Cutting the last ties

Remember a little while ago when I posted about my cathartic experience of clearing my Readerof all the Witchcraft and other non-Hellenistic blogs? When I did that, I realized something, something I also ended that post with: 'I think yesterday's exercise [of clearing my Reader feed] marked the end of the struggle I carried on from the time of that post [about losing the knowledge from my previous Eclectic practice]. I am done with my previous practice, and yes--I might just start packing some books into boxes soon. I don't need them anymore, just like no longer need all those blogs'.

Once I cleared out my reader and, in fact, did pack a lot of stuff away, I realized there was one, huge, tie I still had to my previous practice--one I was slowly becoming to see as a 'must', rather than a 'may': Little Witch magazine. And so, a little over a week ago, I made the tough decision to stop making Little Witch.

It was a hard decision to make, and one I did not take lightly, but now I have taken it and am on the verge of wrapping up the last one, I cannot tell you how relieved I am. I started Little Witch in September 2010. It was a way for me to keep writing and keeping up skills, like InDesign, that I'm good at but have no reason to use beyond some rare events. I used to role play a lot and that forced me to write but as life got busier, I had to let that go. Little Witch brought me closer to Paganism, forced me to do a lot of research and it opened a lot of doorways into the (on-line) Pagan community. It helped me figure out a lot of issues I had with my faith and my place in Paganism. Now, though, I have my place. I know exactly where I belong, and I knew that the moment I progressed into Hellenismos. It was time to stop.

I would have loved to hand the magazine over to someone else, but most of the work always fell to me, so there is no one to give it to. A new Dutch initiative is about to emerge, though, and there are many English magazines focusing on Paganism. I can leave Little Witch behind with a clear conscience. It hurts, though; we made twelve issues over the span of three years, and that is quite a lot. I will miss it, regardless of how little I identify with most of the content.

Today, the last magazine goes live, and I will update this post with it once it does (noon, my time). It's a big step, a solemn moment. For those of you who read the magazine, thank you for your support. It was a good ride, a very good ride, but I now--officially--cut off the last tie to my previous practice. And by the Gods, I am so relieved.


EDIT: There it is!

• Saturday, September 28, 2013
  Little Witch magazine Paganism personal progression

Little Witch magazine 2013, Summer edition

As regular readers know, I am also the founder of Little Witch magazine, which I founded a few years ago. Four times a year, on the solstices, we release both a Dutch and an English magazine about anything surrounding Paganism. This issue, which came out yesterday, Robert A. Clark, one of the founders of Elaion, and a very good friend of mine contributed and wrote an introduction to Hellenismos. As I'm going to need the day to recover from wrapping up magazine, I'm sharing the magazine with you all, in the hopes you enjoy it. Until tomorrow!

• Saturday, June 22, 2013
  Elaion Hellenismos 101 Little Witch magazine Neo-Wicca Paganism personal Wicca

Little Witch magazine 2013, Spring edition

As promised: The new issue of the magazine. Verry little--if any--Hellenismos in this one, but you might enjoy it, regardless. It was a lot of fun to make and although it involved a couple of  thirteen to sixteen hour non-stop work days, I was actually done well on time. I'm proud of myself. Enjoy the read, and tomorrow, I'll be back with more Hellenismos.

• Thursday, March 21, 2013
  Little Witch magazine

Apologies and Laura Roslin

As you are all undoubtedly aware, I founded Little Witch magazine back in September 2010, a quarterly, on-line, magazine that covers as much of the Neo-Paganistic umbrella as possible. Every three months, on the equinoxes, both a Dutch and English magazine go live. Today, of course, is no different. I will post the Spring 2013 magazine here this afternoon, as it launches around noon, but because I've been so busy with it, I don't really have a post for you. Sorry about that.

I am well aware the Greater Dionysia begins at sundown tonight, but a post on the festival will have to wait until tomorrow (if I manage to bend the title and subject as such that it can serve as an 'F'-post for the Pagan Blog Project), or Saturday. Sorry about that, people, again. Unfortunately, there are too few hours in the day to accomplish everything I wish to accomplish sometimes.

