Harvest and the scent of apples, wood fires and storms waft in the cool air. Paper staff who are part of the Sylvan Grove honor the death and rebirth of the god Dionysos and the equinox Sabbat with an annual grape stomping rite (the wine of the god is made later). We are once again reminded of the death that waits patiently for all. As the days grow shorter and cooler and we make ready for winter, there are many things to consider. It's perfect weather for curling up with a good story.
This issue has offerings from several new writers, and many well-read friends make appearances too, including a lovely, witchy, seasonal harvest from Catherine Harper and a sexy retelling of an ancient story set in modern day Greece from our own enchanting Melanie Fire Salamander. The delightful Sannion returns with a marvelous hymn to Apollo, and Genevieve Williams is back in style, regaling us with several types of music, from Native American influenced to Celtic and the soundtrack from Hairspray!
Our Pisces astrology maven, Thea, gives us heads-ups about Mercury going retrograde and how the rest of the next six weeks affects us and our magick, and Lisa Harris reports in about witchy politics and ideas about initiation held by many diverse aspects of the community.
This issue has also been blessed with some new pens: Freya Ray, who's fairly new to Seattle but not to the Craft, writes on psychic ethics and survival for modern witches, and Arwynn MacFeylynnd gifts us with a charming Sabbat piece.
You may have noticed that we do not generally publish poetry, but we received a number of good submissions recently, so we thought we'd pass them along to you this time! Both Lee Clark and Arwynn MacFeylynnd contribute splendid imagery.
We cannot ignore the anniversary of the 9/11 WTC bombing and all of the lives lost and affected by the tragedy and aftermath. We continue to extend our deepest sympathy to those concerned, and we want to encourage you to support them and one another by actively supporting peace, so that more lives are not sacrificed in war. Let your dealings show mindfulness of the reality of mortality as we move into this season of darkness and death. Honor the old gods with your thoughts and intentions as well as your actions, and hold your loved ones close to your heart. We at Widdershins wish you warmth, joy, prosperity, love and most of all peace in the coming weeks.