Wise Witch Ways

24/10/2024

It was not witches who burned.
It was women.
Women who were seen as;
Too beautiful,
Too outspoken,
Had too much water in the well (yes, seriously),
Who had a birthmark,
Women who were too skilled with herbal medicine,
Too loud,
Too quiet,
Too much red in their hair,
Women who had a strong nature connection,
Women who danced,
Women who sang,
or anything else, really.
Any woman was at risk of burning in the 1600’s. Sisters testified and turned on each other when their babies were held under ice.
Children were tortured to confess their experiences with “witches” by being fake executed in ovens.
Women were held under water and if they could float, they were guilty and executed. If they sank and drowned they were innocent.
Women were thrown off cliffs.
Women were put in deep holes in the ground.
Why do I write this?
Because knowing our history is important when we are building a new world.
When we are doing the healing work of our lineages and as women.
To give the women who were slaughtered a voice, to give them redress and a chance of peace.
It was not witches who burned.
It was women.

- Fia Forsström (Excerpt)
Art print: The Witches by Kyri Koniotis

01/09/2024

HELLO SEPTEMBER,
THE SEASON OF LETTING GO

And so begins the season of letting go,
when Mother Nature shows us all,
how it’s done.
Let go,
free yourself,
shake it off,
drop it,
give way for the new.
Create space for new thoughts, new ideas,
new adventures and new connections,
by shedding the dead weight you’ve been carrying around,
for so long.
And whilst you are there, being reborn and renewed,
let go of old anxieties too.
Let go of any doubts, fears or beliefs which no longer serve you well.
Release bitterness or past hurts which feast on your beauty.
Be brave,
Don’t fear the nakedness as your leaves slip away.
Mother Nature doesn’t,
watch and learn.

~Donna Ashworth

19/08/2024

30/04/2024

The night of April 30 to May 1 is filled with special magic: it's time for Beltane, the feast of renewal!

Beltane is a wondrous time of year, filled with the promise of new beginnings and the abundant energy of nature. As the earth bursts forth with new life, we are reminded of the cycles of growth and renewal that flow through all living things. The ancient Celts understood this power, and they celebrated it with great reverence and joy. Now, we can honor this ancient tradition by embracing the magic of Beltane and all it has to offer.

During Beltane, it is believed to be auspicious to adorn yourself and your home with flowers and bright, festive decorations. This celebration is all about embracing the beauty and abundance of nature, so incorporating fresh flowers into your decor is a wonderful way to honor the season. Dressing in bright colors and festive clothing is also encouraged, as it represents the joy and vitality of the season.

🔥 Fire is a central symbol of Beltane, representing the transformative power of nature and the promise of growth and renewal. As you light your bonfire, feel the warmth and energy of the flames, and let yourself be swept away by the magic of this special day. Allow yourself to connect with the ancient energy of the Celts and feel the power of transformation coursing through your veins.

🌸 The Maypole is another beautiful symbol of fertility that is associated with Beltane. Maypole is a traditional pole, typically made from a pine or birch trunk, which is erected and decorated with ribbons and floral garlands. It is said to represent masculine energy, while the ribbons and floral decorations symbolize feminine energy. Originally, the Maypole was a living tree, but over time it was replaced with a tree trunk of the appropriate height and type. As you dance around the pole with friends or family, feel the energy of growth and abundance filling you up.

🌾 Planting something new in your garden is a powerful way to connect with the energy of Beltane and the abundance of nature. As you dig your hands into the earth and plant your seeds or seedlings, feel the magic of growth and renewal flowing through you. This is a time to celebrate the cycles of life and to embrace the promise of new beginnings.

No matter how you choose to celebrate Beltane, let yourself be filled with the joy and wonder of this special day. This is a time to let go of your worries and stresses and to simply be present in the moment, basking in the energy of new growth and unlimited potential. So, light your fire, dance around the Maypole, and revel in the magic of Beltane. The power of growth and renewal is at your fingertips, waiting to be unleashed.

Happy Beltane!

29/04/2024

I’ve always wanted, very much, to be that woman.
The old one, with the hair like silver that seems to radiate its very own source of light.
The one with the knowing smile that hints at humour ever present and a life that’s been full of belly laughter.
The woman with the deep lines in her weathered skin, lines etched out by adventure, by joy, by fear and by growth.
I imagined how I’d float rather than walk because I no longer bear the weight of the world on my shoulders and I marvelled at how my days would be full to the brim with resting and noticing the world around me.
I would not care for thoughts of guilt because by then I would have learned that resting is doing, and is very important indeed.
There I would be reading, gardening, eating food I had grown and passing my little nuggets of wisdom down, to anyone who wanted to listen.
The contented crone.
The final phase of the journey of womanity.
No chasing youth for me,
I will be languishing, loudly, in the joy of my age and my luck at having got so far.
I’ve always wanted, very much, to be that woman.
Join me, if you like.

