Pedilavium in a Pagan Context?

This article came about when a friend of mine asked me to investigate into the background history of foot washing and how to use it in a religious context, esp. for Pagans.

Foot washing is a religious practice mainly displayed in Christian denominations. It is also known as pedilavium (as it is known in Catholic circles). Although some religions still freely practice foot washing, such as the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church practicing this rite on Maundy Thursday (connecting it to the celebration of the Last Supper), the Protestancts who use it as a form of Baptism, and some Mennonite groups that practice it immediately after Communion, many religions have put it down as a ‘custom of the times’ more then a religious practice. Although foot washing was pravailent in more areas then just the bible, it is easier to understand its history and meaning through the christian text.

The first mention of foot washing in the bible is Genesis 18:4: "Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree." This was said by Abraham to some wandering travellers who brought the good news of Sarah to have child. There are many other references to this practice in the bible. From just Genesis alone there is:
Genesis 19:2 And he said, "Now behold, my lords, please turn aside into your servant's house, and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." They said however, "No, but we shall spend the night in the square."
Genesis 24:32 So the man entered the house. Then Laban unloaded the camels, and he gave straw and feed to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
Genesis 43:24 Then the man brought the men into Joseph's house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys fodder.

These all give examples of the common practice of people washing their feet upon resting in these times (this is references not just in the bible but other hitorical texts). This because only sandles were avaliable in these times, or a sole tied to the foot. In the sandy areas, the feet were easily dirtied. So cleaning the feet especially, compared to the whole body, was for hygenic reasons as well as relaxation (as they usually travelled fair distances and it was a hot climate- humans sweat out over a cup of liquid per day from their feet!) In these regions water was not always freely avaliable, or hard to get as there was usually just a central well in the village and only so much could be carried. So the feet were chosen over the rest of the body to be looked after because if you can’t walk it is very hard to earn a living.

It was clearly a custom in these days for guests to be offered water to wash their feet, especially after long journies (just as we offer a cup of tea to our guests) but it is not until 1 Sam. 25:39-41 that someone mentions washing another’s feet freely: "And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife. When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, 'David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife.' Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, 'Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.'" Abigail was clearly showing humbleness in this situation. Servants must always be humble to their masters, and included in their servitude was the duty of washing their master’s feet or their master’s guests. It was common practice for those with servant’s to offer their services to their guests including feet washing, and it was commonly the lowest slave in the household’s job.

"If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you" [John 13:14-15]. This was spoken by Jesus to his disciples at the last supper and is the most famous case of foot washing. It is no wonder the disciples were so confused about the action as it was suppose to the be the slaves job! It is also interesting that he does it during supper – washing feet usually would happen upon arriving at the destination or soon after. You want your guests to wash their feet not just so they are comfortable but so your house is kept clean as well! He did it at this time to make a clear point about being humble to one another. It is also a demonstration on how a leader should be to his subject- the greatest of leaders ‘serves’ his subjects. Feet washing is a selfless act and displays a devotion to each other- particularly as it is a rather sensual experience.

"Blessed be my feet, that have brought me in these ways…" So how does this relate to our pagan practices? A couple of ways:
The Greeks, and other ancient civilisations, considered it blasphemy to enter a temple without the feet being washed. This can be used in our rituals today. One should be clean and presentable for the Gods. Although many Pagans use Ritual showers or baths before practicing, this is not always possible, so this practice of washing the feet (and hands during the process) works just as well. Just like the pre-ritual shower/bath, we can use it to wash away any negativity from the day before entering the ritual space. The feet connect us with the earth. Washing away any negativity from this area will improve the connection making us more balanced and stable.

It is also a way to symbolically wash away any negative paths we may be walking down, or have walked down. It is suggestible for those who have their feet washed to rest them for a while after- allowing the feet to ‘heal’ before touching the earth again and finding their new path. After cleaning and resting them, people tend to feel lighter on their feet. If they feel lighter, they usually are lighter spiritually as well! Foot washing was used in Dolores Ashcroft-Norwiki’s reconsecration rituals, as well as many of practitioners.

I have also read third degree initiation rites where at the end of the ritual the HPS or HP wash the feet of the newly initiated. If the teacher is humble to the student, the student will be humble to there’s and the cycle of good teaching will continue. It also allows the student to feel ‘equal’ and powerful in themselves for the first time since reaching a level of leadership.
Finally it can be used to connect to another person on a deeper level- this can not be explained and more has to be experienced to understand.

