Cleansing Water.

I had an absolute wonderful solitary day in nature this week.
Both time planting herbs in my garden, and outside in the great outdoors.

There's a spot, that not many people frequent, and on this sunny day I had it all to myself. Fields supplied by woodland, with a little stream, and green hills.

^^ Nothing but the sounds of nature for companionship.
I left my shoes in the car, and walked barefoot through nature.

Heading to the stream, I paddled for a time.
Washing my face and the back of my neck in the icy flowing water.
I sat with my feet dangling in, watching a buzzard idly circle the tree tops.

 

And before leaving, my inner hedgewitch came to the surface, as my nostrils picked up the pleasant aroma of wild garlic.
I picked a handful, washing it in the stream, and mashed it in with my potato for tea.

The Raven

Good morning sweet ones.

Here is a reading from my druid animal oracle for you.

The Raven

A creature that can travel through worlds, and between lives. A card to bring you intuition and healing. Because of her abilities, the Raven offers healing for the subconscious; those pains you've buried deep in the depths of your being. The death of one thing, brings the birth of another.

I'm wishing peace for the world today... And the ability for myself to follow the raven and heal my own wounds.

Blessed Be,
Jade
xx

Poetry

After finding myself hugely inspired by the work of

http://www.segoviaamilpoetry.com/

And simultaneously getting locked out of my Tumblr, I have created a new space to share my more melancholy words.

I am finding it a wonderful outlet, and find the words are just pouring out of me.

Not all of them are particularly good. Some are downright awful.
But they are release, and they are raw, and true.

Find more here;

http://mourning-razorlust.tumblr.com/

Feel The Earth

What with everything going on in my life right now, and Matt finally coming home last night, I was feeling refreshed.

I took myself off into nature today.

I needed to feel the wind caress my skin, and the sun kiss me.

My freckles are emerging now with this warm weather.

I started in a field, looking out over the river, I walked barefoot through the grass - dandelions and daisies, and buttercups dancing in the waters breeze.

Finding a particular sunny patch, I wrote in my journal for a while.

Fluid thoughts floating through my pen.

Then my bare feet took me into the woods.

Sunlight filtered through the tree canopy, and the air was warm and balmy around me.

The Woods are my happy place.

The feel of moss between my toes, and grass tickling my ankles.

Just having the earth under me, soothes my woes.

My message for today is to get outside. Feel the earth, and experience nature.

---------------------------------

And I never usually do this, but as I'm reading more, with all the wonderful books emerging this year, I'm going to leave this recommendation here. >>>>

I am a HUGE Sarah J Maas fan, all of her work is extraordinary, and when 'A Court Of Mist And Fury', landed on my doorstep, it did not disappoint.

Honestly...This book blew me away.

The first book in the series is called 'A Court of Thorns and Roses' - If you can get your hands on a copy, and enjoy fantasy romance, I suggest you read them.

The first one is inspired by a loose retelling of Beauty and The Beast. Set in a world of political fae, that Maas has tremendously pieced together.

This is the second book.

I read it within a day, devouring every morsel she offered to me, and then once I'd put it down...I picked it back up and read the whole thing again.

Book Three cannot come out soon enough.

Beltane Rite

Blessed Beltane.

As promised here is a breakdown of how I celebrated the holiday.
I had work all of May Day, so all of my ritual was performed on Beltane Eve.

Firstly I collected my supplies;

And I began to set my ritual space.
Due to not owning our own house yet, I could not have a full Beltane Bonfire! (One day...One day...)
So, I gathered a collection of candles in a circle, to represent the fires of Beltane.
Fire is a huge part of this rite, as is the Sun God.
The fires of Beltane are said to hold healing, magical properties. For thousands of years, people have jumped the bonfire flames, to rid themselves of illness, to receive mental clarity, or simply to make a wish.

Light all but one candles, and set your incense going.
Cast your circle.