16/04/2024

Lemon Balm has been used for thousands of years to treat a wide variety of ailments and conditions. I love it as an additive for my tea...it is known to improve mood, reduce anxiety and help with insomnia. It also has many benefits for the skin when applied topically...Lemon balm is excellent for bringing out your skin's natural shine, lightening your complexion, and removing dark spots. As a natural sunscreen: Lemon balm can also be used as sunscreen because it contains rosmarinic and caffeic acids. So today, I trimmed up my lemon balm and have started to infuse my first batch of oil. After a month, I will make salve, lip balm and toner.

I am so excited to start my own medicinal remedies from plants that I grew! The art of natural healing...what could be better?!? NOTHING!

08/04/2024

“The Elders and advisors that I sought teachings from said to not look at the Eclipse, as it’s an intimate moment between Mooshom Pisim, Grandfather Sun, and Kokum Tipiski Pisim, Grandmother Moon. A long awaited reunion, the Divine Feminine and Sacred Masculine coming together as One.

Some say they are coming into needed counsel to discuss the current state of chaos across the planet. Some say this needed time together will provide the energetic guidance needed to bring peace and harmony.

Whatever your beliefs, I think we should all aim to facilitate for ourselves a sacred space for deep spiritual connection; there is no denying the great energetic influence the Sun and Moon have on this planet and Her inhabitants.”

~ Jenny Sâwanohk

For myself, I’m noticing many emotions coming up.

Some uncomfortable, and some painful.

I’m allowing them to be my teachers; allowing myself to observe them and listen to their wisdom they may have for me.

So I’ll be making sacred space for myself today to allow release to happen. Healing is always piece by piece.

Hold yourself with gentleness and compassion today ❤️

28/03/2024

Never be afraid to let someone know, if they brightened the room they just walked into. Or if something they said inspired you to change. Never be embarrassed to share a compliment with a stranger and don’t ever fall into the trap of believing that the people you love know that. Say it. Always say it. Your words may land a little awkwardly at first but in the dark of the night, those seeds will plant themselves into someone’s mental garden and start to bloom. Sow seeds, wherever you go.

Donna Ashworth
💗
𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞

13/03/2024

Only one week until Ostara, which is on March 20th, it is celebrated on the Spring Equinox, when both night and day are at equal length. A time of great balance between light and dark.

The winter, harsh and long is now fading. The Earth is waking from her frozen slumber and it’s time to rejoice in life, warmth and a renewal of the spirit. Come celebrate and worship as we give birth to all things fresh and new. Let us reconnect with family, loved ones and friends, old and new as we turn the Great Wheel to Ostara.

Once again, night and day stand in perfect balance, with light ascending. Ostara is a fertility festival celebrating the birth of Spring and the reawakening of life from the earth. The energies of nature subtly shift from the sluggishness of Winter to the exuberant expansion of Spring. It is a time of great fertility, new growth, and new born animals. The Goddess blankets the earth with fertility as she bursts forth from her winter sleep. The young God stretches and grows to maturity as he walks the greening fields and delights in the abundance of nature.

Traditionally, Ostara is a time for collecting wildflowers, walking in nature’s beauty, planting seeds and cultivating herb gardens. This is the time to free yourself from anything in the past that is holding you back. At this time, we think of renewing ourselves. We renew our thoughts, our dreams and our aspirations.

This is an excellent time of year to begin everything new or to completely revitalise something. This is also an excellent month for prosperity rituals or rituals that have anything to do with growth. Fill your altars with any spring time flowers and seeds, coloured and painted eggs, rabbit and hare images and statues and candles of white, yellow, green, light blue and orange. Any spring herbs you have such as lavender, jasmine, patchouli, rosemary, thyme, marjoram, tarragon or sunflower seeds. Use any spring crystals you may have such as clear quartz, rose quartz, agate, lapis lazuli, amazonite, sunstone, green aventurine, peridot and garnet.

The name for this Sabbat actually comes from that of the Teutonic lunar Goddess Ostara or Eostre as she is sometimes known. Her chief symbols were the rabbit or hare that represents fertility, and the egg which represents new life and rebirth. This is where the customs of “Easter Eggs” and the “Easter Bunny” originated.

28/02/2024

I'm growing Lemon Balm now to make tincture.

14/02/2024

“Mom at school they say you are a witch.”
Mom - ok...
And that you do spells.
Ok...
And that I’m a witch.
Ok...
And that you are evil...

“Darling, my love, do you know what a witch is made of?”

“No mom...”

“Well then, Let me explain...

A witch is made out of love.

Love for nature and studying energy.
Love for both strangers and friends.
Love for her family.
Love for life.
Love for Mother Nature.

