Last night, I performed my first ritual with Virtual Fire Proto-Grove, ADF: Honeysweet, a ritual that honors Bee and Agricultural entities, as well as the sweetness in our lives.  What a perfect ritual to be my first, since it was my first personal ADF-style ritual that I performed when I joined ADF in July of 2023. For this ritual, a new-to-me Deity named Austeja--a Baltic Bee Goddess--offered to come through to give the omen.  "Coming through" meaning consensual possession.  To what level of that possession I didn't know, but I gave attendees a heads up.  Sometimes it's light, like a channeling, and other times it's full on heavy, like a complete take over. My rituals are unpredictable.  Sometimes the Gods come through and change the entire thing, because Their messages are more important than my plans.  And my rituals are fair game--I am Their Servant, Their Priestess, Their Conduit.  For the rite, instead of doing the Omen before the The Work...

 

On August 1st, I celebrate Midsummer and Honeysweet. For me, the First Day of Summer is on the Summer Solstice, so it only makes sense that August 1st would be Midsummer, just as Nov 1st is Midfall, Feb 1st is Midwinter, and May 1st is Midspring. From My Personal Blog Book of Mirrors:  https://witchfire02.blogspot.com/p/sacred-days-2018.html Just by this screenshot from my Sacred Year, you can tell I'm eclectic af! My holy day rituals are a mixture of entities, because humans like boxes, entities do not give a shit about your limitations, and neither do I. Sometimes a ritual may focus on a specific hearth culture, but often there's a mixture. I've been practicing for 30 years, I've never heard a complaint from my deities--I'm a "godphone", I'd be hearing from Them! I've been editing my Sacred Year for a long time. Gotta find what works for you--otherwise what's the point? I don't care if my Holy Days are ancient or new, or if I'm alone ...

 (Copy/paste from my Druidry Blog ) The Summer Solstice is in a couple of days and I'm excited. I've been feeling the Norse Solar Goddess Sunna poking at me over the last few months. I'm working on a kid-friendly ritual to honor Her with my family, without the wasps and sudden possession this time! Yes, last year, I hosted a Summer Solstice ritual with a local group (before I joined ADF).  We had the ritual in a shelter at Delaware State Park (Ohio) and I was unknowingly standing under a wasp nest that was beneath a sign.  I was stung 5 times--once on my thumb and 4 on my thigh.  Some of the attendees were surprised by how I handled it.  I wasn't crying, cursing, or hating the wasps or myself.  After some ice and a few minutes to sit, I just moved the altar and continued.  Don't get me wrong, it hurt!  But whether I was sitting or performing the rite, it'd still be hurting, so I decided to go on with ritual that I had worked so hard on planning....

  Happy Midwinter, yall! This evening, with my family, we'll be honoring our family's Hearth and Home Entities, as well as some Winter ones, too. Hestia - Greek Goddess of Hearth and Home. First and the Last. Fire Keeper. Key Bearer. I have been a Daughter since I was at least 8-years-old, and a Hearth Keeper since 2015. Vesta - Roman Goddess of Hearth, Home, and City. The Living Flame. She's been in my life since I was a child, too. Sometimes you may see me hyphenate Their names, because sometimes They appear as one Goddess and sometimes two. I am one of Her Daughters and a Vestal. Hekate - Titaness, Goddess, Key Bearer, Torch Bearer of Land, Sea, and Sky; of Witchcraft and Spirits; and yes, even a Hearth Deity. Kind of like the Celtic Brigid, Hekate governs over many areas. I am one Her Children, as well as a Torch Bearer and Priestess. Frigg - Norse Goddess. Key Bearer. Wife of Odin, mother of Baldur. Practitioner of magik and prophecy; sees much, shares none. Loki - Nor...

This Sunday, I'm hosting a Fall Equinox ritual and potluck with a local group, Pagans of Delaware County ; it's open to others, too! The goal is community building. Be you in Delaware County, Ohio or not, come on out and meet new people, on Sunday, September 24th, 2-5pm. The location will either be at Delaware State Park OR Andrews House. I will finalize the details on Friday. This ritual is inspired by a children's book called 'The Fox and the Falling Leaves' by Julia Rawlinson. I'm going to hand out wooden leaves and acorns to each person, and talk about the beauty of letting go, but also how release takes time, effort, patience, support, and courage. I'm hoping to have a fire to burn the wooden leaves and for each person to just sit and reflect (depending on our location, of course).   I'll ask that participants keep the acorns blank, as they represent potential and result, and will take time to decorate. It's also about releasing expectations of ...

Tomorrow at Highbanks Metro Park (Lewis Center, Ohio), a local Druid grove is having their Equinox ritual. I'll be there in person with my family. They also have a Zoom link. Love to see yall there. September 17, 2023 , Sunday, 2:30 pm - Three Cranes Grove Autumnal Equinox at Highbanks Metro Park. Potluck. (They also have a Zoom option.) https://www.facebook.com/events/796403551962762   ---------------------------------------------- Pagans of Delaware County Fall Equinox Ritual on September 24, 2022 The equinox is a time to celebrate and honor the Harvest, be it wild or domestic, flora or fauna.  To give thanks to ethical gardeners, farmers, hunters, and fishers; butchers, truckers, cooks and waiters, retail workers, delivery people, and other important and often overlooked/mistreated workers of this time of the year.  To honor your own gardens and harvest, and all of the lessons along the way.  A time for family–blood and/or chosen.  For gratitude.   ...

Vestal Rhea has a solstice message for those of the Hearth Fox Oracle community!  Really anyone who reads this post and resonates with the cards.   The Vestal has selected the Pride Tarot. Vestal Rhea, representative of the Living Flame, Goddess Vesta, what is your message for us on this Summer Solstice? 1) Past - Queen of Wands - Determination.  Getting to know your Shadow Self, its needs, its desires.  Learning how to work together to become whole. 2) Present - The Empress - Nurturing, Abundance.  Take a look around you and be grateful for what you've worked for.  Today, tomorrow, next, anytime this season, make time to be outside.  Take in the beauty and sounds.  Ground your wild energies to balance and see clearly.  Allow earth's compassion to flow through you, to help you learn to compassionate for others and yourself.  You cannot pour of an empty vessel. 3) Future - Queen of Cups - Compassion, Caring.  Take the time to...