Full Birch Moon & Penumbral eclipse

Tomorrow the moon is fat in the sign of Gemini and although we may misplace objects of importance, it is an auspicious time fore travel, buying, selling, learning and communication.
This full moon however sees a penumbral eclipse, ie a partial eclipse, where the top half of the moon will be obscured. If the skies are clear we should be able to see it as it will rise eclipsed at 4pm, but will have cleared around 5pm.
The word 'eclipse' derives from the Greek 'ekleipsis' meaning 'abandonment', for the ancients felt abandoned when the moon and the sun behaved in a strange way and would perform many strange rituals in order to 'bring it back'. The Masai tribes of Africa threw sand in the airwhilst the north American Injdians rattled pots and pans .
Eclipses have always been feared throughout history and in Shakspeare's Richard 11 we are told:
The pale-fac'd moon looks bloody on the earth,
And lean-look'd prphetswhisperfearful change..
These signs forerun the death orfall of kings'
Mrs Darley however looked upon the eclipse as a time when personal transformation and forward movement are experienced, as outlined in our lunar eclipse celebrations at the moonstone in 'Mrs Darley's Moon Mysteries.'
May this partial eclipse and its changes bring you more in line with your true self.

The Principle of Polarity

'Nothing is in a state of being, only in a state of becoming.'
The law of polarity tells us that everything is duel, everything has an opposite and yet opposites are in actual fact identical in nature and only differ by degree.
For example, quick is the opposite of slow, but at what point does quick become slow or slow become quick? Dark is the opposite of light, but at which point does one become the other? No-one can say, as it is up to the individual and their perception of quick and slow or dark and light.
In magick it is possible to transmute one state which is identical in nature into another e.g sickness into health or poverty into abundance by utilising the power of the mind and the ability to visualise one state metamorphosing into the other, whilst also of course acting in accord on the physical plane.
Read more 'Mrs Darley's Pagan Paths to Magick'

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'