One solstice night

Asteroids rained down and forests burned,

yet few people seemed remotely concerned.

Floodwaters rose and thunderstorms churned,

But still the planet turned and turned.

"It's the end of the world!" some people cried,

"We told you so! Repent, run, hide!"

But I sat in my chair and sighed,

warm and snug on this Yuletide.

Every street of every town,

the whole land over, up and down,

was filled with shoppers running round,

To see how much they could grab for a pound.

"Stay indoors!" the reporter said,

as giant hailstones rained down on his head.

Well, I was snuggled in my bed,

warm and cosy and very well fed.

"It's Christmas, the world can't grind to a stop!"

came the uneasy voices from every shop,

as the people began to precariously hop

around burning rocks that would crackle and pop.

From the skies there came a breeze,

that made the land the world over freeze,

and what's this? It's raining mushy peas!

The repenters were down on their knees.

As earthquakes rocked the planet's crust,

And trees came down with one strong gust,

as buildings crumbled into dust,

where now were people to put their trust?

Well, good grief, it's very cold,

but you'd think the streets were paved with gold,

"Ignore the weather! Keep spending!" we're told, 

as Christmas continues to be bought and sold.

Here is ending the shortest day,

the sunshine disappears, down to the last ray.

The shoppers barge each other out the way,

even though the darkness is here to stay.

So here has arrived the longest night,

I'll admit it's a most extraordinary sight,

this end of the world, but with all my might,

I wish for a returning of the light.

We waited and waited, through the dark,

now no noise save for a dog's bark,

what kind of legacy would this event mark?

The masses were gathering in the park.

But I was in my bed fast asleep,

I couldn't hear the scared people weep,

but then I saw sunshine, just a peep,

and out of my bed I sprang in a leap.

"Welcome to the new world," she said to me,

the smily newsreader on TV,

oh, what a beautiful thing to see!

A good slice of toast and a cup of tea!

Now the world was put to right,

the sun rising up, shining bright,

Mother nature went to these extremes? Well, quite,

to bring people together on solstice night.

Now the people began to understand,

as they gathered in the streets, hand in hand,

Forget the commercial! Gifts needn't be grand!

It took the end of the world to unite the land.

Merry Christmas, Yule, and Hannukah too,

or whatever celebration is best for you,

out with the old and in with the new,

May love and compassion be in all that you do.

)O(

The new Etsy shop!

Howdy all,
with, for once, a distinct lack of Pagan shops in my area, I'm now selling goodies old and new in my new Etsy shop. Check it out! Place an order before 21st December and get a free personalised Yule card :D )O(
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Luthylou

Love and hugs, xx

On death

Hi everyone,
I know I haven't written for a while, and I'd intended to waffle on a bit more about runes or about the rituals I got up to at the summer (Lughnasad in Avebury being the highlight), but I have more pressing things to talk about now....

When I refer to 'death', from a Pagan perspective, I mean more than just a physical death of a body. When you lose anything that was a large part of your life, particularly if it was taken suddenly and unexpectedly, it can feel like a death, and the process that follows can still be defined as grieving. When my girlfriend left me last week, I felt like I'd spent an entire summer planning for a future that no longer exists. Now I have to start from scratch, pick up the pieces and rebuild my life; everything was going so swimmingly that there was no plan B and I was devastated. But here's the thing....
One of the great things about being Pagan is that when tragedy of some sort strikes you always know that it will produce one or both of two outcomes; a new birth (I predict creative output to soar this month, a light workload this semester will help), and eventually a rebirth into a new life, certainly a long way from the one that was planned, but we're flexible like that. Adaptability is why we have survived so long! When it feels like all is lost, what we have on our side is to remember to go back to basics, to remember that everything is built on the birth-death-rebirth cycle. Living in a world of concrete can make it easy to forget it but after the darkness the light will always return; it's simply the way that nature is designed.
The other thing about experiencing intense emotional pain or loss, or feeling like you've made an irreversible mistake or lost something irreplaceable, is to remember that there is something to learn from everything that goes wrong. It's true when they say that everything happens for a reason and that lessons are repeated until they are learned. When the bombshell was dropped on me I felt only confusion, anger and immense pain, and it took a few days for the fog to clear and the message of what I was supposed to learn from this to sink in. I was being taught to appreciate the support that I have in this city; I've never been happy here at Uni and didn't make close friends last year, but had things gone to plan with my other half I'd have near ignored everyone else. The lord and lady can be forceful if they have to but they'll do whatever it takes to make us open our eyes and see our surroundings for what they really are. It took for this to happen to see what wonderful people surround and support me. There's an answer to the darkest of times, and it can be the people you feel you connect with the least and to whom you give little time who are the kindest and most supportive. The gods will teach you what you need to learn, and if like myself, you are stubborn enough to make them have to put you through hell to learn it, like any good parent, that is what they will do.
Once again Glastonbury calls, almost 5 months after my wonderful birthday venture, this time a solemn pursuit of healing. In the run up to Samhain a trip like this seems appropriate, a time to mourn, to let go, then to rebuild and start a new life.
 Blessed Be all xxx

