Crystals

Alchemy, Aries New Moon, Mercury is Direct and now we plant Fiery Seeds! Whoot!

Happy Magnificent Monday gorgeous lovely. How are you? Did you have a glorious week? What was your favourite thing that you did or saw? (We ask that question at dinner time every night and it is so interesting to find out what everyone’s favourite thing for the day was).

For me it was making little changes to my daily world that had big impact on my sense of well being. For example I started doing a global prayer and meditation every morning and for the first week I tried to do it at the time prescribed (so that you connect to everyone else around the world), but that was 2:30am my time! Believe me I tried, but after three mornings of getting up at 2:30am and then staying up and working I realised I felt more drained than replenished. So I rejigged it to what would work for me which is 4:30am and holy hannah, the sense of connection, replenishment and nourishment that I carry through my day has rocked! Plus, I have ensured that rain, snow or shine I go to the woods daily with the hounds and get green therapy (as well as remembering to take my greens every day) and that has made my body feel more vibrant, healthier and even more bouncy than I normally am lolol. So when “they” say, small changes can have a big impact – it’s so very true. So what’s one little shift that you are willing to try for a month?

It’s Aries New Moon time and Mercury has gone direct!!! Did you plant your seeds of intention? Now I know you may be thinking “Jen, you talk about seeds of intention at every New Moon, so what’s the big deal with this one?” Ahhhh, grasshopper great question as this New Moon is different to the others. Why? Aries is the first sign of the zodiac so now we start a whole new solar cycle as well as the energy of fire that accompanies Aries, thus destruction and creation. Aries is a very initiatory energy which invites us to plant seeds pertaining to one idea and nurture it with fire (passion) to bring it into our future. Think about it, there are places in the woods, in the desert scape where when a wildfire happens and there is that intense, intense heat that seems to destroy everything, afterwards there are plants and flowers that haven’t been seen for years upon years. Why? Is it magic? Did random birds drop these seeds after the fire? No, it’s because these seeds lay dormant and needed the fire to get them to germinate and to grow.

I love what Simone Butler has to say about this New Moon:-

“Do you recall a time when a real or metaphorical fire swept through your life, heating up your world to an unbearable degree? Maybe you’re even in such a phase right now. At some point there is no choice but to let go and allow the past to crumble away.

“And that’s when, through a mysterious alchemical process, things begin to shift. You’re gifted with new insight or motivation. A goal you’d despaired of reaching is suddenly within your grasp. No matter where you’re currently at, the upcoming New Moon will be your ally in embracing change…

“A quickening is at hand, and courageous action is required. The Mars-Saturn conjunction earlier this month got a lot of us committed to important work and on track for success.

“It’s time to let the past burn away and begin making your contribution. If you’re still seeking a jolt of awareness about your true purpose or next step, listen for messages around this New Moon, arriving with the clarity of a lightning bolt.

“Look to what you’re passionate about. Take a strategic risk.”

So I invite you to ask yourself – What seeds have been buried that can grow with the fire of your heart, your passion and your desire.

With this lovely energy of planting new seeds and really playing with the fiery energy to ensure that they germinate, let’s crack on with the reading. The cards that came to play are “The Sacred Rebels Oracle” and the crystals and elements that wiggled and jiggled to come and support are:- A gorgeous piece that one of my kids gave me, Chrysocolla and Morganite, oh yes and a gorgeous feather. Selenite didn’t feel like making an appearance, which is totally fine.

Okay, let’s get comfie in our bodies and really focus on the energy of those delicious seeds that are hidden deep inside that want to be fanned with fire and love. Wiggle your shoulders around and gentle start to slow your breathing down. Breath in your nose long and deep and sigh it out of your mouth, if you would like a little support on getting into a different “state” of being, I have a luscious, green (thus healthy, right?) visualisation to support you. Otherwise take 3 long slow deep breaths in and when you are ready pick the card or cards that resonate for you.

Ready to go see?

RESTORE AND REPLENISH

You are in need of something so much deeper than rest. You need restoration, replenishment and revival.

This will not necessarily come from lying about somewhere, taking a moment out of your day or evening activities. You are more likely to gain what you need by breaking with your routine completely and doing something different.

