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Halo Quin

~ Author, storyteller, singer-songwriter, witch

Tag Archives: Welsh Magic

Welsh Occult Conference 2023

17 Wednesday May 2023

Posted by Haloquin in Events, Magic, Reflections

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Conference, Magic, Occult Conference, Orphic Hymns, Welsh Magic, Welsh Mythology, Welsh pagan, Welsh Witch, Witch

Click for the Welsh Occult Conference Facebook Group (image taken from there)

It is often said that paganism is the religion with homework, and occultists (like reconstructionists) take this to the next level. We are the people of the library!

I love a good conference, and the Welsh occult conference is excellent. Organised and hosted by Sian Sibley and the DragonOak coven, there are always a wide range of speakers and topics, so there’s something for everyone. This May we gathered in Welshpool and topics ranged from Welsh folk magic to the issues of studying non-materialist societies in anthropology to how pagans can walk our talk better.

I loved all of it and took copious notes, but highlights for me have got to be the marvellous Mhara Starling outlining Welsh influences on modern pagan witchcraft – a topic dear to my heart! It was lovely to hear Gwyn Ap Nudd, Ceridwen, Arhianrhod and Rhiannon spoken about alongside the Egyptian, Greek, and Italian threads at the conference… and how present they’ve been (in name at least) in the history of Wicca, neo-paganism, and traditional witchcraft. The gods find a way.

Sara Mastros was inspirational, which is a good sign when someone is discussing the Orphic mysteries.

And special mention to Jack Hunter for bringing in phenomenology – which was the underlying approach in my PhD.

I have an entire notebook full of notes, as usual, because it all feeds into magical practice, even when something seems unrelated at first glance. Like questions of whether the spelling matters when, as Andrew points out, one version of the charm using the magical word “SATOR” spelled is “SAFOR” – I wonder, did the mis-spelled charm work? In which case, is it intention, Will, or vibration that makes a difference in spellcrafting? Janis Fry’s talk on Yew trees reminded me of many lovely trips to hang out in the branches of these ancient beings, hearing their time-bending music. Robert Plimer is always fun to listen to, his excitement about the parallels between ancient and modern techniques is palpable, and Sian called us to task on walking our talk as pagans who claim to honour the earth, both inspiring questions of how to improve my magical practice. Finally, Cristina’s piece on Italian folklore, of course, made me think of faeries and the similarities and differences across cultures in dealings with the spirit realm… though as Jack Hunter said: how do we know which experiences are real?

To which I have only one question: well, first we must define “real”.

And that’s a key takeaway from this event for me, we are always grappling with how to practice our magic in a world which denies magic. In a world that expects conformity, a life that steps beyond the lines is always going to be standing in the in-between. We are of the earth, but how do we walk of this earth but not in the world that denies the reality of our lives?

It’s as simple as taking a breath, slipping between, caring for the land and the spirits, and remembering that the magic is here, in the material, just a blink away.

Audience at the Welsh occult con

I’m writing something more in depth for the Star Club blog which can be found here – and which is going out to my mailing list now. Join that here if you so desire.

Welsh Occult Con – 8th Oct ’23

The next Welsh Occult Conference will be in Cardiff on the 8th October – get your tickets here.

And if you want to learn to speak with enchanted voice, you can join me this Sunday 21st May for my class Words of Love and Blessing, for details:

Words of Love and Blessing Workshop
Banner: Re-enchant your life - Magic & Witchcraft - Learn real magic, explore Red Witchcraft, and dance with the old gods... Click here.

Equinox Blessings!

21 Sunday Mar 2021

Posted by Haloquin in Enchanted, Herbology, Reflections, Witchcraft 101

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Aberystwyth, Adventures, beauty, Blodeuwedd, Ceredigion, Change, Craft, cycles, Diary of an Adventuress, Druidry, earth, Enchantment, Faery, Garden, gratitude, growing things, Healing, Herbalism, Land, learn magic, learn witchcraft, Magic, Pagan, paganism, Plants, process, Roses, self acceptance, Self Care, Self Empowerment, summer, Wales, Welsh Magic, Welsh pagan, Witch, witchcraft

Happy Equinox!

