F is for Flint

Yesterday I went for a walk in my local woods. It was raining a little off and on. I stood in the circle as usual and tried to centre and draw down some energy to share as I always do when I visit the woods, but today I really struggled. I have problems relaxing anyway, and I'm well overdue for a spiritual detox, so I mentally apologised for not being able to share energy with the woods. As I turned and walked away from the circle my foot slipped a little in the mud and I looked down to see a chunk of flint poking out of the ground. I picked it up to find it was the deepest midnight blue streaked with creamy white, a three-sided piece the perfect size to hold in the palm of my hand.

As I continued my walk I thought about what flint meant to me. I wanted to have an unbiased impression before I came home and researched this gift. Flint is probably one of the first tools ever used by Mankind. Long before we learned to use metals, flint was knapped into knives, spear and arrowheads, and other tools. It was also used for building, many houses and churches going back into antiquity have been constructed using this stone. And of course, flint can be used to create sparks, and so to light fires.
I knew a little of the formation of flint: It is mainly found as nodules in chalky areas, such as the South Downs where I live.
As I walked I felt my mood and energy lift. The woods always lift my spirits, but yesterday more so than usual. I often feel the presence of Earth spirits when I'm in the woods, and today, with the pattering of drips from the canopy, it even felt like they were running along after me, full of fun. I returned to the circle at the end of the walk to thank the spirits for their help. Although I found it a little easier to draw down some energy from the Universe, I was only sluggishly able to project it ~ I guess I have some work to do there.

And so, my research!

First, the science bit: Flint is a form of quartz found in sedimentary rocks such as chalk and limestone, though it's unclear exactly how it is formed.

and the Magickal Properties:

Flint is mainly thought of as a protective stone, especially when placed above a doorway or worn as an amulet. It is thought to ward off mischievous fairy and elf magic.
It has healing connections, especially on the hormones, kidneys and nerves. It's sometimes referred to as an emotional stone, helping to sever emotional ties to stressful situations, and overcome depression and shyness.
It is associated with Thor, and the number 7.

Combining my research with my intuitive feelings on this stone I would add that flint is a stone that links both Earth and Water. I'm not sure about using it to ward off elf magick, as flint represents earth spirits, but perhaps it is more a signal to the spirits that you acknowledge and respect them and so they won't use mischievous magick against you!

I look forward to meditating with my flint. If I have any interesting experiences I will be sure to share them here!

E is for Earworms

The Universe, the Divine, is always sending signs our way. From the dawn of time we have been trying to read the signs, make sense of these patterns. From runes to chicken bones to tea leaves. The clouds in the sky and the wash of seaweed on the shore. Divination, the reading of those signs, is as old as forever, but I think I've stumbled upon a new way of hearing the messages.
Earworms.
I'm sure we've all experienced one ~ that catchy tune you hear on the radio when you're getting ready for work, that sticks with you all day. This is the most common form of earworm. This BBC article is a fascinating look at the theory behind it all.
But yesterday I had two songs stuck in my head that just wouldn't quit, two very different songs. "In Da Club" by 50 Cents, and "Friday Night" by Cliff Richard and The Shadows. Talk about poles apart! Although I had heard some of the 50 Cent track a few days before, I haven't heard the Cliff Richard track for many many years. I'm not going to publish all the lyrics here, but both songs are about having fun, letting go of your responsibilities for a while and enjoying yourself.
I've had a rough few months lately, a lot of responsibility and hassle, but one of the things mothers are often guilty of is not taking enough time for themselves. I think my earworm was trying to remind me to take some time out for some fun.
So today I did just that ~ no sipping Bacardi like it's my birthday, but a lovely lunch with a good friend, then instead of coming home to chores I just lay on the couch and read my book for a couple of hours. The chores will still be there tomorrow, and I will face them refreshed and recharged.

And ready to listen to any more earworms that may pop into my head.

 

 

Salt Water in the Blood

As I live on an island nation, it probably won't surprise you to hear that I have always lived by (or very near to) the sea. I adore it. There is such capricious power at work beneath the waves, the sea can be so calm and tranquil, so furiously destructive. It soothes and centres me. It stirs and inflames my passions.
Today the sun shone, a brisk wind blew, and it felt like the first day of Spring. All the way home from work I felt the sea calling me so as soon as I got in I threw on a pair of jeans, clipped on the dog's lead, and headed off to the beach.
It was glorious.
The wind whipped in from the east, dashing foamy waves onto the shore. The soft spring sun was sinking in the west, giving a subtle pastel pinkness to the waves.

I never visit the sea without giving thanks to Poseidon. When the weather is warm enough I paddle barefoot, even if only for a moment and thank him for his strength and support. It's nowhere near that warm yet though, so today I wore my wellies. Not that that's going to stop Poseidon! A cheeky wave surged just that little bit further inshore, soaking my jeans and seeping down inside my boots. But although it was a chuffing cold day, the water felt almost body-temperature ~ Poseidon may have been a bit hacked off that I've not been to visit for a while, but he wasn't really cross with me.

