Over the course of the last year, I have become much more acquainted with other local (and many none local) Pagans who I have made invaluable connections and friendships with. One of those is local online magazine creator, Quinn. The magazine is Pagans of the North Magazine. Over the last few months, I have provided articles for her magazine, and she has very kindly allowed me to interview her for this blog. So here goes, in her own words – straight from the witches mouth..
What inspired you to start an online Pagan magazine?
I knew that Lockdown was going to make people feel quite isolated and especially so in a small local community like paganism.
When I discovered a Midlands magazine for pagans and witches, I was instantly inspired and asked around in local groups and searched online to see if there was a north magazine at all. There wasn’t. Well, I thought what way to bring a local community together under lockdown, than to start a northernly magazine, and I think it’s worked.
Are you a pagan yourself?
I am. I have been a Pagan for about a decade now. I started out as wiccan for around three years before moving to secular paganism and witchcraft, and have learned a lot along the way.
Have you always followed a pagan path?
Only the last ten years, before that my childhood was atheism, my family also are atheists. It wasn’t until I was 16, I discovered goddesses and that led me to paganism and polytheist religions. What did I learn in R.E? Certainly not female focused religions, sadly.
Do you work with anyone on the magazine?
I do! I work with a team of pagans/witches and they are all people I have met through local Facebook groups, many of them, replying to a post I made asking if anyone wanted to help me make a magazine. There are currently four active team members (not including myself) all from different paths and walks of life and even different parts of the North. They’re all so lovely and active and really make this magazine work as well as it does. (thank you, Jen, Sam, Vicky & Anne-Marie)
How often do you publish a copy?
We try to publish a new issue a few days before an important Sabbat, so usually an average of a month between issues.
Do you aspire to have paper issues?
That would be the dream! One day it will happen and have them in local pagan/new age stores!
What do you hope the magazine will achieve?
Our focus is on local traders, suppliers, stores and creators, so the biggest hope is that we have put a focus on them for people to find them, especially since these stores and services are few and far between. Not only that, but to have localised information on what’s happening in the North, stories and rituals/spells at their fingertips, for free.
Have you noticed readers growing?
Yes! The last few issues we have been getting around 100 readers within the first 24 hours of an issue being released! Compared to the first issue where we got 20 readers, it’s a huge success, and people keep coming back too, with each issue, more and more people know about us, it’s very exciting!
Is content provided by volunteers?
Yes, and also readers. Anyone is free to provide content for the magazine, I like to think of the magazine as ‘for the readers, by the readers.’ People can provide articles written by themselves, poems, pictures, rituals, and so much more! It makes the magazine so much more interesting, honestly!
You must enjoy putting the magazine together?
I do, myself and the team, do very much. It’s a lovely moment when the magazine is finished and we release it, and get people commenting about how they loved reading it. It makes us feel happy.
How long have you been putting the magazine together? Only since March. Our first issue was out for Ostara.
Is there anything about your own path you would like to share?
My own path has changed a lot as time as went on. I now consider myself a secular pagan but also a witch (green witchcraft) but I am also so curious and love to learn and grow, and I think that’s something we all should allow ourselves to do, as we age and time goes by.
How do you get your magazine “seen” by potential readers?
Mostly it’s all through Facebook on our page but also its advertised in the local groups and then word of mouth, shared by our readers and also shared by local shops who are part of the magazine.
Is there anything generally about pagan paths you would like to say? I
I love how diverse it can be, how unique and wonderful and open these paths can be, how different it can be for everyone. No one path is usually the same and remember that your path is not how someone else may practice.
Do you add content to the magazine yourself?
I do, sometimes I’ll include the odd article here and there. In the last issue I posted about waning moon magick, I also sometimes write articles with information about the upcoming sabbats, so I don’t just edit, I help out in all ways.
Is there anything else generally you would like to say?
I love how welcoming the pagan community has been to the idea of a local magazine, we are very involved in the north east, and down to Yorkshire, but the North west is somewhere we are still trying to be involved in and get to know and I am sure we will in time as the magazine continues.
Thank you, Ginger Witch for providing such lovely blog content for the magazine too.
So there you have it, some behind the scenes and interesting information about the coming to life of an online local magazine and the aspirations of the creator for the magazine’s future. Thank you so much Quinn for giving us some of your time.
I had hoped to bring this post, Full Hunter’s Moon: Samhain 2020, to you on Samhain this year, however due to one thing and another that wasn’t possible. My blog about Samhain can be found at https://gingerwitchinnorthumberland.com/2020/10/23/samhain-celebrations-and-traditions/ . However, as I had this mostly written already I still want to share it with you. So here it is …
How amazing is it that Samhain this year brings us a full moon; the full Hunter’s Moon. Personally, I find this so exciting; the energies and thinning of the veil that comes with Samhain coupled with a full moon should be an en environment for some really powerful spell and manifestation work. As if that wasn’t enough, because this is the second full moon in October this year, the full Hunters Moon is also a Blue Moon.
As an interesting side fact, this year’s Full Hunter’s Moon will be the smallest Full Moon of the year and is therefore referred to as a “Minimoon”, the opposite of a “Supermoon”. The moon won’t look any different to the naked eye, however, so this is just a fun fact to store in your Full Moon knowledge bank.
Instagram @s.neuhart
Another interesting fact is that the last time Samhain shone with a Full Moon in the sky visible the Globe over, was in 1944, during World War II some 76 years ago. The next time a Full Moon will fall on Samhain and be Globally visible will be in 2039. Gosh, I’ll be 56 – let’s not think about that too much right now.
You also should not be disappointed if the moon does not look blue; it is not supposed to; the moon will retain its usual golden glow and will not shine hues of blue down upon you.
The Full Hunter’s moon is named as such because this is the time of year when hunters would head out to hunt for preserves, to stock up larders, pantries and store rooms with meat to last throughout the winter.
Obviously named before the days of nipping to a supermarket at almost any time of the day or night, the Full Hunter’s Moon rises in the sky once the crops have been harvested and the planes are flat and barren, making it easier for the well fed and fattened animals to be seen as they journey across the land.
Not only would these animals be easier for hunters to see at this time of year, but their predators such as foxes and wolves would also be easier to see as they too would venture into the open to hunt down the same prey as our ancestors.
Whereas many Full Moon names depict a general time of year, the Full Hunter’s Moon is a specific night when hunting parties would gather, as along with the advantage gifted to them by the flattened harvested fields, the brightness of the Full Harvest Moon would reduce the need for any other means of providing light, which, until fairly recent times, would have been achieved through the use of fire which obviously brought not only its own risks, but if spotted would have scared any animals away from the hunting party.
