The wheel turns

The cool morning wind woke me from my slumber today. I cherished the freshness as I pulled the duvet up slightly higher. At last, the seasons are changing as we move into Autumn, the time of burnt oranges and golden yellows.

I had further confirmation of the seasonal changes as I went outside to greet my garden. My magnificent tree had shed yet another branch. Last week, the branch was filled with leaves but this one was barren and bleak. My magnificent tree is making space for the new growth that will emerge in the next few months as Spring awaits.

Today is the eve of the Virgo Full Moon. I feel the blue waters change in my womb as she casts her rays, radiating and igniting energy. Her luminosity is still present throughout clouded skies, her power continues to shine.

The wheel continues to turn as next week we celebrate Mabon, my favourite Sabat. Mabon is a time of equanimity as we experience identical hours of day and night. A time of balance. The Green Man offers cider and wine to the trees of the forest. The ageing Goddess embraces her evolution as the Crone and the God prepares for his death and eventual re-birth.

Mabon is a time to celebrate and be thankful. Be thankful for the prosperity and abundance we receive daily. Celebrate our friends and family with love and sincerity.

Blessed be.

Lammas

Traditionally, Lammas celebrates the first harvest, the first fruits and the first loaf of bread. The hours of daylight are shortening as the Sun God begins to reduce his power and gives way to the Moon Goddess
. The plants begin to drop their seeds in preparation for the oncoming winter to restart the cycle of birth and creativity once again.

So too, can we plant our seeds for growth by manifesting our dreams and desires. Spend time in nature, listening, smelling and observing. It is a good time to be familiar with the foods that we eat and their connection to the earth.  Give thanks and be grateful for individual prosperity as well as the abundance of beauty provided by Gaia.

In celebrating Lammas, we give thanks and honor the Sun God for all that we receive and share amongst family and friends. Similarly, we can reflect on our achievements and give thanks and honor ourselves.

Blessed Be.

December

It’s December. In the Southern Hemisphere we recently celebrated the Summer Solstice – the longest day of light. Although where I live the skies were filled with grey, looming clouds and much rain, I could still feel the brightness earlier in the morning and later each evening.

The Christian celebration of Christ’s birth has also just passed. What was once a gathering of family and friends to enjoy a meal and each others company has now become a commercial event towards materialism, heightened by capitalism. The focus of this humble celebration has been lost to societies expectations with so much pressure for people to spend more and more each year.

For me, this time of year has been incredibly stressful. I decided to step away from the chaos and I asked myself what it was that I wanted. At a time when the world is in the midst of a financial shift, it would be so much easier to bring love and joy into not only this festivity, but into every day. It was amazing to feel the relief once I decided to be true to myself, instead of what others wanted of me.

As I reflect back on the year that is almost past, I am astounded and forever grateful for the blessings I have received. Now, I begin to think about my intentions for the energetic and fruitful year that will no doubt be 2012.

Blessed be. 

Relax

Rupert Bunny, Pastoral (Sea Idyll Pastorale) c1893

Until recently I had managed to avoid the winter flu's and other bugs that normally invade us during the darker months of Winter. This year has been particularly wet so there have been fewer days basking in the gentler sunshine of the season. But I was surprised to find that I picked up a cold given my relatively healthy lifestyle. Thankfully, a cold is all it turned out to be.

During a day of well needed rest, I reflected on the past few weeks and realised that I had spent a considerable amount of time stressing over a work matter. It was quite a big deal but nonetheless, the apparent stress took it's toll on my body. I know that I can address the issue at the appropriate time, and I know that unnecessary stress does not help in any way whatsoever. Regardless of my awareness, knowing that I should step away – take a walk, breathe, talk to someone - I still allowed myself to submerge into the depths of fury and frustration.

The human body is an amazing life force. All that negative energy, anger and frustration I felt developed into toxins resulting in a cold. I truly believe that tension in our daily lives manifests into dis-ease in our physical bodies.

But how do we overcome the stress that is so much the norm of today’s society?

