Release

New Moon In Gemini, Ancestors and Summer Solstice is almost here!

Happy, happy magnificent, magickal, mesmerising Monday! How are you delicious lovely? Have you had a glorious week? If you remember from our reading last week, the energy of this month is one of moving from Air to Fire (ideas to manifestation) and also Discipline and Action. Thus, have you played with either of those energies in the past week? With the New Moon in Gemini on the 13th (Wednesday), this is a glorious time to really take the ideas (Air) and set wishes/intentions towards the passion and intentional action (Fire) you want to take. If you have forgotten how to make New Moon wishes, don’t worry, we have you covered!

The last few days here have been far cooler and rainier, which in a way has been quite lovely as it has saved me watering the garden, the plants are growing in leaps and bounds and it’s also meant that I have to be indoors more. Thus, those lovely housekeeping tasks that I had been putting off due to the weather being so stupendous, got done! But what I found really interesting was the whole concept of Ancestors that came up as I was doing things like polishing the furniture and taking down the cobwebs. (And no, no hallucinogens were being used whilst cleaning the house!)

How it all came about was as I finished polishing the 70 year old dining room table, I was gently smoothing a gorgeous hand tatted tablecloth over it and I realised that that particular table cloth was 99 years old! What??? My great aunt had made it as part of her wedding trousseau, and as my hand ran along the intricate hand tatted lace I could imagine her as a young woman sitting by a coal fire, with a lamp lit, gently putting together all the pieces that she would take with her when she got married and started her own home. Wow! Ancestors. Then a little while later I was sorting through papers and getting things ready to pop into the post today. I am renewing my British passport and so I had asked my mother if she happened to have a copy of my father’s long form birth certificate. She most certainly did and when it arrived in the mail there was also another long form certificate written all in Gaelic. Hmmm, what is this? It was was my father’s fathers long form birth certificate from 1883 where he was born in County Mayo Ireland and there were the names of my great grandfather and my great grandmother and the profession of the male. Holy Hannah, that was cool. I know back to three generations on the maternal side, but only 1.5 generations on the paternal side. Ancestors. So this got me to perking even more, how often do we acknowledge, invite or even explore our heritage, ancestry? I know quite a few people who have done the DNA Ancestry Testing and have been quite surprised by the results, and as cool as that is I guess I am thinking more about the faces and the energy aspect of Ancestry than the DNA piece. Does that make sense?

When I used to Karma Krew at Enlightened Warrior, one of the sayings that we used a lot was “AHO” as an acknowledgement and in various of the “processes” that would occur in this format of camp often you would hear “aho mitakuye oyasin”, which is a phrase from the Lakota language meaning “I welcome all my relations”, it acknowledges the connection to lineage and to nature. Ancestors. This in turn got me to thinking about when I meditate or when I am out in the woods, what if I were to invite the wisdom, teachings and supportive energy of my Ancestors to be with me, would it make a difference? Well I tried it yesterday out in the woods, and all I can say was it was pretty stupendous. I felt like I had my own special entourage with me, guiding me, whispering words of encouragement and holding me in an energy of love and safety. I highly encourage you to give it a try!

Phew, so with all that being said let’s crack on with the reading. I was delighted to see The Oracle of the Sacred Rebels come out to play, as I was highly curious to see which deck would pick up on the energy of Ancestors and New Moon Intentions. Then I asked the crystals who would like to come and they literally pointed me to the rocks. The rocks that are part of the biggest crystal we know of – Mother Earth. This made me giggle in delight as often when I think of Ancestors I think of “The trees and the stones, the plants and the bones.” Therefore, the reading was done outside on a bed of glorious rocks.

So are you ready? I invite you to ask your ancestors for guidance as you breathe and look at the cards. See if they are willing to come show you what you need to know for this week. If you need a bit of support with really tapping into this type of energy, I have created a pretty interesting visualisation for you. There is a little cosmic travelling, but it won’t take long and you will be totally safe. So just breathe and let’s go on a little explore.

Did you pick the cards or cards that whispered to you?

Shall we go have a little look see?

FOLLOW YOUR OWN RHYTHM

Deep within you are moved by an ancient, powerful force that cannot be tamed. It is the rising pulse of your connection to the life force. You feel it in your bones, in your blood, in your heart and in your belly. When there is something dying within, you sense it falling away, no longer needed. You sense when it is time to rest and be patiently in transition. You feel the stirring of agitation and restlessness when new life calls you to create, to act, to step forward and to take a risk. You know that you march to your own bet, that no-one else can tell you what your inner rhythms are and that you must trust in your own timing. You cannot be rushed or forced, nor can you be held back when it is time to burst forth. Life celebrates and supports the natural rise and fall of your inner rhythms.

You cannot miss what you are destined for nor will you gain anything by trying to push yourself. Trust in the life cycles within, and you will feel the perfect balance between effort and surrender, discipline and letting go.

When it is time for the rhythm of rest, you will feel a natural slowing within and be drawn into contemplation and environments are more gentle, spacious or nourishing and perhaps more peaceful. When the rhythm of play beats in your heart, you will reach out to others to connect, dance, converse, sing, make music, make love and share your wildness. You will be drawn to uplifting groups and places where you can experience a positive energetic exchange.

Your needs will be met in harmony with your rhythms. All that you will miss out on by trusting this, is anxiety. What you will gain is peace.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL?

There are many opinions around you. Some are helpful but others are distracting you from your truth. Although it can be helpful to hear the thoughts of others, when it all comes down to it, you will have to come to your own decision. Do you know how unique you are? How your path is your path to be chosen, lived and created – only by you? Someone else cannot become the source of your decision-making power without negative repercussions for both of you in the long run.

