Solmonath: Cake Month

Full Moon ♌️

Snow Moon amongst our fig tree.

And just like that, February arrives! With longer sunrises and sunsets, the trees are budding and the catkins are now becoming “fluffy”, the snow drops are still abundant and the daffodil stalks are growing: spring is coming!

^sol-mōnaþ “Soll-Monath”, according to Gale R. Owen in her book ‘Rites and Religions of the Anglo-Saxons’ takes its name from Bede’s account of it being called “Cake Month”. Owen then goes on to explain that there is evidence in Scandinavia of cakes being made in the form of the gods, or at least animals sacred to them:

“It is quite possible that the pagan Anglo-Saxons baked birds, boars or horses in honour of their gods….”

I’m going to hypothesise that if this was the case, then either it’s because people saw this time of year as a time of the world waking up, what with shoots growing and the frost melting- that this could be a way of encouraging that thaw to happen quicker by baking cakes in the shape of their gods to appease them…..

Or, it was a way of keeping people fed, especially if the winter food stocks were dwindling and making cake was a way of using what was left.

Either way, it reminds me of an ancient culinary tradition here in the United Kingdom that still continues to this day…. Pancake Day.

It doesn’t involve making cakes in the shape of animals or the gods, but it was recorded as early as the 1400’s and takes place on Shrove Tuesday. This in turn takes its name from “Shrive” or “Shriven” practiced by the Anglo-Saxon Christians as an act of absolving themselves of sin via confession. Shrove Tuesday takes place 47 days before Easter and marks the beginning of Lent, normally observed by fasting. It’s thought that Pancake Day came from using up the ingredients of eggs, milk and flour so they don’t go off during Lent, this being a way of not only using the ingredients up but to provide a last meal as people took up their fast.

Shrove Tuesday and Pancake Day usually fall at some point in February or March, this year it takes place on Tuesday 21st February. Nowadays it’s more of a treat than an act of ritual starvation, traditionally flavoured with sugar and lemon juice, although people often use jam, Nutella, bananas, ice cream…. the possibilities are endless!

Pancakes aren’t just used with sweets, when growing up, my parents would have them savoury with hash (stew) or even curry or chilli on them, then have more pancakes with sweet stuff on. According to my wife, this sounds like a perverse act…. Like most of my “Northern ways”.

One thing that Solmonath does remind me of is the ritual marking of Imbolc with a Druidic cake…. Allow me to explain:

Imbolc is the Irish quarter day that marks the beginning of spring and ending of winter. Taking place on the 1st February, it honours St Brigid with links to the goddess of the same name and was celebrated in Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Hebrides. As for the Modern Pagan version, it normally falls on either the 1st or 2nd of February and is marked by Modern Pagans and Modern Druids. Back when the Druid Grove of the Corieltauvi were able to meet up for seasonal ceremonies, one of the Druids, Simon (RIP, brother) not only honoured his Anglo-Saxon ancestors (a trail I currently find myself on), but at every Imbolc he would always bring a cake he personally baked. This wasn’t for us to eat, he made this to feed the birds. He would offer it to the gods on our altar, invite us to break it up and scatter it to the ground so the birds can find it. Back then I just took it as his own personal thing and that it was a wonderful offering. Now, I see what he was doing: honouring Solmonath, his ancestors and the gods by giving his cake not in the shape of birds, but to the birds, it was his way of giving back.

Returning to our either/or in regards to why the cakes were made in the first place, perhaps both my earlier hypotheses were wrong, perhaps the cakes weren’t made to appease the gods and if they weren’t used to feed people…. Perhaps they were meant to be left and given to the creatures of the wild.

I have no idea if Pancake Day came from Solmonath, but I do rather like the possibility that the making of cakes at one of the leanest times of the year is something that is intrinsic to the British culture and despite its origins, might not be a custom linked, but a custom shared from one age to another.

Whatever this month means for you, your country and your ancestors, I wish you a bright and nourishing spring dawning.