Check out the Uses of Foot Washing taken from http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:ulmMjv9yiBMJ:members.tjc.org/sites/en/lm/Topical%2520Studies/Footwashing.doc+foot+washing+slaves+egypt&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=au

Handfastings, Weddings and the Accompanying Stress

There are numerous accounts of handfastings and similar traditions throughout the ages recorded - many of which you can research until your hearts content. Jumping brooms, tying knots, the appropriate correspondences, colours, wording, rituals, traditions ranging from celtic to african. There is no way I could write everything here, and I'm afraid, I'm not about to. But this is exactly where I started when my partner and I decided to get handfasted.

Sabbats, esbats and numerous rites are commonly seen in the modern pagan community, but handfastings, requiems and other rites of passage are usually private, so it's rare that a pagan will experience such a rite before they wish to partake in one. I was lucky enough to have been invited to a handfasting before we decided to go through with one ourselves which had similar ideas to my path, but we still had to start from scratch. I had numerous elders and pagans from all traditions offer age old secrets, common knowledge and modern tips - to the point that they started to contradict each other. Then you face the challenge of finding something that will work for you and hope pagans from other traditions don't get offended or rant to you that it was the incorrect way of doing it! Sounds like everyday paganism? Yeah you're right, and you will still get it when faced with the planning of your special day. But! Don't dismiss everyone's advice, the historical research and numerous traditions too quickly! There are some good gems hidden in all that wisdom that will suddenly shine brightly towards you.

Then we had the problem of non-pagan friends and family. Sometimes you'll get away with it, sometimes you are faced with people who will genuinely be offended by your 'satanic rite' (even though they still love you) and will even refuse to turn up despite your begging. This is how my partner and I have ended up with a handfasting AND a wedding. Oh my! The first thing we made sure of was that they were a couple of months apart. Handfasting first, wedding second. This gave us plenty of time to concentrate on both (and yes, ladies, you will probably be concentrating on both of them way more then your partner!)

With my coven agreeing to hold the handfasting for us, and a good friend taking the helm as the high priestess and chief organiser, I finally settled down at the computer to write the ritual. 12 pages later I wondered whether I had gone to far... managed to cut it back to 8. Incredibly, the high priestess has managed to learn all the lines! But we will have the lines on hand just in case!

Then we started breaking tradition... colour scheme- crimson and creme. My partner and I are both fire signs. 'Oh no!' I had an elder exclaim to me 'No, no, you must be dressed in blue, that is much too fiery! What are you doing?!' I finally agreed I will be wearing blue underwear. Then we decided we would not spend the whole night tied together, but we would stay up till sunrise. 'Oh no!' an initiated friend of mine exclaimed. 'You will never have a properly recognised and blessed handfasting if you don't go through that trial!' Shaking my head I explained how, both being fire signs, my partner and I would kill each other if tied together for long periods of time and staying up to do a dawn ritual would be enough of a trial as it was. We then decided to have six different coloured cords. 'Oh no!' a pagan friend exclaimed, 'no they must all be black!' 'I disagree!' another cried 'In my tradition they are different colours as well!' I then told them i was putting them in bag being made by a friend after the ceremony and got dirty looks from both. At this point I decided to stop sharing ideas with anyone else apart from my partner and coven in case of any more 'Oh no!'s being exclaimed in my ear.

So between the challenge of taming shoe-crazy bridesmaids and line-learning callers, the handfasting and wedding finally started taking shape. But oh boy, am I stressed! Do not take on the challenge of both unless you are prepared for having no life and no time to yourself!

My advice? You're day should be what you want - not what tradition or thingamejig said it should be. Yes, you may offend people, have people exclaim 'Oh no!' in public places, or even have people presuming you don't what you are talking about, but in the end - only you 'know thy self' the best. We are all different, feel energy differently, have different traditions and different ideas. Go where your instincts guide you. But never struggle through it by yourself. Ask for help or you will keel over in stress!

I am being handfasting on August 15th and despite 'Oh no's, I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of this life with my partner. ('Oh no! You're not doing it for eternity?!' Heh, don't get me started again.)

Blessings!