You have become swept up in thinking things through. You have been thinking about which way to go with a matter of importance and you have got a bit stuck in the logic of the decision making process. Sometimes we have to accept that any path is a path forward and if it is not the best path, we can change our approach later on if needed. If we are slightly off base with a decision, life will often shift and move to guide us back on track. We don’t have to be perfect. In fact, there is rarely ever a perfect choice to be made – just some choices that feel more heart-honouring than others. Sometimes we can only really know in hindsight if we made the best choice possible in that moment. At the time of decision-making, we only really have our internal wisdom to rely upon. And that is all that we need.

Don’t punish or traumatise yourself with possible choices. Just making a choice will set things in motion. The best way to catalyse the situation you are in and bring about healing change, stimulate your creative juices and find a more inspired, energised and enjoyable approach to your life, is to just make a choice based on what you feel right now. Not based on anyone else’s feelings. Just yours. So ask yourself – what do I feel right now? And go from there.

GOING BEYOND NORMAL

On the path of life there are deciding moments where we can choose to go with the mainstream or we can dare to take a bolder, more authentic and trusting way – even if it seems riskier or less safe. To rely solely on logic and science, without incorporating the mysterious and magical is a recipe for an existence that is far too dry! The sacred rebel within our hearts will always choose a juicer approach to life. You are currently approaching such a choice point. You could say that the choice is about balance. It is less about choosing to honour either art or science, gardening or architecture, and more about integrating all approaches so that you enhance rather than hinder your life journey.

There is a time and a place for logic, strategy, planning and measurable outcomes. These are not bad tools to have but we must be vigilant not to worship them or allow them to quash or less rational, but equally valuable decision-making tools: intuition, feelings and those things you know, without knowing how you know them! The flowing, inspirational energy of the heart may have no conceivable basis in logic or reason and still be uncannily accurate. To remain rebellious we must not sacrifice the art of emotion, instinct, passion and intuition, for the science of logic and strict planning!

You are being asked to stay open to the intuitive approach in your life, your work, your creativity as well as in your spiritual journey. The intuitive approach can be likened to the method of a gardener or an artist. There is a sense of what might work where and a loose or even a detailed plan, but how the plan is carried out will depend on and respond to the flow off its surroundings. There is no need to control the situation but rather a desire to nurture an idea to fruition.

You are moving outside of the plan! You are living on the border of what is socially accepted. This is good. This is fringe-dwelling freedom. Others might not see this about you straight away as you seem pretty normal but that secret eccentric streak is just waiting to show itself. And, maybe you are an out and proud fringe dweller, completely comfortable with this way of being. Either way, you have a chance to live from the heart more deeply and expressively than ever before. You need to realise that this is a legitimate, empowered and creative way to live that honours all of who you are. You can give up forcing or squashing yourself down into a very limited set of so called desirable qualities like intellect and control. It’s time to get a bit wild and let nature take its course.

What a glorious reading! How did it feel for you? There is lots to perk at this time with both of the different energies of June, tapping into your ancestral line for support, New Moon and Summer Solstice next week. Holy Hannah! Don’t get overwhelmed, don’t avoid either. Just relax and ask for guidance and support. Two things, firstly, thank you all so much for your lovely emails and comments, I really appreciate them all and the sharing of stories. Secondly, the reading will be coming out on Tuesday of next week, as I am driving for 12 hours on Monday. This will be a lovely Summer Solstice reading and there will be an idea for ritual to help you really hook into this wonderful energy. So do make sure you are signed up for this as you won’t want to miss it. Have a fabulous week and remember to lean back into the guidance that is always there for you. Huge hugs and squeezes! (Oh yes and yummy choccie biccies with hot tea). See you on Tuesday next week.

March is here and the energy has changed! And only 15 days until Spring Equinox!

Jenny Heston · 2:00 pm ·

Happy magnificent first Monday of March!!! Whoot! So excited March is here, there is a sense that winter is leaving (not when I look out the window so much), but definitely in my body and spirit, and the theme and energy has changed – more about that in a moment. First, I would like to say a huge thank you as so many of you sent me glorious messages and emails about my having to say goodbye to my lovely Uma, and I really, really appreciated them and the sharing of stories. So a huge heartfelt thank you!

Have to say, this week has been a week of “firsts” without having her around and at first I was so sad and angry about it all, which I noticed manifested in an odd cough and sinus pain. Duh! Sinus stuff is repressed anger, lung stuff is grief. Thus, I was very gentle with myself (and others – so no one ended up in the freezer) and made sure I was clear about what I was willing to do and what I just couldn’t, or even didn’t want to. Which shocked a few people, but felt very much like honouring where I was at and I wasn’t going to dumb it down to make others feel “okay”.

I took time this weekend to go play in the woods and just do some healing and releasing. On Saturday I went with a friend plodging through the snow and we bushwacked! What does that mean? It means we followed deer trails, elk trails that wended and winded through the forest and the deep snow, first up, then down, then up, along and slightly down and we had no concept to where we were. We had to crawl under brush, scramble over fallen trees covered with snow, or slide down a cliff on our bums, but I laughed and laughed. By the time it was all said and done we had done about 8 km and from the knee down were soaked, but it felt cleansing and gloriously grounding!