Instagram @caroline.palm.art
Other Names for the Full Hunter’s Moon
Not all cultures have the same names for the Full Hunter’s Moon, with it also being called the Sanguine or Blood Moon, probably named for the blood from hunting or the kaleidoscope of rich colours we see in nature as all but the evergreens bless us with their most vibrant displays before sinking gracefully to sleep for the winter.
Another name, found within Native American Tribes, is the Dying Grass Moon. As with all names attributed to the Full Moons by Native American Tribes, the name comes from observations of nature all around. It seems clear that this name comes from the dying of the plant life as winter approaches. Native American naming of Full Moons all tell us something about the time of year they appear to us in the night sky; such an intuitive and soul deep way to stay in tune with the cycles of the earth surrounding us.
It’s unlikely that you will find yourself out hunting for your own food at this end of this harvest season (though let’s not forget that there are people and settlements around the Earth who do still hunt for food), so what does the Full Hunter’s Moon mean for you? Well let’s look at the intrinsic message we are receiving from our Lady Luna at this time of year. To go out hunting for provisions we are gathering what we need for survival, we are putting into practice our hopes and dreams for the coming months, and we are putting in the hard, bloody and dirty work into making sure we have what we need to accomplish our goals throughout the winter; putting into practice that which we have planted and planned for throughout the year. We understand that these are the last days we will spend outdoors for some time and that our pursuits will take us under rooves and into shelters. We understand that even distant light can bring illumination to the darkness covering our winter paths.
So sit a while and think, sit a while and meditate or journal; what do you want to achieve this autumn and winter? Have you done all that you planned to help you achieve it? What do you need to do to set the wheel in motion; does this match those planted seeds and drawn out routes? Let the energy and magical light of this Full Hunters Moon surround and penetrate you and pour your ideas and spells filled with that Luna energy into your ritual fires, spaces, chants, dances or spell bags and focus on the manifestation of your desires.
Instagram: @jadecallegart
Set out jars, bottles, dishes and bowls of water to create such powerful moon water this Samhain. Carefully place your crystals, wands, spell candles, cards and other magical tools in a safe and dry place to soak up the rare and intense vibrations of this super-charged spiritual night.
There is not a single better day this year to put that first toe out of your comfort zone to embark on something new and exciting..
It’s been a challenging year this year, for everyone, and the air around us has generally become filled with more negative energy and more negative vibes than I personally have ever felt. This Samhain night use the magic and sparkle in the air to cleanse yourself of this negativity; you have the means within you to cleanse your own energies and aura; take the opportunity so beautifully presented to you by the universe to invite calm, peace, determination and strength into your soul.
Instagram: @
liurgo_alessia_art_pagan
Perhaps 2020 has beaten some of your dreams down a little, dampened your ambitions or put new pursuits on hold. This convergence of Samhain with the ethereal energy of the Full Hunter’s Moon is here to remind us that our dreams and ambitions are not born to be stunted or placed on hold. Flowers to not stop growing mid-season, they endure and strive towards the light until they bloom into their full beauty. You are no different. Maybe you cannot realistically not put practical steps into motion right now, but what can you do? Can you make written plans? Put preparations in place? Just as our ancestors would prepare for their hunt while waiting until the light of the Moon to hunt by, you can make your preparations and be ready to fire when the right time presents itself to you. Remember, acknowledge, work towards and capture your dreams. Rarely, under the Full Hunter’s Moon, would the prey wander freely into the lair of the hunter.
So there you go, a mini rambling from Northumberland about the Full Hunter’s Moon. I hope you had a magical time and embraced all that this celebration brings.
The Wheel of the Year Stops again …Samhain Celebrations and Traditions
Samhain falls on 31st October every year and marks one of the four cross spokes on the Wheel of the Year. It is not one of the four major Pagan Sabbats, however it sits part way between the Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, and Yule, the Winter Solstice, on the Wheel of the Year. Samhain is equally as important as the four major Sabbats, and is just magical as any other Pagan celebration and holiday. To many Pagans, it is the most important day of the magical calendar. In this blog I will take you on my ramblings of Samhain Celebrations and Traditions.
At this point in the year, we are starting to add decorations for Samhain in our homes; some of them traditional to honour the thinning of the veil, the “other” worlds and those ancestors who came long before us and those who we still remember with a happy pain in our hearts, and others more modern and fun to entertain the children, those amongst us who don’t have the bone deep and instinctual awareness of the true meaning and value of this day, and to entertain ourselves. After all, we Pagans have the most fun of all on All Hallows Eve, right?! Those Samhain celebrations and traditions are a part of what we are all about.
The nights are most definitely longer now, throwing their blanket of star studded inky blue over the ever-greying days earlier and earlier with each click forward on the wheel. We feel a real difference as we walk closer to Samhain. The shadows seen out of the corner of our eyes are seen earlier in the day as the meek light fades; they stretch longer and seem blacker, more vacuous and sinister, than they ever did during the summer months. And as we walk inevitably towards Samhain, and the veil between worlds thins, how do we know these shadows seen in our peripheral vision, in the corners of rooms and skulking under beds and stairs, are really shadows at all. Who know what lurks in the tween places as we steadily and unfalteringly approach All Hallows Eve. For there are many reasons to celebrate this most wondrous of days, not least the spooky tales and scary not quite believed things you see and feel while the dead, the Fae, the beasties and the creepers walk amongst us. Can you see them? Are they behind you, watching you, following you? Or standing so much in plain sight that your eyes do not see them staring at you from a spot to close for comfort?
Personally, my home already sports pumpkins and red apples, both decoratively and on my alter to remind me that Samhain spins ever closer. Vases of flowers in my living space are decorated with wooden bats amongst them to remind me of the fun and commercial side of Samhain that I enjoy with the children in my life, and I have started to add a true autumnal and Samhain inspired area to the bottom of my back garden, near the place Harry the Hedgehog has made his home. I have a mobile made of wooden pumpkins for no other reason than I wanted to make it. I liked the little wooden pieces and have a burning need to constantly craft or write. At this time of year creativity seeps from me and I seem to be constantly sticking my fingers together, sticking pins in my fingers, dropping beads or loosing endless fights with balls of yarn.
However, none of that is actually about Samhain or Samhain celebrations and traditions. So, let’s creep onto things more generally about Halloween.
