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Halo Quin

~ Author, storyteller, singer-songwriter, witch

Tag Archives: Stories

Creative Goal

17 Sunday May 2009

Posted by Haloquin in Art Craft and Beauty, Faery

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

beauty, challenge, Craft, Devotional, Faery, Feyhearted path, goal, inspirations, life, multimedia, musings, Stories, Tarot

Inspired by this post on Collage Diva I am setting myself a goal.

Tomorrow is my final exam, and this week is full of very important things* so I plan to start next week.

In this case… next week, I will be finally getting round to making that deck of cards based on the Fey that has been playing in my mind for the past few years. It will be created using a story as guidance. This is part of my FeyHearted project, and the cards are intended to be beautiful, an act of devotion and oracular. I also intend to write around each topic the cards are about, leading to much musing!

Step 1. Re-write story.

Step 2. Sketch designs.

Step 3. Start drawing/painting/collaging and writing.

Step 4. Scan and Print each card onto ATC size.

Step 5. Put cards into sleeves and play!

Step 6. Celebrate!!!

And, to keep me on track, I plan to share the process, stage by stage, here.

This is a Challenge for me… will you join me in choosing a creative challenge for yourself? Let me know in a comment so we can do this together!

*Like a job interview, birthday parties, end of degree tea parties, actually spending some time with my neglected sweetheart, organising graduation and living over the summer… and so on.

Faery light

06 Wednesday May 2009

Posted by Haloquin in Faery, Storytelling

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Heart, Philosophy, questions, Stories, Suggestions, Tools

Standing on the land as the sun rises, beneath your feet you feel a ripple, a gentle pulsing of warmth, growing stronger.

You listen, feeling the vibrations, watching the world become lighter.

You find yourself reminded of a giant heartbeat…

A distant heart in the heart of the world…

Can you feel it?

***********************************************************************

A few days ago I was with a beautiful group of people and, on the last day we were together, we walked across the land before breakfast for one last ritual. Our intention was to connect with the light of Faeryland, and to learn a way in which we could carry this light into the world. Inspired by R. J. Stewart‘s Exercise, The Rising Light Below, I led us all in a trance together as the light of the land rose within us.

Before I share the vision, first, a little theory:

I’ve come across theories on Faeryland, I’ve heard it called the place where nothing changes, the place where every rose is the essence of a rose, rather than a rose itself. R. J. Stewart describes it as though it were a blueprint for our world, and one which we have ignored in the execution of our lives. Instead of working in harmony with the world, we have separated ourselves off and isolated our selves.

I, then, propose that Faeryland and our human world were once the same, whole, together, connected. Over time, we humans learnt ways of manipulating the world around us, ways which got us great power very quickly, and before we realised the damage this would do, we had taken our toys and run off with them, leading to a separation between the land of the Fey, the magical, primal energies of the land, and the world we inhabit wherein we see each thing as an individual, as separate, to be used.

Our world became soulless, because we stopped seeing its heart.

The Faery world drifted away, because we could no longer see life as an interconnected web of beauty in the way we once did. This ‘once upon a time’ may, possibly, have been merely mythological, but given that I know from experience that we are capable of seeing the world as ensouled, and that life is so much better, for me at least, when I do, I figure it matters little whether this was a mythological once upon a time, or a literal one.

Faeryland, then, is the archetype of the world, its heart.

We are disconnected from the heart of the world, and so we see the world as merely something to be used up.

Using up the world, as we are becoming increasingly more aware, leads to pain, suffering, illness, death. Certainly we have had many short term gains, but our livestyles are unsustainable.

Perhaps, I feel, if we are able to remember the heart of the world, to heal the separation between the human world and the Faery world, to reunite body and soul, we may see how to live our lives in a way which does not destroy our beautiful planet, or our spirits.

And yes, I am aware that I have Western privilages, including internet access, and the like. This is one reason I know I need to learn this too.

And so, to the vision…

*********************************************

Go outside.

Feel your feet upon the land.

Feel the heart of the earth, beating.

Feel your heart, beating in time with the earth’s heart.

Feel the heart beat glow, warm and bright, deep within the land.

Feel the light begin to rise, come closer, grow bright.

Feel it flow up and up, the light of Faery within the land, coming close to our world.