I also spent time bundled up just sitting outside and watching the dance of the squirrels and the crows. Every Saturday I put out seeds, peanuts in the shell and gorgeous little tidbits for them and then I laugh! A huge crow flies in and grabs a peanut whilst calling in all his friends, a small squirrel dashes along the top of the fence and has a face off with the crow (who does fly off) and grabs a peanut and sits very contentedly munching away, until a different crow flies in and the squirrel dashes off. Then this dance is repeated until everything is gone. I have to admit, I really admire squirrels, they are ballsy! Have you watched them? They go out on the thinnest of branches that bow under their weight, look at where they want to go and then just leap! I watched this little chap leap a good 4 feet onto the tiniest of branches, bounce up and down for a minute and then crack on with the mission of getting to the peanuts. They would make exceptional diamond thieves!

So as I mentioned earlier the energy has shifted and the theme for this month is Creative Adaptability. “Many of us are leaving February in a state of grump resistance to how things are unfolding both personally and globally. It will be both a challenge and a relief to have the opportunity to work with something new. It is time to change and step into a more proactive role in how we experience our lives. We need to be adaptable, not in a resigned acceptance, but rather in way that has us creating new recipes using familiar ingredients. Creativity is a key element this month.” If you want to learn more I highly suggest following Lena Stevens of the Powerpath.

Thus, it was no surprise that the deck that jumped out after this last week and weekend was The Oracle of the Faery Forest. Interesting to see that the crystals that came to play all remind me of birds eggs for some reason. So we have Angelite – a gorgeous crystal of heightened awareness, Chrysocolla – which revitalises and calms the base, navel and solar plexus and helps to ease emotional heartache, Sodalite – brings mental calmness and rational thinking. I use Angelite everytime I do a reading, I tuck it into my bra and have it next to my skin – would love to say I popped it in my cleavage but being long and lean it would probably drop all the way through to my ankles!

So with that overshare, let’s crack on! Take a moment to just come into your body, feel your feet on the ground and lengthen your neck and tuck your chin as if you are holding a large grapefruit under it. Just feel the energy moving up and down and breathe. Allow your wise inner self to come up and when you are ready pick the card or cards that resonate for you. If you want to get deliciously grounded and connected to the heavens, there is a glorious visualisation for you, although a helicopter decided to pop in briefly.

Have you picked?

Let’s go see who want to come support you this week.

THE GOLDEN UNICORN

Everyone deserves to have another person in their life to whom they can turn for protection and care. When this card comes for you, the Golden Unicorn is showing you the path to a person, advisor, or mentor who will assist you through the challenges you are now facing. When the Golden Unicorn appears, it is a beacon of hope, for with the right guidance, what seems to be impossible can be achieved, and you will no longer feel so raw, vulnerable, and unable to go on.

If you are facing unjust circumstances – you will be shown, step by step, how to get through this time, when it seems that all friends have fallen away, and the world is no longer a safe place. The glorious golden unicorn leads with reason, intelligence, and intuitive brilliance. With their guidance you will come to a safer place within the world, and be wiser in choices regarding friendships, alliances, partnerships.

You are wiser now, and will never be quite so hurt again. There is now protective energy about you, and it is safe for you to leave the current circumstances and create a new path. The judgment you have sensed about you will now dissipate, and true, good people enter your life to help heal the pain of friendships that have fallen.

OATH

An oath is a sacred bond that we make. It is more than a promise, it is the bond of a soul contract through the spoken word – and thus we must be cautious when we offer our word, and think through what it is we mean when we give it. It is impossible to ever know what another thinks we mean when we give our word, so when this card comes, there is a slight undertone of a warning – that another person may take your word and twist it to mean they have your loyalty forever, regardless of circumstance, behaviour, or treatment. An oath is made between equals, and an oath can be broken by both parties, and by circumstance.

You may now be considering a partnership or a contractual agreement. It is almost impossible to know how to ensure that this is a good thing, because the truth is, within every contract there is much that cannot be comprehended, even when it is read. If this is the case, ask the other party in the contract to explain what is meant by clauses you do not understand – and ask them to offer examples, so you can best understand the paper oath you are taking.

In some cases, it may be a handshake you are sealing an agreement with. Whatever its form, consider the weight that comes with the feeling of making this contract. Consider the future and the karmic load the agreement brings to you, along with its immediate benefits. It is the truth that when considering our word, we must understand as fully as we can what we have agreed to. Be sure to do this now.

CUNNINGWOMAN

Now is not the time for talk or action. It is a time to be independent, watchful, and intelligent.

This being holds with her very specific knowledge – the value of silence and watchfulness. Her message to you is to watch, and observe what people and beings around you are doing. It is through their actions that you will know them. There is also an element of secrecy – you must keep close to your heart certain information and thoughts at present. It is necessary for you to be very shrewd and careful about the next step – and this is no bad thing. It is wise to conserve your energy at this time, to be silent, to withhold, and to begin to see the patterns around you. You will soon know what to do, and exactly when to do it.

But now is not the time to share, to offer forth your most tender secrets, nor is it time to speak of what you know. It is time to be quiet, to observe, and to allow others to reveal who they are.

Quiet your mind, steady your gaze, resolve to be focused, and then your innate and clever nature will be able to make sense of what is taking place about you. Be the point of stillness, watchfulness, and wisdom. Let everything just drop away. And begin to see the truth, as revealed by what is actually happening, uncoloured by story, imagination, interpretation.

Wow! Well that is quite delicious – protection, oaths and silent observation!!!

Holy hannah! Well glorious one wishing you an amazing week where you feel your roots are strong, your trunk is flexible and your canopy reaches to the heavens to receive love, nurturing and joy! Oh yes, and if you are surrounded by snow and rain, treat yourself and buy a lovely cheerful bunch of daffs!

Oh yes, and I’m creating a free glorious “Spring into Life” challenge. 5 days of easy ritual, tuning up all your energies and aspects of your life, releasing the “blaugh” and ending with a glorious ritual on Spring Equinox. So you feel clear, joyful and on purpose. More info on that coming out later this week.

