Category Archives: Pagan-Musings Podcast

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PMP: Hypersensitivity & the Pagan

Shauna Aura Knight joined RevKess and KaliSara for a wonderful discussion of hypersensitivity with a focus on the Pagan world. Relaying anecdotes from personal life, ritual situations, and throwing in some armchair psychology, the three had a rather informative talk about how being hypersensitive to their environment and other contributing factors can learn to move through life with a better understanding of how their selves react to the world.

A term that cropped up once or twice in the conversation was “kinesthetic”. In context of the conversation, Shauna was referring to kinesthetic sense. WikiPedia defines that as

Proprioception, the kinesthetic sense, provides the parietal cortex of the brain with information on the relative positions of the parts of the body. Neurologists test this sense by telling patients to close their eyes and touch their own nose with the tip of a finger. Assuming proper proprioceptive function, at no time will the person lose awareness of where the hand actually is, even though it is not being detected by any of the other senses. Proprioception and touch are related in subtle ways, and their impairment results in surprising and deep deficits in perception and action.

The idea of “micro expressions” was brought up just over half way into the show. If you are a fan of TV dramas then you might be familiar with the show Lie To Me. Taking the idea of “profiling” to the extreme of observing the smallest shifts in body language or facial expressions to better understand the emotional state of the individual. The TV show is based on the work of Dr. Paul Ekman.

Towards the end of the show, the focus shifted to Pagan leadership.

ADDITIONAL LINKS

MUISC

  1. Celia – Everyday Goddess – Breathe
  2. Tuatha Dea – Akasha (featuring Spiral Rhythm) – The Tribe
  3. Dragon Ritual Drummers – Heart Beat – Passage
  4. Damh the Bard – Ever with Me – The Hills They Are Hollow

Unfortunately for our live listeners the live stream ended before the show was over. But they didn’t miss much. Shortly after the top of the hour Shauna and KaliSara both lost their connection and RevKess did a quick wrap up. All three will return on February 2nd for a continued conversation about Pagan Leadership: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

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PMP: Shauna Aura Knight & Leadership

KaliSara has an essay coming out in the Moon Books publication Paganism 101: An introduction to Paganism by 101 Pagans, released February 2014. Her essay is in response to the topic of the Pagan priesthood. She shared her essay on the show while encouraging the listener to pick up a copy for themselves, available in Kindle and paperback.

We dived into a discussion of an idea proposed by Christine Kraemer on her Sermons from the Mound blog on Patheos.com. She proposes that bloggers and commenters sit down to coffee or some such and talk face to face. Great idea, but many bloggers and commenters rarely have the opportunity to do so, most of them living long distances from each other. But it does inspire a good idea…. Instead of spending all our time on Facebook, Twitter or wherever, we should spend time with people. Face to face.

Shauna Aura Knight was supposed to join us on the air, but a scheduling conflict came up which prevented her from doing so. We carried on as best we could without her direct input while discussed some of her recent articles on leadership in the Pagan community. Three articles in particular are available in the series as of show time.

In her Grassroots article, Shauna makes reference and links to an article by Ivo Dominguez Jr on the Pagans&Witches site about being the agent of change. She has also recently published an article on PaganActivist in which she talks about that dreaded idea, “paying for services“, which prompted RevKess to remember an article he wrote on the same topic for Off the Beaten Path.

Music

  1. Kellianna – The Ancient Ones – The Ancient Ones
  2. Cernunnos Rising – The Great World Tree – Urban Druid
  3. Frenchy and the Punk – Catapult to the Highlands – Thread & Stone
  4. SJ Tucker – In the House of Mama Dragon – Haphazard
  5. Omnia – Mercy Seat – Poetree
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PMP: Enough is enough!

Show notes for Pagan-Musings Podcast, Sunday 12 January 2014:

RevKess and KaliSara call it as they see it in this edition of Pagan-Musings Podcast. Inspired in part by a blog entry on Radical Wind, your hosts stroll down the lane of radical thinking. The hosts did not set out to bash on Witch Wind or even on Z Budapest, but to call them out on the hypocrisy of their words and how those words hurt more than heal. They also covered some of the intersections of discrimination.