Let me tell you how she is made...

Gather the following energy,

🔮 A lifetime of studying
🔮 Two Healing hands
🔮 Warmth
🔮 A set of eyes that allows her to see more than what appears...
🔮 An extremely developed intuition to guide her in finding the right herbs and vibes.
🔮 A self esteem made of iron, so she can be strong when others judge or hurt her with their ignorance.
🔮 A pure soul
🔮 A pair of legs so she can walk and run through nature
🔮 Wise and powerful ancestors
🔮 And a heart made of gold or amethyst so she can love... without fear...

All of this mixed together in the jar of sacred femininity
And they placed the jar in the world, to heal hearts and help souls find their inner light. To be strong and show the way to those who were lost but remembered who they were...

They mixed in life, suffering and pain so she would be humble enough yet courageous enough to be there for those who suffer...

They made us wise.
They made us strong.
They made us intelligent.
And givers
of life.

Now my darling, my sweet girl... do you think witches are evil?”

“No mommy, the next time they call me Witch I will welcome it with a smile on my face”

Artwork

Words Big Gaiah

04/02/2024

Today's Message✨
Hurt people hurt others, but luckily, healed people heal others. Safe people, shelter others. Free spirits, free others. Enlightened people, illuminate others. So, shine your light of love on all who may cross your path in life, because what you do matters. 🦋❤️‍🔥🦋

01/02/2024

Today is Imbolc, pronounced 'im'olk this is the first of 8 Pagan holidays throughout the year called Sabbats. Imbolc comes from the old Irish name Imbolg which means 'in the belly', meaning sowing the first seeds into the earth. Imbolc is a time to acknowledge the First Spark of Spring, the embedded energies that have been sleeping over the winter. The seeds that are underground acknowledge the returning energy and will begin to convert it to life deep within. Underground and unseen by man they will start to make their way to the surface and break through the soil and begin to bud.

Even though it is still the dead of winter and feels like winter in most places, the Sun's energy has been returning ever since the Winter Solstice (longest night of the year, Yule)

On Imbolc we celebrate the first days of Spring, snowdrops and crocuses begin to appear, things become very spring-like with daffodils, daisies and hyacinths coming early. Animals begin to wake from their winter hibernation. Nights get shorter and days will get longer and it will start to get warmer as winter snow and frost begin to thaw.

We celebrate the rebirth of the Goddess on Imbolc after she sacrificed herself on Yule to give birth to the Sun God. Both the God and Goddess are young, the triple Goddess is in her maiden form and gains strength from the earth, while the Sun God will grow in strength over the coming months.

Imbolc is a Celtic fire festival, where in ancient times most towns and villages would build a ceremonial bonfire. The Goddess Brigid, the Goddess of fire, healing and fertility is worshipped on this day. The lighting of fires celebrated the increasing power of the Sun. The Goddess Brigid was so much loved by the Celts that when the Christians were converting Pagans they could not change the holiday of Imbolc so the holiday was reformed and renamed to 'Candlemas' when candles are lit to remember the purification of the Virgin Mary, and they changed the Goddess Brigid into Saint Brigid.

Imbolc is a fire festival it is the ending of Winter and the beginning of Spring. To celebrate Imbolc, light a fire, it may only be a very small one and make wishes for the coming year into the flames. Burn any leftover evergreens that were decorating your home at Yule. Clean your homes of clutter that was gathered over the Yuletide and get rid of the old and bring in the new. Plant seeds for them to bloom in the Spring and Summer. Use a sage smudge stick to cleanse your home of stale or unwanted negative energies.

It is customary to make a Corn Dolly on Imbolc, this represents the Goddess, who will watch over you and your home throughout Spring and Summer. It is also traditional to make a Brigid Cross or Sun Cross on Imbolc, this is a cross woven traditionally from reeds but can be made with anything such as wheat, straw or paper and put them around your home to bring luck and protection for the coming year. Fill your alter with lit white candles and leave them to carefully burn through the day. Add any blooming flowers such as snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils or daisies and anything yellow, orange, gold or silver to honour the Sun God.

Imbolc is a time of contemplation, to think about the year that has past and the mistakes or successes we have had and what we have learned from them to help us achieve our goals, dreams and ambitions for the coming year. As well as planting seeds to grow in the earth also plant seeds and ideas in your mind to grow and blossom over the coming months.

Have a blessed Imbolc, May the God and Goddess watch over you.

25/01/2024

This full Moon is considered very powerful as it is the first full Moon of the year and astrologically, it is believed to force us to look at the past, close cycles, make decisions and accept change in our lives.

It occurs in the constellation of Leo, the house of pleasure, linked to vital energy, feelings, creativity and the capacity to love.

Thanks to The Baked Witch for graphics

Blessed be.