So the first thing to know is that Samhain is not pronounced Sam-hain. The correct pronunciation is Sou-win and spellings differ ever so slightly, being passed down from the many Celtic settlements of the UK and Europe for many hundreds of years. Thousands of years ago ancient Pagans celebrated their new year on the 1st November, their celebrations beginning at sun down on 31st October and ending at sundown on 1st November.
This was the rebirth of their year. Samhain, Halloween, All Hallows Eve – the day before their New Year, became a day of death; the death of the old year and days been and gone.
Our initial instinct at the thought of a day of death is to recoil, to shun and to perhaps burry our heads in the heady autumn earth until such a day has passed. However this is not a day to be feared or avoided. Death is the inevitability of all things and is the passing from the old and tired to the new, vibrant and virile. From death comes rebirth, renewal and the circle of life on our blessed Mother Earth. At this time, seeds fallen from harvested crops are now deep in the ground and lie dormant, sleeping and resting until it is time for them to begin blooming with new life in the Spring.
Our Mother Earth at this time is spent; after a long and enduring year of growing and nurturing, she has provided the life upon her with sustenance to survive the dark cold winter; she has been harvested until she is stripped bare, she has provided shelter and protection for animals beginning their hibernation, and she is ready for her own slumber. Falling into her own stage of death on this day of Samhain, she begins to regenerate for her own rebirth, to flourish with life again when the times comes to awaken.
The Holly King remains strong during this time, and although he wanders with the May Queen, the Maiden, who is now the wise and venerated Crone, he perceives his drowsy and sleeping world with pride, knowing that retreat and rest are vital to the never ending cyclical nature of the ground his hooves sink into as he stands watching all. Hand in withered hand they walk through their cold and barren lands, his evergreen boughs of Holly and Fir boasting themselves resplendent, reminding us that life, whilst still and lifeless in appearance, remains defiant and strong. The Crone will fall at this time, shrink and sink back into the very Earth that birthed her, back into the earth she crawled out of naked and screaming, to reclaim her fertile womanhood as she ascends back to the light. The wisdom she has bottled and brewed throughout her wanderings with the Oak King and the Holly King, far and wide across her Earth, will seep into the very soil beneath and around her to be reborn within her swelling belly when she arises once again to create new life as the Maiden.
https://www.ebay.com/str/rytaray – solitary witch observing Samhain celebrations and traditions of being at one with the earth and the darkness.
So many people, most especially in this modern day of Samhain being the “holiday of Halloween” use this night as one to perform séances, dress up as creepy characters, eat too much candy and generally celebrate all things evil, gory and spooky. Now I could write endlessly on the way in which patriarchal religion and repression has twisted and contorted Samhain to represent evil and ill intent, however I will refrain. Essentially the veil between worlds being at one of its thinnest points is the very reason people experience more spooky happenings on Samhain. Teenagers play with Ouija boards at Halloween sleepovers on this night and wonder why they receive responses from the “game” they bought at their local toy store. Well, that, my spooky teenage friends, is because today, more than almost any other day, the dead walk among us. They commune with us with more ease and, in some traditions, even return from the beyond to visit their loved ones and walk amongst their kin. With the veil between words at its’ thinnest, other creatures and beings are more easily able to visit us and our Earthy plane. You may think yourself too full of sugary treats when you see a Fae in your garden, a Nymph dancing in the woods, glimpse ancient Pagan Goddesses and Gods fornicating around their effigies in forests or hear what you’re sure were dragon wings in the sky above you. Maybe you are too full of sugar and hallucinated it all, or perhaps, just perhaps, there really was something there in the night, just beyond your sight, grinning at you with wide eyes as you pass it by without a glance.
There are many ways, both traditional and modern to celebrate Samhain. For me, the celebration or ritual that sings within me is to connect with ancestors. This tradition of communing with the dead at the thinning of the veil is found across the world in to the deepest and darkest places of our Mother Earth. Some will practice divination by way of Talking Boards, Divining Rods, Cards, Stones or Runes. Some will read messages in nature; water, leaves, smoke and flames. Others will use pendulums, meditation, Shamanic Journeying or their own innate psychic abilities.
What is important at this time, for me, is for my message to be pure, to know who is welcome to come forward to speak and what energies, entities and spirits are not welcome in my space.
It’s important to realise that to commune with those we have lost draws energy from us, and we must therefore be prepared and have reserves of energy available to us. We must have protections in place, boundaries set against the unwelcome drawing energy from us. The dead walk freely amongst us tonight. Do not speak to the dead if you do not want them to respond.
Bonfires
Yes, I know, I can hear you all saying that bonfires belong on bonfire night. Well, actually, none of my sister withes would even bat an eyelid if I lit a random bonfire at any time of the year or on any day of the week, however my point is that bonfires were an integral part of Samhain celebrations long before our Mr Fawkes tried to blow up the country’s least desirables those hundreds of years ago. Tall, wide and blazing fires were lit on Samhain night. Bonfires are lit as a gift to the Sun God, honouring him and letting him know that we await his return when the days again begin to grow longer and the tide in his battle against the darkness turns in his favour at Yule. Bonfires also provide(d) a wondrously warm heat source for communities to celebrate the end of Harvest around, and for youngsters playing traditional “tricks” on each other to retreat to, warm themselves through before continuing their mischief. The bonfire represents a light and warmth in the darkness
Trick or treating is one of the first things that springs to many a mind at Samhain, a tradition largely made popular in America. However, as mentioned above, the practice of tricks and mischief at Samhain is an old one. Children and adults alike would wear masks and costumes while celebrating the end of the Harvest. Tricks would be played, merriment would be had and games would be played. Food would be shared for a good trick or piece of mischief. Of course, there has to be balance in all things, and what better night would there be to carry out any darker deeds you had up your sleeve? I have no stories to share of any such deadly deeds, but you just know many an unsolved murder took place amongst the roaring fires and raucous merriment. This tradition was taken to America with immigration, markedly of the Irish Celts, and evolved into the mainstream commercial hullabaloo we see today, sadly losing the important and poignant relevance of this night of the dead. The playing of tricks and sharing of food has become what we now know as trick or treating, the bigger the bag of sweets brought home the better. Don’t forget though, the sharing of food and excitement of this night once was a last night of fun and abundance before villages, hamlets and communities hunkered down for the harshness of the coming months.
