Enchantments

Imbolc treasures are opening!

England, February 2023.

Those pesky pixies are insisting on being included in my Samhain preparations, but they seem to be enjoying themselves so who am I to complain?

Samhain (along with Yule) is simultaneously the most observed and most ignored of all the stops on the wheel of the year. Halloween is a massive commercial entity and cultural touchstone, but that doesn’t mean it’s the same thing as Samhain. You can celebrate Halloween without celebrating Samhain (and vice versa) or of course you can celebrate both!

What if you want to add some simple ways to mark Samhain to your day, but you don’t know much about it? Read on for a couple of ideas…

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Look at the mystical shapes of the twisted oak and then look closer.

Aren’t the twisted limbs enchanting? No, that’s not what you need to see, look again, look closer still.

Can you see it now? You’re being seen too! Look closer still.

The wizened face of a tree spirit looks benignly upon you! You are blessed indeed to see such a thing!

There it is, deep wisdom in the eyes, deep lines in the face matching the deep lines of the bark. The tree spirit gazes upon you with love, will you do the same in return?

England, October 2022

I don’t write much about trans issues. Its not because they’re not of interest to me - they’re of deep existential interest to me because I’m a trans woman - but it is not often that they cross with the topics of this blog.

When they occasionally do, I’ll write about them.

So it is that I’m writing an open letter to the author and podcaster Sharon Blackie, after she made comments about transgender people in episode 13 of her podcast, This Mythic Life. Its an old episode, but I only very recently listened to it and it prompted me to write an open letter to Sharon in response.

I don’t expect anything to come of this or many people to see it, least of Sharon herself, but it was simply important to me to write it. You can read it below:

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Its been a riot of fungi this autumn, not content with appearing solo they’re getting together for social gatherings!

England, October 2022

Jupiter appears.

Moon disappears.

Faces emerge from the clouds.

Magic is real; look for it.

Entering the pathway of autumn.

England, September 2022

May your Mabon be filled with great and many seasonal blessings, full of mushrooms, apples, acorns and the autumn colours of the woods.

I’ve not been here as much as hoped, recently.

It’s my own fault, I found this enchanting place and started spending time there 🤣

Holly Blue Butterfly.

England, August 2022

Lammas light in the woods.

England, August 1st 2022

On the North side of the oak tree.

England, August 2022

The dappled light of high summer woods.

England, July 2022

Its the next stop on the wheel of the year, its time for Lughnasadh! Or is Lammas?

Actually, it’s both. Lughnasadh is the ancient gaelic name for this festival, Lammas is of anglo-saxon origin.

History

Lughnasadh literally means the commemoration of Lugh, the ancient Irish solar god of justice and skill. According to story, Lugh declared this day there should be a feast on this date to honour the goddess Tailtiu, who was Lugh’s foster mother. Tailtiu cleared the land of Ireland so that people could grow crops, but due to all of her exertions and work she died. Woman does all the work, festival gets named after the man and the woman is largely forgotten. I wonder where I’ve heard of that sort of thing happening before?

Lughnasadh is a time of feasting and games that still has echoes today on the Celtic fringe in the form of Highland Games, many of which happen at this time of year.

This same festival was known to the Anglo-Saxons as Hlaef Mass, which means “loaf mass” from which we get the modern iteration of Lammas. Not into Celtic gods who take all the credit? Then lets celebrate Lammas!

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