Closer and closer.

Until they kiss.

And in the kiss the light flows up into your body and around you, up through your feet, legs, torso, and into your head.

Hold it here, feel it fill you, feel yourself becoming more attuned to the light of Faery.

And then, let it flow gently back down into the earth, leaving a shard of light in your heart.

Just a piece of light, however much or little you can hold easily.

Now let this light grow and feel it throughout your body.

This light in your heart is connected with the light in the land.

Listen, sense, feel.

What do the Fey have to tell you?

What small job do they have for you to do to help heal the separation between the worlds?

Wait until you know, something concrete, simple, doable, practical, precise.

Wait, holding the feeling of the light within you until there is something you can agree to, commit to.

And send an answer to the Fey, the Faery Queen, tell them that you agree to the task they have set you.

Accept, and bid them farewell.

Now let the light dim down to a level you are able to hold comfortably today.

Each morning you can check this light and see if it is at the right level for you, in that day.

If it is too bright, let it dim, and if too dim, let a little light flow from the earth up into your heart to strengthen it.

If ever it feels like you should not be carrying the light at all, or if it is too much to keep it, then let it all flow back into the earth.

Remember your commitment.

Move out into the world carrying the light with you.

Bring the world of Faery and the human world back together.

And remember, you are not alone, all around the world, others are working to heal the separation between the worlds also.

Faery Vision

03 Friday Apr 2009

Posted by Haloquin in Art Craft and Beauty, Faery

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Art Craft and Beauty, Devotional, Faery, inspirations, Magic, process, Stories

On the Spring Equinox I walked up to the edge of the woods near my home town and sat on the moss there.

In this liminal space I sang to the Fey, left offerings and asked the Faery Queen to open my senses to the Faery World.

“How,” I asked her, “how can I open to the Faery World, open to beauty and joy and the heart of things, myself?”

And I had the image of the little bottle from Alice in Wonderland with a label saying ‘Drink Me.’

Words followed the image;
“Open, drink the world in, breathe deep and let yourself see.”

And so I did.

The Journey

Some Words from True Thomas

02 Thursday Apr 2009

Posted by Haloquin in Faery, Storytelling

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Tags

Commitment, Honesty, Preparations, Stories, Suggestions, Tools

True Thomas followed the Faery Queen into Faery, and he returned again.

He has some wisdom for us, I recount it here:

Before we begin, True Thomas asks for a promise of truth.

This path requires honesty.

Can You commit to being as honest with yourself as you are able?

If you cannot, or will not, then no matter what this path can show you, you will not see it.

Take hold of a mirror and open your Faery senses, your gift from the Faery Queen. Look into your eyes, breath deeply, and ask yourself if you are ready to be completely honest with yourself. If not, ask how honest you are able to be with yourself. And then make a promise, to yourself, witnessed by True Thomas and the Faery Queen, to be as honest with yourself as you are able on this path.

The Next Step: Preparing to Turn the Sight on OurSelves

A Faery Walk

25 Wednesday Mar 2009

Posted by Haloquin in Faery, Storytelling

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Beginnings, Call, Faery, Journey, Stories, Suggestions, Tools

The day begins, the sun dawns, the light streams into the world. We have decided to make space for our heart, for faery, and in making this choice our heart has opened, just a little… but we’re unsure.

At work, at school, moving through the world we live our every day in, we find ourselves wondering just how we can see what belongs in our heart, and what can be left behind, or kept only as a useful mask or tool, to wear and use but not to become too attached to.

We remember the stories, the stories of faery.

We remember our childhood walks, the moments where, just on the edge of our vision, we would catch a glimpse of the Fey Ones, shining and soft, sharp and powerful, caring and dangerous and ever so wild, Oh! Always, ever so, ever so Wild!

And you realise… Who else could help us find our Wild Faery hearts but the ever-beautiful Queen of the Faeries?

The moment comes upon you, sneaks up on you, dances towards you silently like an invisible sacred temple dancer… the moment where you realise, you can hear her voice. Her voice, calling you. The Faery Queen. She remembers you. She wants you to come home. She waits for you.

It is your choice, now, she offers an invitation, will you answer?

**************************************************

Today, choose.

Will you follow the Faery Queen’s song?

