Why We Need Pagan Clergy

Ten years ago, my husband and I decided that we wanted to be legally handfasted in our back yard. The problem was we did not know any clergy who would be willing to perform our wedding ceremony.  Little did we know that the Goddess and God would soon provide one for us. 

A short time after I met Lady Sabrina Rhiannon, she informed me that she had recently been ordained by the Universal Life Church. She very graciously agreed to officiate at our legal handfasting ceremony and we were indeed blessed! Not only had she become a good friend to us, but she would become our Pagan Minister as well!  Since neither my husband nor I wished to get married in a church, nor did we want a civil ceremony, this was a dream come true!  Even though we lived across the street from a Justice of the Peace, who was kind enough to offer to officiate for us at our home, it was so very important to us that we have a Pagan wedding.  Needless to say, we had a beautiful handfasting ceremony - surrounded by family and friends! 

 About a year later, I, too, made the decision to become ordained by the ULC. I thought about how fortunate I was to have had the opportunity to choose “how” I got married and how many others did not have that same choice.  Not only that, but I felt that it was extremely important that we have Pagan clergy for all of our other Rites of Passage as well – Wiccanings, funerals, etc. Having Pagan clergy not only gives Wiccans, but other non-conventional faiths the same rights that mainstream religions have.  Unfortunately, for all the “lip service” we as a society give with respect to “Freedom of Religion,” we still somehow manage to fall adequately short of the concept. The fact remains; however, that freedom of religion means freedom for ALL religious beliefs – not merely the politically acceptable ones!

I am proud to be a Pagan clergy for the Universal Life Church. The founders of ULC fought for our right to practice what we believe and they fought hard! They gave us the ability to perform legal marriage ceremonies throughout the entire United States and; furthermore, they gave us the legal right to found our own organizations i.e. covens, groups, congregations, etc.

Of course, as with most other laws, each state has its’ own set of guidelines and requirements which we as clergy must abide by.  Still, just think how far we have come since The Middle Ages.  We, as Pagans, are at last becoming recognized.

Divining the Future

Who isn’t intrigued to some degree by the art of divination? Even those who are seemingly skeptical are still somewhat fascinated by the idea. From tea leaves to tarot cards, divination goes back centuries. It is simply astounding how many different types of tools are used. Pendulums, palmistry, runes, tarot cards, ouija boards, crystal balls/scrying, egg yolks and even coffee grounds are just a few examples of how to divine the future.

The vast majority of witches whom I have known over the years have learned some form of divination skill along their path.  As for me, I read the tarot and have been using the cards for several years. On an occasion or two, my friend Waterfae and I would be asked to read cards at various establishments – pubs, private parties, etc. Waterfae works with “The Fae” when performing her readings, channeling through "them.”  While I, on the other hand, use the 10-card Celtic spread – combining the meaning of the cards with my own intuition.

Card placement is an important factor when reading for someone. Past, present, future and outcome cards – all tell a story! It is also very important to make sure that people understand that the future is not “written in stone.”  The reading itself simply reflects the individuals’ own chosen path at the time of the reading.  It can either be considered a warning of things to come or a kind of confirmation, if you will, of the good choices the individual has made in their life thus far.  In other words, “if you don’t like the direction you are heading in, CHANGE IT!” We all have that power within us!

Tarot cards, when used correctly, can be an excellent source of guidance. The cards themselves date back to 1442 and were commonly used by Kings to predict the rise and fall of power. They survived religious persecution by going underground, reappeared sometime in the 1700’s and are still used by many witches to this day.

Whatever the method of divination you may be using, always be sure to use your tools wisely and never abuse any natural “gift” that the Goddess & God have seen fit to give you.

Blessed Be!

(Just a word of caution regarding ouija boards. THEY ARE NOT A GAME!!! Using these boards opens up doorways to the spiritual realm – inviting ANY spirit, friendly or not, into your life. Unless you are highly experienced and know exactly what you are doing in order to take the proper precautions to protect yourself, I strenuously advise you to avoid using ouija boards for ANY reason!!!!)

Simple Aphrodite Love Drawing Spell

Disclaimer: This spell is intended to draw a partner who is best suited to you or one who is "meant" for you, but remember - you must take responsibility for any results and consequences.

