Winter Solstice, Yule and The Blue Moon

Winter in the forest can be a lonely time for those who make their homes under the evergreens. It is best to indulge yourself with inside activities as the north wind blows with frigid breath. In a few days it will be The Winter Solstice and a Blue Moon as this years gift from the Goddess.

The fireplace has to be tended as to keep the old wood house comfortable. Putting sage bundles upon the Yule fire gives the room a sweetgrass scent and also ignites the sixth sense. Sitting back in the big willow rocking chair I saw a vision behind my eyelids. Millions of intricate snowflakes falling on an all white world. I began to see the image of a white horse with a Lady dressed in Cerulean Blue riding upon it's back. Her head was crowned with an ice tiara, glittering fairies were flickering about as she moved closer to where I was standing in the forest of snow flocked trees.

This Ice Goddess was not aware of me, I am just a spirit in this other dimension. A traveler on a wave of light. I am a watcher not a participant.

I can see her hand holds a staff of crystal ice, clear as glass.

Standing on her shoulder is a white owl with large green eyes. This companion is a guide through many worlds. Seeking the path and navigating the course. I am in AWE of such beauty.

There is a sound of winds, a chorus of voices rush past my head, the chant of the Northern Native Spirit grows from a hum to a drum beat. I am lifted up spiritually by this Shaman of The Underworld. Children are singing a familiar song. A White Stag bounds from the bushes and leaps over my head. Then there is a small white rabbit pausing at my side, unafraid as the Blue Jay craws to let me know that it recognizes my presence. I am filled with Peace. My heart runnith over with Joy. I am emotionally charged as I receive this gift.

In an instant I am plunged onto the Earth once again, feeling heavy under my own body weight and gravity. I am once again an Earth Bound Misfit. Opening my eyes, for just a split second glimpse of a red and green Gnome disappearing up the chimney as if it were smoke. When I arose from my chair, I found a Green Apple and some Red Cherries om the center of my wreath of Fir branches. Such a delight to behold when out of their season. I am Thankful, I am Blessed. Merry Yule and Happy Winter Solstice.

The Snow Angel

Winters' ice cold edge comes upon the earth, chilling the air with a fine crystaline mist.




The stars sparkle with brilliant light, shinning in a deep blue infinite background.



The moons' aura encircles the fullness of the season, lighting a stairway to heaven.



I see a pale blue neon glow in descension as my eyes believe not.



It is the Snow Angel, come to bless the earth and all the Children of The Light.



With pure white hair and aquamarine eyes of kindness and strength, The Snow Angel sings a glorious tune.



Mother God cares for your soul and wishes you peace and love on this winter eve.



As snowflakes are your special gift, each one individually created, so is each child born in this universe.



May the Goddess bless and keep you always.

The Land of Ahz

In the land of Ahz things are done in a different way.

people stay up all night, and sleep all day.

They don't eat food,they eat chips and things.

They don't walk around, they get about with wings.

The cats are on the beds, with pudding pops in cups.

The children on the carpets, playing pick'em ups.

Rats are pets, Monkeys too,

In the house you have a zoo.



In the land of Ahz, you sing outloud,

you wear bright clothes, stand out in a crowd.

Hats are for holding, you walk a bike,

you carry your coat, you do what you like.

Birds walk around and eat french fries,

people talk to themselves, and tell themselves lies.



We invite you to visit, all of the time.

When you arrive, we all speak in rhyme.

we tell you to go here, and tell you to go there.

when you get back, you've been nowhere.

When night time comes, were all up and hungry,

we're all over the house, doing the laundry.

We fuss and we fight, we talk about things.

The dog starts to bark, and the phone rings.



When everything is done, and morning is here,

we all get so drowsy, it's bedtime I fear.

As soon as the sun rises up for the day,

one by one the Munchkins go away.

Just about noon, when the mailman comes by,

you won't hear a sound,they won't bat an eye.

They've got to rest up, for the night time event,

This is how my time in Ahz went.

