Let’s examine the phenomenon of flying.Recall that Doreen Valiente attributes the belief that witches fly on brooms to the traditional riding-pole dance. Participants would stradle their staves and jump high to encourage the crops to grow tall. This agricultural fertility … Continue reading →
In last week’s bird quiz, the pelican was mentioned as Baba Yaga’s bird. Baba Yaga is the harvest goddess of many Eastern European countries, who appears as a witch in Russian fairy tales. Another of her bird characteristics is her … Continue reading →
How much do you know about the winged companions of the Goddess? If you’ve been following this blog for awhile you’ll recognize many of these. Match the bird in the left column with the European or Middle Eastern goddess (or … Continue reading →
And if I’ve written in passion,Live, Julia! what was I writingbut my own pledge to myselfwhere the love of women is rooted?And what was I invokingbut the matrices we weaveweb upon web, delicate raftersflung in audacity to the prairie skies(from … Continue reading →