Walking a healers path, tips for a spiritual life

Autumn Equinox are you ready to step into your sovereign power as Queen?

Sun, 29 Sep 2024 17:05:18 GMT

Autumn Equinox Breathe, Release and Let Go

The Autumn Equinox is celebrated around the 21st/22nd September it is one of the quarter points on the old pagan calendar, a time of balance. It is known as a harvest festival as the last of the harvest is collected in ready for the winter. Celebrations took place when the last crop had been gathered and after the celebrations it was a time of rest. The start of this time is active as the energy is still moving fast and there is the urgency to collect the harvest, finish projects enjoy the last of the sun and making preparations for the winter months. There is a chill in the air and the nights are drawing in signalling that winter is coming. Although very tempting to snuggle up with blankets in front of the fire drinking cacao its not all about cosy slippers and snuggling. I always find this energy challenging as I get caught up in the energy of the quickening and urgency then I hit the slowness. This has happened for many years and as a keen gardener there always is much to do in the garden, to harvest and store, to clean and pack away, to trim back and to make tinctures, syrups and everything else needed for the long winter months. It is a time for reaping what you have sown, for finishing projects and giving thanks for the bounty of the earth.

At the Equinox there is a balance with equal days and nights although we are now stepping into the doorway of winter so it brings a change and transformation.

The equinox is also about release and as we watch the trees release their leaves they understand that they are no longer needed. By letting go now there is the space for new growth and the energy can be carried deep within over the winter months. Like trees we can do the same letting go of old patterns, things not achieved, clutter, old emotions etc. It is a good time to have treatments where cords are cut to old relationships, and for energies to be cleared and aligned ready for winter.

The goddess at this time of year is the earth Mother as sovereign queen. She is the Queen of the realm and the land but more importantly she is an embodiment of the earth and power. This is sacred power where she chooses her king and most importantly makes him King through their sexual union. We often have a distorted idea of power today and can hold power over others or give power away, neither being healthy. When working with Queen energy it is often the time around menopause when women are ready to initiate into their Queen energy and take complete responsibility for their lives and all of their choices. In my experience often there are parts of them that need to be cleared, healed and integrated so that the Queen years can be powerful and they can truly be Queen of their realm.

My Goddess course begins at the start of the pagan year in October contact me for more details.

How to start a daily gratitude journal

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 14:18:15 GMT

How to start a daily gratitude journal

Starting a Gratitude Journaling Practice

At this time of Lammas and the time of abundance it is good to start a gratitude journaling practice. I have been journaling now for many years and as part of my writings I focus on gratitude. Gratitude is more than just a feeling it's a practice that can make a positive difference to your life. I find it encourages me to focus on the positive aspects of my life, and what I have, rather than dwelling on the negative and what I haven’t. When we view our lives from a place of heartfelt gratitude we begin to draw in more love and let go of the fear.

So, what is a gratitude journal?

It's a personal space, be it a notebook or a digital app, where you can record the things you're thankful for.

Journaling gratitude is a simple yet profound way to notice the big and small things that you are grateful for in our day to day life. When you start it is often the larger things you are grateful for but as you progress and continue it can be the butterfly you noticed on your way to work, the colours of the waves reflected in the light or the water you are drinking.

By maintaining a gratitude journal, you're not only acknowledging the good in your life but also setting the stage for more positivity to come your way. The law of attraction states that like attracts like. By being in a state of positivity and abundance we attract more of this into our lives

So, how do you start a journaling gratitude practice?

· Choose a Journal/writing implement: Find a notebook or journal that resonates with you. It could be something plain or something beautiful. You may like a lined paper or a plain paper where you can add photos or drawings – whatever inspires you to write. You can also write online if this is easier for you. You may wish to write with a fountain pen and ink or a biro or pencil. The choice is yours, this is your journal.

· Set Aside Time : Dedicate a few minutes each day to your gratitude practice. Whether it's first thing in the morning or right before bed, make it a consistent part of your routine. I like to write in the evening, looking back over the day. We often say we are too busy and that we dont have the time, the truth is that when a friend calls, or your favourite movie is being shown we make time for this by pushing away some of our other tasks and reprioritising. Making this a part of your daily practice for 5 minutes a day is important to your well being. You have to see it as important so schedule in your diary, have a set time of day and set an alarm. Do whatever you need to do to make it happen.

· Reflect on your day: Think about your day and write down three things you are grateful for. These can be big or small – from the joy of a summers day to a catch up with a friend. Try to choose different things each day. As you begin to think about your day you will notice there are many things to be grateful for.

· Elaborate When Possible: Whenever you can, go into detail about why you're grateful for something. This deepens the practice and solidifies the feeling of gratitude. There is no right or wrong way to journal the key is to be consistent and honest in your reflections.

· Review: Regularly look back on your entries. This not only reinforces your happiness but also reminds you of the good in your life, especially on tougher days.

Starting a gratitude journal is a journey towards a more joyful and fulfilled life. It's a personal experience that is unique to you so, why not grab a journal and start today?

Let me know how you get on and

Happy journaling.

Harvest Festival Of Lammas or Lughnasa

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 18:54:35 GMT

August Festival of the Grain Mother

Lughnasa or Lammas is the summers height and celebration of the grain harvest when the corn Mother or Grain mother was honoured. After all the grain was brought in and stacked this was the time for honouring the harvest and for celebration. On Lammas eve fires were lit on sacred mounds representing the pregnant belly of the earth like silbury hill in Avebury. The corn mother was honoured as she gives birth to her harvest child the grain. Within this is the seed that provides the next years’ harvest and sustains life throughout the winter months. Lammas eve was a time of honouring the grain mother and the cauldron of regeneration. August 2nd is a traditional date although fairs and feasts lasted for a month 15 days before and 15 days after. Once all the grain had been collected and stored away the feasting began.

Lammas is a festival celebrating the first fruits of harvest, the fruits of our labours, and seeing the desires that we had at the start of the year unfold so rituals are centred around this. Lammas is an early Christian festival, "lammas" means loaf mass and represented the first loaves baked from that years crop. These were taken to church and laid on the altar.

The power of the sun goes into the grain as it ripens. It is then harvested and made into the first new bread of the season. This is the Saxon hlaef-masse or loaf-mass, now lammas. Seed grain is also saved for planting for next year's crop, so the sun god may be seen to rise again in Spring with the new green shoots, as the sun also rises in the sky. There are many traditions and customs all over the country that are still carried on at harvest-time today.

At Lammas we begin to assimilate and gather our own harvest. We look at the seeds we incubated in the winter and now begin to look at the first fruits of our labours. It is a period of assessment on the inner levels as well as viewing our manifestations on the outer levels as we move into the Autumn months.