Wane Wyrds

Quartz, usually the clear variety, is one of the most well known and often incorporated magical gems in modern paganism. It was used extensively throughout history as well. Most of the time, we think of quartz and envision the clear variety, though in reality most of the well known semi precious gems, such as amethyst,   tiger's eye, carnelian, citrine, etc. are all different varieties of quartz crystal. For clarity and brevity, this post is about Clear quartz in particular. Make sure your crystal ball really is crystal! Clear quartz has been called the universal power stone throughout the ages, due to it's ability to hold and transmit a wide variety of spiritual and magical energies. It is found all over the world, and this also makes it affordable, which is a plus for practitioners as well. One of the best things about working with clear quartz is that it can be charged for a particular purpose, and once this purpose is done it can be cleansed and recharged again. This ...

Pagans and Purity? For the uninformed, the linking of these two words might seem laughable. There is plenty of assumption from both non pagans and pagans alike about the nature of purity and its value to the pagan individual. Those who would seek to demean pagans often portray paganism as immoral, sexually deviant, and sinful. We have all heard sensationalized media and read overblown stories about pagans being linked to any and all kinds of deviant behavior. Most of us who have engaged on pagan forums at some point or another been approached by creeptastic individuals claiming some secret spiritual tradition or knowledge which we can only attain by engaging sexually with them. Being a pagan and parent, we often tread a fine line between seeking to avoid culturally common sexual repression taught by mainstream religion while also avoiding promoting an attitude of sexual freedom that encroaches on social responsibility. For me, sexuality is an important part of my identity, and I f...

My Own Altar with Offerings One of the first questions people ask when they begin working with a particular God or Goddess is how to offer to them. Virtually ever forum I have been in, someone at one time or another has asked this question, "What offerings are good for (insert God/Goddess name)." Inevitably what follows are list of foods, drinks, crystals, incense types, etc. that are either mythologically inspired or have been found to be personally relevant to the particular divinity through upg. I myself have answered this question just as many times as another, with a list of materials and matter I found to have been well received. This in itself to me is not a problem, if we are able, I cannot see any reason we should not invest in the Gods which help and guide us through our journey of life. However, sometimes I think that our focus on the material aspect of offering is skewed by our lifestyle in the first world. We hear the word offering or gift, and our mind sw...

"Freyja Wandering" Amber is an organic gem, which is created over hundreds of thousands of years. Amber itself is actually simply solidified tree sap, which is why one often finds inclusions and organic objects and small creatures such as insects inside. It is the softest gemstone on earth in its solidified state, and if place in fire will eventually melt, releasing a fragrant scent which is common enough that most would recognize it immediately. For a Vanatru like myself, the gemstone of Amber is also connected to the Goddess Freyja herself. Baltic amber is some of the most sought after amber in the world, often washing up on the Baltic shores, in a myriad of colors such as cherry, green, yellow, and the commonly known traditional buttery copper color we call amber. Though the etymology is uncertain, both amber and gold are known as Freyja's tears, and many modern day followers of the Goddess Freyja choose to wear this stone in honor of her. Amber is called Fre...