Ostara - The Vernal and Paschal (Written for The Small Tapestry Spring 2009)

More commonly known as the Spring Equinox, many Christians and Pagans are aware how closely related this sabbat is to Easter, and suspect the Christian holiday’s origins are actually from this pagan celebration.
The Venerable Bede, a monk and Doctor of the Church, once wrote about Ostara when talking about the old English month names - “Eosturmonath has a name which is now translated "Paschal month", and which was once called after a goddess of theirs named Eostre, in whose honour feasts were celebrated in that month. Now they designate that Paschal season by her name, calling the joys of the new rite by the time-honoured name of the old observance." [from De Temporum Ratione] Those of you with a Christian background will remember the phrase Paschal Full Moon, which refers to the first ecclesiastical full moon of the northern spring, used to determine the date of Easter (the Sunday following this full moon.)
So how do the Pagan’s figure out the date of Ostara? Ostara is also called the Vernal Equinnox. (From the Latin term Ver meaning Spring and Aequus meaning equal.) An equinox occurs twice a year- when the length of day and night are equal. In the Southern Hemisphere this occurs around the 21/22 September (This year it is on the 22nd.)
A lot of you will immediately think ‘But the northern hemisphere’s equinox (which would be Autumn over there) is no where near Easter!’ So how did two similar holiday’s end up on two completely different days? Actually, that’s just how it happened this year! According to the 1974 edition of Webster's New World Dictionary Easter is "…held on the first Sunday after the date of the first full moon that occurs on or after March 21[The Vernal Equinox]." The Christian’s take the equinox into account as well! Easter can fall anywhere from the equinox to mid April.
When you think Easter, most people will forget poor Jesus and immediately smack their lips at the thought of chocolate eggs and easter bunnies (although some will briefly remember Jesus before yumming down a Hot Cross bun if they notice the cross!) It is well known the fertility symbols obvious through easter, and it’s another way we can closely tie the two holidays. But apart from chocolate filled stomach aches, how to Pagans traditionally view Ostara?
It is a celebration of light and dark equality, the arrival of spring, when masculine and feminie energies are also equal and can, together, create new life and new beginnings. And what’s the excuse for Pagan’s eating chocolate? It’s an aphrodisiac! What better way to get in the mood for the approaching Beltaine? ;)

Crafty Craft for the non-crafters! (Written for Spellcraft spring 2009)

It is heavily encouraged for Pagans to make their own robes and tools, to practice the craft of the Craft. But upon saying this you always get one of three reactions- those who have a gift at all things creative and complete the task with determination and excitement, those who think this is a very hard challenge but attempt it before asking for help, and those who collapse inward and think ‘Are you kidding? Creativity is defiantly not my strong point, at all.’ For that first bunch of creative people, I heavily encourage you to continue your craft and consider helping the second bunch of people who might really appreciate the lessons. But aiming this article at that last bunch of people who have picked up this issue of Spellcraft thinking ‘If only I was that creative and I have no one to help me.’ Or perhaps you’re thinking ‘If only I had the time…’

Dolores Ashcroft Nowiki knew of this problem among some of her students when she said “Tradition says you should make your own robe, and by hand. You should sew a bit of it, even if it is only the hem. But as there are some people to whom the threading of a needle is one of life’s greatest mysteries, seeking help in such cases can be excused.”[1] So what are some forms of help which isn’t a fantastically creative person who can help you keep enthused through the whole project, or giving up and buying all your tools from new age stores? The answer lies half way in between.

Buying works mostly completed and then adding the finishing touches and your energy can be a great solution. (Whether you buy something new or second-hand is your own decision, but I recommend a thorough cleansing of anything second-hand.) For example – pop into a Vinnie’s store and have a look at the robe-like-dresses that have been discarded for your use. Take them home, consecrate them, and add on some touches of your own – buttons that symbolise each element, bits of materials, feathers, string, ribbons, whatever works for you. And if you can’t sew? Investing in a glue gun would be a great idea (although I’d recommend only gluing onto the hem and places that don’t touch your skin directly or it may irritate.) This ‘trick’ also applies to your own tools as well. If you see a knife that you really like, grab it and redesign it. Think about having something engraved on it that is meaningful to you, sketch it and take it into the engravers. Wrap leather around its handle, perhaps even wrapping in a crystal.