Who doesn’t love to carve a pumpkin into a scary face, a witch on a broomstick or a creepy cat? Originally, the carving of a face and lighting this up with a candle was done using a turnip (or more accurately a Swede – actual turnips are pretty small), generally as they were more readily available. When I was a little girl I remember carving out a turnip (or rather, watching while a parent or grandparent carved it) and lighting it with a candle then adding some string to carry it with. It filled me with pure delight when that creepy face lit up and I popped the top back on. I suppose the use of pumpkins after the migration of Samhain to America is again a resource thing, and in America pumpkins were just more readily available. And let’s face it, they’re significantly easier to carve than turnips (Swedes). But why do we do it? Sure, it’s fun, it looks cool, and the flesh makes delicious soup, but other than that, what’s the point? Well, these creepy lanterns, or Jack-a-Lanterns, were placed at front doors to invite in friendly spirits but ward off evil spirits. So when you’re done wreaking candy havoc on your neighbourhood, summoning Great Aunty Melinda and burning your back garden down with an outrageous, remember to put your lantern out on your doorstep to stop the uninvited dead, the monsters and other beasties who live in the shadows following you home.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll chop and change your alter a fair bit, following the Luna cycles, the seasons and the constant new finds out on walks and adventures (I mean, you can’t have too many pinecones or sticks – can you?). Ultimately your choice of what to put on your alter is yours alone. Your altar is a deeply personal and spiritual space where you visually personify your craft, your beliefs and the magic bubbling inside of you. Personally, I have been putting items in honour of Samhain on my altar for a while now, and they reflect what the autumn and Samhain mean to me. I have mini pumpkins, red apples, pine cones, wild heather collected from the border forests, citrine, clear quartz and wooden runes. I have Ivy, succulents, fresh lavender and moonstone. And (obviously) a black glittery skull. If you aren’t sure what to put on your altar, try meditating on what this time of year means to you. Do you feel drawn to natural items, to crystals, cards, runes? Which elements are speaking to you? Do you want to add divination tools, candles or incense? My advice is to select items that reflect the meaning of mid-autumn and Samhain to you. You cannot get your altar wrong as long as it is authentic to you and what your gut is telling you to include.
So I’ve talked enough. Go enjoy your traditional Samhain, your fun Halloween and your general creepy times. Try to take a moment, though, amongst the frivolities, to give a nod to our amazing mother Earth, and thank her for the blessings she has given to you these last months, as she has given her all to us, her very last shoot and seed, see us over the chilly winter months.
So don’t forget to enjoy and relish in some Samhain celebrations and traditions.
Stay Wild.
Blessed Be.
Ginger Witch.
It’s me, Ginger Witch, getting ready to enjoy Samhain celebrations and traditions.
This year the Harvest Moon, the full moon closest to Mabon, comes to us on 1st October 2020. The Harvest Moon is at its’ brightest at around 10.05pm BST, when the moon is in full opposition to the sun – bringing us an overwhelmingly important message – balance.
By now we have all surely noticed the cooler days, chilly evenings and darker nights. I’m writing this at 7.30pm BST and it’s pitch black outside, which personally I love as it means the lanterns on my hearth are lit up, candles are burning and the cats are all asleep in the same room as us. Try to get them all together like this in the height of summer and you might as well, to quote my dad, try to knit fog.
The Harvest Moon is probably one of the most well known of the full moon names, with popular songs named after it, and obviously, the Harvest coming to a close around this time. We are fully into Autumn now with leaves on the ground around our feet and bracing breezes whipping our hair and clothes up around us as we step out out of our doors. We are faced with beautifully warm colours, spicy smells and rich decadent tastes. What’s not to love.
So what does the Harvest Moon represent? The first thing the Harvest Moon reminds us to do is to rest and recover from the hard work and dedication of our endeavours this year. In a literal sense we see this referring to the long difficult days spent in the fields reaping the harvest and stocking up for the dark snowy days ahead. However this same lesson can resonate with us in many ways.
Take stock at this time and let our Luna Lady amongst those most beautiful stars show us that we can sit and reflect on the hard work we have put into any of our tasks and ambitions this year. It doesn’t matter what we have dedicated ourselves to as long as we have owned that dedication, moved forward authentically and either have our results or a plan in motion to achieve our goals.
At this point in the year, allow yourself to lie back, take a deep breath of crisp autumn air and close your eyes to rest a while; you do not have to be constantly in motion, your mind does not have to be constantly thinking, and you do not have to be constantly doing things for others. You are allowed to rest, you are allowed to empty your mind, you are allowed to say no thank you and not today. You are allowed to put yourself first and look after you.
The Harvest Moon symbolises new beginnings, (which is a contradiction to the usual time for new beginnings – the New Moon), and is the perfect time to plan new ventures to begin once your rest is complete, or to plan the progress of existing endeavours once the dark days have passed us by again.
The Harvest Moon is also the time to assess and cleanse; is there something you are carrying with you emotionally, spiritually or physically that is no longer serving you, is feeling heavy or dragging you backwards or down? This is the time to cleanse yourself of such things. Make magical moon water under this full Harvest Moon to cleanse crystals and other magical tools. Use it to ritually cleanse yourself by adding it to bath water or cleansing your hands and face with it. Clear out clutter from your home just as you would at Ostara, after all, we are at Ostara’s opposite at this time of year.
Physically, the Harvest Moon is when the moon looks closest to us in the sky, it appears bigger to us and rises closer to sunset than any other full moon in the lunar year.
A short blog for you this time around, I’ve been very busy and will certainly be taking heed of my own words and giving myself some downtime to rest and take care of myself over the coming month or two, with some time dedicated to some fabulous blog content for the run up to Samhain and Yule.
Its me, Ginger Witch. Happy Harvest Moon to you all 🧡.
This year, in 2020, Mabon falls on Tuesday 22nd September, and I for one cannot wait. I have a definite passion for this time of year; the cooler days and longer nights that are on the horizon completely resonate with my soul and fill me with an overwhelming sense of peace and calm.
Autumnal Altar for Mabon / Autumnal Equinox / Fall Equinox
What is Mabon?
Mabon is the autumnal equinox and marks the official start of the season of Autumn. As with Ostara, the vernal equinox in March, Mabon is one of two points in the year when the hours of light and dark are equal; the day and night are perfectly balanced at Mabon and allows us time to pause and recognise that same balance within ourselves.
From the summer solstice the in June, the days begin to shorten, and by the time we reach Mabon here in the middle of September, the increased hours of darkness are noticeable and the coolness is starting to creep back into the night air. The Earths natural endless cycle is approaching it’s time of slumber as that which grows has matured and we give our gratitude for the plenty we are provided with.
