On Wednesday 19th January we have a Full Wolf Moon which is also a "Wishing Moon". During a Full Moon we are at the height of our power, fertility and creativity and things come within our reach. As this is also a Wishing Moon (there are 8 Wishing Moons in a calendar year) it is a good time to make a list of wishes, hopes and aspirations.
So you create your Wishing List, add a drop of Jasmine or Sandalwood oil to the list as this will help align your intentions with the right mental, emotional and spiritual state. Then create your own ritual by lighting white candles, wrap your list around a moonstone and bury this in the earth or put it in a secret place until the next full moon. Say what ever feels right for you in this ritual and feel the energy of the Wishing Moon.
Wishing you abundance, peace, joy and love in 2011.
Monday, 17 January 2011
Thursday, 9 December 2010
The Magic of the Winter Solstice (Yule)
December has brought snow and freezing temperatures to the UK this year. Although we are experiencing the usual chaos, as I look in my garden I can see a wonderful robin sitting on the hat of my statue, Rosie Lee, who stands in the pond and the Oak tree looks lovely with the snow on its boughs. Other birds are coming and going feasting on the food we have put out for them.
My thoughts are turning to the Winter Solstice, a Pagan festival also known as Yule and one of the most sacred and magical of the festivals. The Winter Solstice falls on the 21st December, the shortest day of the year and the longest night, and was celebrated in Britain long before Christianity. It is the turning point of the year when the sun starts to grow stronger and traditionally in Celtic Shamanic practices the Druids would cut the Mistletoe from the Oak tree and give it as a blessing as it stands for fertility and birth. Pagans are known as “people of the land” or “country dwellers” and celebrating these Pagan Festivals is now more common with many of us turning to Shamanic practices as we become more aware of the effect we have on the earth and our environment.
Pagans celebrate the rebirth of the Sun at Yule and bring holly and ivy into their homes to symbolise the masculine and feminine elements and as they are evergreen this signifies that the earth never dies but just sleeps during the winter months. The Winter Solstice is a solar festival as the sun enters Capricorn and the Oak King challenges and triumphs over the Holly King and the Sun God is born.
This year the Yule festival is also a Full Moon so it is a time to make plans for the future and set goals as this is a time of hope, love and joy when creative energies are awakened. Holly, representing the Holly King, ivy, the Goddess, and mistletoe, fertility, should decorate your home and a piece of holly should be on the main entrance to your home to invite good fortune all year.
Many of these old traditional practices are still around; the holly wreath on our front doors; oranges used to be given in Christmas stockings symbolising the Sun; food is flavoured with cloves and spices which would have hidden the taste of stale and rancid food and of course the chocolate Yule log is still very much in evidence at this time of year.
Our Yule fire will have an oak log on it and a piece will be saved for next year representing the never ending cycle. Any candles burnt should be white with a main candle for the festival and smaller ones for all those present. This is time to spend with family and friends to celebrate this magical time of the Pagan Year and to look forward to 2011 using our creative energy for the year ahead.
My thoughts are turning to the Winter Solstice, a Pagan festival also known as Yule and one of the most sacred and magical of the festivals. The Winter Solstice falls on the 21st December, the shortest day of the year and the longest night, and was celebrated in Britain long before Christianity. It is the turning point of the year when the sun starts to grow stronger and traditionally in Celtic Shamanic practices the Druids would cut the Mistletoe from the Oak tree and give it as a blessing as it stands for fertility and birth. Pagans are known as “people of the land” or “country dwellers” and celebrating these Pagan Festivals is now more common with many of us turning to Shamanic practices as we become more aware of the effect we have on the earth and our environment.
Pagans celebrate the rebirth of the Sun at Yule and bring holly and ivy into their homes to symbolise the masculine and feminine elements and as they are evergreen this signifies that the earth never dies but just sleeps during the winter months. The Winter Solstice is a solar festival as the sun enters Capricorn and the Oak King challenges and triumphs over the Holly King and the Sun God is born.
This year the Yule festival is also a Full Moon so it is a time to make plans for the future and set goals as this is a time of hope, love and joy when creative energies are awakened. Holly, representing the Holly King, ivy, the Goddess, and mistletoe, fertility, should decorate your home and a piece of holly should be on the main entrance to your home to invite good fortune all year.
Many of these old traditional practices are still around; the holly wreath on our front doors; oranges used to be given in Christmas stockings symbolising the Sun; food is flavoured with cloves and spices which would have hidden the taste of stale and rancid food and of course the chocolate Yule log is still very much in evidence at this time of year.