You need some variety, some spice, some change to bring fresh energy into your body, mind and heart. You need to restore and revive yourself by changing the usual flow of energy through your being. You could stimulate this process by going to a different place, meeting different people and taking different action to what you would usually do. You can return to your regular routine in time – if it feels good for you. However, it is now time to move, without pushing yourself, beyond what is known, comfortable and familiar.

You have been working so hard and have accomplished so much already. However, you often sell your accomplishments short and focus on how much more is yet to be done. Life is telling you that it is time to put down the paintbrush, the pen, the endless lists and the thinking mind and get into your body. You are in an important transition phase between one level of experience and the next.

If you feel as though you are treading water or are in a sort of purgatory – somewhere between your old life and your new life then this especially applies to you. Soon you will have the power and energy you need to reach for the next level – and succeed.

COLLABORATIVE DREAMING

Your heart is big enough to dream not only for yourself, but for a new humanity. Imagine a world that is healed with respect, understanding and with community that fosters life. Even your dreams that relate to you alone will contribute positively to the greater good because that is the nature of your heart. Your heart naturally and intelligently co-operates in a grand scheme of loving creativity, working to heal the hearts of the world. The heart creates win-win situations that benefit the individual and the collective.

You are being asked to honour your growing desire to co-create with conscious, like-minded people. Your collaborative dreaming is a heart-inspired win-win, bringing mutual enhancement to yourself and others. Bear the rough patches that can happen when you work creatively with others. Ideas might clash and there can be friction, particularly if you have different ways of working.

Stay in your integrity, honour what you feel and remember why you chose to open up to group endeavours in the first place – especially if the group involvement becomes complex or challenging. Call on unconditional love each day and evening, it takes only a moment to do. Remember to hear your own voice. Others may or may not be able to receive it. When you hear your own voice you will be able to connect with your heart truths. You will know when it is right to remain in a group of when you need to withdraw in order to work with others who resonate at a more appropriate vibration and perhaps more in harmony with your own. You are no longer a lone wolf. Others are on the way to help you. There is only so much a single drop of water can do on its own, though it is precious. Together those drops can become a wave and make a considerable impact in the world.

SACRED FOOL

The fool is a great rebel, able to thwart convention and tell the truth without restraint. Your heart is a wonderful, powerful, sacred fool! It cares not for the right way to do things. It cares not for what the mind says is real and not real. It lives according to an inner wisdom that cannot be dictated to or controlled by anything. It loves, it lives and it is what is!

It’s time to take your offer to the world. Don’t try to be appropriate, don’t try to be socially acceptable and worry about what others may think – just be. If you want to wear a mad hat whilst doing so, fine.

It’s time to leave behind what has been because it no longer feels right to stay attached to it. Your mind is a monkey puppet on strings. More often than not, it is cajoled into fear when it could be playfully dwelling in the radical spontaneity of life. So, the sacred fool in you urges your mind to let itself be pulled into joy by your heart strings not into fear and doubt by media or anything else. It’s time for you to play.

It’s time for you to let life happen in a completely unreserved, unscripted way. Life wants to operate more radically through you so that you become the conduit through which miracles and crazy wild synchronicity can occur. If you find yourself making choices that have others questioning your sanity, then you are right on course. You are just approaching enlightened awareness. There is a moment – sometimes a rather long one – when we wake up to life, shed our attachment to mass opinion and float in a completely different state of being. Stay on your path, stay on the journey, remember to take nothing too seriously and it will all work out perfectly.

So delicious one, wishing you a stupendous week of uncovering your deeply buried seeds and setting them alight with intention. Remember to read a book, drink some water and laugh. If in doubt, go to the park or get out in nature, but now is the time to realise all the wonder in your life and get clear on what other miracles, magic and mayhem you want to create. See you next week!

Seriously, who doesn’t want to celebrate Spring? Why and how to celebrate.

Jenny Heston · 1:00 am ·

Seriously, have to ask – who doesn’t want to celebrate Spring? As a kid Spring time was filled with woodland flowers and baby lambs popping out everywhere and bouncing like mad fiends over the grass. Thus, I think that really nailed down the fact that I love Spring Equinox!