Image by Sanja Kolenko – www.etsy.com/shop/sanjaartjpg & @sanja_art.jpg
For our ancestors the Autumnal Equinox was one of four points in the year (the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes and the Summer and Winter Solstices) and four cross points (Imbolc, Beltane, Lammas and Samhain) representing the cycle of seasons, all of which marked an important point in the cycle of nature and foretold the changing of the weather. To our ancestors these markers in the year were essential as they kept (and keep to this day) the wheel of agriculture, planting and harvest in motion.
In this seasonal and agricultural respect, which was of course the most important part of life for our ancestors, Mabon marks the middle of the harvest; the full moon closest to Mabon is named the Harvest Moon, and crops, fruits and vegetables were all brought into stores to see communities through the cold and dark months ahead.
Image by Ginger Witch
But Mabon is more than just a marker in the days of the harvest, it is a time for deep reflection and appreciation of the darker side of life and the slow and restful days to come. Look back witches, at your book of shadows, look back, pagans, at the practices, rituals and manifestations of Ostara, and remember the goals you set for yourself, the spells you cast and the intentions you put out into the ether. For Ostara is the opposite of Mabon, the other side of this spoke on our ever turning wheel, and the work we set out on then is perfectly considered at it’s universal opposite.
Image by Ginger Witch
I’m not saying everything should have been achieved, not at all, as whilst the Ether, the Wyrd, the stardust and sunbeams make up who we are and run through our veins and into our very bones, we are only human. If you have made a plan to achieve a goal, if you have written the first line of a spell, if you have decided you need to take a course of action, if you have started anything at all towards any of your Ostara intentions, Mabon is the time to sit with your progress and remind yourself that what you have done is exactly what you should have done. You have accomplished. Let it simmer within you, write down your progress in a book of shadows, a journal to hibernate it over the dark months. Or maybe these are the months when your progress and intentions will manifest and come to life; if so, write significant words on a spell candle or write whatever feels right to you on a piece of paper to burn, to bring light to your intent and diffuse your progress so far in to the universe and realms around you.
Mabon Luxuries
As with all things in nature, animals and plants alike, this is a time of year to wind down your pace and bring peace and rest into your heart and mind.
Image by one of my absolute favourite artists, Lady Viktoria who you can find at www.etsy.com/shop/artbyladyviktoria & @ladytor
We see the trees become bare, plants and flowers return to bulb and seed to sleep, and animals build warmer dens and burrow, or migrate to warmer shores.
If, like me, your spirit feels malnourished without plants around you inside of your home and in your garden, this is the time to start bringing evergreens into these areas. My personal affiliations are with Ivy and Succulents, Rosemary and Fir.
Fill your hearth, light your candles and slow down. Take deep breaths, breathe in the ever chillier ait outside of your front door. Take moments to hear the sound of vibrant fallen leaves crunch beneath your feet and enjoy the feeling of warm soft fabrics and the closeness of loved ones and familiars. Immerse yourself in magical, ghostly and heart warming stories. Make sumptuous broths and stews, toast marshmallows by burning fires and drink decadent hot drinks to warm your hands and soul.
Image taken and wreath made by Ginger Witch
One of my favourite things to start doing at Mabon is taking a basket to the woods to collect fallen acorns, pinecones, vines and wood to make autumnal and Yule decorations for my home and for friends. Mother nature has so many wonderful gifts for us if we take the time to look and to give thanks.
Celebrating Mabon
Decorate your Alter
One of the first preparations most pagans make to honour any of the eight points on the wheel of the year is to prepare their alter. An alter doesn’t need to be anything expensive or big, it is simply a space of your own that you adorn and decorate with the items you use in your craft, to honour your chosen deities (if any) and with items to recognise, give thanks for and honour the sabbat. Some Pagans have large chests or tables, others have outdoor spaces and some will decorate a window sill or mantle. It may be simply lighting a particular coloured candle.
Snap shots of my Summer – Autumn transition Altar
Being the start of autumn, Mabon brings with it a kaleidoscope of warming colours, comforting foods and cosy clothes. We can start to look forward to dusting off snuggly jumpers, slipping into fur lined boots and lighting fires and candles to tell enchanting tales around.
And amongst this cacophony of colourful change in the earth around us we see alters adorned to reflect this time of transition into autumn. Ivy, rosemary, pine cones, red and green apples, seeds and pomegranates, along with grains and corn all represent the abundance of the harvest. Set some or all of these on your alter to show reverence for the plenty the Earth has provided us with.
Spells / wishes / hopes and intentions can be laid on your alter, written in colours of the season such as oranges, yellows, browns, reads and dark greens. Let your instincts take over and decorate your writings with your own patterns and in colours that speak to you.
Beautiful image by Kat Fedora who you can find at linktr.ee/Katfedora & @katfedora
Candle Spells
Burn a candle in one of these Mabon colours and carve a Sigel or Rune that you are working with into it (if you work with either), or carve a word to represent your hopes and spells for the coming season. Be sure to use a candle that you will continue to burn until it is completely finished if you carve into it; small spell candles are best. I never blow out a candle adorned with a spell, however you can snuff the candle if you need to, just be sure not to blow your intention away.
Scents
If you feel a connection with scents and aromatherapy you will enjoy anointing your candle with a dreamy autumnal scent. Either make your own with some of your favourites or chose something that fills you with feelings of warmth and cosiness. At this time of year I enjoy the captivating smells of spiced apple, pumpkin, vanilla, ginger, cinnamon, frankincense and lavender.
If you don’t want to anoint your candle its nice to have an oil burner sending out these autumnal feels or to have some incense burning in these comforting undertones. There’s no reason why you can’t mix and match these uses of scent or use all three at once.
Scented candles are another great way to bring autumnal feels to your altar and home.
Scent can be a real mood setter, can trigger memories and can help to heal our bodies, minds and souls. If you can work the wonderful gifts that nature gives to our sense of smell, you should absolutely work it one way or another into your alters, rituals, spells and every day witchy life.
Healing Crystals & Stones
If you work with healing crystals, Mabon is a good time to add Lapis Lazuli, Topaz, Magnetite and Shamanic Dream Stone to your alter.
Lapis Lazuli is a stone I work with and wear all year round. It is very much associated with balance and embracing the darkness and the light in life; placing this crystal on your alter will bring balancing energies into your alter space, into your meditations and into your life.
Lapis Lazuli surrounded by Rose Quartz and Citrine, soaking up the energy of the forest.
Topaz is a stone that vibrates with energies of healing and abundance, both of which are very relevant at Mabon as we are very aware of the abundance of the earth, and, as the harvest begins to come to an end, we can find time to rest and rejuvenate during the coming darkness.