Birthday in Glastonbury

Howdy folks,
a quick update on the remarkably fabulous 20th birthday of mine!

You have the crap birthdays, the ok birthdays and the GLASTONBURY birthdays! After a number of crap birthdays I thought I'd cave into expensive temptation and do the one thing I've always wanted to do - spend my special day in this so special place. With my wonderful lady and a budding beginner by my side, the three of us embarked on a two day frolic during which it was supposed to piss with rain but remained beautifully sunny. On arrival at the Goddess temple, after umming and ahhing about going to the Glastonbury Goddess Conference this year, I was then personally invited by none other than Kathy Jones....I have to go now lol. I think I'll let the pictures do all the talking. Blessed Be xxx )O(

Welcoming the Spring

Greetings all,
this is long overdue but better late than never. Spring as I'm sure you'll agree is a time of frazzledness, increased activity and generally having too much going on. But we always find time to herald the welcome of Springtime, as I've done in two events in different places at the end of last month.

Ostara with Swansea Pagan Moot
Me? Lead a ritual? Really? Not a most comforting notion, as even though alas I'd lead the Imbolc ritual, someone else wrote it. So I rifled through every past Ostara ritual I'd done, and soon I was tottering to the Works to stock up on a couple dozen plastic and polystyrene eggs , a few buckets of paint and some permanent markers, not odd at all, I'm sure the cashier thought to herself. For the University's Ostara talk we painted eggs in the spirit of the season, and some people came up with some quite imaginative designs. The leftover eggs were saved for later pursuits...
When the Sunday evening of the 25th March rolled round, despite heaving traffic in Mumbles we had a good turnout at the roundhouse, we drew symbols on the eggs marking our intent for new plans or ideas, charged them individually and then together in a bowl, and welcomed the Spring with this lovely song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGxQBcit_ps
We rounded the evening off with a bardic circle and some runic galdr chanting. Hail and welcome Spring!

Leaping Hare
The Leaping Hare convention in Colchester is run annually by Colchester Pagan Network and the Pagan Federation. My first experience of it was last year, but this year, held on the 31st March, was even better (better company might have had a small part to play in that too :P.) There were talks on Runic cosmology, the spirit of the 'Leaping Hare', traditional witchcraft and more, far too many lovely things to buy, and Sam's drumming workshop was really fabulous. There's usually so much going on in such a small venue that you won't get to have a go at everything - which lures you back for more next year! My highlight, as with last year, was the ritual at the end to herald the arrival of Spring. As the cakes and wine were passed around the circle the woman standing next to me hissed "What do I say! I've never done this before." It makes me begin to realise just how far I've come on this path, and how much further I have to go.....
http://www.freewebs.com/leapinghare/

Ammanford Goddess temple

Hi all,
just a quick post to tell you all about Wales' new goddess temple.
The temple in Ammanford is a quiet, sacred space dedicated to the goddess run by a group of lovely ladies, who also have a shop downstairs! "The Magick Cat is run and staffed by commited pathwalkers, and dedicated to supplying only the highest quality goods to the Pagan & esoteric community". Everyone give this wonderful shop a visit. As of last week I've been volunteering at the temple on Monday afternoons so keep the candles lit and the incense burning, interact with people if they want, and generally ensure that people don't set fire to themselves. It's lovely to have something like this nearby since as wonderful as Glastonbury is, its such a long way...
The temple is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 11-4, and workshops and classes are held in conjunction with the shop. Check out their website and facebook, its very well worth a visit :)
2A High Street, Ammanford. 
)O(

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ammanford-Goddess-Temple/231710923577544
http://goddesstempleammanford.webs.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magick-Cat/247026572028552

My Imbolc 2012

Merry meet folks,
I hope you all had a blessed Imbolc. This is a bit on the late side I know,  but this year's been so hectic that I've decided to break it down into pictures for you. Normally I'll write a ritual for a sabbat, have a little ceremony and Bob's your teapot. This year I've done things a bit differently, in the form of  a series of mini rituals; Imbolc is my big one, having 4 years ago dedicated at this time, so I wanted to make it special. In recent weeks, more than ever before, Brigid has been there for me, and to her I dedicate this.

