Art of Naomi Cornock

Pagan Mythic Fantasy Art by Naomi Cornock

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Old Ways Magic Oracle

Dear reader,

When I embarked on this personal journey of spiritual healing by re-discovering and re-learning the old ways, I have been asked on occasions if I would share my art and journey with others in the form of an oracle deck. I use my artwork in this way all the time and often create images to help me achieve the levels

of focus needed to learn crucial lessons and clarify what is needed in times of confusion. So you would think creating an oracle would be the next logical step.

However as with most things in life the path is rarely straight, and several obstacles have held me back. The two chief considerations was one a difficulty expressing myself through words and two the quite mundane consideration of financing the manufacture. As a result of creative thinking born from necessity I have come up with this first edition set consisting of:

The Oracle deck of 36 cards (89mm x 146mm, full colour double sided 320gsm linen finish playing card stock, die cut with rounded corners, tuck box 350gsm silk with matt laminate). The cards follow old winding wild paths where we meet with the old gods, walk with the spirits of sea, land and sky and follow the natural changing of the seasons.

An Oracle card bag, made from sustainably sourced and ethically manufactured organic cotton with a print of my woodland shrine.

A very small pamphlet with brief explanation and key words of the wisdom I learned from each card. These words are simple prompts, a way to help focus on your own inner truth and build your own framework and relationship with the image.

A numbered index card which correlates with the pages of the pamphlet and will be hand signed.

This deck can be used in a variety of ways, from pulling one card or a spread
of three or more cards. Although the cards have echoes and influences from traditional tarot they are very much an eclectic and intuitive collection of images. Not following any particular doctrine or formal belief system. Instead each card has been inspired by nature, created intuitively, with the guidance of the ancestors. My hope is that all the folk who use the cards will be able to hear, see and feel their own truth, to travel through lessons old and new helping to complete journeys of discovery in order to embark on new adventures.

Thank you for supporting the birth of the Old Ways Magick Oracle deck, I couldn’t have done it without you.

Many Blessings Naomi

 

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Arawn Lord of the Wild Hunt

So this is Arawn, Lord of the Hunt and of the Underworld, which is called Annwn in welsh mythology and where the souls of the dead reside. Arawn as lord of the underworld was closely associated with the English  Hern the Hunter and the wild hunt, especially around Yule where he heralds the darkest, longest night before the sun king is reborn. In Welsh folklore, Arawn rides with his white, red-eared hounds (the Hounds of Annwn) through the skies in winter, the dying season, collecting the souls of the dead to return them to Annwn. For me he is death and the journey to rebirth, bringing great change with him as he sweeps into and out of our lives. 

Cailleach Beur Storm Bringer

The Cailleach is recognised in Scotland, Ireland, and the Isle of Man, with her featuring in many a myth and legend as well as many places still dedicated to her within these regions.
She is seen as a seasonal goddess, the winter Crone, goddess of the cold and the winds, the Queen of Winter.
Associated with the last harvest festival on the celtic calendar, Samhain when she is known to wake up from her petrified stone state and stalk the land for the dark half of the year, bringing storms and the cold with her. She is the Veiled One, the storm hag or storm bringer.
The Cailleach appears primarily as a veiled old woman or hag with only one eye. Her skin pale or blue and her clothes adorned with skulls. She held a staff with a powerful hammer head, which she would use to level mountains, whip up deadly storms and freeze the ground wherever it touched.

One of the most common legends associated with the Cailleach is on Imbolc, the 1st of February. Legend says this is the point every year when the Cailleach runs out of firewood for the winter. If she wishes for winter to last longer, she makes the day sunny and bright for her collecting, but if she sleeps in the day is stormy and the task can not be done. So the tradition holds that if on February 1st the weather is inclement, winter will be shorter that year. But if the day is clear and bright, winter will return as the Cailleach has more wood to continue on. Come Beltaine the storm bringer returns to stone and Brigid takes up the mantle of goddess. She brings fertility to the growing season in her coupling with the sun god. In turn she will give way again for the Cailleach at Samhain, so the circle is complete, the seasons ever change and the wheel turns.

Healing Fire Transform

Healing Fire – transform and transmute.

I call Freya to embody heart and fire magick. The goddess of passion, beauty and bounty, patron of the seers, scorched with inner sight.

In Norse mythology, Freya, ‘the Lady’, is a goddess associated with many things including, death, love, sex, beauty, fertility, gold, and Seidr. Freya is the owner of the necklace Brisingamen, which she purchased from the Dwarves at great cost and protects it from thieves with a fiery intensity. She rides a chariot pulled by two cats and is accompanied by the boar Hildisivan, and possesses a cloak of falcon feathers which gave her the gift of flight. A member of the Vanir tribe of deities, Freya shared her people’s natural inclinations towards the magical arts of divination. It was Freya who introduced the gods to seidr, a form of magic that allowed practitioners to know and change the future. Women are mostly associated with this tradition and in old Norse cultures the Seidr shamans were called volva. They travelled from place to place performing requested acts of Seidr in exchange for lodgings, food etc. They were both revered and reviled, blessed and feared.

One of the most mythical Volva was told of in the Poetic Edda poem Voluspa. The first volva, maybe even Freya herself in disguise, was called Gullveig and she was spurned for her predictions, pierced by spears before being burnt three times, and yet was three times reborn, and after the third time she was acknowledged for her magick and went on to perform great feats of Seidr.

“The war I remember, the first in the world,

When the gods with spears had smitten Gollveig,

And in the hall of Hor had burned her,

Three times burned, and three times born,

Oft and again, yet ever she lives.

Heith they named her who sought their home

The wide-seeing witch, in magic wise;

Minds she bewitched that were moved by her magic,

To evil women a joy she was” 

translation of Voluspa

I chose Freya for Healing Fire as she for me is the welcoming warmth of hearth fire, as well as the transformational power of wild fire. The healing  magick of fire is difficult to balance and will always challenge us with its ferocity to bring great change too swiftly!
Freya is my fire healer, she is keeper of the flame and embodies the fiery passion that transmutes. Freya blesses us with the energies of heart fire and passion fire, and like the Phoenix and Gullveig, we are reborn and transformed into our magical skin, ready to fly.

Myrddin

Myrddin/ Merlin, madman or mage? The wild man of the woods, Myrddin fled into the forest, lived with the animals and received the gift of prophecy. He is the madman of the woods cursed with the knowledge of the fates of men. Merlin is advisor and teacher of great men, he carries the wisdom of the mage. Madness and wisdom, two sides of the same coin. This is the lesson I learned when I met a madman in a faerie wood.

This meeting occurred at Whistmans Wood on Dartmoor during a group event with other magical women. We were connecting with the Tree Spirits, and during this journey I met this most amazing being. He is my Shaman, wise mage and mad wild man, this is my account of the meeting.

One day I met a madman in a faerie wood,
he smiled as he sat in the crook of the tree,
Surrounded by the spirits of land, air and sea.

The animals they whisper their secrets to him,
the knowledge of eons to echo within. 

I asked him why he came to be in the wood? 

His reply was said with a giggle of glee
“I live in the wild to find madness you see,
Only with madness can one know the wisdom of trees.”
He invited for me to sit with him more
but I knew like a dash of rain on my face
If I were to step in the land of dragons that day,
I would never return again to this place.

So in wisdom if not regret
I turned my face to the tree and breathed,
“I promise another day to dance in madness with thee.”

Connecting with the Tree Spirits – April 2019 Whistmans Wood, Dartmoor. Hosted by Morwenna Brady – Grove of Stones.  

