A Grove of Ashes and Aspens

  • Pagan vs Witch: The Intersection of Aesthetics and Faith

    Now Playing: 3 Ways to Magick by Elvenking Before anyone says anything, no, paganism and witchcraft aren’t the same thing, though there is a lot of overlap between the two, with many pagans practicing witchcraft and many witches also identifying as pagans to some degree, especially where Wicca is concerned. But they are not the…

  • Runic Tattoos and the Potential Pitfalls therein

    Now Playing: The Horned Ghost and the Sorcerer by Elvenking I recently got a tattoo, and I’m very happy with how it turned out. I got it done at a friend’s studio in my home city, and it’s a bindrune that means a lot to me. Now, getting this done brought a thought to my…

  • Lughnasadh: The Pagan Summer Cross Quarter

    Now Playing: Summon the Dawn Light by Elvenking So this is one of the quieter cross pagan holidays for me. It’s right when a lot of people are out of town, it isn’t a major seasonal change, and in general, there isn’t a lot happening. So instead, what is it? According to Wikipedia (I know,…

  • Litha: A Day of Sun and Summer

    Now Playing: The Moon and Magic by Elvenking The seasonal patterns of the year are always interesting, but the solstices are perhaps the most interesting part of the year for me. The settlements in the far north and far south see drastic changes in the hours of daylight they get and will see the midnight…

  • Solitary Practice: Dealing with Loneliness as a Pagan

    Now Playing: The Solitaire by Elvenking Dealing with loneliness as a pagan can get really weird. While one can experience this for other reasons, the loneliness that can come directly from being a pagan is another beast entirely. Now, I’m an introvert, so I enjoy spending time by myself doing my own thing and not…

  • Tarot and Rune Readings: Using Common Sense for Divinations and Signs

    Now Playing: Reader of the Runes – Book I by Elvenking So something I (thankfully) don’t see too often is people taking divination tools as super literal tools of what exactly will happen in the future. This can get really messy when questions can refer to specific situations with answers that are very vague or…

  • Language in Paganism: The Necessity of Learning the Language of an Ancient Religion

    Now Playing: Heathen Divine by Elvenking Words are funny markings (or collections of funny sounds, depending on what part of language you’re looking at) that we’ve collectively decided to mean specific things, and now I have to learn how to speak two separate times to actually have more of a chance of getting a job…

  • Earth Day: Giving Back to Mother Earth in a Digital Society

    Now Playing: White Willow by Elvenking Before it comes up, yes, I’m aware of the irony of a folk metal fan being a pagan and wanting to preserve nature and all that. I know I’m a bit of a walking stereotype, and I’m okay with that. Anyway, given that Earth is basically the only place…

  • Home Worship in Non Ideal Circumstances: Temporary Altars and Disturbing Permanent Altars

    Now Playing: Not My Final Song by Elvenking Many pagans will have some form of home altar, and that can be anything from a small area on their desk where they keep ritual equipment to a full dedicated table, or even an entire dedicated room, if you’re feeling ambitious. The specifics on size, location, and…

  • Distance from the Gods: Detachment in Paganism

    Now Playing: King of the Elves by Elvenking Each person who turns to paganism has their own reasons for doing so, but most often because they felt some sort of calling to this path. But what happens when that calling goes away? Losing that sense of calling to the path can cause some to feel…