To add Magnetite to your alter also brings balance into your space, but with that balance you will also find a sense of grounding and connection to the earth.
The last stone I would add to my alter is Shamanic Dream Stone which, again, has energies working to balance our bodies and minds. It promotes introspection and during this time of rest guides us in our journeys within, assisting us in Chakra balancing and completion of tasks and manifestations set at Imbolc and Ostara.
I love to sit with my stones under the moon and by the fire to charge and feel them.
Deities
I don’t want to say too much about deities as all pagans follow different paths and all honour different (or no) deities for different reasons.
What I will tell you, is that for me, Mabon is the time I feel the connection with my Goddesses deepen. I work with the dark goddesses Inanna, Persephone and Ereshkigal, all of whom have their journeys rooted in not only living and surviving in, but flourishing in the underworld, in the darkness, in rising from deathly situations to be wiser and more divine than they had previously been. Stripped of themselves and violated, both Inanna and Persephone rise to become the ultimate in feminine divinity and to be more whole and balanced than their former selves. They were stolen away into the darkness, yet embraced that darkness, walked through it, descended into it, let it engulf them and became sisters with it; and the darkness did not kill them. Whilst they missed the light, there was healing and rest to be had in their dark days. Their descents into their underworlds gave them time to see into the blackness and understand that without it, there cannot be light. In order to see the day, we must make friends with the night. Without the night, we cannot see the stars or our Luna Goddess high above us. Without descent there is no ascent. I will tell their stories fully in later posts, however for now my pagan sisters and brothers, I wish you a very Happy Mabon 2020 and hope that your rest and journey through our coming darkening days is a filled with magic, plenty and laughter.
It’s me, Ginger Witch, wishing you a Merry and Blessed Mabon.
As with all of my posts, I have included the work of some amazing artists whose work I very much admire and covet. Below are links to their online spaces.
….. falls on 2nd September. And if you’re anything like me you’ll be thinking thank goodness it’s September.
I’m sure you’ve all noticed the days getting shorter and the nights getting cooler as the wheels spins us rapidly towards the dark half of the year. That is why right now, I can be found in the back garden, on a clear night, on the very last day of August, enjoying one of the few nights left this summer where it is practical to sit outside and write.
My boyfriend enjoying some astro-photography and me writing this blog post whilst enjoying the darkness and calm all around on the last of the warm (ish) nights of the summer.
It is very much in my nature to be outside whatever the weather; waterproof Gazebos and sheltered fire pits are my friends. However even I won’t sit and shiver my way through writing a blog post in the very coldest and darkest of days.
I relish the crackling of the fires, the lights adorning houses and gardens, the celebrations of All Hallows Eve, Bonfire Night and Yule. My dark goddesses come into their own and remind me in furtive whispers of the lessons they have taught me and make their promises that they will continue to walk with me just as I promise to continue honouring them.
But let’s leave these tales of darkness here for now; we will continue talking about this in my upcoming Mabon blog post. For now, we turn our attention to our beautiful lady of the sky in all of her bright and full glory.
www.linktr.ee/joncarraherart & @joncarraherart
The ceaseless and unforgiving spin of the wheel is the reason our September full moon is either named The Full Corn Moon or The Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon falls in September two in every three years, and is always the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox. This year, in 2020, it is the full moon on 1st October which is closest to the Autumnal Equinox, making our September Full Moon the Full Corn Moon instead of the Harvest Moon. This happens every third year.
This year the Autumnal Equinox falls on 22nd September at 14.30 in the UK.
Our ancient ancestors tracked their time and seasons using the night sky; both the stars and the moon, and they named the monthly full moons to guide them through the practical activities they relied upon, such the dawning of the time of year to harvest their crops, and on what they saw in the natural world around them (for example the Sturgeon Moon or the Buck Moon are named after significant activities of these animals at particular points in the year).
This is the time of year to harvest and fill up on stores to last through the harsh winter months. Our ancestors saw more brutal and unforgiving winters than we do. They did not have the home luxuries that we have such as central heating to keep them warm and safe against the frosts. They did no have shops to provide them with all of their needs. Instead communities relied upon not only successful harvests of grains, fruits and vegetables to last them many months, but on gathering wood for fires and straw for roofs. The coming of the Corn Moon (or Harvest Moon) was an important marker, a vital indicator of this notch on the spinning wheel.
Harvesting apples is a practice as old as the memories of witches. Beautiful image by @fraukruber
And whilst the coming days and months are filled with preparations for winter, it is also delightfully true that the days leading to winter are days for the warmth of flames, cosy blankets and heart warming tales; these are my favourite times of the year. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the changing seasons and find joy in the Spring and Summer, walking with the May Queen and Oak King along their path of virility to their place of slumber, however the darker days are my domain.
Civilisations across the globe have had many names for the full moons, and, through the ages, the name The Full Corn Moon has been generally accepted as the name for this particular September Moon, with alternatives being The Barley Moon, the Fruit Moon and the Honey Moon. The name comes to us from wise tribes of Native Americans, who recognised many moos ago that this was the time of year to begin thinking about harvesting the crops, bringing in the grains, and making stores for the colder months ahead. This year our Full Corn Moon is the last full moon of the summer, a reminder to us that colder days are close on our tails.
This image by @garlandsandgravestones depict this full moon perfectly. Visit them at www.linktr.ee/garlandsandgravestones
As we journey into the coming annual darkness we find ourselves with more time to reflect and to complete the thoughts of where we want our path to lead us though the next few months and of the things we would like to bring into our lives. These many faceted thoughts that come to us in fragments through the excitements and adventures of the long summer days never seem to feel fully formed. The Full Corn Moon is the perfect time to sit with these thoughts and allow them to complete their transformation into plans and goals.
During the Full Corn Moon, when you’re sitting with these thoughts, focus on your emotions, on healing your body and mind, on bringing balance into your life. These are the areas that will reap the most benefit from soaking in the moonbeams, whether real if you’re outside or metaphorical if you’re inside, of the homely and generous Full Corn Moon.
This Full Corn Moon with help you to see those around you and inside of yourself clearly. Stunning image by @syri_water & www.syriwater.etsy.com
Don’t forget that all full moons are of course magical times to recharge healing crystals, to make moon water, to cast spells and set manifestations for abundance and healing. Just remember that it is during the Full Corn Moon, when the focus of the natural cycles of our Mother Earth is to harvest, to store, to bring into life and home the things needed to survive the coming winter, that that your wishes and intentions for abundance are in perfect symmetry with the flow of the year and are particularly strong.
