The circles - paintings

Circle Paintings

Beauty

The whole idea of paintings involving circles, came from japanese cartoons of geisha girls, with little bobble circle-headed bobs.  Only once I drew the head on the page, the rest of the illustration morphed into something quite different.

The first, was based round flowers,
the second, was butterflies,
the third, (a favourite) was a fox and the full moon,
the forth, a peacock.

Freedom



Mystery

I was very lucky to have the first three painting accepted into a local art gallery exhibition, at 'The Art House' - Southampton.....which was both nerve wracking and an absolute delight too.  Opening night was fantastic, to see all the amazing creative work that people had put together, and of course I had my wonderful family and friends there to support me.

As I progress with the ideas, the pictures and the painting of them, I'm noticing a conveying of myself through painting....in short....I now realise I am painting myself, and strangely that makes it easier and more difficult to paint. 

Wonder

Never the less, the progression through paint is in full flow, abeit minor interuptions through moving house.  I'm still hooked into painting these circles, and as long as the world continues to fascinate me, there will always be a picture ready to be painted.

Exx

New House, new beginnings

I've barely had time for all my usual creative antics....including blogging, and I'm sure much will be the same for at least the next month or so......as I'm moving house!

I'd forgotten the stress that is all involved, but hey I know thats it's all about experiencing what life has to throw at you, and then coming back stronger.  It's also difficult as another child is flying the nest at the same time, I both relish the freedom and find it tough letting go.
The future definately looks good from here though, lots of things have started to take shape, and be more prominent in my life over the past few years, such as creating, and more predominately drawing and painting, not to mention the photography.....I haven't got to worry, and office come craft room is being planned.

Here's some pics of the the place so far, we've been lucky to have the place a month before we move, that way we can try and get some work done to it, before we are in.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wytch/sets/72157631077852090/

There will be more pics to come, I've got a whole front and back garden to plan, build and plant. 
Got the plans already drawn up...summer house, fire pit, wildlife pond, kitchen garden, herb garden, a living willow meditation pod......plus there is room for a little guerilla gardening out the back.

So lots of change, lots of magic, and lots of gratitude for being given this opportunity.

Exx

Seaweed Pressing

Seaweed Pressing

My piece, before pressing

I signed up for this rather interesting sounding workshop, not knowing really what to expect.  I've done a fair amount of flower pressing in my time, but certainly not seaweed.  The only thing I used to do with seaweed, is bring it back home as a child, when we had been to the beach for the day. Why? Well to be able to forecast the weather of course, but I don't remember it ever working!!

The workshop was held at Lepe Country Park, and run by a local artist Jane Cartwright.  In a portacabin classroom we were introduced to the art of seaweed pressing, and shown that just like land plants, seaweed has it's seasons.  Jane had a folder of various pressed seaweeds, and it showed the sorts of seaweeds we could expect to find each month.  The autumn and winter pieces were a lot darker in colour, browns and reds. When you started moving into the spring and summer months, reds, purples and acid greens were in abundance.

So after being given our short introduction we all headed out to the beach, and up onto the spit, thankfully the weather was holding.  Each of us had small containers to collect interesting seaweeds that caught our eye.  Obviously the only seaweed we were allowed to pick was drifting and not attached to anything, or rooted in the seabed.

I was really amazed to find that there were so many different types, shapes, and colours, all within one tiny area of the shallows.  I collected as many different pieces as I could, emptying the pot several times as I went, as often wildlife was hooked up in the seaweed.

So back off then to the classroom, for the art to begin.  No sooner than we all piled in and sat down, did the heavens open, flashes of lightning, claps of thunder, torrential rain and hailstones, I think we timed our foraging venture just perfectly!!

Jane showed us then how to create art from seaweed, just with some simple tools - some small knitting needles, some mesh, a tray, watercolour paper, and a glass jar of seawater.  The mesh was placed over the tray, and watercolour paper on top, then a pipette was used to drop a very small amount of water onto the paper....this would allow you to move the seaweed about on the paper with relative ease.  So that's what happened next, a piece of chosen seaweed was placed on the paper in the water droplets and the knitting needles were used to tease the seaweed into the desired shape, obviously the more natural it looked, the better.  It was explained that seaweed doesn't stay in form for very long, out of the water, and within an hour would start to disintegrate....so you had to work fairly quickly.  Once you had your seaweed placed as you liked, you could drain off the excess water,  into the tray, and it was ready for pressing.  This is where it is exactly like flower pressing.  Some nice thick sheets of blotting paper were used, in the press, and once screwed down it is left for 6 weeks. After which you then have wonderful, underwater art.

I'm looking forward to picking my pieces up, but in the meantime I'm going to have another go at this art.

Exx

Land Art Day

Land Art Day

Don't ask me where I got the idea from....it just popped into my head, the evening before.  A day of land art creating, but doing it on the move, so there was a trail.  I planned a trip to Southampton, but not a direct route and the trail had to be circular. I decided I would walk, bus, then ferry, walk a lot more, and then finally catch a train home....I didn't want to use the same external mode of transport twice, or more. 

So packed my camera bag up and set off in the morning, I started off in my local town and visited 3 different places here.  I created 5 pieces in total in this area before moving on.

No.1 Oak Star - Oak leaves and Ornamental Cherry berries (Eling Rec), this wasn't too difficult to plan and make, as I already had the idea in my head.

No.2 Grass Spiral - Grass on grass (Goatee Field), would have love to make this a lot bigger, but the grass was too spread out!

No.3 Beach Rings - Shingle (Goatee Beach), this was harder than it looked, as the shingle wouldn't stay put! It was difficult to photograph too, as there wasn't much contrast.  I did like this one and would have loved to make it bigger!

No.4 Sticks and Fir - Sticks & Fir (Rum Walk), this was a tricky one to do, I had no plan and the ground, although wet, was still quite solid.  Graced with the presence of a Kingfisher, whilst making this.