The Faery Sight

It is said that Faery time and human time are two different things. A human can slip into the world of the Fae and spend many years there, accomplish many things and have several adventures and then slip back into the human dimension to find that they have only been gone for a few hours.

Such was the case for my friend Strativarious. He tells me often about the Faery World and how he wanted to get back home for so long. There was a Faery Wife, who never aged a bit, eventho many years passed. He loved her very much, due to the Faery Sight and being lonely and all. Humans were never meant to live in Faeryland.

The Faeries would never accept the fact that the humans were not to be socialized with. They only bring trouble and pain to their world. Too tempting it was to mesmerize a man into thinking he is in love with a faery woman. Simple and fun.

Strat disappeared one day for about 4 hours, when he returned he swore he had been Faerynapped. All his chores lay undone and he looked as tho he had aged some. We thought it was just an excuse for drinking.

There was a beautiful faery girl who fell in love with him and took him into her faery house to live as her husband. He was drunk with love and blinded with happiness. He had forgotten all about the real world. He worked in a daze year fter year to keep the fire place going and the garden tilled, all for his lovely faery wife.

He said he has missed her since coming back here. I suppose he looks for her in the meadow on certain days. He should know, that when a human ages, even by just a day or two, the Fae will do away with you. I suppose he will never see his Faery Wife again.

Warlocks and Astral Travel

Warlocks, Dragons and Unicorns,
All have disappeared from the earth. I would have loved to see these creatures. They have long since gone.

The first time I met a male witch I was astonished. I had only known girls and women as witches. I hadn't thought about it much. That is what they call themselves. I watched him smile, and thought I saw a glint of gold from his back tooth. Something very unique about him. The way he moved around the room. So unlike most men I had met before. His small attic apartment was filled with books, candles and impliments of witchcraft.

His eyes reflected a spark of light as he turned from the window. I could feel the magic swarming around the room. When he touched the tip of my little finger a jolt of static shocked me and made a sound, like a snap. My breath escaped for a second. The smell of chocolate came to me also.

He sat on the floor with a mortar and pestle and began to grind something, he removed his shirt and sat with one knee up, and concentrated of chopping the herbs and grinding the powders for his concoction. I saw glass bottles on a shelf, all in different colors, half filled, each one, with spirits. I mean the alcohol kind.

I let slip from my thoughts the words "male witch." He said one word back "Warlock." Can't be, there are none anymore. He assured me that there was and that he was one. I wanted to giggle but didn't.

I didn't want an explanation. I decided to just watch and see. He brought a libation over to me and I drank it without question. I was leaving my body and watching myself from above as we dreamed our lifetime and future. Astral traveling up to space, from planet to planet, further and further out to other stars and distant galaxies. Passing other searching souls. Into the coolness, a light breeze touching my face. I can hear music, far away as if in another room. A large party or ball going on with a thousand voices trying to talk above the orchestra that is playing, The Emperor's Waltz. I was on the outside looking in and I saw a beautiful lady riding on a Unicorn. There was a great painting on the wall of that same lady riding a dragon.

 I open my eyes again just as I am moving quickly across the tops of the ocean waves. My face is misted with sea water as it splashes and crashes below me. Back up onto the clouds and out over the tops of trees I go. The smell of pine is clean and gives me a happy feeling. Now I am over the rooftops of houses, slowing down and floating towards earth and home. 

My whole body tingles as I awake upon entry. I am slightly paralyzed in the instant. I think I was day dreaming. I may have dozed off for a moment. Were you telling me something a minute ago? Oh, yes, about "Warlocks."   

Solitary Witch in The Woods

Deep in the forest in the heart of Oregon rest a town called Wolf Creek. This was the place I chose to make my home and practice my arts. They have one store called The General Store, and a 100 year old Inn that is well known to be haunted.

The house that was the only one affordable to me was also as old as the hills. With a wood stove and an out-house. A well worn path led up to the front door from the road. I hung the wind chimes and macramé plant holders around the entrance and called it home.

