It's been a while...

The day feels somewhat low-key when I look back through the notifications from various apps showing me "On this day..." posts. From what used to be the culmination of weeks of work, to host all-night events, to now happily planning a day in quiet contemplation, taking a walk among falling leaves. From scrabbling with pumpkin carving, costumes and various family events, to a quick "I won't be too late!" as my youngest dashes out of the door with a black dress and witches hat to celebrate with friends right after college.

It seems so quiet... and that's not a bad thing.

Today has always been a day of reflection and hope for me. This year that seems more present than ever. Between this Samhain and next I have a heck of a milestone looming. Forty. I used to joke that I'd like to be retired by then, never thinking I actually would. However, it seems like it is set to become at least partially a reality. To my vast surprise, I've reached this point and realised that decision has actually very little to do with investments and future planning (although having built an income from my fave hobby rather than a "job" is a massive factor), and everything to do with feeling happy that I've done... enough.

My life has gone through a number of chapters, there was "pre-Lily", I got married young, had kids, had little focus on anything outside of that, and few friends. Then there was "Lily", I got away from my first husband and I built a life for me and the kids, I found this crazy bunch of people that loved the folklore and magic I had discovered, and I felt more myself than I ever had. Then there was "Gordon & Lily", well you all know about that love story, I thought this was going to be my final chapter, I was sure of it. Then there was what I'm now referring to as "lost-Lily", there is a very deep sense of misplacement in the world when you find yourself in the unfortunate position of having to outlive your happily-ever-after. Now, well now it feels like there's going to be something else, and I'm not sure what yet, but that's ok.

This afternoon I am going to visit a special little new woodland, next to a quiet little airfield in Northumberland. Then I'm going to come home, set up a simple little altar, open a brand new journal and plot the next phase. During the few years I was a little lost I started some projects that have run way overdue that need tying up. There are a few life-admin things I need to take care of, and a few debts I want to repay, more emotional ones than practical ones. This feels less like starting a new chapter and more like writing an ending whilst planning for an amazing sequel.

Looking down at the remnants of the wish cords I put around my wrist a year ago (both of which worked very well, lol), I am aware this year I don't have anything I feel like I need to cast for. It's been a running joke amongst friends that "It's fine!" has been my go-to catchphrase when faced with absolutely any disaster or chaos, but I now think it may have been an unintentional invocation. Despite everything I've come through to get here, it is "fine".

Assuming I get all my little loose ends tied up between this year and next, I'm not going to have a single plan, obligation or commitment that I have to do. It doesn't feel like an "achievement" because the gods know I did get here on my own, and I don't feel "lucky" because getting here nearly ended me more than once... I just feel happy, and hopeful, and I really want to see what happens next.

Happy Samhain.

Pieces of You

 Pieces of You

Memory cards found on the floor,

Old mobile phones at the back of a draw,

Handwritten notes in past birthday cards,

I search the pockets of clothes that used to be yours,

Looking for things I've not seen before,

From years that have past, that I may have ignored,

Little pieces of you scattered around,

Little pieces of you waiting to be found,

I gave you back to the earth,

To the wind, to the sky,

Returned you to the Whole,

I said goodbye,

I imagined your soul spread across all the land,

Across oceans of water, across deserts of sand,

I thought there'd be comfort having you everywhere,

But I can't seem to stop wanting you here,

Now I'm constantly searching cupboards and draws,

For tatty photos dropped between the floorboards,

Trying to hold every memory of you,

Trying to collect all the little pieces of you.

Podcast July 2018

Unintentional Ritual Objects

I remember many years ago, when I first started down this path, I collected many objects to use in ritual practice, candles, cauldrons, crystals, etc. Some of these items have fallen by the wayside, some of them have been used for years, but what strikes me today is that some of my most valuble are the ones I never intended to be ritual items at all.

Now I'd like to say I'm not a sentimental person... but that is a lie. My jewellery box still holds a blue plastic ring given to me by a boy when I was 8. However, what I'm talking about here goes deeper than that. It's fair to say that objects and places hold a certain type of energy when they are used for ritual practice... sometimes this happens without us even being aware of it. 

For me this hit home whilst stood in a camping shop looking at boots. I need a new pair, but it wasn't until that moment I realised why I really didn't want a new pair.