Items needed:

2 tall white candles (for Goddess and God)
1 pink heart-shaped piece of paper
1 red pen
1 pink votive candle & 1 red votive candle
1 stick or cone of patchouli or strawberry incense
Cauldron or heat-proof container


This spell is best performed in the evening on a waxing moon.  Cast your sacred circle and invoke the Goddess & God. Light the 2 tall white candles and the incense. Using the pen, write the following incantation on the pink heart-shaped paper. Do not use names and avoid thinking of a specific person.

“APHRODITE, APHRODITE,
 GODDESS OF LOVE,
 AND PASSION MIGHTY
 LOOK DOWN FROM ABOVE;
 HEAR MY PRAYER
 AND GRANT ME A LOVE,
 SO TRUE AND SO FAIR -
 AS IT IS WILLED, SO MOTE IT BE!”

Light the pink (for love & friendship) and  red (for passion) votive candles. Meditate for a bit while concentrating on your happiness. Visualize yourself happy and in love. When you are ready, take the pink heart-shaped paper and light it from the pink votive candle flame. Place it in the cauldron or heat-proof container while repeating the incantation three times.

When finished, thank the Goddess & God and extinguish the candles.  Close the ritual and open the circle. Take the cauldron or container outside and toss the ashes back out into the Earth, releasing the spell.

Charmed, I'm Sure! The Ethics of Love Spells

Once in a while, someone will come up to me and ask, "Can you do love spells?" and "Is that how you ended up with your husband? Did you perform one on him?" The answer to these and many other questions regarding any type of spell, can be found in the Wiccan Rede which states,"...these eight words the rede fulfill and it harm none do what ye will." It is the last part of The Wiccan Rede and a very important one at that! Yes, even love spells have ethics. Magick is the art of changing consciousness and physcial reality in accordance with will while using the laws of nature (i.e. the elements and the Goddess & God). The idea is to enhance your life without interfering or harming anyone else's. Nor should you cast spells for someone else without their consent or knowledge. In doing so, you are interfering with that persons' free will and right to choose. This includes, of course, love spells!


That being said, love spells, as well as any other spell, should be thought through very carefully. Casting a spell to gain the affections of a specific person can easily back fire on the caster! For example, suppose the intended man or woman turns out to be someone totally wrong for you? He or she may turn out to be married, abusive or just plain  incompatible! There are better ways to use love spells to your advantage. Instead of asking for a specific person, ask the Goddess & God to send you the man or woman that is right for you - without any preconceived notions or ideas of what that person may look like. Another really great (and fun!) way to use a love spell is "love enhancement." After all, if your sweetheart is already in love with you, why not heat things up a bit? I find them to be very exciting and they really do work wonderfully!

The History of Mabon

Mabon, also known as the Autumn Equinox, goes by many different names and it is celebrated in some form by practically every culture throughout the world. It is essentially the second harvest of the year. It is a time when American farmers bale the hay, harvest wheats & grains and get the fields ready for the coming of winter. The Autumn Equinox usually falls between September 20th-23rd. This is the time when the skies start to darken earlier and the Holly Kings' power begins to wane. Many historians believe that the Fall Harvest is when the first Thanksgiving Celebration actually took place between the English settlers and the Natives of the new world. The Pilgrims celebrated the first New World harvest; however, Thanksgiving was not the first feast celebrating harvest. Pagans had festivals giving thanks for bounty. By the time Abraham Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1861, other Europeans had settled in Amercia and brought their traditions, some Pagan, with them.  Harvest festivals were celebrated by Europeans. Romans celebrated Cerelia by giving thanks to Ceres, the Goddess of Harvest. Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Pagans celebrated Lughnasadh and Mabon - the first and second harvests. The Greeks gave honor to Demeter during the Thesmophoria. The New Englanders' Pagan ancestors celebrated Harvest Home, the first reaping of crops, in August. There was a silent time for graditude and reflection, followed by singing and dancing after which a bountiful feast was held.

HAPPY MABON TO ALL & BRIGHTEST BLESSINGS!!!!!


(For sabbat dates, please see the post, "The Wheel of the Year..." - November 2010)