Ritual

Summer Solstice. How to Embody and Celebrate it!

What is Summer Solstice you ask and why the heck should I give it any attention?

Mighty fine questions, so let’s go for a little explore. Solstice comes from the Latin words sol, meaning Sun and sistere, meaning to come to a stop or stand still. On the day of the June Solstice, the Sun reaches its northernmost position, as seen from the Earth. At that moment, its zenith does not move north or south as during most other days of the year, but it stands still at the Tropic of Cancer. It then reverses its direction and starts moving south again. The opposite happens during the December solstice. Then, the Sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky – Tropic of Capricorn – stands still, and then reverses its direction towards the north.

On a purely factual basis Summer Solstice (for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere) marks the longest day of the year and the shortest night, it’s the start of the lazy hazy days of summer. Kids are normally on summer break, families scramble to go on a holiday or camp, and a lot of time is spent soaking up the sun whilst hanging at the beach, playing in the water or hosting a summer bar-b-que. Summer Solstice both ushers in the warmest season and also a gentle reminder that the days are going to get a bit shorter. Even though the days feel longer, more languid and relaxed there is an underlying freneticism of getting outside, celebrating the sun as much as possible, as it will soon be gone.

This year Summer Solstice occurs on Friday June 21st.

Okay, so we have the facts, but what does it all mean? Summer Solstice (also known as Litha) is all about abundance, growth, expansion. It’s the celebration of the Sun! Think about it, the farmer plants the seeds in the cool of the Spring in the wet ground and as the Summer Solstice approaches things have sprouted and are reaching up as if they are doing a glorious sun salutation. It’s a time to watch the ripening and fruiting of the plants around us and our ideas.

This is a delicious inner fire/power celebration that acknowledges the abundance that grows from tiny seeds.

At Stonehenge, (which was built over 5,000 years ago) the heelstone marks the midsummer sunrise as seen from the centre of the stone circle. In ancient times, the Summer Solstice was a fire-festival of great importance when the burning of balefires ritually strengthened the sun. It was often marked with torchlight processions, by flaming tar barrels or by wheels bound with straw, which were set alight and rolled down steep hillsides. The Norse especially loved lengthy processions and would gather together their animals, families and lighted torches and parade through the countryside to the celebration site.

The use of fire, as well as providing magical aid to the sun, were also used to drive out evil and to bring fertility and prosperity to men, crops and herds. Blazing gorse or furze was carried around cattle to prevent disease and misfortune; while people would dance around the balefires or leap through the flames as a purifying or strengthening rite. The Celts would light balefires all over their lands from sunset the night before Midsummer until sunset the next day. Around these flames the festivities would take place.

In Cornwall up to the mid 18th century the number and appearance of fires seen from any given point was used as a form of divination and used to read the future. So as we can see, this celebration has been around for years upon years and has an intensity and a deliciousness about it.

So now we have facts, the meaning – how does one celebrate it? There is no right or wrong way by any stretch. However, here are a few simple ideas that aren’t overly complex.

Move your body. Welcome the sun on this longest day with a couple of sun salutations. This is a simple Yoga flow that requires you to be present and go as far as your body will allow you to go. If you are unclear as to what it looks like there are some great beginner versions on line and this will give you a glorious full body stretch (in a gentle way).

Make an altar. Pop some seashells, flowers, fruit and dried herbs on it and voila, you have created an altar. It doesn’t have to be big, or front and centre in your living room if that makes people around you uncomfie. Your altar could be those cool rocks you picked up over the last year all gorgeously stacked on your kitchen counter.

For more ideas, herbs, energy, rituals, guided visualisation and spells thus a deeper dive into Summer Solstice there is a glorious downloadable pdf for my most amazing community.

I call it your Summer Solstice B.O.S.S Enjoy!

Divine Feminine meets Divine Masculine! – Full Moon in Sagittarius, Summer Solstice (Litha) and an Offering you’ve been asking for!

