La Bona Dea's Journal of Everyday Magic

Storytelling which touches the heart and awakens the soul

Goddess Study

Summer Solstice at Goat Rock Beach, Sonoma Coast, CA

Sand Candle Making to Capture the Essence of Childhood and Play Note: We did not use items from the beach, but brought all decorations from home. If you go to our public lands, always leave them the way you found them, or better yet, with less litter. Blessed Be!

Blessings of the First Harvest, Lammas

Blackberries are a favorite of the Goddess Brigid… She has such good taste! Great Blessings to you at the Season of Harvest! I enjoy this time of year when you can find “free food” all around the neighborhood, fields, and streams. I love that there are ancient parts of me that yearn to keep the […]

A slow waking toward Imbolc

The sun streamed through the window but I rolled over in my bed. The tulips began to push through the earth, but I strode past them. The sunset a few minutes later, but I went inside. I am waking from a different sleep this year. Not a long winter nap, but a dream time filled […]

Tossing the Yule Log into the Fire…..

Greetings and a Blessed Yuletide! We are preparing to wrap up our Priestess Apprenticeship for this year and with the final Sabbat at Yule, the Apprentices will become Priestesses! This year my yule log is made from a simple piece of firewood, but it is adorned with dried flowers which I have collected throughout the […]

Samhain, kissing death and saying goodbye

Goodbye to the old, the unwanted, the muck. Today we have cleaned out what is no longer needed. The floors are clean, the bed is made…we await the Dreamtime and have cleared space for all that is ours to embrace! Blessed Be

If it no longer serves me, it’s gone!

Letting go of things, whether it’s clothing, household, memorabilia, or hurt feelings, even rage, it can be hard. We grow accustomed to things and feelings and somehow they wedge their way into what we think we are or what we have become. Not true. Things and feelings, places and people are each a part of […]

What it means to Sacrifice, thoughts at Lughnasadh

Summer’s Roses are in full bloom, some have begun to fade. Lughnasadh is approaching quickly and with it sweet berries to harvest! It will arrive with hotter days which the Northern California Coast boasts this time of year. August and September, sometimes October, too, grace us with the best of the west coast’s weather. With […]

Summer Solstice Sunset in The Woods

This year our Apprenticeship went camping. We spent the Summer Solstice Sunset tossing our cares away by throwing rocks (infused with what no longer serves our purpose toward manifesting our desires) into the Russian River. We were visited by the Great Blue Heron who circled above us three times. Click here to learn about the […]

This Is Beltane

The Maiden blooms, she opens herself to the discovery of her sexuality, independence, and her magic which resides within. The rosebuds are tightly formed, yet with the sun’s beckoning rays and encouragement they submit – allowing all to see them – as they display their fullest beauty. This is Beltane – the once awakened acceptance […]

Ostara Salt Bowl

Basil, bay, ginger, nutmeg, thyme, Please accept this Ostara rhyme sage, vanilla, rose, lavender too, cleanse, refresh, and start anew Absorb negativity with crystals of salt, invoking good hoo-doo without fault By the light, of this full moon, honoring springtime in full bloom So, Mote, It Be & Blessings from the Goddess it is done! […]