Locksley /|\

A Moment of Inspiration

New Moon ♏️

I feel the sunlight upon my face, I feel the cool of the earth and the damp of the rain.

I see the grey clouds part to reveal blue sky, I see the trees without leaves and those still hanging on.

I hear the birds call to each other, I hear the roar of the tools of Man.

I smell scents of my kitchen- of spices, of the fruit cordial in boiling water.

I taste the cool water I drank before stillness, I taste the soothing of my spirit.

* * *

Druidry isn’t always ritual, dressing up in robes, reading and research. It’s also taking the time to be still enough to take in the movements of the world.

Patience (Lessons from the Hazel Tree)

New Moon ♏️

“I reach for the light, though I can grow in the shade.

I can grow as one, though I can grow as many.

My nuts form in summer, though they fall in autumn.

They feed many and go back to Earth, I travel with them.

“My lesson is patience:

A time to grow,

A time to flower,

A time to fruit,

A time to release.

For all have their time.”

Though the leaves turn, the catkins “Lamb’s Tails” are just forming….

Alban Elfed- “Light of the Water”

New Moon ♍️

Whitby Harbour, 23rd September 2022

I have to admit, September is my favourite month. I’m biased, of course. Devi and I got married two years ago and we’re still celebrating our second year anniversary by going around Whitby (yes again, but we love it here) and by the sea. Which is fitting because we got married on the beach in Argyll, Scotland with the Paps of Jura behind us, a truly magical day!

And it’s a truly magical month, not only are the fruits on trees and plants full of flavour, falling to earth or ready to be picked, but there are lengthening shadows, beautiful sunrise and sunset colours, changing colours in the leaves, morning and evening coolness and yet warmth in the sun. And the sky has different shades of blue….. the longer nights are coming!

This year, the autumnal equinox fell on the same day as our wedding anniversary and the photo taken that evening (above) summed up my feelings and thoughts of Alban Elfed, the modern Druid celebration of ‘The Light of the Water’.

We didn’t realise it until we got here, but the whole weekend has been the Whitby Fish and Chip festival. This has had various talks on sustainability, raising awareness of Climate Change and there’s even been a push for encouraging people to do one small thing to help in the fight against it. There have been workshops on how to dress a crab and prepare fish, there have even been performances of sea shanties, storytelling and even traditional clog dancing too. And of course various restaurants being visited for that British staple: fish and chips!

Thinking about it, it’s almost like Devi and I had come to an entirely different sort of harvest festival, not one of fruits and vegetables of the land, but the bounty of the sea.

And as if to emphasise the lesson I’ve been thinking of this autumn, it can be characterised by a boat at sea. And this lesson is “Let it go.”

I would love to say I am a completely zen-natured and calm individual always finding a a quiet solution to everything…… I’m not. I’m human, I overthink things, and I when I make mistakes I can brood and sulk about them for hours. I mentally punish myself over and over until something else takes my attention then I can move on. In short, I take things personally and get very defensive because I didn’t get it right the first time. That’s a lot of shit to put on myself and it is entirely self induced.

This has been a year about developing a sense of thinking in the present. The second a mistake is made, or I hadn’t thought of something that should have been common sense, or made a wrong choice, it’s done. So instead of ruminating on the said mistake and feeling despondent, I’ve been teaching myself to “let it go”. And those are the three words that I immediately fire up as soon as something goes wrong. Let. It. Go. Why am I taking this so personally? Behaving like a child isn’t going to fix the situation, so let it go. By no means am I using this to ignore a problem, more it’s of recognising an error and determine if it’s something I can I can put right there and then. If it isn’t, accept it, acknowledge it, learn from it and move on. Let it go.

The people of Whitby are proud of their maritime heritage, the fishermen of this town respect the sea because they know it can mean life and death in the waves.

I don’t think it’s any mistake that the sea is often used as a symbol for our emotions, there’s a reason ships only go out when the seas are calm. However, should a vessel find itself caught in a storm, the crew have to put their emotions aside in order to find the clarity needed in order to get out of it. Doesn’t mean the mixture of emotions aren’t there, they have to let it go in order to do what they must. And when I think of some of the things I stress myself about, they pale in comparison to what a crew have to do in order to make themselves safe and stay alive.