After a long (this one especially) winter, the idea, the knowing and the full Trust that Spring is going to come is amazing. To me it is about NEW. New plants, new ideas, new ways of moving in the world and releasing the blaugh. Spring Equinox (also known as Ostara), after the goddess Eostre is a fertility holiday, which celebrates the resurgence of life with such symbols as rabbits, cute little chicks and lambs (seeing any similarity to Easter symbols?)

Spring Equinox is the second of the four “sky points” in the Wheel of the Year, and is a time of balance, it is when the sun does a perfect balancing act in the heavens. In other words, the sun rises exactly in the East, travels through the sky for 12 hours and sets exactly in the West. Thus, all over the world, day and night are of equal length. For us in the Northern Hemisphere we know from this moment forth there will be more light than there is darkness, and growth will reign triumphant over death. (For those in the Southern Hemisphere it is Fall Equinox, a time of harvest and getting ready for Winter and a gentle letting go of the light to fold in and cocoon).

This is a time when the goddess is the Maiden in all her youthful glory, the god is reaching manhood, and energy abounds. So why not tap into that energy to bring the light into your own darkness, if you have any? For example spring cleaning is not just about your home, it’s about removing old or negative energies accumulated over the dark winter months to prepare you for glorious growth. It’s about planting seeds of intention, seeds of growth, seeds of food – it’s about shedding that heavy winter coat and picking up something a tad lighter and a bit more fun.

If we were to look through multiple cultures Spring Equinox has, and is, a glorious time of welcoming in the light, celebrating the rebirth or creation of new things, planting seeds and releasing the old, worn and tired.

For example, there is the story of the Roman god Mithras, which is similar to the tale of Jesus Christ and his resurrection. “ Born at the winter solstice and resurrected in the spring, Mithras helped his followers ascend to the realm of light after death. In one legend, Mithras, who was popular amongst members of the Roman military, was ordered by the Sun to sacrifice a white bull. He reluctantly obeyed, but at the moment when his knife entered the creature’s body, a miracle took place. The bull turned into the moon, and Mithras’ cloak became the night sky. Where the bull’s blood fell, flowers grew, and stalks of grain sprouted from its tail.”

In the Mayan culture, at Chichen Itza, spring equinox is most certainly celebrated (I have been there for this, very cool!) It’s called – The Snake of Sunlight “A famous ancient equinox celebration was the Mayan sacrificial ritual by the main pyramid at Chichen Itza, Mexico. The pyramid, known as El Castillo, has 4 staircases running from the top to the bottom of the pyramid’s faces, notorious for the bloody human sacrifices that used to take place here. The staircases are built at a carefully calculated angle which makes it look like an enormous snake of sunlight slithers down the stairs on the day of the equinox.” (Having been there, very cool).

Last but not least let’s look at the Iranian New Year, which is called No-Rooz, and happens at exactly the same time. Again, spring cleaning occurs and an altar is set up “Iranians consider No-Rooz as their biggest celebration of the year, before the new year, they start cleaning their houses (Khaane Tekaani), and they buy new clothes. But a major part of New Year rituals is setting the “Haft Seen” with seven specific items. In ancient times each of the items corresponded to one of the seven creations and the seven holy immortals protecting them. Today they are changed and modified but some have kept their symbolism. All the seven items start with the letter “S”; this was not the order in ancient times. These seven things usually are: Seeb (apple), Sabze (green grass), Serke (vinager), Samanoo (a meal made out of wheat), Senjed (a special kind of berry), Sekke (coin), and Seer (garlic). Sometimes instead of Serke they put Somagh (sumak, an Iranian spice). Zoroastrians today do not have the seven “S”s but they have the ritual of growing seven seeds as a reminder that this is the seventh feast of creation, while their sprouting into new growth symbolized resurrection and eternal life to come. “

So in my world, no matter where you are on this planet – equinox time is about balance & harmony. Also, celebration! So whether you just take a moment to light a candle and say thanks, go kite flying, gift a friend with a crystal (I highly recommend Aventurine, Carnelian, Peridot or Sunstone), buy yourself some spring flowers and pop them where you can see them, light a fire and have friends over for a celebration, it doesn’t matter. But I do invite you to do something, even if it is just writing with a Sharpie on an egg! Here is an Equinox ritual to perform, either on your own or with others to acknowledge this time.