The topic focused heavily on the concepts introduced by Witch Wind’s blog article. “All intercourse is rape.” “Men crave power over women.” And other similar concepts. As well as talking about how Z Budapest has said that all men are secretly gay and are a danger to woman as they forcibly have sex with them to hide their gayness. (Unfortunately the article of Budapest’s that states is no longer online, but you can read segments of it in one of KaliSara’s blog posts from February 2012.)

The thrust of the topic addresses “intersectionality”. Wikipedia’s article on intersectionality begins: Intersectionality (or Intersectionalism) is the study of intersections between different disenfranchised groups or groups of minorities; specifically, the study of the interactions of multiple systems of oppression or discrimination.

KaliSara and RevKess would like to say thank you to their friend Arthur for sharing much of the below listed articles as well as many more.

Additional links pertaining to intersectionality

Music

  1. Celia – Ground, Center, & Shield – For the Asking
  2. Tuatha Dea – Irish Handfasting (fea. Damh the Bard) – The Tribe
  3. Avalon Rising – God Walks Among Us – Songs for the Goddess: A Pagan Music Compliation
  4. Paradiso & Rasamayi – Attuning to Onenes – Attuning to Oneness
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PMP: Anything Goes & Anne Hill

To be perfectly honest, less than six hours before the show went live, RevKess and KaliSara had no real idea of what they were going to talk about in this week’s episode. Not because they were lacking for topics or were being lazy. Launching the year on the show can be tiring.  They want to make sure that they kick things off with a bang. So, for lack of being decisive, they were going to a strictly “anything goes” musings show. That all changed when Geoffrey Stewart, the lynch pin for the Pagan Values Blogject, tagged RevKess in a comment to a post in the Pagan Values group on Facebook. Anne Hill, who visited the show on 6 May 2012 to discuss her ebook The Baby and the Bathwater, is an instructor at Cherry Hill Seminary. This winter semester she has been asked to do a non-credited condensed version of her Pagan Ethics masters level class.

Real World Pagan Ethics is the name of the four week class being offered through Cherry Hill. Available to all students of Cherry Hill, first time or master’s program, for only $95. The core reading is from Brendan Myers’ 2008 release The Other Side of Virtue along with articles from various Pagans around the world who have participated in the annual Pagan Values Blogject – including this article from Deborah Lipp.

What does it mean to be an ethical magical practitioner? How can you tell if a teacher or coven leader has good boundaries? When we step into leadership, how can we make sure we are doing right by our communities? This course is designed to help clarify our internal ethical code, and then apply it to the areas of Community, Service, Ritual, and Leadership. The poet and philosopher M.C. Richards wrote, “It takes a golden ear to be empty enough of itself to hear clearly.” We will approach the formation of healthy, rigorous ethics and boundaries in the spirit of deep listening and open conversation, and follow where it leads.

Along the way they talked about ethics, leadership, elder care and more.

After Anne signed off, RevKess mentioned Boudica Foster’s republished article Celebrity Pagans, talking about what are commonly referred to as BNPs (Big Named/Nosed Pagans) and SJ Tucker’s upcoming changes to her music catalog, dropping the use of the word “Gypsy” in at least four songs and her bio. The discussion in comments is really interesting to read. (As well as taking a listen to an episode of Sound & Spirit on WGBH.)

Music

  1. Wendy Rule – Black Snake – Black Snake
  2. FishBird – Marie LaVeau – FishBird
  3. Damh the Bard – The Wicker Man (single release, 3 January 2014)
  4. SJ Tucker – The Great Velocipede Migration – Wonders
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PMP: 2013 in Review

On this week’s edition of Pagan-Musings, KaliSara and RevKess reviewed some of the highlights of 2013. Not just from the series, but some of their personal highlights. Late in the show they talk about some of their plans for 2014.

The following list is some of our favorite shows from 2013, and favorites from our listeners, in particular order.

