The Spiral Dance with Hawthorne

Summertime, Fire and the South Let's take advantage of these Hot Summer Days! We'll head off to the Southern Quarter and do some Fire Magick!. We'll take a look at the Qualities that the Element of Fire possesses; how they're used in Occult Traditions./ Does that sound like Pyrolatry to you? If you worship Fire it just might. Fire is worshipped by itself in many cultures, but more commonly it's associated with Fire Dieties. As you might expect, examples abound. Along all these lines I want to share with you a -sort of poem - or maybe a sort of poetic Blog. It was written by Sage Sweetwater back in '09. It's called "Pyruodulia and Dissolution". Now, you're familiar, I'm sure, with the Chinese system of Feng Shui. Well, there is an Indian System called Vastu Shastra which is quite similar to Feng Shui. Vastu Shastra uses the symbols and energies of the sun to help you find peace and balance in your home environment. Then finally; part and parcel to Fire is the condition of Light. So I have a guided meditation for you. This is presented by Bente Hesan, and it's called "Luminescent Reflections". I think you'll enjoy listening to this. Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

Have you ever thouthgt about the role that Fruit plays in myth and magick? Well, this week we'll compare apples to oranges. Fruit appears in myths from around the world. Often it is a symbol of abundance, associated with goddesses of fertility, plenty, and the harvest. And, as you may expect, many of the most significant fruits in world mythology, such as the apple, have different meanings to different cultures. We'll take a short look at many of these. And I have a spoken word piece about the dream meanings associated with fruit! Also, we'll learn how To Use Fruit Symbolism for Good Feng Shui Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

Happy Midsummer, everyone here in the northern half! The sun is high in the sky, the air is all warm and friendly. Let's stay up real late, then we can build some fires and roll them down the hills!. It's been done forever, it's still being done now and it will always be done. We'll talk about where the word Litha comes from and what the holiday means for modern Pagans. Also, interestingly, Midsummer continues to be very important in mainstream societies in different cultures around the world! There are even some sects of Christianity that are nutty enough to sanction it! Here's to the sun, and to the God who lives in all of us. Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

Mystery religions were religious cults in Ancient Greece and Rome. Participation was reserved to initiates and secrecy was kept as to the particulars of the initiation and the cult practice in general. But how did these sects function within their societies? Were they accepted? Were there conflicts? Talking just about this one aspect of life in Ancient Greece and Rome can give great insight into how people back then lived their daily lives. There were tons of Mystery Cults flourishing in the Ancient world, but two in particular seem to stand out as having special significance; the Mysteries of Isis and the Mithraic Mysteries. Isis is a goddess of Ancient Egyptian origin, whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Her worshippers included men as well as women. The Mithraic Mysteries were popular across the Roman empire. There's evidence that some women worshipped Mithras, but his popularity centered around the Roman military, which was, of course, male. Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

I think a lot about music and the power that music has. So this week, let's talk about the role that music plays in ritual! Music was important to the Chinese philosopher, Confucious, as it has been for shamans around the world and down the ages. In fact I have a little story that tell us just exactly how music came to the earth way back when. And central to music is Rythm, singing and Dance. So we'll talk about all that stuff. And finally, we'll look at ways to write and create effective chants to be used in our rituals. Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

What does Magick Sound Like? What does Magick Smell Like? What does Magick Look Like? Magick is about using all of your senses, so let’s see how this has been done since ancient times. We’ll start by talking about how Language is used in spell casting. Next – Color Magick! How does a color's vibration effect you, and how can you use that in your magickal practices? And lastly, the sense of smell - said to be our most ancient of the senses, it might just be the most powerful. I think you’ll find this week’s show interesting, whether you’ve thought about using all of your senses in Magick or not. Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week here on The Spiral Dance, we listen to the Wind blow, as we talk about Air Magick. We'll start off finding out what the Ancient Greeks had to say about the Air - was it warm and dry, or cold and wet - or maybe even warm and wet! Plato, Aristotle and many others all had opinions. Each of the Four Winds - North, south, east and west have specific magickal properties and are all ruled by specific Gods. And you can build a Magickal Air Alter. I've got ideas about how to create the alter, and then how to magickally atune yourself to the Element of Air. Also I have some Rituals that you can do with the wind. Finally, we'll hear some poetry from Emily Bronte, and "The Night Wind". Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week here on The Spiral Dance, it's all about FLORIOGRAPHY - the Language of Flowers! Interest in floriography soared in Victorian England and in the United States during the 19th century, but Meaning has been attributed to flowers for thousands of years. And so, for springtime, lets look at the magick of 3 springtime flowers; the rose, the tulip, and the dandelion. And we'll hear a story purported to be a traditional English Fearie Tale. It's called The Blue Flower Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week, we celebrate Beltane! Beltane is happening on Monday, the first of May! It's a festival of Fertility and Love as we welcome the flowering of Nature's Return. In our mythology Beltane represents the Mating of the Goddess and the God. It's The Original White Wedding! So, we'll talk in more detail about the meaning and significance of May Day from our earliest history. Plus we'll talk about the mythologies and customs that are traditionally associated with Beltane. And, while we're at it; just what the heck does "Beltane" mean? I've got the answers right here! And I'm reviving a old traidtion, as I present to you a reading Marion Zimmer Bradley's famous book, "The Mists of Avalon". Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

The idea of Spring Cleaning actually goes all the way back to ancient Egypt. We'll take a look at why Spring has become the time when we Clean House. And, while House Cleaning IS TERRIBLY, BORINGLY mundane, it does have magickal implications, and so we'll talk about some ways we can bring our Magick into our chores in some very powerful ways. While we're clearing out our attics, let's look for Crafty Ways to Rummage and Recycle. Afterall, "Repair, Re-fashion and Recycle" should be the watch words of the modern Pagan, right? But in the midst of all that work, we should take the time to stop and smell the flowers. So we'll talk about some Pagan ways for "Herbalism and Herbal Healing". Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