Artio Great Mother Bear

My path to Artio

I walk the high moor to the hill of the White Horse to seek the guidance of mother bear.

I tread the path of the ancestors to find the wisdom in nature there.

She teaches me to journey into the caves of inner space,

And shows me I will emerge with deeper knowledge of place.

And so I say to the goddess of the forgotten wild days,

I will forever honour and thank you for teaching me wisdom of the old ways.

Artio is the wild Bear Goddess worshipped by the Celtic tribes of Northern Europe. She is often seen to share some aspects other Goddesses of the Hunt like Diana or Artemis, but her origins could be even older than these manifestations. Some believe the bear to be one of the oldest European deities, as bones and skulls of bears have been found lovingly arranged on niches in caves inhabited by prehistory man across Europe. Further evidence of Artio’s ancient origins is found in the first written sentence from the “Old Europe Script”, invented around 6,000 years ago, long before the Celts arrived, reading “The Bear Goddess and the Bird Goddess are the Bear Goddess indeed.” As the years moved on and Christianity took hold in Europe, many Goddesses changed their forms to that of saint, and It is very possible that Saint Ursula, whose name is the latinised form of the Saxon ‘Ursel’ (‘She Bear’) is a Christianised version of Artio.

I see Artio more like Elen of the Ways a true wild goddess and the embodiment of nature in all its abundant glory, a giver of life. I know her as a protector – like a mother bear who fiercely protects her cubs and as a guide for those who wish to follow the paths of deeper knowledge and transformation.  As the female bear conceives in the autumn, going into hibernation pregnant, journeying in the darkness and emerging in the spring, reborn and transformed, so does the shaman return with new wisdom and insights to share with the world.

When Artio calls your name, know that you are protected and the universe always provides what is  needed. Take time for rest, for reverie, introspection that leads to expansion. Feel yourself transform as you gain a fuller and deeper connection to the natural world and therefor a deeper understanding of your own truth.

Morrigan The Raven Queen

 

The Morrigan is a triune goddess, three entities in one, the maiden, the mother, the crone. She is the young shield maiden, the clever and nimble shape shifter. She is the fiery mother who will fight to protect the weak and helpless. She is the battle herald and crone, phantom queen of death and transformation.

This piece of sacred art has been created so that when we need to fight for life, for the earth, for our children, we will find the strength here with The Morrigu.

I call you raven queen, for strength against adversity, to be battle ready, for times when I need to stand strong, protect and defend. 

For this piece of sacred art I chose Boa Island as the place and space to manifest The Morrigan being named after Badhbh (sometimes spelled, Badb), island of the Morrigan, the battle goddess. In the background of the image I placed the Janus stone and the Sheela Ne Gig Stone (now found together in Caldragh graveyard on Boa Island) on either side of a phoenix figure, rising  as flame and smoke would from a battle field, transforming the moon blood red in honour of the fallen. 

I have called on the power of the crows and ravens and have used them to accompany her, nine ravens, three for each aspect of the great queen. I have also embedded other animals in the image that she often chose to take the form of, in order to influence the lives of men and women. 

I have also included a waterfall as the Morrigan is strongly linked with the element of water and was known to wash the armour of the men who were to do battle, heralding their deaths with the lament of a Banshee. 

At the base of the waterfall is a sleeping figure, half donkey half man, the dreaming shaman on a midsummer’s eve. Above his head is a spine of Blackthorn with stars and eyes appearing through the blackest night.

While creating the last parts of this piece I used an invocation chant to call The Morrigan. It was written by Dave Rankine and was shared with me by a friend. If anyone wishes to use it when calling the goddess through this image, should use it with honour and integrity. It is to be repeated three times  to complete the invocation.

“Morrigan,

blood red, 

spearhead bright, 

Crow black, 

feather haired, 

dark queen of night”

The piece was completed and blessed on the first full moon after the summer solstice of  2019

Epona

Epona – Divine Mare, The Great Mare, protector of horses and honoured by the riders of Albion

Epona is not only protector of horses, ponies and donkeys and those who work with them, but also for those on long  journeys, both physical and spiritual, as she is also a guardian for the shaman as they travel with the spirits.  She is also goddess of fertility, sovereinty and the after life. 

Although her worship originated with nomadic Celts in Gaul during the Iron Age it extended throughout Continental Europe. Epona was the only Celtic deity venerated in Rome itself and her importance to the Roman cavalry was signified with a shrine in nearly every stable across the Roman Empire. Even the Roman Emperors venerated her, believing her a sovereign goddess bestowing upon them a connection to the land and it’s fertility and there by the right to rule, the same as the chieftains of Gaul and Albion had before them. She is goddess of the tribes.

There are many depictions of Epona across Europe, usually representing her as a woman riding side-saddled on a white horse which was the symbol of purity and often associated with the spirit of the land or connected to the underworld. The goddess was believed to carry souls of those who died, on her horse from the realm of the living to the dead. The goddess was occasionally accompanied by a dog or a foal, or portrayed feeding a foal. Sometimes she is simply portrayed as a white mare, as is seen with the “Uffinton White Horse” on White Horse hill in England, which is thought to be an Iron Age representation of Epona. Other  various incarnations of Epona include Rhiannon in Wales, Macha in Ireland, the cult of Rigatonia in Britain and the Celtic goddess Edain

My reconnection with Epona came after I worked with my ‘Empress’ piece and I was calling the Goddess as Sovereign in my meditations. Epona is a familiar presence for me, as I have honoured her for a long time and the longer I live on my ancestral land the closer I feel to her, and several other manifestations of the goddess and spirits of the land. She was the next to knock on my door so I started to actively search for the time and space to call to her and manifest her energy on paper. 

It was at this time through a series of wonderful synchronicities I met an amazing woman who had a herd of horses she was rewilding on the Somerset lowlands, Glastonbury. The herd also helped in the healing of people through different equine therapy programs … and I had the honour to visit with them. I’m still finding it hard to express in words this experience with these animals, who are free to be horses with no direct human use, yet accept people into their space with such calm and grace. Their energy was so balanced and harmonious, it was magical to just be!…. and yes Epona walked with them!

After my visit with the Paintedhorse herd I climbed Glastonbury Tor  via the apple orchards, it was just after Beltane, the journey was filled with her energy, from the apple blossom, the rushing air elementals in the wind at the top, to the deep rhythm of the dragon’s heartbeat as it slumbered beneath my feet. Epona riding in the air, around the Tor, through me, the earth and sky sang to me! So at journeys end she also dances with me now,  in the cave of stars, to feed the earth so we can continue on.

The horses from the Paintedhorse herd featuring in the image are: Jackson, Blossom, Hope, Epona and Prada. The rest of the herd are: Danny, Gunner, Grace, Logan, Polly, Uhla and Rio. A big thank you to Livvy Adams and all the work the Paintedhorse herd, and their human facilitators, contribute to the rebalancing and healing of our land and the people who live here. https://paintedhorse.org.uk/

Healing Earth Grounded

Healing Earth – Grounded – The wild one of wood and blood.

The lord of the woods speaks to the ancient ones, the wild ones as they draw near and gather round, boar, stag and wolf… the crafty and wise ones, serpent, badger, fox and bear. 

He sits crossed legged at the base of the White Leaved Oak on Ragged Stone Hill, whispering songs of the lives and deaths of the ancestors through root, branch and leaf. 

The gossamer strands of the living web cross the land from Tor, spring and vale curl and connect deep in the earth, flow to him, through him into the sky and stars. So with the wild god we find harmony with nature, life death and rebirth.