Start shopping with a ‘pagan eye’ - looking at normal everyday objects and considering what you could turn them into. Notice little things you can collect to add onto your tools- nice pendants, scrap material, wool on special, tassels, dried flowers… the possibilities are endless and you will be surprised how much of it you’ll end up using! You will soon be able to make tools just as energised as tools made from scratch, and they will be much more meaningful to you then something you just brought and did nothing with. Happy hunting!
[1] The Ritual Magic Workbook: A Practical Course of Self-Initiation by Dolores Ashcroft Norwiki. Pub. Red Wheel/Weiser Feb 1 1998

Imbolc Essay (written for Winter 2009 Small Tapestry)

“Most Holy Brighid, Excellent Woman, Bright Arrow, Sudden Flame;May your bright fiery Sun take us swiftly to your lasting kingdom.”
- ‘Brighid’s Arrow’ Invocation.

Imbolc, otherwise known as Candlemas, Oimelc, Imbolg and St. Brigid’s Day, is most commonly celebrated on February 2nd in the Northern hemisphere (when the sun is 15 degrees of Aquarius – of the spring rains) and August 1st in the Southern Hemisphere (mid point of Leo – which can be interpreted as the approaching hottest, strongest part of the year in Australia and the time in which to prepare). The date is halfway between the winter solstice and spring equinox. Some celebrate it on the full moon closest to this point.

It is traditionally celebrated by the Gaelic and Celts and celebrates the slow returning of the sun with the approaching spring and the rebirth of nature after winter. ‘Imbolg’ actually means ‘in the belly’ or ‘in milk’ in Old Irish due to the lactation and pregnancy of ewes about to give birth to the spring lambs. In the modern Irish calendar, it is seen as the first day of Spring. It is on of the four fire festivals in the wheel of the year.

Both Christians and Pagans celebrate Candlemas/St. Brigid’s Day and the tradition of Brigid’s Bed has continued for generations. The young girls of the village would make a corn dolly to represent the goddess and decorate it. A bed was made for the corn dolly and the young girls would stay up all night chatting, and receiving calls from young men of the village, who must treat the corn dolly with respect. The ashes of the fireplace was raked before the household went to bed, and in the morning it was studied for marks in the ashes proving Brigid, or her mate, had blessed the house with their presence. The corn dolly, now representing the light half of the year, is then carried around the village by the young girls for the married and elder women to honour. This tradition is still continued in many Sabbat celebrations today.

Brigid was later replaced with the Virgin Mary and the Christians celebrate this ‘light-bringer’ with candle processions. After forty days of childbirth, Mary went to a temple in Jerusalem and re-cleansed herself. The baby Jesus was recognised and was told to be the “light to lighten the Gentiles”. Here we see the tradition of the returning Sun (son) to bring victory of the darkness (enemies) continue.

There is a Scottish saying – “If Candlemas Day is bright and clear, there’ll be two winters in the year.” The American Groundhog Day, also celebrate of February 2nd may have been influence by this. If the Groundhog see’s his shadow on the morning of this day there will be six more months of winter. Some Wiccans view this Sabbat to be the traditional day to perform Initiations. The most famous of Imbolc traditions has now been aptly named ‘Spring-cleaning’ - when you clean out your home after the winter in preparation for the beautiful summer months ahead.

Yule essay (written for The Ostarian Moonthly and the Winter 2009 Small Tapestry)

Yule, the Winter Solstice, is celebrated when the sun is at 1 degree Capricorn. This will occur between June 20th-23rd in the southern hemisphere, and between December 20th-23rd in the northern hemisphere. The sun has just left Sagittarius to enter Capricorn, from a fire sign to an earth sign. (This is interesting to note since this is a time of light turning into darkness and fading warmth). Capricorn is ruled by Saturn. This tells us that now is a good time to look at our future and make good decisions.

Yule is a solar festival - one of the Lesser Sabbats of the year. It has also been named: Midwinter, Mean Geimhridh, Alban Arthuan and Modernist (Mother Night). We can figure out the meaning of this sabbat's name when we realise that 'Yule' means 'wheel' (some say that is a Scandinavian derivation, while other claim that it comes from the Norse word 'hjól'). Other theories it is from the Old English Word 'yoole', derived from geóla - Anglo-Saxon for the winter time. This holiday has been guessed to be around 5,000 years old, but we do know that certain pillars of stone and wood throughout Europe are aligned with the winter solstice sun (Newgrange, Maes Howe, Dorset Cursus and Stonehenge) which have been dated to between 3200-3000 B.C. There have also been many scripture's describing Yule celebrations, one of the earliest being from 4th century A.D by Syrus.