I bought my current pair of boots in 2009, and without realising it they've been the only consistant peice of ritual wear I've ever owned. I wore them to my first pagan gathering, my first group ritual, my first camp, to conduct my first ritual, to explore the spiritual landscape both locally and everywhere I went. I wore them the first time I met my husband, the first time my kids saw the summit of a mountain, the first time I saw the aurora. Yet here they were at the end of their practical life.

Now, yes, I will buy new boots. The old ones however will remain with the rest of the useless things I hold too dear to throw away or rehome. The situation however got me thinking. How thankful we should be that magic can find a home in the most unlikely of places, and how wonderful it is that we can so naturally place it there.

Happy Lughnasadh everyone. It is the start of the season of thanksgiving and harvest, sometimes we make stores for the dark days without even being aware of it, and recieve that energy back without even noticing, for that alone we are fortunate.

Treatments and Readings: The Vault, 1st April 2017

On the 1st April I'll be heading to The Vault, Creative Well-Being Centre, as they've got an MBS Fair going on. I'll have a therapy room there where I'll be offering taster sessions and treatments. These are great ways to experience reiki, or get a tarot reading at a low price. Each appointment last 20 minutes, and will be priced at £12 each. I expect these appointments to go fast.

You will be able to choose from a tarot reading, either general or focusing on a specific part of your life, or a Meditative Reiki treatment, using exclusive meditations.

In order to make things easier on the day I am offering you guys the chance to book in advance, this will allow you to plan your day in advance, and I'm giving you a 10% discount on the pay-on-the-day price.

If you would like to take advantage of this offer please book your appointment using the payment button below. Your appointment will be confirmed via email and will be between 10:40am and 15:20pm.

Please note, once booked appointments are none refundable if you cancel within 48 hours of the event.

Hedge-Witchery Radio

You may have noticed sound is now wafting out of this blog, and www.hedge-witchery.co. Fear not you are suffering auditory hallucinations, this is Hedge-Witchery Radio. There's not a huge amount of content on there yet, but we're working on it, so please keep tuning in. 

We're open to suggestions with regards to content and what you'd like to hear, and if you run a business we're looking for people to sponsor us in exchange for advertising (£5-£20 per month, comment or contact me for further details).

Although we're an online station, we're sorting out apps to ensure you can listen in anywhere, the android app is available for free now, and the apple app is coming very soon.

Stronger

One day I will be strong again,

but that day is not today.

I will sit in silence loud with worries,

as the hours slip away.

One day I will visit those,

who took my joy away.

I will not forgot,

My memories will not sway.

Though revenge may not be honourable,

one day my heart will call.

It will not forget this pain,

it will need to see them fall.

A list of names has been taken,

it has been watered with my tears.

For now I'm lost in anguish,

more than any soul should bear.

I am broken and I am helpless,

on others I must rely.

Many days and many nights,

doing nothing more than cry.

One day the anger will change,

and it will become resolve.

The pain will heal itself,

thoughts that are puzzles will be solved.

I know that I will grow,

like poppies on waste land.

Your down fall will come,

it will come by my hand.

One day I will be stronger,

and that day is not today.

When I'm stronger than I've ever been,

you'll think it's gone away.

You'll think I'll have forgotten,

or that time has dulled my will.

These scars will never fade,

memories haunt me still.

One day I will be stronger,

stronger than I've ever been before,

When I reach that day,

I will knock upon your door.

Magical Alphabet: F is for Frige

Sometimes spelled Frig, she is an Anglo-Saxon goddess. We know very little about her as there aren't any original written sources we can look at for information, although various archaeologists believe to have discovered statues depicting her.

Historians have drawn comparisons between her and the Norse goddess Freya, and the Roman goddess Venus. Looking at this along with other clues they believe she was a deity linked with sexuality and fertility.

Traces of her remain very much in our everyday modern lives. "Friday" comes from the Old English for "Frige day". There are also a collection of place names, particularly around Hampshire, that are linked to her.

The Truth About St. Patrick

Ok, so every year it seems my social media is bombarded with angry Pagans decrying the celebration of St. Patrick's Day because he is being celebrated for driving all the Snakes out of Ireland... and "snakes" means "pagans": WRONG!!!

Seriously, it's bullsh*t, stop repeating it.