No.5 Snaking Leaves on a wall- Leaves (Rum Walk), this was simple to do, and I would have loved to make this more elaborate but, there wasn't the room, and it was tricky to photograph too.

I then took a short bus trip to Hythe to pick up the ferry.

No.6 Rose of Sharon Mandala - Rose of Sharon leaves and flowers (Hythe Marina), this was quite easy as the colours the bush provided, gave me the idea.  This was the first piece of land art create in a BUSY environment, plenty of quizzical looks, appreciative ones too though, I'm glad to say.

I then enjoyed a 10 minute ferry trip to Southampton, the weather and visibility was good, so it was a really nice voyage.

No.7 Geranium, Cherry & Bindweed Mandala - Leaves of all 3 plants (ruins of Holyrood Church, Southampton), this one kind of created itself, and the contrast in colours was good.  The only problem was trying to get it to stay put, as the breeze kept lifting the leaves up.

I then headed for Southampton city parks.

No.8 Stick Pyramid - Sticks (Hogland's Park), this was one of the hardest to create!  There was nothing much in the way of plants in this park, lots of trees, and lots of fallen branches and sticks.  So I set about collecting them, whilst trying to see if I could conjure something up. As they were led out on the ground, Jenga sprang to mind, so I set about building a tower....which soon changed into a pyramid.  I can't tell you how many times I got close to finishing this, and then the whole thing would collapse,  I would have to start all over again.  Still, I made it in the end, standing about 70cm high.

No.9 Pebble Stick - Pebbles (Houndwell Park), this was small compared with the last one, but just as tricky.  This too was made over, and over, and over, until the right points of balance were found.  This stood about 20cm.

No. 10 Daisy Wreath - Daisies & tree debris (Houndwell Park), this was another that made itself.  I tried to fan the tree debris out into a circle, but it was too messy, so I went with the messiness.  I built a nest!! I wasn't sure what to do next, but my eyes were caught by the beautiful daisies all around.  I pick them, and placed them randomly around what was becoming a wreath.  All done and pretty as a picture.

No.11 Yellow Loosestrife Mandala - Yellow Loosestrife and other bedding plants (East Park), this was a hard one to do, because I couldn't visualise it.  I had collected the materials, but it wasn't really saying anything to me.  Managed to accomplish though.

No, 12 Yellow Sunflower - Leaves from a tree (yet unidentified, they looked like Laurel, but it wasn't) (East Park), I loved creating this one, and I think it shows.  Found lots of fallen leaves from a tree, and they were either brown or yellow, so I collected lots of each.  I felt an impulse to create a brown circle, to which I immediately started fanning out the yellow leaves, around the brown, and Voila - a sunflower.  This mandala was about 1m across.

I was well and truly hungry, hot and thirsty by this point, so I took a break and went and had some rather yummy lunch at the Art House.  Refuelled and refreshed I travelled on...only one park left before the train station.

No.13 Lime Tree Mandala - Leaves & flowers of a Lime tree (Watts Park),  this was a nice little mandala to make, as it all came from one tree....yet there was a contrast in colours.  The acid green and yellow leaves and flowers, made this quite a zesty mandala.  Had a Red Amiral butterfly on my arm for a few moments, whilst making this mandala.

No.14 Fuchsia Pentagram - Fuchsia and other bedding plants (Watts Park), this was another difficult one for me.  I tried several different placements with the materials, before giving up trying to make it round.....it obviously didn't want to be round!! It wanted to be a pentagram!  This was the last one made in Southampton.

I headed for the train station, bought my ticket and jumped straight on the train, which was waiting to take me back home.  The ride home gave me the time time reflect on the days events.  After I departed the train and walked the rest of the way home, I realised I had one more piece to make, the piece that would mark the real end of my journey, and also the piece that would make the count 15......I didn't want it to be an even number.

No,15 Mallow, lavender & cotoneaster mandala - Mallow, lavender, cotoneaster and other leaves and flowers (Home - front garden), this was a poignant one to make, because is was the last one, the final piece.  It was possibly the most colourful of them all, due to the fact that I was using garden flowers rather than wild plants......and I join by bees for this one, the colours I guess.

So there it is a rather mad, messy, fun, and challenging day!  I may do it again, but it would have to be a different journey and a different season, I think......

Just before I go....someone in Southampton got in touch and said that they'd seen a little mouse run across and sit dead center of a mini mandala, in Southampton Park.....I wonder if it was one of mine...........
Exx

Summer Moon Lodge

Summer Moon Lodge

Last Sunday's Summer Moon Lodge was beautiful, and so different in feel to the spring one.  It is held in the roundhouse at the Minstead Study Centre, and ran by a good friend, Heidi. 

She opens the circle......a fire is lit inside and we are all sat around it, a circle of women, being led through a beautiful guided visualisation. 

Afterwards we learn about the 'mother' aspect of the goddess, and of the goddesses Isis and Mother Mary and their roles as mothers and nurturers, and we all had a chance to talk about how this aspect effects us...our thoughts and sometimes emotions.  It is always interesting to find that although we are all different, there are a lot of common understandings and feelings between us...linking us.  The fact that all women have the ability to mother whether we can have children or not, for mothering can mean a great many things...like caring for those in a community, nurturing the earth, loving animals etc.  Also that it is important to look after ourselves....to give to others, means we must also give to ourselves! Certainly made me think!

A joined healing session followed, as we stood in a circle holding hands, we sent out love and healing to all.  The feeling inside the roundhouse was amazing, there was an intensity, a generating of power. Afterwards was just as powerful...we were asked to hug a person standing next to us, and see if we were better at giving or receiving.  It was quite an emotional exercise, and most people said that they felt that, 'when you give, you receive also'.....it certainly felt the case for me.

We moved outside for a beautiful chanting session under the slowly setting sun, followed by a hypnotic and rhythmic drumming session. We were taught a Senegalese drumming song and the story behind it.  Each different type drum and drummer had a different beat to play, and when put all together, it was mesmerising.  I could feel my body pulsing with the beats, I just wanted to abandon the drum, and get up and dance, and afterwards I found I wasn't the only one!!!