So yes, it’s that kind of detached clear thinking I must seek, so when I encounter a problem, I’m not being overwhelmed or distracted by the waves of my emotions. In ‘let it go’ I am in fact reminding myself to take the objective point of view in order to work the solution if it’s in my power to do so. And by letting it go, I am also being kinder to myself and others.

Autumnal Blessings and may the Light on the Water show you your bounty.

Locksley. /|\

Been a Druid for 12 years and all I got was this lousy….

New Moon ♌️

It strikes me that I’ve been practising and learning my Druidry for 12 years this year.

It was all the way back in 2010 when I came across a book called “The Druid Renaissance” in a charity shop (thrift store), a collection of essays by modern Druids and all members of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. This was also the same year my good friend, Kelly had lent me her Introductory Package to the Druid courses OBOD had to offer and so I took the plunge. Went online, paid the subscription and awaited the course material with eagerness.

To say my life has totally changed since then would be an understatement. To say that Druidry was the constant in my life since now and then would be a lie: it too, like my life, has changed, grown, fallen and grown again.

There are different approaches to Druidry besides OBOD and not all of them suit everybody, but I’m happy where I am and with the Order to which I belong. OBOD is a mystery tradition and so I cannot go into specific practices or ways of working.

However, I can share with you what I have learned in my 12 years of practise and study and how even though the methods and lessons I use and learn from are from OBOD, my specific Druidry is becoming my own….

What I wanted it to be: By 2010 I was already Pagan and had been so since 1999. Curiously, I was Christian before that after coming to it when I was 9 years old. By the time I was 19, I found Christianity answered some of my questions but not all; so I explored elsewhere.

When Druidry came into my life (as above) I was fascinated- at last, here we are! A key to the original religion of Britain and Ireland and therefore a way of connecting to the indigenous practices of the Pre-Roman peoples!

I wanted it to be a tradition from ages past, I wanted a Druid to be a mixture of shaman and survival expert. Even after reading Peter Berresford-Ellis’ book ‘A Brief History of the Druids’ (which I had found by chance in my workplace back in 2006) I believed that there MUST be an unbroken link and that Berresford-Ellis was being far too cynical about these modern Druids….

What I discovered: there is no unbroken link and that classical and modern Druids are different things. Very different things indeed! Druids belonged to a culture that is no longer with us. Great Britain and Ireland no longer have the caste systems that the Celtic people of those times had. Not only that, but the only people who kept true to the languages are the Scottish, Cornish, Welsh, Irish and Manx. The Druids themselves adapted with the times and became part of the newer religion. At least that last part is according to Berresford-Ellis.

Ronald Hutton in his ‘Blood and Mistletoe’ questions if “Druids” existed at all and even goes so far to question whether the people the Romans attacked on the Isle of Mons (Anglesey) were indeed the last of the Druids…. Either way people were massacred. I personally believe that Druids were the intellectual caste of the Celtic tribes and the Romans did what they could to suppress and even destroy them…. What was left adapted to the times.

I use the terms ‘Classical’ and ‘Modern’ Druids to differentiate between those whom were written about in the Classical accounts by Greek, Romans and Romanised Celts (Virgil may have come from a family of them) and those who started calling themselves ‘Druids’ from the 18th Century onwards.

I discovered Modern Druids are all exploring their own versions of Druidry. Some are reclaiming their cultural heritage, some are attempting to recreate what they were, some are using it as a sense of cultural identity and others (like myself) acknowledge what they were and what they did and know that we are different from them. But we still take inspiration from them. In fact, I think that’s the one thing that ALL modern Druids can agree on.

What I learned: It’s ok to learn from our mistakes and if something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. The performer in me wants to learn the rituals off by heart and that’s exactly what I did.