Firstly St Patrick did not rock up in Ireland to drive out Paganism and replace it with Christianity. There were already Christians in Ireland when he got there, quite a lot of them. There is a whole host of historical figures that were associated with spreading Christianity in Ireland, from Finnian of Clonard, who trained The Twelve Apostles of Ireland, through Palladius and then onto the subject of this article himself.

The misconceptions about St. Patrick aren't contained to the Pagan community, even the church themselves are thought to have fudged the dates placing Patrick in Ireland 30 years earlier than he actually arrived. This is believed to be because they grew to prefer him as a figure to Palladius, and  it allowed them pass credit for a lot of the work Palladius did to Patrick.

It is believed Palladius was sent to Ireland to stop Pelagianism - (a believe system within Christianity that believes people can earn salvation by their own efforts, rather than just by the grace of God) - from establishing among the Christian community.

Secondly snakes were much more commonly associated with the Devil or evil, than they were with Pagainism. They could have been used as a symbol of many things, from original sin through to the afore mentioned  Phelagians (the theory I favor).

So when you see cartoons of St. Patrick driving snakes out of Irelands, what you're actually seeing is Palladius stopping Pelagians entering Ireland... or at least keeping them quiet when they got there.

St. Patrick was born in Roman Britian, and despite having a Decon for a father and a priest for a  grandfather, he didn't find faith himself until he was kidnapped by Irish pirates at 16 and lived as a slave for 6 years. Upon escaping he returned to England and continued to study Christianity, eventually returning to Ireland as a missionary.

Bede's World - Why we should care...

So, anyone who has seen my social media feed since Friday will be aware that the North East has suffered the tragic loss of Bede's World Museum. On Saturday a group of us met next to the site to show our support in trying to save the museum. Now whilst there has been an outpouring of support for this, there has been one type of question that has raised it's head a number of times, and I want to try and address this. 

"Why are a load of Pagans so bothered about a Christian attraction?"

Well, firstly, it's not a "Christian attraction", it's a museum that was dedicated to an incredible historical figure, who was christian, there is a difference there. As well as being a monk, Bede provides us with glimpses of medieval science. In De temporum ratione he shows us his study of astronomy and the passage of time. He was highly skilled in languages and translation, making important theological writings more accessible to those in Anglo-Saxon Britain.

He was also a historian. As a member of the pagan community this is the main reason he is so important to me. Bede's work, Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum, not only documents the progress of Christianity in Britain, but also what came before. We owe a huge amount of what we know about pre-Christian paganism to Bede.

There is also the fact that the site was host to a huge range of community activities. There were educational and creative endeavors ongoing all the time within the museum itself, something very much in the spirit of the man it is dedicated to.

Given Bede's penchant for arguing with those in positions of power (his scientific research saw him accused of heresy in 708CE), I think we owe it to his legacy to make sure we stand our ground, not let this resource be taken from us, and do everything we can to resurrect Bede's World however we can.  

You can keep track of what is going on via the "Save Bede's World" facebook page.

Broken Song

     There was a little bird, who couldn't sing a song. He would squawk and cackle and try his best to greet the coming dawn. He could never join the chorus, or the majesty of his flock. They'd line the trees each morning, as he'd hide down by the river, and longingly he'd watch. As the years grew on he lost all trace of want and jealousy. He'd just sit and enjoy the music, and contented he would be.

     He never gave up hope though, that one day he'd find his song. Sometimes he would practice, and practice all night long. The other birds would feel pity as they heard his broken call, coming from the riverside after darkness would fall.

     One morning a group of young birds, came and rested down by him, alighting over the river on their way to sing. Suddenly a gust of wind caused the branch to sway, the weight of all the birds must have been too high that day. As he watched the branch did crack and in the water fell, panic soon gripped him as birds do not swim well.

     He opened up his beak and let out a mighty call, it was broken and it was out of tune, but it was recognised by all. The other birds all heard it and were alerted straight away, for the bird by the river was never heard at this time of day. Diving down like well practised pilots, over the water they could skim. They lifted out the young birds and laid them down next to him.

     As those young birds grew to adults, a story they would tell, of how their lives were saved by a bird who never sang well. From that day he took pride of place up on the wing. And any time he wanted, for him they all would sing.

Magical Alphabet: E is for Esbat

"Esbat" and "Sabbat" are two terms you come across a lot in witchcraft and paganism, although Esbat tends to be used more in Wiccan circles it is now used across many Pagan paths.

