23 Saturday Apr 2011
Posted in All Posts, Art Craft and Beauty, Creative Process, Magic
Tags
Art Craft and Beauty, Beginnings, creativity, Heart, Honesty, Imperfection, inspirations, Journey, Magic, musings, Passion, Play, process, reasons, Strangeness of Life, Suggestions
How play helped me to release perfectionism and be happier with my art!
I’m an artist! Yay!
I make pictures and share them with people…
And I get sad that they are never quite what was in my head.
11 Monday Apr 2011
Tags
Art Craft and Beauty, challenge, choice, Devotional, Heart, inspirations, Iron Pentacle, Journey, Living Life, Magic, musings, Pearl Pentacle, Suggestions, Tools
Wisdom
When we are free, what will we do?
When we stand in our passion, what will we choose?
With all the choices of the world before us, to what do we say yes, and no?
A deep understanding of the flow of our feelings, our passions, our emotions and our loves, leads us to something precious… Wisdom.
There is a time for yes, and a time for no.
A time to dance, and a time to sleep.
A time to reach out, and a time to curl up small.
These moments, these choices, are not dictated by the outside world or by our intellect; they are the choices of our hearts.
Are you living the life that feels right to you?
Are you making the choices that are true to your heart as well as your thoughts and words?
Are you saying yes when you choose to, and no when you need to?
What would life look like if the answer to these questions was ‘Yes!’?
I am passionate about many things, things that feed my heart and soul, things that flash a grin upon my face and draw me out to dance in the sunshine with joy. And sometimes I say no to them, through fear, or the life I’ve crafted which isn’t quite right, or some other choice I make that isn’t in tune with my heart but makes sense elsewise… but when I say yes, my world is set alight, my heart blazes and I fly.
What makes you fly?
What do you need to do to craft your life into something that allows you the space you need to light up your world?
When do you need to say yes, and when, no?
This is the sixth post of seven on the Pearl Pentacle, part of my Pentacles series, which started with the Iron Pentacle. I’ll be posting on the points of the Pearl Pentacle for the next few Magical Mondays.
04 Monday Apr 2011
Tags
Iron Pentacle, Journalling, Journey, Living Life, Magic, musings, Pearl Pentacle, Philosophy, project, Reclaiming, Strangeness of Life, Suggestions, Tools
Choose your limits
Everything that you do requires power. Power is the ability to make things happen.~ Hiro Boga
And when you claim your power to make things happen, you gain liberty…
Standing strong in yourself, with power in your heart, you see the way open before your eyes.
You know you are capable of choice, of action, and your ability to choose your path means you are free, free to choose your own responsibilities, free to be yourself, free to choose when to say yes and when to say no.
When you claim your power for yourself, you are at liberty to decide to manifest your own destiny, or not.
When liberty rises, you choose.
And there are limitations, we are not infinite beings, we are embodied, we are finite, we are living with limitations and obligations…
But these do not change the fact that we are free to choose how we respond to them, how we live within them.
That the world is only so big does not mean we are not free, it only means that we have only a certain amount of land to walk upon… and we are free to choose whether we start walking, or whether we stay put.
You have the power to choose your own path, you are free to walk the way you choose.
The path may only be two feet wide, but you choose to look up as you walk, or down at your feet, or to sit by the side and refuse to move at all.
Claim your power, your ability to act and choose within whatever limits may exist, and feel the freedom that rises within.
As Epictetus, a Greek Philosopher and slave, insisted, there are certain things we do not have control over, but in those areas where we do, we are free. As such, even he, a slave, felt himself to be free.
Liberty is possible when we accept our own power, and where we are powerless, and we then begin to choose.
What do you choose?
This is the fifth post of seven on the Pearl Pentacle, part of my Pentacles series, which started with the Iron Pentacle. I’ll be posting on the points of the Pearl Pentacle for the next few Magical Mondays.
28 Monday Mar 2011
Posted in All Posts, Magic, Pentacles, Reflections
Tags
Art Craft and Beauty, choice, Commitment, Heart, Honesty, Imperfection, inspirations, Intent, Iron Pentacle, Journalling, Journey, learning, Living Life, Magic, musings, Philosophy, Suggestions, Tools
Knowing
What do I know?