  • Theisms – In which RevKess and KaliSara attempt to give brief descriptions and conversations regarding many of the “theisms” of modern Paganism.
  • Native/Indigenous Gender Attitudes and Issues – In which KaliSara talks with Scott Marker of Turtle Creek Reservation, and his wife, about some of the issues and attitudes of gender in some of the Native American cultures.
  • PWN #79 – The most popular episode of Pagan Weekly News for 2013. Unfortunately, RevKess was not very good at show descriptions for PWN in January 2013, so you will have to listen to the show to know why it was so popular.
  • Officers of Avalon – In which KaliSara speaks with Amber Moon and Tim Flanagan of Officers of Avalon, a Pagan networking and support group for police, paramedics, firefighters, etc.
  • Wendy Rule & Living the Magick – In which RevKess and KaliSara talk with Wendy Rule about her music and her online class “Living the Magick.”
  • Crystal Blanton – In which RevKess and KaliSara speak with Crystal Blanton about her books and issues that are unique to Pagans of color.
  • Heathenry Panel – Not as much of a panel as it was supposed to be, but a good conversation nonetheless.
  • Kari Tauring – In which RevKess and KaliSara visit with Kari Tauring about Heathen magic.
  • Sacred Sexuality Pt 6 – In which KaliSara and RevKess are joined for a while by Stormcrow to talk about polyamorous relationships.
  • Dark Goddesses – In which KaliSara explores the Dark Goddesses of various pantheons and shares how they are not “evil” or always “negative.”
  • Walking Through the Dark – In which KaliSara and RevKess discuss facing our darkest fears and coming through at the over end.
  • Origami Condoms – An episode of Lavender Hill from October.
  • Civil Divisiveness – An episode of Lavender Hill from December.
  • Kyrja & Tonia – In which KaliSara talks with Kyrja and Tonia about authoring and illustrating Pagan Childrens books.
  • Kyrja & Attacking Religion – In which Kyrja talks openly about the various attacks she and her family dealt with from December 2012 into the middle part of 2013.
  • Kyrja follow ups….
  • Environmentally Conscious Pagans – In which RevKess and KaliSara visit with Shauna Aura Knight on how to be more environmentally aware as Pagans.
  • Telergy & the Legend o Goody Cole – In which RevKess has a conversation with Robert McClung, composer and musician with Telergy.
  • Heartland Panel – Live recording of the 2013 Heartland Speakers’ Panel, moderated by Barbara Criswell. Ed Hubbard, Janet Farrar, Gavin Bone, and Mike Nichols participating.
  • Norse Mythology – KaliSara has had several episodes regarding Heathenry in 2013, most of which RevKess was not available for. Here’s a primer on Norse myth.

We spent a little time discussing Peter Dybing’s “Ten Pagans Who Made a Difference in 2013“, more as a wish list of guests for 2014.

Music from this Edition

  1. Anima – Ancient Future – Light of Aluna
  2. Kari Tauring – The Wheel – A New Yuletide Celebration
  3. Emerald Rose – Freya, Shakti – Bending Tradition
  4. Robert Linton – Seasons of Years Past – Throughout the Autumn Light
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PMP & MP Flip

 

Beginning on Saturday 7 September 2013 and Sunday 8 September 2013 Pagan-Musings Podcast and Musica Pagani are flipping around. Due to a major scheduling conflict, RevKess and KaliSara have decided to flip the programs around. As many of the regular listeners have no doubt noticed this summer, RevKess has been absent more often than not from Pagan-Musings. With football season starting up it is almost guaranteed that he will be unavailable for any of the live Saturday broadcasts for the foreseeable future. With careful consideration, the hosts have decided it would be in the interests of the listeners and the channel to change things.

Click to Listen

Beginning on Saturday 7 September 2013 at 7pm Central you can hear Musica Pagani in a recorded format. RevKess wil continue to bring you music from the New Age and Pagan genres along with interview segments with some of those artists. You can also catch some RevKess’s music reviews over at his review site.

Click to listen.

Beginning on Sunday 8 September 2013 at 7pm Central you can hear Pagan-Musings Podcast, most often broadcast live. KaliSara and RevKess will continue to bring you talk and information from the Pagan community with a variety of topics and guests.

Here at PMPChannel we hope that you will find this change to be easy and cause little to no disruption to your listening experience. The hosts are looking forward to being able to continue to bring you the information and entertainment you have grown to appreciate over the years, as well as spice things up a bit with some new topics, new guests, new music, and lots of fun!

You can contact the hosts of PMPChannel at paganmusings@gmail.com or on Facebook.

