Firstly, I must apologise for the delay in putting something up. It has been one of those years – death, car accidents, weddings etc. A real roller coaster. Sincere apologies for not taking some time to write a few items for my blog.
October
Having passed the Autumn Equinox, the time for taking stock of the year gone and deciding what we’ll do/focus on in the coming year, we are now at a point of inner journeys, of magic and self discovery, for within the self, all questions are answered. When we can link with our higher self, we connect with the divine.
So for many pagans and anyone else on a spiritual path, October in particular is the month for meditation, visualisation and spell-work.
October is also the Hunter’s moon. In times gone by (and even today) hunters would go out and hunt by the light of this moon and make their kills for the winter. They would separate the meat from the skin and bones, using all parts of their kill. Some meat would be eaten and some dried for the long winter months.
So why not try doing a connecting meditation – connecting with yourself first.
Ground and centre yourself.
If you’re not sure how to do this:
For simplicity, take this part as meaning you think of roots coming out from your base chakra (the red one that sits at the bottom of your spine) down into the earth, through the soil, rock, crust of the planet, down through the mantle to the core. Feel your roots connect with the core and align yourself with that energy, the earth’s energy. Feel this energy rise up back into your base or root chakra, up your spine to your crown (the top of your head and extending a couple of inches above you) chakra. Once you feel this, you can then begin floating inwards to that spark within you.
For this bit, I tend to see this as a cloud of white light – not too bright, but a flame within that you know is the centre of your being. Within that flame, you can meditate on anything. This is a safe place. A place of power. From here, you can think of a word or image or concept and see where it takes you.
Don’t worry if this takes more than one attempt, or if you keep hearing your own thoughts at random – like shopping lists etc. They will pass, just acknowledge them and let them go.
For your first attempt you can try things like connecting to your higher self, or connecting to the divine.
When you’re happy that you are done – try it for 4 mins the first time. Some people do this for hours but any amount of time can be beneficial – then return from your inner core back to yourself. Gently retract your roots from the core of the earth back into yourself and wiggle you fingers and toes. When you feel ready it’s good to write anything you experienced down in a journal. Then go eat :D
On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:
The Island of the Mist is book 2
The Stone in the Sword is book 1
The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:
The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin
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Sunday, 9 October 2011
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
Hawthorn, Tree of May-June
The Celtic Tree Month is currently that of the Hawthorn and comes to an end on the 9th of June. This is a modern invention but it is a useful tool for insight into the time of year and into the different aspects of many trees.
The Hawthorn (also named Mayblossom, May bush, Mayflower, Haw, Lady’s Meat among other things) is a stunning, twisted and beautiful tree. It is associated with marriage and with hope and is both a fire and water tree, symbolising its mutability, balance and magical importance. It is energy/inspiration and also healing and fertile.
Hawthorn trees are found round healing wells in Ireland and Scotland and have a strong link with fairyland/the fairy realms and fairy lore. It is one of the tees of the bale fire and a purifying tree. It was said to give sight of the faerie to humans.
Use Hawthorn for clearing and purifying, for prosperity and fertility, marriage and love, protection and happiness.
On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:
The Island of the Mist is book 2
The Stone in the Sword is book 1
The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:
The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Partial Solar Eclipse: 1st of June 2011
On the 1st of June, there is a partial solar eclipse and will be visible from high latitudes in the northern hemisphere. In ancient times, eclipses were seen as negative events but today we known this to be a misconception.
What does this mean for pagans? For the most part, not a lot but you can use the energy in spells or for meditation should you chose.
As you will be aware, a solar eclipse in when the sun is blocked out in part, or wholly by the moon. So we could say this is a melding of lunar and earth energy, which is why it is very good for meditation or any inner workings (lunar), or any earth-based spells and grounding work.
If you have a preference for shamanic workings, or other trance workings, this is a good time to do it.
As mentioned, this is a time of part lunar energy and so any psychic work will go well on this day. Although it is a partial eclipse, it is still a powerful time.
Divination would be a perfect way to go on this day – especially with a crystal (the combination of earth and lunar energies). It doesn’t have to be a crystal ball, a fair sized crystal held in the hand would suffice.
The other way to tap into these energies would be to connect with lunar and earth deities that you have been trying to meet/ask something of/honour.
Whatever you decide to do, I hope the partial solar eclipse will bring good tidings and a greater awareness of the energies around you.
NB: Just to prove that there is always balance in nature: there is another partial solar eclipse on the 1st of July in the southern hemisphere – if you live in the southern hemisphere – this will apply to you then.
What does this mean for pagans? For the most part, not a lot but you can use the energy in spells or for meditation should you chose.
As you will be aware, a solar eclipse in when the sun is blocked out in part, or wholly by the moon. So we could say this is a melding of lunar and earth energy, which is why it is very good for meditation or any inner workings (lunar), or any earth-based spells and grounding work.
If you have a preference for shamanic workings, or other trance workings, this is a good time to do it.
As mentioned, this is a time of part lunar energy and so any psychic work will go well on this day. Although it is a partial eclipse, it is still a powerful time.
Divination would be a perfect way to go on this day – especially with a crystal (the combination of earth and lunar energies). It doesn’t have to be a crystal ball, a fair sized crystal held in the hand would suffice.
