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Halo's Journal

~ Enchantment, Philosophy & Fairies – Magic and the mundane, kissing.

Halo's Journal

Category Archives: Starlore

Solstice Meditation

21 Monday Dec 2020

Posted by Haloquin in Magic, Meditation, Starlore

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Festival, learn witchcraft, Magic, Meditation, Pagan, Solstice, Summer Solstice, Wheel of the Year, Winter Solstice, Witch, witchcraft

Happy Solstice!

This summer I recorded a little impromptu meditation for my Patreon, inspired by the Solstice Sun and designed to work at both the Summer and Winter Solstice.

Feel free to listen and enjoy here.

If you’d like to support me in making more material please do sign up to Patreon if you can, it really does help. I intend to share most things for free, though Patrons often get early access, and I’ll be making bonus things (like readings, previews, and opportunities to choose topics) as this channel grows.

I hope you enjoy this meditation, and please, feel free to share it with anyone you think who might benefit from it today.

Now, I invite you to light a candle, get comfortable, and hit play.

Transcript:

Today is the Solstice, where the sun stands still in the sky. In the Northern hemisphere we are bathed in light, and we can feel the sun strengthening our spirits. In the Southern Hemisphere it is the longest night, where the stars are held in the deep dark sky. There is a saying that every flame is part of the same fire, from the flame in your candle to the fire of the sun and the stars, so we are all connected in community together through the flame and the light. 

The light casts a shadow, it illuminates and it obscures. In the darkness is the potential of all that could be, it is the belly of Ceridwen’s cauldron and the darkness of the fertile soil. We stand, bathed in light, whilst the world turns to head back into the darkness of potential and dreams. Even at the greatest point of light, darkness is, just as at the points of most darkness, light resides. 

Place your hand on your heart and feel the sunlight fill it with golden light. Let that light grow with each breath. Spend some time reflecting on who you are when you are your biggest, brightest self. When do you feel most fully who you are in all your glory? When do you feel strongest, most powerful, most alive? Breathe in that feeling. Hold that feeling for a moment as you let yourself relax into this space. Feel the light of the sun filling your heart holding the light of your brightest self. Know that at any point you feel like you are struggling and the world is darkening, you can place your hand over your heart and remember this light, remember your strongest self. This is always a part of you, no matter what, so you can let it guide you through any darkness you encounter ahead.

Happy Solstice, lovely folk.

In Delight,

~ Halo

Originally posted on Patreon. Thank you to my Patrons for your support! If you like what I write then please do consider supporting me as a Patron here. Your support means I can write more for you! And you get the posts early… *tempts*

You can also tip me via ko-fi, it all helps!

You can also Follow the blog, Share this post, and find me on Twitter to join in the conversation for free!

How’re you all doing this Solstice? How does the changing of the sun change the rhythms of your life? Do drop a comment below.

(Comments are moderated for spam so may take a day or two to appear.)

Treelore: Silver Birch

20 Friday Nov 2020

Posted by Haloquin in Herbology, Magic, Poetry, Starlore, Stories, Treelore

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Bardic, Birch, Druidry, learn witchcraft, Magic, OBOD, ogham, Ovate, poem, story, Treelore, Witch, witchcraft

birch leaves in sunlight
 Ghostlike,
 we begin.
 Skin stretched paper-thin,
 act two nears its end.
 A Wisp carried us here,
 a wind-wish winding 
 ever onwards,
 blown by whispered promises,
 secrets, 
 declarations
 of love and longing.
 We settled.
 Our roots are deep enough,
 nestling in blown soil,
 but leaves turn 
 and winter carries our wishes far from here. 
                                                                                                         ~ By Haloquin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Silver Birch, the tree of beginnings. First sign of the forest, carried by the wind, bright bark peeling and waiting for wishes to be inked on its curls. White lady watching over the keys to the otherworld, she keeps her counsel. Her footsteps across the threshold lead the way into lands beyond the everyday, wherever we wish to go, she has been there before. Her delicate fingers point the way, gusts whipping her pale green shawl about her shoulders as she turns back to her current craft, carving a love spoon to stir fresh flying ointment, bubbling over the bright fire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Latin Name: Betula pendula

Edible: (In moderation) Sap can be made into syrup/wine, full of vitamins and minerals. Steep leaves in apple cider vinegar for a few weeks to extract nutrients. Buds are high in vitamin C.

Herbal Properties: Anti-inflammatory, astringent, laxative/stimulates digestive system, diuretic. Buds are antibiotic and diuretic. Steep leaves in water to make an astringent skin wash. 

Contraindications: Contains methyl salicylate, as in aspirin. Avoid if allergic to aspirin, using medications containing aspirin or blood thinning meds, if elderly, or have blood related issues. Use with caution if pregnant or nursing.

Magical Properties: Linked to the Norse rune Berkana and the Ogham letter Beith, beginnings, renewal, courage. Psychic protection from spirits or on (astral) journeys. Resilience. Love and fertility, particularly inception. 

Historical Notes: Once used to flavour chewing gum and soft drinks! 

Practical Properties: Pale wood, used in handicrafts, furniture making and to make paper, good kindling/tinder. Used to make besom brooms. Resin makes a waterproof glue. It grows fast, spread by the wind, and is a pioneer species, often one of the earliest trees to grow in an area, and one of the first to leaf in spring… A hardy tree, even though it appears fragile.

Clues for Identification: White birch that peels like paper in young trees, catkins in spring, small, smooth, triangular leaves with serrated edges, visually delicate branches. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Please consult a qualified herbalist if using medicinally, this information is shared for inspirational purposes only!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Originally posted on Patreon. Thank you to my Patrons for your support! If you like what I write then please do consider supporting me as a Patron here. Your support means I can write more for you! And you get the posts early… *tempts*

You can also tip me via ko-fi, it all helps!

You can also Follow the blog, Share this post, and find me on Twitter to join in the conversation for free!

Over to you in the comments. Please share your tales of Silver Birch… your memories and imaginings… I’d love to hear them.

(Comments are moderated for spam so may take a day or two to appear.)

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Gods and Goddesses of Wales

IMG_20190627_161811_879

Pagan Portals: Gods and Goddesses of Wales – a practical introduction to the deities of Wales through their stories. Out Now!

A Faery Text


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And for the over 18s… My alter-ego, Ms Quin, writes erotica, kinky poetry, on sacred sexuality and the like. You can explore some of Her writings and poetry readings, and find her sexy book of poetry via links at Twisted Ms Quin.

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