Blog - Jenny Heston

One Day You Will Be The Ancestor.

You are a constellation of interdependence.

Your bones, your blood, your being – a cauldron of dark matter, swirling in a sea of memories, exploding stars, dream seeds, breath of life, fire of passion.

You are your ancestors and all that came before you. Honor these ancestors, whose life force and spirit conspired to create you.

This is why days like Dia de los Muertos, Samhain, and All Saints and All Souls Day have grown in popularity,

A very old understanding reminds us that our beloved dead show up not only for us, but also for those who come after us. If we are sufficiently open to these roots, we discover care for what kind of world we are creating for those who come after us

.Legacy is not given nearly as much attention as lineage. But it should be.

Legacy is simply the flip side of honoring our lineage: the more we become aware of our lineage and our ancestors, the more we find ourselves becoming conscious of our legacy.

Each one of us has a legacy to share with our diverse communities.

Because remember – one day you will be the ancestor that the future generations call out to.

What do you want those who love you to remember – about you and about themselves?

Sigil Magic – What is a Sigil and How to Create One.

Jenny Heston · 1:11 pm ·

I am enchanted by the simplicity and power of these little magical symbols.

Sigils help you to achieve goals, co-create your reality, self-actualize your potential and fulfill your deepest dreams and desires.

Think for a moment:

What would you like to do with your life? What unconscious stories would you like to reprogram? What habits would you like to replace? What parts of you would you like to transform? How would you like to use your will, energy, and creativity?

Sigil magic helps you to step into your power as a creator.

If you are used to playing a passive (yin) role in your spiritual path, it’s now time to experiment with an active (yang) role.

A sigil is a symbol you create with the intention of changing your reality in accordance with your will. All sigils are encoded with a specific purpose, for example, to attract a romantic partner, to set strong boundaries, to be more financially prosperous, to heal your inner child – the possibilities are limitless.

While sigils were used in the past to symbolize and conjure up spirits, these days, sigils are used in a personal way to symbolically represent and manifest our own desires.

What is Sigil Magic?

Sigil magic is the formal practice of creating sigils (or intention-charged symbols) to change your reality. Those who practice sigil magic incorporate self-reflection, creativity, willpower, and ritual to manifest their desires. Sigil magic is based on the philosophy that we are co-creators of our reality. As such, we are empowered to make the changes we desire so long as they align with our ultimate destiny and the will of Life.

What is a Sigil?

The term sigil is derived from the Latin word sigillum which means seal or signet.

A sigil is a symbol or design you create that works with your unconscious self to help bring your goals and dreams into reality. Sigil magic enables you to focus and become clear about your intentions.

Sigils and their many functions and powers were explained by sixteenth-century German polymath and physician Henry Cornelius Agrippa, in a book detailing different facets of Occult Philosophy.

How Do Sigils Work?

Sigils are essentially like little seeds that are planted within the unconscious mind.

Many things enter the depths of our minds, but not all of them are placed there intentionally or take root. What gives sigils their power is the energy and intention behind them – and that is what helps them to sprout and blossom into manifestation. The symbolic nature of the sigil also helps bypass the rational (skeptical) mind and enter the unconscious where possibilities are endless.

As the language of the deep mind is symbolic, sigils basically ‘speak’ to your unconscious. How cool is that?

Making a sigil is the process of creating a symbol or image to bring a desire to fruition through your subconscious mind. Incorporating sigil magic into your practice can take your spirituality to the next level. There are many different ways to create sigils which is lovely because you can customize a technique that works best for you!

When learning how sigils work, it’s essential to understand you’re trying to go around your conscious mind and connect with your unconscious self.

The conscious mind will put up barriers, skepticism, or place restrictions on your intentions, making it challenging to materialize your desires. However, if you can directly connect to your subconscious, your spiritual power isn’t limited!