01/02/12

On the 1st February, the Swansea University Pagan society, which has been growing quite considerably since the end of last year, held the first of the Wicca 101 sessions, a talk about the altar and the current season of Imbolc. Imbolc means 'in milk' and was traditionally the time when the cattle started calving and lambing, and thus giving milk. It is a time of returning of the light, as the evenings get longer and the first whispers of Spring are in the air. 
We introduced to the group the main features of an altar (giving as general an overview as possible given the hundred and one ways of setting one up!), followed by a talk on Brigid, Imbolc traditions from around the world and the significance of Brigid's crosses, which we then made from some colourful pipecleaners.
The Brigid's cross was made by the ancients of Ireland from reeds or sheafs of corn from the previous harvest, and hung over the hearth to protect the home and its inhabitants and ward off evil. The hearth was the central point of the home where the cooking and socialising took place. It represents the solar turning wheel, and also the crossroads, sacred to Brigid. It shows us where we've come from and gets us to think about where we're going. We had a few newcomers to this session and it was enjoyed by all!


03/01/12
My first mini ritual was that of Brigid's crossroads ritual:
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/imbolcfebruary2/a/Imbolc_DivRite.htm
I found a secluded spot in the park and set about crafting this Brigid's cross (made from strips of thick paper, which came out better than you'd think.) The past year has been a bit of a rough one, and thinking back to this time last year gives me the shivers. But move forward we must, and this ritual reminded me of that - we don't know where we're going, but the road goes ever on and on....


05/01/12
The next mini-ritual was the Libation to Brid at the Sacred well by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone, taken from a delightful little book called 'Wiccan Wisdomkeepers' arranged by Sally Griffin. For lack of a well I made do with the stream in the park, and collected water in a small ceramic bowl to use. It involves carrying three stones and some pebbles to the well, kneeling before the well and anointing your forehead, throat and heart with the water, and laying the stones, one by one with an invocation, in a triangular shape. The stones are rinsed in the well and placed within the triangle, with a final prayer. To finish, a nearby tree is decorated with ribbons in thanks.
The privacy wasn't fantastic I must say, but this was very much enjoyable all the same, Brigid being a favourite goddess of mine. I can't find the text online but message me if you'd like it. I also gave some milk to the stream in honour of Brigid. 


Next was the nail-biting moot ritual.
The priestess pulled out due to illness a few days before, and told us the ritual would be cancelled unless someone stepped in as a replacement. So gallantly did I wave my little paw in the air saying 'III'll do it!'
And then there I was, in Pagan Standard Time, frantically printing out ritual guides about 20 minutes before we had to leave for Caswell Bay, and getting myself into the most unnecessary of flaps. Alas, so I was told afterwards, all was indeed hunky dory; I didn't invoke Fire in the North, I didn't go arse over heels casting the circle, no-one set fire to themselves doing the wonderful candle dance, the cakes (seedy buns from the Spar, best I could do on two days notice) remained perched precariously on their paper plate, and I didn't choke over my own words during the Bardic circle.
Phew. All in a day's work. 


09/01/12
My Imbolc celebrations would not be complete without the re-dedication ritual, which I do every Imbolc to reaffirm where I'm going on my path. This in fact coincided with lunar Imbolc, or the nearest full moon to calendar Imbolc, which made it extra special for me. I also announce my magickal intentions for the year, which differ from new year's resolutions because you really are supposed to stick to these! I also consecrated my beautiful Pagan liturgy book which I've dedicated to Brigid, and held a mini ritual. Ahh, sublime.

Until next time folks, merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again. xxx )O(

Medicine and magick with herbs

Hey everyone,
I hope all are well. Just a quick post to share with you one of my main projects this year. I want to complete a project on alternative therapies, a healing handbook if you will, which I hope to publish at some point. I've divided it into two separate projects: Medicine and magick with herbs, and Medicine and magick with crystals, chakra energies, aromatherapy and colour therapy. I think there's a lot more to be done with the former, hence it has its own logbook.