We broke then for herbal teas and home made biscuits (orange crunch full moons & chewy date and honey flapjacks - made by me).

I did a bit then, on foraging, and what is available now, to eat for free.

Last, but not least was story telling, and we were transported off to the world of myth and magic.  Delighting in the tale of an old midwife, whose good deeds and kindness given to all, were repaid in full and then some, and she was able to out her last years in in comfort.

Before the close of the circle we were treating to some lovely and haunting flute playing, and also some fantastic hang playing too.

The end of the evening came all too quickly and the circle was drawn to a close. 

It was an amazing evening and an interesting journey.  There were lots of laughs and hugs, love and happiness.....and gratitude....gratitude to all who to part, to make the evening what it was, and gratitude to Heidi for making it all happen.

Exx

So looking forward to the next one, in Autumn.

Food for Free

Food for Free

There really is food for free, if you know what you're looking for, and once you do you'll find that there is food everywhere!!
Many of these plants have been used widely over the centuries, for food and their medicinal qualities, but have fallen out of favour in our modern times...giving way to heavily farmed and processed foods.

I've always been lucky enough to live in rural environments, and love surrounding myself with the natural greenery, but I've often wondered what all these wonderful are and how they can help us.

So I decided this afternoon, to explore a short woodland walk, and see just how many plants could be foraged in such a small area.  These are my findings.....

- Elderflowers
- Greater Plantain
- Fat Hen/Lambs Quarters
- Wild Strawberries
- Daisies
- Ox Eye Daisy
- Good King Henry
- Field Poppy
- Dog Rose
- Hedge Mustard
- Dandelion
- Red Clover
- Stinging Nettle
- Sow Thistle
- Herb Bennet
- Comfrey
- Lungwort

18 in all, that's not bad,and only 5 mins from my door..... a lot of these are growing alongside the pavement too.
There are a few surprise ones as well, that I found that I could eat from my garden..

- Campanula Flowers ( Canterbury Bells)
- Fushia Flowers, and the berries when they are ripe and squishy
- Violet, Pansy, Day Lily and Nasturtium flowers.

There are many books and websites with lots of information on this subject, and it's so important to get the right identification, before using.  Lots of these plants look very similar, and choosing the wrong one, could make you very ill.

One of my favourites, which is in abundace at this time of year, is Fat Hen.  It appears practically everywhere, on exposed land, and close to humans.  It has been around since prehistoric times, and the seeds were found in the stomach of  'Tolland Man' (whose perfectly preserved corpse was found in a bog in Denmark).  It is very closely related to spinach and can be used in the same way....last year I made a Fat Hen and cheese tart, it was delicious!!  It contains more iron and protein than either cabbage or spinach, and more vitamin B1 and calcium than raw cabbage.

Another amazing and plentiful plant is Dandelion.
We mostly know this plant as a gardener's nightmare, but it has a great many uses and properties....
All parts of the dandelion are edible, apart from the seeds, though most people only know about eating the leaves.  The plant is rich in vitamins A and C, also high in potassium, as well as high levels of protein, carbohydrates, calcium, iron, manganese, and fibre.  The leaves can be quite bitter unless they are really young, or picked after a hard frost (blanching can alleviate a lot of the bitterness).  The leaves are often used in salads, or in place of salad leaves, in sandwiches.  The root can be picked and dried in an oven, then ground down to a powder, this then is used to make beverages, much like coffee.  Be warned, this plant is also a diuretic.

Dandelion health benefits:
1) Cancer: Dandelion root extract is unique, and is one of the only things found to help with chronic myelomonocytic Leukemia and It is effective in treating Breast Tumors

2) Detoxification of vital organs: Because of the diuretic abilities of dandelion root, it is beneficial for flushing out the Liver, Kidneys and Gallbladder. İt works great to purify the blood and cleanse the system. This also makes it a good herb for Fighting İnfections.
It is also used for Arthritis, Osteoarthritis , Gout and Rheumatism

3) Dandelion tea actively ameliorates disease—it is a potent disease-fighter—and helps the body heal, helps Boost İmmunity and Heart Disease, and age-related Memory Loss.

4) Treating Anemia: Because of the high content of iron in dandelion root, it is beneficial for building red blood cells in the body to treat anemia.

5) Treating Diabetes: Dandelion root has been shown to lower blood sugar levels in patients. In Europe, it's used to treat Type-1 and Type-2 diabetes.

(taken from Organic Gardening web page)
 

These of course are only two examples of nature's abundant larder, free for the taking.  I hope this inspires you to go looking for yourselves....

....as a footnote if you do fancy a little forage
Some DO's and DON'T's

- It's illegal to uproot any wild plant, without authorisation
- It's illegal to disturb or collect plant material around any protected species of plant
- Only take what you need
- Foliage, flowers and fruit are the parts ok to forage
- Respect the environment, leave it as you found it, and do not disturb the wildlife.
- Only forage what you are absolutely sure about, if in doubt...leave it!! There are some very poisoness plants out there.
- Avoid areas and/or plants that are known to have been sprayed with weedkillers or similar
- Only pick from healthy plants, and always wash them.
- Always follow the given, correct information about preparing your foraged finds.  Some plants have to be cooked/prepared before consumption.
- Always try a new food in moderation, you never know whether you might have a reaction to it.

Happy foraging folks!!!

