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Halo Quin

~ Author, storyteller, witch

Tag Archives: Suggestions

Brewing Magic

31 Sunday Jan 2016

Posted by Haloquin in Enchanted, Faery, Philosophy, Reflections

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Author, Beliefs, Enchantress, Faery, Fairy, Feyhearted path, Imperfection, musings, neo-paganism, Pagan, paganism, Philosophy, process, Suggestions, Theology

This last year I’ve been dancing and storytelling and studying more than I have been writing.

I’ve been brewing thoughts, and allowing them to percolate. There have been many challenges, and a whirlwind of changes: Two house moves, marriage, turning 30, publishing my book, learning to dance.

Pen and Ink - Dances with Trees

My love and I now live in our own caravan! It is a static caravan rather than a mobile home like I dreamed of, but I think it’s better for us. Wales is our home and it is good to have a foundation here. Roots. I’ve been putting down roots, I suppose, choosing where I stand. Reflecting on who I am and where I am.

In my book (Pagan Portals; Your Faery Magic) I talk about some of the thinking behind my beliefs, I philosophise on Faeries and the Feyhearted Path. This is only scratching the surface though! And for a while I’ve been pondering questions, like;

Who and what is The Faery Queen – how does She relate to deities, archetypes, spirits? How does she tie in with the many goddesses that hold the title Faery Queen? She isn’t an archetype, though “Faery Queen” is also an archetype… so what is She? How does she manifest throughout the year? Does she change or it is constant… and what does that mean for her nature?

Who and what is the Faery King? Am I just falling back on my early neo-Wiccan reading when I want to bring Him in too? (Most of the books I got hold of when young and just finding my way were neo-Wiccan, and many of the books I see now are heavily influenced by that, whilst it can be a very useful structure, I don’t want to force energies and beings into a pattern that doesn’t serve them, or me, so what patterns belong to them?) Or is there a good reason for bringing Him in explicitly? (Aside from the fact that he turns up! But just because they come, does that mean we should work together?)

How do these powers/beings/deities(?) relate to deities that share the titles which seems to be their names?

How does this Enchantressing path relate to the Craft? To Priestessing? What are the differences? How do they overlap? Are they all words for the same thing or distinct practices?

What is the purpose of what I do?

How does this honour the land? How does this help my community?

How does my work fit within historical practices and traditions? What is my “lineage”? I’m clearly deeply rooted in neo-pagan structures, practices and attitudes, but that isn’t the only influence. And what does it all mean?

Who and what are the Fae? How metaphorical are they? How metaphorical is our relationship to them? How do they relate to other spirits? Is Faery-work just a form of spirit-work?

And so on… Alongside continuing practice I’ve been mulling theory, and I’m feeling the urge to start sharing again. I make no promises on how much or how often I’ll post, but I hope that some of these questions are interesting to you, and perhaps you can take them and apply them to your own practices and beliefs for an interesting think! (If you enjoy that kind of thing… not everyone does!)

It being Imbolc over the next few days it feels good to be seeing the seedlings sprout and these questions begin to find the light of day. My Queen wears white now, as do many goddesses at this time of year, and she beckons for us to awaken to ourselves and dance among the snowdrops and hailstones as the light grows and the land begins to stir.

Back to working on my Thesis now…

 

Book Cover YFM

The new book!!! (Click to buy 🙂 )

Map Making Step 7 – Daily Practice

26 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by Haloquin in Enchanted, Magic

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Commitment, Devotion, Faery Queen, Feyhearted path, Living Life, Magic, reasons, Suggestions

Making Space and Time – Prioritising Enchantment

Since making my commitment I have lit a candle every day to honour the Queen of Faery and my chosen path. I have prayed for guidance on my path as an enchantress and made my first deliberate thought the intention to bring beauty, healing and delight to those around me.

Every time I do, I feel better. I feel the kiss of magic.

This is my second lesson;

Make space and time for enchantment.

After opening the day with a prayer to enchantment, over the following hours I find myself wondering what the most enchanting way of behaving in a situation is, how I can best embody ‘Enchantress’ in any given situation.

Often this happens after I’ve noticed myself being less than enchanting! Or when I’ve made an attempt but it was ignored, misunderstood or not noticed. When I berate myself for failure I feel worse, but when I recommit to my goals and make delight a priority I feel better in myself even when I don’t succeed in delighting anyone else.

My Third lesson, then;

Aim for enchantment, forgive yourself if you do not hit the moon!

Remembering – Faery light

16 Sunday Dec 2012

Posted by Haloquin in Faery, Storytelling

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Heart, Philosophy, questions, Stories, Suggestions, Tools

(Originally posted May 2009)

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 lifestyles 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 privileges, 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.

Revamp time!

06 Friday Jul 2012

Posted by Haloquin in Reflections

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

process, reasons, Suggestions

Hi folks!

I’m having one of my periodic site overhauls 🙂

The old set-up had a few features which I think made navigating this blog harder so I’ve chosen a new ‘theme’ which gives a better layout. Unfortunately it does mean retiring the old colour scheme and the beautiful banner which Simon created for me… but I’m sure it’ll be back!