Yule's main theme is one of rebirth. This is recognised in the Wiccan myth which claims our Lord, the Old Sage, has returned to the Underworld (died), but our Lady Goddess is pregnant with his son, through which the Dark God is reborn as the Sun God. Light and warmth begins to return to the earth and the waxing year begins. "The Goddess, who was Death-in-Life at Midsummer, now shows her Life-in-Death aspect; for although at this season she is the "leprous-white-lady", Queen of thecold darkness, yet this is her moment for giving birth to the Child of Promise, the Son-Lover who will re-fertilize her and bring back light and warmth to her kingdom." This is the longest night of the year, but from this day on the night's start to become shorter. In Ireland, the sun does not even rise on this day.

The burning of the Yule Log is a common custom celebrated at Yule. The Yule log is usually made of oak, pine or ash. The burning of the Yule log has been displayed through many Pagan traditions, all who would use its ashes in some way. Some traditions would scatter the Yule log's ashes over their fields. Others would keep the ashes to put into healing ointments and potions. Most would never let the Yule log completely burn so tat they could save pieces of wood for charms, or to save a piece to light the Yule log the following year. Some would keep the remains of the Yule log to bind into the final sheaf cut in harvest next year, or to put into their Corn Maiden that they have saved from last harvest. It is hard to say when this tradition originally started, but we do know some of the most earliest explanations claim that the log was dedicated to the Teutonic Thor, God of Fire and Courage. The Yule log would be burnt for the Thor in the hopes he would be inspired to banish the dark, cold winter nights and bring back the sun. What we can see is that the Yule log is used as a form of sympathetic magic - 'effects resembling causes'- and the transference of energies from one object to another through the saving and using of the Yule log's by-products.

Another common theme of Yule is the battle between light and dark. This has been depicted in the popular myth of the Holly King and Oak King, who do battle every Yule and Litha for rulership. On Yule, the Oak King wins and he takes up rulership over the waxing year. This battle is sometimes re-enacted in rituals (and it is interesting to note that in Italy Santa Claus is replaced by a female Witch called Befana (Epiphany) who flies around on the Twelth night giving gifts to the children). Another tradition of battle is the Celtic Lug, God of Light, laying down his life in a battle to slay the darkness and bring back the light. A pine tree was decorated to symbolise his physical death and resurrection. He is reborn two days later when the sun finally rises over Ireland. "The pine tree represents the eternal triangle of life; death, rebirth and all trinities associated with them." (Commonly called a Christmas tree!) We must remember that Dark versus Light is not Good versus Evil.

As you can tell, rebirth is an overall theme of Yule. The rebirth of the sun and the rebirth of the Lord. Yule is sacred to all sun gods. Appropriate foods are of a wide variety, including mulled wines and cider, cookies, pumpkin, mince pies and yummy chocolate Yule logs. Holly, Ivy, and Mistletoe are commonly seen and referenced in winter rituals as they are all evergreens. They are symbolic for immortality and resurrection.

Altared Homes (written for Spellcraft magazine Winter 2009)

[ED: Couldn't get all the photo's uploaded, but hope you still enjoy.]

Altared Homes
By Pip Stoneham

Ezekiel 43:15 "And the upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns." (English Revised Version Bible.)

Hearths and altars have been linked together through generations and various religions. Both have a huge importance in expressing ones personality into physicality through meaningful decorations, bringing about various psychological effects upon observing and working with it. It also allows one to feel safe in their own little space, usually internally as well as externally. Lighting the hearth fire would make the shelter feel like a home.

The hearth, before a huge technological upheaval, has traditionally been the centre of a home. Important daily tasks were performed in front or with it. Today people still find charms and trinkets buried amongst the brickwork of old fireplaces. Many sabbats were celebrated in front of it; some even included the hearth, such as Yule and Imbolc.

Many Pagans now treat their altar how many peasants would have treated their hearth, decorating it up with meaningful trinkets, coming around it at gatherings and in groups for celebrations, and finding a private, safe space for themselves with it. Brendan Hancock has a beautiful Green Man personal altar set up in his bedroom, where it is most convenient. Despite it being noticeable when you walk into his room, it is defiantly not a focal point for the bedroom. He was going for a more natural feeling with the set up - shells, bark and feathers; wood, glass and stone. No metal as "metal is very man made." "I like it. Every piece has a meaning behind it", he commented. Brendan changes his altar when ever the mood suddenly strikes him. "I find something to put on there and something [usually] comes off, switching and changing depending on what happens.” Altars do not stay the same as when you first set them up. Just as we change and evolve constantly, your altar will as well.

