The Autumn Goddess

 

Art designed by adorwardartist

I will dance

The dance of dying days

And sleeping life.

I will dance

In cold, dead leaves

A bending, whirling human flame.

I will dance

As the Horned Goddess rides

Across the skies.

I will dance

To the music of Her hounds

Running, baying in chorus.

I will dance

With the ghosts of those

Gone before.

I will dance

Between the sleep of life

And the dream of death.

I will dance

On Hallow’s dusky eye,

I will dance.

-  Karen Bergquist, An Autumn Chant (adapted for my goddess-centered practice.)

Blessings dark and deep!

An Autumn Oracle For the Week

 

Oracle for the Week:

Mother Earth and Summer: I chose a card as usual, but another fell from the deck so I go with that flow!

We have further entered the waning of the year and while Summer is behind us Her energy is not. We have fallen into the fiery energy of Autumn with Her reds, oranges, and golden colors, leaves like flames surrounding us and reminding us that Mother Earth is mature and wise. She reminds us to stay connected to Her, be with Her. That connection will bring us fulfillment, and we are still blooming and radiating the sacred fire from within. 

We are guided to go outside, breathe the air as it refreshes and inspires us, allow the Sun to energize us, firing up our creativity, allow rain or ocean, lake or stream to restore and bless us, and from the Earth Herself, collect gifts of sticks, stones, leaves, shells, bits of bark, whatever is offered. Gather the special autumn veggies, fruits, and nuts. Then we shall take the preciousness and create sacred art, objects for rituals, gifts, or objects to hang or place in our homes, foods to nourish as delicious meals, treats, and medicines, sharing as gifts to ourselves and others. These may even be offered back to Mama. 

My husband recently brought me a collection of sticks and a couple of lovely branches, all fallen, as well as a few acorns. I am reveling in creating, but one particular branch, with a tiny acorn cap has been placed as is on my altar. My home decor includes more red and orange as well, the inspiration and need for those colors coming to me late in August. My creative juices have been flowing as well. So… these cards give validation that I need to return to my artistic and culinary endeavors after a dormant and stressful period of transformation and change of life circumstances. 

Celebrate the fires of inspiration and creation, embrace that fiery summer energy that can be found within, bringing it into our autumnal endeavors.

Blessings dark and deep!

Stitch A Little Goddess

 

A little goddess to stitch. She’s perfect for a treasure or charm bag, a small picture to hang on the wall, whatever you like. Choose any color you like. Stitching this will be an offering in honor of She Who Is our great Mother.

Blessings dark and deep!

It’s October, Witches!

 

It’s October, my dear witches! There’s something about this time of year, I know you feel it too. How I wish I could live in October! Well, maybe not always, every season has its beauty, its celebrations… but still, there is definitely something about October.

Enjoy it while it lasts. Savor every day. Make magick, dress in black and orange, make comforting casseroles, soups, and stews. Brews some Fire Cider and Elderberry Syrup. Be sure to bake and make cinnamon and clove simmer pots. Fill your cottage (house, apartment, motor hom) with the scents and sights, the feelings of October

Oh, and don’t forget your daily devotions to the dark goddesses, it is their season, after all. Honor the crones and elder wise women. Honor yourself and your journey, you path. Count your blessings even if you think there are only a few, there are more than you know.

Blessings dark and deep!

Autumn in the Garden

 Join me in a dream where we sit around a fire, the cauldron swirling, an herbal brew scenting the night air. We sip a steaming, earthy beverage that takes us deeper into ourselves and each other. Here we are greeted by the Great Mother Herself… and She bestows upon us a knowing of our most precious need and how to bring it into being.

Will you sip Her medicine, Her Wisdom? Will you sit outside your homeplace tomorrow under the fullness of Her lantern and let its power infuse you with healing, knowledge, and dreams? I will meet you there. 

Blessings of Light and Dark!

- from Dreams in the Garden Patch by E A Kaufman c 2026

Art by Sibencraft on Etsy

Sunday Oracle and a Message For Yom Kippur

 Sunday Oracle: 28: Quan Yin, Forgiveness

Ah, She always shows Herself when She is most needed! Tonight begins the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. As a priestess and witch who has been married to a Jewish man for more than forty six years, this day has featured prominently in my life. We are a spiritual couple who honors our own path which we have crafted from the traditions of our families and the wisdom we have gathered over the years. We celebrate and honor many ways, it works for us. We will begin modified fasting and devotional work this evening with candle lighting. The work will focus on atonement and forgiveness, for ourselves and others. 

We all look at our lives and see, if we are honest, where we could do better, where we made mistakes. We beat ourselves up or make excuses. The beauty for me of Yom Kippur is taking the time to work this all out. Do you need to be Jewish? Do you need to do this on this day? No, but this card on this day tells me it is the right time and it is needed. I have been doing a little too much beating up of myself and not taking enough time to reflect, forgive, and heal.

Perhaps you need to do some of this yourself? Perhaps there are people in your life you need to accept that they are as they are, good or bad, and take your focus from them, forgive and move on. We are each of us who we are, responsible for our mishegas (Yiddish for craziness, senseless behavior, nonsense) but we are human with the capacity to feel and experience so much and it’s not always good or right. Yet we all do these things. We do not have to accept this behavior from others and exonerate them, but we can know that if we forgive we will move on, with or without those who have wronged us in our lives. 