I first formed a connection with Poseidon a few years ago whilst studying at Sacred Mists. He came to me in a dream and I devoted myself to learning more about him. Although the connection isn't as intense as it was then, I still feel a strong bond with this mighty God. I'm sure you all know the basics about him so I won't bang on too much, but here are some of my personal correspondences:

Symbol ~ Trident
Crystal ~ for me, Beach stones, I've even used them for divination, but Lapis Lazuli or aquamarine can also work
Animal ~ Horse
Attributes ~ Strength, Passion, Respect, Self-control
Colour ~ pale blue, sea-green, blue-grey

 

Remember these are my personal correspondences, which is why some of them may seem weird to you. Attributes ~ Self-control? Hell, yeah! The Greek Gods are rather a temperamental bunch, perhaps none more so than Poseidon, and although I have a huge amount of love and respect for him, I am always aware that he is easily angered and so Self-control and Respect are vital.

 

Although I am a Winter lover at heart, the ever-warmer weather means I can get closer to the sea, and closer to Poseidon again, for which I am very thankful.



D is for Daedalus

For 'D', I decided I wanted to write about something I knew little or nothing about, to use the Pagan Blog Project as a learning experience. From the moment I made that decision I have had one name echo around my mind.
Daedalus.
As usual when the Gods put something in my mind, I feel quite a connection and sympathy with Daedalus. Although I am by no means a master craftsman, I am a maker, and sell some of my own humble creations in my Etsy shop. Though they are not inventions in league with those of Daedalus, they are all my own designs. I also have a son who doesn't listen to a word I say!
Anyway, enough about me, here's some info on Daedalus:

Daedalus Attaching Wings to Icarus, by Pyotr Ivanovich Sokolov

Daedalus, which in Ancient Greek means "clever worker" was a highly skilled craftsman and artisan. However, each of the main legends about him involve his great skills ending tragically.
The first legend is that of the Wooden Bull. The story is that Poseidon gave a white bull to King Minos to use as a sacrifice, but being a rather selfish and ungrateful creature, King Minos decided to keep it for himself. Poseidon was pretty hacked off at this and in revenge made the King's wife Pasiphae lust after the bull. Enter Daedalus, who built a hollow wooden bull so that the Queen could indulge in her lust. (This certainly conjures up an image you weren't expecting!) As a result the Queen gave birth to a son ~ the Minotaur.
So I'm betting you've guessed the second legend now? Yes, King Minos obviously wasn't happy with having an illegitimate bull-headed kid hanging around, and ordered Daedalus to build a Labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur. This in turn leads to the third legend. The ever-ungrateful King then decided that he didn't want Daedalus wandering around with the knowledge of how to escape the labyrinth, so he locked him and his young son Icarus away.
So now we come to the most famous legend. Daedalus built wings for himself and his son, fixing feathers to a wooden frame using wax and string. Daedalus repeatedly cautioned his son to take care not to fly too high, as the heat of the sun would melt the wax, or too low, as the sea foam would soak the feathers. But Icarus, enraptured by the sensation of flight, soared ever higher until, just as his father had warned, the sun softened the wax and he plummeted to his death.

Daedalus's story is quite tragic. In each case he is using his prodigious skills in a positive way, to help someone, and yet the results are always negative. What can poor Daedalus have done to deserve such rotten luck? Well, funny you should ask. Because before Daedalus moved to Crete and the court of King Minos he lived in Athens. His nephew Perdix was apprenticed to him, but he was a skilled and ingenious student and in a jealous rage Daedalus pushed him off the Acropolis. Although none of the accounts I have read have directly attributed his subsequent misfortune to this act of murder, it doesn't take much of a leap to make the connection.

Even though I'm hoping fervently that none of you readers have murdered anyone (!) I still feel there are lessons for us here. No matter how good our intentions, we can never be sure our actions will have the positive results we hope for. Like Daedalus, I don't think that should stop us at all, but we should definitely think about how our actions could pan out or affect others.

What lessons do you take from the life of Daedalus?