My Solstice Day

3.15am the alarm went off, and in that instant I asked myself 'Was I insane, to be getting up at warp time'? Especially as the weather was stormy!! I wasn't going to let that stop me, so up I got. Quick bit of running around and gathering things up, before I picked up a lift with a really good friend. Seaward we were bound....Calshot Castle, with a view out to the east. We knew there was little chance of seeing an actual sunrise, but that didn't matter, it was the being there.
So windswept and blown about we made our way up to the castle and waited. After a few moments there was a definite brightening on the horizon, in the dark blue and grey sky, a hazy dome was rising up from the sea. The light filtering through the clouds gave a strange half light, making everything look otherworldly. Although there was no visible sun, it was still very beautiful, and felt very powerful. I looked out to sea and watched the choppy waves create shapes and forms, mermaids sprang to mind, and as I watched, I felt I was being watched back. When I spoke to my friend of the mermaids, she was amazed, as she had been thinking the same thing.
As the sun rose the wind dropped and waters calmed. We walked on down the stony beach and made our way out on to a spit, to the most easterly point we could. At the end of the spit we paid our tribute to solar energies, by creating two very distinct stone mandalas on the sandy ground.
After some time of contemplation we slowly made our way back, stopping twice to gather some rather eye catching driftwood.
A picnic breakfast rounded off the morning venture, Yogi teas, wild strawberries, raw balls, and salad wraps....it was the perfect finish. It such a lovely experience, and a very relaxed way to wake up to the day ahead.
Later on that day I created a space in the garden for my driftwood. It reminded me of a totem pole, so of course I had to have it standing. A spot was found, a hole dug, it was a perfect fit. So after filling in, I planted Nigella around it, and covered the topsoil in blue slate....my second creative tribute to the sun.
Once out in the garden, it was hard to stop. So I managed planting out quite a few plants, including two Willows. Tired and hungry, I came back indoors, and finished the day off with a lovely meal.
It was a beautiful and blessed day.

Keep trying

Gosh it's been a long time since I blogged, it seems so long ago...though in truth it was only back in February. A lot has happened in that time, lots of challenges, and lots of facing up to facets of me which are negative and self destructive.
Nobody is perfect, let alone me. My problems and issues are no different to everyone else's either. It has just taken a lot of effort and courage to face up to things, and stop 'sticking my head in the sand'. I haven't finished either, for that, in truth, is a life's work. It was only last week that I finally faced a particularly self destructive side of myself.....one that has been with me for a long time, coaxing me ever further down the path of no return. I've known it was there, but refused to acknowledge, preferring to live in self denial. It's been so heavy carrying that load too!! I never even realised, until I hit breaking point, how damaging it was to me.
So, where am I now? I'm HAPPY!!! Happy that I got through it all, sure there will be more problems to deal with, BUT I'll deal with them when they turn up. I'm happy that I'm at this point, and happy that I didn't give up on myself......I kept trying!!
As an added bonus....they always say "every cloud has a silver lining", I have delved into painting & drawing....something I did a lot of when I was a child, and again in my teens. Maybe with every problem/issue faced and dealt with, more creativity is allowed to flow....who knows?? :)

Celebrating Women

So there I am, stood in the kitchen cooking tea, sorting through piles of washing, and still in my overalls.....after painting two rooms. That was just this afternoon!!! This morning was a 5.30 start, meditation and absent healing, then yoga, getting breakfast into my youngest, and then a dog walk....all before mantra.
This is how it is. This is how it always been, not just for me, but many women.
We spend a lot of time juggling many different things that need to be checked off the daily, monthly, and yearly checklists. 

So this got me thinking about women, about how well we are at coping and dealing with anything that comes our way, about how adept we are at turning our hands to almost anything at the drop of a hat, and about how special we are!!!

Women are strong, but it's a different strength to men's....it's a inner strength, a vulnerable feminine power that boasts tenacity, harmony, peace and love, these are attributes that are resolute within women's spirits.  These characteristics have seen women through many of the hardships and persecutions laid upon us over the centuries, and has seen us triumph at many challenges set before us. 

From the ease we have of building communities, within peoples, so we can share responsibilities, help one another and give support to each other and our men.  To the magic of giving birth to new life, and through doing so, we to are born into the role of motherhood. 

We are warriors, priestesses, counsellors, nurses, wise women, activists and campaigners, seductresses, home makers, gurus, pioneers, muses, scientists and most important of all....loving, caring, and nurturing souls.

So next time you're having doubts about your ability to achieve something, draw on your feminine strength, and remember that you are part of a long chain of strong women. 

I dedicate this blog to my mum and all my female ancestors and also to all my female friends, I love you all X


Moon - Waning Gibbous 85%

Yoga - Tadasana, Marjaryasana, Moondance Sequence with Goddess pose, Setu Bandhasana, Prayer Twist

Card Message - The Lovers
At every moment you have a choice.  Love is at the heart of all life.  All creation is born out of love.

9th January - Apollo/St Apollonia
Feast day of Apollo, deity of the sun,  It celebrates the increasing light of the new year after the darkness of midwinter.

Gratitude - Love

External Spring Clean

External Spring Clean

Seeing as I'm in the mood for Spring cleaning, and of course it's the season and the the Sabbat of Imbolc, I've decided to do some external spring cleaning too.

Just as I've been feeling recently that my energy has been sluggish and stagnant, before I did a bout of internal spring cleaning, so does my house too.  It looks tired and tatty, so I've stripped everything of mine off the walls and out of the rooms....it's really odd but I can see that most, if not all of the accessories and art is mine - and now the house looks bare!!
It just goes to show that that even though all these things are just stuff, material objects that I shouldn't get attached to,  and I don't.  They are also an extension of me, a reflection of who I am, the walls and house included, and that like all people, we like to create spaces of comfort and happiness, places and rooms that affect and reflect who we are.  So

So now everything is down, it's time to clean and paint, to declutter and space clear, and show some love to the beautiful spaces and rooms that I've chosen as home for now.  I'm quite eager to revisit a little of the Feng Shui that I used to follow, when putting everything back in, so I can maximise the positive energies and get them to flow freely through this space....
......I looking forward to creating this sanctuary, inside and out.   X

Moon - Waxing Gibbous 66%

Yoga -  Tadasana, Marjaryasana, Trikonasana, Goddess, Malasana, Stir the Pot, Adho Mukha Svanasana (with leg raises), Pashimottanasana.