When balanced we align,
Once aligned we connect,
Once connected we grow,
And when we grow we flow
From above to below.

Cernunnos is the God of wild places, regenerator of the earth. A horned god found in Celtic mythology, although many believe him to be much older. He is connected with all things wild and untamed and is associated with fertility and vitality. Depictions of Cernunnos are found in many parts of the British Isles and western Europe. He is often portrayed sitting crossed legged with a beard and wild, shaggy hair holding the ram horned serpent in one hand and a torc in the other.

When I connected With the wild god I saw him sitting under a particular oak tree called the White Leaved Oak or the Pagan Oak it is an ancient oak tree situated in farmland on the lower western slopes of Ragged Stone Hill, between the hamlets of Hollybush and White Leaved Oak. It grows on top of a large flat rock on the north ridge of a sizeable, deep hollow in the ground.

At solstices gifts are left hanging from the sacred oaks branches. At the summer solstice the oak is left strewn with blossoms and flowers and decked with brightly coloured ribbons, feathers, pentagrams and other offerings. 

The trunk has become hollowed with age, and it is now possible to climb down inside and stand on the rock on which it grows, which is also lined with offerings from the pagan communities who worship and honour the land and the ancestors under its ancient limbs.

The Pagan oak had been dead for several years when I did this painting, but the main trunk and a few limbs still stood, and it was still revered by many. On Summer Solstice 2020 it was sadly burnt to the ground. However its ashes return to the earth and replenish it, so it is ready for new growth for the future. So is the nature of life, death and rebirth.

The Dance

 

This piece was birthed from a request by an ancestral pagan from Jersey for a sacred ritual cloth. He wished me to channel the spirits from two sacred spaces in his ancestral home. One of these spaces was the Faldouet Dolmen and the other a sacred ancestral sight specific to the family and not public. With detailed descriptions of sacred spaces, trees, spirits and a deepening connection between us I let it brew, and just after Ostara I started to manifest. ‘The Dance’ was finished and blessed on Beltane 2019 and for me has become the essence of ‘The Dance’ between the lord and the lady, light and dark, sacred feminine and sacred masculine, blessing us all with love and light.

These words from Ben evoke the essence of this piece of sacred art:

Wisdom grows within the land,

Witches circle hand in hand,

Waken all the old ways back, 

Do not hide in shadows black,

The moon doth glow and vibrant bright,

Awaken all ye into life” 

Every aspect of a landscape is sacred and awake. You can here the call of the old ways when standing in ancient monuments, Witches gather here, work here. 

In the woods under the pale moon light, witches come, gather and lift the blanket of illusion, which is the human mundane reality is then pulled back to reveal a world of magic. 

This piece is inspired by the ancient ways of the land and spirit path. The lady and lord hidden within the wilds where we gather to praise and sing their names. Naomi has captured the spirit of place, connecting to the depths of Jersey. This piece hides within it magic that is natural and aligned with the spirits and the ancestors. This is based on two sacred landscapes which have come together to inspire all those who wish to listen. 

This journey is not for the faint hearted it is beautiful and deadly all at once. Can you reach the paths end? Is there a paths end? Search and you will find, ask and you shall receive…..there is magic there but I can not tell you, you have to find it yourself.

Words and poem written by Ben De Veulle Filleul

The Empress The Sovereign Goddess

 

The Empress – The Sovereign Goddess

The concept of the Sovereign Goddess in Pagan cultures across the British Isles and the European mainland often depict her as empress, ruler, leader, mother. To the Celts sovereignty was not simply the right to rule over a clan or country, it was a divine power that was granted by the goddess of the land to the leader of the people. The goddess and the land were one and the same, and thus sovereignty took on the guise of a mystical or divine woman. She is embodied in the great queens such as The Morrigan, Arianrhod, Epona and Rhiannon. Later she appears in myth and  legend as the Lady of the Lake in the Arthurian tales and Macha of Ulster who is also recognised as one aspect of the Morrigan. She bestows the gift of Sovereignty on the true  ruler of the realm (often male but not always), who acts as her representative. By joining with the goddess, the ruler in turn becomes connected to the land and its people, and she will bless their reign with abundance of fertility and prosperity.

Originally this was a request from a gentleman who has given his heart and soul to the Empress and wished me to manifest her for him. I also found her through this process and this sacred art piece is a culmination of me, him and her.

I have chosen to have the goddess seated on a tree throne with animals of power, guardianship, knowledge and magick surrounding her. The tree is one of the Bristlecone Pines of the White Mountains in California, and one of the oldest living beings on our planet, a tree of the ancients. I chose this tree for its endurance, longevity and resilience. To live so long through such challenging conditions for me is the most fitting seat for the Sovereign Goddess, Empress of the Universe, and to emphasise this universal aspect of the goddess she wears a crown of stars and galaxies in her clothes, which also become part of the tree.

The black bear to one side of her, protects the physical realm, a guardian of nature. The white horse is protector of the spirit realm, and connects the people to the ancestors. They stand either side of the goddess as dualities of light and dark with her in the middle connecting them making a whole. The dragon as a creature of fire and magick is the bridge from the other realms connecting the goddess and her anointed ruler at her feet to the sky, land, water and the shining ones, as it twists around the tree of ancients. The salmon is jumping from the waters in the holy grail/cauldron, the font of knowledge, and represents the wisdom of people and the ancestors.

The font of knowledge is also fed from springs, sacred places of the goddess and spirits of the land. So I have the sacred spring coming from the tree of ancients at the feet of the goddess swirling into a double spiral of the spiritual journey of shaman, priest, priestess, witch, and spiritual healer. 

The Sovereign Goddess teaches us to hold our power up to the wind, to let it flow from us into the waters of the world, to use it to ground and endure as earth and to rediscover our inner fire… she is the mother, protector, nurturer and leader…the Empress of everything, the Sovereign Goddess of the land and a reflection of ourselves. She teaches us to love ourselves and to wear our power like a mantel of stars.

Adder

 

Throughout history snakes have had many legends surrounding them, linking them to creation, fertility, sexuality and transformation.  

Snakes in Celtic cultures are the embodiment of graceful travel over any terrain, transformative healing, and a deep connection to the underworld as well as across the veil. In some Celtic cultures the Druids were called Adders. When Ireland was converted to Christianity and the Druidic traditions were destroyed St. Patrick bragged that he had driven all of the snakes out of Ireland. 

In other indigenous cultures snakes are creation creatures as with the rainbow serpent in Australian Aboriginal mythology, in some North American indigenous peoples snake is a creature of destruction swallowing the world whole. In other Norse traditions the snake is represented swallowing its tail forming and endless circle of life, death and rebirth.

For me snake teaches us that in order to transform and renew ourselves we must shed the old, be rid of that which is holding us back.

To snake I ask, guide me to know what is holding me back and needs shedding away

Dragons of Kernow

At the cliffs of Tintagel the dragons of Kernow stir. This is where I met the dragons of earth, fire, water and air.

Dragon symbolism plays heavily in the legends of the Celts where it is associated with all four elements and cardinal directions. To the Druids, Dragons represented vitality, the spiritual self, ancient wisdom and the power of creation. Stories of Dragons protecting the secret and sacred entryways to other realms are common in Celtic and Druid folklore.

Dragons are also often closely associated with sovereignty and belonging, so it’s no surprise that the Welsh people chose a Red Dragon for their flag. The motto roughly translates as ‘the Red Dragon leads us’. Dragons for all their awe inspiring magical power, are often perceived to have strong benevolent tendencies, only harming when evil rears its ugly head.