Jenny Heston · 1:01 am ·

Happy Magnificent, Magickal, Miraculous, Magnetic, Manifesting, MOON Monday!!! We have an amazing week happening with a glorious Full Moon in Sagittarius TODAY and then Summer Solstice on Friday so we get to dance with the Divine Feminine (the Moon) this week and the Divine Masculine in all his glory (Solstice) and then very shortly afterwards we have the beginning of another eclipse season – muhahaha. I keep wanting to burst into either “Fly Me to the Moon, and let me play amongst the stars….” or “Oh Mr. Sun, Sun, Mr. Golden Sun please shine down on me…..” What can I say? My Dad loved Frank Sinatra and I have a plethora of kids lol. We have lots to explore for this week, so let’s get a wiggle on.

Quite a few of you have messaged or emailed asking if there is going to be a Summer Solstice Reading Special. Heck yes! It starts today and goes for exactly 10 days (in other words until the 27th of June). You can find out about it HERE.

Okay let’s talk about this glorious Full Moon in Sagittarius that occurs today! Whoot! This is the moon to remind you that Dreams Can Come True. This is the last moon phase of the current eclipse cycle (remember we started it with the January 5th solar eclipse)? Thus, it’s important to look back to the previous eclipses that started this phase . There are only two weeks left to complete what you started about five months ago. It’s time to finalise matters so you will be ready to start a new phase of life in two weeks. So, this glorious Full Moon (aka the Strawberry Moon) is both fiery and dreamy. On one hand, it is going to be reminding us of the fire within so we can find our confidence to be true to ourselves. On the other, it is also going to be helping us raise our level of consciousness, and explore our intuition and dreams with greater ease.

Why are Full Moon’s important to pay attention to? Well, when the moon is full and at her peak, your emotional and instinctual energy is massively increased. Think about it, if the Moon can alter the tides and the human body is about 70% water – tell me it has no effect! Dare ya!

Thus, I invite you to take some time, do some reflection, releasing, smudging or whatever you feel inclined to do. Reflect back on the last 5 months – what are you still holding onto that should be released? What did you desire, but let fall by the wayside? Play with it. I always think Full Moon ritual is important and taking some time for yourself, whether it be a simple – just getting outside, gazing up and giving a blessing. Putting your crystals and jewelry out for the night (as they absorb energy), to a Full Moon release. With this Full Moon it’s even more important to take a moment as Summer Solstice (Litha) is on Friday and the energy really ramps up!

So let’s talk about Summer Solstice. Ahhhh, Summer Solstice (aka as Litha). (Have I said I love Summer Solstice yet?) Think about it, this is the longest day of the year, the light is so present, inviting us to flourish, blossom and show the heck up, to get outside and celebrate before things start gently closing in. I love Summer Solstice as much as I love Winter Solstice, they are two incredible markers to show us where we are and how the seasons are moving with us.

However, in a nutshell why celebrate it, or at least acknowledge it? Because holy hannah honey you are connected, connected to the seasons, the changes, to the planet you live on, to the people around you and even that frigging annoying bug who keeps trying to dash up your left nostril when you’re riding your bike! Let me ask – do you ever pay attention to the moon? Do you ever sit and watch the stars? When you encounter a kid that you knew years ago do you think – wow, they have grown? Have you ever sat next to the ocean and felt the pulse of the waves? Have you ever planted a seed and watched it push up through the ground and flourish into a gorgeous flower? Do you celebrate the first snowfall? These are all seasons, changes and part of life, which is exactly what Summer Solstice marks.

Stonehenge was built over 5,000 years ago and thousands of people to this present day go to celebrate the sun pouring in and hitting the heel stone. This isn’t new, it’s deep, it’s the bones of ancestors and ancestors that make up part of the planet that you walk upon. So let’s go play, celebrate the sun, celebrate the fire energy – burn anything away that no longer serves us and take a moment to put our feet on the earth, reach up to the sun and say YES! Yes, I can love my life, yes – I believe in miracles, yes – I can show up as bright and shiny as the sun. Whoot! (Virtual High 5 is happening).

For those of you that are part of my wonderful email community there is a glorious Solstice piece coming to you on Wednesday, with a glorious guided visualisation, history of Solstice, celebratory ritual ideas (remember ritual is taking intention and turning it into physical form) and a fun spell for my most magickal and witchy ones. If you aren’t signed up, you can do it on the main page (please don’t email me to do it for you……)

So with that plethora of information to perk (should you have made it this far), let’s crack on with the reading, yes?

