The November Heavens

The heavens offer us a real treat this month beginning with a total solar eclispe on the 13th, albeit, it will only be visible from Northern Australia & the South Pacific, but nevertheless the winds of change will be felt around the world, especially as it occurs in the sign of Scorpio, the sign of death, rebirth & dramatic change.
On the 14 the moon passes in front of Mercury between 9.30 & 10.12am, but will only be visible with a motorised telescope, due to it being daylight.
The 17 & 18th bring us the Leonids meteor shower, one of the best of the year with up to 40 meteors per hour.
The 28 produces a penumbral lunar eclipse as only the top half of the moon will be covered but it will be visible from the UK at 16.00 and will last just under an hour.
Here's to clear skies.

Welcoming the spring

Today is the Vernal Equinox - the first day of spring and the first time in the year when day and night are of equal length, but from this point forward until the Autumn Equinox we are journeying into the light.

This is the festival which celebrates the union between the God and the Goddess, between the strengthening sun and the awakening earth. It is a time of balance, of male and female energies binding together to bring forth a year of abundance and fertility.

Why not light a fire tonight or even a candle and welcome the return of the light as we spiral outwards into spring.

Read more 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers'.

Season of Fire

We are entering the last month of the season of fire before the mellower times of autumn come into play.

Fire comes to us in many forms during our earthly journey. From the power of the mighty sun, to the gentle flicker of a candle flame, from the explosive nature of the volcanoe to the warmth of a winter fire and from the fury of a lightning storm to the magical effect of fire through water which provides the beauty of a rainbow.

These last days of summer encourage us to weave our magic in connection with job offers, career, new projects, law making, or indeed anything which requires passion and commitment for fire denotes change and speeds its arrival.

Fire

In flickering flames I flirt, flambyant, fleeting, gone.

In lava lakes I lie, languid, lambent, waiting.

In boiling blood I bide, boundless, bellicose, fervent.

All taken from 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Elements'

The Most Powerful Time of the Year

Tomorrow (15 June: 21.13GMT), heralds the full moon, just a week away from the summer solstice when the sun is at full power. In addition, the moon is in Sagittarius a powerful fire sign and, as though this wasn't sufficient enough, there is also a lunar eclipse.

The moon will rise eclipsed at 21.13. By 22.34 it will be half over and will finish at 23.45. It will be visible over Europe, Africa, , Asia and Australia.

This time of year is traditionally used to make powerful magic regarding abundance in every sphere of life. With the Sagittarian element legal matters, education, travel, faith and philosophy are all highlighted for favourable outcomes.

The eclipse, from the Greek, 'eklepsis' meaning abandonment, due to tribal people feeling abandoned by the moon as it turned bloodied in the sky, brings changes on many levels, but weave your magic and influence those changed to work in your favour.

Eclipse Changes

What a potentially exciting month June promises to be! The New Moon came into being at 22.15 GMT last night which coincided with a partial solar eclipse and although the eclipse wasn't visible from the UK, its effects are still felt across the world.

Eclipses and solar ones in particular, always herald change and this time that change is going to be particularly noticable for those born under an air sign, namely; Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. The good news is, that as the eclipse forms a harmonious aspect to Saturn, which sits within the sign of Libra at the moment, then hopefully these changes will be positive ones for all concerned.

Other events this month which give us great topics of blog conversation include the full moon which also heralds a lunar eclipse and is visible from the UK, the summer solstice and the mid summer fires on the south west peninsular of Cornwall.

Enjoy the sun as He moves towards the height of his power in the northern hemisphere.

Winter Solstice Blessings

On this the shortest day of the year, the light of hope shines in the darkness and heralds a time of renewal and beginnings. The following is an extract from 'Mrs Darly's Pagan Whispers'.

'Leaving for work one morning just as it was getting light, a few days before Christmas, I could just make outthe silhouette of Mrs Darley sitting on her doorstep, wrapped cosily in a warm shawl. Thinking she was locked out, I asked if she needed any help.

She shook her head, "No thank you dear, I'm waiting."

"I see," I said, not wishing to ask for whom.

"I'm waiting for the sun," she said, answering my silent question. "This is one of the most momentous occasions of the northern hemisphere when the sun begins His journey back to full strength. Most people let it slip by without a word, without even knowing. You should stay a moment."

"I can't," I said, "I have an early meeting."

"So have I," said Mrs Darley, her eyes never wavering from the distant horizon.'

Solstice blessings.

Preparation

In the Christian calendar the period of Advent has begun. The word deriving from the Latin 'adventus', meaning 'arrival' and as such a period of preparation begins.

Sadly however, with so much emphasis on materialism, little thought is given to the true meaning of this period of preparation and people are more inclined to be buying food, presents and cards rather than giving consideration to any spiritual aspect.

If you follow the Pagan path, this is a time for rest. The Dark Mother withdraws her hand from the earth and all falls silent. Within the stillness however, we too can prepare. For it is here that the seeds of hope are sewn for new life whilst awaiting the return of the sun.

If you are forced to be still for a while, perhaps because of the early snowfall, enjoy this window of peace, for it offers you an opportunity to reassess your life path before the sun calls your soul to adventure.

The Element of Fire

'Fire is housed within the sun, without which the earth would not be able to sustain life in its present form. It manifests in erupting volcanoes, in lightning strikes and is necessary in order for a rainbow to be seen. It is the abode of the elemental salamander and brings us the comfort of the domestic fire and the flicker of the candle flame, bringing both warmth and light into our lives. We are warm blooded creatures and need fuel with which to produce energy and heat to survive, too little and we become weak and cold, too much and we can experience skin eruptions and fever. Inwardly and symbolically fire manifests as anger, passion, determination and intuition, encouraging us to blaze our own trail and set the world alight with the essence of who we are'

From 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Elements' by Carole Carlton

The Element of Air

'Air is essential to life; it is our very breath, it gives us space in which to move, it is the wind that kisses our cheek, it is Nike; the winged Goddess of Victory, it is the abode of the bird, the bee, the moth and the bat. It carries words of love, songs of joy and the sounds of nature. It brings us light from the sun and the first smell of sumer, whilst in the depths of our subconscious it symbolises the realm of thought, inspiration and imaginings. It is purified by the sylph elementals and carries the seeds of our dearest hopes and wildest dreams.'

From 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Elements' by Carole Carlton. See http://www.arcanus.co.uk/ for more details.

The Summer Solstice

Monday 21st of June at 12.28 marks the joyous occasion of the Summer Solstice, when the sun reaches the height of His power, showering the feminine earth with warmth in order that She might bring forth an abundant harvest.

Summer Solstice celebrations have their roots in Neolithic times, the importance of which is borne out by archaeological evidence of stone circles and tombs that are aligned to both the rising and setting of the sun at this powerful time of year.

The word 'solstice' simply means, 'the standing still of the sun' and, for a few days both at this time of year and around the winter solstice the sun does appear to remain stationary for a few days before a decrease in daylight becomes apparent.

The following is a poem which can be found in the summer solstice chapter of 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers' and which (with slight amendments), we attached to the floral wreath at my Mum's funeral earlier this year.

Fragrant rose,

Whose breath of scented laughter

Nourishes my soul

Whisper to me

That I may remember you

When the cold hand of winter touches my heart.