Happy New Year

I hope you have had a lovely Winter celebration. As is our custom, we celebrated every celebration we came across with great enthusiasm and gusto.
We are already getting the first Newletter and flyer of the New Year ready and are waiting for new stock to arrive - we have some new books, tarot cards, candle holders and new incense stick fragrances. One of the things I can't wait to see 'in the flesh' is a special gold coloured Money Cat with a waving paw, which also has a clock at its side. I think I may find it difficult to resist putting one of those away for myself !

I have also been having fun with the new photocopies and laminator and have started on a a new range of our special saints and angels cards. These will have a full colour picture on one side and a prayer or invocation on the other.

This is just the start though as I have ideas for all sorts of other products.

Oh and just to make sure I am well in advance for next Yule, I have started work on a Folk Witchery book of the Winter Solstice

Happy Winter Celebration of Your Choice!

At this time of year when everyone is wishing each other 'Happy Christmas!' we sometimes get friends and relatives unsure what to say to Graham and me: 'Happy Yule'?, 'Happy Solstice'? or as I am a proud and long-standing player of World of Warcraft, 'Happy Winterveil'?

To be honest I am happy to respond to any of these (and more) because it is the sentiment behind these greetings which is what everyone is trying to express:
'Be Happy!' they are saying, 'Have fun, Enjoy yourself!'.
And that is what every religion has been expressing around this time.

Frankly one of the things I love about being a Pagan and Witch is that I can celebrate EVERYTHING!

Pagans have always been inclusive of all deities and philosophies, and you find this inclusiveness from ancient Rome and Egypt to Scandinavia and to modern Pagans too.

You want to celebrate a festival? That looks like fun, so we'll do it too!
Adding another deity and celebration to the calendar is no hardship what so ever.

And at certain times of the year you will see that many religions all recognise a special time and want to express it in their own way.

This is why our modern 'Christmas' is such a conglomeration of traditions and beliefs. We have influences in there from many different religions, from folklore and legends, and traditions so old and so apparently universal that their origins are lost in the vastness of pre-history.

So don't worry about offending me by wishing me a 'Merry Christmas' - you won't, and I will.

And may the Gods bless us, every one.