Summer solstice Fires

Here we are on one of the most powerful days of the year when the sun is at His height in the Northern hempisphere. This is the day for lighting fires whether in the garden, in the hearth or simply the light from a candle flame in order to symbolise the abundant power of the sun.

In the 14th century a monk wrote of three types of fire made on mid summer's Eve:

A bone fire which was made of clean bones and no wood, which was quite pungent and said to keep dragons at bay. Bone fire gave us the word 'bonfire'.

A wake fire made of clean wood which was used to 'wake' by or socialise.

A St John's fire made of clean wood and bones and is thought to be where the word 'singe' derives.

Enjoy making fire magic tonight to bring luck, fertility and abundance into your life.

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.

First quarter Moon

Today sees the first quarter moon in Virgo, a time of balance and equality especially in areas concerning employment, intellect, business and law.

This moon will rise around midday and set around midnight. It is now in the shape of a 'D' and many of the lunar seas become visible close to the straight line of the 'D'. These include the 'Sea of Serenity', closest to the top of the moon as we look at it, whilst adjoining it below is the 'Sea of Tranquility and below this is th 'Sea of Nectar'.

Luna

I am the nectar that sweetens your dreams. I am the rainbow that colours your tears. I am the cloud that carries the storm. I am knowledge. I am Goddess.

From 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

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.

Mrs Darley's Pagan Healing Wisdom - New Book Release

When we become ill, we search for a cure, but a cure only supresses the disorder; it fails to address the underlying cause. When we search for healing we are encouraged to look beyond the symptom, in oredr to explore the emotional, psychological and spiritual imbalances, which underpin the illness.

Following several periods of less than robust health, whilst living on the wild and remote Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, my enigmatic next door neighbour, the wise Mrs Darley, invited me to embark on a journey of healing through the five senses of touch, smell, taste, hearing and sight. It was a journey that not only made me view life and death in a different way, but also altered the way in which I intereacted with my body. It ultimately became a magical journey that changed my life and touched my soul.

'Mrs Darley's Pagan Healing Wisdom' is due for release on 21st June 2011 and can be pre ordered from Amazon using the following link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/mrs-darleys-pagan-healing-wisdom/dp/1902578767/ref=sr_1_4?ie=utf8&qid=1306345143&sr=8-4

Or go to http://www.arcanus.co.uk/ and click on the Amazon link

Morris Dancing

Morris dancers can be seen everywhere during the Celtic summer at various festivals throughout the British Isles. The Puritan writer, Philip Stubbs had something to say about the Morris dance, often referred to as 'the dance of the devil'.

'They bedeck themselves with scarves, strings and laces hanged all over with golde rings, precious stones and other jewels: This they tie abouteeither legge 20 or 40 belles with riche handkerchiefs in their handes and sometyme laide across their shoulders and necks, borrowed for the moste parte of their prettie Mopsies and lovying Bessies for busying them in the darke. These thyngs sette in order, they have their hobbie horses, dragons and other antiques, together with their bawdy pipers and thunderying drummers to sricke up the Devil's dance...'

The earlist records of Morris dancing date back to the 15th century with one school of thought saying that it originated from a court jester's dance whilst another states that it was a dance performed by Spanish Arabs, i.e the Moors, of which Morris is a derivative.

May Marriages

The month of May is traditionally thought to belong to the Goddess and as such any man who was brave enough to marry during the month was said to fall prey to the lust and power of a woman!

The Romans too considered May an unlucky month for a wedding, due to the celebration of their festival of 'Lemuralia', at which sacrifices were made to purge each house of hostile spirits and therefore marriages were not considered wholly appropriate.

With the coming of Christianity, May became the month of the Virgin Mary and was a time associated with chastity and purity, therefore not a time to celebate the nuptuals!

If, however you are celebrating a wedding this month, may the Goddess smile upon you and bring you love, healthand happiness.