The Land Awakes

Sun Shines Through Winter Skeletons

So, here we are again, approaching Imbolc - the wheel turns and we welcome the returning light, the land warms, days grow longer and life begins to fight through the dark earth.
I noticed the days were tangibly longer a few weeks ago, the rays of the sun regaining their power, shining with more confidence as I took this photo around the lake at Scotney Castle.
Seemingly against all the odds, grass, leaves and buds of bright, lush emerald return to the land contrasting against the bitter deep greens of the winter foliage. Dead brown leaves and stalks slowly being over taken by fresh

New Life and Decay - Side By Side

new growth, as Bridie the Maiden takes her rightful place beside her Grandmother the Wise Woman and Crone and then walks us into her youthful light and energy. 
My drive to work is noticeably lighter, the cold night's harsh frosts are defeated by the earlier sun and it's growing warmth. The snow seems to be a fading memory.
I've been super full of energy this week, swimming every morning before work, buzzing with ideas and cracking on with all sorts of projects, gleefully thinking to myself that hurrah Spring is here, full of Maiden energy. Until I wake up with proper and actual Man Flu ( No Offence Gents!) - just in time for the weekend, which put paid to my planned expedition into the wilds of Kent, map in hand, Himself trailing and muttering in my wake.
Fortunately in some act of serendipitous precognition - or photographic and verbal diarrhea, you decide, I had already a

Early Blossom

stash of photos for Imbolc/Spring from the previous couple of weeks to furnish an impromptu blog. You Lucky Readers!
This Blossom, out a couple of weeks ago, seemed to be foolishly precocious - I hope it survived the harsh frost and snow, like some brave pioneer, I suppose someone or something has to go first? 
Wrapped up warm and dosed up honey and lemon, I ventured out this afternoon, washed and half groomed after a good 36 hours of being pyjama clad and wild haired.
Oh how the Crone must have laughed at my mis-pronounced youth. 
We went to a nearby Churchyard where my lovely late Mum In Law is at rest as it would be her birthday tomorrow. The photo of the young buds pushing through the soil next to the dead leaves really summed up the time of year to me, even more poignant in it's particular setting. I sat on a bench and looked over the Deer Park, realising that the bench itself is a memorial to an old

school friend who too passed away too early a couple of decades ago. We were really close to the wall and  I saw a White Stag, chewing away and observing me intently.

A Messenger ?

Now I don't think it was an albino stag, judging by the darkness of it's eyes and a bit of googling on my return confirmed that this was indeed quite rare. 

Mythology has much to say on White Stags - that they are symbols of spirit, messengers from the Other Worlds and that they are sacred. What a beautiful and timely blessing for us both! Wow.

The other highlight of my unusually quiet weekend was doing the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch from the warmth of my kitchen with a restorative cuppa, all of us getting excited as we identified the birds that landed on our bird feeder. There was also a great deal of interest from the cats! Perhaps we were a bit early for their tea in our chosen time slot, but we still recorded several blue tits, long tailed tits, blackbirds,wood pigeons, sparrows and a chaffinch 

One of Our Garden Visitors

(we think) as well as a tiny young looking robin and a much older chubbier one, who seemed to appreciate that the larder had been refilled for them.

So hopefully the wily old Crone with her wicked and wonderful sense of humour is appeased at my lesson learned, that she lingers no longer and takes to her dark hollow to sleep through to Samhain, though maybe we are still too early to be too complacent.

I found a lovely bit of old folklore earlier about the Cailleach, the Gaelic Crone Woman - Legend has it that if Imbolc,  February 1st/2nd depending on your belief, is bright and sunny it is so she can scurry out cackling over the land one more time to collect firewood as she has yet to finish with us and there will be more cold weather to come, if the day is wet she is said to be fast asleep and misses the opportunity to venture forth a last time, meaning that winter is almost over - we shall see! 

Have a Blessed Week and Joyous Imbolc However You Celebrate  x x

Coddiwompling through the Countryside....

