Poem: Finding Love

When I found you, I had already stopped looking for you,

I was looking for something close to you,

An almost you, a substitute you,

I had already decided that you did not exist,

We stumbled across each other in the mine field that is modern communications,

neither of us sure what we had found,

But both interested enough to want to find out,

I remember my first thought when I first actually saw you... "It's him!"

That mythical person who I had dreamt of, but I feared had eluded incarnation in the physical.

I'm not sure how I knew... But I did.

something about how you looked at me, convinced me you were actually seeing 'me'...

not my clothes or my journey fried hair or my day worn make-up, but me.

When you listened to me you really heard me,

More than that you really wanted to hear me,

Savouring my words as fleeting gifts,

As the conversation made the night pass too quick.

I couldn't believe the amount of small inconsequential things we shared,

Things too unique to be coincidence, that added to all the little voices in my head still whispering in awe... "Its him!"

OK, I'm sure lots of people love 'The Breakfast Club',

But how many of them also gave up reading 'Lord of the Rings' because they found it too boring and way too long winded?

I thought I had nothing to give you, but you found things to take anyway,

And then you showed them back to me as treasures,

And I know you see yourself as flawed, but your dents and scrapes fit perfectly round my own rough edges,

So to my imperfect eye you are flawless.

And then grew the fear, I knew if you chose to love me, your love could never hurt me.

But if I chose to love you, my love on the other hand, giving that away could kill me.

It almost had in the past, and I'm pretty sure it could in the future.

But... there were those voices... "It's him!"

And, now time has passed,

And though circumstance has endeavoured to keep us apart,

You want to know what tells me that it won't succeed forever?

That little voice, the one that in amazement whispered "It's him".

Album Review: Utopian Folk, Beneath the Oak

Beneath the Oak have nailed it with their album Utopian Folk. An album that perfectly suits it's name. They have taken the atmosphere and intimacy found in all good folk and used sweet vocals and harmonies to give it a modern chilled out feel. Although the album works fantastically as a whole, this doesn’t take away from the individual atmosphere and story-telling qualities of each song as an individual piece. Although not specifically a “Pagan Band” tracks like Winter and the Moon – (a personal favourite) – conjure imagery that will definitely please this audience. I can't recommend this album enough... I would also take up every opportunity to see the guys live!

To find out more about Beneath the Oak check out their Myspace and Facebook pages.

How to Read Tea Leaves

The art of Tasseography is a form of divination via looking for symbols in tea leaves, coffee grounds, or more historically wine sediment. The practice really gained popularity in the UK during the Victorian era, and was often used as a type of parlour game.

Although there are many variations on the “ceremony” of drinking the tea and draining the cup, they all share a few similarities. After drinking the tea, the person wishing to gain answers from the reading will swirl the leaves, along with a small amount of the remaining tea 3 times. They will then up-end the cup onto a saucer. The person doing the reading will then meditate on the leaves left in the cup, looking for certain symbols. It is generally said that the nearer the rim the symbol is, the sooner it will happen.

Below I have listed some of the more common symbols, so why not have a go yourself.

Acorn - means material success, and growth. Can mean good health.

Anchor - stability, constancy, loyalty. If clouded can mean inconstancy or instability.

Apple - achievement, particularly work related. Can also indicate a long life or good health.

Arch - a journey. Or a desire growing and manifesting.

Axe - overcoming of difficulties, can indicate separation or division.

Baby - small worries, trouble cause by those close to you.

Ball - variable fortunes, things still undecided.

Bell - unexpected news, lots of bells can indicate a wedding.

Birds - good news, a message.

Boat - visit from a friend, protection or success in a new venture.

Book - if open means success and new information, if closed further information is needed and possible delays.

Butterfly - admiration, pleasure and joy. Can also mean fickleness and frivolity.

Candle - help from others, can indicate troubles and ill health.

Cat - deceit, trickery or treachery.

Chain - an engagement or wedding, if broken chain can indicate relationship troubles.

Chair - a guest or addition to the family.

Circle - success, a gift. With dots can mean a baby.

Cross – trouble or sacrifice.

Cup - rewarded for efforts, or a new opportunity.

Dagger - danger from others or yourself, can also indicate the need to take action.

Dish - disagreements and trouble at home.

Dog - faithful friend, may indicate a friend needs help, especially on bottom of cup.

Door - odd occurrence, can also indicate a new opportunity.

Egg - prosperity, new beginnings, can indicate a birth.

Eye - overcoming difficulties, insight. May mean the need for caution.

Face - a change, possibly setback. Many faces may indicate a gathering.

Fan - flirtation, attraction, indiscretion.

Feather - lack of concentration, inconsistency. Can also indicate finding courage.

Fence - limitations, barrier to success.

Fire - achievement and transformation, on bottom my mean acting in haste.