C is for Candles

I'm not sure where I stand on Magick yet. It's never been the part of Paganism that calls to me. But there's something almost primal about Candle Magick. Candles are linked to pretty much every religious and spiritual practise I can think of. Not only do they simply exude symbolism, but they are doing some basic (yet still blimmin' awesome) physics ~ converting matter into energy. I think that subconsciously it is this that attracts me.
There are lots of different types of Candle Magick, but as with any spiritual practises I believe that the more you can personalise things the better. Making your own candles is easier than you might think, you don't need a lot of fancy equipment so it's not expensive (hoorah!). The easiest (and less messy) method is to buy sheets of beeswax and roll your own. Kits are available for less than £5 on ebay, and are a great activity to do with children as there's no melted wax to burn little fingers. You can even sprinkle the sheet with herbs before rolling to add extra oomph to your spell.
But you can also make a simple moulded candle very easily by melting down some plain cheap candles (I use Ikea block candles) in an old saucepan. You can colour the wax either using a coloured candle or by adding some children's crayons to the mix. You will need to buy some wicks with sustainers (little metal bases that hold the wick) but again these can be found very cheaply on ebay. Simply melt the candle gently in a pan over a low heat ~ you're not cooking the wax, you just want to liquefy it ~ then pour it into your mould. You can use an old tumbler, a teacup, even a couple of plastic cups (I'd use at least 2 to avoid distortion). Again, you can sprinkle some herbs into the molten wax before you pour to more deeply infuse your spell.
Best of all though, in my humble opinion, is the ice candle. You put so much of yourself into making this candle ~ making the ice, melting the wax, making the candle, burning the candle ~ it is this giving of yourself that I believe infuses the real power of a spell. All you do is fill your mould with ice cubes before pouring the wax in. The ice is melted by the hot wax and leaves behind all kinds of interesting shapes. This kind of candle is especially good for transformation magick.

 

 

If you'd like to try making your own candles but you're a bit nervous, check out this website, where there are lots of easy to follow instructions.

B is for Baddies

We Pagans don't really do Good and Evil, at least not in such a fiercely black-and-white way as Christians. Even our darker deities aren't 'bad', just intense, or unforgiving, or destructive, or just plain misunderstood!

Hades, for example, is often portrayed as a Baddie. In the recent Clash of the Titans films he even tried to take over the world due to his jealousy and anger towards Zeus for tricking him into his role as guardian of the Underworld. This is nowhere near the impression I have of him from the research I have done into the Greek pantheon. For starters, nothing I read implied he was tricked, merely that the brothers (Zeus, Poseidon and Hades) drew lots for which domain they would watch over. In my opinion Hades got the toughest job of all. He watches over our loved ones once they've passed over, yet how often do we remember to thank or Honour him?

Loki, however, seems to have gathered quite a few fans in recent times, helped no doubt by the fabulous characterisation by Tom Hiddleston in the Thor and Avengers Assemble films. I've lost count of the Pagans I know who have named a cat or dog after him (but I've never heard of anyone naming their pet Hades?) and yet he is a deity that has shown true malice by tricking Hod to kill his brother Baldr. Even this act (which would quickly be labelled "evil" by many people) does not make him evil with a capital E. One of the wonderful things about Pagan Deities is the depth and complexity of their characters. Loki is not known as the Trickster God for nothing, but sometimes his shenanigans were to help his kin, one of my favourite examples being the time he and Thor dressed as women to retrieve Mjollnir from the Jotnar.

One of the (many) blessings of following a Pagan path is learning to see the varying shades between the black and white, to realise that (in the words of Stevie Wonder) there is good and bad in everyone. We've all walked through trials and traumas to arrive at Today, and sometimes these things leave scars. Examining our deities can help us remind us of this.

Snow! (or Frau Holda shakes her thang)

I bloody love snow!


Oslo 2012

Today the first snow of the year, and of the season, fell. It was only a very light dusting, and it was gone before long, but as I said earlier:

I bloody love snow!

All these photos were taken during my 40th birthday trip to Oslo last year. Now, they know how to do snow!

There was too little here to even scrape together for snowballs (but watch this space, because if we do get that much I have a little craft / charm / spell to share) but I took 3 spoonfuls and put them in a little glass dish on my altar.

My Special Hollow ~ Oslo 2012

The hollow in the last photo is a very special place for me. Whenever I am in Oslo I take some time out to sit here and connect with the Earth spirits. I find Norway a wonderful place for Earth meditations ~ the bare rocky bones of the earth are evident everywhere, and in winter the combination of my two favourite elements (Water and Earth) is magickal.

Snow has always held a special place in my heart, I guess in part because I have always lived on the south coast of the UK and we rarely enjoy it here. But also because I have a special soft spot in my heart for Frau Holda and the snowflake is one of her symbols.

Frau Holda is the Germanic Goddess of spinning, domestic chores, and children. She is host of the Wild Hunt, accompanied by Woden, and appears as either a beautiful golden-haired maiden or a crone-like old woman.

Here are some of my personal correspondences for her:

Symbols ~ Snowflake, white feather, spinning wheel
Crystal ~ Snowflake Obsidian,
Tree ~ Holly and Elder
Herbs ~ Elderflower and Elderberries
Attributes ~ Hard work, motherhood, wisdom
Sabbat ~ Yule
Colour ~ White, silver, ice-blue
Flower ~ Wild rose

You can read lots more about Frau Holda here, but rest assured I will be banging on about her a lot in this blog. She's awesome!