Throughout Celtic realms what we call Lay Lines are also often called Dragon Lines.

 

To dragon I ask, guide me to listen to the ancient wisdom of the old ways

The White Stag

The White stag is seen in many cultures, as the spirit of nature, guardian of the forest and all that lives in it. The image of a stag with a full moon between his antlers represents both the male (the antlers) and the female (the moon) aspects of the Divine. Holding two dualities to create a whole. Which is why I invoked the double spiral.

The white Stag should he appear, will provide guidance, protection and encouragement. If you are able to stand in his company then he will impart all his secrets and those of the forest. He is the heart and spirit of the land.

In Olde English we find the name Hart, one of the oldest names recorded, it is also the Anglo Saxons name for deer.

To the White Stag I ask, guide me to the heart of things 

Boar

Wild boars are fearsome, dangerous animals, yet revered as a defender of the weak and prized for it’s meat, as such it is often associated with hospitality. Any function of importance would include a feast with boar meat as a central offering, and the remains of roasted boar meat is a frequent find in the burial-places of tribal chieftains. Which is why I included a long barrow on the back of the boar.

The boar figures heavily in tales of the Otherworld, often in the guise of a trickster figure, full of cunning and mischief. The boar is a frequent participant in the “wild hunt,” and often included in otherworldly procession of faeries and ghosts.

Wild boar meaning is most profound when it comes to defence and protection. Indeed, many indigenous cultures adopted the boar as a symbol of warriors and mighty courage.

To Boar I ask, guide me to be steadfast in defending those in need

Into the Cauldron

Healing  Waters

Let the waters flow through you, cleanse you, rebirth you.
Let the energy of the ancestors, the shining ones, the old ways pour into you and heal you.

This piece was a response to a wonderfully transformative event I experienced at St Nectan’s Glen in Cornwall. I have asked the ancestral priestess of the Kieve to say in her words the intentions and the magick of the night.

“I was honoured to receive an altar cloth print of Naomi’s incredible painting of a ceremony I led last year on the Blood Moon at St Nectans Glen.  This awe inspiring painting is titled ‘Into the Cauldron’ and depicts a truly magical eve at the most sacred of places, an ancient magical waterfall in the heart of Cornwall.  As part of my weekly global intention spell (Cauldronofchanges.org), I invited Naomi and other close friends to join me at this mystical place and magically connect to people all over the world, via the Web of Wyrd, to weave some new, positive threads for our future Earth.  Under the influence of the Samhain Moon we honoured the Shining Ones, the Crone and the Cauldron, and chanted ancient runes to the sounds of drums and crystal singing bowl.  We felt the presence of the Goddesses Morrigan and Cerridwen and many animal spirits weave their magic around us as the rushing waters  cascaded down through the holed stone.  This truly was a night of deep enchantment, thank you Naomi for honouring the cauldron with your magical artwork”  Michelle Mari Elliott, wytchwyse.com – Keeping the Old Ways alive

Elen of the Ways

This piece was requested by the guardian of the Temple for Elen, based on a vision he had from her and of her to birth this piece and to establish her house again in these times… And oh how we are in need of her wisdom.
In the beginning I didn’t have much knowledge or intuitive connection with this almost forgotten goddess and was curious to know her, to connect with her and at almost the same time as Alex approached me I had been having a series of encounters with a female antlered deer in vision questing on the moors and in my dream space. After more focused meditating on the request through 2018 I connected deeply with this ancient goddess, and this piece is the expression of that connection. Elen of the Ways is now one of the shining ones who walks with me when I journey on the web of life, illuminating the old ways, sharing wisdom and showing me the paths to take.

Elen or Ellen of the Ways, antlered goddess of the Wild Hunt. Goddess of sacred spring, of old track ways and of the Labyrinth. She completes the feminine aspect to the Horned God in balance, male and female in harmony. She has dominion over the animal realms, fae mother and priestess illuminator of the sacred paths. She has walked veiled from man for centuries mentioned in the tales of the Mabinogion. Sometimes referred to as the Green Lady. Revealing herself in this time her message to mankind, to return to the old track ways and run once more as part of the Wild Hunt, so mankind can remember its place in this world and bring balance once more.
Alex Park Temple for Elen, Northampton and founder of A Temple for Elen FB group, I can’t thank him enough for helping me to connect with her, Blessed Be Brother.

Eagle Owl

In Celtic mythology, Owls know the way to the underworld and are fierce defenders of truth and honor. Owl has no tolerance for deception, even when we are deceiving ourselves.
In ancient Egyptian and Hindu cultures the symbolic meaning of owl revolved around guardianship of the underworlds.
Owls are often seen as mysterious, mostly because many owls are strictly nocturnal and humans have always found night to be full of mystery and the unknown.  Owls live within the darkness, which includes magic, mystery, and ancient knowledge.  Related to the night and the moon, owl is a symbol of the feminine and fertility, with the moon’s cycles of renewal.

To Owl I ask, guide me past illusion and deceit to the truth.

This image had been brewing for a long time, and was originally requested for a friend who works closely with the Eagle Owl… while I was working through potential ideas I connected with alovely lady who works with Rivenwell Wildlife Community based in Cornwall, and bam I had my inspiration. Wendy had a photo of a gorgeous owl called Jaz, and when she looked back at the photo she saw her beloved Barn Owl Moonshine reflected in one of Jaz’ eyes, the spirit owl so to speak… so when I did this image I used her photo as a base and went back to an experience I had when camping in Cornwall. The sun was setting on one of the standing stones, called ‘The Piper’ and I saw an owl sweep silently across the field. It was then I felt a solid connect to the moment, to the land and space I was grounded in, and a wave of gratitude and well being swept over me… to me this is magick, and it always comes from the spirits of the land, sky and sea that inhabit this world we walk upon. Thank you Wendy for inspiring me to remember that connection through your lovely companions and thank you Trace CZ Whitecrow for the request. Please check out Wendy’s Owl Pages and Ravenswell community on Facebook.

To Owl I ask, guide me to the ancestors and remind me to be grateful.

Otter

As an aquatic animal, the otter is closely connected with the element of Water and thus Otters are often seen to embody creativity, fluidity and healing. Although Otter lives primarily In water, it also plays on land and is thus also connected to the element of Earth. As with other animals like newts, frogs and seals, this dual aspect talks to us of adaptability and transitioning. However most importantly for me Otter symbolises the ability to connect to my inner child and play – to find love and laughter in our lives, balancing out more solemn or serious aspects of life.
In some Celtic tribes the humour in Otter along with its magical connections to earth and water are both celebrated and revered. In Ireland Otter is sacred to Manannan mac Lir, the sea god and in Wales to Cerridwen the great Mother Goddess. Some of the nick names for Otter in Celtic tradition include brown dog and water dog, implying faithfulness and unyielding love.

To Otter I ask, guide me to my inner child and remind me to laugh and play

Ursus

Bear is strongly associated with the Medicine Man or Shaman of several Native American tribes and is associated with areas of wisdom, strength and healing.

In Celtic tradition it’s thought that hunters invoked the goddess of nature Artio, who would take on the form of the bear, to guide them to safety and success.

Viking warriors would wear a bear pelt when entering battle, for strength and power. At Winter Solstice people would call upon the Great Bear for safety through the dark winter months.