Medicine and magick with herbs
I initially thought I'd just gather information on each herb, put some remedies and spells down, and Bob's your Uncle. But then I reckoned I ought to do this properly, and inspired by translating notes from the Herbs workshop from the witchcamp in Spain, I decided to keep a logbook and try out everything I write about. The idea is that I want to be able to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, and have first hand experience of everything I put down. I also take pictures of every recipe I try and write reviews, what went wrong, what went right, how I could improve it, what to do differently next time. Already some bits have gone great, some a bit wrong, but trial and error doth a herbs guru make!
I never knew there was so much to herbs; herbal oil infusions and digestive teas on the medicinal side, and smudge sticks and herbals pouches on the magickal side have been dipped into and tried out, with incenses, decoctions, tinctures, creams, vinegars, wines, syrups, ointments, salves and much more yet to be explored. It being January, and living in a city, I'm having to buy most of my herbs from the supermarket, which I know is far from ideal, but I think just working with them, getting used to their smell and texture is a great way to begin learning about them before I can hit the hedgerows a few months down the line.
Once I'm on my feet with this one I'll begin the twin project and see how much I can learn about other forms of healing and magick. 

Blessed be and have a good Imbolc )O( xx

2012

Happy New Year all,
as we stumble into the new Gregorian calendar year, predicted to bring about great changes in the way we view religion and spirituality, and our attitude towards our planet. This year, here in the UK we've got the Queen's diamond jubilee, the Olympics in London, and various apocalyptic catastrophes of some description or other around Yuletide to look forward to. For many of us the new year began at the winter solstice, or at Samhain, and for me it begins at Imbolc, the arrival of the beginning of Spring, and the time I dedicated to my path. But what does 2012, and the new year, mean to you?

The Year of Change
We hear of it from time to time, carried on the breeze; The Mayans foretold of it, Nostradamus predicted it, indeed daft movies have been made about it - time to brace yourselves for the apocalypse/ impending doom/ end of the world, thing. But my money's on there being a more positive outcome to December 2012.
In August 1987, people gathered at sacred sites all around the world to take part in the Harmonic Convergence, marking the beginning of a 25-year cycle to 21st December, 2012 that would signal the end of the Mayans' 5,000 year calendar, the end of this age....not, erm, the end of the world. These ideas were promoted by Jose Arguelles, who describes the upcoming event as a 'period of dramatic evolutionary change affecting the whole planet,', a gateway for change as it were. I believe, folks, that we are being called upon to change our ways NOW so that a healthy, unpolluted planet can be passed onto my generation and the next generation, and the next. After all, it is not the planet that is in danger; She can regenerate and start again without us - it is ourselves that we have put into danger through over-consumption, greed and rapid depletion of the Earth's non-renewable resources. 2012 and 2013 are predicted to be years of a shift of consciousness and a rapid change in peoples' view of the world around them, for the better.
Thinking of my mindset this time last year makes me want to bash my head against a wall repeatedly; my expectations of the coming year were so headache-inducingly optimistic that it makes me want to shake my January 2011 self by the shoulders and perhaps give her a wake-up slap. An unwritten New Year's resolution  this year for me is to stop wishing for a perfect and rapidly progressive year, as after all, every year has its great moments and its downright rotten moments (of which there were more of the latter in 2011). But I am game for the idea that there's a lot I can achieve this year, the end of which is meant to mark the beginning of a new age. Perhaps I will begin to come into my own and all the hard work will begin to pay off. Who knows what we can expect?
On the more practical side I want more than ever to put in the most effort I can to learn form the lessons of the Fifth Sacred Thing, to do more than my part to work towards a more sustainable future. I want to grow some of my own food, make more of my own clothes, to finish old projects, to learn and teach to the best of my ability. I've said these things pretty much every year since I started on my path but this year I mean it! This year of all years. I have hope that those who lack guidance and have been feeling lost will come into their own, the idle will be granted motivation to do something positive for the community, the grieving and the broken will find strength and compassion from the Earth's energies to take with them into the new age. I daresay I'm beginning to sound a bit too optimistic again, but I think we can make the Earth a better place to live - after all, its not the end of the world.....


In love and light, a blessed 2012 to you all and courage to put into place what you want to achieve. xx BB )O(