Kitchen Witchery is become increasing popular as Pagans look back at the magical ways people used to use their hearths for cooking and healing. The cauldron, once used over hearths or instead of hearths outside, is still very active in pagan practices today, both indoors and outdoors. Kylie Allerton uses an extremely large outdoor cauldron for potions and rituals! As well as using it inside over the hearth, “I have a hearth set up outside in the ritual space, it being the main focus at sabbath rituals, we all dance, muttering enchantments, chant and sing while our ritual feast is cooking & bubbling away in the cauldron.” “Every meal that I cook is cooked in the spirit of ritual, I prepare the raw ingredients for the ritual by washing them, they are then anointing with oil and herbs (that's the admittance rite) before entering the pot, cauldron or oven (the sacred ritual space), the ingredients dance and sing while they swirl around the cauldron sharing their energy and flavour, becoming one and making magick, I myself and my children are usually dancing and singing, flinging the room with happy energy and as the energy has reached it's peak a glass of sabbath wine is poured, charged, I take a sip before the rest is added to the pot. This ritual is instinctual and takes place every night, ordinary folk call it "making dinner" I call it making magick. If the meal is made with respect for the ingredients, love and happiness when you consume that meal you will also be charged with these qualities.”

Kitchen altars are starting to become more popular as witches stir brews in their modern kitchens. I interviewed Hayley Cliffe, who is commonly seen whipping up a sabbat brew or a seasonal dish about her kitchen. Her interest in Kitchen Witchery developed through her herbalism knowledge and the slow realisation that “most of the herbs and everything I used was from the kitchen pantry, so it made sense [to set up an altar there], especially because I rarely had room for a normal altar anyways. I just use every day items. I have a big wooden chopping board, which I use a lot of the time as an altar top. I have a wooden spoon which I've been using for about 5 years that I suppose I use as a wand, if you were to give it a name, and a kitchen knife that I use a like a boline. It's more then just having my implements blessed, it’s about using the items every day so they become infused with your energies."

Obviously you would need to love cooking as well, since so much of your energies go into the food. But is it just about the ritual around the food? "I find that it's not so much how I cook, but it's what I cook. I try and cook as much as I can seasonally and also try to judge what it is that my household needs the most. For example, if I'm feeling a little bit flighty or unsettled, I'll cook something grounding, like some root vegetables… But I don't just practice this in the kitchen - it's my whole home. I try and change colours seasonally and have things about the house reflecting how we're feeling. When I clean, I try to clean mindfully, like removing bad energies from the house while I'm vacuuming.”

HAYLEY'S PHOTO

Gardens and/or balconies are now commonly owned as part of a home. In this modern age it can be hard to find the time to enjoy our connection with the world around us. Building an outside altar, despite being restricted to items that will hold up in rough weather, can be relaxing way to bring your practices outside and to find your 'home' in nature. I spoke to Eilish De'Avalon, who has set up a beautiful outdoor altar for her practices and as you can see, it has been set up to be weatherproof. Although an outdoor altar is not necessary it can help you feel some different energies and focus your practices in a different way.

Finally, there is another way to bring nature into our homes - to quite literally bring nature into our homes! Kimi Ravensky accidentally created a different focal point in her home that resembles the old wishing tree tradition and an altar with a difference. Many year's ago, Kimi's neighbour's gave her a little tree in the hopes she could resurrect it. Sadly, it was quite dead. But she thought of a way it wouldn't die in vain. She decorated it with little trinkets and brought it back to life in another form. Suddenly a tradition started in her home she didn't expect. Charms, bracelets and little dangles started appearing on the little tree from visitors. "It's interesting how people react to it. People that come over just put stuff on it. I've even found bread underneath it... One woman walked in, saw it, took off one earring and hung it up... Some of it's just cheap rubbish, but who cares?... The dangles are like its leaves. It's got life now." Even hair has been found tied around it. As they say - "Tie a yellow ribbon round an old oak tree!"

So whether you have a traditional hearth, a cauldron, a modern kitchen witches set up, an indoor or outdoor altar, traditions have certainly not died, in fact they're only just beginning to evolve!

COLLAGE OF OSTARIAN GROVE ALTARS
Midsummer 2006 Altar
Solar Ritual 2008 Altar
Yule 2006 Feasting Altar set up
Midsummer 2009 Offering Plate altar
OG Pagan Community Weekend 2009 altar
OG 2006 Samhain altar
Candles on Brendan’s Hearth