The other way to tap into these energies would be to connect with lunar and earth deities that you have been trying to meet/ask something of/honour.
Whatever you decide to do, I hope the partial solar eclipse will bring good tidings and a greater awareness of the energies around you.
NB: Just to prove that there is always balance in nature: there is another partial solar eclipse on the 1st of July in the southern hemisphere – if you live in the southern hemisphere – this will apply to you then.
Labels:
connections,
crystals,
divination,
druids,
earth,
eclipse,
energy,
lunar,
nature,
pagans,
psychic,
shamanic,
solar,
solar eclipse,
trance,
wicca,
witches
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Grow your own herbs
Spring is an excellent time to start growing your own herbs. It couldn’t be simpler and now you don’t even need a garden – most supermarkets sell grow your own herb packs and you just pot a few seeds and sit them on your window sill. A few weeks later you have edible/useable herbs.
Not sure which herbs to choose? Start small. Go for three herbs you will use in cooking as well as for healing/magical pusposes.
How about Rosemary, Thyme and Sage? All very easy to grow and have multi uses.
Think about the herbs you use the most and for different reasons, and simply buy them to grow! There really is nothing quite like growing your own when cooking, healing or working magic :D
On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:
The Island of the Mist is book 2
The Stone in the Sword is book 1
The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:
The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin
Not sure which herbs to choose? Start small. Go for three herbs you will use in cooking as well as for healing/magical pusposes.
How about Rosemary, Thyme and Sage? All very easy to grow and have multi uses.
Think about the herbs you use the most and for different reasons, and simply buy them to grow! There really is nothing quite like growing your own when cooking, healing or working magic :D
On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:
The Island of the Mist is book 2
The Stone in the Sword is book 1
The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:
The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Month of May, post Beltain
May is a beautiful month. All the most vibrant flowers are appearing, the scents are amazing and life is fully blooming.
May starts with a blaze, Beltain, and eases into Summer, usually with a sizzle.
In the Celtic Tree Calendar, this is in part, the month of the Willow (15th April to the 12th May). I always thought that odd, as Willow is a wet tree and May is usually one of the driest in the UK and in W Europe.
The Willow Tree represents water and is ruled by the moon. There is a new moon on the 3rd of the month. As this moon grows, think about aspects of your life you would like illumination or inspiration for, as the magic of the Willow is that of inspiration, divination and prophesy. The Willow represents Spring and Autumn, the tides and as such is considered a feminine tree.
It is associated with weddings in the garlands of flowers worn on the head of the brides and in pentagrams made for handfastings, due to its flexibility.
While Beltain has passed, the rest of the month is lively, filled with life and vibrancy and the key to the first part of this month is, due in part to the tree, flexibility.
On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:
The Island of the Mist is book 2
The Stone in the Sword is book 1
The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:
The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin
Labels:
Beltain,
flowers,
handfastings,
inspiration,
May,
moon,
spring,
vibrancy,
willow,
Willow tree
Monday, 11 April 2011
Easter - a Christian, not a Pagan Festival
Easter is almost upon us again and already i have seen articles on-line relating to how it is a pagan festival. Alas, this is a load of hogwash.
Easter is a christian festival, about the resurrection of Christ. Yes, they did borrow a lot of symbology from the pagan path but so what? All religions and cultures borrow from each other. Many people now know that the rabbits and eggs are symbols of fertility taken from ancient religions, and that the date is based on the moon, another aspect of paganism.
Even the name has been borrowed from Eostre/Eostara/Ostara (or, less likely Ishtar), the Goddess of April. And? So?
In the end, the festival of EASTER is CHRISTIAN, not PAGAN. EASTER (see how it isn't spelled EOSTRE) is a christian concept.
Regardless of what your path, have an egg, enjoy it and revel in the sunshine :D
On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:
The Island of the Mist is book 2
The Stone in the Sword is book 1
The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:
The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin
Easter is a christian festival, about the resurrection of Christ. Yes, they did borrow a lot of symbology from the pagan path but so what? All religions and cultures borrow from each other. Many people now know that the rabbits and eggs are symbols of fertility taken from ancient religions, and that the date is based on the moon, another aspect of paganism.
Even the name has been borrowed from Eostre/Eostara/Ostara (or, less likely Ishtar), the Goddess of April. And? So?
In the end, the festival of EASTER is CHRISTIAN, not PAGAN. EASTER (see how it isn't spelled EOSTRE) is a christian concept.
Regardless of what your path, have an egg, enjoy it and revel in the sunshine :D
On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:
The Island of the Mist is book 2
The Stone in the Sword is book 1
The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:
The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin
Saturday, 2 April 2011
Spring is in the Air
Its that time of year again. The sap is rising, the birds are looking for mates and lambs are bouncing about.
Persephone’s influence has breathed on the land again and darkness shrinks to the other side of the world.
How can we bring Spring into our lives?
• Getting out into nature – go for walks, breathe in the fresh air, take in
the growing plants and the friskiness of life at this time
• Planting seeds of your own, with intent
• Bake some hot cross buns
• Actively take part in life instead of waiting for it to come to you
• Do something creative – it can be baking, knitting, making something
through crafts or arts, or writing/photography etc
• Even just changing your computer desktop can make a difference – see this
article: http://factoidz.com/spring-desktop-wallpapers/
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