Mrs Darley on Kindle

The first 3 Mrs Darley books are now available on Amazon Kindle - Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers, Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries & Mrs Darley's Pagan Elements.
These three books explore my initial journey into the realms of Paganism and magick when I lived on Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, guided as ever by the delightful & charismatic Mrs Darley.

The new premises of Mrs Darley's Herbal shop in Bewdley Museum Worcestershire is now open for business. A range of herbal tisanes, exquisite teas from around the world, tea ware, natural facial & body care, remedies, mood enhancers, incense & Pagan gifts are all available. Or visit the on-line shop at www.arcanus.co.uk/shop.php
Three of the Mrs Darley series of books are now available on Kindle - Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers/Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries/ Mrs Darley's Healing Wisdom.
Spring Blessings to all.

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'

The Hare Moon

Today is rather magickal, for not only does it herald the new Hare Moon, but also a solar eclipse, albeit, it could not be seen from the UK.
The hare was a sacred animal to the Celts and was symbolic of fertility. They thought that as the earth was warming up during this lovely month, then so were human passions. Both sun and moon are in the sign of Taurus so what better time for celebrating earthy and sensual pleasures!
The photograph of Pan (who better to illustrate earthy pleasures?) was taken outside the Witchcraft Museum in Boscastle in Cornwall and is currently on loan to them. Well worth a visit if you're in that part of the world.
Meanwhile enjoy all that the Merry Month of May has to offer!
Read more 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

The Seed Moon

In a few minutes the dark moon will be behind us and the new Seed Moon will be born. This was the moon the Celts waited for as it marked a time of movement, of increase and of the sewing of the crops.
Many people seem to have had their own personal battles to face through this long hard winter, be they to do with health, jobs, or finance and most people are now looking forward to bringing a little warmth into their lives both literally and symbolically.
I hope that the new seed moon brings a certain lightness to both your lives and your spirit.
Read more 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

Spring skies

Everyone is waiting for the spring to arrive and with the dawning of April comes renewed hope that temperatures will slowly begin to rise. We do however need clear skies, (which often means lower night time temperatures) before we can see the spectacular heavenly sights which are on offer.
The new Seed Moon arrives in our skies on 11th at 10.35BST. Look out for the moon and Jupiter being close together on the 14th whilst on the 19th just before sunrise low on the horizon Uranus & Mercury are visible. On the 22nd we pass through the Lyrids meteor show, producing luminous trails of dust which can be seen for several seconds. Visible in the NE after midnight.
On the 25th the full moon rises at 20.11BST and will be partially eclipsed, but be quick as it will only remain eclipsed for about 12 minutes. At this point Saturn will be sitting just above the moon, but the best day to see Saturn fully illuminated is on the 28th.
What celestial gifts to look forward to! Read more 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

A Time of Balance

The first quarter of the Sap Moon is present in our skies this evening & with the arrival of the Spring Equinox tomorrow at 11.01, this is a time when we are reminded of the importance of balance in our lives. This isn't merely work v play, or indulgence v diet, but is one of shadow v light. We all possess a darker side to our true selves and yet the shadow is something which the majority of us like to keep hidden for fear of others not liking us and yet, it is one that we should all acknowledge even if only to ourselves, for, in the words of Mrs Darley:
'Everything upon this earth has an opposite, a shadow side. Everything of beauty has a thread of ugliness, everything that enchants has the power to possess and everything that shines also knows the dark.' (Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries)
Wishing you all Equinox Blessings

The Arrival of the Sap Moon

At last the Sap Moon is due to enter our skies t 19.51 tomorrow (11th March). This is the Moon that the Celts would have been waiting for it heralded better times to come. It foretold that the winter was almost at an end and the way almost clear for the spring. With the threat of snow today however, we might have to wait a while before a little sesonal warmth is felt!
This Moon was so called because the sap was in deed rising and that with the 'Seed Moon' in April the planting time could begin.
Read more - 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

May the Sap Moon bring warmth and sunshine into your lives.

The Storm Moon

Today welcomes in the 'Storm Moon', often referred to by many other names including the Snow Moon, the Chaste Moon, or the Hunger Moon.
For the Celts this was probably the hardest time, for they were still in the grip of winter & if harvests had not been good, then food supplies could be running low. On a more positive not however, they knew that this moon represented change and with it came a stirring of energies, albeit these energies often whipped up wild storms which they would attempt to control by singing, chanting, drumming and whistling.
February is a fascinating month as it is a time of cleansing, purification, restraint & love, all of which will be explored as the month progresses.
May the storm moon blow good fortune your way.
Read more 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

The Wolf Moon

Tomorrow (11th) The Wolf Moon enters our skies at 19.43 in the sign of Capricorn.
This was the first Moon after the dark time and was welcomed as both a sign of hope in so much as the light was gaining, albeit the worst of the weather was not yet over and also a time of abstinence and suspension following the Winter Solstice activities.
To the Celts the Wolf was a powerful animal and many of their Deities had the Wolf as their totem animal, for contrary to popular belief wolves are rarely aggressive, even amongst themselves and have a strongly developed sense of family and belonging.
May this Wolf Moon bring you a sense of belonging and protection.
Read more:  'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

Full Birch Moon & Penumbral eclipse

Tomorrow the moon is fat in the sign of Gemini and although we may misplace objects of importance, it is an auspicious time fore travel, buying, selling, learning and communication.
This full moon however sees a penumbral eclipse, ie a partial eclipse, where the top half of the moon will be obscured. If the skies are clear we should be able to see it as it will rise eclipsed at 4pm, but will have cleared around 5pm.
The word 'eclipse' derives from the Greek 'ekleipsis' meaning 'abandonment', for the ancients felt abandoned when the moon and the sun behaved in a strange way and would perform many strange rituals in order to 'bring it back'. The Masai tribes of Africa threw sand in the airwhilst the north American Injdians rattled pots and pans .
Eclipses have always been feared throughout history and in Shakspeare's Richard 11 we are told:
The pale-fac'd moon looks bloody on the earth,
And lean-look'd prphetswhisperfearful change..
These signs forerun the death orfall of kings'
Mrs Darley however looked upon the eclipse as a time when personal transformation and forward movement are experienced, as outlined in our lunar eclipse celebrations at the moonstone in 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries.'
May this partial eclipse and its changes bring you more in line with your true self.

