ancient calendar

At its heart, Halloween is an astronomy holiday. It’s a day rooted in Earth’s orbit around the sun. It’s a cross-quarter day and a testament to our ancestors’ deep understanding of the sky. 

October 31 marks the approximate midway point between the September equinox and the December solstice. This means Halloween also an astronomy holiday, and one of the year’s four cross-quarter days. 

Learn about the four seasonal Quarter Days in the ancient Celtic calendar.

Some historians are divided as to whether the ancient Celts observed the solstices and equinoxes (quarter days). Some believe that the Celts divided the year into just four major sections: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasadh (cross-quarter days). 

liminal space

More and more religions - not just Christians or Protestants - are recognizing the spiritual significance of Advent. The spirit of the season is experiencing a revival through serious reflection, joyful expectation, and observation of traditional Advent customs.

The Advent season is a time for reflection and anticipation - reflection on our spiritual lives and anticipation for the arrival of Christmas. 

Hope, by Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour

While Advent traditions vary based on religious persuasions and cultures one common practice includes focusing on four themes. The most common Advent themes are hope, peace, joy, and love. 

wise magi of the east

Three Kings came riding from far away,

Melchior and Gaspar and Baltasar;

Three Wise Men out of the East were they,

And they travelled by night and they slept by day,

For their guide was a beautiful, wonderful star.

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Three Kings 

Popular depictions of Christmas compress the nativity story - as though the three kings’ show up in Bethlehem on Christmas, although traditional celebrations put their visit 12 days after Christmas.

the magi & their gifts - Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna, Italy

Called Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, it is the official commemoration of the arrival of the Magi - one of Christianity’s oldest holidays. Roman Catholics celebrate Epiphany on January 6, and Orthodox Christian faiths celebrate on January 19.

ancient civilizations | truth & myth

History truly is written by the winners which in most cases meant the invading hordes and conquerors. Digging up treasures from ancient civilizations testify to this fact.

Egyptian Thoth & Isis

Oftentimes the stories we hear retold countless times are the ones often believed as the most true. Until we dig up something fresh and discover how different things actually were then than how we believe them to have been.

follow your bliss

This title and phrase has become both waved banner and clarion call for many these past years.

Few know its origin or care to track it to its source. Yet "follow your bliss" is a living philosophy that resonates deeply with  countless multitudes - both spiritual and secular.