Where as a Sabbat is a celebration of one of the seasonal festivals, an Esbat is a gathering of magical practitioners purely for magical work, often falling on the full moon or new moon.

An Esbat can be used for healing work, initiation rites, or purely to bring together a coven or group of magical practitioners for a social gathering.

The word Esbat is thought to come from the French ébat meaning simply "frolic". This indicates a greater enphasis on socialising and fun than is experienced at Sabbats.

What is Meditative Reiki?

As some of you reading this will know I offer Meditative Reiki, and a lot of people have started asking me what this is, as they've never heard of it before. Well that's because I made it up!

Not in a "lets think of a fancy name I can give something" kinda way, but it's a treatment I devised, and "Meditative Reiki" was the most common sense name for it.

For year before I started my work with Reiki, I had worked with guided meditations for ritual purposes, journeying work and as a stand alone way of focusing my energy and altering my perceptions. It struck me a couple of years ago that having clients listen to guided meditations through out their reiki treatment could be hugely beneficial... so I tried it. Happily, I found it worked very well.

So after a couple of years of creating meditations specifically for the purpose of this treatment I have found that it boosts the effectiveness of reiki in a number of cases. I believe this is because it involves the client in their own treatment more. Whilst they are receiving reiki, they are able to use the meditation to consciously direct that energy, and utilize it in a way they will find most beneficial.

I am currently developing more reiki meditations to offer people and would be interested in hearing peoples suggestions.

Some Witches DO Curse

Ok, it's been a while since I did a "let's get this straight" type of post, and this is one I should really have done a while ago.

There seems to be this ever growing misconception that modern witches don't curse. Well that's partially true, as some modern witches don't curse, others however most certainly do.

This belief seems to stem from the fact that in some of the more modern ritualistic manifestations of witchcraft, Wicca for example, things like the Three Fold Law seem to inhibit cursing and hexing. However, not all witchcraft practitioners belong to paths like this. A lot of re-constructionist practitioners will often quote "If ya cannea curse, ya cannea cure!" Meaning to curse is as natural a part of our nature as it is to cure.

Cursing and hexing form a huge part of our magical heritage, from poppets to spoken charms. In years gone by some cunning folk made a living from protecting people against them and undoing them. This is documented everywhere from court records dating from witch trials, right through to the large collection of poppets displayed at the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting some witches lock themselves away in a tower with flying monkeys reining terror and misfortune over everyone. What I'm saying is, occasionally, usually by way of defense, you need to very firmly take action against someone, and there's no reason that this can't be magical.

It's true, the universe has a way of balancing itself, so randomly hexing people into oblivion will most likely come back and bite you on the backside. However, there is also a school of thought that believes that as a magical practitioner, you can be the means by which balance is restored. In other words, eventually a jackass will annoy a witch, and that witch may well be the source of that persons karmic comeuppance.

Magical Alphabet: D is for Dancing

Dancing forms an important part of many Pagan traditions and rituals. Some practitioners use dance and movement during rituals as a “power building” exercise, in the same way drumming and chanting may be used. There are also more specific examples.

It's fair to say that no Beltane celebration would truly be complete without a dance around the May Pole. Their origin is still debated, with many people believing they stem from Germanic tree worship, and others believing they are a phallic symbol. However, regardless of you're views on their origin, it's hard to dispute their place in British magical customs.

Dancing around poles very similar to May Poles also occurs at Midsummer in some countries. Though even without the pole dancing around a fire at sunrise or sunset is a widely held Litha custom in many traditions.

Dance certainly plays a part in modern celebrations. At the larger Summer festival the sun going down often marks the beginning of some fantastic displays of fire dancing, belly dancing and other traditional dances, usually accompanied by drumming. 

Magical Alphabet: C is for Cleansing

Cleansing is a word you hear a lot in magical groups, but want exactly does it mean?

Well from time to time you may feel a negative energy in a place, or that something isn't quite sitting well with ritual tools, or that your tarot deck feels heavy and clumpy. These are signs that there is cleansing work to be done. If you use magical energy in your life, over time you become a lot more aware of it, and it will soon become apparent that if energy is... well... sticky! A part of the energy you call in for each spell, ritual or reading, will remain. This is why you get such an apparent atmosphere at certain historic site, which is the good side of this. The bad side is that if you use a tool or place a lot, for lots of different types of ritual, the energies can start to get a little confused with one another. Cleansing is the practice of removing the affects of that energy. A lot of people view it as totally removing the energy all together, but I feel leaving it there in a sort of “dormant state” adds a power to the place or object.

