One of the constant companions in my soul work throughout the year is my Moon Mná Diary Journal, created by Karen Ward and Bernie Sexton.
This beautifully designed Diary-Journal has 272 pages with lots to read – practical tips, inspiring women’s stories, Irish language proverbs, quotes and affirmations, as well as 12 mindful colouring-in pages. I was delighted when Karen asked me to contribute a short piece to the 2018 edition. As a graduate of Karen's Moon Mná Women's Celtic Circle facilitation program, I was honoured and, of course, contributed! The 2018 is now available to order and can be shipped worldwide! Click HERE to order your copy today!
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Embracing the Crone energies of Winter Those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are once again starting a new turn in the Wheel of Life, which began a new cycle on Samhain on November 1st. We have returned to The North, to the Elements of Earth and the wisdom of the Dark Goddesses, especially An Cailleach and Hekate, my dear crones and allies. And for those in the Southern Hemisphere, who have just experienced a joyous and vibrant Bealtainne, you are entering the Light part of the year. . . another new beginning! The turning of the wheel is often viewed as a circle but in reality is more of a never-ending spiral. Yes, we return to the beginning, but with the wisdom and experience of the previous journey. As we journey through the Wheel of the Year we embrace the energies as they themselves transform and shift and balance, from Earth to Air to Fire to Water. Each phase in the cycle grows from the previous one. Each phase is both a consequence and a preparation. As Mama Earth withdraws into her deep reflective winter state, so can we. . . digging down even deeper into the experience of the past year(s), examining our successes and our challenges, and composting those all into a magical mix that will seed our visions and journey in the coming year. This time between Samhain and Yule is a time of alchemy, of magic, of transformation… and possibly even transmutation. |
Your choice: stuck in the mud OR building with clay
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The arrival of Samhain on November 1st heralded the arrival of Winter, and the deep reflective energy that it brings. Many of our ancestors were tied to the land and to the seasons and energies of Mama Earth and Father Sun. The Earth provided both sustenance and fuel, the Sun the light, and our ancestors followed the energy of the seasons: planting in Spring, nurturing and growing in Summer, harvesting in Autumn and resting/preparing in Winter. . . and celebrating the gods and goddesses of their earth-based spiritualities. Winter (and the New/Dark Moon) brings us the deep feminine energy and deep wisdom of the Crone and the energy of the North (Earth) in the Medicine Wheel. This is the time I connect most strongly with the wisdom of An Cailleach ("owl" in Gaelic) and Hekate, Goddess of the Crossroads. Both are Dark Goddesses whose origins are so old as to be lost in time. And there are others: Hel, Cerridwen, Kali and more. Hekate is the Goddess of the in-between, the liminal spaces, the boundaries and the transitional times of life including birth and death. She carries a torch for illumination, not just of the dark but of our personal pathways, of our shadow side, guiding us through our choices at the crossroads and the path we eventually choose. These Dark Mothers are the Goddesses of our transitions and strong allies as we transition to the Dark Half of the year. The illuminate our journey through the winter darkness and support us in our transformation and renewal. |
Image created by Thalia Took
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Another option for your Soul Work this month is to call on the Wisdom of Hekate in this new Hekate at the Crossroads tarot or oracle card layout.
In this spread, we stand at the crossroads and call on all aspects of Hekate the Triple Goddess to guide us: in the aspects of Maiden-Mother/Woman-Crone and in the three realms of Otherworld, Middle World and Upper World. And we bring that wisdom back to the centre of the crossroads to integrate and move forward. Click here to download a US-letter sized PDF of the Hekate at the Crossroads spread, which includes the layout plus a page with more detailed questions. |
And there are many other ways to celebrate the New Moon, the new lunar journey. For instance, I start many new herbal medicines at the New Moon, to use La Luna's rising energy to extract as much as possible from the plant.
You could also:
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What else can you do at the Full Moon?
Remember that the Full Moon energy is with us 2-3 days either side of the actual Full Moon, so there is plenty of time to fit in any of these activities. If you are a solitary practitioner:
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The Sacred Circle, by Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman
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