The Storm Moon

The Dark Wolf Moon has almost vanished from our skies and, lying in wait is the moon that perhaps the Celts most feared - that of the Storm, Hunger, Snow or Chaste Moon. This was the moon of unpredictable times, when food supplies ran low and uncertainty prevailed. As such the Celts would rattle, drum, dance and chant in order to control the storms which would almost certainly follow.
This Storm Moon is not only new on Friday, but is also a super moon (in perigee - at its closest point to earth) and a blue moon (2nd new moon in the same calendar month). Rare and exciting times - make the most of them.
Read more 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

Planning and Purification

January is a time of reflection on what has passed and of contemplation about what is to come, hence its name, which comes from the Roman God Janus, he who looks back to the old year and forward to the new.
With the end of the month now in sight and plans made for the year ahead, it is time to sweep the decks clean. The forthcoming month of February, from the Latin 'februa' meaning purification, offers us just that opportunity.

Read more 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

Today marks the festival of Twelfth Night, the time when all decorations of the festive season should be taken down and the period of Wassailing begins. Twelfth Night is often confused with Epiphany on the 6th January, but they are very different things. Epiphany was originally the feast of St John the Baptist, but later became the date upon which the arrival of the three wise men visited the new born Christ child. Wassailing, is the time when, in the apple growing areas of the country, the apple trees are danced around and cider poured on their roots in the hope that they will provide a good harvest later in the year. If you've never been to a Wassail celebration they are well worth seeing. Visit Jubilee Gardens in Bewdley Worcestershire this Saturday 11th January from 2pm to see what a great Wassail should be!
Read more: 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'

The New Year has just ushered in the new Wolf Moon, the moon which was to the Celts a symbol of lean times before the beginning of spring. This blog has also suffered from lean times due to a myriad of reasons, but like the wolf, who is in reality a sociable and interactive creature, posts are now returning.
The 6th 'Mrs Darley' book is almost complete - 'Mrs Darley's Herbal', my little shop in Bewdley museum Worcestershire is due to re-open at the end of February, although the on-line version can always be  visited at www.arcanus.co.uk/shop.php and there are lots of workshops and talks available from February which are due to go onto the website next week.
May I take this opportunity of wishing everyone a blessed 2014.