For me personally; I am celebrating with my kids, a glorious feast, the ritual above, and painting my toe nails Spring colours. Oh yes, I have bought some deep purple tulips for the dining room table and have candles galore!

So how are you going to celebrate?

It’s All About the Balance Baby – Autumnal Equinox and 8 steps to harness this energy.

Jenny Heston · 5:28 pm ·

There are 8 spots on the wheel of the year and these are called Sabbats. 4 are major and 4 are called “lesser” in other words they are the mid point between 2 of the major. So this Equinox, which is also known as Mabon (named after the Welsh god, Mabon, son of the Earth Goddess Madron), is a lesser Sabbat as it is mid way between the summer solstice and the winter solstice. Does this mean it has less energy – heck no!

This is the second harvest, the fruit harvest, late July we celebrated the first harvest festival which was Lammas. With this festival, you are being invited to look at the seeds that you sowed in the Spring, on every level, and reflect on how they have manifested. Most crops are in and the fields are beginning to look brown and are slowly going to sleep for the winter (unless they are filled with gorgeous orange pumpkins). I personally have pulled up all my soft and tender zucchini plants and am almost done harvesting my tomatoes, but I am going to leave my carrots and beets in the ground until first frost (it makes them far more juicy!) In my wanderings with the hounds I also found a gorgeous old, old abandoned orchard filled with apple trees and have been harvesting apples galore (although the bears have had something to say about that!)

What you need to appreciate is that Mabon is the balance point, the place where there is equal amount of day and night. While we harvest and celebrate the glorious gifts we are receiving we have to accept that the soil is dying, and release. We have food to eat, but warmth is gently tucking behind us and cold and dark lie ahead. Now if this if making you gulp a little, don’t! Remember you can’t experience light without the dark and vice versa. When the day and night are of equal length, it offers a powerful vibration and harmony between the time of creation (night) and the time of manifestation (day). This allows the flow between creation and manifestation to be more seamless and flows with ease and effortlessness. There are no limits on what you can manifest during an Equinox, however, for a Spring (Southern Hemisphere) it is a time of new beginnings and for us in Autumn it is a time to harvest, release and let go.

So how do I mark this time and celebrate it and harness this glorious energy you may be asking. Good question and there are a myriad of ways, so pick whichever resonates for you. You can do more than one most certainly, but if it feels like a chore – put it to the side!

Create An Altar

Now if the word altar makes you uncomfie, call it a celebration nook or a gratitude space. It could be on the dining room table, a kitchen counter a dresser – you name it. Gather up leaves, acorns, seed pods, rocks, twigs – whatever calls out to you and put them in a lovely spot and enjoy them. Take your kids or friends on a Nature walk. When you have gathered and placed give them a little blessing and thanks. It’s the ritual of taking time to acknowledge that’s important, not the objects per se.

Clean House!

With the longer nights soon approaching and most of us spending more time inside than out, this is a perfect time to do a fall version of spring cleaning. Gather together the things that no longer serve you, it could be clothes you don’t wear anymore, books that you aren’t going to read again, those random arsed odd soxs that you hold onto just in case…… Release them. Gift them to a charity shop (not the odd soxs), take them to your library, but give them a little pat and thanks and pass them on to someone else who will enjoy them. Give your house a good clean and then do a smudging. Decorate your home with symbols of the harvest season. Buy or pick a gorgeous bouquet of orange, gold and green and have it somewhere where you can see it daily.

Celebrate Your Abundance!

When we say abundance, it doesn’t necessarily mean material or financial gain — you may be abundant if you have friends who love you, a satisfying family life, or a rewarding career. Think about that things you have for which you are most grateful. I get Notes from the Universe, every morning (and I love them) and today’s was – “If you’re reading this right now on a phone or computer, you’re rich. If you have somewhere to go today, you’re connected. And if there is anyone anywhere for any reason knows where you are at this moment, you’re loved.“

You can turn it into a game with your family at dinner time and everyone takes turns to share what makes them feel abundant (it’s very cool to hear all the various responses).

Play With Your Food

If you have access to berries, apples, pears or whatever fruit is around you right now. Gather it all together and create an abundance mandala. In other words, play with your food! Get your most favourite dish out and arrange the fruit in any way that you like that resembles a mandala and have it for dessert (or your main course). Involve your kids, have friends over, but celebrate!