When I went to the cards and asked who wanted to guide this week I smiled like a Cheshire Cat when The Earth Warrior Oracle were most adamant they were to be front and centre. What perfect guides for a Full Moon and Summer Solstice! Now if these glorious guides are new to you, in the name of politeness let me introduce them to you.

“There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly. Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt. The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word “struggle” from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

Repeat the last 3 lines to yourself. Banish the word “struggle” from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. Yes?

The glorious crystals that came to play are Citrine – is associated with wealth and abundance, which is why it is often called “The Merchant Stone” or “The Success Stone.” It also is linked with boosting joy and optimism, which gives you the motivation you need to accomplish your goals. Black Moonstone -for “feeling”, and understanding via intuition and emotional “thoughts”, rather than via intellectual reasoning. Moonstone – The Goddess, mystery, self discovery and intuition. Some of the glorious flowers from my garden came to play, including Love in the Mist (so love this one).

Ready to go play with the Moon, the Sun and the Earth? Let’s go!

Woosah! Take a big exhale out through your mouth, let that old energy just flow out of your body. Then a glorious slow inhale through your nose, long and deep – let it fill all the cracks and crevices within you with cooling, soothing moonlight. Then exhale with a sigh. Keep breathing this way as you invite into your minds eye the sense of release and the sense of flourish. What do you need to release to flourish? Let this whisper into the cracks and crevices in your being and when you are ready, pick the card or cards that tickle at the edges of your mind.

Did you remember to pick?

Let’s go see, shall we?

LIN A

You have beautiful dreams and inspired, bold ambitions. You are guided to believe that they are a natural expression of your soul, something that is meant to be. Life will support you in the expression of those dreams and ambitions, even in the moments where it seems to be struggle, rather than support, that you are experiencing. The process for transformation into full maturity involves learning how to grow through light and through darkness back to the light again. You will always find your way back to the light. Have faith in yourself and what must be. Dedicate yourself to what you love without hesitation.

If you are experiencing loss or change, have faith. Sometimes things happen that seem to be working against us. It is only later that they show themselves to have been valuable ways by which we acquired the greater faith, courage and determination that were necessary to the fulfillment of our purpose. Know that your destiny is unfolding, and you are moving through circumstances that are ultimately going to help you become your soul in fullness and splendour. Keep going. Everything happening in your life is helping you to fulfill your divine potential. Know that any darkness will give way to the light.

To give up old ways or old identities can seem frightening to the mind. Yet it is inspiring and exciting for the soul that yearns to blossom into fullness and cannot thrive when it is held back in fear. To have faith in your own purpose when it may sometimes feel like you are fighting a losing battle takes a lot of heart. Great Spirit knows what you are up to, and it wants to remind you that you are not being foolish – you are following your destiny.

Let your trust in life’s good will and generous support of you be unconditional. Know you shall thrive!!!

KUNTUR YACHAK

Condor swiftly brings the will of Great Spirit to earth, through the gift of powerful medicine. Despite great odds, even in the face of what may appear to be an inevitable defeat, extraordinary triumph is at hand. This is the prophecy of resurrection, of the rising up of what was thought to be lost. It shall happen with unexpected and surprising swiftness. Your divine destiny is not held in the guiding hand of a great spiritual master.

Condors are born with their eyes open, but do not have vocal chords to speak. You have always seen clearly – trust in this, even if you struggle to find the words to express all that you see. Condors reveal emotion through changes in their skin colour. This is a reminder to trust what your body is telling you. Your bodily intuition is a form of wisdom. You have a spiritual connection to the Christ Consciousness, the universal Sacred Heart seeking to awaken itself in humanity. Your divine life purpose involves assuming the role or leader, guide, healer or Earth Warrior for love on this planet in your own unique way. An inviolable spiritual protection surrounds you.

You are being offered absolute protection that is strong enough to sustain your purity, integrity and effectiveness as you navigate the challenges inherent in the earthly world of Puma, known as Kay Pacha, and much needed protection over the unconscious world of Snake, known as Uhka Pacha. This protection ensures that your passionate purpose is not distorted or derailed by unconscious forces. As you accept this blessing, you shall know only protection, empowerment and grace as you manifest the spirit medicine of Condor, helping to bring hope, conscious and creative collaboration, dynamic sacred activism and miraculous restoration.