My inner voice tells me that I need to relax, take time each and every day specifically for me. I need to find ways to release physical tension – for me yoga and massage work well. I need to have creative outlets – I love to write, create magick, sculpt and sometimes draw. And most importantly, I need to meditate daily.

Sounds great! If only I could do all of these things every day, but the reality is that I need to work. It is a balancing act. However, I can bring breath into my work place. I can find a few minutes to write a few words of verse. I can find five minutes to sit quietly.

If I remember to bring love and light back into my life, I can relax and that is all I need.

Tree Speak

As I drove through the south-west country of Great Britain, I stumbled upon delightful villages literally surrounded by rolling green hills. I connected to nature more than I could ever have anticipated. It was an amazing experience.

I spent most of my time on a fairly large property with a natural forest. Most mornings I walked through tracks and immediately I felt that I was not alone. The celtic lands are ancient, filled with spirits from times gone by and many places I visited maintained an earthly connection with the other side.

But this woodland felt special. Somehow different. The first day I entered I felt a strong female presence, a Goddess. She was unknown to me at first and it was days later when I was at Stonehenge that she made herself known as Lilith, the first wife of Adam who refused to succumb to his dominance insisting on equality.

Spring was emerging and the trees were singing as the sun's rays shone amongst them. As I stood motionless enjoying the forest and all its glory, I caught glimpses of nymphs dancing gayly through the trees. They were laughing, playing, hiding behind the great big trunks and moving too quickly to be seen. It was magical and I felt blessed.

Wild life filled the forest; birds, squirrels, rabbits and even deer. Spider webs glistened in the morning rain and the leaves developed with brightness. The forest was changing before my eyes.

I felt the trees sense my presence and I could hear them whispering as they rustled their leaves. I placed my hands on one of the great trees and immediately felt its vibration swirl through me. I breathed in its essence, revelling in the sound of the swaying branches. I felt at peace. I felt in awe of their greatness, knowing they had seen many things.

Lammas

In the Southern Hemisphere, Lammas falls on 1 February. It is a time to honour the earth as the Sun God prepares to recede. The change of seasons are upon us as the hours of daylight slowly shorten, and the Moon Goddess shines her light.

Summer is coming to an end as we begin to welcome the season of Autumn. The beautiful warm colours of red and orange emerge representing the cooler shades of the earth. Lammas is the first of the Harvest festivals and this is displayed with fresh loaves of bread.

For the first month of this new calendar year, I spent a lot of time focussing on my intentions. What do I want to achieve, when do i want to achieve it etc. Through this focus I have already begun to see results driving me towards these goals.

But Lammas is a good time to reflect on current achievements and to show gratitude for the abundance in our lives, to be grateful for the people we share it with. Today I am grateful for the people who continuously support me, who guide me and give me strength when I need it most.

Litha

Summer Solstice is celebrated all over the world. In the Southern Hemisphere it falls on either 21 or 22 December, depending on the earth’s rotation. On this day of Mid-Summer, we honour the Sun recognising the longest day of sunlight and the shortest hours of darkness. The earth shines under the fertility of the God and Goddess providing abundance in nature.

As we bask in the warmth of the summer rays of light, it is at this time that we begin to prepare for the turning of the seasons. The coming days will begin to grow shorter and daylight lessens as we return to the journey towards darkness once more.

On this occasion we are also blessed with the energy of the full moon. It enhances the celebration of Litha, and being so close to the craziness of the holiday season, some of us will become more sensitive to the vibrations.

I am going to use the power of the combined energy to prepare for the new year. But most of all, I will remember to breathe and surround myself with golden light of love and protection.

Happy Litha!

Winter bliss

I love this time of year. Crisp, fresh mornings and sleep filled nights. Admittedly the days are shorter and I do miss coming home to spend the last hour of light in my garden.

These first few weeks of June just before the Winter Solstice are the longest, darkest and perhaps the coldest.

If we listen to our bodies, it's a time to rest. Early nights in with a sense of hibernation. It is also at this time that the earth rests. Crops and plants lie in waiting for the first specks of spring to launch their new growth. And so it should be for us since we are also creatures of the earth. In the fast pace of the Western world we forget to slow down and listen to our bodies. We forget to move with the earth and live as one.