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'

Preparing for Winter Ills

With this beautiful autumn weather still warming our island, winter seems months away and yet we all realise that soon enough the cold will creep in, no doubt accompanied by coughs colds and flu.

The elderly and the vulnerable are offered the flu jab, whilst many of us wait until illness strikes before resorting to cold and flu remedies. This winter however, why not try to some good old fashioned remedies that won't harm your body, but which may help to prevent illness taking hold?

The number one remover of ills is the humble onion. Not only does it help build immunity (along with garlic) if eaten, but if cut in half and placed in a dish of water in each room in the house it absorbs germs and viruses in the air.

A bunch of rue hung over the doors and windows is also capable of purifying the air as will burning 3 drops each of juniper and tea tree essential oil in a little water.

For more information on healing Read 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Healing Wisdom'

Heavenly October

Another exciting month in the heavens is in store as the Orionids meteor shower explodes across the early morning skies after midnight on the 20/21st October. This is however a difficult shower to predict and may be visible any time between the 17 th and the 25th. It produces around 20 meteors per hour of yellow and green which often appear as fireballs.

Jupiter can be seen in the east from the 13th just below the moon as it sets, but on the 27th it reaches its closest point to earth, therefore through a telescope some of its largest moons may be visible.

It is a month which sees the end of British summertime as we move back to GMT and also one which heralds the end of the old Celtic Year at the festival of Samhain (Halloween) . This is a time to put to rest all that no longer serves us and one which offers us the opportunity to create a new and fertile space in which to live and thrive.