Honouring Sulis

Yesterday, I travelled down to Bath to meet up with my daughter. It was great catching up with her, I realised how she has matured into a fine, well developed young woman in such a short space of time. It doesn't seem so long ago that I was changing her nappies and watching her first steps. That time has now passed and yesterday we all spent the day together as sightseers around the ancient city.

I've always wanted to visit the ancient Roman baths there, which were dedicated to the celtic goddess, Sulis and later became Romanised into the goddess, Minerva. I'd heard so many accounts about it that I was determined to go. It's a great place to visit as there seems to be something there for everyone. Very little is known about Sulis, but I felt that I truly experienced Her presence whilst walking around the ancient baths and the warm waters of the bubbling spring, Her Source. I left an offering in the cold pool and later drank the warm, chalky healing waters at the pump house. It was wonderful to think that I had been walking the same steps as the pilgrims of old, leaving offerings and taking the waters. I bought a little golden owl and a small effigy of Minerva to hang on the Yule tree.

But first my thoughts turn to Samhain on Sunday. I've yet to prepare my altar for my ritual so later I will be carving the pumpkin and dressing the table ready. Weather permitting I will be outside around the bonfire at some point so I have all that to consider too. Warm soup will be on the menu along with mulled wine. Hopefully I will have a blessed and peaceful Samhain.

Approaching Samhain

There I've done it. My final piece of work for the OBOD course is complete. It's taken me three years in all. I just need to tart it up a bit and then it's all systems go for the next stage in this exciting adventure. I hope that everything will be complete in time for Samhain. A new year, a new start as they say.

Industrious Autumn

It seems such a long time since I was here last but, I've really been that busy. Never would have thought it a few months ago. Hey ho! I've been writing a lot, Firstly I've started an autobiographical writing course, which sounded a bit daunting at first but it's not so bad. Each piece of your life is divided into chunks so its rather like embroidering and creating a patchwork quilt. Stitching your own life together in manageable squares. I'm rather enjoying the cathartic experience and it will be something for my own children to read when the time is right. And who knows, I may put some of it here on this blog.

Also I decided that the time is right to complete my Bardic studies part of the OBOD course. This means more writing, quite a bit actually. Revisiting those experiences, thoughts and feelings that had happened wasn't easy at first but with practise everything started to flow and now I am waiting to hear from my personal tutor.

Drifting through the seasons

I think that I coped very well. Daughter settling in nicely at uni since Saturday. No tearful, dramatic goodbyes. I'm delighted for her, it's a wonderful opportunity to grow. And the sun shone, well it's been shining ever since. It's the perfect autumn. The trees now shedding golden leaves and a slight chill in the air, we're heading for Samhain and darker evenings. I love it.

And what about me? well, I'm on a path to self discovery. It's nothing new but it's something that I can fully embrace now that I have a little more time on my hands. I've enrolled on an autobiographical writing course at the local college. This is something that I started last year, it's a chance to discover my creative side. Something that I feel that I've neglected over the years what with having children and work I was usually just too knackered to have any chance to indulge or even dabble. I think that it will be a good thing. Cathartic , if nothing else.

And then there's my spiritual side. Something else that is need of attention. It's a part of me...a big part. No doubt about that. But as I'm feeling better I feel that now is a good time to touch base. I'm ready for it and with all this writing the Awen is starting to flow once more.

Mabon

The turning of the wheel

Yes there's definately a seasonal change. The signs are everywhere in nature and even though we have had some sunshine lately, theres that Autumnal nip in the air that I find so comforting and reassuring. Its a good time of year for me. I like September. I love to go for long walks in the countryside and feel the crunch of brown crispy leaves below my feet, the swallows preparing to fly and the sight of my breath in the air. Well that's not if its peeing down with rain!

I feel its time to start something new. Not only will it fill in my time once my own fledgling has taken flight but it seems so long that I learnt or did something new for myself. Spending so much time at home is lovely but with the winter drawing near and dark nights ahead it looks like a daunting prospect. I need something to get me out of this house. And with Samhain coming closer too I have realised that I have neglected my spiritual practise as well. Ill health put pay to all that but I feel that the time is now right. I feel well enough and gradually I'd like to start integrating spirituality into my life again, not that it ever went totally, it never does... it's just that I became overwhelmed with other things for a while.

as one door closes

...another one opens. It's coming up to that transitional time of the year again, September, Autumn, Equinox. It's a time of balance between the seasons and life in general. With daughter off to college things looked gloomy for a long while...a sense of a loss. Losing the child that was and gaining an adult, a fully rounded independent being. So perhaps I did my job as a parent ok. I could even afford myself a little pat on the back, not that I did it all on my own. But not a bad job even if I say so myself.

And what will I do now that one fledgling has flown the nest. It's a time for great opportunity to see where life takes me, both in the physical and the spiritual sense. It's time for me to open my eyes and see clearly all that is around me.