Fish - good fortune.

Flag - danger, a warning.

Forked Line - a decision or dilemma.

Gate - an opportunity, success in the future.

Goat - be mindful of enemies, (historically ill fortune at sea).

Grapes - happiness, fulfilment and abundance.

Hammer - hard work, overcoming obstacles.

Hand - if closed means an argument, if open means friendship, may mean an agreement or meeting, should be associated with symbols near it.

Harp - love, marriage, harmony.

Hat - good luck or improvement at work or a change in career.

Hawk - jealousy, an enemy is present.

Heart - love, trust, happiness.

Horseshoe - good luck or a happy marriage.

Hourglass - need to make decision quickly, delay in plans.

House - security, success or a new home.

Insect - minor issues that you can overcome quickly.

Jewels - gifts or wealth.

Kettles - illness, if on base may mean domestic troubles.

Kite - wishes coming true, can also warn of scandal and rumours.

Ladder - promotion and progress.

Leaf - new life or friends. Prosperity.

Lines - straight lines mean progress or a good journey,wavy lines mean uncertainty.

Lock - obstacles or loss of something you value.

Mountains - ambition, obstacles on the way to success.

Mouse - theft or trickery.

Mushroom - lovers quarrel or having to take a risk.

Nail - injustice or spite.

Oak - good luck, health, wealth.

Owl - ill fortune, financial hardship, a warning to exercise caution.

Pig - mixed blessings.

Pistol - danger & disaster.

Rabbit - a need to be brave.

Raven - bad news, disappointment.

Ring - marriage or a long term commitment, if broken can mean an engagement ending.

Rose - good luck, popularity and joy.

Scales - legal issues, if balanced means justice, if unbalanced injustice.

Scissors - arguments or separation.

Sheep - success, growth, an offer of help.

Shell - good news.

Ship - successful/fulfilling journey.

Shoe - a change of arrangements that will be very beneficial.

Snake - an enemy, be cautious.

Spider - reward for work, receiving money.

Spoon - generosity.

Star - good luck, happiness, hope.

Sun - happiness, success, growth and power.

Sword - arguments and rumours, if broken can mean the defeat of an enemy.

Table - social gatherings, meetings.

Tent - travel.

Thimble - changes in the home.

Tortoise - criticism or to try something new to you.

Tower - an opportunity or disappointment.

Tree - prosperity, happiness and situations improving.

Triangle - good fortune that is often unexpected.

Urn - happiness and wealth.

Vase - good health or a friend in need of help.

Volcano - emotional outbursts and strong emotional states.

Wasp - gossip and trouble.

Waterfall - prosperity.

Wheel - good fortune, particularly financial.

Wings - messages.

Wolf - jealousy or selfishness.

Blissful Anarchy

Lazy fingers trace each others silhouettes,

Amongst a patchwork of blankets, pillows and discarded clothes, we lie,

Flavoured with sweet smelling smoke, and even sweeter honey wine,

Our protest against the real world continues, as it has for days,

Within the silence we express the contentment of our shared emotions,

With no real need for words, we say everything that we need to,

Phones go unanswered, mail gets ignored.

Wind chimes muted behind closed curtains provide the soundtrack to our blissful, quiet anarchy,

Revelling in the sweetness of our defiance against “what we should be doing”,

Never wanting to leave and do anything else.

Loves Escape

Two separate prisons,

both existing in one place,

It became a happy incarceration,

We let falling in love pass the days,

What we had been calling circumstance,

We switched to calling fate,

Neither really sure how we existed,

Without the others embrace,

I was there when your walls crumbled,

But my own cage still remained,

So much elation on your face,

I rejoiced with you all the same,

As your light shone brighter,

For me you became harder to see,

Like a beacon growing stronger,

As you’re swept away to sea,

You swear that you’re not leaving me,

That it won’t be long before your return,

That when the sun dawns that day,

You will take me as your own,

I know you would never lie to me,

I believe your intentions to be true,

But I see how you love that freedom,

Through the bars I watch you through,

Don’t think that I resent you,

That I would rather take your place,

Having to leave your liberty,

To retrieve me from this cage,

And if you can’t make it back for me,

I can’t say you won’t face blame,

My heart would be too shattered,

To ever plan an escape again.

Save May Day! - Part Deux...

Ok it's been about a month since the first result of the letter writing... a rather prompt response from Buckingham Palace!

There were also letters sent to David Cameron and Nick Clegg. As you will recall from my first blog post, I was told the letter originally sent to The Queen was forwarded to one of her ministers.

Well, this morning I received two letters, from two government departments, one as a result of the letter to The Queen, and one as a result of the letter to Nick Clegg.

Although it appears we may have won the battle in saving May Day for a couple of years, the letter from Chris Green, of the DCMS indicates the war may not yet be over...