CLAN OF THE WOLF HEART

You belong to the Clan of the Wolf Heart. This is a soul tribe, with boundaries beyond bloodlines and geography. It is based on soul connection to love’s wisdom and higher truths of Great Spirit. The Clan is united through Wolf medicine and the heart. These are the qualities of the Divine Feminine that unify, allowing for a palpable experience of oneness that brings power to our collective wisdom and purpose.

Reach out for help from others, whilst you honour and respect your individuality and your own unique life journey. Balance social time with taking care of your own individual needs, including the need for time out in solitude to hear your inner truths and renew yourself. Anger can be a sign from the soul, a sacred gift that asks you to deal with a situation, to bring about something different and more empowering. Use your anger as a sacred gift with compassion and clear purpose. Fight wholeheartedly when you need to safeguard what truly matters. Be open to a greater guiding wisdom so that you know when to be merciful and when to cut something off completely. Believe in the power of your inner voice, and do not silence yourself.

The howl of the wolf is primal and powerful. It is used to locate clan members or to define the boundaries of their territory to volves from outside of the pack. The howling wolf is medicine for standing your ground and defending that which is rightfully within your guardianship. If this strikes a note within you now, be aware that using your voice and energy to set boundaries and claim your space is important. The territory is not physical. That is the way of the ego. The territory is spiritual.

Let us recognise ourselves as the empowered ones. May we realise our abilities, tap into the resources we have and use them fruitfully. May we have joyful courage and confidence in who we are and what we are here to do!

Wow! All these glorious guides came to impart messages of growth, embracing your gifts, flourishing, trusting (ahhhh such a tricky thing sometimes) and reminding – YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Seriously you can’t make this sh*t up! Perfect guides for this glorious week. So delicious lovely a couple of reminders, if you want to take advantage of the Summer Solstice Reading Special, it is on for 10 days. You can reserve one and use it up to two months later if you don’t want one right now, or you can purchase it as a gift for someone. Also, if you want to receive a fabulous Solstice package with music, guided visualisation, rituals and a spell, make sure you are signed up! Have a stupendous week! Breathe, smile a shed ton and dance under the Moon and get out under the Sun and play! Huge hugs and squeezes. See you next week.

4 Easy Rituals to Celebrate Beltane – and a Visualisation!

Jenny Heston · 1:11 am ·

I love Beltane, I love it because it is fiery, passionate, intentional and produces results!

Beltane was thought to be one of the more important festivals of the Gaelic calendar. Beltane is a Fire Festival. The word ‘Beltane’ originates from the Celtic God ‘Bel’, meaning ‘the bright one’ and the Gaelic word ‘teine’ meaning fire. Together they make ‘Bright Fire’, or ‘Goodly Fire’ and traditionally bonfires were lit to honour the Sun and encourage the support of Bel and the Sun’s light to nurture the emerging future harvest and protect the community.

Beltane celebrates the height of Spring and the flowering of life. Earth energies are at their strongest and most active. All of life is bursting with potent fertility, look at the trees around you – (if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere), they are bursting forth with bright green leaves and the little sparrows are back as well as the robins. Abundant fertility, on all levels, is the central theme.

The Goddess has reached her fullness and is the manifestation of growth and renewal and shows up as the May Queen, Flora, the Goddess of Spring. The God emerges as the Young Oak, May King or as Jack in the Green. They fall in love, the union is consummated and the May Queen becomes pregnant. Together the May Queen and the May King are symbols of the Sacred Marriage, the union of Earth and Sky. If you have ever read “The Mists of Avalon” you will know what I am talking about. “This is the night of the Greenwood Marriage. It is about sexuality and sensuality, passion, vitality and joy. And about conception. A brilliant moment in the Wheel of the Year to bring ideas, hopes and dreams into action. And have some fun!”

On Beltane we honor nature’s oldest love story. Beltane means bright fire, and in earth-based traditions, it represents the handfasting, or marriage, of the God and Goddess and their eternal embrace. In ancient lore, the two are separated all winter long, and their reunion on Beltane is celebrated with food, drink, and multi-colored maypoles, which symbolize female energies wrapping themselves around the male form. The world comes alive in color to celebrate their love. This is a holiday of union, a celebration of the divine balance in the union of masculine and feminine. Having reached maturity through their long separation, Lord and Lady now come together as one.