Card Message - The World
Dancing, I am life.  Whole, I am One.

2nd February - Juno Februa/ Candlemas/ Wives' Feast Day/ Groundhog Day
Festival of Juno Februa, the presiding goddess of the month, and Candlemas, the purification of the Virgin.  The weather on this day is said to mark the progress of winter;

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,
Winter will have another flight;
If on Candlemas Day be shower and rain,
Winter is gone, and will not come again.

An old northern English name of Candlemas is the Wives' Feast Day.

Gratitude - Friends

Internal Spring Clean

Space clearing, inside and out

Life has been quite challenging for me just of late, and it's not the usual running around with so much to do......it's been quite the opposite!!

I've been out of work for the last 8 weeks and I've found it really difficult at times.  There has been the stress you'd expect, such as no money, bills to pay, forever job-hunting and no jobs to be had, plus the worry and concern from my partner over the financial aspect, with no end in sight.  There has also been the loneliness, and the demoralisation from the rebuff of job applications.  What I didn't expect was that given this period of time, I ended up peeling back my layers, layers of emotions and states of mind, it was a bit like an internal spring clean......and because there is no time constraint, I dived straight into the abyss of me.....the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I found a complex and critical person, a deeply sensitive and emotional person, a childlike and vunerable person, a strong willed and tenacious person, a giving and loving person, all underneath the mantle of what people usually perceive as a 'confident' and 'self assured' person.  Everytime I am given these opportunities to have time to look within I usually encounter another aspect, that I never knew existed up until that point.  These period can be difficult, painful, and tiring on all levels.  Sometimes I seem to get stuck at some points, unable to move forward, unable to let go, unable to forgive myself and unable to love myself.  I'm thankful that usually when I'm getting to this point, my guardian angel sends me a 'knight in shining armour', in the form of a friend or close family member, to help me through the last bit.  To help me remember to let go of things I don't need, and to be gentle, loving and forgiving of myself.

It's been a hard task to get through, and it always feels that I'm at breaking point, before I can push through it all and move on.....it's a test of strength and faith, but I'm there.

So now I've spring cleaned myself, and cleared out a lot of the mind clutter, I now have room for new and exciting things ahead.......X



Moon - Waxing Gibbous 59%

Yoga - Surya Namaskara

Card Message - The Hermit
Turn away from the distractions of the outer world, and seek guidence.  In silence and solitude discover new depths, and refresh your soul at the source of all life.

1st February - Cross-quarter day: Imbolc, Oimelc, Brigantia/Kalends of February/St Bridget/Candlemas Eve
Imbolc is the fire festival between Yule and the vernal equinox.  The day of Imbolc is also that of her saintly aspect, St Bridhe or Brigid of Ireland.

Sometimes

Sometimes

Sometimes life is hard

Sometimes there's is no hiding

Sometimes it hurts

Sometimes there's no words

Sometimes there are tears

Sometimes many

Sometimes you feel helpless

Sometimes it's ok

Sometimes you need to be gentle with yourself, and

Sometimes trust

Moon - First Quarter 53%

Yoga - Tadasana, Marjaryasana/Bitilasana, Virabhadrasana Eka & Dvi, Parasita Padottanasana, Utthita Parsvokonasana, Goddess, Vrikshasana, Setu Bandhasana, Halasana, Hanumanasana & Ardha Matsyasana.

Card Message - Two of Wands
The energy and potential of a partnership.  Allowing the relationship between two ideas, projects, or feelings to unfold and open up new areas of possibility.  Although you are satisfied that you have everything you need, you may also long for more.  You may be searching for deeper meaning, or contemplating taking a journey.

31st January - February Eve/Norns/Disir and Valkyries
February Eve, start of the festival of Imbolc or Brigantia.  Also a day sacred to the Valkyries, and the Norns.

Gratitude - Trust

Peace & Satyagraha

Peace

I am sitting watching 'Birdsong', BBC's adaptation of Stephen Faulk's book, based around World War 1, peace seems so far away in this world of trenches and war.  Yet I know that peace is what these men fought for, peace for everyone to enjoy.  Seeing as today is a day sacred to Pax - Roman goddess of peace, as well, I thought I'd explore deeper into the virtues of peace. 

'Peace' comes from the word 'Pax', Latin for 'freedom from civil disorder', a name given to a Roman goddess.  Pax the goddess was recognised in Augustus' reign, she is often depicted with an olive branch, signifying peace, and also a cornucopia signifying prosperity.  With these two symbols together it would make sense that the message is, that with peace comes prosperity.

In many languages the word for peace is also used a greeting or a farewell, for example the Hawaiian word Aloha, the hebrew word Shalom, as well as the Arabic word Salam.

Peace is an important prospect to all that live on earth, side by side, and in harmony.  Many great leaders of  people have shared their thoughts on peace with us, these words are heart felt, meant for the good of all........

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.
Buddha

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.
Mother Teresa

Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.
Martin Luther King Jr.

We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.
Dalai Lama

It's interesting to note that given the choice most people, will opt for peace rather than conflict.  Most of us do not actively seek out conflict and disharmony.  Animals are sensitive creature too like us, and will make their escape, at the first sense of negativity and hostility.

Peace is the banner that many organistions and movements work under, the 1960's peace movement in America, and the United Nations.  One of the most widely recognised sign for peace now is the CND sign - Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Satyagraha is the philosophy and practise of non-violent restistance, it's a sanskrit word meaning, insistance on truth, or truth-force.  It was deployed by Gandhi, in the campaigns for India's Independence, and also influenced Martin Luther King Jr, in his civil rights campaigns across America, and Nelson Mandela, in his struggle with apartheid in South Africa.

So peace is important to us all, whether we are seeking inner peace, or peace worldwide.  So sending you all love and peace X

Moon - First Quarter 46%

Yoga - None today

Card Message - Ace of Swords (aces - gifts, beginnings, potential, promise) & (air, thinking/intellect, mind). 
The opportunity to cut yourself free from outdated or negative  attachments.  The beginning of a phase of productive intellectual work.  Triumph in legal or academic fields, or in literature or science.  A clean break heralds a new beginning.