Our Yule fire will have an oak log on it and a piece will be saved for next year representing the never ending cycle. Any candles burnt should be white with a main candle for the festival and smaller ones for all those present. This is time to spend with family and friends to celebrate this magical time of the Pagan Year and to look forward to 2011 using our creative energy for the year ahead.
Sunday, 21 November 2010
Full moon and the web of light
There was a lot in the press after the last Pagan festival, Samhain, with comments about the amount of time devoted to this Pagan festival. The word Pagan comes from the Latin paganus, country dweller and "people of the land". With more of us interested in the earth and connecting to nature it is no wonder we are participating in these festivals.
We used to recognise the cycles of the moon and how it affects our mood and the mood of those around us. Today, 21st November, we have a full moon, a time to get in touch with our true nature which is light. So with some relaxing music centre yourself and experience a state of peace, harmony and love. Hold your intention to experience the light that shines within you, allow your imagination to see this light and feel it emanating through you - the light is limitless and imagine it filling your body and then flowing from you to a web of light that spans the world and join the rest of us who will connect to tonight. Flow this light and experience inner harmony.
You can do this on a day to day basis as you move through your life.
We used to recognise the cycles of the moon and how it affects our mood and the mood of those around us. Today, 21st November, we have a full moon, a time to get in touch with our true nature which is light. So with some relaxing music centre yourself and experience a state of peace, harmony and love. Hold your intention to experience the light that shines within you, allow your imagination to see this light and feel it emanating through you - the light is limitless and imagine it filling your body and then flowing from you to a web of light that spans the world and join the rest of us who will connect to tonight. Flow this light and experience inner harmony.
You can do this on a day to day basis as you move through your life.
Thursday, 28 October 2010
Celebrating Samhain (Halloween)
On Sunday 31st October we have the Celtic fire festival, the Feast of the Dead when the veils between this world and the spiritual realms are at their thinnest to allow the living to commune with the spirits of the dead. Our psychic abilities are heightened and we can become aware of other energies around us.
Some Pagans celebrate this festival as the Celtic New Year as a time of death and rebirth. Pumpkin lanterns are lit, food is prepared, candles lit and photos used to honour those we want to remember. We can light a candle and say what we are remembering about that person who was dear to us. We ask them to be with us on this night and welcome them with love and joy.
I find this Festival very peaceful and a time to remember those dear to me, just a simple lighting of a candle and eating gives this focus. You can use flowers, chrysanthemums are the flowers of the dead and divination tools.Be prepared though for "things" to happen! My cat, a brown Burmese always sits with me on this night and watches events unfold, maybe he is remembering his sister as pets also travel to visit us.
Enjoy Samhain honouring and remembering the dead.
Some Pagans celebrate this festival as the Celtic New Year as a time of death and rebirth. Pumpkin lanterns are lit, food is prepared, candles lit and photos used to honour those we want to remember. We can light a candle and say what we are remembering about that person who was dear to us. We ask them to be with us on this night and welcome them with love and joy.
I find this Festival very peaceful and a time to remember those dear to me, just a simple lighting of a candle and eating gives this focus. You can use flowers, chrysanthemums are the flowers of the dead and divination tools.Be prepared though for "things" to happen! My cat, a brown Burmese always sits with me on this night and watches events unfold, maybe he is remembering his sister as pets also travel to visit us.
Enjoy Samhain honouring and remembering the dead.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Creating a Sacred Place
Creating a sacred place in your home or garden is a way of having a focus on what is important to you at that time. In your home you would create it at the centre or heart of your home. This used to be the fireplace where people gathered and maybe for you it is now somewhere else.
You can decorate your place very simply with a candle and a special crystal. Shamans often add something for each of the elements - earth, fire, water and air - and whatever is appropriate for the time of year with flowers, herbs, leaves and twigs. It is Harvest Festival time and so pagans remember this season and give thanks for the harvest we have which will keep us through the long winter months.
Objects in your Sacred place often take on a deeper meaning and relate to the story of your spiritual life. You can also have a "shamans" bag with you to carry significant things.
Your Sacred Place is somewhere to be still and meditate and especially important with the approach of Samhain at the end of October.
You can decorate your place very simply with a candle and a special crystal. Shamans often add something for each of the elements - earth, fire, water and air - and whatever is appropriate for the time of year with flowers, herbs, leaves and twigs. It is Harvest Festival time and so pagans remember this season and give thanks for the harvest we have which will keep us through the long winter months.
Objects in your Sacred place often take on a deeper meaning and relate to the story of your spiritual life. You can also have a "shamans" bag with you to carry significant things.