Have you ever seen a Maypole dance? If you have never seen a proper Maypole dance done, I highly recommend it! A phallic pole, often made from Birch (why Birch you ask – Birch is regarded as a feminine tree and Deities associated with Birch are mostly love and fertility goddesses. It is one of the first trees to show its leaf in Spring), was inserted into the Earth representing the potency of the God. At the top there would be a glorious wreath, most often Hawthorn flowers and the flowers represented the Goddess. Hawthorn is a deeply magical tree and is one of the three trees at the heart of the Celtic Tree Alphabet, the Faery Triad, ‘by Oak, Ash and Thorn’. Traditionally Beltane began when the Hawthorn, the May, blossomed. It is the tree of sexuality and fertility and is the classic flower to decorate a Maypole with.

The dance around the Maypole represented Their unity. Ribbons of Green, White and Red hung down from the top of the pole and each young woman would take an end and dance. As they danced around the pole they would weave in and out and through whilst holding onto their gorgeous ribbon. This weaving represented the Spiral of Life and the union between the God and the Goddess. It’s moving artistry and glorious fun!

So if you haven’t gotten it yet, Beltane is a festival of flowers, fertility, sensuality, and delight. The Beltane fires of yore were a time of revelry, pairing and celebrating fertility (there were lots of babies born 9 months after the celebrations!) Also, cattle would be led between two fires for protection and to encourage a strong, fertile herd. People believed the smoke and the ashes from the Beltane fires offered protection and fertility. Holy wells were visited and feasts were had. Rowan was often used in Beltane festivals as it’s a tree of protection and healing. Branches of Rowan were placed as protection over the doors of houses and barns at Beltane to protect from increased Faery activity as they woke from their winter slumber. Sprigs were worn for protection also. Rowan berries have a tiny five-pointed star on the bottom reminiscent of the pentagram.

So all in all a great time to celebrate, set intention, fertilise either self or ideas and have a grand jolly time!

But I guess the question some people have is – “Why bother marking the day?” Good question, and my answer would be because it connects you to something bigger, older and deeper than our modern day to day.

I love the way Donna Henes puts it:- Ceremonial observance adds lucid layers — depth, dimension, drama and distinction — to our lives, making the ordinary seem special, and the special, extraordinary. Through the practice of ritual we are privileged to experience ourselves as prepared, present, passionate, principled and potent. When we set aside the quality time and claim the psychic space for ceremony, when we assume the authority to do so, we are able to transform our perceptions, our perspectives, our experiences, and in the process, our reality.

Does ritual have to be long, drawn out, complicated and require a shed ton of things you don’t have in your home? Some people believe so, but I don’t. To me ritual is performed when I make food for those I love with the intention of it being nourishing and a dish of connection. It’s also in when I routinely smudge and energetically cleanse my home, or in the Epsom salt tub that I draw up for one of the boys with the oils that will help them.

So with all that being said let’s go explore 3 simple rituals for Beltane. The first one is the egg charm (and I most certainly do this at Easter) and it is so easy to do. The second is a tree blessing, which I love and will be doing. There’s also a very simple dandelion renewal ritual – if spring has sprung early enough for you. And a glorious fun thing to do is a Faery offering!

Here is a lovely guided visualisation/meditation to help you really release and tap into this amazing time. Enjoy!

Pick what resonates for you, or create your own. The key elements are Intention, Willingness and Openness.

Enjoy and have fun!

Blessing Bowl

Jenny Heston · 4:14 am ·

Welcome to the Flower Bowl. Water is the element of Spirit and the Divine Feminine, I think this is why I am sooooo drawn to creeks, rivers, streams and most certainly the ocean (I am there every morning lol). To play with water is the place where energy can transform and things can be washed away and the water nourishes the new, so glorious things can grow.

Supplies

Smudge stick

3 flowers

A bowl

Pinch of sea salt

Water

Quartz cyrstal (and if you don’t have one, don’t worry)

Candle

First take the time to smudge yourself and your area, releasing all the old and dense energy.