 

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PMP: The Inquisition & Witchcraft in the Early Americas (pt 1)

Click to listen.

On 20 July 2013 RevKess presented the first part of a series on the history of the Inquisition in Europe and Witchcraft in Early America. KaliSara took the weekend off.

A rather ambitious topic to attempt to tackle, even within a series. The first part of the series introduces the topic and contains an interview with musician and composer Robert McClung from Telergy. Robert visited the show in May to talk about Telergy’s latest release Legend of Goody Cole. This visit he will talked about the upcoming Goody Cole Memorial on 11 August 2013.

As an introduction, the first of the series will just touch upon the topic.

Galileo facing the Roman Inquisition

Galileo facing the Roman Inquisition

The Inquisition began in Europe during a time of feudal wars, Catholic and Protestant schisms and an economic atmosphere that left the old, the infirm, and the poor to struggle for their mere survival. Interesting to note that there is a very similar atmosphere and circumstances around the world today.

After the “discovery” of the New World, these sentiments towards the “other” moved across the Atlantic into Colonial America with those who immigrated to a land of “new found freedom”. Accusations of witchcraft and devilry increased in both Europe and the Americas as death and disease swamped the population. In both parts of the world, the haves and the havenots were just as likely to make accusations or be accused.

Even before the institution of the Inquisition was created by Pope Innocent VIII trials for witchcraft and other heresies occurred within the Catholic Church. As early as 319, according to Sommers, the Catholic Church was codifying laws that were used to protect the believers from the evils of witchcraft. As with the later Inquisition and the witch-craze in New England, many “innocents” were accused, tried, convicted and executed under cannon law.

During the Inquisition, it was not the Church herself who carried out the physical punishments for those convicted of witchcraft and other heresies. The convicts were handed over to the secular arm of the government. The punishments for these “crimes” was well known by the Church and the secular government, it is hard to believe that the Church was not fully aware of the extent to which the government or local authorities would go to punish heretics. Thus, many believe that the Church is just as culpable in the deaths of the innocent and guilty alike.

Court proceedings in Salem, Mass.

Court proceedings in Salem, Mass.

Men, women, and children throughout history have been accused of witchcraft and not just by the Catholic and Protestant churches. Around the globe, people often point to the other out of fear, greed, and ignorance whenever they cannot explain the problems of the day. Disease, famine, death, drought, and many otherwise natural but tragic events were often explained away as witchcraft and devilry. Out of fear, greed, and ignorance – three of the prime motivators – people of walks of life were (and still are) capable of blaming that which is different – the other – for all their problems.

Even today, in places like South Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and still in Europe and the United States, people look to witchcraft as an explanation of why they are suffering. This series will attempt to look not only at the Inquisition and witch-craze of Colonial America, but to look to modern witch hunts and come to an understanding as to why these events took place in history and still happen across the globe today.

Links

  • Wikipedia’s article on the Inquisition. RevKess understands that Wikipedia is not the best source for information on the net, but it is one of the most easily accessible to the general web surfer.
  • Sacred-Texts has Montague Sommers’ translation of the Melleus Maleficarum on their site for you to read.
  • From the History Channel, an article about the “first witch hunt” in Colonial America.
  • Visit Telergy‘s website for more information on the CDs Legend of Goody Cole and The Exodus. Listen to an early interview with Robert McClung here. Visit the Hampton Historical Society and Tuck Museum for more information on August 11th event.
  • You can download or read the full text of Margaret Murray’s The Witch Cult in Western Europe here.

Music

  1. Telergy – Incarceration – Legend of Goody Cole
  2. Telergy – Accusations – Legend of Goody Cole
  3. Telergy – Voyage – Legend of Goody Cole
  4. Telergy – Escape – The Exodus
  5. Telergy – Meeting House Green Pt 1 – Legend of Goody Cole
  6. Featherscale – Chapel Perlious – Gypsy Heart
  7. Telergy – Exoneration – Legend of Goody Cole
  8. Telergy – Verdict – Legend of Goody Cole
  9. Telergy – Ghost – Legend of Goody Cole
  10. Paradiso  – Time Lapse – Shaman’s Trance

Suggested Reading

Coming soon to the Pagan-Musings Podcast  Channel, the second part to this new series on the Inquisition and Witchcraft in the Early Americas. RevKess will be putting together a number of episodes for this series. He wants to provide as clear of information as possible, as well as provide intelligent discourse on the topics at hand. These episodes will be recorded and edited for clarity. The series will air in installments as the episodes become available. Check with the Pagan-Musings Podcast Channel on BTR for upcoming episodes.