Big hugs and squeezes.

We are near the end of February and what a week it has been! Weekly Reading February 26th.

Jenny Heston · 2:00 pm ·

Happy glorious Monday delicious one. How has your week been? Do you realise that in a week we will be in March (thank goodness, as that means Spring is going to be here soon). I will be honest, this was a really tough reading to do. It’s been a heck of a week here, my gorgeous gal and most favourite dog – Uma went to sleep on Friday. So the week has been a rollercoaster of emotions everything from tears, hope, deep sadness and anger – big anger. I noticed on Monday she wasn’t her usual self and took her to the Vet’s on Wednesday to find out she had bone marrow cancer and then on Friday she looked at me and literally asked to go. So incredibly hard. Sometimes I hate being a grownup!

On Saturday I had to attend a meeting at the Legion and it took everything for me to keep it together, to stay prickly enough that people wouldn’t come near me and ask me dumb questions (as I felt very inclined to advise them of their stupidity – I know, not kind, but I wasn’t feeling kind). I was feeling deeply sad and wounded. I did really well and just stayed quiet, took the minutes and was counting the time until I could bolt and then someone walked up with a service dog. I literally bit the inside of my cheek and dug my nails into my palms whilst looking at anything other than that dog until the meeting was done and then – well all bets were off. I bolted out the door and the tears came hot and fast. When I got home I realised that I needed to write, to write to my gorgeous gal, to write to the pain and the loss and this whirlwind week, so I did. I wrote an Ode to my gorgeous gal. Interesting to see that the weather has been reflecting my mood, it’s grey out there with continual snow and blowing winds – bleak. But I know Spring will come, the snow will stop, the sun will shine and these waves of overwhelming emotion will gradually get further and further apart.

I thought the Rumi deck, or the Wild Kuan Yin would be the ones that wanted to come play, however, they weren’t. It is The Divine Circus which did make me laugh a bit “May your rebel heart always be bold. May your spirit always be free.” The crystals that wanted to come play are:- Amethyst, Aragonite, Smoky Quartz.

So with all that being said, I invite you to gently close your eyes down and take a glorious deep breath in, nice and slow through your nose and then a lovely sigh like exhale through your mouth. Keep breathing in this way and see at your heart centre a glorious ball of warm light. Envision this ball of light moving down your body and going out the soles of your feet, down, down, down into the gorgeous molten core of the earth. Feel it click into the gorgeous grounding earth energy and then move itself back up and through your lovely body and out the top of your head. As it moves up, up, up it expands completely around you so that you are standing in the middle of this lovely warm light and feel, as it expands out into the Universe, feel it click into the universal energy – the realm of infinite possibilities. Now that you are connected to earth and Divine, your ball of light moves slowly back to your heart space and gently sits there, nurturing, guiding, healing and loving. With this energy surrounding you, in you and through you, gently open your eyes and trust yourself as you pick the card or cards that call to you.

Ready to go see?

SWEETHEART

You’ve know violence in your life; maybe on the outside, maybe on the inside with a mind that has tortured you with fear, shame, darkness and doubt. Enough of that now. It is time for a gentler way – less pain, more gain. No more torture. It’s your time for sweets and treats.

There is so much violence in the world, and in our own minds, that we can assume this is just the way of the world, that we have to accept it, deal with it, and thereby forget we have the right to question it and even change it, if we so choose. Even the most ambitious desires for healing the world start with us as individuals. We cannot bring more peace to the world if there is violence in our hearts. Regrets, shaming judgements, fear of not being good enough, uncertainty and constant pushing to become more, to do more, to have more, can become the energetic equivalent of beating ourselves up every day. This creates invisible bruises that never have time to heal because we don’t give ourselves the sweetness, kindness and compassion we need to break free from the abusive cycle.

This cycle you are coming to is sweeter, one that is more loving, one that promises new life. But you have to be willing to dispense with the violence, one step at a time. You deserve to give yourself a gentler life journey. Would you accept this for yourself? If there are abusive or toxic relationships in your life, then you’ll need to do some relationship overhauling. No matter how much the people involved may proclaim their love, if underneath it is unhealthy, if a relationship is holding you back rather than helping to lift you up, then reconsider its place in your life.

You can’t taste the sweetness that life wants to bring to you if you are crammed full of stuff you don’t need or want anymore. Create some space. Ready yourself for receiving life’s nectar and believe in the power of your new beginning. You are a true sweetheart of the universe. Let yourself be treated accordingly.

CONFETTI

You will soon have cause for celebration. Whether a big win or a token gain affirming that the best is yet to come, sweet success is headed your way. Prepare to celebrate! It’s time to find the celebratory spirit within. Maybe you already feel it, or maybe it’s the last thing in the world you can imagine feeling right now, but whether it’s on your radar or not, a cause for celebration is imminent.

It’s time to spend your energy in playfulness. If you want more success, happiness and celebration in your life, you can enhance that right now by being happy for the success of others around you. Do you know that success is like a wave? When you genuinely congratulate another and feel happy for their happiness, your own energy field gets a jolt of that same energy. You attract it into your own life. You deserve success for all you are and all you’ve accomplished just as much as anyone else.

So be happy for another – even if a part of you wonders if there is enough to go around, if maybe they have taken your piece of the pie, or if you wonder if their success is really served. Let such thoughts be without adding to their power for thinking such a way. Just take charge and choose how you want to respond. Be happy for them and be happy for you as the universe is giving you notice of a party – and you are most definitely meant to attend – and it’s heading your way.