When we look at Bear’s hibernation cycle we are also reminded of the value of rest, quiet and privacy, particularly in our busy lives. It is necessary to move away from daily chaos so we can truly listen to our inner selves, Bear medicine emphasises the importance of solitude, quiet time and rest.

To Ursus I ask, guide me to protect my core and gather strength for more challenging times.

Nanuk

The Sea Bear, White Sea Deer, The Seal’s Dread, The Rider of Icebergs, The Whale’s Bane, The Sailor of the Floe or The Old Man in the Fur Cloak, The Ice Bear, The Ever-Wandering One.
Known by so many names it is the Inuit ‘Nanuk’, that resonates the most with me, it means Animal Worthy of Great Respect.
Endurance, strength, acceptance and surrender. He surrendered long ago to the transformational and evolving process that was inevitable, and so with time became the master of the winter lands, master of acceptance and adaptation.

To Nanuk I ask, guide me to a place of surrender, to be at peace where I am.

The Wild Goddess

The Wild Goddess

This piece was created for a very spiritual healer, commissioned by her partner. It is a piece of sacred art made to be used in ceremony and ritual. The image was created through a series of meditations over the summer of 2018 and it was to be the first time I connected with the wild goddess, for me not only the archetypal wild goddess, but the wild goddess of magical Dartmoor. I first connected with her at Scorhill stone circle, then again while sitting with a lovely Rowan tree growing strong and tall between HoundTor and Greater Tor Rocks. On my final meditation at Bone hill Rocks she showed me the way into the cave of stars where I can rest on a bed of moss in a beam of warm white light, inviting me to be filled with love and healing. 

She is the wild goddess full of adventure and courage. As she walks the sacred ways she brings with her the mysteries of darkest nights. She is from the wild lands and moves with the rhythms of the seasons, the heart beat of the land, the whispers in the wind. As she wanders through moon washed nights, she hunts and dances with the ancestors on top of the Tors, at the sacred springs and down in the Coombs. 

Here at home in the wild lands, the moorlands, she is the Wild Goddess defender and protector of the wilderness. So as I look up to the moon and press my fingers to the ground the wild goddess speaks to me, as above so below, “You are always beloved of the land, feel peace, thrive and grow.”

Brigid’s Song

Brigid’s Song.
This piece was inspired by a piece of poetry written by a friend, bard and tree brother Tim Wykes. It is dedicated to magic, hope and the Triple Goddess Brigid.
The Elves and the Pixies had a Feast
Through the Lambs tail Catkin heads of Hazel tree a picture forms of the Elves and the Pixies tea party as they danced and jigged under the light of a sweet full moon, with Acorn cups and twigs for forks, as a Stag bellowed out a tune, the nectar from the bees did flow, oh such a heady brew. At this the mice got up and they joined in and marched in two by two.
The Old wise Owl sat up in his Old Oak tree just looked down deep below he shook his head and let out a tewit tawoo while from another little branch Robin whistles on too. Then from out of the darkness arm in arm Stoat and Weasel rock up the joint ‘We heard this is the place to be’ they speak toward the Badger as he conducts with his hedgehog quill and still the feast goes on.
The thrush beats on the shells of snails, as the Ants do stamp their feet, and the sounds of clapping cowbells from a distant field only adds to the happy woodpecker knocks out a beat from his favourite tree and from the swaying blades of grass snake does his slither to join the joyful throng, while frog leaps in to not miss out with her own deep croaking song!!
Then from the mists our lady Brigid herself lifts the heads of Snowing Drops, and gives a little chuckle, for spider rolls upon the floor and she’s in a terrible muddle. For she tried to dance you see but silken stockings bound her legs and down she went and found herself in trouble till our lady burnt them through with sacred fire and saved her trouble being doubled!
Then the feast was silenced as they heard our lady sing, for she brought along the hopes and dreams that only comes with each and every spring, she gives life to the Acorns below, as too the bud and the blossom grow. Then nests are formed upon ancient boughs as well the Rooks, Ravens and Crow. She wakes them all to bring splendour and grace to life’s loving embrace as she breathes them life cast forever ever on it goes.
©Timbo February 2018

Phoenix Rising

This piece was originally done as a 50th birthday present for a modern day wonder woman. She is one of those amazing women of our times, being a full time mum, main wage earner, nurturer and organiser of her family. She works crazy hours, always striving to do her best for all she loves. This is my homage and healing art for her and all women who are sole providers and nurturers to all they love. To the sisters, mothers and grandmothers who spend their lives taking care of others, often sacrificing their own health and well being in the process. This image was created to remind us that it’s ok to crash and burn, we will rise again from the foundations of love we have spent our lives nurturing. It is an image of rebirth and hope.
Through the ties that bond 
find comfort and healing.
From the power of three
Bind magic and meaning.

Symbolic meanings
Animals
The white stag is protection and wisdom
. The dragonflies and butterflies transformation and rebirth
. The Coi fish represent courage and strength in the face of adversity
. The Phoenix is a symbol of hope and rebirth after trials and tribulations
Runes
Thurisaz – the gateway, opening up of a new path, to be open to and guided by wisdom
Tiewaz – the warrior, a rune to teach us to have courage and always battle on
.
Algiza – the rune of protection and leadership
Plant symbolism
Aloe Vera for healing, 
Jade Plant for prosperity, 
Sunflowers for optimism, Poppies for peace and transformation, 
Lilies for death and rebirth
Words written in the healing spiral
‘
And she rises from the ashes more beautiful than before…
Each morning we are reborn’

Horse

In the world of the ancient Celts the horse held a particularly divine place in their culture. As mystics and shamans, the Celtic people viewed all life as intertwined, connected at the source (as seen in the art of Celtic Knotwork).
In Celtic lore, Horses have strong associations with the Gods, particularly Epona who manifests as a horse who protect the Earth, show us the future and guide humankind with sure-footedness. Epona’s name means “mare” and she was one of the few celtic Goddess that Romans worshiped.
She is very similar in form and function to the Welsh Rhiannon who rides a Pale Horse and governs fertility.
The Celtic Horse is symbolic of freedom, independence, travel across time and space, life and death (white horse / black horse), service to others and self.

To horse I ask, guide me on how to break free from all that hinders and binds me.

Pagan Prayer Flags

A set of pagan prayer flags depicting the eight sabbats of the year, Samhain, Yule, Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh, Mabon.

The small size is approximately A6 for each flag and hand stitched to hessian tape.

Healing Spirits A Sacred Journey

Find the quiet space inside you, hear your own truths, recognise that everything is connected and you will not only heal yourself but all the world around you.

This piece of sacred art is the manifestation of one of the most intense experiences on my spiritual journey. A couple of years ago I went on a transformative healing spirit journey in the Forest of Dean surrounded by  young and vitally strong oaks. It took me quite a lot of time to absorb and process the experience and a couple of months later, just as it was pushing against my psyche to come out, a friend posted a picture of the trees I met on Face Book!  There it was the whole piece in the forefront of my minds eye, and it flowed out in a huge rush of energy, allowing me to experience this life changing lesson all over again. Now every time I connect with this piece in meditation I go a bit deeper and learn a bit more of the lesson – to heal yourself is to heal the world.

I called Bear to help us recognise the importance of solitude, quiet time and rest for self healing. She is the great mother and she is our guardian from the earth realm below. Cat and Owl spirit offer spiritual and emotional healing and are guardians of travellers to the spirit realms. The sleeping white wolf and rabbit and the deer in the trees lend us their strength, courage and kindness. The flying Buzzards are guardians of the sky, as we are protected from below so it is above.