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PMP: The Basics of Spellcraft

KaliSara and RevKess scrambled at the last minute to decide on a topic for this edition. Originally, Tuatha Dea was going to be joining them for a conversation about their music and other wonderful things. Unfortunately, a scheduling conflict came up. So, KaliSara suggested visiting the basics of spell work.

As most people, at least when they are starting out, focus on love and money… Prosperity was the topic to launch the discussion with. Later in the show they touched  on love magick.

KaliSara describes her method of spell casting as “the constipated grunt.” RevKess is more or less a ceremonialist. He self described in the show as a 50/50 ceremonialist/”constipated grunter”.

One of the most common forms of spell casting is candle magick. Candle magick is the use of candles when doing magick.  That is a basic definition. The process of candle magick can vary from person to person. Essentially, most practitioners of candle magick will use color correspondences, oils and/or herbs, as well as other objects associated with the intention of the spell being worked. Raymond Buckland has two books on candle magick that the listener might find useful. Practical Candle Burning Rituals and Advanced Candle Magick. These are just two of the many books and resources for candle magick.

spell casting in progress - cat plaqueDuring the show, RevKess used the example of using a green candle for casting a prosperity spell. In the outline for such a spell, he suggests that you choose a green candle as it represents money. (Gold, silver, or white can be used if a green candle is not available. Truly, any color candle will work if it feels right to the spell caster.) One would “dress” or anoint the candle with an appropriate oil and roll it in dried herbs that correspond to the intent of the spell. As this example is a prosperity spell, RevKess suggests olive oil and cinnamon. He also suggested placing a circle of shiny new dimes around the candle. Here is one site which lists herbal correspondences for prosperity and wealth.

Knot magick is another method one can use to bring prosperity into their life. KaliSara talked about a basic knot spell that she has used in the past with some measure of success. Take a string, cord, ribbon, or even a length of your own hair. Tie a knot in one end, this knot represents you. At the other end tie a second knot, this knot represents your desired goal. Loop the cord and tie a knot that brings the previous two knots together. This brings you and the object of your desire together. Burn away the remaining cord as if you were burning away that which keeps you from your goal.

A simple knot spell chant or rhyme that RevKess has known for over 20 years:

By this knot of one
The spell has begun.
By this knot of two
It comes true.
By this knot of three
It must be.
By this knot of four
It’s empowered more.
By this knot of five
The power thrives.
By this knot of six
This spell I fix.
By this knot of seven
‘Tis manna from heaven.
By this knot of eight
It is my fate.
By this knot of nine
My desire is mine.

Herb craft and kitchen witchery are very powerful ways to bring about the manifestation of your desires. Linked above is a site that has some correspondences for herbs useful in prosperity magick. Keeping in mind that not all herbs are edible, kitchen magick or witchery brings the essence of the herbs into your body and as you digest them you incorporate those energies into your being.

Love magick….Well, now. What most people expect when it comes to love magick is that they can cast a spell to bring a specific person into their life for love and sex. KaliSara and RevKess do not condone such magick. Instead, for love magick, they both recommend that any spells cast should be to “bring love into your life.” Sounds cliche, but it is not. One very good way to bring love into your life is to learn to love yourself – all your beauties and all your uglies. It is only when you are comfortable with yourself and love yourself that you can be open and ready to accept the love of another who might be waiting just around the corner or may already be in your life.

Music

  1. Spiral Dance – Magick – The Quickening
  2. Wendy Rule – The Circle Song – The Wolf Sky 
  3. Tuatha Dea – The Blessing – The Tribe
  4. Isaac Bonewits – Call the Quarters – Avalon is Rising
  5. Damh the Bard – The Sons and Daughters of Robin Hood – Antlered Crown & Standing Stone
  6. Omnia – Stand Up – Musick 
  7. Heather Dale – Stone Soup – Call the Names
  8. SJ Tucker – In the House of Mama Dragon – Haphazard 
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PMP: 2013 Heartland Speakers’ Panel

Click to listen.