Will you accept her invitation to see with Faery Vision, to see the untamed beauty of the world, to see to the heart of things?

Choose, and, as soon as you can, take a walk.

Breathe deeply as you walk, really feel your feet on the floor, really notice the world around you.

Breathe it all in.

Take a walk with the intention of opening to the fey.

Say with your footsteps; Faery Queen, I accept!

Search out somewhere that feels like magic, full of delight and a sense of wildness. I went to the edge of a forest, you might go to the top of a mountain, or to a fountain in the middle of your city, or maybe catch a train and watch the fields swish by.

Find somewhere that feels RIGHT.

And ask the Faery Queen to open your eyes, to wake you up.

Breathe deeply and let yourself open.

If you are unsure, or not ready, then accept this and promise yourself you will return when you are ready.

But if you breathe deep, truly ready, she will open your faery eyes, open your heart, and let you see.

All you need do is ask.

The Next Step: Some Words from True Thomas

Heart Space – Preparations

18 Wednesday Mar 2009

Posted by Haloquin in Faery

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Beginnings, Preparations, Stories, Suggestions, Tools

The alarm clock wakes us, we wait, for just a moment on the edge of sleep, warm and safe, dreams close by…

Our eyes open just a crack and the light seeps in, sunlight pouring through the chink in the curtains.

We realise, in that moment before we surrender to the reality that we must arise and wash and work and go about our day, that what would make this day more beautiful, more ours, is having a little space to let our hearts peek out, seep out into the world like the sunshine filters in. We decide, in that moment, to make space for our hearts in our lives.

***************************

If we want to know our true hearts, and to let them shine into the world, then we need to make space for them in our lives. One good way to do this is to find or make something plain (ish), but in a shape that warms your heart, and to then slowly decorate it and fill it with things representing what is in your heart.

I suggest you begin to look for this HeartSpace, some kind of container, a bag or a box maybe, which you can put things in and take things out of to remind yourself of what is in your heart.

Choose or design your Heart Space, this space for your heart in your life. Think of it, if you like, as an alter, a reminder and a way of honouring what you find on this path. Because your heart is always changing, the contents and perhaps decorations will be constantly shifting… but it should always reflect what you know of your heart.

I also recommend finding a small mirror (which you may, or may not, include or put into your HeartSpace) as this will be invaluable for future Play, and some kind of notebook or space which you can record your jounrey with. Think of it as a travel journal.

Personally I intend to make cards for each stage, and will share suggestions for this process as we go, so that I have a deck of cards, ever evolving, with which I can further explore what I discover.

The Next Step: A Faery Walk

Faery Queen – Completed

17 Tuesday Mar 2009

Posted by Haloquin in Art Craft and Beauty, Faery, Magic

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

angel, Art Craft and Beauty, Faery, Magic, Stories

She stands before you, old and young at once. She blows a kiss through her hands, cupped to hold your heart. She is the Faery Queen, and she calls to you.

Can you hear her calling?

17 Tuesday Mar 2009

Posted by Haloquin in Faery, Storytelling

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Beginnings, Call, Faery, Journey, Stories

Music calls you.

Gently, insistently, just beyond the edges of your hearing, beautiful music.

The softest voice whispers in your heart, saying, Now is The Time.

You catch yourself halfway out the door, your feet followed your heart before your mind realised there was a journey to take.

Grab your coat, pick up a mirror, and walk with me.

We go to find our hearts, we go to find the heart of faery.

The Next Step: Why?

Slow Down

22 Sunday Feb 2009

Posted by Haloquin in Art Craft and Beauty

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

angel, Art Craft and Beauty, Stories

Once in a while its worth remembering to just slow down.

The Dreamer

24 Saturday Jan 2009

Posted by Haloquin in Art Craft and Beauty

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

angel, Art Craft and Beauty, Stories

dreamerI am a dreamer. A dreamer I have always been. But what I have learnt, despite those that tell me I should stop and live in the ‘real world’, what I’ve learnt is that if I dream hard enough if I carry those dreams with me as I walk in the world, my dreams, they become real. My dreams become the real world. And the real world is that much more beautiful for it.

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(c) Halo Quin ~ author, storyteller, witch

Re-enchanting the world, one story, one song, one spell, at a time.

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