The elements are called: water cleanses, fire transforms, earth protects and air clarifies.
The three oaks growing in the Forest of Dean represent the maiden, mother and crone, connecting above with below. They are protectors, healers and providers of wisdom. The spiral beneath them is the journey inward we all must make to truly know and accept our own truth, and be able to travel without.

 

 

Hedgehog

 

Hedgehog is seen as an earth element animal and connected to Mother Earth and is often used as a symbol of fertility and rebirth. As a nocturnal animal, hedgehog is associated with intuition, psychic ability, prophetic dreams and visions. This is because the night deals with concepts that are cloaked in shadow – a realm that is not altogether clear. That the hedgehog’s active time is at night is symbolic of “second sight.”

Another testimony to its spiritual power is the hedgehog’s natural resistance to snake venom. This carries importance with many cultures from Egypt to Mongolia, and is seen as a symbol of victory over evil or a ward against evil.

The Greeks and the Romans attributed intelligence and resourcefulness to the symbolism of the hedgehog when they observed it knocking off grapes from vines and rolling on to them, spearing the grapes on their backs and carrying them away to eat in safety.

Resourceful, protective, gentle but able to defend itself, Hedgehog encourages you to follow your curiosity and trust in your ability to find the answers to any problem life throws at you. Hedgehog teaches you how to look after yourself in the big world.

To Hedgehog I ask, guide me to self belief and to trust that I will find my way.

Nyx Mother Goddess of the Night

 

Nyx – Greek Goddess of the night, Nox in Roman myth, first daughter of Chaos. An archetypal primordial goddess.

Nyx Correspondences
Element:  Water
Planet:  Moon
Colors:  Black and Silver
Symbol:  Stars on a black veil
Animals: Bat and Owl
Wheel of the Year: Yule.

Twice every day, at dusk and dawn  Nyx rides out of Tartarus in a black chariot drawn by two black steeds, and accompanied by the stars.  She is draped in a long, heavy shroud, on her head a black star spangled veil, she has black wings and carries twin children in her arms.  One child Thanatos is black and is death; the other Hypnos is white and is sleep.
Nyx is a primordial goddess and is represented in many theologies and symbolically represents the Darkness within all of us.  Nyx is the acknowledgement of the shadow, the unseen behind the veil.  She asks us to bravely enter the darkness, the unknown and let it embrace us, to let go of our senses and float in the primordial ether of the cosmos. To leave our fears, attachments, regrets and desires behind us.
When we honour and call on the wisdom of Nyx we are asking to enter the darkness, to acknowledge and release our fears in order to reach an awareness of how to go on.

Badger

 

In some European cultures the Badger is revered as a warrior spirit and known for their fierceness, strength and hardiness. In some Native American cultures it is said that the Badger is an ancient earth spirit and features in many old stories as a great hunter that carries darkness on his back. The Badger is also often associated with the Holly tree, as both tree and animal are symbols for endurance and survival in the harshest of conditions.
The badger is fierce, persistent and determine it would rather die than give up. Badgers have fighting spirits, unyielding in the face of danger and are as tenacious as they are courageous. The badger will teach you to fight for your rights and defend your spiritual ideals.

To Badger I ask, guide me to where my strength lies, so I can fight on when I must.

Robin

Robins have long been revered as harbingers of spring as they are one of the few small garden birds active in the deepest of winter, and to the present day to hear its song at this time gladdens the heart. In Europe the Robin is often associated with the fertility goddess Ostara and is linked with the new growing season, symbolising divine sacrifice and the rebirth of the spirit.

To Robin I ask, guide me in the wisdom of change, growth and renewal.

Owl

In Celtic mythology, Owls know the way to the underworld and are fierce defenders of truth and honor. Owl has no tolerance for deception, even when we are deceiving ourselves.
In ancient Egyptian and Hindu cultures the symbolic meaning of owl revolved around guardianship of the underworlds.
Owls are often seen as mysterious, mostly because many owls are strictly nocturnal and humans have always found night to be full of mystery and the unknown.  Owls live within the darkness, which includes magic, mystery, and ancient knowledge.  Related to the night and the moon, owl is a symbol of the feminine and fertility, with the moon’s cycles of renewal.

To Owl I ask, guide me past illusion and deceit to the truth.

Deer

For the native tribes of North America, the deer was a messenger, an animal of power, and a totem representing sensitivity, intuition and gentleness. In Buddhism, the deer symbolises harmony, happiness, peace and longevity, trust and kindness.
In Celtic symbolism Deer is significant in both male and female, the Hind can access the fairy world and teaches us about love and kindness. The Stag is king of the forest and he protects all creatures therein.

To Deer I ask, guide me to live in peace, love unconditionally and accept life’s challenges with grace

Nyx Crone Queen of the Night

 

Nyx – Greek Goddess of the night, Nox in Roman myth, first daughter of Chaos. An archetypal primordial goddess.

Nyx Correspondences
Element:  Water
Planet:  Moon
Colors:  Black and Silver
Symbol:  Stars on a black veil
Animals: Bat and Owl
Wheel of the Year: Yule.

Twice every day, at dusk and dawn  Nyx rides out of Tartarus in a black chariot drawn by two black steeds, and accompanied by the stars.  She is draped in a long, heavy shroud, on her head a black star spangled veil, she has black wings and carries twin children in her arms.  One child Thanatos is black and is death; the other Hypnos is white and is sleep.
Nyx is a primordial goddess and is represented in many theologies and symbolically represents the Darkness within all of us.  Nyx is the acknowledgement of the shadow, the unseen behind the veil.  She asks us to bravely enter the darkness, the unknown and let it embrace us, to let go of our senses and float in the primordial ether of the cosmos. To leave our fears, attachments, regrets and desires behind us.
When we honour and call on the wisdom of Nyx we are asking to enter the darkness, to acknowledge and release our fears in order to reach an awareness of how to go on.

The Morrigan

 

The Morrigan ‘The Great Queen’

The Morrigan (also known as the Morrigu) was the shape-shifting Irish Celtic Goddess of War, Fate and Death in addition to being the patroness of revenge, night, magic, prophecy, priestesses and witches.

The Morrigan was one of the magical race of beings called the Tuatha De Danaan (“People of the Goddess Danu”). Who were said to have been one of the early inhabitants of Ireland of which a rich tapestry of myth and legend arose. As the time of magic was replaced by the time of man they diminished in size retreating to live under the hills. They are now often described as the Fae, Faeries or ‘little folk’.

The Morrigan is a fierce, strong warrior goddess and patron of slain warriors in war. Often referred to as the “Great Queen” or “Phantom Queen” she appears as a portent of death through many guises. On the eve of a battle she can be seen at the edge of a river, as the “washer at the ford”, scrubbing the blood from the clothes of warriors who were doomed to fall. She would also appear as a raven over a battlefield foretelling and influencing the outcome. Her role in Celtic legend is similar to that of the Valkyries in Norse folklore in that both made decisions regarding who would live and who would die in battle.

The origins of the Morrigan appear to be directly linked to the megalithic Cult of the Mothers, who usually appeared as triple goddesses. She is depicted as a triune goddess (that is a deity who is three individuals in one). As The Morrigan she represents war or battle, she is fierce and will fight to protect the weak who cannot protect themselves, very much as an avenging mother aspect. The Goddess Nemain (meaning “Frenzy” or “Fury”) is the maiden in all her youthful strength and impetuous intensity. In her final aspect, the Goddess Badb (meaning “Vulture” or “Venomous”) we see the crone aspect of death and transformation.

