Tag: Rituals

Winter Rituals and Folklore

January 5, 2019

Back in the 1990s I participated in mummers groups at Reclaiming Tradition witchcamps in British Columbia.  Combining my fascinations with folklore and ritual, mummers plays and costumed evocations were sometimes remarkably potent, memorable events.  For this reason, I love to see folkloric celebrations taking place during the dark times of the year.  Here are a few videos worth a look.

The Mari Lwyd is a tradition seen in South Wales around Christmas and the twelve days of Christmas.  Featuring a decorated horse skull, often with a mobile, clacking jaw, with the “horse” clad in white, and accompanied by a costumed retinue, the Mari Lwyd makes house visitations, with the retinue striving to be invited in.  Sometimes there are traditional songs, an offer of hospitality by the people at home, or a rhyming contest.  See for yourself how this tradition has recently been revived in a local school in Wales.

A spookier and more disturbing tradition comes from the Alpine regions of Germany and Austria.  Perchta (plural: Perchten) is a folkloric woman, possibly related to the Goddess Holda, who visits homes between Christmas and Twelfth Night.  She knows, like Santa, whether you’ve been naughty or nice.  This crew of antlered Perchten is from the Tirol region of Austria, and is creepy, wonderful, loud, and decidedly ancient AND postmodern.  Take a look.

A joyful Twelfth Night to you all.

-Talasyn

Polytheist Conference: Many Gods West

June 28, 2017

I’ve been going to Pantheacon in San Jose, CA over President’s Day weekend in February off and on for many years.  Meanwhile, oh so quietly, another conference of interest has been putting down roots to the north:  Many Gods West.  It’s specifically a polytheist conference, so should be a good fit for my interests.  This will be the third year for MGW, and I think it’s time I register and check it out.

MGW2017

Here’s the link to the conference website.  I’ll probably stay at the conference hotel to keep the access simple.  If we cross paths at Many Gods West, please come over to say hello.

-Talasyn

Winter Solstice & the Dagda

December 21, 2016

Today I celebrated Winter Solstice in ritual with a close friend and long-time priestess.  We worked with the Dagda, Brigid, and a number of the land spirits at Bru na Boinne, where the most exquisite thing happens at every winter solstice.  A shaft of winter sunrise sunlight makes its way down the narrow stone passageway to Newgrange and floods the chamber with light.  It happens only for a few days on either side of Winter Solstice each year, making it a rare and special event.

OghamStaves
Charging the ogham staves

And so we traveled there to work magic for personal and political ends.  It is the house of the Dagda, so we sought his permission for our visit, as well as consulting the land spirits.  It was a potent ritual for both of us, and has left us with a number of ideas, visions, and further ritual work to explore.

If you’d like to learn more about the Winter Solstice alignment at Bru na Boinne, this video provides further information.

Light is returning.  Sleep well.

-Talasyn