30th January - Festival of Peace
Festival of Peace, dedicated to the Roman goddess Pax.

Gratitude - Health

Planning a magical garden

Planning a magical garden

With Imbolc fast approaching, and the promise of new growth, my thoughts have turned to to our garden.  It is really overdue a facelift, I did start a few years ago, but then we got a puppy and she ate all the flowers, dug holes everywhere for her bones, and used the lawn as a racetrack!!!  She has grown out of most of these naughty habits now, so the magical garden plans are back on!!!

When I say 'magical' garden I'm talking about creating an outdoor space that is filled with beautiful plants, healing plants, a haven for wildlife, and an environment for nature spirits.  When I was growing up I often played in my grandparent's garden, it was a huge area with lots of borders of cottage garden flowers, large vegetable patches and fruit bushes, and orchard, and lots of pathways criss-crossing all around these areas.  It was a magical garden, my grandparents were very keen gardeners, and their garden was a garden filled with love.

So what do I want to put into my garden?? 
I want an area for 'Sun' plants - sunflowers, marigolds, chrysanthemums, heliotropes. 
An area for 'moon' plants - datura, nicotiana, jasmine, gardenia, camellias, white lilies, pale poppies
Mythical and magical statues
Water feature (I have this covered as we have 2 wildlife ponds)
Fire feature - would like to get a fire pit
Some bells or chimes
A sacred spot, that I can use for meditating in
Stone features - stone planting
More wildlife habitats
Nostalgia plants - ones I love and remember from my grandparents garden, such as lilac and foxgloves
Healing plants and herbs

Sacred Stones - stone planting

According to the ancient Greeks, stones are the very bones of the Earth Mother, Gaia.  In every garden, stones are the key earthing points and elements.  The art of stone planting is a complex and deep practise in Asia, where stones in a garden mark the flow of vital energies and the positioning of them creates special states of mind.  Stones placed in a circle, spiral or other primal pattern, are said to concentrate the natural flow of earth's energy.Stones with natural holes in them grant wishes, and should be hung up in a garden.  Semi precious stones can be used in the garden too, to bring in their beautiful powers.

I am going to try and garden with the phases of the moon too....
So, cutting sod and turf, removing it and pulling up plants - the last quarter of the waning moon.
Turning the soil and adding compost - after the new moon, first quarter of the waxing moon.
Planting seeds - last quarter of the waxing moon

Hopefully by the time that summer is at it's height, I will have a magical garden - I'm so excited about this little project.  And in true tradition, I will take a before and after photos   X

Moon - 39%

Yoga - Surya Namaskara, Gate Sequence, Ardha Matyasana

Card Message - Ace of Pentacles (aces - gifts, beginnings, potential and promise) & (pentacles - earth, sensation/the senses and body.
Material benefits.  A job offer, promotion or salary increase, or an inheritance or windfall.  A new contract or career change could auger well.  In a relationship, a situation that is well grounded: secure peaceful and enduring.
29th January - 1959 England Fog Causes Major Chaos on Roads    Dense fog brings road, rail and air transport in many parts of England and Wales to a virtual standstill.  
Gratitude - Good Fortune

The astrolgical ME

The astrological ME

I've always had a curious interest in astrology, but never enough to delve into the deeper aspects of the subject.  For a period of time in the past I got quite into Chinese astrology and Feng Shui, rearranging the house and researching the signs of members of family.  I really hadn't given it much thought to be honest in many years, until now.  I was watching a programme on 'Illumination' - the ancient practise of illuminating text with pictures, found in old manuscripts, bibles, and tomes.  It seems that back in Medieval times astrology was a highly regarded science, and the royal court had it's own astrologer.  This was a very important role and awarded the practitioner many rewards, as long 'of course' as you predicted correctly.  King Henry VIII's astrologer predicted he would father many, many healthy strong sons (which of course he did, but they were bastards), but records show that this astrologer disappeared after a few years - after only Edward was born.

The next marker was finding out about the element and animal for the Chinese new year, it was an interesting journey back to what I was once very much into.  Interesting to find out too, that up to this new year there has been a long period of disharmony with the year element and animal element, but the Water Dragon ( this years element and animal) is changing all of that.  I rest my case with that one, because within this first week, we've had two major changes/news that are positive and have seemingly come from nowhere.

The third marker came as I was reviewing my approach to art and crafts, and I realised that I really was displaying quite a few of the characteristic of my western star sign Aries.

So I thought I'd revisit my astrologically assigned self and see if now I'm a little older and wiser, I can see anymore of myself in them.........

Aries

20th March - 19th April

Element - Fire

Quality - Cardinal, associated with spring, strong, creative thrust and powerful expression of energy

Ruling Planet - Mars, the planet of activity and assertiveness, also competitiveness, impulsiveness, and instinct to act spontaneously
The Sun is also strongly associated with this sign, which it governs by exaltation. The solar-
association is seen as adding expression of the ego, and the desire to make a mark as an individual.

General astrological compatibility of Aries with other signs

Sign	Highest compatibility	High compatibility	Low compatibility
Aries	Sagittarius, Leo	Gemini, Libra, Aquarius	Taurus, Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn

According to Alan Leo, generally considered to be the founder of modern psychological astrology and sun sign astrology, people born with the sun in Aries are "always looking forward, they are leaders in ideals and pioneers of advanced thought. They have great mental energy but are inclined to be very headstrong and impulsive. They are always prophetic, and love to predict things that will happen. They can look ahead into the future and foresee things with remarkable clearness of vision. When freed from other influences and not slaves to their personality, they become truly clairvoyant, and are remarkably gifted in this direction. This sign gives extreme ideality, and those born under it are more ideal than practical. They are always full of new schemes and plans, ever exploring and originating. They are fond of constant change, loving novelty, romance and speculation and nearly always live in a world of theory. They are very highly strung, sometimes hyper-sensitive and are remarkable for their perception. They seem to live more in the perceptive region of their brain than the reflective, and they are rarely deceived where perception is concerned."
^{(TAKEN FROM WIKIPEDIA)..........}

This is me....no denying it, faults and all.....I think all the time, rarely switch off....and strangely when pulling tarot cards, 'Swords' always come out - thinking, intellect and mind!!!!