What I learned during my time with the original Grove of the Corieltauvi was to not take ritual and ceremony too seriously, I still remember attending my very first Grove ceremony and meeting the Grove members of the time and for Simon to call the wrong element in the wrong cardinal direction. But he owned it, that was the thing! He owned his mistakes. On the flip side, I also saw what happened when people take ceremony far too seriously, where people become meticulous in the form then wonder why it didn’t feel “spiritual”.

I also learned I didn’t want to use Irish words and terms for the sake of appearing “Druidy”. I certainly didn’t and don’t want to appropriate the Irish and use their terms because “that’s what we do”. That’s why last year I started using “Bringing in the May” instead of Beltane, Lammas instead of Lughnasadh and Halloween instead of Samhain….. I haven’t found one for Imbolc yet and I don’t want to use the term “Candlemas” as that’s Christian. I’m still wrapping my head around this one and at a Lammas ceremony here in Nottingham I gave a brief description acknowledging both Lammas and Lughnasadh as it felt right to do so. Any Gaelic terms I do use, I acknowledge where it came from: The Irish Ogham, for example or Awen as the Welsh for inspiration.

The biggest thing I learned was something that OBOD is very big on and I’m even applying into my everyday life: if it doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. This isn’t a spoiler by any means, but I’ve had to adapt my Druid practice for when I’ve moved house several times, I’ve even changed from doing “when it feels right” to making sure I do it on a Sunday evening for either meditation or study, sometimes both. There are certain practices I do now that didn’t when I first started and there are things I haven’t done since my Bardic Grade. That and just taking a present mindset with everything. Right now I’m studying the Irish Ogham and not only learning about native trees, but the properties and folklore of each of those trees. I have chosen to do this because it felt right to do so and I recognised I cannot carry on in my present course material until I have fully explored the Ogham. Because in my mind I’d always be thinking about it and feel like I’m missing something if I don’t do it.

What my Druidry is now: Respect for all things, observing and celebrating the season, looking for wonder.

This isn’t something the OBOD material has shown me, it’s something I came to on my own. A fundamental aspect of both my practise and my beliefs are about showing respect: to other people, to other Druids, to other Druid orders, courses and directions. Respect to all other faiths and those who have none. Respect to those who come from a Celtic culture and of their languages. Respect to my own history, culture and people as well as the Land, the world and all the other beings I get to share it with. To the spirits of the place as well as the dead. And of course, respect for myself.

The more I observed the world around me and actively watching the seasons, I found a brand new respect for that too. I also found that my beliefs in deity changed as well and instead of the world being populated by gods running around the place, the world and everything in it is part of the divine!

And every now and then the divine lets you know it’s there: it might be something working in your favour, it might even be some act of synchronicity.

I like to give thanks by giving back, whether it’s the first fruits I pick from the garden or by simply raising a glass and paying respects to my gods (the divine), my ancestors, the spirits around me, or to the bountiful Earth, the life giving Sun and the Moon, ruler of tides and dream. I learned that as educational as it is to observe the landscape, it’s also important to seek the divine within that, to keep an eye out for anything that brings a sense of wonder.

In conclusion, In religion and any spirituality, there is no “True Way”. Any way that leads to the destruction and harm of others is about control and dominance. Any way that nurtures and allows for people to grow as well show respect for themselves and everyone and thing around them, that’s something else. Any practice, even be it a Pagan practice and Druid practice cannot be limited to a single path….. rather they are paths that lead to forests and it’s in those forests we find there is plenty to learn if we take the time to actually look.

Thank you for reading.

Locksley. /|\

Sihouetted tree before the setting sun at Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire. Photo by Locksley2010.

Q: What do gods and deity mean to you?

New Moon ♋️

The Grove of the Corieltauvi has reformed after shutting down in 2019. Presently, it is in a state of regeneration with some of the original former members and even a few newer ones. If you’ve followed my blog for a while you might recognise some of the names….

The title of this blog post comes from a question that came to my mind regarding a shared article on deity from Tatterhood. And so, this post isn’t so much offering any kind of final conclusions, but a collection of thoughts from my friends within the Grove.

