sat 10:00am	Guatemala City Sat 11:00am

Please share this event with your friends, family and spiritual communities. The more positive thoughts we share at the same moment in time, the more good we can create around the games and hold everyone in safety and peace.

You can also Like and Share this event on Facebook.

Thank you.

Moon Phase Calendar – Update

Jan20

“In Harmony” by Collin Bogle

Following The Phases

I’ve received a lot of emails so far this month about my decision to end the Moon Phase Calendar provided on Pagan’sPath.com. I made the announcement that this is the last year we would be providing the yearly calendar and that seems to have stirred up a little discontent.

I’m thrilled so many of you have found the calendar helpful and useful in planning your rituals and gatherings. But thanks to technology, I can offer a replacement that’s better than the static calendar I offered.

I wrote a review of Android apps I’ve tested out for Sun & Moon Watching On Your Phone. I don’t have an Apple device so I don’t know an equivalent app for your iPhone, iPad or equivalent device. But I’m sure there are many out there who offer the same options as the ones I reviewed. Continue reading →

We’ve Caught Up

Jan7

Back From The Holidays

We’ve caught up on voice and email from the holidays. If you left us a message, or sent an email to any of our websites, we’ve replied, answered, and scheduled appointments. If you didn’t receive a response than something went wrong.

Typically that means the email you provided for us to respond to didn’t work for some reason. If it was a typeo, we can usually figure it out. But not always. Sometimes it’s because you have your spam filter set tightly and we can’t get through. To fix that, you can allow mail from springshaven.com or paganspath.com.

Other times, we simply have no clue what happened. So if you sent us something in December or the first week of January, and didn’t hear back, send us a note again. You can get in touch with us through our contact pages, Spring’sHaven Contact or Pagan’sPath Contact. Be careful typing in your email address.

Counting My Blessings

Dec29

A Story of Friendship

I’m from a little town in Tennessee called Jonesborough. I didn’t grow up there, but my Grand Mother lived on West Main St. until her passing many years ago. My dad was born in that house. When we went to visit family, all of whom live around there, that’s where we stayed. It was going down “home” and I truly love that little place.

One of the things that still draws me to this little town is its history, being the Oldest Town in Tennessee, and that it’s home of the International Storytelling Center. A truly wonderful place to visit!

To show my support for one of my favorite places, I follow the ISC on Facebook. This weekend, they shared a story that is definitely worth reading. They posted this on their FB page. Continue reading →

2014 Moon Phase Calendar

Dec29

Our Popular Reference Sheet

Each year I publish a calendar for the moon phases and astronomical events of the coming year. About this time I’m amazed by the number of people sending me messages asking if I’m going to update the calendar for the coming year. I’m very glad the calendar has become such a popular resource for so many people. Especially in this technological age of tablets and smart phones.

If you’re one of those folks who enjoy the Moon Phases Calendar on my old Pagan’s Path website, it’s been updated today for 2014!

This will probably be the last year I update the calendar because of those technological apps. They do a great job of personalizing phases and events for your specific location.

If you have a tablet or smart phone, I have a couple of apps on my phone that I use throughout the year that you might like. What I like about them the most is they notify me of phase changes. I have a reminder set for a few days before a moon phase change so I have time to get ready for a ritual or make plans for a Esbat ceremony I might be officiating. Between my two favorite apps, I never miss a phase change or a daily event.

I gave a critique of these apps here on Reflections in December 2012. So check out Sun & Moon Watching On Your Phone for more info.

Another Year Has Past

Dec28

Thank you for being part of
Spring’s Haven and Springwolf Reflections in 2013.

We wish you peace, happiness, abundant good health
and much prosperity in the new year!

Certification and Affiliations

Dec20

Take Pride In Your Accomplishments

In 2008 I took on a personal quest to satisfy a desire for personal validation. I had decades of knowledge and experience in my spiritual path, but some how I felt that I didn’t have the right to call myself a teacher or spiritual minister. This was simply something I felt was lacking within my own confidence.

I was serious about my mission and what I wanted to accomplish with my teachings. I was often praised for my classes and lectures, consultations, healing and helping others. But those compliments didn’t satisfy my own inner perspective of my, let’s call it authority for lack of a better word. I did my research of universities, colleges, cost of enrollment and which programs would support my pagan beliefs and focus on the foundation of those beliefs from a metaphysical and shamanistic perspective. I settled on the degree programs of the 50+ year organization of the International Metaphysical Ministry (IMM) offered through one of their institutes of higher learning, the University of Sedona. Continue reading →

Another Friday the 13th

Dec10

One Last Time For 2013

This week marks Friday December 13th, 2013 and many people are wondering what is it with Friday the 13th days anyway? What does it mean, where did this spooky tradition start and is it really a day for bad luck?

It’s known as “Black Friday” or “Black Cat Day” and fear of Friday the 13th is known as triskaidekaphobes. It may not surprise many people to know it’s not a world-wide thing. It’s pretty much an Anglo-European/American thing.

As with many evil and spooky occasions such as this, fear of Friday the 13th began with the vilification of pagan beliefs and practices from the early Christian Church. What a surprise! But this isn’t about them, it’s about Friday the 13th for December 2013! Continue reading →

"Believe In Yourself, Even When No One Else Does."
~ Harvey McKay ~
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“Take a chance on faith. Not religion, but faith.
Not hope, but faith.
I don’t believe in hope. Hope is a beggar.
Hope walks through the fire and Faith leaps over it.”
~ Jim Carrey ☆ 2014
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“I describe myself as a simple Buddhist monk. No more, no less. And I am one of the seven billion human being. Basically we are the same… your emotion, my emotion, your mind, my mind.., same physical. So I always look [at it] that way. We are the same.”
~ Dalai Lama 2012 ~
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"Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
~ Bruce Lee 1971