2008 Blog Wrap Up.

Well- where to begin-As 2008 fades away and we are now into new beginnings- new year 2009- clean slate and all that. I have to take stock- re-evaluate- and adapt. My wonderful partner- to whom I became handfasted with in February this year- Has been literally thrown on the scrap heap at the young age of 52! He has become permanently disabled and so my priorities have had to change.  I need more time – on my days off work- to care & look after himself & my family- so computer time must be cut ( I am an addict) to the computer that is!!!. I am so grateful for all the fellow bloggers I have met and wish everyone the very best for 2009.  Just to say- I will be leaving my blogpage- and concentrating on homelife- due to the changing circumstances. I will still be popping into whitewicca.com. Hope to keep intouch- one way or another. Much love & light.Brightest Blessings.

Joining in the festivities.

In my immediate family and also not so immediate- there are only 2 pagans- one being myself & I am Wiccan. The other my younger sister who is very eclectic indeed. Our families are well aware of our chosen paths and altho may be don’t understand all the in ’s & out’s are happy for us – because we are happy. When it comes to the festivities of this particular season-  I had my own Solstice celebration on Sunday- which my family were involved in at some points during the day and now we are at christmas eve- and I will be involved in all that christmas entails with my family- ( I am the one who cooks) ( decorates) ( cleans) etc etc. Whatever religion- following- sharing in the joy and the celebrations with your nearest & dearest is the spirit of the season. Live & let live- an harm it none- thy will be done. Happy Yuletide.

Yule is soon upon us

Well, altho the last couple of months have been a painful depressing blur- they are just a memory and the road to recovery and normality is at hand. My family, My friends, My partner and many many people, myself included have had a tough old time of it. So it is always heartening to hear from old friends and catch up with distant family at this time of year. The net- altho not as personal- has actually helped me to find lost contacts aswell as be in touch with family members more often- via e’mail etc. I posted all my cards- all recycled- or from sustainable sources. I will be sending my Solstice/Yule e’cards on Sunday-to my fellow pagans- and my christmas e’cards to family & friends- christmas eve.  The intent to send out love & joy to nearest & dearest no matter how its done- always fills me with love & joy- the more I send out- the happier I feel and it is infectious too. Just like a smile. So thank the Goddess my optimism & joy for life is returning- I was beginning to depress myself a while back. Wishing you all a fabulous Yule and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too.

Longnight Fullmoon- or Full Cold Moon

A quiet ritual of peace & tranquility was in order this evening- after so much negativity and illness around us- some respite was a blessing. During my meditation- I felt emotional- weepy- then in my warm little room- I began to feel enveloped in peace & warmth and a calmness all around. Slowly beginning to feel once again in control of my life- really looking forward to quality family time this Yuletide and starting to tick of the items on the long list of still to do’s. One step at a time- each day – One step at a time. Brightest Blessings.

Where’d the time go?

Already its the 5th of December- A whole month has flown by- the Flu episode was just after Halloween and allsorts of things have happened. The recession has hit hard in the UK & Ireland- as it has across the world. My father has been made redundant- my partner is now on permanent disability- my work hours have been cut- and a whole host of harsh negative vibes are going on all around. All we can do is go with the flow- what will be will be- take it day by day a step at a time. It is however difficult to be the optimist- but thankfully I have my partner- my children- my family & friends and letting it out- discussing the emotions- sharing these lows & the highs- it really helps. With the coming Yuletide celebrations and the time we will be spending with our familys- I am so thankful for the joy that this brings- and I hope that everyone finds joy & happiness this Yule. Brightest Blessings.

Still playing catch up!

Since Samhain eve- I have been floored by a “FLU” type bug and have been fit for nothing. Now altho I am much recovered- I find I have a ton of stuff that was neglected or put aside to plow thru- including telling all about Samhain and last nights Beavers Full Moon. So I must prioritise and alocate time to all pressing matters- upload some photo’s & share my expriences. Much better Brightest Blessings.

Brightest Blessings This Taurus Full Moon night.

Whatever you call this full moon night- Beavers or Frost or Snow full moon and also The Hunters moon- which is another name for the October full moon too- Whatever you call it in your part of the world- Brightest Blessings and much love & light for your ritual. I seem to have shaken the flu- but am still feeling weak so mine will be one of quiet gentle reflection & meditation.

Funny New Year

Samhain celebrations complete- House back in order after the childrens party- But since Sunday- I have been down with a bug- hence non or little activity on here. Also dealing with an unsightly skin rash- the culprit- our new washing liquid ( at least I think). Went back to work today and they sent me home- I looked so bad. Not the rash- thats out of sight- just the pale skin & really dark circles under the eyes.

So unproductive- I so want to get on with all my new year plans and I have zero energy to start. So far now- I’ll just keep on with the Hot Toddy’s- Hot water bottle- comfy duvet and rest. It can’t go on forever.

Cake Baking

Well- sooner than you think- the festive season will be upon us. So I have just baked my christmas cake- well it does need at least 8 weeks to mature and have a weekly feed of brandy. This year it took well over 2 hours to pull out the stalks and nobbles- despite buying quality fruit. But it is therapeutic and allows the mind a breather from the pressures of the day. So now on to the delicacies for the Samhain celebrations on Friday. Brightest  Blessings.

” Tag” – ” You’re it”.