No words are needed, and an intention-based symbol can communicate directly to your unconscious self! Sigils work by placing an idea into your subconscious, and by doing so, will begin to work towards your intention while you go about your daily life. This visualization will prompt your subconscious self to start looking for ways it can help manifest your desire or goal!

Once you’ve completed your sigil work, place it out of your mind and don’t dwell on it. You want your sigil to leave your conscious mind and simmer in your unconscious mind.

So how do you make a Sigil?

How to Make and Activate a Sigil.

Jenny Heston · 3:33 pm ·

Now that you understand the importance of focusing on your own needs and desires, let’s learn how to make a sigil.

There are many ways of making sigils. Below, is a simple, easy way to create one. This is the very same method I continue to use until this day and have received wonderful results from.

What you will need:

Pen
Paper

0. Check your motivations

In other words, do you really need to create a sigil? Be careful of going sigil-crazy and forming elaborate symbols to attract a new computer (when you can just get it repaired) or better friendships (when you can stop being a dick to your current friends).

Sigils are not a replacement for action. Yes, sigils can help you manifest just about anything – but you also have to put in the work. Don’t be lazy. Sigils will create inner changes, but you need to be responsible for making outer changes first.

1. Write down your intention

Avoid being too vague or too complex. Be specific. A good example of a clear and specific intention is, “More confidence around my boss.”

Poor examples of this same intention might include, “More confidence” and “More confidence around my boss next week at the business meeting at 2 pm.” One of these intentions is too vague (sigils work best when you are specific), and the other is too complex.

You can phrase your intention in any way that speaks to you. Examples might include:

I am …
I need …
I want …
I wish …
I desire …
More …

Or simply write the qualities you desire, such as “self-protection and maturity around my parents” – I actually find this approach to be more effective than beginning with the words mentioned in the bullet point list above.

I personally discard phrasing such as “I would really like more of …” as the sigils become very hard to create. Try to simplify your intention as much as possible.

Also, ensure that you create one sigil for every intention. Don’t cram numerous desires into one sigil. For example, don’t create a sigil for the statement, “I desire to have a big family full of seven kids in a mansion by the ocean.” Create one sigil for each of those intentions.

You’ll also need to be realistic and use your common sense. Don’t create a sigil for becoming a millionaire if you have no intention of working hard or putting in the effort in physical reality. Don’t create a sigil for becoming the CEO if you are nowhere near qualified. Similarly, don’t bother creating a sigil for that which is most likely going to happen. Pick something that has a 50/50 chance of happening.

Finally, (I promise this is about as complex as it gets), keep your intention phrased positively as that is much easier for the unconscious mind to understand. For example, instead of writing, “I will not feel scared and anxious around others,” phrase your intention positively such as, “I feel calm and empowered around others.”

2. Cross out letters

Once you have a sentence that captures your intention, it’s time to cross out all vowels and repeating letters.

For example, if your statement of intent was, “ I am safe and secure in my own skin,” you would then go and cross out all of the vowels, you would then cross out all the duplicate letters.

Thus, you would be left with the letters “F,D,C,R,Y,W,K.”

Now you play with them and write them into a pattern.

Remember to use positive words and avoid negative comments like don’t, won’t, or not. Use robust and powerful words you’d like your sigil to represent.

If you have too many letters remaining and find it challenging to combine them into a sigil design that resonates with you, try removing vowels to simplify the process. Feel free to add a few creative touches or place a circle around your final image to contain its energy.

A common frustration with sigil creation is the aesthetic. Don’t let artistic beauty hold you back, instead let your intuition guide you!

Here is an example, but there were duplicates left in (which I don’t tend to do).

So now it is time to activate the design you have made.

How to Charge or Activate A Sigil

The most crucial step in sigil activating is that you embed the image of the sigil into your subconscious mind.