Apple Magic

Apples are the perfect symbol of the Mabon season. Long connected to wisdom and magic. The apple has figured significantly in many sacred traditions. It is known as a symbol for life and immortality, for healing, renewal, regeneration and wholeness.

If you cut an apple widthways it reveals a pentagram containing seeds. The five points represent the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water with Spirit at the top, and thus also the directions of East, South, West, North and Within. The circle of the apple around the pentagram represents the eternal circle/cycle of life and nature, and of wholeness.

So if there are apple trees nearby, or a local pick your own orchard go get some apples! Then think of the pies, crisps and crumbles you can make with your glorious fruit. You could also dehydrate (dry) the apple circles and make them into an edible wreath.

It’s All About the Balance Baby

As I mentioned earlier, Mabon is the perfect time of balance between light and dark. So why not give yourself the gift of balance. Take a few moments or longer and just sit and breathe slow and deep and meditate on balance. Reflect on how you handle pressure, how you manage your emotions and other people’s. Is your life in balance? Do you make sure you get enough rest, water and play or are you pushing and striving and feeling a tad overwhelmed? What little shifts and changes can you do to create more balance in your mind, body, work, home life, family? Do you need to practice saying No more or do you need to practice saying Yes more? Get it? So just take some time and if you feel inclined write down a few small tweaks that would make you feel more in alignment and balanced.

Decorate with Sunflowers

As I have said repeatedly, I love, love sunflowers! Their big bobbly heads that track the sun, their glorious cheerful faces that waft in the breeze. But as with all things, that changes. The petals are starting to drop off and the seed heads are beginning to curl back a bit and the leaves are drooping. So I’m gently going to trim the heads off the flowers, save one and dry the seeds (so I can’t plant my seeds at Spring Equinox) and with all the rest (and there are quite a few), I’m threading them on fishing line and hanging them in the branches of the trees for the birds. That way the birds and the squirrels can stock up on seeds before the winter comes.

Light ‘Er Up!

Get a candle or candles and as you light them you can ask for blessings on your home, hearth and self. This doesn’t have to be complex or over the top (although if you want it to it can be). You can just simply take a breath, light your candle and say “Goddess or Green Man, I ask for your blessing on this special day. Bless my harvest, my home, my hearth and my self. Keep us safe and warm, the winds away from the door, harmony and health abounding. I give thanks and so it is.” Voila! Remember though, please don’t leave candles unattended and most certainly don’t go to sleep with one burning.

If you like ritual there are two gorgeous ones here – one is for Autumnal Equinox (Mabon), and the other (if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere) is for Spring Equinox.

So delicious one, that is how to celebrate and harness this potent time of Equinox. I hope you give yourself the gift of doing something to mark this special day.

Enjoy!

Faerie Offering

Jenny Heston · 6:21 pm ·

This Beltane, celebrate your interconnection to the web of all life, including the life of the faerie folk, also known as the aliveness and consciousness within all of nature. A handful of birdseed can be an excellent offering to the fae, as can tumbled or faceted crystals, shiny coins, and beer, ale, or champagne in walnut shells!

When you leave an offering to the fairies, do so with love and open-hearted generosity. After all, these are the beautiful beings who help our beloved planet to sparkle, shine, burgeon, and bloom. Making an offering to the fairies will help draw more fairies to your yard or other outdoor area, while also sensitizing you to the magical realm of the fae.

But let’s be honest, there are some glorious ways to acknowledge the amazing fae who flit in and out of your lives on on a day to day basis.

Build a faerie door on a tree.

Put glorious crystals out on the earth (preferably your garden or a potted plant).

Most certainly if you have some berries, put them in a tea cup as an offering.

Put a little pile of birdseed outside and watch the flickers, sparrows and others flood in and snarfle it up.

Rose petals – Roses are said to have the highest and purest vibration of any living thing. As such, their fresh petals can help attract fairies and open the portal to the realm of the fae.

Wildflower paper – take a piece of paper write your gorgeous wishes to the fae, gently dampen it under the tap and pop some wildflower seeds in it and then plant it!

Crystals

jennyheston

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