“What do the gods and deity mean to you?”

This is a subject I have written about previously and no doubt will again. The post linked was written back in 2014 and my writing style, as well as my beliefs, differ from now. Please note there is a link in that article which used to lead to the old Corieltauvi blog page; it won’t work as that blog no longer exists.

Here was my leading post in our forum:

When I first approached Paganism I was a full believer in the gods. This waned somewhat as I began to see them more as ancestors with legends ascribed to them.

When I first began Druidry, it was the Bardic Course that helped me to re-introduce the concept of deity into my practise and my perceptions. I went from believing all gods as being real to conscious energy forms.

In my (continuing) exploration into the Ovate Grade, the more I learn about the natural world as well as my relationship with it, I now see deity a ‘force’ that flows through life itself. Nwyfre, if you will. I think if it is something that can be communicated with, then subconscious dream is the language.

As for the gods themselves….. I find myself now thinking of them as something we aspire to either improve or be within ourselves. People may be attracted to the Morrigan, for example as they find her independence and prophesying side inspiring as that’s what they’d like within themselves.

For me, I like Brigid for how she personifies Awen or inspirational/creative thought.

Mannann Mac Lir is another; he represents patience, wisdom and an air of mystery that allows you to learn for yourself- all aspects I would wish to be strong within myself.

But would I just simply begin worshiping them? I guess the answer would be to try it out and see what comes….. the real question then is: if by worshiping deity are we enforcing and strengthening these aspects of ourselves that we seek connection with? I would say on the outside view, yes.

Those are my thoughts, how about you guys?

It worked! And other members of the Grove joined in and shared their perspectives too:

Ben: “During my meanderings with the gods I’ve felt the presence of many alongside me but have never asked myself what they are….. until this year.

I’ve been drawn to a more shamanic approach (shamanic being another loaded word)
On my spirit journeys I’ve met with many helpers some you could confuse with gods. Most are aspects of me I think. Some ancestors, others land energies.

Maybe over time one or two spirit guides became popular with many people asking them guidance. Maybe this fed them and gave them substance.
People also forgot that these were guides and helpers and began to make offerings to them, the odd temple here, train up a priest there maybe. Then it might have got political……
The chief saw the power growing in this helper guide and so made it officially the guide of the clan or tribe.
Alas a guide became a god.

And of course each tribe wanted to show that their god was better than the others……. War followed war….. mission followed mission and you soon got the one god problem……..
until folk got disillusioned and started taking interesting cups of tea and putting interesting things in their pipes once more……
And they find all the spirit guides waiting once more.

And what were they saying?

The divine is within you as we are within you, the animals, the trees, the rocks and yep even other people!

It’s a beautiful spiral journey of magical ness.”

Cthulhudruid: Many of the Pagan Gods characterise important aspects of the human experience. They signify their importance whilst confronting us with the need to acknowledge and work with them, even if they are uncomfortable characteristics that we would prefer to avoid or suppress.

Ellie: Yes. The Divine is always there for us however we perceive him/her to be. I believe always with us and in us should we so wish.

For now:

I think that in sharing our thoughts on the nature of deity that the truth is somewhere between Ben and Ellie’s comments. That the divine is not only around us in the sun, the moon, the wind, the sea, the trees, the multitude of life…. it’s within us, part of us and is always there for us to slow down and listen to.

Looking back on my previous post on this subject was a bit of an eye-opener in the way that looking at our past selves often is. My faith in the gods was absolute back then. Whereas now, my Druidry has become much less about trying to find the ‘original religion’ and seeking the gods and more about observing the sun and moon, experiencing the seasons and allowing for the Divine to approach in any way it chooses.

View from East Wittering, by Roly.

Beltane 2022

1st Waxing Crescent ♉️ (It still counts as a New Moon….. kinda…..)

Yesterday, I had the privilege of joining an online Zoom gathering of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD). There were limited spaces and I was fortunate enough to not only be off on the day it was planned, but early enough to secure my place in the meeting.

I met with other fellow members and we discussed two questions:

1, How did you come to Druidry?

