Autumn’s paintbox

Now who can say honestly that they don’t like the colours Nature produces in Autumn. Mother Nature really does have all the best colours in her art-box!

Thanks to the gusty autumnal winds yesterday, the leaves where fluttering and flying about while I was out walking the dog. The cherry trees near the top of the road had let loose some of the most vivid red and orange leaves, much earlier than some other trees and it always seems such a shame that the wonderful colours cannot continue.

Now I like to burn candles and tealights so I decided to collect some leaves with strongest colours so that I could use them as a tealight decoration.

I have a cracking little device for pressing flowers in a microwave so it’s done within 30 seconds, no having to wait patiently for them in a normal flower press or in books.

I pressed all my leaves before glueing them onto the side of a small glass, overlapping some of them to fill the gaps. I then painted glue on the outside of the leaves as this acts a bit like varnish as it seals and protects the leaves from drying any further. I just use normal PVA kiddy glue (and it means I get the added pleasure of peeling it all off my hands later like you used to do in primary school!)

This is the end result..

The colours in these pictures have not been enhanced at all…this is how it looks when lit from inside!

Now I can enjoy the beautiful warm tones of Autumn as we move forward into Winter with its colder temperatures, darker days and longer nights.

Samhain next….are you all prepared and ready? No, I’m not at all…let’s see if I can rectify that! x

A few minutes well spent.

Afternoon!

This was taken from underneath my favourite big Oak in one of my local parks.

 I like spending time with this Oak, it always makes me feel better and by way of thanks I always collect up any litter found underneath and around it when I leave.

Today my dog thought I hadn’t spent enough healing time with the Oak apparently, as he wandered around the tree whilst on his extending lead and in effect tied me to the trunk of the Oak, therefore meaning more time spent touching the tree as I tried to persuade the dog to retrace his steps and untie me!

I like this Oak and would like to think that this Oak enjoys time spent with me (and my dog!)

Stone Stack Shrines – mini altars to the Spirits of Place and Time.

Here is the latest post from Spiralling Leaf, yet again a great read, may have to try and make some of these myself!

 

I’ve found myself building more and more stone stack shrines these last few months, and some of that could be a reflection of what’s going on in my own life. Yet, I suspect that …

Source: Stone Stack Shrines – mini altars to the Spirits of Place and Time.

Mabon Blessings

Hello and Mabon blessings to each of you!

When I first got up and went to work for the first part of my day, I didn’t feel much like marking the turning of the wheel and celebrating Mabon. There is a fair amount of stress going on and no-one here is in a very good place…but while I was driving I got to thinking that regardless of what is happening personally, I really should do something to mark the equinox before we move into the darker part of the year.

So I decided that I would make an onion bread loaf to share with my family..

Turned out rather well and smells delicious might I add!

While the bread was proving I decided that I could decorate the twig tree in the front room with the orange ribbon that I had and some dried apple slices (after I made them!) so that was the next thing done…I seemed to be picking up Mabon momentum.

Hahaha….this close-up doesn’t do it justice, it honestly looks a lot better in real life and later when I put the little lights on, better again!

By now it was time to take Wonder-dog out for his walk, which was something else I wasn’t in the mood for, but as I know from experience generally means I really do need the walk in the fresh air and the trees so off we went, to a local park.

The sun was shining, the birds were being very vocal, the breeze was gently blowing loose leaves away from the trees…wearing their autumn finery..

I could literally feel the breeze gently removing some of my angst and my steps got lighter.

I spent a few minutes being amused at the scolding of a squirrel above me in the trees however I decided to leave  when it started dropping conkers at me.

After noticing the teeth marks on these conkers, this got me to think about Mabon being the second harvest and how its not just us humans who are foraging and ‘squirreling’ away produce for the leaner months.

Wonder-dog and I took an ever so slightly different direction than normal away from the park and I stumbled upon a crab apple tree laden down with fruit. After checking that the apples were ripe, I foraged some for a trial run of crab-apple jelly, I have never tasted it before so thought it was worth an experiment, especially as the tree had been placed before me.

This is the haul we came back with for the jelly experiement…tart little beggars these are so I dont believe any additional pectin will be needed to set this.

..and here is the mush straining, will cook it up and set it into jars tomorrow. I am surprised at the delicate pink colour to the liquid, really looking forward to tasting it!