So my Chinese Astrological sign......

Metal Boar 1911, 1971

This is a proud, passionate Boar with overpowering sentiments, who values their reputation.  Intense and more dominating than other Boars, often with excessive appetites and may lack refinement or tact.
Will exerts less control over their personal life than the other Boars, and can't help being sociable, extroverted and openly demonstrative with affections.  Not likely to be secretive but will be direct and and trusting, even credulous.  As a result, will underestimate enemies and overestimates his friends.  Ambitious and forceful, but not always objective, the Metal Boar could be a dangerous opponent, as he can be violent in expressing his anger or resentment.
The Boar will not concede defeat graciously.  He will never be a quitter and relied on to have immense powers of endurance.  An active doer blessed with great positive strength, the staunch Metal Boar will have enough vigour for ten.
(from The Handbook of Chinese Horoscopes)


Compatibility - Rabbit, Sheep and Boar
Incompatibility - Snake

Oooo some of these attributes make me wince, thankfully I can say I'm not a violent person, volatile, but not violent!!  Another astrological sign of power...am I doubly blessed or cursed???


Ehwaz

I was born in the half-month of Ehwaz 30th March - 14th April.......

Sound: “e” as in “every”
Stands for: Horse
Colour: Red (White)
Casting meaning: Ehwaz reminds us that in order for success there must be a natural flow in the task at hand. With this rune to give us power as well as it making use of our good intentions we can surely achieve such success. 

So here we have 'me' in a nutshell...a full on person, that flows through thoughts all the time, with the passion and energy to see every event through to end, but also enough energy to fire up ideas and arguments alike!!!

Moon - 32%

Yoga - Surya Namaskara, Gate Sequence, Ardha Matyasana

Card Message - The Hermit (Major Arcana)
Turn away from the distractions of the outer world, and seek guidance.  In silence and solitude discover new depths, and refresh your soul at the source of all life.

28th January - Runic half-month of Elhaz commences
This half-month is a period of optimistic power, protection and sanctuary.

http://www.therunesite.com/runic-half-months/

Gratitude - Faith

A Journey With Music - Music Inspired By The Snow Goose

A Journey With Music - Music Inspired By The Snow Goose

Music Inspired By The Snow Goose - Camel has got to be an old music favourite of mine.  It takes me back to my childhood, and brings back memories of my dad.  It was one of his prog rock records in his collection; one that I don't ever remember him playing, but one that I used to play and play......... especially after he died, all those years ago

When I play this now it brings my dad close, it feels like he is right here with me - music is a powerful tool!

The music was written as a tribute to Paul Gallico's novella The Snow Goose, published 7th April 1941, it was hailed as a timeless legend and the most sentimental of stories.

The Snow Goose is a simple, short written parable on the regenerative power of friendship and love, set against a backdrop of the horror of war. It documents the growth of a friendship between Philip Rhayader, an artist living a solitary life in an abandoned lighthouse in the marshlands of wartime Essex because of his disabilities, and a young local girl, Fritha.

The Snow Goose, symbolic of both Rhayader (Gallico) and the world itself, wounded by gunshot and many miles from home, is found by Fritha and, as the human friendship blossoms, the bird is nursed back to flight, and revisits the lighthouse in its migration for several years, as Fritha grows up. Rhayader and his small sailboat eventually are lost in the British retreat from Dunkirk, having saved several hundred men. The bird, which was with Rhayader, returns briefly to the grown Fritha on the marshes. She interprets this as Rhayader's soul taking farewell of her (and realizes she had come to love him).
Afterwards, a German pilot destroys Rhayader's lighthouse and all of his work, except for one portrait Fritha saves after his death: a painting of her as Rhayader first saw her—a child, with the wounded snow goose in her arms.
The book was a huge success in England where it remains popular with, and recommended for, readers of all ages.

The sentimentality of the story is conveyed so well in the music, and because it was my dad's music this brings in even more sentiment and emotion.  The story too, tells of love and death....which are the feelings that the music invokes in me, because of the connection I have with my dad.  So it's all so perfect, the sweet sadness, and the love.  X


Moon - Waxing Crescent 26%

Yoga - Tadasana, Goddess Sequence

Card Message - Nine of Cups
A time for enjoyment and celebration.  A rewarding emotional life.  Someone maybe missing from your life or you may feel strangely lonely.  Having been through difficulties in the past, now close relationships and warmth abound.  Inspiration and creativity.  Any obstacles will be easily handled.  Make sure you appreciate your blessings.

27th January - 1606 "Gunpowder Plot: The trial of Guy Fawkes and other conspirators begins, and ending in their execution on January 31."
1926 John Logie Baird makes the first television broadcast.

Southampton - with new eyes

Southampton - with new eyes

I love planning mini adventures, spontaneous ones.....just getting a feeling that today/tomorrow you're just going to do something different!!

What was I going to do....well money is tight, time is tight, so go local!  I've lived in the district of Southampton for 5 years now, and have visited it lots; usually for shopping.  I'm aware that it has a past, as all places do,  and I thought it was well over due to find out about Southampton. 

First stop was Southampton's Art Gallery, I've been here before a few years ago, but I love it.  There is a real mixture of classic and modern art on show, and usually an exhibition or two.  I have my favourites here......there is a William Holman Hunt - a founder member of the brotherhood of the Pre-Raphaelites - this painting is called,  'The Afterglow in Egypt'.