The Birch Moon

The new crescent moon should be visible either tonight or tomorrow and this moon was known as the Birch Moon to our Celtic ancestors.
This was the moon under which the development of sacred inner awareness was practised as it was thought to hold a promise of things to come. The Celts attributed protective qualities to the birch tree and it was therefore treasured throughout the dark months of winter.
The moon moves into the sign of Sagittarius today, which is indicated for all legal matters, education and ethics.
As I write the Moon is passing in front of Mercury which is visible with a motorised telescope from the UK, but due to cloud cover will not be seen by many.
Read more:  'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

The Wine Moon

Today ushers in the Wine Moon and this was the time in Celtic society where prophecy and communion with the Gods became a priority. In order to accomplish this task, they drunk copious amounts of wine, which had been fermented under summer skies, in order to go deep within and access the other world.
In our modern society we are still capable of consuming copious amounts of wine, yet often use its effects in order to forget what lies deep within, rather than to access it, and perhaps that is why our society is often full of disappointment and unrest - for the very thing we seek is that which we fail to bring into the light.

 

Read more 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

The Harvest Moon

Today welcomes the new 'Harvest Moon' , the moon under which the remainder of the corn and the beginning of the vegetable harvests took and indeed still take place.
This is the time when our Mother Earth allows us to take from her belly the very food that will fill our own and so it is a moon beneath which we should give thanks.
For the Celts this moon signified a time of magic, healing and wisdom and many late summer evenings would be spent around the fire chanting healing charms and listening to old tales of magic and mystery.
Enjoy these golden days of summer as the bountiful Goddess shares her gifts with Her children.
Read more - 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

April Night Sky Delights

This Saturday (21st) marks the time of the April New Moon which was known to the ancient Celts as the Hare Moon as its lusty nature was synonymous with this fertile time of year. Itwas thought that as the earth began to warm up so did human passions! Interestingly the new moon rises in the sign of Taurus, the earthy sign of physical love and sexuality.

The 21st and 22nd also bring us The Lyrid meteor shower. These meteors disintigrate as they hit the earth's atmosphere, but often produce luminous trains of dust that last for several seconds. Around 20 meteors per hour are visible and will be best seen after midnight in the north east. As long as it is clear the new moon will give good visibility.

Enjoy the show.

Read more ' Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

The April Full Moon, Eostre & Christ

Tomorrow (Fri) marks 3 specific events. In the lunar calendar it is the day of the April full Moon. In the Pagan calendar it is the festival of Eostre or Ostara, Saxon Goddess of the dawn & new beginnings and in the Christian calendar it is Good Friday, the time when Christians remember the crucifixion of Christ. Despite however the unliklihood of the former two having anything to do with the latter, they are all inextricably linked.

The festival of Eostre was always a moveable lunar festival and was calculated as falling on the day of the first full moon following the Spring Equinox. When Christianity came to these islands & the powers that held sway were trying to convert the peasants to the new religion, they decided to replace the festival of Eostre with that of Easter and made a slight alteration to the date so that it was celebrated on the Christian holy day - that of Sunday.

Thus Easter is always calculated as being the Sunday following the first full moon following the Spring Equinox.

Whether you choose to honour the full Moon, Eostre or Christ tomorrow may the day bring you peace & solace.

For more information read 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers' or 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

The Sap Moon

Tomorrow (21st) sees the birth of the 'Sap Moon' at 22.34GMT in the sign of Aquarius. This moon was one of hope to the Celts and brought sure and certain knowledge that the sap was beginning to rise within the earth's vegetation and that the new planting time was now only a moon cycle away.

The moon in Aquarius signifies a time of fairness, objectivity, trustworthiness and reason. It is also capable of bestowing flashes of genius and general good luck. Enjoy!

Read more in 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

The Wolf Moon

Although this month's new moon is now a few days old, it was once referred to as the 'Wolf Moon'. It was the first moon after the dark time and although the wolf was sacred to the Celts it was seen as a lean animal and represented a time of abstinance and suspension following the solstice activities. Although the ancients knew that the sun was gaining in strength they still recognised that the worst of the weather was yet to come.

From 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

The Birch Moon

The new moon is due at 20.55 today and was known by the Celts as the 'Birch Moon'. It was under this moon, during the sacred festival of Samhain (now Halloween) that the journey of sacred inner awareness was practiced and was mirrored in the natural world as it too entered a time of rest and retreat.

The birch moon was seen to hold a promise of things to come as during this month the Samhain celebrations saw the dying of the old year and the beginning of the new. Birch was also seen as having protective qualities, a useful tool to see the old tribes through the dark days to come.

Read more: 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

The Blood Moon

Today sees the new moon in Libra, a time of balance and fair judgment. This moon was referred to as the 'blood moon' by the Celts as it was a time when the maternal qualities of the Goddess and in deed life itself was revered and honoured.
The Celts believed that the spirit of a person dwelt in his or her blood and as such the Gods were asked to strengthen the blood of the tribe before the harsh weather began. It was also the time when animals were brought in from pasture and certain ones were chosen for slaughter.
As we journey into the autumn may the blood moon bring you many blessings.
From 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'