Meditate a little, and ground yourself here.
A common tradition for those not living in towns with pagan traditions is to make their own mini maypole.
The maypole represents the union of the Lord and Lady of the Greenwood, and dancers take ribbons and dance around the pole intertwining them around the pole.

To make my own, I set out this morning with the sun beaming down on me, to the nearby woodland, and collected an appropriate size stick.
Then coming home I collected my ribbons.
Now in this sacred space I've made, I set about wrapping these ribbons around my chosen stick. My mind truly focused on the task, the braiding of the ribbons a therapeutic rhythm.

With this completed, I can set my maypole aside.
Now rise.
And dance in my circle. If you decide to do this ritual; Don't feel silly, or embarrassed, just dance freely. Put on music if you have to, or if you're outside, sense the rhythm of the earth.
Dance for as long as you feel comfortable, and smile while you do so.

Sitting back at my candles, I began to chant.

" I dance delight
On Beltanes Night.
All senses freeing,
I dance for being.
Sun, embrace the earth, Bright
I ask you with this Rite."

I light my one remaining candle in the name of the Sun God, and drink from a chalice of Wine in the name of the Goddess.

And to close my rite, I jumped my candle DIY bonfire, and made a wish!

 *************

Something like this could easily be tailored to your own Beltane celebration.

Enjoy.
Much Love,
Jade

xx

-------

Hello lovelies.

It's been some time.
Our little circle has been rocked by death. A friend has recently passed in a tragic accident, at just 24. To stop my mind from constantly racing I have found my way back to this blog.
(Which I can now access on my brand new laptop, Matt purchased for me today.)

It's strange how life keeps on moving...the world keeps turning, and we are all expected to keep going in it...
Tomorrow is Beltane.
A celebration of fertility, and life. A welcoming to the beginning of Summer.
Traditionally celebrated with Maypoles and Bonfires; the festivities often beginning the night before May Day, to welcome in the coming months.
I will be starting my Beltane Rite shortly, and I shall make a blog about how I celebrated soon.

Tarot is still at the fore-front of my spiritual work.
Alongside my 'Wildwood Tarot' Deck you may remember from previous blog posts, I have now got my little paws on the BEAUTIFUL 'Wild Unknown Tarot' Deck. It is so gorgeous;

It comes with an art print of one of the cards aswell. Mine was The Lovers, which I find very fitting.
The cards themselves really speak to me, and I feel they have helped hone my knowledge and skill in this area of divination.
The artist 'Kim Kraus' has really captured the natural essence of the tarot. I highly recommend you look into it, if you're still searching for a deck.

Below is a link to my video on how to select the right deck for you, and sharing my own cards. I've posted it before, but it's always nice to get a refresh.

I'll be back shortly sweet ones.
Enjoy Beltane.
I'll see you on the other side.

Jade
xx

Witch?

I recently listened to a podcast featuring 'Old - Hag', in which she spoke about how so many people claim to be a witch or follow a religion, but don't put anything into it. They are not for lack of a better term 'practicing'.

And this made me think; is this me?

Do I label myself but not follow through?

Do I perform enough magic, to classify as a witch?

The answer is that every time I light a candle, every time I draw down the moon, every time I put my intentions out into the world, every time I wear a crystal for guidance. every time I read tarot, every time I meditate, every time I let the bath water run down the plug hole before leaving the tub, every time I bake with love, every time I use herbs for healing - all of these things are magic.

In my heart I feel so strongly connected to divination and candle magic. I am drawn to mirror magic, and adore reading tea leaves.

It's not a lie, it's not a fad, this is my life - and in every thing I do, you can find my inner witch.

It's inside all of us.

How can it not be, women especially with our connection to the moon and the tide.

We are made of power.

We are the goddess.

I agree with Old-Hag, there are many people of little faith out there from all religions who claim to be something, they simply are not.

But what does your heart say?

You can't expect good things to come from your religion, if you are not practicing.

How does mother earth know you're calling, if you don't take the time to get outside?