Until this afternoon, I will leave you with an image of Battlestar Galactica's Laura Roslin, depicted as an ancient Hellenic Goddess (sort of). I think that's oddly fitting. Also, if people have not watched Battlestar, do so. You will thank me afterwards. There are lots of Hellenic references in it, a fact I greatly appreciated.

• 
  current affairs Little Witch magazine this is not a real post

On Persephone and Spring

The weather is absolute crap here, but Spring is coming, I can just feel it. To help it along, I'm posting a story my good friend Ragnild wrote for me after I asked her to help me set up this crazy idea for an on-line magazine. I published it in the first issue, back in December of 2010, and I want to repost it again today to help hurry along that Spring feeling. Also, I came across this on Facebook and could not help but share:

"Have you ever heard the tale of how Winter came to all the lands? No? Then sit down by the fire and enjoy the story my child. You see, when I was your age, so very long ago, my grandfather told me the story of how Winter came to our lands. It was of nearly forgotten, ancient, times. Back when the Gods still walked the Earth, when they were still revered and loved.

Then, so very long ago, Demeter, Goddess of harvest, walked the Earth together with her daughter Persephone. Demeter’s daughter was the Goddess of Spring and she made sure the lands were gentle and lush and food was plentiful. People were happy. Both Goddesses were loved and brought much joy and warmth upon the world.

All was well until one sun filled day, Demeter and Persephone were out in the fields. Demeter performed her duties as a Goddess and made sure the harvests would go well and the people would have plenty to eat. Persephone, enjoying the beautiful day, had decided to gather flowers for her mother. 

What is that you're asking? What kind of flowers? Well, there were many beautiful flowers growing in the field, but the most beautiful flower in the entire field, the one that grabbed Persephone's attention was a bright yellow narcissus. It was perfect; the yellow deep and rich like the sun on a cloudless day, its stalk perfectly straight and its leaves without flaws. 

It was so perfect and fragrant, the young Goddess couldn't help but pick it and once she did the ground split beneath her feet and the Earth swallowed her up. It was a frightening experience as poor Persephone had no idea what had just happened to her. Persephone landed and Hades, Lord of the Underworld, came storming in riding his golden chariot. Immediately Persephone knew where she was and it did not calm her fears. 

Hades took her with him and, to Persephone's utter shock, proposed to her. He told her how much he loved her and how he had watched her from afar, how he yearned for her and wanted her to become the Queen of the Underworld. Persephone couldn't stand the thought of the endless darkness that awaited her in there but Hades would not let her go.

As Persephone did not return later in the day, Demeter began to worry, as all mothers do. She searched and searched but her beloved daughter was nowhere to be found. Hopeless, she wandered around the lands and neglected her duty as the Goddess of Harvest because of it. 

With Persephone gone and Demeter bitterly searching for her, the lands began to wilt and die, grass turning a muddy brown and trees losing their lustrous leaves. Harvests failed and the people began to despair.

It was during her travels Demeter learned that it was Hades who had taken her daughter. She begged with Zeus, Persephone's father, to convince Hades to release her daughter. Zeus could not stand to see the suffering of the people and of Demeter. He told Demeter that he would see what he could do, but he did not promise her anything. 

He left to find Hades in the Underworld. When Zeus returned, he told Demeter that he had been able to work out a deal with Hades. Persephone could return but only if she hadn't eaten from the Underworld's gardens. And before you ask, yes, the Underworld does have gardens. How else can they feed the souls that live there? Now, let me continue with my story child, for it is getting late.

Now, as you may have noticed, Persephone had been gone for quite some time and even Gods and Goddesses get hungry at times. Hades had seen her grow hungry and had brought her a pomegranate. Little did Persephone know what would happen if she ate from his gardens and took the offering gladly.

Demeter returned to the underworld together with Zeus, wanting to see her daughter. Their meeting would have been a festive one, had it not been for the fact Persephone had already eated from the fruit when her mother arrived. 

