Christmas is a time that is totally made for seeing the magic and creating the sacred. Christmas is meant to be so filled with the spirit of sacredness that it bursts out and sets the world aglow. The sacred is here, but stress about money, shopping, body image issues, and family drama can also be […]
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The Cailleach
Happy Solstice! Winter has officially begun in the Northern Hemisphere. And bringing the brutal winter winds and blankets of snow is the Cailleach, The Storm Hag. The goddess of winter and wilderness who creates tempests in the seas and covers the land in snow. Cailleach literally translates as “old woman” or “hag”, and comes from […]
Read More...Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing
In Japan they have a practice known as shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. Forest bathing is the practice of spending time in nature for its healing effects. Studies pioneered in Japan revealed that being in nature improves attention, cognition and empathy; reduces anxiety and depression; and helps manage symptoms of ADHD. Japanese scientists have led the […]
Read More...Philadelphia Krampuslauf/Parade of Spirits
This weekend we attended the 8th annual Krampuslauf/Parade of Spirits in the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philadelphia. According to their website , their inaugural parade in 2011 was picked up by NPR and heralded Krampus culture in the U.S.. Krampus has been enjoying some recent notoriety in the U.S.. There are Krampus sweaters, Krampus art aplenty […]
Read More...Christmas Witches, Ogresses, and Monsters
Imagine a Christmas parade, up in hidden villages dotting the Alpine mountains of Germany, Austria, and Northern Italy. But instead of a jolly white-bearded man handing out presents, there are huge half-goat half-demons wearing chains and cowbells, stalking the streets, striking bad children with sticks, and threatening to carry them off and eat them. This […]
Read More...Protection from the Evil Eye
Excerpt from the Hanukkah: Festival of Lights issue: Another Jewish talisman used to ward off the “evil eye” is a scarlet string worn as a bracelet. The red string is worn on the left wrist and is knotted seven times while saying a prayer, and then worn until it naturally falls off. The red string […]
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