Choosing to be a Solitary Witch was not what I had in mind when I began my path. This is just what it turned out to be after many of my friends went on with their life and became wives and mothers or seekers of the hourly wage. I was an artist and made my living by creating arts and crafts and offering them for purchase at the fairs and markets.

Magic is not something that can be learned from a book. It must come naturally, that is from Nature and the Spirit World. This was a perfect Fall night for spell casting, as I was in the mood and had nothing else to do. I placed my small cauldron on the wood stove and built up the fire. I filled it with blessed creek water. I opened my big old book and thumbed through the pages. Here's one, "How To Bring The Rain." I began to drop the herbs and items into the cauldron as the recipe called for. These were not bats wings and newts eyes or anything, just bitter and sweet herbs and oils, along with a few stones and a crows feather. I stirred it with a willow stick. Recited some words as it started to boil. Soon the whole room filled with a sweet and pungent smell, almost too good to breathe in. The cauldron boiled wildly as the water evaporated quickly. I took up the pitcher and added more water to the mixture. As I did this a vapor cloud arose from the pot slowly and surrounded my head. It seemed to hover over me and then ascended onto my face making it wet hot. That would be enough of that, and I went over and opened the window.

This was a black night with no moon rise until later on. I heard the rustling of the trees as the wind picked up. I watched out the window for a short while. The lights flickered for a second and then the electricity went out. The candle light was all that I had left. It was time for bed. I climbed into my big bed with the cast iron frame and pulled the covers up. My head was heavy on the pillow, my thoughts were already focused on tomorrows chores. I drifted into twilight sleep just as a roll of thunder sounded in the distant hills. The storm arrived just before morning. I awoke with the pouring rain pounding the rooftop. Thanked the Lord and Lady. Then had a wonderful cup of tea.
Blessed be.

The Age of Aquarius

Have you ever seen rainbows in the sky at night? Or Phosphorous washing ashore in the ocean waves during a full moon? As I ran along the beach that night the sands were kicked up in sparkles behind my feet. As if it were faery glitter from a thousand faeries following me. I picked it up and threw it into the air to make a magical dust into the soft breeze. Each breaking wave that crashed onto the rocks glowed with translucent glory. I searched the sky for stars and saw a million rainbows floating by together in unison. I imagined myself in another world, one much different than this one has been for me. This wonderful gift of nature that was happening at this moment seemed impossible and rare. It was a few days later when I saw the beach scattered with a million sand dollars.

I spent most of my young life searching for a spiritual path. I was taunted by The Krishna's. I went to their temple, which was in a big building downtown Hollywood. They offered a 7 course meal and a teaching, and I found both to be delightful. Next The Buddhist, The Jesus Freaks, The Hippie Communes, The Bikers and The Rock Groupies. All with tempting lifestyles and mind expanding offerings.

When all of the dust settled I found myself living with some Pagans who were caretakers of an old Movie Star Mansion in the Hollywood Hills. This was a rundown place, overgrown with weeds and an empty dried up swimming pool that was in the middle of the living room. The cobwebs were just as much at home there as I was. We spent the day sleeping in, playing with incense, smoking things, putting on makeup and getting dressed for the nighttime scene. Wearing mostly crushed velvet and old lace. We were friends with The Vampires on Ventura Blvd. At the setting of the sun we wandered out and onto The Sunset Strip.

Rodney Binginheimer, D'Artanganon and Michael with the red cape were regulars on the street. I wore a necklace with a large black stone in the shape of a teardrop. I met up with them at Pandora's Box early that night. We were mentally casting spells on others of our desire, but none were working. There was magic in the air, the electrical moonlight was static and mesmerizing. The crowd began to build and grow, sounds and music muffled our hearing. I tried to part the waves of the crowd to see what was going on. Only to be pushed back and away. The air started to smell of smoke, not the good kind, something was burning, a fire, in the building, people were running. I heard the Fire Engines coming. The sky was aglow with red. My memory of the event has faded much. I knew that this was the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. Pandora's Box had burned to the ground giving rise to The Age of Aquarius.