This morning I chose to pull a Dark Goddess oracle card and was graced with Aradia who brings us Defence.
Aradia, Goddess of Witches
The Card
Drawing this card I know that Aradia has come to warm against taking a defensive stance against things said today. Aradia reminds us that whilst we may have built up a natural defensive wall against unkindness and attack in response to our life experiences, it is only ourselves we make to suffer in the end by diminishing our own energy and spirit with negativity and doubt.
Aradia teaches us that we need to embrace who we are and live our lives true to our authentic selves, the self that lies hidden safe and cosy underneath the layers of acceptability we have established as the “us” twe present to the world. We need to shed those layers or risk being lost in their false shadows, hidden in the darkness of our own repression’s and restrictions.
The stunningly beautiful work of @ladytor www.etsy.com/shop/artbyladyviktoria
We must defend the self that resides in our wild and primal senses, the natural, child of the Earth self that has been passed down through a long line of wise men and woman, the self that we feel in the very marrow of our bones.
We must howl our truths into the night becoming one with how they make us feel, bringing them into rhythm with the beat of the heart within our breast that can never be denied. With every breath we take through the day we must protect their validity and tune them into the ancient magic we draw from the Earth and the from the Ether.
Aradia tells us to stand tall, defend who we are, and to shine as brightly as the full moon as she smiles down upon us.
Aradia, Goddess of Witches
The Goddess
The origins of Aradia are difficult to pin down as there are many varying accounts of who she was. Some depict her as a Goddess of Ancient Rome, the daughter of Diana and Apollo. Others tell that she is the Daughter of Diana and Lucifer (a name pre-dating Christianity, meaning light bringer; this is not a reference to the Christian figure Satan). There are then those who believe she was a powerful mortal witch who’s magic and knowledge was gifted to her by Diana, and which brought her great renown and recognition.
The stunningly beautiful work of @ladytor www.etsy.com/shop/artbyladyviktoria
The one common thread through most of the tales of Aradia is that she is the daughter of Diana, a Goddess widely worshipped in Ancient Rome. In these tales, Diana sent Aradia to Earth to spend time with the oppressed, the poor, and the disadvantaged. Her task, to teach them the ways of witchcraft and magic. The focus of Aradia’s magical teachings was helping witches to rise above their disadvantage, to seek retribution against their oppressors and to find the means to lift themselves out of poverty. Spells, hexes, enchantments and curses where at the forefront of Aradia’s lessons, along with imparting the knowledge, ways and recipes of earth based medicines and remedies.
Perhaps it was this deep and unquestionable source of knowledge, this most respected and omnipotent source that led to the title of witch; an old and weathered word meaning wise woman. Because those women were, and witches both male and female in modern times, are blessed with an innate knowledge and understanding of the earth and the wonders it has to offer us medicinally, nutritionally and spiritually.
Representation of Hail or Hailstones and pronounced haw-gaw-lawz.
This morning I pulled Hagalaz when asking for insight from the runes on the day ahead.
Hagalaz represents a sense of confinement and constriction that will melt away into freedom and fluidity. It speaks to us of wrath, destruction and forces within us that cannot be controlled, however their contemplation will bring us inner peace as they run their course. We must allow these force last to run their intended course as no matter how hard we try, we will not be able to bend them to our will or control the path they take.
My own arrangement of Hagalaz , rune from the Elder Futhark
When we draw Hagalaz we must be aware of being circled by sickness and crisis, suffering and hardship; our lesson here is that we must stand facing such trials and teach ourselves to become at one with them, to move with them so that they glide past us, still leaving their mark as they touch us, but not breaking us as they would if we stood rigid against their rage as they crashed upon us.
My own arrangement of Hagalaz , rune from the Elder Futhark
Hagalaz can also indicate that we are surrounded by chaos, or that we feel chaotic within our own minds or bodies. When I draw this rune I like to take a few moments to sit with my own thoughts and to really notice how my body feels; do I have any pain, unrest or aches to address that I’d not noticed or put off dealing with? Are there issues nagging at my mind that I am now being ushered towards dealing with? Maybe it’s time to put too many “to do” thoughts into a “to do” list to calm the storm swirling around in our minds – being able to look at things like that visually and then tick items off a list always helps to calm my mind if it’s in a storm.
My own arrangement of Hagalaz , rune from the Elder Futhark
In the runic alphabet Hagalaz is the letter H and many believe the colour blue entwines with Hagalaz.
From pagans of our ancient history through to the Neo-pagans who practice today, almost all work with the five elements; Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit in some way.
Hareshaw Burn running down from Hareshaw Linn Waterfall North Tyne river.
So, when on the way home from a camping trip to Kielder, my boyfriend asked if I fancied a bit of a walk up to a waterfall he’d read about online, I was very much up for the adventure. I mean, how many witches are going to pass up the chance to see and feel such a powerful force of nature and collect some of that energy as it carves it’s way through the Northumberland landscape?
Hareshaw Burn running down from Hareshaw Linn Waterfall North Tyne river.
The waterfall is Hareshaw Linn in Bellingham and is outrageously beautiful once you conquer the 1.5 mile uphill walk to get there.
The path along side Hareshaw Burn running down from Hareshaw Linn.
Though if we’re honest, I exaggerate a little. Yes the walk is uphill, however on the whole it is a gentle incline. There are a few steep parts, a few sets of very cool stone steps, and the ground is uneven – a truly wild forest path unsuitable for anything but feet in good footwear (I wore luminous pink Crocs which were fine, the poor people trying to negotiate or carry buggies were less fine)) but I think most levels of fitness would manage it. There are plenty of spots to stop and take a breather if you need to.
Stone Steps leading to the forest path to Hareshaw Linn Waterfall.
As always, we packed drinks and snacks, rolled up our picnic rug, found a little towel in the boot of the car, parked in the little free car park, and set up off the woodland path. Initially the path is open and you pass an unlikely caravan park with only a few resident caravans before coming to a bit of a grass clearing with some picnic benches and a small path to the left leading down to a low waterfall. Climbing down this path into the water must be how Lucy Pevensie felt when she stepped out of the back of the wardrobe to find herself in a new and magical land. The water level is no more than ankle deep at the foot of the waterfall and there are many stepping stones across to the opposite riverbank. We stood in the middle of the river and took in the energy given off by this magnificent prelude for many minutes.
Hareshaw Burn running down from Hareshaw Linn Waterfall North Tyne river.