The Morrigan is a goddess to honour and call upon when in need of battle ready strength. For times when you need to stand strong for the struggle to reach a challenging goal you have set yourself.

With vitality and strength,
May you win all your battles.
Always honour your losses,
As you rejoice in your victories.

Blessed Be

Norns

 

The Norns
The three known as Wyrd (Urd), Verdandi and Skuld

Skuld the maiden (future/necessity) “that which shall be”. She doesn’t directly represent the future exactly, but more the consequences of the actions of the past and present, similar to the concept of Karma in the Asian philosophies.

Verdandi the mother (present) “that which is coming”

Urd the crone (past) “that which became”. She is the principle caretaker of the well of fate, also called Urd.

Everyday till Ragnarok the Norns pour water from the well on Yggdrasil to keep its branches from rotting then weave the life threads of men and gods into a web of fate, they also write runes on the roots of Yggdrasil, effecting the fates of the gods and the nine worlds.

Be aware in Norse mythology these are the Wyrd sisters, “sisters of fate” and don’t directly correlate with the concept of chronological time, as do the Greek Fates.
I call upon them when I do readings, to help with focus and clarity, especially if I am mirror or water skrying.

 

Wolf

 

In Celtic wolf mythology a wolf was the companion of the Celtic goddess Cerridwen (goddess of the Moon and fertility) and of the god, Cernunnos (horned god of fertility, life, animals, wealth, and the underworld). On the Gundestrup Cauldron, you can see Cernunnos surrounded by wolf companions. In this tradition wolf is an emblem of bravery, faithfulness and integrity.

Wolf also teaches us to find balance in the community in which we live. When a wolf pack is well balanced all the individuals in the pack are working for good of the whole pack. In order for all in the community to be healthy and strong there needs to be balance. Wolf teaches us to find courage to trust and lean on others so when we heal ourselves then the community as a whole will heal too.

To Wolf I ask, guide me to live with courage, honour and love

Raven

“To have a raven’s knowledge” is an Irish proverb meaning to have a seer’s supernatural powers. The raven is considered to be one of the oldest and wisest of all animals. Ravens were the favorite bird of the god Lludd, the Celtic god of artists and artisans. For many shaman traditions ravens represent the ability to travel the hedge and reach behind the veil. In Norse mythology there are two ravens, Huginn (meaning thought) and Muninn (meaning mind), accompanying the god Odin the ‘All Father’ or also known as the ‘Raven God ’. They would fly around the world bringing back news to Odin. Ravens across all the Northern European pagan traditions are also seen as harbingers of battle, often depicted with war and warrior gods such as the Morrigan in Irish mythology and The Valkyrie in Norse.

To Raven I ask, guide me behind the veil to travel the hedge.

Healing Stones Connections

 

Healing Stones – Connections
I created this piece to remind me that in order to grow and thrive, to maintain balance, alignment and flow, we must be connected and interconnected. This picture is about new beginnings, abundance and fertility. Young life and journeys beginning. It was created as a wedding gift as well as another piece for the Healing series.
Achieve alignment, maintain balance.
Create connections, 
find harmony
And be hale and whole.

Meaning of the Standing Stones: The Men-an-Tol, Cornwall England. I chose these stones because of their associations with healing and fertility. For centuries, the stones were renowned for curing many ailments, particularly rickets in children, by passing the sufferer through the hole. The site’s reputation for curing back problems earned it the name of “Crick Stone”. The stones were also seen as a charm against ill-wishing. I have used them to represent the union between lovers, to bless them with a strong healthy relationship, growing and deepening over time.

Meaning of the Symbols: The symbols I have chosen come are an eclectic mix but are all used as forms of blessings for the new couple and their connection or union to each other.
The Three Hares motif is a symbol found all across the British Isles and as far as China and Middle East. One of the most famous sites is the Mogao Caves temple complex on the Silk Road where the symbol is used to represent peace and tranquility. So I have used it to bless the love and home of the couple.

Runes used: Protection, love and wealth

Meaning of Sigil: ‘Blessed Be your love’

Meaning of the Animals: The hare is often associated with deities such as the Germanic Ostara, or the Egyptian goddess Wenet, and signifies the moon, sacred feminine, rebirth and resurrection. It is also seen as a symbol of fertility and sensuality, and in the East, the hare is said to represent peace and tranquility, and has been regarded as an auspicious animal.
Bees are a sign of spring, of times of abundance and fertility. The bee blesses the home and hearth.
Dormouse, to help us remember to take notice to the small things, there is beauty in the mundane and that no matter how many days we have together we must never take each other for granted. The Dormouse sleeps the winter through and wakes in the spring, a sign of growth and new beginnings.
The Dragonfly signifies transformation and adaptability in life. To change and mature, your emotions to deepen as your connection to each other become stronger over time.

At the base of the image I have included the face of the Ostara, goddess of spring and fertility, to bless the lovers and the beginning of their new journey together. This piece is for developing deep and rewarding relationships, it represents hope and heart healing.

Fox

 

In Celtic paganism the fox was seen as a guide, and was honoured for its wisdom. Nowadays pagans continue to honour spirit guides and that fox knows the woods intimately, and subsequently rely upon the fox as their guide in the spirit world.

To Fox I ask, guide me to clear and calm thoughts.

Hares in the Hedgerow

 

The Hare is often associated with moon deities and signifies rebirth and resurrection. It is an animal spirit found in many different pagan pantheons across the globe.

Native American lore portrays Rabbit as a trickster, known as Manabozho, or Great Hare. In some stories the Great Hare created the world, brought humans fire and even taught shamans how to enact sacred rites.

In Celtic paganism the Hare is associated with the Goddess Eostre (from whom Easter gets its name), a moon goddess associated with the reborn earth and fertility.

In early Chinese mythology the hare was a symbol for resurrection. Also said to represent peace and tranquility, and has been regarded as an auspicious animal. This may be the reason for its use in the decoration of the Mogao Caves on the Silk Road. In fact the Chinese don’t refer to ‘the man in the moon’, they refer to ‘the hare in the moon’. This hare in the moon is said to pound the herb of immortality. In India there is a similar legend and in addition the hare figured as a sacrificial animal that offered itself to be burnt in order to provide food for Brahman. In ancient Egypt the figure of a hare was used as a hieroglyph which denoted existence.

In this piece I have chosen two hares I saw in the hedgerows of Cornwall to represent the spirit of Hare. Together they represent the joining of the sacred masculine and feminine that come together to create something new. A birth a continuation of life through transformation.

To Hare I ask, guide me toward rebirth and transformation

Healing Tree Aligned

 

Healing Tree – Aligned

I created this piece to remind me that to maintain good health you must have balance and in order to maintain balance you must have alignment.
To grow and thrive, energy must flow.
Achieve alignment
 and maintain balance
,
To find harmony 
and heal.

Meaning of the Tree: The ancient Ginkgo is so old botanists consider it a “living fossil.”
At least 150 million years ago ginkgo grew all across the Northern Hemisphere, but was virtually wiped out in a major extinction event following the last ice age. Luckily, a few specimens survived in China. According to legend, Chinese and Tibetan monks found value in this rare tree and began to cultivate it. The reason we have any ginkgo trees today is thanks to their efforts and as a result the oldest trees still growing, are situated outside temples and monasteries in China. They are revered for longevity and symbolise enlightenment to Taoist magicians who used to carve their magic spells and symbols on old ginkgo wood to gain access to the spirit world.

