Earth Wisdom

I have just returned from Cheshire, where I have been supporting my daughter after major surgery.

Now adjusting my mother head towards business head and focussing on returning to Japan on Thursday.

After my last article about the roles we play I am marvelling at how versatile we can be as humans. The cultural and self-imposed conditioning that keeps us narrow and fearful is sometimes challenged to the limit. If we can’t be flexible in it, and trust that we are taken care of in it we cannot spread our spiritual wings and fly, Phoenix-like, into the unknown.

Xxx

I have been greatly tested recently with various things. Illnesses of beloved ones, trauma and sorrow for other reasons, disappointments and frustrations.

Within all of this, however, my faith in the Divine plan never wavered for one moment. Within every situation is a test and a lesson. Sometimes this is difficult to see, but it is always there. My total belief in the unconditional love which holds us and keeps us safe allows me to trust, and to surrender completely. At the same time, however, I try to acknowledge my humanity, and the perfection of the soul which tells me it is OK to be angry, to make mistakes, to be silly sometimes, to show frustration.

A realization that the basis for most emotional dis-ease is lack of self-love and acceptance really has got me thinking. How many of us live our lives trying to please others – playing out various roles which we think will appease? We are so frightened to step outside of the box of perceived expectancy in case others think badly of us. Again, how many of us have used the expression “it’s not like you/her/him to act in that way.”? How do we know that’s true? Why do we condemn someone who breaks away from conformity?

I admire so much those people who decide to turn their back on the “norm”, and live a joyful, fulfilled life. Of course, those of us who have young children have a responsibility to them, but even family units are expected to conform to a certain way of living.

Those two polarities Love and Fear are at the basis of how we all behave. Bullies and tyrants are fear-based, of course. How many of us, though, bully and tyrannise ourselves into doing what is expected of us by others because we have woven a certain myth about ourselves?

A challenge! Do something totally different that makes your heart sing! Even if it’s wearing a purple hat to the supermarket, chatting up a gorgeous man just for the hell of it, standing on top of a hill and singing out loud. How about saying “NO” instead of “That’s fine” or “I don’t mind.”? Now that IS a challenge.

Love and blessings

New life is awakening everywhere at the moment.
The Blackthorn is glorious, my Ramsons or wild garlic is just about ready to join the young nettles in delicious soups. I have the first bluebells side by side with mini hyacinths, and shy little daisies are shooting up all over the stone circle.

The most wonderful magic of all is that my dear Apple tree is sprouting little fresh leaves, after we really thought she had breathed her last. A couple of roots are still lodged in the Earth, so the life force flows despite all the odds.

What solace and inspiration she has given me with this determination and strength. I have been seriously challenged recently, but my faith in the Wheel of Life has been consistent throughout. My dear little Apple – Quert in Ogham – has given me an unmistakable message of the power of belief and prayer.

In times of great darkness I remember asking to be shown three miracles every day. These miracles always appeared, whether in the shape of a Red Admiral butterfly in February, or a beloved friend offering comforting words. This has now developed into my giving thanks upon waking for ALL the blessings I will receive that day, knowing without a doubt that even the saddest and most challenging times there are miracles and wonderful gifts just waiting for our awareness.

The rain has come!

Standing in the porch last night with The Familiar, looking up at the still full moon, we could smell it in the air. A sense of excitement filled us, and her fur rippled down her spine.

I could hear her pacing through the night, then the cat-flap banged as she burst through, and I knew the rain had come. I had opened the window wider than it had been for the past cold months, and waited, half-waking into the small hours. Now I could hear that gentle hiss, and the steady falling of raindrops onto the window-sill, and into the birds’ water-bowl outside. At 5-30 am the birds began their morning chorus, sounding more magical and joyful than usual.

Surely even the most grumpiest of grumblers must welcome this beautiful, life-giving gift? That exotic odour of wet earth, the warm, moist air? The birdsong swells and echoes with gratitude. The Familiar rushes in, fur soaking wet, pink nose glowing, whiskers curled with excitement.

