Walking the Pagan Path of Light and Shadow.
There is literally nothing that ties me to my American, Appalachian/Cherokke/Melungeon heritage more strongly than pumpkin pie. Maybe apple pie is the quintessential pie that defines my home country (as American as apple pie, they say) but for me, it has got to be pumpkin with its ties to Thanksgiving and Native American customs and … Continue reading Pumpkin Pie
Oh, my goodness, I absolutely love pumpkin soup. The silky, rich consistency just hits the spot especially on a chilly Autumn evening or in the very midst of Winter bleakness. It is especially tasty if you have made it from a plumpciously juicy fresh pumpkin, harvested that season, rather than from the tins. Now, I … Continue reading Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkins are the perfect symbol of Autumn and Samhain. I know they didn’t come over from the New World to Europe until the early 1500s but that’s definitely long enough to be considered history here, too! Pumpkins represent the bounty of the land, the ripe and raucous culmination of Spring planning and prepping, Summer tending, … Continue reading Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
I recently bought a polished amethyst crystal shaped like a spearhead. It was beautiful—deep violet, cool in the hand, and perfect, I thought, for my altar. I even planned a ritual to consecrate it. But before I began, a quiet question surfaced: How do I know it was sourced ethically? Is it truly right to … Continue reading Crystals and Right Relationship: Extending Our Ethics in Spiritual Practice
The Illuminated Pathway 