As you smudge your surroundings, recite the following three times-

“I remove all stagnant energy from the past. My home is clean and cleared. A fresh new energy may now enter, one that is light and free. My home is safe and protected, I am happy here. Goodness fills every corner of my home, bringing abundance, prosperity, peace, and love. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Light some candles to set the mood if you wish. Have all your ritual ingredients in front of you for easy access. Hold your crystal, if using, and sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes and take 10 deep breaths in and out to settle your mind.

Pick up one of your flowers, hold it in your hands, and recite the following or feel free to say whatever you feel in the moment-

“The past has shaped me, it has made me strong. I honor my past and who I have become. The memory from my past that stands out the most to me right now is (Insert whatever first comes to your mind). I honor that this memory came to me. I honor that it has something to teach me. I release it and let it go, I release it so I can grow. The time has come for me to move on. I thank the past, but now my work here is done.”

Take a deep breath in and on your exhale, imagine you are releasing all of your past that you no longer wish to carry. If you feel the need, you can take more than one breath! When ready, place the flower into the bowl of water.

Take your next flower and hold it in your hands. When ready, recite the following or feel free to say whatever comes to you in the moment-

“My present it is who I am. I love myself. I no longer have to accept things that don’t fill me up or make me feel aligned. I honor my responsibilities, but I also honor my heart. I am so proud of myself for (Insert proud moment here) but I also know I need to stop (insert here- go with whatever comes to your mind first!). Dear Universe/Spirit/God, please guide me to release this from my life. Please reveal to me the next steps so I can bring closure/healing to this situation.”

Take another deep breath in and on your exhale, imagine you are bringing joy and healing into your life right now. If you feel the need, you can take more than one breath! When ready, place the flower into the bowl of water.

Take your final flower, holding it in your hands, recite the following-

“My future is bright. My future is a dream come true. I ask the Universe’s help in bringing (insert) into my life. I ask the Universe to guide me to the steps I need to take in order to make this dream a reality. I trust that all I desire will unfold in the perfect timing and in the perfect way.”

Take a deep breath and imagine you are sending your wish out into the Universe. When ready, place the third and final flower into the bowl of water.

Take your bowl of water with the flowers in it and add the pinch of sea salt and your cleaned amethyst if using. Place the bowl of water outside or by the window under the light of the Full Moon for at least 15 minutes or longer. If you are placing the bowl outside, feel free to cover it.

While you wait for your water to charge, simply just breathe and focus on your intent.

Come back to your bowl of water. Holding it in both hands, recite the following three times –

“I am ready to enter into the new. Mind, body, soul is balanced. I feel aligned.”

Take a sip of the water and feel the energetic effects soaking into your body. If your water looks a little suspect and you don’t want to drink it, dab the water over your third eye instead or gently splash it over your face. You can also do this with the remaining water as well.

To close the ritual, take the amethyst out of the water and dry it off. Keep it by your bedside for the next 3 nights. You can keep the flowers till they are ready to be returned to the earth. Snuff out your candles!

Ritual adapted from Forever Conscious.

Spring Equinox, Super Full Moon in Libra and an Offering!

Jenny Heston · 1:02 am ·

Happy Marvelous, Magnificent, Magickal March Monday! There is so much to natter about this week it’s fabulous! We have the glorious Spring Equinox, Super Full Moon, Why Ritual is important and an Offering. Many of you have been reaching out and asking if I am going to offer a Spring Equinox special on private readings. Originally, I hadn’t thought I would and then I perked it a bit more and yes, two of the readings will be on offer for one week, thus, from today until next Monday March 25th, as I so want to help you set your seeds of intention for Spring and the next 6 months until Fall Equinox! To find out which readings you can see them HERE.

Okay, seriously, 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! When I did this reading, there were glorious birds in my bird feeder, the weather was gloriously warmer and as I walked around the garden I could see the shoots pushing up! Everything is starting to reach, expand and grow!

After a wet, gray 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 you are on the email list I will be sending out more information about Ostara on Wednesday with a lovely ritual, a grounding exercise to connect you to the earth and a guided visualisation to mark the day! So if you haven’t signed up and feel inclined, please do.

