A long time ago, Zeus held the reins of power. From his throne in the Above, Zeus pulled and tugged at the web of humanity. But when humans unexpectedly acquired fire, mortals became magicians. They brought the sun indoors, collected secrets from its crackling voice, and ousted shadows without a single prayer to the gods…

Cooking is one of the most ancient and overlooked forms of magick…In honor of our growing gardens and Telling the Bees pub date (if you haven’t already, you can order it here!), the eight-legged weaver called Madam Spider is sharing two soup spells from her personal grimoire! If you stir up a Moon & Vine or Savory & Cinnamon potion, we’d love to see it!

If Winter's cloak is woven from shadows and night, then Midsummer's is adorned with fire, ferns, and rainbow-colored lace. Also known as Litha, the Summer Solstice arrives when the sun reaches its zenith and enters Cancer (around June 20th in the Northern Hemisphere). Traditionally, June is a busy month for land tenders and lovers, but the Summer Solstice invites people to pause.

Many moons ago, magick was part of everyday life. Bees brewed honey and pollinated flowers, but they also worked as household psychopomps, fuzzy messengers that carried our stories between worlds. Back then, bees were not mere insects but couriers, and upon reaching important milestones, families toasted their good fortune with the hive.

Mischievous Fae Folk were said to be quite lively come June. As the moon waxed bigger and brighter, people made offerings to spirits in the Otherworld by scattering berries, nuts, or another sweetness at the edge of their land. If you weren't sure what the wee, winged ones liked to eat, you might turn to the garden and forage for answers amidst the fruits of spring’s labor.

A planet of generation and regeneration, Venus's journey through the stars traces the paths and pit stops of our desires. From our perch here on Earth, Venus draws a five-pointed star in the sky every eight years. This star, a pentagram, is an ancient symbol, sometimes called the Rose of Venus.

Did you know that our co-founder, Caitlyn Barone, hangs a pentagram over her front door for protection? Inspired by May’s Moon Letter, The Petals of Venus, here's how Caitlyn makes her sacred stars…

As the Wheel of the Year turns, spring gives way to summer, and roses return to the gardens and wild places. In their oracular gardens, Witches and Pagans engage with flower magick. Flower divination is known as Floromancy, and we’ve been talking with the roses since childhood…

Come April's full moon, the wildflowers are whispering. Our seasonal harbinger, the hare, trades its den for a shelter made of sun, and birdsong blossoms as temperatures warm. You remind yourself that in animistic communities, bird-watching is a form of divination.

What does it mean to ‘tell the bees?’ Many moons ago, magick was part of everyday life. Bees brewed honey and pollinated flowers, but they also worked as household psychopomps, fuzzy messengers that carried our stories between worlds.

With so much to look forward to this April – burgeoning wildflowers, warmer days, the promise of a new season - why does a month of potential begin with All Fool's Day? Better known as April Fool's Day, the first of April has been dedicated to trickery and shenanigans for ages. In fact, while there are several theories as to how and when this tradition began, nobody can say for sure. Here are some interesting theories:

Whispering from her earthen altar, Hecate returns to the wild places in spring. Masked in moonlit prayers, her arrival is marked by crocus flowers and the return of springtime goddess, Persephone. Beneath this full moon, our fourth of the year, Hecate speaks about resurrection, her beloved crossroads, and following the hasty tracks of the Hare…

Like the moon illuminates the steps of our mythical journeys, a bee can serve as a guide or an oracle. In addition to supernatural sight, these winged creatures are master builders. Legend says that the Temple of Delphi, one of the most holy temples in the ancient world, was constructed by bees.

Place your ear to the pages of your favorite fairy tale, and you'll hear the gentle murmuring of bees. Many times, a hive takes the role that a fairy might – saving the day when all hope seems lost. Folk stories of yesteryear say bees are born within budding flowers. Like the fae folk, a bee takes its first breath within a bassinet of velvety petals. While the elder bees leave to forage for pollen, the flowers watch their kin, and the wind rocks them to sleep.

Alongside Persephone and the Fairies, join Little Witch for high tea with the hive! As you and the bees sip honeyed potions, Madam Spider spins riddles and Little Witch describes a curious dream – one about a moonstruck hare, moving at your own pace, and the origin of fairy tales.

So long as we decide it will be, the year's first full moon is a spell. It's a spell that doesn't require fancy tools or heaps of practice, nor do we need to follow a strict set of rules or memorize unfamiliar scripts and sigils. January's moon is a spell that summons magick from our dreams. So, while it's often called the Old Moon, Quiet Moon, Moon After Yule, or Wolf Moon, we've crowned it the Dreamer's Moon.

Seasonal epics are long and winding, and before the chapters of ol’ St. Nicolas and Father Frost, the pages of winter featured another Solstice spirit. She, too, was a guardian and bringer of light but wiser and much older than the rest. And she did not carry the sun in her hands, as one might expect, but cradled within her horns. Back then, dashing between the pages of winter was Mother Deer.

Sometimes called the Frost Moon, Freezing Moon, Scratching Moon, or Digging Moon, traditionally, November's moon is nicknamed after our hardworking, crafty, semi-aquatic friend – the beaver. Like other warm-blooded animals, come November, the beaver is busy preparing his winter den.

As the rumor went, the Old One knew everything. She was educated in magick and fate and the ways of fairies and the four-footed. She held the secrets of the horned huntresses, hoofed women, and the sisters holding the slippery reigns of time. The Old One was every bit as mesmerizing as she was maddening. She'd answer every question asked of her, although finding reason in her riddles proved near impossible.

“…the Hunter has another aspect: that of searching, of seeking. He embodies all quests, whether physical, spiritual, artistic, scientific, or social. His image is poemagogic: It both symbolizes and sparks the creative process, which is itself a Quest. The God seeks for the Goddess, as King Arthur seeks for the Grail, as each of us seeks for that which we have lost and for all that has never yet been found.” - Starhawk, The Spiral Dance