Here are a few ideas –

Music that is rhythmic, relaxing, or emotional to you can help to put you into a trance-like state. Drums, rattles, chanting, or singing bowls can also be useful
During meditation. Relax and bring the image of your sigil to your mind. Repeat your keyword or phrase as you focus and meditate on your sigil
Anoint it with Moon Water
You can look at your sigil or think about it during an orgasm (either with a partner or by yourself)
Charge it during an extremely emotional time and you’re experiencing intense feelings (this can be sadness, fear, happiness, etc.)
Movement rituals like dancing, drumming, or clapping
Place with corresponding crystals of your choice for as long as you feel is needed

After you have created, activated it then it’s time to burn or bury it. You don’t need to go get it tattooed on your body (unless you really want to!)

It’s about setting it out into the Universal Quantum Field of Expansion and letting it take root. Yes?

Enjoy!

What is Lammas and an Abundance Ritual!

Jenny Heston · 3:03 pm ·

Happy Lammas! (No, not Llamas, there are no llamas here). Also known as Lughnasadh.

What is Lammas and what relevance does it have in my life you may be asking yourself. Firstly, I will say it is a celebration, and who doesn’t need a glorious reason to celebrate!? Secondly, let’s go explore what it is – so are you sitting comfortably? Have a nice cuppa tea to hand, or a cool glass of water? Then let us begin.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago in the wonderful Gaelic mythological story of the Wheel of the Year, the Sun God (Lugh, Celtic God of Light and the son of the Sun) transfers his power into the grain, and is sacrificed when the grain is harvested. So we have a dying, self-sacrificing and resurrecting god of the harvest, who dies for his people so that they may live. Sound familiar?

The power of the sun goes into the grain as it ripens. It is then harvested and made into the first new bread of the season. This is the Saxon hlaef-masse or loaf-mass, now lammas. Seed grain is also saved for planting for next year’s crop, so the sun god may be seen to rise again in Spring with the new green shoots, as the sun also rises in the sky. There are many traditions and customs all over the country that are still carried out at harvest time today.

So Lammas is the first Harvest Festival of the year, it is a time of awareness that the strength of the Sun (Lugh) is beginning to wane and there is a shift and change afoot. Active growth is slowing down and the darker days of winter and reflection are gently and slowly raising their heads. It happens normally anywhere from July 31st – August 2nd, though some will tell you it can happen between August 1st and September 1st.

“ At Lammas the Goddess is in Her aspect as Grain Mother, Harvest Mother, Harvest Queen, Earth Mother, Ceres and Demeter. Demeter, as Corn Mother, represents the ripe corn of this year’s harvest and Her daughter Kore/Persephone represents the grain – the seed which drops back deep into the dark earth, hidden throughout the winter, and re-appears in the spring as new growth. This is the deep core meaning of Lammas and comes in different guises: it is about the fullness and fulfillment of the present harvest holding at its heart the seed of all future harvest. (It is a fact that a pregnant woman carrying her as yet unborn daughter is also already carrying the ovary containing all the eggs her daughter will ever release – she is already both mother, grandmother and beyond, embodying the great Motherline – pure magic and mystery.)”

So as the grain harvest is gathered in, there is food to feed the community through the winter and within that harvest is the seed of next year’s rebirth, regeneration and harvest. The Grain Mother is ripe and full, heavily pregnant she carries the seed of the new year’s Sun God within her. There is tension here. For the Sun God, the God of the Harvest, the Green Man, or John Barleycorn, surrenders his life with the cutting of the corn.

What are some of the symbols, plants and colours of Lammas you ask?

Green, Gold, Mint and Sunflowers! Mint is one of the revered plants of the Druids and Its magical properties are both protection and healing, and at this stage in the year, its properties of drawing abundance and prosperity, are most appropriate. Why sunflowers? Think about it, we often take sunflowers for granted, yet by this time of year their flower heads are full and heavy with that wonderful spiral of seeds and they spend the whole day gently turning their heads to gaze at the sun. In the Aztec temples of the sun, priestesses carried sunflowers and wore them as crowns. They symbolize the fertility of the Solar Logos.