What are my skills?
What have I learned in my time incarnated?
We all know something so well we forget others may not understand it.
We all have skills we have learnt to help us survive.
When we begin to know ourselves, we begin to know what we know… Who we are includes our skills and knowledge, and who we are is expressed through that which we have invested much energy learning about. We are, in the world, what we do; our actions are a true reflection of what and who we are… Even when we wish we were different.
What do you know?
How do you express that knowledge?
When you act from what you know you express that part of yourself in the world. Only you can share that knowledge, those skills, that understanding in that way.
Know what you know, and know how you express your knowledge, and you will know who you are… And, perhaps, what you need to change in your expression in order to become the best you that you can be.
Know your self.
Know your skills.
Know your role in your world…
06 Sunday Mar 2011
Posted in All Posts, Art Craft and Beauty, Faery, Following Delight
Tags
Art Craft and Beauty, Commitment, Completion, creativity, Devotional, Faery, Faery Queen, Feyhearted path, gratitude, Heart, Intent, Journey, Living Life, Magic, project, Strangeness of Life
The Faery Heart
I am delighted to announce:
My book has been accepted by a publisher!!!
A lovely German publisher has decided to take on The Faery Heart, and to publish it in a German translation with new illustrations by a gorgeous artist.
Celebration time!!! 🙂
It’ll be out, at the very earliest, late spring next year… so, in the meantime:
The original, English, version is up on Lulu!
Complete with my own illustrations.
Have a printed copy sent to your door, or download a digital version to read right away.
I feel like I’m flying 🙂
Happy thoughts to you all!!!
19 Saturday Feb 2011
Posted in All Posts, Following Delight, Magic, Reflections
Tags
Art Craft and Beauty, creativity, Devotion, Feyhearted path, Heart, Honesty, Journey, Living Life, Magic, musings, reasons, Strangeness of Life
Recently I’ve been using the label enchantress/enchanter to refer to myself, and the Pixie Kiss project is all about enchantment, so perhaps it is time to elucidate what I mean by this!
What is an Enchanter?
An enchanter enchants; makes something enchanted; spreads enchantment.
Enchantment implies wonder, delight, beauty, joy and magic… and also: seeing what is not there. I grew up being accused of watching things that weren’t there, things which include faeries, magic, wonder and spirit, according to the greyer parts of our overculture. Anything beyond the material realm is not really there…
The glimpses I’ve had of that grey world, devoid of spirit, life, and wonder, are terrible things. Its no real wonder that depression and numbness are strong currencies in the world! The more I see of the world, the more I come to see how this greyness permeates so many lives, and how much this harms people. Disconnection,* that which prevents a life lived fully, comes from disillusionment, disenchantment, distrust and disinterest in the world around us, so let us reconnect, re-enchant and re-invigorate our lives!
If being enchanted allows us to see past the cold hard facts of a world disconnected from its heart, then perhaps seeing what is normally unseen is the key to feeling the warm feelings of love and joy and delight, and being enchanted will fill us with wonder which we can then share!
For me, to be enchanted is to walk in a state of delighted wonder at the magic in the world. Not ignoring the problems, but choosing how we engage with the world and our lives. To be enchanted is to see the beauty of life, and to enchant others is to encourage beauty and delight in the world. Facing the truth is important, and I certainly don’t advocate ignoring pain and betrayal, in the world at large or our personal lives. However, acknowledging the hurt and harm happening and done, doing what you can to help, and not wallowing in the pain but choosing to heal and move on is more helpful than falling into misery.** Recognising that there is wonder in the world even when everything hurts can help us to get through the pain and keep motivated to help to heal the parts of the world we can.
Enchantment does not blind us to the bad, but it does help us see the good. It does not numb us, but it does open us to living more fully. Enchantment is not a way of hiding, it is a way of seeing and choosing where our focus, and therefore our energies, go.
This is what it means to be an Enchanter; to be enchanted by life, and to help others, wherever possible, to be enchanted too.
