Winter Goddess

Samhain

Tonihght I face the elements. Its been a mixed day here starting with dull and grey and then progressing to a bit of sun. Will it be dry enough for our annual garden bonfire with soup and mulled wine? Is too early to tell just yet and it won't be the same without Persephone anyway.

Back to Witching

Its just past the equinox. Mabon my son has turned 14 as the earth turns to balance. Equal amounts of day and night. Its getting cooler even though the sun is shining. The days are numbered before Samhain kicks in. Persephone has gone back to uni and life changes with the wheel. I must focus on my course once more, the gwersi now complete, there is a consolidation period for the next few months, that will hopefully take me up to Imbolc.

Demeter

Its approaching the Autumn equinox and I'm feeling a bit Demeterish. My daughter is due back to uni to start her second year there soon. School has started and autumn has arrived. Time for change. I'm still taking the OBOD course ovate grade and hoope to be at my first ovate gorsedd in Shropshire in October. Its all go! And, even though I will be losing Persephone for a little while, things are much better than at this time last year

Pause for thought

I'm having a blip...I need to pause for a while until I catch my breath. Yes, I'm stuck at Gwers 11 of the course and I need a few moments for the Awen to kick into gear again...

Midsummer

Due to a wet and windy Solstice, I stayed in last night. Although I feel that I was not alone. There were definite shapes and shadows in the semi darkness around. Fairies perhaps?

Anyway, today I received my first email from my Ovate tutor. I feel more reassured about the course and less worried about whats expected of me as its so different from the Bardic grade.

Heres to happy studying

The great outdoors

Last year, I managed to get out and about walking the Land with friends both in this area and further afield. I found the experience healing as my footsteps touched the earth I reconnected again and again.

This week we retraced my steps through those magical woodlands past the fields enjoying the visible change in the seasons. Summer has arrived and with it  the warm days bring pollen which is practically tasteable. My itchy eyes tell the story.Not that it matters much, I'm just grateful for the summer.

Renewal

My recent hospital visit has meant that I have been unable to get out and about as much as I would have liked to. Full intentions of photographing the exposed sunken forests at Borth have been quashed, but its only a blip. After spending 8 weeks in confinement I'm chomping at the bit to enjoy the Land once more. This year I plan to travel further afield in Wales to dare to go to the unknown. Those places that I have read and dreamed about will mean that I aim to explore mountains, visit standing stone circles, magical woodlands sacred streams, pools and beaches.
It's time for me to draw up a healing list of places that will nourish and renew. My OBOD course is on temporary hold for the time being because I feel the Earth calling from beneath my feet .
And I will answer Her

Lucid dreaming

Its been some time since I was here last. Beltane has come and gone and I'm thankful that it did. My health waxes ad wanes through the seasons and I'm glad that it does. Those hazy joyful days of May leave me with a renewed stark sense of reality. Same as last year only less intense, different even.
Reality check time...family intact, much love surrounds, time to write some more.

Yostara

Gorgeous spring has arrived. The Land sprouts forth in abundance and the garden is just amazing, filled with birdsong and scent....Our ritual last weekend was peaceful and lovely. Here's to a peaceful and productive season

The joys of spring

Those spring flowers have well and truly sprung up. Yes, there's a lovely array of crocuses, snowdrops and the daffs will follow soon. Its springtime, yay! My favourite time of year....the Land is becoming fertile once more with the blessings of the verdant Goddess. How joyful.

Stories

I've had a productive week. I started to become interested in home crafts just before Christmas. Firstly it was crochet which didn't go that well but at least I tried. Next it was incense making, I had many of the ingredients already at home so why not.I've sent a small sample to my daughter at uni.

 Next I was visiting a neighbouring small town and spotted some mask making equipment.I thought it would be great to tie the masks in with the storytelling that I've got on the boil. It's a project that I have been thinking of for some time now. I would like to bring Welsh mythology to the people in a more accessible way.There's a few ideas that I have which will no doubt come to fruitition at some point in the future, but I'm not exactly how just yet. 

However today I went to see an amazing performance of Sir Gawain and the Green Man by master storyteller Cat Weatherhill. She mad the whole thing come alive with her vibrant performance and use of props.This has inspired me, I'm still working on an Imbolc mask at the moment and have decided to put my work up on another blog, Touching The Awen. Why? because I have a feeling that I will give away my work and wish to have a nice record of it before it disappears. Not that I suppose anyone will see it....    

Imbolc Incense

Here's one I prepared earlier

Clear the hearth

Its getting close to Imbolc, this is a festival that I particularly love as Brigid is one of my favourite patron Goddesses. I took the decorations down yesterday and today plan to clean and tidy up, changing the altar over to an all over white look.

I'm glad that the Yule season is now over it took its toll what with the snow and being stranded here for so long. We were unable to get out and about, to visit and be visited. Let's just say that things got a bit fraught at times!

So here's to a new year and a new look