This painting is beautiful, it is so real......it's exquisite.  When I stand before this painting, I am mesmerised, as I was when I was a child stood before his other famous painting that hangs in St Paul's Cathedral, 'The Light of the World'. 
The other favourite is a whole room dedicated to Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, with his 'Perseus' series of paintings.  Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones was another Pre-Raphaelite painter, but he came in later, within the movement - it is one of the most amazing times of painting for me.  Taking religious subjects, mythological stories and symbolism, all wrapped up in the minutest of paint brushstrokes and a rainbow of colours.

Atlas turned to Stone

From the Art Gallery I then took a slow walk through Southampton's parks.  They are beautiful places, packed full of amazing peaceful trees, plants and monuments.  At the same time the parks are a buzzing place of human life, thoroughfares of busy people, with places to go.

I then began to follow the City's old walls, which were the city's defence in the medieval ages; protecting Southampton from outsiders.  There are about half of the original walls left, and many of the towers too, it's what is left after the blitz and the modernisation of the city took place.  These walls are interwoven between properties of all ages, Georgian, Victorian and Modern - when you look across Southampton it is like a patchwork quilt of architecture....modern and old, side by side.

The Tudor House Museum was a nice little find too, tracing the city's history with shipping and defence.  All manner of objects to look at, from ones you'd expect to see; such as figureheads from ships, and 16th century shipping graffitti, to a stuffed King Charles Spaniel, and Roman perfume bottles.

16th century shipping graffitti

It was lovely to soak it all up, to feel and touch history, to look at the world through another's eyes and be inspired, to share green spaces, to be apart of it all, and to marvel at the madness of the world and people that pass it all by. X

Moon - Waxing Crescent 26%

Yoga - Tadasana, Surya Namaskara, Earth Gratitude Sequence, Gate Sequence (standing & floor)

Card Message - The Lady (major arcana - soul)
Open yourself to the fertile nuturing power of the Goddess. This power will fill you with passion and the ability to be creative and to enjoy a life of abundance and sensual delight.

26th January - Australia Day
Australia Day - On January 26, 1788, Captain Arthur Phillip guides a fleet of 11 British ships carrying convicts to the colony of New South Wales, effectively founding Australia. After overcoming a period of hardship, the fledgling colony began to celebrate the anniversary of this date with great fanfare.

1950 : India Formally becomes a republic no longer under British rule. The new President, Dr Rajendra Prasad, takes the oath of office. Dr Prasad was a key campaigner in the nationalist movement of Mahatma Gandhi, along with India's interim Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Gratitude - Inspiration

                       

Eat Pray Love

Eat Pray Love

What a wonderful film.....and what an amazing story....even more so as it's real!!

I haven't read the book yet, but saw the film last night, and I loved it.  I'll defy anyone who isn't able to identify with Liz (the main character), at some point in the film....as we all go through periods of wonder who we are, what are we doing, and who are we doing it for?

It's easy to understand just where Liz is coming from in the beginning.  The need to do some soul searching...and the amazing pilgramage of finding herself, through the things she likes and wants to do. 
What a fabulous journey......it started through Italy where she fed her senses, and enjoyed pleasure just for the sake of doing so.  Then to India to find Spirituality/God, only to find that it dwells within us all, we just have to stop, be still and listen.  Finally to Bali, where she finds love, or rather where love found her.

Each part of the film was like a film in it's own right, a different location, characters and lessons.  In each part you are with Liz all the way, feeling her emotions, frustrations and teachings.  She meets some amazing characters, all with lessons for her....'Richard from Texas', was probably the most profound one, for me.  The person he seemed to be, was a stark contrast to whom he really was.  There was so much depth and understanding in him, and he recognised her frustrations instantly.

Throughout the journey there are some of the most amazing quotes, that come from all the characters, at various points.  Here are some that particularly resonated with me -

"In the end, I've come to believe in something I call "The Physics of the Quest." A force in nature governed by laws as real as the laws of gravity. The rule of Quest Physics goes something like this: If you're brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you."

“People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. “

“You need to learn how to select your thoughts just the same way you select your clothes every day. This is a power you can cultivate. If you want to control things in your life so bad, work on the mind. That’s the only thing you should be trying to control.”

I found myself time and time again, whilst watching the film, reconising similar patterns of behaviour, seeing frustrations I deal with myself, and following the lessons as she deals with them - much the same as the some of the lessons I'm dealing with now, myself.

Elizabeth Gilbert (left), Julia Roberts (right)

http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/eatpraylove.htm

It is the most amazing film about 'self discovery', I have seen to date.  So if you haven't seen it, I urge you to do so, you'll not be disappointed.   X

Moon - Waxing Crescent 12%

Yoga - Tadasana, Parsvottanasana, Virabhadrasana Eka, Dvi & Tri, Charioteer, Trikonasana,
 Prasarita Padottanasana, Marjaryasana/Bitilasana, Hanumanasana, Adho Mukha Svanasana - Urdhva Murkha Svanasana, Setu Bandhasana, Gomukhasana, Baddhakonasana, Spiral Yoga Mudra, Pranayama, & Mantra.

Card Message - Prince of Cups (princes' - action, impulse to serve & journeys) & (cups - water, feeling/emotion & heart)
Someone following their heart must try to avoid the pitfalls of illusion and glamour.  A conflict between the heart and a need to take action.  Inviting others to a social or artistic event.  Offering your help to others.  An impending journey over water.

25th January - Old Disting/Burns' Night/St Paul's Day
Important in old runic calendars, Disting is the feast of Disir, the Norse guardian goddess.  On this day a major festival of the gods was held at the temple in Uppsala, Sweden.  Burns' Night celebrates Robert Burns, the Scots poet.  Burns' Night revels are a modern continuation of Disting.
The day is also a weather marker:

If St Paul's Day be fair and clear,

It do betide a happy year.

But if it chance to snow or rain,

Then will be dear all kinds of grain.

If clouds or mist do dark the sky,

Great store of birds and beasts will die.

And if the winds do fly aloft;

Then wars shall vex the kingdom oft.

Gratitude - Forgiveness