Tuesday, June 15, 2021

 


His Magic Touch by Debby Grahl

The night before Jared Dupre’s wedding, a spectre warns him that the demonic witch, Adam Montief, has kidnapped his brother threatening to kill both him and Jared’s fiancée, Kendra O'Connell, in a centuries-old vendetta Jared knows nothing about. A powerful witch himself, Jared tracks Adam from New Orleans to a remote island off the coast of Connecticut. A swordfight ensues, and a final thrust of Jared's blade sends Adam over the cliff into the dark sea below.

But when Jared returns to New Orleans, he finds a triumphant Adam alive and intent on seducing Kendra. Kendra, not knowing Jared was forced to break off their engagement to save her life, has turned to a new man, unaware he’s Adam who has vowed to kill the man she truly loves.

With help from an ancestor's spirit, Jared discovers the motive behind the Montiefs' vengeance.  He plans Adam's final destruction while fighting to win back Kendra before she is drawn into Adam's world of sadistic evil. 


Summer Solstice

 Since Jared and Kendra, my two Wiccan witches from His Magic Touch, are getting ready to celebrate the Solstice, I thought I’d share a little about the holiday with you.

In addition to the four great festivals of the Pagan Celtic year, there are four lesser holidays as well: the two solstices, and the two equinoxes. In folklore, these are referred to as the four 'quarter-days' of the year, and modern Witches call them the four 'Lesser Sabbats', or the four 'Low Holidays'. The Summer Solstice is one of them.

Litha is the name given to the Wiccan Sabbat celebrated at the Summer Solstice. This is the longest day and shortest night of the year, marking the pinnacle of the Sun’s power to fuel the growing season. From here on out, the Sun will set a little earlier each night until Yule, and so we recognize and give thanks for its warmth.

Technically, a solstice is an astronomical point. The summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches the Tropic of Cancer. Astrologers know this as the date on which the sun enters the sign of Cancer.

Though it’s typically celebrated on June 21st, the exact moment of the Summer Solstice varies from year to year. This is due to a slight misalignment between the Gregorian calendar and the actual rate of the Earth’s rotation around the Sun. The Solstice also occurs at differing local times, so depending on where you live, it may fall the day before or after the date listed on any given calendar. For this reason, a date range of June 20-22 is often cited in sources on the Wheel of the Year.

As the Sun reaches its highest point in the sky, the God is now in his full power, and the Goddess of the Earth is bringing forth the greatest abundance of the year. The crops are reaching their full maturity, and the forests are bursting with lush growth. In just a few short weeks, the harvest season will begin, but for now we pause to celebrate the manifestation of what was planted in the early weeks of Spring. The warm sunlight is a welcome contrast to the cold and dark of Winter, and we bask in its comforts. There is a focus on the Element of Fire in honor of the Sun God, but recognition is also given to the Horned God of the forest and its wild animal life.

Summer Solstice is still observed publicly by modern English Druids, both at Boadicea’s Tomb, Parliament Hills, London, and at Stonehenge. All-night vigils take place on both sites, and at Stonehenge there is a second celebration at Noon. Midsummer is not forgotten in today's world, although it may be called by a different name. The bonfires are lit, vigils kept, cartwheels sent blazing down hills. Candle boats are sailed in Brazil and in Florida, as well as on the Danube.

When you light your fire and stay up throughout the night, you are celebrating in the way our ancestors did. Have a wonderful Midsummer and remember, "Imagination is the eye of the soul."

This is also a time for romance --

The young maid stole through the cottage door,

And blushed as she sought the Plant of pow'r;--

'Thou silver glow-worm, O lend me thy light,

I must gather the mystic St. John's wort tonight,

The wonderful herb, whose leaf will decide

If the coming year shall make me a bride.  

 

Amazon Author Page:       http://www.amazon.com/- /e/B00B34HM26

 Author website:                www.debbygrahl.com

 Author Facebook:             https://www.facebook.com/debbygrahlauthor?ref=br_rs

 

5 comments:

Nancy Gideon said...

What great fodder for paranormal romance! Thanks for the info, Debby, and for a taste of His Magic Touch!

Diane Burton said...

A lancinating and informative post, Debbie. Thanks for sharing. I learned so much I never knew.

Debby Grahl said...

Diane and Nancy, thanks so much!

Mary Morgan said...

Wonderful post, Debby! Thanks for sharing!

Nightingale said...

I find the Wiccan traditions most interesting. I have friends who are Wiccan and knew a little about the holidays, but I enjoyed learning more. Thanks, Debby.