As spring is here I’m thinking about the allotment I’ll be working on this summer, and that reminded me of my indoor plants and of course the thought train then got all metaphorical…

ID: Roses, back-lit in a window, next to a barely recovering mint plant.

People tell me that indoor roses are fussy and mint is impossible to kill… But roses were the first plant I managed to keep alive for more than a season, and this is the first potted mint plant that has recovered from meeting me… And trust me, I’ve tried many times!

Perhaps those of us that are “fussy”, “difficult”, “sensitive”, or “too much” are simply in the wrong environment… And the apparently hardy ones are mostly just getting more of what *they* need? I’ve heard it before, but it bears repeating…

Plants are tenacious, and so are we. But we all need different things. Look for your magic, your relationship with the world, your rhythm and home, in the places that make sense to you. Don’t treat yourself like mint if you’re a rose, or rose if you’re a mint.

But remember, either way, to breathe, rest, bathe in the growing sunlight, and drink your water!

I’m learning to do better with mint, at least. And I’ll be repotting both (separately!) soon.


(Oh, and there’s a meditation up for my Patreons for the Equinox – Spring or Autumn – use whenever you need a moment of calm before a change.)

NEW PODCAST!

31 Monday Aug 2020

Posted by Haloquin in Blue Hare Podcast, Following Delight, Stories, Storytelling

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Art, BlueHarePodcast, Legend, Magic, myth, Pagan, Podcast, Stories, Storytelling, Welsh Magic

Hello my lovely people!

I’ve been a busy bunny gathering stories and crafting gifts for you all and I’ve just completed episode one of the new Blue Hare Podcast! This will be audio adventures in storytelling, magic, and life with myself and featuring guests such as the musicians and street performers, the Brilliant Resiliant Safely Distant Damsels, archaeologist and bard, Will Rathouse, and storyteller and wise woman Milly Jackdaw.

You can listen to episode one here! Where I, your host Halo Quin, introduce the whole endeavour and share the legendary Welsh tale; The Birth of Taliesin. 

Come, join the adventure! https://anchor.fm/haloquin/

You can also support me via Patreon and get access to material early…

(And you can find the episodes on Spotify, Breaker, Google Podcasts and more… go check out the link to see allllll the options!)

Here’s wishing you all happy thoughts and pixie dust,

~Halo

(Living happily by the sea on the coast of West Wales, and very grateful for the magic and love in my life.)

 

Happy Solstice!

20 Saturday Jun 2020

Posted by Haloquin in Enchanted, Following Delight, Magic, Reflections

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Ceridwen, Community, Druidry, Fire Magic, Magic, Meditation, OBOD, Pagan, Patreon, Pride, Religion, Self Empowerment, Summer Solstice, Welsh Magic, witchcraft

I’ve just finished giving a talk based on my book, Gods and Goddesses of Wales, at an online moot for a group in South Wales, the sun is shimmering on the waters of the bay outside my window, and I’m filled with joy. I shared the tale of the Birth of Taliesin, about my philosophy for connecting with deities through stories, and about how we are our own authority in our relationships with the gods (just, y’know, don’t claim it is an independent truth if it’s a personal one!)

I’ve been so busy doing that I’ve not been updating here as much as I used to, but I’ve got some major projects in the works which I will share with you all very soon, so watch this space.

For today, however, I wanted to share a little meditation for the Solstice. Light a candle if you can, read the following, and then reflect. You can listen to the audio and sign up to support my work on Patreon here.

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.

To listen on Patreon, click here.

And Happy Pride Month. For those that are still in the closet-shadows, and those that stand in the light, may we all be safely seen and accepted for who we are.

In Delight,

~Halo

IMG_20190627_161811_879

You can order my book on Amazon, or through your local bookshop! 

(c) Halo Quin ~ author, storyteller, witch

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

The Enchanted Academy - learn real magic - click here

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