We LOVE the Rain.

Nature is reawakening, and the wheel turns once more.

The garden is beginning to come alive, with daffodils, primroses and these delicious little wild violets. Since moving here I have been delighted to see these flowers expand their area every year. Is there anything more delicate and Spring-like than these?

A pair of mallards have turned up too, so even though I bemoan the lack of frogs, toads and newts my little pond has attracted other water-loving species! I suspect that the residence will be a little cramped, however, and they might move on.

Went for a delightful family outing yesterday to Penshurst. The boys were climbing trees, scrambling through hedgerows and getting caught in brambles. Such a joy to watch. The blackthorn and pussy-willows were magnificent, as was the delicious cream tea to celebrate my daughter-in-law’s birthday.

A few pictures of a perfect weekend with Celtic Earth Magic

We had a wonderfully bright and sunny weekend for the Master level of Celtic Earth Magic.

The stone circle welcomed us as we created a sacred space for ceremony, and blessed the Ogham runes which the students made and dedicated.

The energy buzzed, and the stones and wooden discs were transformed as the runes were drawn on them. They became living, three-dimensional tools for divination and Magic.

I have been using my Healing Ogham runes on a dear friend for these past few weeks. Each time the appropriate symbols choose to be of service with the healing, and I am still amazed at how much depth and expansion these simple images contain.

The Plant Spirit journeying to the Nettle proved most enlightening, with a lot of synchronicity, as often happens when the plants share their wisdom with us.

Photos to follow.

Wow! What a glorious Full Moon we are experiencing now!

Those of us who are in tune with the phases of the Moon (which is all of us, just let go and feel it!) will be feeling its power, made even more magical by the fact that it is a Gibbous Moon, and will be for the next quarter.

Have you ever been on a high point such as Firle Beacon, Seaford or Beachy Head and seen the Moon and the Sun in the sky at the same time? Well that’s basically a Gibbous Moon. (For the more intelligent explanation visit Dave Molz on www.onbrightsky.co.uk).

I have been creating my Ogham runes for divination in preparation for Celtic Earth Reiki level IV. Yesterday was the time to cleanse and bless them. This was when the Full Moon was at its most powerful, but doing it on the Gibbous made the ceremony even more special.

In my stone circle in the garden I honoured the four directions: North with a greenstone crystal, South with a candle, East with incense and West with a chalice of spring water from Glastonbury. I then empowered the circle with light and energy using my wand. I stood in the centre with my new Ogham runes. They had already been cleansed by smudging.

I called upon the Lord and Lady to witness the ceremony, and stated my intent to bless and charge the runes with the energy of the Earth beneath me, the Sea around me and the Sky above me. I always feel so connected when calling upon these energies, but this time I felt the balance, the equilibrium, yin and yang – whatever you want to call it. To me it was the masculine Sun and the feminine Moon.

I took my new Ogham runes to the East, and ran each one through the smoke of the incense, asking that my work with them brings the attributes associated with this direction – clarity of thought, insight and understanding. I then took them to all the other directions, walking clockwise, or deosil around the circle. With each direction I asked for the runes to be blessed with the qualities of that particular element.

After visiting all directions I sat in the middle of the circle in contemplation, connecting with the runes and with the ceremony. The wind was helping the trees to speak their approval and appreciation. The birds were twittering loudly, full of the promise of Spring and new life. Around me were snowdrops, daffodil buds and the little heart-shaped leaves of the violet. All the time, in the sky watched the Moon and the Sun as equals.

Eventually I gave thanks to the Lord and Lady, and opened the circle with my wand, this time walking anticlockwise, or widdershins around the outside.

We are approaching the Spring Equinox, when day and night have equal light. My ceremony had the Gibbous Moon to remind me of the balance between all things. It is Harmony and Equilibrium that the whole of Nature shows us in all aspects of the Universe.

Simple really, when you think about it. Just go with the ebb and flow. It all balances up in the end. Struggling against it only gives us wrinkles!

Love and Blessings

xxxx