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

The Winter Standstill

The perfect time for contemplation at this time of standstill between the seasons. It's winters pause, we're still snowed in and we need to get supplies in before the weekend so the 4 mile hike to town looks like an increasing possibility. Even though this is a nuisance I still appreciate the quietness of the countryside and enjoy the space away from the hustle and bustle of the town.

A Blessed Solstice to all.

Aspects of the Moon

Well there's no further excuse for it, all this time lolling around inside and with the temp still at freezing point, there's work to be done. Daughter is due back from uni on Friday and weather permitting we will be the fab four again. The time's passed quickly. I need to get this house straight before the festive season. The tree has arrived and is decorated, only a real one will do and this year again we have Nordman Pine, the scent is amazing and I feel that I am honouring the traditions of the ancestors by bringing the greenery into the house.

My altar is also green and set up for the winter solstice on the 21st. It will also be a visible total eclipse of the moon during the morning, I'm hoping that the moon will be visible and that the promised hues of orange, red, turqoise or grey are easily seen. I still carry the moon card of the druidcraft tarot and I'm hoping to perform the initiation ceremony into the Ovate grade on this day . The only problem is where and when. The Gwersi reccommend using the darkness as part of the ritual which means early morning or evening, also I'd like to do the ritual outside. It will be cold but I will have guaranteed peace and space that is required as I don't know how long this will take and I have to go out later that evening.

This is something that I will have ponder on...maybe there will be a sign.