So, what do you think? The two main features are less sidebars taking up page width on the blog page  – so hopefully posts will be easier to read and everything can always be found in the one sidebar – and the blog posts now nestle underneath each other so, if you wish, you can just keep reading.   I feel it makes it sleeker and easier to navigate – and I really like the font and simple colour-scheme!

Any feedback on what you like, what you miss or what you’d like to see to help you find your way around would be most welcome!

Happy Thoughts,

~Halo x

Creating with Care

07 Monday May 2012

Posted by Haloquin in Art Craft and Beauty, Creative Process

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Art Craft and Beauty, Commitment, musings, Philosophy, reasons, Suggestions

Recently I stumbled across a very shiny project called Create With Care.

It was about looking at our art-making practices and challenging ourselves to clean up our acts… our creativity is often inspired by the natural world, our lives depend upon it and our very materials come from the earth. Without  big ol’ Mother Nature we creative folk (and that’s all of us) would be in very dire straits indeed!

I wandered into the party a little late (as usual!) and was just in time to send in some afterthoughts on why exactly we should strive to be aware of what we do – especially when we’re being creative – which Yaga kindly published… and I was inspired to put together a mini-workbook on the topic too. Sign up to my newsletter to get it when it appears!

My thoughts on the topic ran like this…

Our world is built on technology which has grown through a belief that the world is here for us to use as we wish. This belief has lead to clear-cutting of forests, polluted skies, oceans of plastic, extinction and genocide. As folk who are inspired by nature, who are connected to the most fundamental and natural human instinct after survival – creation – we can see how clearly this disconnection has cost us and we can show the world. We are capable of inspiring others to care for and protect and respect the world around us. This respect is what might, ultimately, save us and the land we live on.

If we are to do this, however, don’t we need to do our best to take this respect into the very practices that we love so much?

Read the rest over at Shiny Bubbles!

Letting go in the Process

23 Saturday Apr 2011

Posted by Haloquin in All Posts, Art Craft and Beauty, Creative Process, Magic

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Art Craft and Beauty, Beginnings, creativity, Heart, Honesty, Imperfection, inspirations, Journey, Magic, musings, Passion, Play, process, reasons, Strangeness of Life, Suggestions

Passion

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.

Continue reading →

Pearl Pentacle – In Closing

21 Thursday Apr 2011

Posted by Haloquin in All Posts, Magic, Pentacles

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Completion, Feri, Iron Pentacle, Living Life, Magic, musings, Pearl Pentacle, Reclaiming, Suggestions, Tools

Iron and Pearl together...

“That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above, corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing”

~ The Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus

Life: A balance of self in community.

Iron: The foundation of living.

Pearl: The levels of connection.

Working with these energies can uncover blocks within yourself, polish smooth the rough edges and bring some more rust to the surface to be cleaned away. If we work to heal ourselves, we are working to heal a part of the world. In healing ourselves we heal our community, our relationships, our lives, the world.

Continue reading →

Pearl Pentacle – Wisdom

11 Monday Apr 2011

Posted by Haloquin in All Posts, Magic, Pentacles

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Art Craft and Beauty, challenge, choice, Devotional, Heart, inspirations, Iron Pentacle, Journey, Living Life, Magic, musings, Pearl Pentacle, Suggestions, Tools

Pearl Pentacle - Wisdom

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.

Magical Groundwork – Earth Below

06 Wednesday Apr 2011

Posted by Haloquin in All Posts, Magic

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Beginnings, Commitment, Devotional, Energy, Faery, Grounding, Heart, Honesty, Magic, Meditation, musings, reasons, Strangeness of Life, Suggestions, Tools, Visualisation, World Tree

Being pagan and loving the earth, its worth making sure you’re connected to it before any kind of magical act… as embodied beings we are made of earth, we walk upon her, we eat what grows on her, and we will one day be buried in her.

Being human, its worth making sure you’re connected to the earth!

Continue reading →

Pearl Pentacle – Liberty

04 Monday Apr 2011

Posted by Haloquin in All Posts, Magic, Pentacles

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Iron Pentacle, Journalling, Journey, Living Life, Magic, musings, Pearl Pentacle, Philosophy, project, Reclaiming, Strangeness of Life, Suggestions, Tools

Pearl - Liberty Painting

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.

 

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Meet Halo

Halo - pale femme face grinning directly at camera with dark hair and glasses, with peacock tail pattern behind.
Welcome to my world!

Halo Quin is an author, a storyteller, and a practicing witch with a lifelong relationship with the spirit realm who aims to share magic through experience. Halo lives in wild West Wales, right by the roiling sea, and loves to sing, dance, and otherwise enchant through performance. She also runs the Crimson Coven Collective, and ultimately encourages self-knowledge, self-acceptance, self-healing, and self-enchantment through everything she does... leading to:

Beauty ~ Magic ~ Delight

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

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NSFW – Twisted

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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