I often get asked how to “do” rituals and why are they important. To me a ritual is intention made manifest, it’s that place of connection with the Divine, Universe, God/Goddess or however you chose to name it. In other words, a ritual takes an idea, thought or emotion and gives it a physical form in the world. So for example when I invite or suggest that perhaps at certain times there are things that you might want to write down, release and burn – guess what? That’s a ritual. When you sit down at New Moon and write your wishes/intentions out, guess what? That’s a ritual. All it took was a brief moment of time, paper, pen and something to light either a candle or the paper with. When you consciously put your crystals into the moonlight, on fresh dirt or in a bowl of salt water and whisper a blessing over them – that’s a ritual. When you gather various herbs together, cast a circle of salt, call in the directions, offer up a spell or prayer – that is ritual. Are you with me?

To me ritual allows your body, your cells, you essence to understand your intention. Does that make sense? So what makes a mundane activity into a ritual is your consciousness while doing it. If you are smudging yourself or home, what is your intention? If you are having a salt water scrub shower or bath, what is your intention? When you light a candle every day when you walk in the door, what is your intention? Remember energy follows intention and attention follows energy and actions follow attention. Thus, a ritual can be a celebration such as the upcoming Thanksgiving in the States or it can be a practice which can be repeated daily, monthly or yearly. When ritual becomes a practice this allows us to go deeper, to explore all the various nuances and of course as we all know – repetition leads to mastery (think of that daily meditation, exercise, journaling etc).

On April 1st I am opening registration to the Pracktical Magic course and community where we will go deeper into rituals and and a myriad of other things, but more on that later!

On Equinox we also experience the Super Full Moon in Libra (also known as the Worm Moon!) Why the Worm Moon? It’s called this because the earth is thawing and robins are greedily pulling up lovely fat earthworms and gobbling them down! (Now if that doesn’t conjure up the image of Spring for you, lol!) Here is some lovely information from Forever Conscious about this Full Moon. This glorious Super Moon falls at zero degrees of Libra. Having a Super Moon at zero degrees is extremely potent and represents a wave of new potential. The fact that this Full Moon also falls around the same time as the Equinox enhances this energy, and brings new beginnings and fresh starts. This Full Moon is going to supercharge us. It is going to awaken and revive us. It is going to help us find new inspiration and joy for life. We are going to feel a push forward, and we are going to feel excited about the journey to come. Can you feel it? Can you feel the energy beginning to surge and inviting you to move forward (or I like to think of it as Springing forward)!

When I went to the cards and asked who felt impelled to guide this week and help us with the gorgeous Spring Equinox and Full Moon energy I was surprised to see the Oracle of the Shapeshifters. For a brief moment I was perplexed as to why they were adamant to come and guide and then I remembered and nearly laughed my soxs off! If these glorious guides are new to you, let me please introduce them (as that is the polite thing to do)! “These are the magickal familiars, once the companions of shamans, witches, wizards, and wise ones – and now they are here for you. Now is the time for you to undertake a great quest – to rebirth yourself within this lifetime and this quest of evolution does not need to be faced alone. We change and we change again. We fear change. Yet it comes. For us to fear change is as foolish as winter crying for the coming of spring. Change is. Fear corrupts. These guides are here to support, encourage and help you through transformation and to teach you to let go of fear. True , deep change must take place for you to fulfill your soul contract. You may have turned from possibility to what you have convinced yourself is probable: You diminish your possible self, reduce who you are, and dilute your spirit. But even when you have sought to remain invisible and hidden away, and said yes to everyone else, life will find you – and transform you. You are never alone with these beings.” Phew! So there we have it are you ready?

The crystals that wiggled and jiggled to come and play are Apatite, Angelite and Chrysocolla. And of course with Equinox just days away the lovely Spring flowers wanted to participate, so we have a cheerful pansy, a dashing daff and a gentle grape hyacinth! (Who could ask for anything more).

Ready? I invite you to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth for a few deep, long breaths. As you breathe see in your minds eye gorgeous roots pushing down into the earth as it warms, connecting, grounding and supporting. Breathe this way for however long you have and when your shoulders have relaxed away from your ears and your jaw is loose pick the card or cards that resonate for you at this time.

Did you remember to pick?

Let’s have a look shall we?