However, this holy day, this card, today’s work,  is more about ourselves, our purification/cleansing, our reconciliation by asking forgiveness of what wrongs we have done… to ourselves as well as others. We can then seek Divine Forgiveness from wherever that comes from for us and commit to do better. A good thing to do.

So, To those I may have wronged, including myself, I ask forgiveness.

To those I may have helped, including myself, I honor what was done. May it continue. 

To those I neglected to help, including myself, I ask for understanding.

To those who helped me, including the self-work I have done, I thank you with all my Heart...

I forgive myself, I forgive others. May my path ahead be walked with honor, love, and goodness. 

May your work, if you choose to do it, be meaningful and bring you peace.

Blessings in light and dark.

Full Moon Blessings

 

The Full Moon arrives and I shall sit in my little garden beneath the oak tree that overhangs my patch and watch Her shine through the branches and leaves. Such a blessing to absorb the light of the moon, Her magick, Her blessings. Here is a little blessing I was inspired to write earlier.

Full Moon Blessings to all I give,

May all your dreams and wishes live.

The Great Mother’s love fills and surrounds,

Her peace, protection, and prosperity abounds.

As Her lantern shines tonight,

May we all be guided by peace, love, and light. 

C 2026 EA Kaufman 

And speaking of my little patch of garden, I discovered that one of the plants is Twoleaf Nightshade, with berries right now. Yes, it is poisonous and it is considered an invasive weed. Now every witch needs at least one poisonous plant just… well, because. And as for weeds, they are wildflowers!!! Anyway, an exciting find for me. I was quite delighted. 

So, enjoy the full moon, get out there and bathe in Her light for a little blessing of moon energy. 

Blessings dark and light!

A Soothing Tea Spell

 

 A Soothing Tea Spell

Brew yourself a cup of Constant Comment Tea - decaf or regular, or Bigelow Sweet Dreams tea… or whatever you like that relaxes you. Light a pink or lavender colored candle which you have charged to bring gentle, stress relieving energy.

Add a bit of honey for sweetness and cream, if you like, then stir deosil and chant three times:

By Earth and Air, Fire and Tea,

As I sip, stress and anxiety flee.

As I imbue this healing brew

My mind and heart are comforted too.

Relax, release, restore me please,

By leaf and water I am given ease.

By the Great Mother, it is made so.

And so it is, the magick flows!

Copyright E A Kaufman 2026

Now… enjoy and relax.

Blessings dark and light

!

Copyright E A Kaufman 2026

Feast of Mary Magdalene 2026

 

Art: The Shepherdess by Baraka Berger

Mary of Magdala, I remember You.

As I remember You, I honor You,

As I honor You, I invite You to join me here

In my sacred place.

Please share Your wisdom and blessings 

As I travel new roads in my journey.

Hail Magdalene, Heroine among women.

This year I remember Mary Magdalene and honor Her with ritual on my own, no coven, just me in a new place, and on a new journey. It has been a tough ride, and an exciting one too. While I mourn my old life, my old path, I am traveling a new one, incorporating a mystical, feminist Judaic way as part of my journey. I am still Her priestess, Hecate, the Great Mother, the Great Goddesses, the Shekhinah, just adding this new dimension. 

As a non-Jew married to a Jewish man for forty-six years, I have helped my husband celebrate his spiritual life, celebrating the holidays, observing Shabbat and lighting the candles for many years. I recently underwent conversion for very personal reasons and because we have become more observant. This observance has helped me through some difficult life changes. It is simply another branch of my spiritual life that has given me great healing. Very conservative and Orthodox Jews will not understand this, but as always, I go on my way.

Mary Magdalene has long been a guiding light for me, a strong Jewish woman. She navigated change, loss, and making a new way. She  has always brought comfort over many years, but more so this year. So, again, as in past years, I take time to remember and honor Her, taking strength in this connection I have to Her.

I call to You, Magdalene, Holy Vessel, Wise Teacher, 

She who holds the red egg and the alabaster jar.

She who was and remains a great teacher.

She who witnessed a great mystery.

She who had the strength of faith beyond others.

She who bravely stood up for Her beliefs.

She who was blessed with wisdom from Spirit.

She who heals the spirit of all who ask.

She who washes away my sorrows. 

She who anoints me with her blessings.

She who is with me and gives guidance and love.

She who is with me whenever I have need.

I honor You, Magdalene, Shining Light of Love.

Mary, called Magdalene,

You who are faith, healing, and wisdom,

You who are Beloved of Yeshua.

I humbly come before you searching.

I ask for your eyes that I may see,

Your ears that I may hear,

Your wisdom that I may know,

Your heart that I may love,

Your feet that I may walk the pathways of truth,

Your hands that I may serve.

Grant me this request, Lady Magdalene.

Let me be like you, 

that I may become fully self-actualized,

Realizing the fulfillment of my Soul’s purpose in this life:

To know love.

To be love.

To serve on behalf of love;

And if it be ordained as such,

That I serve this love, as you did,

In the company of my own Beloved,

be this partner or Higher Self.

I ask this in your name.

So may it be.

C 2017 E A Kaufman,

Adapted from Prayer to the Magdalene by Lauri Ann Lumli

                                                   The Divine Feminine Oracle by Meggan Watterson