DEATH SHALL NOT TAKE HIM

You are going to witness the impossible made possible. Whatever you think is lost, is not. Whatever you think cannot be, shall be. The universe is going to intervene and what seems to be over, shall in a new way, live again.

Sometimes, just when you think it’s all over, the eleventh hour comes. You can practically hear the opening chords of your swan song, and when you have finally given up, suddenly, somehow, right before your eyes, everything changes – just like that. You were free-falling and then, suddenly, you are soaring. Fate steps in, destinies are altered and life demonstrates its creative, restorative power, even if all seemed lost.

No matter how defeated you feel, no matter how many dead ends you’ve encountered, how many setbacks, how many failures, no matter how impossible success may seem, the universe has your back and is going to right things in your favour. You will succeed. So if you really must (sigh) doubt for one more moment – go ahead, then replace doubt with trust and participate in the divine defiance of life refusing to be stepped on or crushed. Why not just frigging relax and bear witness to the universe’s impressive display of life-giving power with reverence and delight? Gorgeous one – get out of your own way!

Wishing you a glorious week where you treasure every moment, laugh as often as possible, tell the people and animals in your life how much you love them and remember that everything is transitory – so celebrate everything! My lovely sister sent me a blessing this weekend that is absolutely beautiful and an amazing reminder that life is good, life is love and there is always someone there to hold us, help us dust off our dirty knees and to remind us that this too will pass. The blessing is called Beannacht by John O’Donohue and starts off with –

On the day when
The weight deadens
On your shoulders
And you stumble,
May the clay dance
To balance you.

8 Rituals to help you celebrate Winter Solstice.

Jenny Heston · 8:31 pm ·

I love Winter Solstice and I can feel the energy of it for a few weeks before it even arrives. It’s dark far earlier, much colder outside and there is a desire to cocoon, wear warmer clothes and eat soup (at least for me). There is a sensation of reflection, going inwards and questioning that arrives naturally from this energy. To me this is a time where I notice those “meh” moments more and really examine my life and ask the question “Am I showing up and embodying what I am called to do?” That’s why, to me, I feel it vital to take some time out to honour this energy and work with it which in turn allows me to feel aligned. In fact I feel more balanced, connected and inspired after I have taken some time.

So what is Winter Solstice and why celebrate it? Why take the time to honour it? Good questions, so let’s explore from whence it came and what it means.

Winter Solstice takes place on the day where the night is the longest and the hours of sun or daylight are the shortest. In fact “Solstice” comes from two Latin words: sol meaning “sun” and sistere meaning “to stand still” because it appeared as though the sun and moon had stopped moving across the sky. This longest night of the year, followed by a renewal of the sun, demonstrates the cyclical order of the cosmos. In this way, celebrating the solstice can be a beautiful remembrance that our lives are part of a larger order, always changing, always renewing. It’s a gorgeous invitation to not be afraid of the dark or the shadow, as it is in that place is where we shift, grow and recharge.

Winter Solstice has been celebrated in various forms and for thousands of years across a myriad of cultures.

There was Saturnalia in Ancient Rome which began on December 17 and lasted for 7 days. These celebrations were held from as far back as around 217 BC to honour Saturn, the father of the gods.

Feast of Juul – This is where we get the term Yule from at this time of year, was a pre-Christian festival observed in Scandinavia at the time of the December solstice. People would light fires to symbolize the heat and light of the returning sun and a Juul (or Yule) log was brought in and dropped in the hearth as as a tribute to the Norse god Thor. This log was burned until nothing but ash remained. The ashes were then collected and either strewn on the fields as fertiliser every night until Twelfth Night or kept as a charm.

Yalda – or Shab-e-Chelleh (night of fourty) is an Iranian festival celebrated on the “longest and darkest night of the year” – Solstice. Every year, on December 21st, Iranians celebrate the arrival of winter, the renewal of the sun and the victory of light over darkness on Yalda Night.

Santo Tomas – a celebration in Guatemala where the Mayan Indians indulged in the ritual known as the Palo Volador, or “flying pole dance.” Three men climb on top of a 50 foot pole as one of them beats a drum and plays a flute. The other two men wind a rope attached to the pole around one foot and jump. If they land on their feet, it is believe that the sun god will be pleased and that the days will start getting longer.

If I were to try and explain this celebration in a nutshell it would be a time for introspection, embracing of the shadow, a willingness to walk into the dark, to then celebrate the returning of the light within and without. This is a celebration of honouring the dark before calling into the light and then most certainly celebrating the return of the sun and the light.

So let’s talk rituals – some people get really weirded out when the word “ritual” is mentioned. So let’s put some myths aside right now – there is no right way or wrong way, you don’t have to have all the ingredients for a certain ritual, it doesn’t need to be complex and over the top (but if that’s your style, go for it). I personally like simple rituals that I can do with my kids, on my own, with friends I trust and I don’t ever want them to feel like I am adding to my “to do” list, especially in this frenzied time.

To me ritual is intentional and all about creating space for you to tap into the seasons, the reasons and yourself. By performing simple rituals with personal meaning to celebrate the solstice, these rituals will serve as touchstones to help you cultivate an attitude of receptiveness and appreciation that will carry you through the holiday season with more ease. A good starting point might be to make a promise this winter to spend more time listening, watching, and honoring the slower, quieter rhythm of the season.

Always, always start with setting the space. Whether it is lighting a candle, hanging a wreath of evergreens or just sitting in silence for a while. Honour yourself, your connection to Gaia and Spirit, the celebration and get clear on your intention. Let’s explore some rituals to help you tap into this gorgeous energy, gain more peace and clarity and release whatever is not serving you.