Your Sacred Place is somewhere to be still and meditate and especially important with the approach of Samhain at the end of October.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Shamanic Journey to the Middle World
So on my previous two blogs I looked at the Upper World and Lower World, two shamanic journeys that most people talk about and there is another world, the Middle World. This is the one we physically inhabit although we are mostly oblivious of anything else here in the more subtle reality of this Middle World! We journey to the Middle World to deal with present issues we are facing now; we can increase our expertise with a skill or learn a new one by mentally rehearsing it without moving and we can travel backwards and forwards in time. This is the world of faeries, elves and the spirits of the elements. When we are very young many of us have the experience of 'seeing' these creatures. Did you ever have a 'friend' that no one else could see? I certainly did, but once I went to school he faded away.
So to your journey to the Middle World; again set your Intention; is there a current problem you want to solve or have you lost something you need to find? In the Middle World you can travel backwards for forwards in time. Use the drumming music, relax and find yourself at a familiar place (real not imaginary). It may be that tree and will be a place with happy memories. Here you will meet your Guardian Animal who will help you with your shamanic work. Notice what you see, hear and feel. Be aware of the difference between physical reality and subtle reality. Your Middle World place may look very different. You can now call out to your Guardian Animal and if the animal that appears is your Guardian Animal then you may experience this encounter with excitement. As before it is now time to come back to physical reality bringing your Guardian Animal with you and spend time getting to know this animal. Record your experience and ground yourself.
These are the Shamanic Journeys to the Lower, Upper and Middle Worlds. There are many other ways to access these worlds which are largely dependent on which ever culture/tradition you are following. For me I follow a more Celtic Shamanic way, using my favourite tree which enables me to have a point from which to journey.
For more information on journeying or help with guided meditation then please do email me colleen@spiritmystique.com and join me on my workshop "Bringing Shamanic Practices into Everyday Life" on 23rd and 24th September. Click here to view.
In the spirit of love, peace, joy and freedom.
Colleen
So to your journey to the Middle World; again set your Intention; is there a current problem you want to solve or have you lost something you need to find? In the Middle World you can travel backwards for forwards in time. Use the drumming music, relax and find yourself at a familiar place (real not imaginary). It may be that tree and will be a place with happy memories. Here you will meet your Guardian Animal who will help you with your shamanic work. Notice what you see, hear and feel. Be aware of the difference between physical reality and subtle reality. Your Middle World place may look very different. You can now call out to your Guardian Animal and if the animal that appears is your Guardian Animal then you may experience this encounter with excitement. As before it is now time to come back to physical reality bringing your Guardian Animal with you and spend time getting to know this animal. Record your experience and ground yourself.
These are the Shamanic Journeys to the Lower, Upper and Middle Worlds. There are many other ways to access these worlds which are largely dependent on which ever culture/tradition you are following. For me I follow a more Celtic Shamanic way, using my favourite tree which enables me to have a point from which to journey.
For more information on journeying or help with guided meditation then please do email me colleen@spiritmystique.com and join me on my workshop "Bringing Shamanic Practices into Everyday Life" on 23rd and 24th September. Click here to view.
In the spirit of love, peace, joy and freedom.
Colleen
Sunday, 22 August 2010
The Shamanic Journey to the Upper World
Following on from my previous Blog to the Lower World, I am now going to explore the Upper World Shamanic Journey. Here the landscape looks very different, more ethereal with clouds and crystals and can be like walking on marshmallow!
Again after relaxing and putting on your drumming music find that favourite tree and notice how the branches stretch way up to the sky. Climb the branches to the Upper World with your intention to explore this world and perhaps meet your spiritual teacher and mentor. Notice what you see, hear and feel. Is there anyone there? It is likely to be in human form and if this is your spiritual teacher then they are likely to have a gift for you.
On my first journey to the Upper World I met my Spiritual Teacher and had an awareness of the gift she gave me. I journey now when I have a question and find it is here that I get inspiration, knowledge and wisdom.
I usually record my experiences so I can track my Journeys and often find further insights happen when I do. It is important that after any journeying you "ground" yourself and the easiest way is to eat or drink something.
On my next Blog I'll explore the Middle World.
Again after relaxing and putting on your drumming music find that favourite tree and notice how the branches stretch way up to the sky. Climb the branches to the Upper World with your intention to explore this world and perhaps meet your spiritual teacher and mentor. Notice what you see, hear and feel. Is there anyone there? It is likely to be in human form and if this is your spiritual teacher then they are likely to have a gift for you.
On my first journey to the Upper World I met my Spiritual Teacher and had an awareness of the gift she gave me. I journey now when I have a question and find it is here that I get inspiration, knowledge and wisdom.
I usually record my experiences so I can track my Journeys and often find further insights happen when I do. It is important that after any journeying you "ground" yourself and the easiest way is to eat or drink something.
On my next Blog I'll explore the Middle World.
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