    



     

On The Other side of The Mirror

I am going to begin the adventure in wonderland just as Alice did, by passing through the looking glass to the side of opposites and mirror images. I see myself in this way most of the time. Whatever situation I am in I seem to hold the opposite point of view than most.

I have a feeling of being quite invisible at times or maybe just very small and insignificant. Even if I speak
loudly to make my point, I get a response of blank stares as if people are asking the question, " did someone hear something?". However, this does not stop me from talking out loud to myself with an interested look on my face, as if I am quite amazed at what I am saying.

Todays adventure involves The Mad Hatter, up to his usual preoccupied manner of moving as fast as he can at doing nothing. When I approach him to ask what he is actually doing, I get the verbal run around. He is very, very busy and cannot be stopped now. I can just go over there and wait and have a cup of tea, until someday, when he is finished. I go and sit in a big chair and watch him. He seems to be confused and irritated at something that I cannot see.

Soon, curiosity sets in and I run off after a rabbit in a suit, although he can out run me and disappear into the forest, I still see many interesting things in the pursuit. Like today, I found a beautiful place to sit and eat, yes, alone I sat and enjoyed a bottle of magic potion which brought back many memories of pleasant times and friends. I managed to talk to the flowers and butterflies, and came up with some new ideas about life.

To anyone on the outside looking in, what they can see is a reflection of themselves, but all the other images in the mirror appear to be reversed. That is when they get a glimpse of how I live my life. Although they don't know that I live in there, they may ask themselves, " could there be another way of seeing things, of doing things?" My answer is this, " stop and smell the flowers, wish upon a star, go over the rainbow."
Blessed Be!

The Dream and The Gift

I came across a book in the old book shop about Herbs and their uses. It was a large book, with pages of rice paper, and calligraphy writing. It had shiny pictures of plants and flowers in color. The book was called "Herbal Grimoire." St. John's Wort, will bring dreams of your lover to be. Put this dried herb in a red mojo bag and sleep with it under your pillow.

There is a shop down by the beach called "The Cauldron." In the window I saw crystals, candles and other curiosities. The door sounded with bells as I entered. Many large jars of herbs sat on the shelves behind the counter. A man wearing a head bandanna looked into my eyes as I asked for the certain ingredient needed. I took the small bag and scurried away.

Visions of my Lover To Be would soon dance in my head. I kissed the bag and placed it according to directions, under my pillow. I soon was in dreamland.

Just before midnight I awoke in my bed in the black of night. The room seemed cold and much larger than it actually was. Something in my bed was not right, there were crumbs of food and bits of bark. My legs were heavy, my nightgown was all tangled around my body. I sat up and looked around, I heard a voice whisper, "she is getting up." In the dark I could barely see shadows of some people sitting at a table having a séance'. When I tried to walk my feet became tangled in clothes on the floor. There was a full length mirror on the front of the bedroom door, the door was ajar and I could look into this mirror and see into the other room. As I passed through this doorway someone held onto the back of my nightgown and it began to slip away. When I looked at the floor I saw there were no clothes tangling my feet, instead there were many small children there, sitting, crawling and grabbing at me. They were dirty, lost, sad and wanting help. I was afraid, but tried to be calm.

I saw other things also. My Mother was there, she told me she was ill and would soon pass on, my cousin who had passed on already was there and said, "tell my mom I loved her". A teenager came up to me and said that he was buried in the forest under the snow. Many other voices joined in, all at once until my head was spinning and buzzing.

That's when I really did wake up, with a jolt, shivering and hot at the same time. My digital clock clicked over to exactly 12:00 midnight. I began to weep.

Many weeks later, my Mother did pass away from an illness. I realized that the others in the dream were souls in need of assistance. My gift was being able to communicate with the dead through dreams. These souls are lost ones, who need to be found in order to move on to the otherside. I knew then what my calling was. I have spoken with the lost souls many times since then. I leave myself open to them whenever they need to come. I am here.