Be Still, Be Quiet – Tools – You, a candle.

The minute I wrote that title I thought of the song based on “Christina Rossetti’s” poem – In the Bleak Midwinter.

If you don’t know this poem the first stanza is “In the bleak mid-winter, Frosty wind made moan; Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, Snow on snow, In the bleak mid-winter long ago.”

Yet for some reason this poem captures the energy of this celebration. It is a time to stop, stand still.

So if you are willing (appreciating we are all very busy – as we tell ourselves), take some time to just be quiet. Turn off all the electronica, the TV, the cell phone, your laptop or whatever it is. Sit in the dark and just breathe and as you breathe imagine a glorious sunlight coming into your heart space and as you breathe out release the strings of darkness that we all have. Keep breathing in this way and with those intentions and when you’re ready gently bounce up. Turn on the lights, light a candle and eat something sunny. An egg perhaps?

Release, Cleanse and Create!- Tools – Frankincense, Myrrh, Cedar, Juniper Berries or Sage, a candle, journal for writing in. Peace and quiet for 20 minutes.

Create a space. Just sit, light a candle and give out a blessing. Anne Hayman has a lovely one that I work with – “ Bless me on this holy day, as I honor the traditions of my ancient sisters. I hold space for myself + for all living creatures on this planet. I stand strong in this long night of darkness. I trust that the light returns. I see my own energy reflected in nature as I go within, only to emerge full of light. May the blessings be… And so it is!”

Then take a bit of time to write out what you want to release, physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. Where are you holding it in your body and how you will feel when it is released? When you’re finished writing, rip the paper up and place it to the side.

Then using Frankincense, Myrrh and Cedar (if you are using the real thing then you will need a charcoal disc to burn them on). If you don’t have these, no panic – use Sage smudge or whatever you have. Light this sacred incense up let it waft through the air and take a moment to think about all you have released. Then with the candle you lit at the beginning, over a safe container, light up the pieces of paper you ripped up.

As you watch the flames devour your darkness and releasing see it all absorbed back into the sky, the Universe, healthy, cleaned and transferred. .

Sit for a moment with the waft of incense around you and your candle burning and say to yourself – “Light above me, light around me, light within me, light below me. My light is my strength and my protection.” You have just welcomed the light back.

So now you have created a glorious, sacred space within yourself with this ritual. What do you want to fill it with?

Imagine yourself as fully connected to the Divine and the Earth, you are a conduit in the middle. With this glorious energy pulsing through you – what do you want to create? What makes you feel energised? What makes you feel vibrant and alive? How do you want to share your light with others? Write it all down. If you use cards and feel fully connected to them, do a yearly spread. If you want some help, let me know.

When you are done, place both hands on your heart and breathe long and deep. You have just done something that is powerful and changes energy in a deep, subtle way. Breathe in, breathe out and know, trust you are a delicious being of light and love. So it is, and so it will be.

Get outdoors! Tools – You and the outdoors.

Is there a trail you can walk or a field or bank of snow you can lie down in?

A perch that provides the perfect view? Perhaps it is the top of your apartment building or a rocky outcrop. Wherever it is, even it is in your yard, find a quiet place to just acknowledge and BE. Get outside, whether it is at night or to watch the glorious sunrise. Get outdoors.

Create a Giving Tree – Tools – Food in the fridge, popcorn strings, a tree, candles.

This is deliciously easy and can be done on your own, with your partner or with your kids. Create a giving tree (this is where the idea of Xmas trees came from). Make some strings of popcorn and berries, apple slices or whatever you would like to do. I have done nuts on strings, apple slices covered in peanut butter embedded with seeds, popcorn and cranberry strings.

Take all your glorious offerings to the tree you picked, whether inside or outside. In the dark hang your strings on the tree and tell the tree how you welcome the light back so that there is more than enough abundance for everyone and everybeing. Stand back in the dark and revel. Then light your candles up and just take some time and appreciate where you are, your glorious tree, the offerings you made and the light coming back. If you want to burst into song with something like “Here Comes the Sun” by Simon and Garfunkel, then you so need to send me a video!

Invite People for Dinner! – Tools: You, friends or family, candles, food and a willingness.

This is a celebration time and what better way to celebrate than share food with others.

Sharing food is an important part of any celebration, it is particularly meaningful during Solstice as it represents faith in the return of the sun and the harvest. So have a friend or more than one over for dinner! Light some candles, share your goals, intentions and what you want to “harvest” in the next 6 months.

Turn off the Lights! – Tools: You, lights and thermostats?

This is super easy, turn off all the lights in your home, turn off your furnace, radiators, , baseboard heaters or whatever form of heat you have. Open the doors and windows wide and allow the cold air to flood in and breeze through (I highly recommend you bundle up).

In that soft darkness sit and BE in silence for a good 5 minutes or more. With the combination of dark, cold and silence it cultivates a stillness in yourself. You may feel a tad wiggly or odd but just keep breathing.

I used to do this with the kids when they were younger (and this is also my youngest monster’s birthday) it was quite profound to see what came up and out. When you are done with the dark (and don’t run from it), go around and gently close the doors and windows, put on your heating supply and as you do send a little blessing out “As the darkness begins to retreat and light begins its return once again – I am grateful”.

Then light candles galore (this welcomes back the sun), sing songs, share food and stories and what came up. And most importantly relax, enjoy and celebrate! If you are doing this on your own, after you have lit your candles, put on music that makes you feel awesome. Move your body and eat something delicious that is not your norm and give huge thanks.

Walk into the Dark – Tools – evergreen boughs, candles, apples and again – a willingness.