Demeter cried bitter tears as she told her daughter of the deal. Persephone had grown quiet and pale, knowing Hades had known about the deal before offering her the pomegranate. Luckily for her she hadn't eaten it entirely and she had only swallowed six seeds. 

The Lord of the Underworld would not shirk the agreement he had made with Zeus and agreed that Persephone would stay in the Underworld for six months every year; one month for every seed she had eaten. 

When Persephone was away with Hades in the Underworld, Demeter would weep and depress, choosing to walk the Earth and travel instead of acting out her duties as Goddess of Harvest. And it is so that Winter came upon us, only to be chased away by Persephone when she was free from her duties as Hades' wife and Queen of the Underworld."

• Sunday, March 17, 2013
  Demeter Hades Little Witch magazine Mythology 101 Persephone Zeus

Little Witch magazine 2012, winter edition

I made it, I made it, I made it! I don't want to admit how close I get to not finishing the magazine on time--every single time. Ah well, it's done and this afternoon, I am getting a massage. Life is good. There is very little Hellenismos in this one, but it might still be a good read.

"Another year has passed, and for some, the first snow has already fallen. Join us today for a new Little Witch magazine about the winter time, weather magick, flying ointment, druidism, spells, yearly festivals, pagan bands and much, much more. We even have an Hawaiian myth about snow! Keep safe, and we'll see you in Springtime."

• Friday, December 21, 2012
  Little Witch magazine

Little Witch magazine, Fall 2012

I'm not quite sure how I managed this time, but the new issue of Little Witch magazine is online!

In this Little Witch magazine we discuss, the Autumnal season, the proper pronunciation of witchy words, making amulets, the Evil Eye and the legend of Loki, who cut off the hair of the Goddess Sif. We also review the Sarina Star's fantastic children's book: The Magic Pica's, and Abe van der Veen's 'De Symboliek van Bomen'.

Enjoy the read!

• Friday, September 21, 2012
  Little Witch magazine Paganism

Summer issue Little Witch magazine!

I made it!

It's been a struggle but the Summer issue of Little Witch magazine is up and although it was more of a rush job than ever before, I'm quite happy with it. This issue, we share our top ten fictional witches with you, we get you stared on the creation of your own divination system, we discuss the seven types of magick and we talk about atheism, monotheism, duotheism and polytheism within Neo-Paganism. There is also an article on money and paganism in there that I'll post here with a couple of edits when I get to the M's in the Pagan Blog Project.

PS: you can find the Dutch version here.

• Thursday, June 21, 2012
  Little Witch magazine

Little Witch magazine

For about a year and a half, I have spearheaded the creation of a quarterly on-line magazine called 'Little Witch magazine'. As the next issue comes out on thursday, I'm slightly absent here as I have a lot of work to do.

I make Little Witch with a couple of Pagan and non-Pagan friends and we release it both in Dutch, my native language, as well as in English. This means that every article that is written needs to be edited, translated and prettied up. It's quite a bit of work but I adore doing it.

Somehow, though, the creation of Little Witch always falls at an auspicious time. Usually I'm swamped with school, work or Pagan related things. This is not necessarily a problem but it makes for long days and short nights.

I started Little Witch in September 2010 as a tribute to Brighid. It was a way for me to keep writing and keeping up skills, like InDesign, that I'm good at but have no reason to use beyond some rare events. I used to role play a lot and that forced me to write but as life got busier, I had to let that go. Little Witch brought me closer to Paganism, forced me to do a lot of research and it opened a lot of doorways into the (on-line) Pagan community. It helped me figure out a lot of issues I had with my faith and my place in Paganism. It's not yet as inclusive as I would like it to be but I'm always hoping more guest writers will apply (*hint*, *hint*) and share their expertise.

So this explains my absence a little. I will be back regularly after Little Witch goes up. I will post the magazine here as well, just because it's part of my writing, but you can always visit the website and read up on the older magazines now, if you're curious: www.littlewitchmagazine.com.

• Tuesday, June 19, 2012
  Brighid Little Witch magazine