Author: Open Coven
-
Stand Still
Stand Still We are truly in the Yuletide season. The darkness seems never so close as these days leading up to the longest night, and this year that darkness is particularly heavy. Solstice comes from the roman word ‘solstitium’ meaning ‘sun standing still’. I welcome it, this opportunity to be still. I want to wrap…
-
A Witch’s Pilgrimage
A challenge for me after moving from Asheville in the US to North Staffordshire in the UK was the loss of the bond with where I lived. Over fourteen years I had developed a precious, reciprocal relationship with the genius loci and leaving the spirit of that place was very hard. I know of course,…
-
The Four of Cups and Finding Solace in the Practice
The ritual as I remember it, was unchanged. I would come home from school, make tea, put it on a special table, and start sewing while watching Little Women on VHS (the 1949 version). Back then I did tapestries – large vividly printed designs on canvas that I filled in with thick, wool-like yarn, a…
-
Embroidery Myths
Perhaps you scroll through sumptuous pictures of embroidery and other fiber art projects online but think “I could never do that.” If that is the case I am here to tell you that you are mistaken. I want to address some of the myths about embroidery. Embroidery is ComplicatedAt first glance embroidery can look intricate and…
-
A Potteries Pagan
The organization B Arts in Stoke-on-Trent recently asked locals to embroider patches for a picnic blanket on the subject of what the city means to us. With the patch was to be a piece of writing describing the design we chose. Unfortunately, I didn’t finish mine in time to be included so I’m sharing it…
-
Free Zine
For several years I have had a Mailchimp account, but recently I’ve become a bit frustrated with several aspects of the tool. In particular, you now have to pay to create an automated response for new members so I can’t offer any incentives for signing up for my newsletter. So instead, I am offering a…
-
What is Paganism?
The age old question! Well in this video I talk about what I have learned about the history of it and what it means to me personally.
-
Join Me for a Free Lammas Ritual
Where I have landed in the UK, I see the shift of the season as it mellows. The nights are a little longer, the fields turn to gold and we see the late flowers of goldenrod and yellow loosestrife. The year has been hard for too many of us. Join me as we step out…
-
This Dark Moon
The chinking sound is snail shells in my pocket. Foraged on a walk, their residents long gone. Spirals remind of the cycles of which we are all part. This past week was a mourning. For people and places. Absences yearning to be filled. I began the week with offerings for a lost friend, gone too…
-
Open Coven 