So there you go…apparently even though I originally wasn’t going to mark the Solstice, turns out I did…maybe not in an elaborate manner but more of a personal, understated way..and I feel a lot better for it. Got to love the little gentle nudges you get to help you do something that ultimately makes you feel better!

Again, I wish you Mabon blessings as we move into the darker half of the year and may your second harvest be bountiful, x

Hips and Haws…

Anglezarke Ambling Part 1

I have reposted this from a friends blog, he is a new friend and one that I find fascinating. His knowledge staggers me, so much so after a recent tree-lore walk done in his company, myself and another commented that due to the level of information in a head so young, it is believable that this is not his first time here!

 

A few years ago a conversation furnished me with knowledge of a neolithic site on moorland not too far from home, more importantly it told me where exactly it was. It then took me quite a while to …

Source: Anglezarke Ambling Part 1

Perthshire

Rowena….these pictures are for you!

Enjoy my lovely! x

Autumn

Hi……

Its been a while hasn’t it? Thanks to life taking over, throwing me a curve ball that had me wanting to get into some really dark shady magick as a form of revenge, my blogging on here has taken a hit!

I didn’t go ‘dark’, I had some good advice from fellow witches and pagans and with the love and support of my husband I decided to let the law deal with it and continue being (trying to be) the good person that I am.

Anyway, a wonderful family holiday has been had in the wonderful serene surroundings of Perthshire in Scotland, we had a gorgeous little cottage to ourselves on a working estate, the Laird and family were away so there wasnt a soul about…just big sky, big trees, birdlife and wildlife….sheer bliss! Just what was needed for this witch and her family.

You can sense the seasons changing…can feel the shift from Summer into Autumn, I really think Autumn is my favourite season, I am getting that excited tingly feeling in my tummy as the prospect of misty mornings and evenings, the smell of wood fires, the leaves changing their colourful robes, the promise of darker evenings and a drop in temperature….love it!

And with the imminent arrival of Autumn, it means harvesting and foraging season…and here is the first elderberry harvest…I am so happy!

My kitchen smells of warm berries as some are being dried gently in the oven to keep for making tea’s and some will go into the freezer for jam/jelly making later in the year with other fruits.

Did I mention I love Autumn?

Do you have a favourite season? If so, why?

xxx

Lammas

Hello all….its been a while since I have posted but life has a habit of doing that..taking over for one reason or another!

But anyway, here we are at Lammas Eve/August Eve and its time to celebrate the first harvest.

This is my attempt at weaving an 8 pointed wheel from wheat and lavender…its not the most perfect but I made it to hang above my altar with lavender from my own garden so I am happy! 

I am also going to make an Islay loaf (basically a fuit loaf) for tomorrow to share with the family and make a corn dolly…well wheat dolly that I can keep until Samhain and then return the seeds to the Earth.

The fire pit outside is ready to go after my evening meal where I will reflect on the bounties I do have and be grateful for them.

You can find some wonderful ideas for Lammas here if you are stick for what to do…but the one thing I have learnt over what is nearly a year now (wowsee..that has gone quick!) walking my pagan path, is you can do as little or as much as you like, dont pressure yourself!

Whatever your plans are, have a blessed Lammas! x

Doe, A Deer, A Female Deer: The Spirit of Mother Christmas

I love the symbolism in this and the explanations of flying reindeer, the origin of red and white costumes, as well as the gifts down the chimney!! Many thanks to Gather for posting.

Gather Victoria

In the old nature religion (in which the divine was often perceived as feminine) it was the female horned reindeer who reigned supreme as the great goddess of the winter solstice. It was when we “Christianized” the pagan traditions of winter, that the white bearded man i.e. “Father Christmas” was born.

Today he chariots Rudolph and his steed of flying reindeer across our mythical skies and we have forgotten the power of the Deer Mother, the female horned Reindeer. Stronger and larger than the buck, it is she who leads the herds.

And it is her beloved image that adorns the Christmas cards and Yule decorations we are so familiar with today. Because, unlike the male who sheds his antlers in winter, it is the Deer Mother, who carries the life-giving sun safely through winter’s darkest, longest night in her horns. Across the North, since the Neolithic, from the British…

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