I have done this one for quite a few years with my kids and friends and it is stupendous and delicious. The Spiral Walk.

A few days prior to Solstice we go gather a truck filled with cedar boughs (keep in mind I do live on the side of a mountain). Then on the white snow we create a spiral that you could walk like a labyrinth. In the centre of the spiral is a tree stump covered with nature’s offerings – berries, shells, pinecones and crystals and a large candle.

The evening of Solstice we all gather together and each has an unlit candle in an apple and the only lit candle is the one in the centre of the spiral. One at a time gently holding the unlit candle someone walks the spiral into the darkness, towards the light they whisper what they want to release. When they hit the centre they light their own candle and as they walk slowly back out of the spiral they say what their creation, hearts desire, manifestation are going to be.

When they see a lovely spot that resonates for them they put their apple candle on the spiral and so it goes. By the time this ritual is done the spiral is lit up all over the place and then we would go inside, turn on all the lights and eat a meal and celebrate together. Have to say, every time we have done this as a family the spiral has been lit up all night and the centre candle has never gone out, no matter the snow or the winds.

Gift and Share – Tools: You, your stuff, large bags.

You’ve heard the saying “What is one man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” What better way to release and invite in the abundance that comes with the sun than releasing things you don’t need. Now I’m not talking about those tatty, ripped stained jeans – but what about that sweater you haven’t worn in years, those jeans that are lovely but you don’t like? Things like that. What about the food in your pantry that was given to you or brought to a gathering that you are never going to eat as it isn’t your thing? (For me I think of nuts as I don’t eat them).

So intentionally gather these things together and as you bag them up to drop off where they can be really used, set the intention of releasing for yourself and that you have created space in your physical life for more abundance and light and that your donations are welcomed and helping someone who will really enjoy them and appreciate them.

So wishing you a stupendous Solstice and a massive release and intention setting. Remember there is no right way, you just have to take the time, set an intention and do it.

Happy holidays to all of you, whether it is Hanukkah, Christmas, Solstice or none of those. May you feel peace, love and tap into your light.

New Moon in Sagittarius and only 3 days to Winter Solstice!

Jenny Heston · 2:30 pm ·

Happy Magnificent, Marvelous, Magical Monday!!! How are you? How are you doing with Solstice and Christmas quickly rushing in? I hope you are taking some time every day to just breathe, BE, laugh and play – it balances some of the crazy out! Today is the New Moon in Sagittarius and holy hannah what a delicious New Moon to work with prior to Solstice and Christmas. This New Moon has the energy of traits that ordinarily don’t surface till New Year’s Eve.

It brings awareness of time passing and chapters ending, even as it orients us to the future. It stirs optimism and possibility in the midst of somberness. And instead of resolutions, it encourages making concrete wishes that stand a very real chance of manifesting. At this New Moon there are 5 planets in the visionary sign of Sagittarius and it’s in the galactic center of our Universe. So Holy Hannah, please take a few moment to make some New Moon wishes! If you need a prod, this is it!

I shared with you last week how I was advised quite clearly by the gorgeous Universe, to help kids at Xmas and do a kind of Secret Santa thing and wow, I have been floored with the response. A lot of you stepped up with tinsel and bells on to the nth degree even though you don’t live in this community, and sent messages asking how you could help. Well let me tell you – drum roll please……….. 79 little people will have something awesome under the tree for them come Xmas morning and two families who really needed some help will have the full Xmas meal along with fun treats, pressies and grocery cards for after the holidays and last but not least blankets and warm coats are flowing in to give someone who is on the streets some warmth and succour! So for all of you near and far who participated, thank you, thank you, thank you! You have just made an amazing impact on over 130 people and wrapped them in a blanket of love and care! This makes me feel huge Joy and as we have worked with the tenets of Hope and Peace, this week we are going to work with Joy, okay?

What is Joy? Isn’t Joy just feeling Happy? Nope, gotta say, nope. Happiness comes from something external and Joy is an inside job. Joy is clearly aligned with freedom because the joyful human being experiences life’s fullness and nurturing. It is an internal state of being, one that emerges from a profound belief in the sacredness of life. It’s that glorious inner understanding that all things are held in the loving embrace of God and the angels (and don’t let the words trip you up), and that there is a meaningful explanation or learning that emerges that will ultimately benefit us all. I love, love, love feeling Joyful it’s the oxygen for my spirit or the heart warming warmth of a perfect cuppa tea (and I am very picky lol!) If you are feeling at all that Joy has left the building for whatever reason, I have your back and some tips to reconnect with that sense of Joy, right here.

Interestingly enough I thought a bit of a darker, edgier deck would pop out to come play – but the Oracle of the Dragonfae insisted, I think they strongly feel we need a little magic and warmth as we enter the shortest and darkest day of the year. The crystals that came to play are:- Red Snowflake Obsidian – it brings things to the surface and aids in seeing the patterns in life, Mookaite – a gorgeous crystal for the here and now and a crystal for the lower triad of chakras. Then we have – Bloodstone – a glorious healing stone used to cleanse and align the lower chakras and help connect back to heart.

Okay, with all that being said (I do tend to chunter on), stop, stand still, roll your shoulders up back and down in a languorous way. Feel your shoulder blades nestle down neck to your spine, gently stretch your neck and sway your torso from side to side and breathe. Just breathe. Breathe in that effervescent, safe energy of Joy and as you exhale send it to person, place or thing that you want to receive this energy (and of course it can be yourself). To help you really tap into that space of Joy there is a brief guided visualisation if you feel inclined.

Ready to pick?

Let’s go have a looksee, yes?