There are a lot of different ways to cleanse, and it can involve some very elaborate ritual work, but other methods are very simple.

Bells – The sound of ringing bells is a good way to cleanse and clear any space.

Citrine – This crystal is said to not only clear negative energies, but is also thought to be “self-cleansing”. I keep tumble stones of citrine in the bags where my tarot decks are kept for this reason.

Incense – Burning Sage, Frankincense or Copal (to name but a few) will cleanse a space, objects and tools can also be passed through the smoke.

Moonlight – People often leave objects and tools that need cleansing out in direct light from a full moon.

Salt – Burying objects in salt (natural sea salt) will cleanse them.

WE DID IT! - "Tarot Professionals" course gets accreditation.

Today we reached a big milestone, not just for Hedge-Witchery, but for professional tarot reading in general. I'm aware this is quite a bold claim, and I'm not usually the "look how awesome I am" type... but in this case there's been a major workload involved and to be honest I'm pretty chuffed with myself for doing it... so there! blows raspberry

Back in September Hedge-Witchery launched a new online “Tarot Professionals” course. Today I was greeted by an email confirming this course has been externally verified and accredited as a professional development course.

Anyone who's been reading this blog for any length of time, or following me on social media will have, at some point witnessed one of my rants about unprofessional practice within the realm of Psychic and Magical service providers. So when I decided to offer this course, it was always at the back of my mind that I had to make myself as accountable as I expect the people taking the course to be, so I decided it had to be externally accredited and verified.

As you can imagine this was no short task, and it was at this point I realized that there possibly weren't any other available accredited courses for a reason. However on we plunged, and luckily we found an accreditation organisation that was as keen to take the industry in this direction as much as I was.

Anyway, after months of work, lots of coffee, lots of begging feedback and favors off friends, and sending the accreditation company's head of assessments a tarot deck so they could join in with some of the lessons on the introductory courses... we have finally arrived at where we wanted to be.

The fact that these types of courses have approval from a mainstream coaching and training body, rather than purely within internally assessed groups and organisations, will give the subject more accountability and professionalism. It will also instill confidence in those seeking out this form and topic of study that the level of instruction they are getting is of a set standard.

This is just the start though, I'm going to enjoy the achievement for a few weeks, but after that, given we're now recognized training providers, we'll look to offer more accredited courses within esoteric studies. Obviously this will be a long term project and each course will take at least a year each to develop,  but our feet have found their way firmly on that path.

The course itself is available to all Full Members of Hedge-Witchery.co (membership cost a maximum of £2.99 per month), and one off registration fee for the course is normally £125, but has been reduced to just £75 until the end of February as a special members offer. The course it based online and can be studied at entirely at the individual learners pace.

The course doesn't just include the study materials and certification, it also includes first years membership to “Hedge Witchery Professionals”, which students will receive upon completion. This will give them £2million public liability cover, membership to a further professional body (T.H.I.N.), and online promotion of their services.

3 Kings Stone Circle

Happy Whatever!

It's that time of year again! As I type this snow is falling outside, the local robin red-breast is puffing out his feathers and I'm merrily munching cold cuts of ham.

We're anticipating Yule, we have friends coming over (I think I am cooking for 14 at last count) there will be much revelry and traditional Yule customs. However, we are also preparing for Christmas. Our family, like so many others, is a little... erm... extended. There are step parents, half siblings, etc, etc, and as we are all aware this is a time for family to gather... all family. So whilst everyone in our little nuclear unit is Pagan, those outside of it are mostly not.

Now around this time of year there are some fairly sarcastic battle lines drawn, usually between Pagans and Christians about how the christian faith "stole christmas" from Pagans... well no not exactly. I mean yes, they commandeered a fair few traditions, but as any Pagan will tell you: It's all about intent.

So they may be celebrating the birth of Jesus, and we might be celebrating the return of the Sun... but surely if we're doing it at the same time, with very similar customs... doesn't that make life easier?

We're all off work around the same time, we all make that extra effort to see each other around this time, we all think about the year past at the same time, we all embrace the spiritual aspects of our lives at the same time... lets just enjoy that!

My "Mabon" rant...