Herb and Candle

As I step off the porch with bare feet I feel the cool richness of the earth beneath me, the refreshing crisp air of an early December night, and I take notice of the stars shining against the black of night.  With the chalice in my left hand, and cut apple revealing it's sacred star in my right hand; I venture out to leave my offerings that have adorned my altar the previous day.  As I kneel down before the old tree I take a moment of silence as my heart is filled with gratitude.  I place the apple at the base of the tree and know that I'm giving back a gift that already belonged to the earth.  I slowly tip the chalice and let the aromatic wine pour over the fruit.  As I rise, I look up once more and I feel the connection between myself and deity.  Seeing the stars glistening above the branches, I recognize the world tree in the place where I stand.  The old tree becomes the stang which connects this world to the upperworld and the underworld.  ...

When many people think of witches, the classic image comes to mind of an old crone stirring her potion in a large black cauldron over a rolling fire.  The cauldron holding her magickal brew is met with awe and mystery, as it is the tool of her mystical conjuration.  For those of the craft, the cauldron has come to be a symbol placed upon pagan altars, or a tool placed within the sacred circle.  But what of the cauldron?  What lies beyond its association with hags stirring up malevolent intent? For many modern pagans, the cauldron is associated with the element water when used in rites and spells.  While I agree that the cauldron has a dominate symbolism of water, the versatility of this sacred tool is one it's most endearing features.  The very shape of the cauldron can be symbolic of the womb, feminine power, and the goddess....in whatever capacity she is known to the witch.  (While I use the term witch, I recognize that some aff...