Oh what fun- I have been double tagged by Mary at   http://tea-sympathy-and-perfume.blogspot.com/ and also The Green Witch at http://wiccanwanderings.wordpress.com/. Some wonderful fun in the blog world. So here goes with the rules- and then followed by the fun part- stuff that few people if any, know about me.

1. Link to the person or persons who tagged you. (Affirmative)

2. Post the rules on your blog. (Affirmative)

3. Write six random things about yourself. (See below)

4. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them. (See further below…)

    (Their links, you will find in my blogroll- topright of page)

5. Let each person know they’ve been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.( Affirmative)

6. Let the tagger/ taggers know when your entry is up. (Affirmative)

 

    My Grandfathers Uncle was Captain Webb- the first man to swim across the English Channel.

    I suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder- which I have been told by my onlooking family is quite funny- to watch- It doesnt seem like that to me! At work they just think I’m obsessed with tidyness! But my work space is MY WORKSPACE and woe betide any one who messes with it- I can’t help it!

    I believe in Fairies and other magical creatures- I have at least one in the house and many in the garden. They do not show themselves but I know they are there. They live along side us on another level.

    I write and have written small articles that have been published in papers & magazines. I also write poetry and then choose a favourite hymn or tune to sing it along to. My current fav tune is ” We plough the fields & Scatter” to which I have written a poem of Thanks.

    Throughout my Adult life I have had relationships with both men & women- I can see/ appreciate the beauty and the foibles in both.

    I have a spent a small fortune in Orchids- that are now growing around my house- I adore them. I once paid £75- for a very small Masdevalia- which is still small and has never flowered. Ever the optimist.

 Now the 6 blogs I wish to tag.

FOX- at Unveiling of a pagan spirit.

one of my favourite and a dear friends blog spots.

Lisa- the tribal Witch.

Such wonderful craft work.

Leanne- at Somerset seasons.

Makes me so want to live in Somerset.

 Willow the Beautiful1 – at My Place.

love to catch up with this blog everyday

Thalia- at Amused Grace.

I look forward to checking in to this blog.-, to catch up & refresh my knowledge of the Goddess. The art work is fantastic.

Marya- at African Alchemy.

Such humour and detail of life in Marya’s part of the world- almost feel like I’m there.

All of the blogs above and infact all my fellow bloggers across in the blogroll are there because they are my friends and I love to keep in touch with them and share their lives along with mine- its a wonderful tangled web of life. Lets blog on & on.

My Wonderful walk in nature.

Parked the car- opened the door on a cool crisp october morning. Bright an early- around 8- sun not yet thru – but painting the thin wispy layer of clouds in pinks, orange & lemons and up ahead the incline took me thru low growing cotoneaster- with shiny green dewy leaves and bright red jewel berries- and the red leaves of the Photinia blowing and swaying lazyly in the breeze. The blackbird giving a warning call- The robin singing happily greeting the dawn-In the fields to the right the Cows beginning to rise and the mist coming up from the warm ground where they had slept. A faint aroma from the many apples in the apple tree orchard to the left and up above the moon once full- now slowly waning- but brightly shining down on another working day. This is the joy that greets me every morning when I have parked my car at my workplace and walk up the little hill. All the wonders of the nature around me on the journey to & from and my daily walk- set me up for the day. Brightest Blessings

October fullmoon Esbat

Whatever you call this October full moon- Hunters, Shedding, Fallen Leaf, Blood- Brightest Blessings for your Esbat. Mine this time was very simple- Meditating and pathworking- Just being still-watching the moon-seeing the faint blue outline- the tiny clouds passing quickly over the face-the yellow orange hazey circle denoting a frosty morning.  With many friends in mind, fellow wiccans holding rituals, friends in need of healing, protection and energy. The Moon was so bright you could read by it. So all my tools are now happily batheing in the beautiful soft white glow and recharging. Brightest blessings.

Mabon Ritual

Having been at work all day- my ritual started late & it was already dark- but as it had been a wonderful bluesky sunny day- the evening was clear- chilly but clear. I had already gathered my own mini harvest- so then laid it all out in my circle in the garden. The circle cast – The quarters called- My ritual was one of thanks- for the harvest and the guidance and for the future. I cut thru one of the apples- revealing the 5 point star and spent a little time meditating. I had a hazy vision of strong thoroughbred black horses racing thru foaming white waves as they were breaking on the shore. Once the ritual was over- I left the apples- mini pumpkin- tomatoes on the outside altar. Then at day break this morning- another glorious day- I placed all the fruits of my harvest at the foot of the trees around the Garden and on the table in the faery grotto under the Weeping Hawthorn. A lovely rewarding ritual. Brightest Blessings.

Wonderful Warm September Sunday.

So my thoughts for today were on housework catch up- as I only have today- due to a shift change at work. But when we awoke the sun was just peeking thru the early morning mist and it looked like it was going to be a lovely day. So we spent the best part of the day in the garden- mowing- strimming- window cleaning- moss clearing- trimming and seed collecting. As the Summer has been some what of a let down it has been such a long time since we had such time in the garden. Tho we are now exhausted- the garden looks a treat and we all some much needed fresh air. Now its off to the Kitchen for a lovely Sunday Dinner followed by a nice hot bath. Happy Days. Brightest Blessings.

The Autumn Equinox.

Just my luck- got to work- when I’m usually off on monday’s-but it will be fine-once I have my Mabon Ritual written I shall celebrate later in the evening. Enjoy the Equinox wherever you are. Brightest Blessings.