Click to listen.

The Saturday 15 June 2013 edition of Pagan-Musings Podcast features segments of the 2013 Heartland Speakers’ Panel. The featured guests for Heartland this year were Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone, Mike Nichols, and Ed “the Pagan” Hubbard. Barbara Criswell of Aquarius Books in Kansas City acted as moderator. The topic for the panel was “Where do you envision Paganism, Wicca, etc going from here?”

The topic was paired well with the focus of many of the workshops and presentations from the honored guests. Janet and Gavin have decades of experience between them that they shared with the audience of the panel and with the participants of their workshops. Mike Nichols has been teaching about witchcraft since the 1970’s and is the author of The Witches’ Sabbats. Ed Hubbard has over 20 years experience as a priest and is co-manager of Pagans Tonight Radio Network.

The panel discussion was recorded in an open air auditorium, so there is some sound distortion. For that we apologize. Other than the wind and some audience noises, the only real sound issue was that some of the participants from the audience were hesitant on the microphone or even too shy to approach the microphone. Over all, the sound is decent enough to be able to hear everything being said. If you miss something and cannot figure it out, let us know and we would be happy to clarify things for you.

Links for Panelists

Music

  1. Cernunnos Rising – The Witches Tree – Urban Druid 
  2. Damh the Bard – The Two Magicians – Tales from the Crow Man 

Bonus Link

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PMP: Pagan Values Event 2013

Since 2009, the Pagan Values Event (under a few names) has been happening every June. Started by Geoffrey Stewart as a social experiment to allow Pagans of various paths to write about what they see as modern Pagan values, this event has taken on a life of its own.

From the 2012 description: “Started as a blog carnival in 2009 and expanded into an open event for bloggers and podcasters in 2010, this event lasts the month of June and provides a bully pulpit for Pagans and Polytheists and many others to speak about our Values. In a world where our many faiths and paths are often held up for ridicule or as straw dogs of evil for Fundamentalists, it would be easy to remain silent; especially as articulating our values and how we act upon them challenges the Fundamentalist’s claim of ownership over all Values and Virtues, and can attract unwanted attention from them

“However, in not articulating these things we also miss out on the friendships and connections that can arise with like-minded folks of many Faiths and Paths. We miss out on the opportunity to speak the Truth of who we are and what we do. We miss the chance to perhaps bring some much needed change and inspiration to a world in need.

“What are the Ethics, the Virtues, and Values that Contemporary Paganism has taught you to cherish, to live, to bring with you in your every interaction with the world? What do you do, inspired by these values? What adventures, or misadventures, has your Paganism and the Values and Virtues and Ethics it has inspired led you too? What and who have you encountered on your spiritual and moral journey as a Pagan? How have you acted upon these Values. What have you done inspired by these Virtues? What wrestling matches have you had when these Ethics encountered the real world?”

RevKess visited with Geoffrey last year about the event and again this year. This year’s conversation was recorded and aired on the Pagan-Musings Podcast Channel as part of the Saturday June 8th edition. This year David Dashifen Kees of Hail Columbia is acting as coordinator. He has created a Twitter account to help spread around the links from the various participants. You can also follow postings on the Facebook page.

Links

  • Geoffrey’s own blog.
  • Geoffrey mentioned as one of his  memorable postings for the Event over the last five years a blog by Deborah Lipp. You can find that listing here.
  • The Pagan Values Event page on Facebook.
  • Pagan Values open group on Facebook.
  • Zephyrrine writes on Wondering Witchy Eye about the Values of a Witch.
  • Esotericresearch writes on her Book of Shadow and Light page about the Four Powers of the Sphinx.
    • T Thorn Coyle has written a book that addresses these four powers in detail. You can read about the book at her site or even purchase the book  through Amazon and other retailers.

Music

  1. Acoustic Ocean – Under the Starlit Sky – Chimes of the Spirit
  2. Celia – Metta Prayer – For the Asking 
  3. Tuatha Dea – The Landing-Tuatha De Danaan (feat. Spiral Rhythm) – The Tribe