A LOYAL GUARDIAN

This sweet faery being holds within her arms a fierce, loyal, and very strong Rottweiler who will keep all predators and bullies at bay. He is unwaveringly devoted to protecting his faery friend – and to to protecting you. The Loyal Guardian is so powerful that he is unable to be hurt, and he will stand guard and watch, growl at, fight, and even kill any who attempt to harm you at this stage. There is fierce, protective magick surrounding you or another one with you who is fragile.

Think of yourself as a newborn: Babies are at their most vulnerable after transitioning from the sea of the womb to the world of breath and air. You are making a huge change, and this makes you vulnerable When you are rebirthing, changing your life, you need mentors and strong, calm guardians to assist you in moving into a world that seems full of danger. With my steadfast, calm, confidence, you will be safe. You can face the changes and the threats without becoming overwhelmed or rushing back to the familiar, less sensitive state because it seems safe.

You will have with you energetically at this time a very protective guardian. There may be some new people or situations in your life that make you feel threatened, uncertain, and uncomfortable. This wariness has been noted, and this shapeshifter in the form of a large, devoted, and very powerful companion will be at your side, sniffing out danger, sounding an alarm at any threat, even readying to fight for you, should it come to that. If there has been bullying or behaviour that has intimidated you, you have someone on your side who will not let you down and who will not let you face this alone.

DEEP DARK SEA MERMAID

This mysterious magickal companion will help you to find out what lies beneath the stories and beliefs you hold. She will show you the Universal laws that re being played out and the truths of situations that may have been hidden by the detail that can sometimes cloud our wisdom. She also will indicate some new and interesting ways of producing energy, growing food, receiving energy and nutrition and renewing yourself. She will take you deep and show you dark jewels of the self, help you to take certain things seriously and fearlessly, and show you that the monsters you feared can be rendered harmless.

There are alternative energy sources. There are solutions to your every dilemma. There is a truth beneath so much of the mystery. There is so much undiscovered in the world, in the great beneath. Just as the world has so many creatures and being that walk among you undiscovered, you, too, have deep, hidden potentials. I am here to show you that there are places you must go that you have feared exploring – that you must go deeper, dig down, down into your own self, and explore alternatives in the world.

New discoveries about your own capabilities are happening now. The energy you send and receive becomes known to you; you see the relationship between what you feel, send, and create in your own life. It all becomes; where once it was frightening, now you can see the beauty of this responsibility. A radical truth. You are responsible. It’s time to play with the wise wizards like Nikola Tesla and Albert Einstein and know that you are fully supported, growing, expanding as you explore and create a new way of being for yourself.

THE DELICATE FAERY AND HER FERRETS

Sometimes the transition between one cycle or stage and another is easy, fluid, flowing, and smooth. At other times it is rough, harsh, cruel, and painful. It is inevitable that, if we are truly alive, we will experience discomfort and challenges when confronted by the unfamiliar. This is no curse – it is evidence of wisdom being taught to us.

We change. We alter ourselves. We adapt. We choose. We become. You are now being shown a way and the gifted magickal tools to strengthen yourself while you develop your skills. You are also being sent a trusted companion to guide you through the deep forests of change. You feel very vulnerable, and there is fear in your heart. But why would there not be? Life is full of transitions, shifts, and epic moments when we can choose between our best self and the tired, conditioned, most often deflated self. In these time of change, there is no map, no guidebook, no previous knowledge to comfortably fall back on.

One cycle has ended. When a cycle changes or when we choose to create change courageously be challenging our limited self-beliefs, questioning our attachments to “truths”, or releasing our attachment to the way in which our lives “should” manifest, we are, either by choice or by contract, undergoing an initiation. A new friend, advisor, or piece of information will empower you. You must now shift the focus from what you fear to what you wish to become and face what it is that is frightening you needlessly.

It will not kill you. It might hurt a bit, but results will make it worth it!

Wowzer! Well there we go delicious lovely, what a fabulous reading for this glorious Equinox and Full Moon energy! Wishing you a stupendous week filled with bright Spring flowers, sunshine and ease. Remember if you would like to receive more information on Equinox and a lovely ritual and grounding, make sure you are on the email list. Also, don’t forget the reading special starts today and is only for one week. You can see which readings are available, here. Have a glorious week, remember to smile and laugh often and don’t forget to practice gratitude! Huge hugs and squeezes.

Ritual

jennyheston

Release Anxiety And Claim Your Power