A Footpath Suitable For A Coddiwomple..

Mid Winter Greetings to you all! 
What a beautiful week - full of sparkly frosty mornings and magnificent and moody sunrises.
This week I have been mainly coddiwompling - no one panic, it's neither illegal or deviant...
Coddiwomple, what an utterly delicious and curious word! 
I discovered it last week and have been joyfully rolling the word round my tongue every since, dropping it casually into conversation and generally bemusing people left, right and centre!
What a satisfying and quaint word - it's Old English slang, it means quite simply to travel in a purposeful manner or fashion towards a vague or unknown destination. 
Perfect to describe my frequent rambles of both body and mind - I know I'm setting out to walk the land, to hear, see and feel Goddess and beauty all around me, to explore and learn more about me, my Goddess and my world - destination wherever I end up!

The Sun Yawns Over The Frozen Land

I shared my new found vocabulary on facebook and was told that it sums my life up perfectly! I'll take that as a compliment - I think....
This got me pondering about physical, then spiritual, psychological and metaphorical journeys and travels, (I guess these could be described as cerebral coddiwomples?) - and how boring and tedious it would be if we knew exactly where we were headed all the time. With this new wonder of wandering in my head and heart, I have been looking for roads less traveled by myself this week. 
You know when you see a road and you think, I wonder where that goes to? Well I took it to find out! Yes sometimes it went to a dead end, but most times I have ended up on the same road, just with a scenic detour! Just like life.

Birds in Flight as The Sun Rose

I have witnessed so many glorious and truly awesome wintery vistas and sunrises this week that as I pulled over and jumped out of my car to grab a quick peek and photo, I longed for more time to linger to watch the whole performance, so this weekend I hauled my sleepy self out of bed, pulled on the newly acquired thermals and insulated myself with as many layers as I could tolerate and ran, ok I quite quickly coddiwompled out to the three fields to watch the sun rise to my heart's content.
The bemused horses in their field, clad in

Frosty Whiskers

their snug quilted winter coats trotted up in hopeful search of carrots and apples from my pockets, their whiskers covered in frosticles from picking through the spiky frozen grass and I managed to startle a few of our feathered friends, but other than that I had 'my' fields to myself to admire the sunrise and capture it's glorious and surprisingly speedy ascent, a real treat in one of my special places. Odd that these fields and the woodlands on the top road call to my soul so clearly. On my return to warmth, a  bit more googling ensued which uncovered some other fantastic words for those who wander, two in particular that resonate with such honest clarity.. Smultroställe - Swedish noun: A special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation, a personal idyll free form stress and sadness and  Nemophilist a Greek noun: A haunter of

The Land Awakens

the woods, one who loves the forest or woodlands for it's beauty and solace. 
Wow they truly resonate with me! 
For some more amazing words have a look at these two links Roaming Words and Global Hopscotch  -find some new words to describe your own journeys!

These beautiful sunrises in the past week have really made me aware of the wheel turning, of new life preparing to venture forth through the soil and on the land. Green shoots are braving the frost and trees are beginning to bud. We had a fox pottering about in the front garden, sniffing about for food and there seems to suddenly be a lot more birds around too, foraging for food and chattering at me from trees as I pass below in their woodland. Imbolc is near.

Have a Blessed Week 

and Coddiwomple Forth!!

If you haven't already please join me at https://www.facebook.com/walkingwithmygoddess

References:
http://hellogiggles.com/words-related-to-travel/#read 
http://hopscotchtheglobe.com/25-words-every-traveller-should-have-in-their-vocabulary/

A Wintery Wassail

Lady Moon
Admiring the Snow

Wonderful and Wintery Wassail Wishes to you All !!
So, just a small clue - you'll never guess what I've been up to this week then?!
Apart from running around like a big kid in the snow taking pictures of course!  
I love the snow, luckily it only made a brief appearance and didn't cause too much chaos here! I managed to catch a shy full Lady Moon in the distance over the snowy fields next to our home early in the morning before work. 

