Hawthorn Runes for use with Tarot cards

I went in search of Hawthorn the other day as I wanted to make some Runes from the wood.

I found a whole hedgerow full of this magical tree and was thrilled to find that there was also mistletoe growing from it.

It is unlucky to take from the tree so I managed to find some fallen bits that had come lose.

I took a small hacksaw and cut three small discs.
Then I sanded them down until smooth and with my wood burning pen inscribed the ancient Ogham sign for Hawthorn.

Now they were ready, I took my Tarot set out and laid every card on the floor face down.

I asked my question and closed my eyes.  I then dropped the first rune gently to the floor.  The card that it most contact with, I selected and put it to one side.  This is the first card and relates to the past.

I then did the same with the second rune, this is for the present and finally the third which represents the future.

I then turned the cards over to get my reading and I was amazed with the result.  They really did help me and gave me a clear view of the direction I am hoping to take in the future.  I felt this way of working with my tarot set very powerful.

Working with Ash

I have been working with Ash over the last few months, first by making a candle stick to honour the Ash Fairies and more recently looking at the health and medicinal things it can be used for.

I went for a long walk on the first of January and found an avenue of Ash trees, all of them had these lovely 'doors' as I see them.  This was particularly relevant as the first of January is also the celebration day of Janus the roman god of doors and openings.

I found a tree that had partly fallen over and there were lots of branches lose on the ground so I took them back home to make something special with - an ash bark face wash.

I shaved the soft bark off into fine slivers then crumbled them up further, they were very soft with all the rain we have had. In the Summer it is possible to simmer the bark to soften it a little.

Then I took an egg white, whisked it up and added the bark. Such a simple but lovely treatment.  It felt lovely as I rubbed it gently into my skin and when I washed it off my face felt glowing and smooth

  

Shapeshifting - Riding with the spirit horse

I have just completed part two of the totem spirit animal course with the Magical Circle School. This has been one of the best courses yet as it touches on finding and working with your spirit or power animal and learning the art of shapeshifting.

I had never realised until  now that shapeshifting is something that we may do all the time without even realising it.  When you are feeling really down but you feel the need to put on a brave face or if you are scared of something but do it anyway, these are all forms of shapeshifting.  It is a way of fooling others into seeing you in a different way than you actually are inside.  

Over the course of several months I have learnt how to disappear into the back ground  when I find it necessary and on other occasions push myself forward with the courage of the lion.  I have fought for justice with the help of the unicorn and have turned negative energy into something positive with the owl.  I have found new wisdom and inspiration with the salmon and used the bees to communicate messages. The hare has taught me to look at imbalance in my life and the butterfly has shown me true transformation in the life cycle.

I have taken all the strengths and qualities from these precious animals when I have felt the need for support. Through my mediation I have met with my personal power animal which is the horse and just lately I feel that I have had some very strong messages that are so closely connected with what is going on in my life.

The horse gives a message of journey and travel, it celebrates birth, life, death and re-birth and helps you to accept that every part is vital in the cycle of life.   It asks us to look at why we feel restless and give us the inspiration  and the ability to ride in a different direction.  

With the aid of my drum I have started to do this not just in the spirit world but the real world too.

I painted it in the colours of my horse who now gallops over the clouds and love to honor the horse in general when I play it.

I will now move onto part three of the course which involves working with the birds so look forward to seeing what our feathered friends can teach me.

Magic in the North, East, South and the West!

I completed another course with the Magical Circle School this month which I am so thrilled with as it has a month which has tested me in some ways. It's been a month that has drained me of energy one day only to be restored the very next day. That is how most people go on in life, the ups and downs are all part of our living on this beautiful planet. The ebb and flow of life in all ways is a natural process and study on this particular course has helped me through some difficult times.

Part of this course was about looking at the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water and all of the correspondences.  Earth is connected to the North and Winter, Air to the East and to Spring,  Fire to the South and Summer and Water to the West and the Autumn.   This really is natural magic in its true sense. I believe that the quarters are not just points on a compass, they really are connected with the changing seasons at each turn in the wheel of the year. We are still in winter but very soon we will move into the Spring, a time for creativity and inspiration and a time when I hope my dreams and wishes are carried through the air until they reach their destination.

I bought two great books for study as part of this course written by Scott Cunningham, 'Earth, Air, Fire and Water' and' Earth Power', both excellent books if you are interested in natural magic.

So what next? I have enrolled on my next course which is 'Totems and animal Spirit guides, think I am going to really enjoy that one too. I have to go to a safari park to observe wild animals, bring it on!

 



 

A Wicca Graduate

I have been doing an on-line course since March of this year on Wicca and got my final pass certificate the other day.

It's been a great course because I got to do lots of research on the history of Wicca which was very interesting and also I had to write about the various traditions and areas that I am interested in so my love of the Druid path has really helped.  I also had to write essays on the wheel of the year and how the various Sabbats celebrate the changing seasons and the cycle of life and death.

I liked the way that on this particular course I could show my own views on how I feel about the ever changing wheel of life and how I celebrate these magical times of the year.

 I am really looking forward to Samhain (tomorrow) as we are going for a walk to a stone circle then back home for pumpkin carving and a bonfire. This is one of my favourite Sabbats as it was during Samhain that I felt I wanted to follow the pagan path.  Samhain is seen as the New Years Eve, a time for reflection, remembering those who have gone before us and looking to the future.

It is also a time of feasting and fun which I will be having in abundance!

The Worlds of wonder event - Stepping through the Gates of Autumn

To celebrate the Autumn equinox ( Mabon) I attended a wonderful event run by Steve Rumellhart.  I love this time of year, dark and light are in balance and it is a time to reflect on the year gone so far and plan for the winter months ahead. Although I am a sun worshipper and a sun sign, I can still appreciate that we need this balance when the world starts to become darker until the sun gives way to rests and then returns strong once again.

 We started with a magical story telling by Cliff Eastabrook - The Travelling Talesman. As we walked through the beautiful woods, he weaved a magical tale into every part of the landscape.
 

It really made me think about every time I go into my woods, how I look at things and it inspired me to try it for myself.    

These events are so much fun too.  I love dressing up and in one day I managed to shape shift into a fox and a wolf!

The other guest was Leo Rutherford (Shaman and author) pictured below and I managed to catch up with him after his talk!

 

This is so true and something I will remember. Why have a dream if you do not intend to try and make it come true?

A drum of my own!

 
My drum was delivered at the weekend and it was a very special occasion as I have been waiting for months to buy one.

There is something about a drum beat that gets to me, it's a healing and uplifting sound that soothes or energises most people. Even though I am not an expert and probably sounding awful to everyone else around me, at least I can take myself off to places where I don't bother anyone and can enjoy my own noise in my own magical way.   

My drum is a 'fair trade' drum so I feel it is from a good source, the skin is from goat which has not just been killed for this drum but as food.  I would not wish to upset any people who disagree with using animals in this way but I believe that the animal has fed someone and then its skin used just as we do with leather handbags or shoes. 

The difference to me is that this animal will live again through the beat of the drum because I will honour its heartbeat through the beat of the drum.