In Grimm’s fairytale she is depicted as a mainly benevolent wise old woman who rewards industrious maidens and those who keep their household affairs in good order but who does not tolerate laziness. Known in Germanic countries as Mother Hulda, Holda or Holla, she is an extremely ancient Germanic supreme goddess who probably predates most […]
For many centuries, and in fact until comparatively recently, people in rural Wales followed the natural cycle of nature and adapted their lives accordingly. That meant that in the winter months their lives were in the main bound to the low lying hendre and when spring arrived they migrated to the upland hafod […]
Cauldrons date back to at least 1800BCE to the Bronze Age. They are essentially a container that transforms the contents into something else. (Think metaphorically here!) They also represent the source of all nourishment, standing upon the alter of the hearth where all elements come together in alchemical transformation. (The Fire of the hearth, the […]
DARKNESS STILLNESS SILENCE DARKNESS: Behind the philosophy of Pythagoras was an awareness that the sun rises from the dark “underworld”, it’s home’ and returns there every night. Thus the source of greatest light is the darkness. Pythagoras believed that I order to find clarity we must all enter darkness, physically as well as metaphorically, for […]
Devas, nature spirits and elementals bridge the space between divine energy and incarnate physical life. DEVAS (Angels): Devas are of extreme high intelligence. All the planets in our solar system are embodiments of a planetary deva or angel. (Incidentally this forms the basis of the “rulers of the houses” in astrology.) Each of these great […]
What effect does spirituality have on us? Spirituality can bring us: connection with the wonder and energy of all life; values and the fuel to be good, do good and serve others; development of heart, compassion and consciousness; a mindful, solid and inspiring strength to carry us through the good and bad times; a sense […]
What is Ritual? Why should we have it in our lives? WHAT IS RITUAL? Ritual is the fine art of taking a break. Pausing on this trodden path of everyday life, we give ourselves the time to see where we are walking. It is “time out”. It is experiential. A profoundly personal act even when […]
Historically: The ancient druid was a highly respected member of society, frequently recruited from learned families among the nobility of the land. Their training was long…. at least 19 years, depending on what level of druidry they wished to attain. Functions: Counsellors, law-givers, mediators, healers, teachers, historians, genealogists, astrologists, diviners, shamen, bards. It could be […]
I am somewhat ashamed to have to admit that there is a very special and magical place not much more than 10 miles away from where I live and yet, until recently, I had not taken much notice of it, let alone grasped its relevance in full or experienced the powerful energies prevailing there. How […]
The ancient custom of wassailing is in our days usually seen as part of the Christmas festivities but many argue that it is much older than that. This can easily be believed for there can be no doubt that the word itself is of anglo-saxon origin, deriving from waes hael, which means be hale or […]