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 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.

The Principle of Vibration

Everything is energy and everything has a vibration regardless of whether it is perceived to be tangible such as an object or person, or whether it is more tenuous such as a thought or a deed.
The quality of our thoughts and deeds therefore affects our overall energy and the more positive our outlook, the higher our vibrational energy. As such we are only able to change the world around us by changing ourselves - such is the power of magic.

I despise, vibrations weaken. I complain, vibrations slow. I mistrust vibrations fall.
I am kind vibrations quicken. I give thanks, vibrations lift. I rejoice, vibrations rise.

From Mrs Darley's Pagan Paths to magick

Sacred Samhain

Tonight the veil is thin. Tonight we remember those who have gone before. Tonight the Goddess takes on a duel aspect, on the one hand She is the expectant mother who will give birth at the next festival of the Winter Solstice and on the other She is the Dark Mother - the Wise Woman. This is the Crone who asks us to journey within to explore our shadow selves and to give that aspect as much reverence as the sunnier side of our nature which is more often the aspect we portray to the world.
It matters not which face of the Goddess turns to face us, Her other aspects are always there and just because they may not be visible to the naked eye does not mean they fail to exist.

'In the marriage bed
Your Goddess lies,
Her youthful eyes
Still shine behind an ageing veil......'

From 'The Mermaid' - Mrs Darley's Pagan Whispers

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 Principle of Correspondence

The Hermetic Principles tell us that every level of being is governed by the same universal laws, 'As above, so below, as below, so above.'
Hence we are able to call upon the Gods from the higher realms to aid our magickal workings, just as we may use a crystal, or candle from the earth realm, thus a table of correspondences is invaluable for those who wish to craft their magick.
Read more: 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Paths to Magick'

The Priciples of Hermetics

The Principles of Hermetics are complex to understand & even harder to incorporate within our daily and magical lives.
Hermetics tell us that this world and indeed everything that is throughout time and space is a creation within the mind of 'The All' (God, The Divine, Goddess, The Light - call it what you will). Man also creates mentally, thus everything that we see on the earth plane other than that which is part of nature, began with a thought in the mind of man.
The newly released Mrs Darley book, 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Paths to Magick', investigates the seven Hermetic Principles in detail.