The Spell

Changing a toad into a man is difficult magic. Surrounded by frogs and golliwogs, I am out numbered. Choosing one to practice on is not easy either, it must first be willing to let you near. If you catch one, it must be fooled into thinking that it is special. You need to get use to the smell, and the tough skin. It will begin to morph in time, but you will loose much of your glow while casting this spell. 

The right one looks like any other one. There may be a certain glint in the eye that lets you know the spell will work. You cannot always depend on that though. My first one tried to hop away constantly. I persisted in the chase and soon the poor amphibian had to stop and be captured.

I put him in a cage, potioned him, entranced him, said magic words. I could see the change coming. I must have over done it, the spell worked so well that other Enchantresses liked what I had done. One night I came to let him out of the cage and found that he had been stolen.

I spent much of my time from that day forward running after Toads and a few Weasles trying to practice my art. Just when I got tired and bored with it one crawled up my leg and would not leave. I took it in and began to experiment with it.

Things a young witch should watch out for is the Changling, the Shapeshifter and the Masked One. That is exactly what this devotee was. As I formed and molded my specimen it became deviant and covered with slime. Soon it had taken the shape of something unrecognizable. I had to throw it out. It tried to creep back in several times. So I threw it's heart in the cauldron.

The key to perfecting the spell is to have quality material to work with. Do not look in the swamp or the bog. Find a fresh creek with sweet smelling flowers beside it. Reach way out and deep into the currents. See what you may catch. It is worth the extra effort.

The Gypsy Witches

I always related thunderstorms and bad weather with witches and mysticism. It was not like that for me when I first met The Witches. They lived in a house just down the street from me. A house like mine, a street like mine and in the fine California weather.

I could feel the difference as soon as I entered the livingroom. There was a certain scent around an atmosphere of excitement. The colors were richer and the patterns on the drapes and furniture more intense. I was feeling at home here.

When I was offered tea I immediately accepted. The two sisters looked at each other and giggled. I was young but not unaware of magic tea or spells. I wanted to be cast upon. This was not the case however, just regular tea.

One sister asked the other, " shall we read cards for her?" The other one's eyes sparkled and said, "lets". We all sat at the table with the unlit candles.

The reading began, and one after another came the predictions. Some were fantastic and some were not. The oldest sister remarked that she wished for cards that read as these did, so good and lucky. I was satisfied with them and put the messages away in the back of my mind.

All of the predictions were to come to pass as the years moved on. It was to be the forcast of a lifetime. A journey that would take me down the rabbit hole and into the land of Nod.

Winds of Change

I was listening to the wind blow through the trees last night. Quite a change from what it has been for so long now. The Summer lasted way to long, dragging on, too warm, stale, dusty and glaring. The wind has blown all of that away now. I feel refreshed and ready to start again.

I have been as a lunatic, talking to myself and scowling at the days. I shall put on my green dress and wander out into the sea of being to find a new way.

Lady Harlowe

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Cleaning up the Clutter

I have been clearing out all of the clutter that has piled up around here for the past 10 years. I just woke up one day and didn't feel the need to keep all of this junk and stuff. Maybe I just got tired of having to move piles of things just to get to the one thing that I need. I find it boring and tiresome looking for those items that I just remembered having and want to see. By the time I find it I have lost the mood, out of energy or haven't anymore time left.

I have a big pile of books to take away, I thought I would read these books when I bought them. I see now that it would take me all day, everyday for the rest of my life to read all of these books. I am not willing to give up my time to some half interesting subject. So, out they go. Likewise, for all of the knick knacks and doo dads that I need to dust off every few days. I am cleaning up my space and therefore cleaning up my life.

Lady Harlowe

Fall has arrived quietly, without changing the weather or mood. It somehow entered in through the back door without being noticed. I am looking for those who are still wandering around in their summer faces, not realizing that the leaves are changing and will soon fall.