It really reinforced the presence of the Crone for me, our ancient and wise mother breathing the cold winter air of death, change and rebirth through us all. Last year was a very tough year for some of my friends, losing precious family members and friends, some way before

A Rare Visitor

their time and not for the first time, I've found myself catching my breath and feeling humble and thankful for my loved ones around me. 
We've had a few new visitors due to the snow - this beautiful wagtail braved the cats to visit our bird table, safely above their reach - we watched with delight from our kitchen window and were delighted to see a young adult fox wander past a couple of times, also in search of food, he or she disappeared when I went out to put a small bowl of cat food down for them but it soon vanished!

Smoke and Mirrors

Braving the wintery weather ourselves, after my Crone-like purchase of thermal leggings and vest,  (yes really ! - I decided that if I am going to spend the foreseeable future roaming the countryside in all kinds of weather, the time had come to purchase them!) We - I'd managed to persuade himself that he'd enjoy it, wrapped up warm and headed to the coast to join in the fabulous Winter Wassail organised by Pentacle Drummers. 
We met up with friends of mine, which was lovely for himself to meet them at last and once again we were treated to a fantastic night. The traditions of the wassail date back many centuries, check me out adding links again! The fire dancing from the

Wassail by Moonlight

lovely ladies from Smoke and Mirrors and Fire Jack spoke to me of Brigid and the approach of Imbolc and spring as well as the wonderful belly dancing of Tribal Unity, a beautiful and glorious group of sexy and beautiful, voluptuous and slimmer ladies who slunk and shook their hips around the square looking amazing and classy at the same time.  
After plenty more powerful and resonating drumming from Pentacle Drummers  and wonderful Morris Dancing from Hunters Moon and black swan Morris, with such fabulous old and unusual instruments that I feel quite inspired to learn to play something, maybe a tin whistle - I wasn't half bad on the recorder when I was little, we joined the torch lit procession

Scaring Away any Evil
Spirits From the Orchard

through the castle grounds and the candle lit pathway down to the orchard to scare away the evil spirits and bless the apple trees and their yield this year. Much merry making and general noisy mayhem was to be had here, fire crackers, fireworks, drumming, singing and blowing of horns - combined with some swearing when they couldn't do it (that'll be himself and my group!) adding to the wonderful atmosphere. Lady Moon watched over us, distant but visible.
What a wonderful night - we well and truly wassailed!!

     Have a Blessed Week   x x 

Ref for Link  : http://www.independent.co.uk

Mid Winter Musings

Now don't get too excited.... not a full blown blog!
I just thought I'd share a poem I was inspired to write with you all.  
I hope you enjoy it!

                                    Mid-Winter

A wide bleak silver sky is lit by the half-hearted rays of a distant sun.

Footfall is muted, stifled - deadened by the hard, frozen land,

Covered by frost it glistens and sparkles as though dusted in diamonds.

The land is still, silent and scarcely inhabited as she sleeps.

The majestic yews and evergreens contrast against the grey skyline,

Wearing their uniform of darkest green, tall and proud

They stand sentinel like, guarding the sleeping realm,

Listening for watchful Blackbird’s call of alarm.

Stark bare and bitter barked trees, devoid of their green finery

Are festooned with bunting of shiny holly and ivy,

Beaded by berries of ruby, jet and opal

 And patchworked with Lichen in hues reminiscent of summer fields.

Beneath me, deep below the cold solid ground underfoot,

Nestled amongst the meandering tree roots, in warm dark earth,

Entwined bundles of wiry furred creatures twitch and snooze,

Safe and snug in their burrows, setts and warrens.

A shifting mist hovers and veils the land in her slumber,

Cloaking her naked bareness, keeping her warm whilst she sleeps and dreams,

Rejuvenates, whilst she nurtures new life in her earthy womb,

Waiting patiently and knowingly for the rebirth of Spring.