I'm dedicating this weeks show to one of the Five Cardinal Elements, the Element of Air. It's a good topic for April because, by many traditions, Air is associated with Springtime and Day's Beginning.. Usually associated with Men's Mysteries, Air is most often thought of as on the Mental Plane. The Romans gave the month of April it's name, which they called, Aprilis. For the Romans, it signifies a time of unfolding leaves and flowers. So we'll take a look at the Season of Spring - from the physical, meteorlogical sense to the cultural meanings that Springtime carries with it around the world. On the Witche's Pyramid, the expression of Air is "To Know". So, let's look at the Element of Air. And because it's associated with Men's Mysteries, we'll look at some Air Gods. And we'll hear from Debra Silverman talking about "Astrology & Karma | Karma in the Air Element". And, finally, Wind Magick! Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week here on The Spiral Dance, we talk about The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was formally establihed on March 1, 1888. It's had a tremendous influence on Western Occult thought over the past century. Indeed, it's easy to say that without the Golden Dawn, Wicca - and therefore the whole Pagan revival - might never have seen the light of day. It's really too bad that today in Greece there is a neo-fascist group calling themselves Golden Dawn. So, I think for that reason alone, since we've just had an anniversary of the establishment of the original Golden Dawn, let's take this week to learn about it and celebrate it. But of course you can't talk about the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn without first talking about Hermeticism, so that we could figure out just what IS so Hermetic about the Golden Dawn. And we'll hear from Aliester Crowley - not only in his own words, but in his own voice! Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

In honor of April Fools Day, our theme this week is: The Trickster and Fool. We'll take a look at the history of April Fools Day, as well as the Role that the Fool and the Trickster play in Earth-Based religious practices. We'll here from Joseph Campbell and his thoughts on the Trickster mythology. Also, a quick look at the Fool Archetype in literature and myth. Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

Astronomically, the Equinox occurs on Mon, Mar 20, 2023 5:24?PM. We'll be talking about the history of Spring Equinox - the role that it has played in cultures down the ages: So, we'll talk about the Norse Goddess Eoster. Is she a bonefide Goddess, or just a fiction created by one author? Does it matter, really? Plus ya can't talk about this time of the year without mentioning Rabbits & Eggs; and, of course, the Balance of Light and Dark. The Spring Equinox marks the point in the solar year when day and night are of equal duration, and the daytime once again becomes longer than night. In Pagan mythology it marks the time when The God, who was reborn at the Winter Solstice, is now coming into young adulthood and is - awakening to his sexuality. Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week, lets give a big welcome to the month of March! It seems to be the month everybody loves to hate! Everybody wants Spring to finally come, but there is still so many more weeks to wait! So, let's give March some due consideration. We'll see if I can maybe help you get a different perspective on this time of the year. We'll be talking about the folklore of the March Hare. Plus, I have an Irish Story of Magick which I'll be reading called "The Boy and the Hare". And, of course we would be remiss for not mentioning March 17th - which we will do! We'll talk about St. Patrick and the PAGAN "snakes". Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

February is one of the most primordial months. It's all about extremes. And, like the sabbat Imbolc, it's just as much about Fire as it is about Ice. Fire and Ice are the Primordial elements that, in the Norse Tradition that formed to create our world. So this is a good time to think a bit about the Nordic Tradition; just what is and what it means. The Heathens tell us that Polarities set up from Fire and Ice started Polarities in other realms of reality - even men and women. We'll talk more about that. B well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week, we're discussing Animal Totems. In the general neoPagan community people - not everyone - who work with animal spirit guides talk about Animal Totems. Purists will tell you that that's kind of a misnomer. Totems are not really spirit guides and spirit guides are not really totems. Where do YOU stand on this immense question?? Well, I'm here to untangle the whole mess and by the time we're finished we'll all know what really is what. So we start of with a pretty clear definition of what a Totem is - where the word came from and how it was used. And we'll look at WHERE the word was used as well. Plus, we'll find out what Carl Gustave Jung had to say about Totems. Then we'll get into Power Animals, and animal guides, with some - interesting - contemporary theories on the subject. Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

Valentine's Day is upon us! Let's pass a couple love notes! Some people believe that the Ancient Roman holiday of the Lupercalia was the forerunner to Valentine's Day. That's not actually true, but there are some associations so we'll take a look at what the Lupcalia was all about. Then we'll talk a bit about the Christian St. Valentine - or ValentineS, plural. There was actually more than one Valentine - but were they all lovers?? Which brings us to Romantic Love - as old as the human race, right? Yes, and no. As in all aspects of love, the answer is never a simple one. But we'll talk about the poet Chaucer and the middle ages and go from there. And where to go? Sex Magick! Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

This week here on The Spiral Dance, we celebrate The Earth. After we Give Thanks to the Earth, we're going to look at Earth Magick; specifically the Element of Earth - what that's meant since ancient times and what it means in ceremonial magick today. And we'll look at the tradtions of Gnomes, the Fay and Lay Lines. And since we're celebrating The Earth, we'll celebrate the Earth Mother and specifically the Goddess Gaia. And just to liven up the soup - Salt! And we'll finish up with an Earth Meditation Ritual. Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!

We're at the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Perfectly natural to want to jump up and down and start acting like Spring is Here! Folly, pure folly! Watch out if the weather is fine on Imbolc - you might find yourself shoveling the driveway on Eostara! But before that, let's take some time to honor the Goddess Brigid, the Triple Goddess of Poetry, Healing and Smithcrafting. And we'll enjoy some Tres Leches cake as well! Be well. Do good. Enjoy the show!