I found a glorious little ritual for abundance to do on Lammas that you might want to try. (Courtesy of The Goddess and Green Man).

Lammas Charm For Gathering In Abundance

You will need:

A broom or besom. Don’t worry if it isn’t a traditional besom, any broom will do as it is always the intent that is important. If you have no broom, collect a bundle of twigs and tie them at the top with a Lammas ribbon to make a hand broom shape. The besom/broom is a potent symbol of hearth and home, found in some form in almost every household. It is a traditional magical tool useful for everyday charms as it has the imprint of its owner firmly on it. Sweeping is a natural gathering gesture.

Ribbon. A piece of green ribbon (for abundance), a piece of gold ribbon (for prosperity and gathering) or ribbon in Lammas harvest colours would be equally suitable.

A Sprig of Mint. Ideally a sprig of mint from your garden (but you can get this from any supermarket), or dried mint – put it in a pouch. The mint represents abundance and plenty and is easily accessible to the urban hedgewitch.

Take your broom and tie your ribbon around the stave or top. Tie in your sprig of mint or securely fasten your pouch. Take your broom outside, place both hands on the stave and focus on your intention – gathering in your harvest for winter. Turn slowly three times in a clockwise direction then start to sweep towards your door saying:

“By one, two, three and four, sweep Lammas gifts to my door. May abundance be a constant friend, by my hearth till Winter’s end.”

Repeat this three times, then take your besom/broom back into your house and put it in its usual place. You can leave the ribbon on for as long as you want to, for a lunar month, or until winter is done. If you have made your own broom you can place it where you consider the heart of your home to be. The mint can be returned to the earth with thanks.

If you do not have an outside space you can sweep from your front door inwards to either your kitchen or hearth using the same charm.

So now you know what Lammas means, why it is celebrated and have a fun and easy ritual to perform to honour it, and bring in abundance. So go grab your broom and start sweeping!

5 Ways to Be Like the Sun at Solstice.

Jenny Heston · 5:45 pm ·

Summer solstice, also known as Litha, is the longest day of the year, but it’s only the very beginning of the summer months with the hottest weather yet to come.

Litha is one of the eight traditional Pagan holidays when daytime energies are at their strongest, radiating mega-doses of vitality and love.

The Sun, seen from an esoteric level, is all about love and wisdom. It’s the primary ray of energy from which everything else is created. It’s the Heart of creation. The Sun never fails to shine, always “rises” to meet us, and sustains life on Earth.

This year, Litha falls on June 21st – a time when those of us who practice magic speak of drawing down the Sun. This means connecting with prana or life force, both within and without.

To draw down or bring out the Sun means harnessing radiant solar energies in order to have the confidence to let yourself shine and be seen. It’s affirming that you’re strong, vibrant, loving, warm, and filled with light.

Litha is the Sun’s day, and the Sun is the center of our solar system. It brings us all back to our center, to our hearts, and the creative source of everything.

The Sun rules the passionate, creative, and proud sign, Leo.

Leo is motivated to share and lead from the heart and become the brightest, fullest version of itself. With the Sun at its maximum power, Litha’s the perfect time to recognize all the things, small and large, that you’ve created and shared with others.

It’s also time to honor the leader within you and how you continue to express more of your most authentic self.

At the summer solstice, a doorway in time opens, which our ancestors viewed as sacred and holy. Litha is a grand portal of energy, space, and opportunity – a chance to let go of fears, doubts, and insecurities.

After the Sun reaches its maximum power, it begins to decline.

Slowly, the night force will grow stronger until its peak at the winter solstice.

Litha is the last chance in our calendar year to activate sacred intentions before moving into autumn and winter, the natural seasons of harvest and rest. I

t’s a time to step out in faith and imagine what’s entirely possible for yourself.

Dream an expansive vision for your life that will sustain you as the darkness slowly returns with the fall.