*Pace and Kyeli have written a marvelous document on why disconnection is the root of all the ills in the world, you can check it out here: The Connection Manifesto.
** Easier said than done sometimes, so there is help out there if you are sinking rather than swimming. For those times, ask for help. Acknowledging the beauty in the world includes acknowledging that there are many people out there who can and will help you… and remembering that we can ask for help.
21 Friday Jan 2011
Posted in All Posts, Art Craft and Beauty, Faery
Tags
creativity, Faery, Feyhearted path, Heart, Intent, Journey, Living Life, Magic, Strangeness of Life, Suggestions
This is the eighth post in a series of suggestions for re-enchanting your life, one pixie kiss at a time. The introduction is here, and you can watch the path unfold here.
This week, take your camera for a walk.
Pick a day when you have an hour or two to wander and go for a walk. In the Northern Hemisphere it is still cold this time of year, so respect the powers of Jack Frost and wrap up warm… and go out anyway.
Look around you.
Breathe in the beauty of the world.
12 Wednesday Jan 2011
Posted in All Posts, Creative Process
Tags
challenge, choice, Commitment, Completion, creativity, Determination, Devotion, Heart, Honesty, Imperfection, Intent, Journey, life, Living Life, process, reasons, Strangeness of Life
Its a strange feeling, being between lives.
I’ve a good sense of who I am and what I want… its just making that choice, stepping, with both feet at once (a leap, really) into the future I’ve turned towards. It looks like I’ve chosen, but I’m not quite committed, not yet.
I’ve burned the bridge back, amicably but definitely.
I’ve been given, handed on a silver platter, an opportunity to make the transition easily, and it still feels so hard because I’m scared.
What if? What if?
I’m deep-down-in-my-very-core terrified. And I know its this way or nothing. It feels so right. I’m scared and certain, at the same time. Fear and desire, those dancing twins.
From the tension, as Thorn has taught me, can be born a new thing, a third thing, a proud thing. I can make a choice, and raise the new-born peacock high.
What am I choosing? What have I turned my caravan* towards?
I’ve chosen to move back to the green hills of Wales (though I’ve kept my job in England as a safety net), I’ve chosen to start writing more seriously, both academically and magically (see the Feyhearted blog for a weekly project which has been weekly for 6 weeks, and is scheduled to be weekly for another 2 weeks already. I’m not only continuing a project, I am actually ahead of deadline! Go me!). I’ve chosen to do what will make me happy, rather than follow the trail of shoulds that have been threatening for a year.
I successfully buried an important thing there. Something I don’t really belive but, look! See all the times I do it! I appear to be becoming a…
Writer.
Artist I get. Witch I get. Academic, student, dreamer… all things I’ve long accepted. I still ignore the label ‘writer’. Its important to me. I write all the time. More than I make art. And I have trouble with it. Despite having written a book. Having written many short stories. Having kept a sporadic blog (or 5) for years. Having written essays and dissertations… and having enjoyed the process.
So yes, I’ve chosen to be a writer. Among other things. Since, if you don’t do/know/love other things, what do you write about?!
There are other ways, other commitments I am in the process of making, like actually releasing my old home and becoming present in my new home. This one feels key though… I find, strangely, that I love to write, I long to.
A writer.
Right.
*Caravan. Yep. Havi is a pirate queen, Eileen has a sailboat. I like stability, I like having a home, I like freedom and colour. I have a gypsy caravan. I might talk more about this later. I might not. We’ll see.
28 Thursday Oct 2010
Posted in Following Delight, Magic
Tags
Fears, growing things, Iron Pentacle, Journey, learning, Living Life, Otherworlds, process, Reality, Strangeness of Life, Teaching, Workshop
My dear friend and I are running an Iron Pentacle Workshop next February… below is the announcement we’ve sent out.
I’ve personally been working with this tool for a good few years now, and I’m still uncovering fascinating discoveries everytime I muse on it. Running this workshop, from organising to actually teaching it is going to be a real challenge for me, one that I am looking forward to with great excitement.
