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.

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'

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'

December New Moon

Today sees the birth of the Oak Moon in the sign of Sagittarius.
This moon completes the lunar cycle and to the Celts personified strength, stamina, life, death and rebirth, The oak was sacred to bothCeltic Druids, as many of their ceremonies were carried out in oak lined groves and also to the Roman God Jupiter.
The Oak moon wasan especially appropriate name for the December moon as the Winter Solstice was the time when the Oak King battled with the Holly King and defeated him, thus signifying the return of spring and summer.

Read more 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries'

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'

Samhain & the Full Blood Moon

The full blood moon graces our skies as Samhain approaches and for the Celts this signified a time of feasting, fires, honouring the ancestors & sacrifice.
The Gods were thought to draw near to the earth plane under this moon and kings would gather their tribes in order to make a human sacrifice to appease the Gods & keep everyone safe through the harsh winter to come. On occasions the sacrificial victim may be a beggar, whilsr on others an elderly king would give up his life.
Today gentler alternatives are preferred such as sacrificing a habit which no longer serves us or sacrificing the clothes which hang unworn in our wardrobes by giving them to a deserving cause. Afterall what better time to make new resolutions & clear out the clutter than at the beginning of the celtic new Year?
Read more 'Mrs Darley's pagan whispers'

The Blood Moon

October's new moon should now be visible in our skies just before sunset. This was the Celtic Blood Moon and was the time when the maternal qualities of the Goddess were honoured, including the gift of life itself. The Celts believed that the spirit of a person dwelt within the blood and as the harsh times approached, the Gods were called upon to strengthen the blood of the tribe.
This Blood Moon is in the sign of Libra - time for artistic activities, justice, partnerships, emotional balance, love, and diplomacy. May the Blood Moon strengthen your resolve and bring you peace of mind.
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'

Welcoming the Seed Moon

Today at 14.37GMT the Seed Moon emerges in the sign of Aries.

To the Celts this moon signified the planting time and the promise that the strengthening sun would nuture them and bring forth summer fruits.

Tonight is auspicious for magic rituals involving new beginnings and projects, especially with its Arian aspect as this heightens leadership, rebirth, willpower and general health and vitality.

May the Seed Moon bring you many blessings.

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 Storm Moon

The new crescent moon is now apparent in our evening skies and was known by the Celts as the storm or snow moon.
Although we may moan at a snow shower or the high winds, for the Celts, when food supplies were begining to run low, this time of year was still a far cry from spring. As such they would drum, chant and sing to appease the Gods and keep the cold weather and wild storms at bay.
Why not have a 'storm moon' celebration this week with plenty of drumming chanting and singing to appease the cold Gods of winter. 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 Oak Moon

The new crescent is now visible in the night sky. This is the Celtic Oak Moon which takes us up to and beyond the Winter Solstice. This was an appropriate name for the December moon as it was the time that the symbolic battle between the oak and the holly kings took place and the oak king won, signifying the return to the light.

Oak trees were sacred to the Celts as many of their religious ceremonies were carried out in oak lined groves. This Moon completed the Celtic lunar cycle and personified strength, stamina, life, death and rebirth.

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'

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.

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'