2, How does being a Druid affect your life?

With over 250 members on the Zoom meeting, we were split into rooms of five members each so we could meet, interact and discuss these questions.

In the first group, I met with newer members of the Bardic Grade, one from Canada, one from France, one from the USA and another from Argentina! We all shared our experiences of how we came into Druidry and what it meant for us: connection, finding our place in the world and finding our roots.

My journey with Druidry began back in 2006 when I found a copy of ‘A Brief History of The Druids’ by Peter Berresford-Ellis. Growing up in Sheffield, I found that the River Don may have been named after the Brythonic goddess , Don, who was cognate with the watery Mother-Goddess Danu from Irish mythology. This is what led me into looking into Celtic mythology and history, especially that of Britain before it became Romanised, and later Anglicised. From Ellis, I learned that the Druids didn’t die out, they adapted to survive in the new dawning religion of the Christus, yet some of their practices were indeed recorded (the Tarbh-Feis, for example in seeking dreams of prophecy), or how their philosophy flavoured early Christianity: Pelagius teaching that we were responsible for our own salvation and that we didn’t need the forgiveness of Divinity to find absolution…. Leading to what was called the Pelagian Heresy. Also, as far as Ellis was concerned, there are no such things as modern day Druids and that if anyone claims themselves such, they are following 18th century “balderdash”…..

In the arrogance of my ignorance, for a while, I too followed this train of thought.

It wasn’t until 2010 when I found a book in a charity shop (thrift store) called ‘The Druid Renaissance’ which was a collection of essays by members of OBOD and printed as a book, I bought it and was glued to it: learning from at least one essay about seeking not a connection with the past but with the land itself. From another, I learned that whilst Stonehenge was being built, Britain was as warm as the south of France…. No wonder things were done outdoors! I recall finding these very profound yet wasn’t sure how to proceed: despite there being information of contacting OBOD, I didn’t feel comfortable in reaching out to some “wannabe” organisation.

Yes, the arrogance of ignorance was strong with this one!

About a month or two later I met with my (then) new friend Kelly who was a Bard of the Order. She told me what it was like and even lent me her introduction package to see if I could find use of it…. I was hooked! Being a former actor and wanting to explore my spirituality as well as look into the facts of such things, I joined the Order and have never looked back. Ellis be damned! Although his book is still my go-to for authenticating anything Druid-wise, despite his obvious hubris, Ellis still explored the facts although he did dismiss the Celtic system of elements as though the reader already knew what they were (No! What WERE they!?).

Kelly and I are good friends still and even though Kelly has stepped back from Druidry (it’s no longer her way), we still text, call each other and both join in on our fortnightly D&D nights…. Snickering like children at any given innuendo. My sister from another mister, that one.

The second question was discussed in another zoom room, these were more my ilk: experienced in the field, yet still approaching with a sense of wonder and learning. We had two guys from Kentucky, one Australian and the newest member (joined this February) from Ireland. Whereas the first group was discovering Druidry and eager to share what it meant for them, this group was a lot more talkative: we could compare things we had found, even if the oldest guy with us had been doing it for 30 years, it was still a wonderful thing to share and how our lives had changed in terms of time and with Druidry through it.

It was when one of the guys from Kentucky, USA described about his Druidry being one of looking back on his life since finding Druidry and finding events and projects he had sown and developed as “acorns planted on my journey” I thought to myself: I have over thought everything! This is something I have found on my Ovate grade, I look at something and think “what is that? What are its origins? What does it mean? What did it mean to the Celtic peoples? What is its form now?” And have found that instead of trying to find the “purity” of something, accept it and take in its facets. The Irish Ogham for example is a system of writing based on Primitive Irish sounds. Yet even though the “tree” associations are medieval, there are more interpretations and assignments of meaning based on warriors or concepts….. even though I am currently studying the arboreal interpretations of the Ogham, I acknowledge and accept these aren’t the full story and there are much more chapters to the script. And me ramming my head against the idea of “true meaning” isn’t going to get any answers.