Have a Blessed Week xx 

The Hermitess Emerges......

Back To Work Sunset

Happy New Year! 

Just when you thought it would be safe to assume I'd wandered off on yet another solitary ramble, fallen down a soft mossy rabbit hole or stumbled unwittingly into the velvety blackness of the underworld and lost for good.......well here I am again! Thank you for waiting for me!

So what have I been doing?

Woodland Festooned
For Yule

Well just hermitting really - whiling away the months reading, walking, rambling, swimming, researching, doodling, scribbling, planning, dreaming and generally being the hermit that I always tease my lovely friend Lu of May Day dancing fame about. She'll love that - Oh the irony! This year I really felt the Crone energy drawing me into the delicious and unavoidable peaceful rest and slumber of the land, obviously exactly what I needed.
I took comfort in the still darkness, watching the land drift into hibernation beneath the hard ground, watching the dark endless skies, marvelling as my breath floated up cloudlike to the crisp constellations and allowed my busy, tired soul to rest. 

Ker's Candle

You'll be pleased to know I have emerged refreshed and rejuvenated from my hermitting to sally forth into the world of people and to celebrate Solstice and Yule with my customary vigour! What a lovely time we had too, plenty of feasting with all our family and friends, celebrating our kinship and the light beginning to return, a few minutes a day. 
One of my favourite gifts among the many I was blessed with pestle and mortar, clothes, books, perfume, you name it , I was totally and thoroughly spoilt, this gorgeous and funky glass candle holder for my altar from my son Dan and his partner David, a purchase from their recent trip to Vienna. When I remarked that it held all the colours of Ker (for me at least) - yellow, orange, ochre, brown, Dan laughed and said 'Yes, I know - that's why we chose it, it also has your circle of the year on it Mum...' 
So it does! Blessed by everyone's thoughtfulness...

I was always going to write my thoughts, musings

Dragonflies -
Just My Cup of Tea

and meditations again after my seasonal hermitage. I didn't know it was going to be New Year thing, I'm not one for making New Year resolutions. The dawning that the time was ripe to harass you all again was approaching, led me into a bit of research into why we celebrate New Year when we do, given the multitude of faiths past and present and why we make resolutions particularly at this time of year.
We have Pope Gregory XIII to thank for this when he standardised our calendars once and for all in 1582, previously many faiths and cultures had celebrated the end of the year by marking the winter solstice, some heralded the perihelion in January - when the earth is nearest to the sun as the turning point, although many other faiths and cultures celebrate

Decorative Reminders
 of Change..

according to the lunar calendar. The custom of making resolutions dates back to 150-50 BCE approx and the Romans - January named after the double faced Roman God Janus (why not a Goddess Jane?) who looked forward and backwards hence the looking back reflectively  and looking forward to changes... So now you know! 
Super poignant then that my two best friends Lu and Tracie independently both bought me dragonfly related gifts - a beautiful dragonfly mandala mug to sooth and nourish me with hot tea whilst I ponder it's circles and it's legendary meaning of a spiritual journey and beautiful dragonfly bunting to decorate and remind me of change and higher spiritual evolvement. The origin of the word bunting (Old English) being that of sifting cloth, to separate the wood from the chough perhaps? 
Wow, just wow....especially when a google on dragonflies as totems revealed :

"The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life." http://www.dragonfly-site.com

So that's my karmic kick up the bum to get going

Mars, Venus, Mars Conjunction
Last Night

 again, as well as the rather gorgeous alignment of the Moon, Venus and Mars in the sky last night, spotted my myself and my son using my new app on my phone - Lady Moon centre, Venus beneath her to the right and above her to the left a tiny red dot is Mars. Somehow by hanging out of the bathroom window I manged to catch them all lighting up the evening sky. Astrology traditionally isn't over keen on this conjunction, however it also talks about spiritual growth......here we go again!

Thanks for the nagging Lu and Emma.... 

I'll take that as you are both journeying with me?

Have a Blessed Week x x