Nimue

Between my two hands lies the power of all that is; the connections between the Earth and the stars, the realms through which you can move to bring about your deepest desires and dreams. But do you dare to dream it? Are you courageous enough to declare your desire? I can create, but I will not be brought froth when you do not have the fortitude to commit to your change. Make a commitment to thy own self now – she, who you truly are, is worth this trust, this pledge, this courage you must have to birth your own changing self. For I am gentle, but I too have no more time to spend if you wish to waste the jewels life has given you. I will turn away, because it may not yet be your tiem. Only you can say it is not so, and walk forth into your new self, with me as guide and light, with transformation as your nature, with your incarnation without material death as your truth.

Do this with me: Bless theyself. Love thyself. Know that you are beyond your own imaginings. Act this day, this hour, this minute, and change will flow. Do not hesitate. Be transformed now!

It is time for you to free yourself from the confines of others’ expectations and investigate other less conventional ways of making a living. You may be drawn to a particular crystal at this time, and may enjoy simply entering into more regular communion with the element of earth and its minerals. Wear jewellery that has been cleansed by you, and energised by you, and understand its significance and power for you. Make each piece you choose to wear a totem symbolising your own self, adorning and expressing who you truly are. Above all, the message of Nimue is to free yourself. Stop expecting others to unshackle the chains and force you to walk free. You, and only you, can remove that which is holding you back.

The Listener

How much have you missed because I could not have the space, the wild quiet, the blessed peace in which to whisper my secret straight to your soul? How much more could you be aware of if you simply took the time to be still and silent? The whole world can be heard in a moment….and now it is your time to be still, and to be silent. Listen and truly understand what it is you are hearing. Listen with your being, your entire being, not just your ears. Allow your senses to be the soul’s messengers. Sometimes we need to be quiet and listen. But first of all we need to be quiet. So many people talk so much of the time. And the talking and the talking and the filling up of space simply drowns out the messages. The dragonfae do not decry conversation and robust dialogue, the joyous clash of friends talking with each other, or the singing out of voices….especially when raised in joy, celebration, song and good cheer! But this card speaks of a time when it would be right for you to be still, and to listen, as the world whispers her secrets to you. We do not want to be making so much noise that we drown out our own signs and messages. So be still. Be silent. And be ready for the messages to come in sweet, subtle and magickal ways.

It’s time to remove yourself from the hustle and the bustle, from built-up urban and industrial areas, and go deep into nature and find the still pace of solitude in which the soul can speak – and be heard! Turn down the stress, the demands, the social whirl, the noise that can drown out meaning. In the words of Shakespeare, chatter is often “a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” You would do well to seek the counsel of spirit in nature, to rest in a quiet grove within. Furthermore, when the soul speaks, listen, come into alignment and act from that space of integrity. The Listener does not feel the need to tell all about what she has heard. In fact, she is content to simply act, without broadcasting her moves, and to allow her dreams into being, to follow the guidance of her message without exhausting the energy of the message by talking it out.

She is silent and she seems still. But all of her actions are powerful and purposeful because they are born from a pure, still place of energy. Hers is the quiet glade and sudden, glad truth of the soul, and in these truths are great wisdom and delight.

The Time Guardian

The feelings you have, of time contracting and expanding, are real insights, not simply your imagination. Time is a living dimensional being, whose powers include the ability to devote more time to those of us who require it, and for time to speed up or slow down then it may be necessary, too. It is in this way that we are able to divine and travel through the threads and weavings of time, and move forward into seeing our future…in truth, we are already there. And much of who we truly are remains an echo. The time beings of the Dragonfae, of whom I am one, know this, and guard and protect you from confusion. Similarly, they can assist you when you require time to be created. If you feel you are short of time, send a thought message to me, the Guardian of Time, and I will send you all the help you need to meet your goals within the time you feel you have. Know that time is available to work for and with you; you need only tune into it as a dimensional reality, and connect with the time beings. Know that you are a timeless being. Know that you are dimensionally vast, that you are protected, cherished and loved.

If you work with time rather than trying to compartmentalise, control and define it, if we return to the lunar and solar and astronomical ways, if we celebrate the time changes apparent in nature all around us with the Wheel of the Year, then the time span we have will be richer and more joyful, our vocations will be discovered and we will no longer struggle to cram so much into our days. Because changing our perceptions is such a mammoth task, the Time Guardian is sometimes very tired, as the prevailing human mindset now is of time needing to be constrained and watched. He encourages us all to experience the natural flow of the energy we call time, and experience its multi-dimensionality. There is one simple way to work with him. Be in the present moment, more often.

Wow, that was a delicious reading! So gorgeous one I wish you a week of Joy, Hope and Peace. Here’s little prayer to remind you about Joy – “Dear Heavenly Teachers, allow me to believe in the rightness and goodness of life even when I see to much of the opposite. Permit me to bring love into the world even when my first response is to doubt love. Accept my life as as means of service to the Universe so that joy may bound on earth and within each living thing.” I also will write the word Joy on little pieces of paper and pop them in my wallet, makeup bag etc, just to remind me. With Solstice just around the corner I am going to send you all a lovely ritual on how to connect with this gorgeous energy as a thank you, so look for it in your email on Thursday. Stay warm and toasty, and there won’t be a reading for the next two weeks as I plan on having some lovely family time and finishing off my 2018 planning. But saying that, if the Divine says – yes – then yes it will be. Wishing you and yours a peaceful, hopeful, joyful and loving festive season.

Oh yes, for all those who have asked for private readings, we have had all sorts of technical difficulties with lovely mercury retrograde, so I just wanted to let you know, you haven’t been forgotten.

Release

jennyheston

Release Anxiety And Claim Your Power