I know I have written previously of how my Druidry affects my day-to-day-life, but I found myself giving slightly different answers as I have changed since then: Not only am I more eco-minded, but it’s about respect. Respect of another person and their spirit, but respect of other cultures and their ways. Respect of other beings (Trees and plants for example!) and when to leave them alone: if I encounter a Robin say, whilst gardening, or a black bird crossing my path on the way to work, or even a fox! There is some part of me that wants to pet them and try to reach out and connect with them- but I know this is wrong. I respect that animal enough to leave it alone. Not only would I be marking them with my presence, but if I made them dependent on me somehow….. the damage would be devastating.

So what is MY Druidry? It is of seeking what the ancestors sought, honouring and learning from the past, giving respect to all and trying to make the world a better place no matter how small the influence. Most of all, it is of living in the present and trying not to overthink things: some things are, some things are not, some things are what we make them.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable event and I’m glad to have been able to be part of it. If there’s one thing I learned from talking with other Druids, it is this: Look back on where I came from…. And see how many acorns have planted on the way.

On another subject entirely, last night, Devi and I attended a family member’s 50th birthday party. He wanted a barn dance and that’s exactly what we did, dancing in circles and all! We even saw a fox running on the way home, yes we left it alone.

So, all in all a very festive May-Eve!

Did I mention I wrote this whilst finishing off a bottle of wine? No? Then Merry May, Blessed Bealtaine and a cracking Calan Mai to you!

Locksley. /|\

Cherry Tree showing us her flowers and grace.

Real Times of Magic

New Moon ♈️ (ok, it’s the night after…. What? Some people consider this the new moon!

March has been and gone, and with it the Spring Equinox (Vernal Equinox does sound better, doesn’t it?) the time of change, of growth and new beginnings.

I have to admit, I actually like the equinoxes; by the time we reach the Vernal and Autumnal equinoxes real change has occurred as the effects of the appropriate season have kicked in.

The solstices might be the “sexier” of the solar celebrations and hog the limelight, what with the Green Man motif of the Oak King/Holly King being attached. But as dominant as they are (indeed the winter and summer solstices are recognised and celebrated the world over), their progress is subtle. The darker nights gradually become lighter, the longer days gradually become shorter.

By the times of either equinox, we’re in the full flow of the increasing or decreasing light or dark. In spring, everything is waking up in the plant realm and the bird song is as loud as it is varied. There is a general feel of rejuvenation and even though winter might still have a presence there are definite signs of summer approaching too. In autumn, there is a sense of magic in the air, a definite shift in the seasons as summer’s warmth begins to ebb and there’s a particular delight and satisfaction in picking the fruits. Whereas trees such as weeping willow, birch and alder and poplar begin the gaining of their green in spring, by autumn, leaves change into fiery gold, amber and blazing red.

Once upon a time, I considered not celebrating either equinox at all, but it was when observing the land around me and seeing these were actual times of change and transition that I gained a new appreciation for them. It also helped that we got married on the day after the autumn equinox, giving further meaning to this time.

What I also love about both seasons is the longer dawns and sunsets; bringing with them a real sense of magic in the earth as well as the sky.

If there was any time of the year where I would say magic could be truly felt, it would be in these solar times of dawn and dusk where the day begins, the day ends and if it’s something both the Celts and the Anglo-Saxons shared in common…. It was that the dusk of the evening heralded the new day.

Some might say this is a council estate with a sunset, I say it’s a new day looking over a skeletal tree and a newly bloomed magnolia, Beauty surrounds us if we know where to look.

Winter Solstice 2021 Special: Sow then….

4th Waning Gibbous ♌️

I’m guessing now would be a real bad time to mention “Pigs in Blankets”….

And just like the sun going down over the western horizon, 2021 draws to a close. It barely even feels like five minutes and this year is almost spent!