Trees grow tall around the banks of the river and create a hazy green canopy above the water; the atmosphere is entirely ethereal. If you close your eyes this green haze seeps into your mind, the sound of the the red tinged river trickles through your ears, the smell of the our Mother Goddess enchants your senses and the hairs on your arms will stand on end. This spot feels old and aware; purposefully emitting it’s consciousness of our trespass and our peaceful welcome into our awareness. This feeling brought a peace and tranquillity to me that was utterly opposite to the force of the water cascading over the edge of the red clay rock face above us. Past this you will wander gently uphill for a few minutes before entering the forest path.
Hareshaw Burn running down from Hareshaw Linn Waterfall North Tyne river.
Tall, proud and ancient trees surround you as you walk this path, their roots apologetically snaking across the path to entwine with each other and daring you to stumble or trip. Again, this is not a path for the unsure of foot, pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Immediately as I entered the woods I felt other presences and my mind brought to its forefront thoughts of Elementals and the Fae. I knew instantly that both reside in these woods and that our journey through it was watched by them. Not just our journey; the footsteps of all who step upon their winding pathways. These hidden eyes have been watching these trees since they were saplings, nourishing them and communing with the growing forest.
It took us around 60 – 70 minutes to get to the main waterfall from it’s smaller sister at a reasonably slow pace as we stopped often to take in many of the beautiful views, trees, the flowing water and plant life, and the rest of the time walked slowly in general awe of the obvious magic sparkling through the air, breathing it in deeply and letting it cleanse us from the inside out.
One of the seven bridges over Hareshaw Burn, running down from Hareshaw Linn Waterfall.
Slivers of sunshine came through the trees highlighting vivid greens, the river ran red, dyed from the clay in the surrounding rocks. We heard but didn’t see the red squirrels rummaging around in the branches high above us and the foliage below us on the banks of the path and we watched as listened to birds play in lower branches as they sang to each other in the glow of the suns warm rays.
Fairy Doors on the Hareshaw Burn Trail up to Hareshaw Linn Waterfall
When we reached the main waterfall, I will repeat what I said at the beginning of this rambling; it took our breath away.
Hareshaw Linn Waterfall
We scrambled up a few rocks onto a little platform with a rock face covering, settled onto our picnic rug, ate marshmallows and drank (now warm) pop before the crashing cascade of water rushing over the cliff high above us. It was worth the walk. To be honest, the walk itself would be worth it without the waterfall at the end, but Mother Nature really gives us a treat at the end of this trail.
Hareshaw Linn Waterfall
We sat for a good spell, watching the water, watching others come and go, watching a beautifully silly dog swim in the substantial and magnificent pool at the bottom of the waterfall. Then we clambered down to the pool ourselves (some of us less gracefully than others) and let the water run over our skin as it fell into the pool below it.
The pool at the bottom of Hareshaw Linn Waterfall
Naturally we took photographs. I collected a little water for use in spell casting. Only a little, I never like to take too much away from where nature naturally resides. Collecting the water I got wonderfully soaking wet and later that day my boyfriend commented on how extra soft my hair and skin felt; the magic of the water?
Water from Hareshaw Linn Waterfall
Looking out back towards the trail you’d never even realise it was there. If you’d sprung into life in this clearing your would know the waterfall, the ceiling of Ivy decorating the sides of the high cliff faces and the oddly still pool lying at the foot of the waterfall, beneath a rocky and tree lined micro valley of hidden loveliness.
Hareshaw Burn running down from Hareshaw Linn Waterfall North Tyne river.
After filling our eyes and souls with this magical space we packed up our empty bottles and packets, dried our feet, rolled up our rug and head back off for the mile and a half walk back to the car.
An Earth Elemental?
On that walk my mind was filled with the Elementals and Fae. Our passage through the woods seemed to be smiled upon as we met no difficulties. As we walked many Fairy Doors seemed to be appearing before us and showing us their presence. We felt welcomed. We gave thanks as we passed through the forest and let these nature beings know how much we appreciated their hospitality and how stunning their domain is. After all, this is their home not ours, we are simply visiting. These beings have resided in our woodlands long before us and will continue to long after us.
Fairy Doors on the Hareshaw Burn Trail up to Hareshaw Linn Waterfall.
They allowed us to photograph their doors, and I feel confident in saying this as I have tried to photograph such portal between our world and theirs before without success or explanation of camera failure or other sudden and random obstacles. On this day, the Elementals and Fae were watching in friendship as we walked their paths.
Fairy Doors on the Hareshaw Burn Trail up to Hareshaw Linn Waterfall.
The last thing about this journey that I wish to share with you is the wishing tree we found. It was obvious that for many years those with a wish to put out into the ether for who or whatever they believe in, have been offering a con to the bark of a fallen and wonderfully preserved trunk. As Goddesses from two very different cultures, Persephone and Inanna were in my wish as I added left a 10p coin given to me at that moment by Colin, my soulmate, who was and is always standing by my side.
The wishing tree on the forest walk along the banks of Hareshaw Burn on the way to Hareshaw Linn Waterfall.
When we got back to the car we were ready to sit down, a little tired and ready to find somewhere for a drink, but also utterly refreshed and revitalised. I have absolutely no doubt that we will return to this special place; however in the meantime I hope this recount of it will remind us all of the regenerating and peace inducing benefits of engaging with and spending time with our ever resilient Mother Earth and Goddess.
Today’s card is Ereshkigal with “coercion” from the beautiful Dark Goddess oracle deck by Flavia Kate Peters and Barbara Meikle John Free.
www.flaviakatepeters.com and www.barbarameiklejohnfree.com
They also have a Familiars deck that is most definitely on my wish list but for now I will be sharing my daily cards from this beautiful deck or a rune drawn from the set very kindly made for me by a friend I made last year.
The Card This card tells me that today is a day to make sure boundaries are in place that I make sure people don’t cross those boundaries. It also tells me to make sure I know my priorities and that I put them first, not letting others hold those priorities against me. I need to be mindful today that others don’t coerce me into putting my own needs on the back burner. A warning against neglecting self care and allowing others to walk all over me.
The Goddess Ereshkigal is the ancient Mesopotamian Goddess of the underworld and the sister of Inanna who was one of the most popular Sumerian Goddesses of ancient Mesopotamia, and the Goddess who murdered Inanna before her rise from the Underworld.
I do a lot of work with Ereshkigal and Inanna and will most definitely be doing a feature blog on these Goddesses in due course.
The links www.gingerwitchinnorthumberland.com Facebook: GingerWitch_in_Northumberland Instagram: @gingerwitch_in_northumberland
