Stories are an integral part of the practice of many modern Druids. They offer gateways to spiritual contemplation in their telling and receiving. In my studies with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) I combined my previous meditative practices with Tarot and my developing druidic path. This blog is an update of one […]
The Centre For Pagan Studies blog
The Great Mother Goddess
I was inspired to write a blog about my personal and also our coven’s feelings and love for the Great Mother Goddess, or “Magna Mater” after re-reading the excellent book, “Evoking the Primal Goddess” by William G. Gray. Many of the points Gray makes in his book match up with what I have discovered of […]
Let Bealtaine’s Bonfire Begin – poem
Bealtaine, You have stolen my heart away. Like the fairies of old, You have had your sway. Bonfires burning, Loved ones returning. What more could a man ask for? Bealtaine’s Summer heat, Has us dancing, Risking fire feat. Oh for our youth, To once again know youth’s own truth, That life is for living and […]
‘Tween Ostara and Beltane by Jo Cousins
‘Tween Ostara and Beltane I feel nature awaken within. Whilst there is no bee in mind for the opening petals around my heart No Ram for this ewe nor Stag for the doe, The goddess tells something inside to awaken. My lips remember the pressure of a kiss, My body, a gentle embrace And though […]
Summer is Cummin by Elaine Hindle
The Summer is a cumin in And every living thing can feel it The central beat of mother Earth As her heart beats faster to meet the dawn The sun in all his majesty rises up to meet her Covering the earth in golden splendour The budding branches open their flowering faces to the light […]
Walpurgis Night
Walpurgis Night, the time is right,The ancient powers awake.So dance and sing, around the ring,And Beltane magic make. Walpurgis Night, Walpurgis Night,Upon the eve of May,We’ll merry meet, and summer greet,For ever and a day. New life we see, in flower and tree,And summer comes again.Be free and fair, like earth and air,The sunshine and […]
Wicca & Satanism – Struggles and Eventual Understanding
During the Occult-boom of the 1960s, in America, two individuals stood out amongst the rest: Sybil Leek of the Horsa Covenant and Anton LaVey of the Church of Satan. (1) Unless you were heavily involved already in the Occult community, no one read or cared who Gerald Gardner was, nor who Ray Buckland was at […]
Druid Musings by Paul Mitchell
I have often been asked what Druidry is about whilst at conferences, camps etc. I think “definitions” of practice are all well and good, and there are plenty out there, but it is in distinctive features of practice that we might get a sense of things. So, for me, in my practice of Druidry……. Druidry […]
Doreen Valiente – Witch, biography book launch at Treadwells Book Shop London
Doreen Valiente’s Official Biographer, Philip Heselton and his wife Hilary. The day arrived, 21st February 2016, and we were all assembled in the basement of Treadwells Book Shop in London, for the book launch. The room was packed, and there was a great atmosphere. The proceedings were opened by Ashley Mortimer who has without a […]
Brighton Bewitched 2016
http://www.wherewitchcraftlives.org/witchfest2016.php The Doreen Valiente Foundation will be back in Brighton for Witchfest 2016. Witchfest is on 25th/26th/27th November which is also the final weekend for the display of Doreen’s artefacts at Preston Manor. We’ll have a stall out with the other community and charity organisations during some of the day where you can buy books, […]
Lupercalia or What’s in a Wolf Whistle!
As we are in the time of the Roman – or possibly pre-Roman festival of Lupercalia, Feb 13 – 15th, I thought I would find out if it had any links to the Christian St Valentines day 14 February. My research confirmed my suspicions, that Pope Gelasius I, had super-imposed St Valentines day onto the […]
Richard Levy of the Centre For Pagan Studies talks to Lora OBrien, Irish Author and Guide to Ireland
RICHARD LEVY BIO: I began my pagan path at a young age but and magic is something I feel was always a part of my life. But with time I learned how to nourish this part of myself. I feel today we are encouraged to ignore these parts of who we are and it is […]