Last year’s card spoke of The Goddess, The Land and Travel. Let’s see how that manifested in the past year:

The Goddess: I have certainly found myself questioning my relationship with The Divine this year. Instead of praying to outside forces of deity, I’ve been seeing the gods as people to which we aspire to be like. In other words, my view has shifted to instead of seeing them as ‘Ultimate Supernatural Beings’ to role-models in the way that each god we want to connect with is, in fact, representative of something we wish to awaken or aspire to within ourselves.

During one visualisation exercise, I found it hard to proceed to the next step until I was instructed by a being calling herself “She Who is Everywhere.” Chances are this was part of my own psyche, the calm part of myself, giving instruction…. And who knows? Maybe that’s exactly how deity acts with humankind in the first place?

The Land: This year has seen me connect with the rhythm and cycle of the seasons even more than I have done in the past. By continuing to note down my observations in the world around me, I have been inspired in my blogs and ceremonies by the natural world. I have become more enamoured with the solstices and equinoxes, seeing them as times of actual change: subtle at first, then gaining strength as the season continues its course.

As for the Celtic festivals, I must say I’m becoming less likely to use the Irish names for them. This is not out of any sense of nationalism or “Britishness”. It’s actually out of respect for the Irish and not wanting to steal their names or festivals. Here in Great Britain, we don’t have Imbolc or Lughnasadh, but we do have Candlemas and Lammas. This also comes from a place of thinking that perhaps we as modern Pagans and modern Druids are wrong to assume that just because something was true in a Celtic land such as Ireland, it doesn’t necessarily mean that this was true for Celtic Britain and Gaul (France) too.

This is an ongoing process I am undergoing and have been looking into more local celebrations instead. Nottingham has Light Night in early February, England has May Day around the 1st of May. Historically, England celebrated the kick off of the first harvest with “hloaf-mas” in the beginning of August and even though Ireland and Scotland began Halloween with Samhain and Samhuinn, in South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire we had ‘Soulin’ Night’ or ‘Cakin’ Night’. These were recorded in the 19th Century and involved children dressing up in backwards worn clothes and knocking their neighbours doors to ask for cake or coppers to buy the ingredients to make cakes…. On All Soul’s Night (2nd November). Plus Nottingham has The Goose Fair in mid October too!

Travel: The biggest focus this year has been on learning to drive. And it hasn’t been easy. It’s a completely alien skill that has only been making sense in the past few months. I’m very proud to say that I passed my theory test last week and passed first time! All I need to do now is the practical test. If that doesn’t count as travel, I don’t know what does!

2022: Muc– Sow: I drew the card after I had drawn everyone else’s during my online moot. With its focus being on generosity and allowing the generosity of the world around me into my life, it reads like a good card. I’m sure it won’t be plain sailing and there will be setbacks; but with all this in mind, I hope it will make me more thankful and appreciative in what I can learn from these setbacks and be less angry with myself when they occur. It also speaks of nourishment and discovery…..

The title of this blog is a play on words for a greeting from my native Sheffield. The actual greeting is “Nah then, thee!” Which means “Now then, you!” Which further translates as “Hello you!” When seeing someone you are familiar with, it wouldn’t be used with a stranger.

Wisdom From My Ancestors

New Moon ♌️

I’ve recently been doing some work with my ancestry, more specifically, looking into the characters of my immediate ancestors of the past four generations. This was both from my Paternal and Maternal sides.

From what either side of my family can tell me of them, I have taken their personalities and lives into mind and broke these down into lessons in order learn from them. And so I’d like to share this little storehouse of wisdom with you:

Three Knowings From My Ancestors:

Know when to stop,

Know when to forgive yourself;

Know when to let go.

As much as we keep ourselves preoccupied with what must be done, or be engaged in our pursuits. We must stop and pay attention to those who are closest to us and their needs.

As much as what we do may be important, no matter how vital, we must accept that mistakes can and will happen. And that’s ok!

As much as a negative experience might affect us, holding onto its pain and the anger from it will only fuel resentment and bitterness. Take the lesson you can from it and move on.

This was the “harvest” from my workings and I wanted to share it with you. What lessons can you take from your families?

Locksley /|\

Image from VectorStock.com