5 Ways to Be Like the Sun

1. Be the Light

The Sun is a star, and its job is to shine! So is yours, in your unique ways. No matter what happens around you, you always have a choice to see, be, and share the light. What I mean by light is love. Whatever you’re doing and wherever you are, choose that love and give it away freely. There’s no prescription for how this looks, so get creative and just do you – in the truest, sincere, most authentic ways you know.

2. Take the Lead

Solar energy is motivating and naturally attracts attention. Use that power for good and be the best example you can. You may not own a business or directly work with large groups, but people look to you. Notice who they are and think about what they see. Every time your inner sun comes into someone else’s field, it makes an impact. It radiates its energy and infuses people, spaces, and places. Be a leader with your energy and set an example worthy of following.

3. Co-Create

The Sun represents the principle of co-creation and animates the entire zodiac. It doesn’t exist alone and wouldn’t mean anything without the rest of the solar system to interact with. In the tarot, The Sun card is about working with others in ways that inspire you and the world. To be like the Sun is to find people who share your passions and bring all that energy together to make something purposeful. Creatives need each other to stay creative. We’re not meant to do this alone. Find a way to connect and make something exciting happen.

4. Act with Integrity

What do I mean by integrity? I mean acting from wholeness by integrating body, mind, heart, and spirit. Most simply, you act with integrity when you’re true to yourself. It’s so easy to think or feel a certain way but act another, which causes a division within you. Some animals, like horses, are especially sensitive to this inauthenticity. They can feel the conflict and won’t trust someone who’s acting out of alignment with their emotional energy – like pretending to be tough when truly afraid. Integrity takes personal work, practice, and honesty. To act with integrity, you have to be honest about where you’re at and what you’re doing. When you know your ego is reacting, own it. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not or commit to doing something you’re not ready to do. Be honest about your feelings, even if it’s a little uncomfortable.

In astrology, the Sun is the planet of integration. Your Sun Sign is the energy through which you’re integrating yourself. If you’re a Libra, it all comes together through relationships, balancing extremes, and cooperation. If you’re a Sagittarius, it all comes together through searching to find more meaning and following your true path. We’re all in the process of integrating our higher and lower selves. With awareness and practice, you can align your thoughts and actions with your heart and higher mind.

5. Balance Your Solar Plexus Chakra

The Solar Plexus Chakra or Manipura color is bright yellow, like the Sun. This center is located just above your belly button and is the powerhouse of your energy system. Balancing this chakra helps you confidently stand and act in your power. If your Solar Plexus Chakra is underactive, you might feel powerless or uncertain. If it’s overactive, you might become overpowering and arrogant. Humility is part of this chakra’s medicine. True strength is humility. This chakra is also where you manifest all the things you create. You can think of your Solar Plexus Chakra as the Sun, radiating warmth and light into life. Activate this energy center to rest assured of your capabilities and to make things happen for yourself. Below are some tremendous Solar Plexus herbs, oils, stones, deities, and mantras you can work with.

Solar Plexus Herbs/Oils: Calendula, cumin, helichrysum, lemon, neroli, turmeric

Solar Plexus Stones: Sunstone, yellow aventurine, pyrite, yellow apatite, citrine, golden healer quartz, tiger’s eye

Solar Plexus Deities: Agni, Athena, Ma’at, Pele, Ra, Sekhmet, Xiuhtecuhtli

Solar Plexus Mantras:

“I am strong, capable, and powerful.”

“I stand in my power.”

“I am the leader of my life.”

In Closing

If you want to delve deeper into how to welcome Solstice and harness that energy, grab your copy of SASS.

However you choose to welcome summer, and long past it, I hope you’ll find ways to grow and feed the light for the benefit of us all.

May you feel on the deepest level how powerful you are – how your energy and the way you run it make an impact. May you use your light to inspire and empower others. May we all choose the wisdom of love. From my heart to yours, happy Litha.