I’d love to hear your experiences of taking something you’ve been learning to the next level… for me, on the Iron Pentacle, this is introducing others to it. For you it might be performing an instrument you’ve been learning in front of an audience, or speaking a language you’ve been studying in its own country… whatever it is, we take these steps, where we’ve worked on something for long enough that we’re ready to expand. And its scary. And thrilling.
I’m excited, I’d love for you to join us. And I’d love to hear your experiences in similar situations… here is the announcement, and I hope you’ll join me in the comments below…
We would like to invite you to join us for a weekend intensive on the Iron
Pentacle in Glastonbury on 4th-6th February 2011 With Raven Edgewalker and Halo
The Iron Pentacle is one of the core Reclaiming and Feri tools for
self-transformation.
It’s points – Sex, Self, Passion, Pride and Power are our birthright as free
human beings. Through our work with the Iron Pentacle we can learn to claim
these and integrate them into our lives. This workshop offers an intensive
introduction to the Iron Pentacle, and the work of integration is the work of a
lifetime. During this workshop we will use ritual, trance, energy work,
self-awareness, communication and group-work to work on areas where growth and
balance are required and learn tools to take this work out into your daily
lives.
This workshop is an intermediate workshop, Iron pentacle work can be challenging
and we will not be spending time teaching basic magical skills. It is open to
anyone who has taken one or more reclaiming core class, workshop or camp or who
has equivalent experience in other traditions. If you would like more
information or to request a registration form please contact Raven at
greenwomancrafts@gmail.com or Halo at craftyhalo@gmail.com
We will start work on 6pm on Friday with Ritual and will close on Sunday at 4pm
Cost: Sliding scale £80 – £120 a £40 non-refundable deposit it required to hold
your place with the balance being due on 10th January 2011. We anticipate this
workshop filling to capacity.
This is a non-residential workshop. For people coming from afar there are a wide
range of accommodation options in and around the Glastonbury area. Some useful
links will be sent out with the registration form.
We invite you to bring vegetarian food to share, there are also many cafes and
restaurants close to the venue.
Location: Glastonbury, Somerset – address and directions will be given on
receipt of deposit.
Teachers
Raven Edgewalker
Raven, is a British Witch who has been teaching in the Reclaiming tradition for
over ten years, she is an initiate in both the Reclaiming and Anderson Feri
traditions. She loves to travel and has been honored to have taught classes,
workshops and WitchCamps in the UK, Germany, US, Finland and Israel. Raven is
a self-employed artist and crafts-person, a teacher, jack-of-all-trades, a poet,
writer and recovering academic. She has a deep love of the natural world and
works closely with the land and the magic of connections. Raven believes that
the most important tool she can share as a teacher is that of personal practice
– a practice will flow through daily life and connect and reconnect us to the
divine with each breath.
Halo
Is Fascinated by the Fey and dreams of delight. An artist, philosopher and
Witch, Halo is enchanted by the world and committed to filling it with beauty
and joy wherever possible. To this end she turns her gaze towards magic,
questions whatever she can find, and invites you to join her in weaving a witchy
web of wonder!
26 Monday Jul 2010
Posted in Faery
I have been quiet in the world of pixels for a while now because I have been focussing on getting the manuscript and illustrations together for a FaeryHearted book, about finding your own Faery Heart, what it is, and why you might like to… the minimal response to the idea of a FeyHearted Zine at this point suggested that it would be best to focus on one FeyHearted project, rather than splitting between two! Perhaps a Zine is somewhere in the future…
I went on a retreat where I journeyed with others to the four celtic cities, in the four directions, and found myself subtly transformed.
I’ve also been reading The Tree of Enchantment by Orion Foxwood and Fairies and Fairy stories A History – by Dianne Purkiss, and I plan to write about what I’ve been learning about the realm of the Fey over the past few months. I’ve been thinking about the connections between the ancestors, the gods and the fey, and about where the Faery Path fits in on my personal journey.
I’ve a lot I’d like to share here, its just finding a place to start… how do you word something experienced wordlessly? How do you pull the thoughts milling around your mind from a period of time and lay them out for others to see? How do you organise a mixture of theoretical, practical and magical moments into somethign shareable?
We’ll see. It’ll certainly be an adventure!
Halo Quin 