The art of a tree is to flow and grow. From crown to roots all aligned in perfect balance. To communicate this concept of healthy alignment I have shown the spirit of the tree with aligned chakras

Meaning of the Chakras:

1 The Base or Root Chakra
Motto: I Am
Mantra: LAM
Colour: Red
Element: Earth
The Base or Root Chakra is the “foundation” and is about survival. It teaches us about the physical world survival and security.

2 The Sacral Chakra
Motto: I Feel
Mantra: VAM
Colour: Orange
Element: Water
This is where your emotions reside, particularly those connected with intimate relationships and socialisation.

3 The Solar Plexus Chakra
Motto: I Do
Mantra: RAM
Colour: Yellow
Element: Fire
In certain martial arts traditions this is where your Hara, or power lies for springing into action, mindful comprehension, and self-awareness.

4 The Heart Chakra Meaning
Motto: I Love
Mantra: YAM
Colour: Green
Element: Air
This Chakra governs love, kindness, mercy, willpower and self-empowerment.

5 The Throat Chakra
Motto: I Speak
Mantra: HAM
Colour: Blue
Element: Air
This Chakra governs our expressions, particularly those regarding our faith and Path.
This is also your trust centre.

6 The Third Eye Chakra
Motto: I see
Mantra: AUM or OM
Colour: Indigo
Element: Psychic or Extra Sensory Perception
This is your intuitive centre for all spiritual matters
This Chakra also influences the way in which you perceive yourself, those around you and the world.

7 The Crown Chakra
Motto: I Understand
Mantra: Silence
Colour: Purple
Element: Thought
This is the energy centre that connects a person to the Higher Self, Angels and the Divine consciousness.

Meaning of the Buddha: I used the sitting Buddha to represent the journey of enlightenment.

Meaning of the White Stag: In many animist pagan traditions the white stag represents the spirit of the forest, the ultimate magical and sacred being, representing the cycle of birth, growth and rebirth.

Meaning of the tree ribbons and rope: In the Japanese Shintō and Chinese and Korean Taoist tradition the sacred rope, Shimenawa, was tied around certain trees which were believed to attract spirits or have spirits called Kami inhabiting them. These spirit trees were revered and worshipped across Japan, as literally living temples.
In European paganism tying rags or ribbons to the branches of certain trees, often called Clootie trees which are usually growing close to sacred springs or wells, represents prayers, wishes and associated healing rituals of petitioners.

Meaning of the Kitsune Shrine: On the opposite side of the tree I have placed a shrine to the God Inari, the Kitsune is seen as the messenger to the gods and represents in this image the flow of knowledge across the realms.

Meaning of the Sigil: ‘Good health’

Healing Herbs Balance

 

Healing Herbs – Balance
I created this piece to remind me that everything is in balance, everything has a place. 
As in nature, we must combine disparate parts to create a healthy, harmonious whole.

Be still! 
Listen to the earth
 and find balance.

Meaning of the Herbs: The plants I have selected are commonly found in most temperate climates and some are even perceived as weeds in our gardens. All the plants help with healing common mild ailments and promote balance and well being.

Lavender, Rosemary, Dandelion, Plantain, Chamomile, Poppy, Sage, Nettle, Echinacea, Burdock.

Meaning of the Symbols: the symbols I have used are quite eclectic and range across cultures.
The runic symbols include Norse and Wiccan runes. They are for healing, protection, life and death.
The Yin Yang symbol from the Chinese Taoist tradition signifies balance, opposing forces combining to create a harmonious whole.
The infinity symbol represents the perfection of duality, the equality of male and female, as is used in Indian and Tibetan cultures.

Meaning of the Animals: The animals include bees to symbolise fertility and life, butterflies for death and transformation, and the snail for the spiral of life.

Hecate Queen of the Witches

 

Hecate Queen of Witches
Hecate was a goddess in Greek mythology, considered to be the goddess of magic and witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts and necromancy. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea. She was traditionally honoured in the households as a protective goddess who brought prosperity.
She is often depicted as a Triple Goddess with three hounds by her side, holding a torch in one hand and keys to the underworld in the other.
She is the guardian of the crossroads, keeper of the keys and watcher of the crossroads. The Maiden seducer, the Mother avenger and the Crone seer. Honour her and follow her light through the darkest of night.

Yule The Holly King

 

Yule – Winter Solstice around the 21st of December.
The winter solstice, the rebirth of the Sun, is an important turning point as it marks the shortest day or longest night. Pagans in the northern hemisphere surround themselves with family and feast on this night, keeping the hearth fires burning bright, surrounded by decorations of evergreens to remind them of the coming season of growth and life. From the ashes of the Yule fire would the sun be reborn. After the longest night when the wild hunt commences and death stalks the cold dark, pagans celebrate, the worst is over, the sun will be getting stronger as they days get longer. good bye to the dying season and hope is rekindled for the next growing season.

Correspondences
North
Air
violet/silver
wren, buzzard
Goddess: Danu, Anu, Arianrhod, Cerridwen, Cailleach, Nyx,
God: Cernunnos, Hern the Hunter

Yule
Rejoice in the return of the sun king
Drink and feast under the evergreens

Samhain the Raven Queen

Samhain: Halloween – October 31st to 1st of November. Samhain is one of our four Greater Sabbats, the highest holy day of pagans when the veil between the living and the dead is thinnest, and the witches new year. Samhain is traditionally, to Gaelic cultures, a time to honour the ancestors, to remember loved ones who have passed on. Some of the traditions include a place set for the ancestors at Samhain feast, photos or memorabilia of loved ones at the altar, a candle lit outside the house to help the spirits of the ancestors find their way home.
It is a cross quarter day, situated between Autumn Equinox and Winter Solstice and truly ushers in the dark half of the year. Now the sun god is truly gone, slumbering in the earth awaiting Yule to be reborn again, until that time the goddess takes on the mantle of the Crone to watch over us through the dark cold nights. This is a time to celebrate the dark, as it is through the dark which light is born, from the blackness of the earth do seeds grow into the light, and so we must have both to have life.

Correspondences
North-West
Samhain – 31 October
black
sow, toad
cauldron, sickle,
Crone Goddess:
Dark Mother; Cerridwen, Caileach Bheur, Sheela na Gig

Samhain
Honour the night queen
And dance with the ancestors

Mabon

Mabon Autumn Equinox – 21st/22nd of September
This is the time of equal day and night, in perfect balance between the lord and the lady, the light and dark. It’s the second of the Harvest festivals, the celebration of the fruit harvest as Lughnasadh is of the grain harvest. So the fruits of the forest are often used in deserts and as centrepieces at Mabon thanksgiving feasts, Apples, Pears, Sloes, Blackberries, Damsons, Hawthorn and Elderberries.
It is the cusp of the dark half of the year, when the nights grow longer the days colder, when the trees sap retreats to the protection of the earth and settle down to dream the cold months away. It is a good time to reflect on the seeds of intention you made at Imbolc and Ostara, to reap what you had sown. Like the spring equinox it is a time for reset, to let go of the baggage, clear out the attic literally, metaphorically and spiritually.

Correspondences
West
brown/orange/earth
boar, badger, fox
stone, orb, crystal
Earth mother Gaia, harvest queen
Sun God, the green man

Mabon
Bless the departed god of light
Embrace the goddess of the night

Blodeuwedd

 

Blodeuwedd (flowerface) the maiden aspect of the Welsh Triple Goddess, associated with the earth in bloom, flowers, wisdom, lunar mysteries, and initiations. Often called upon for help with fertility and growth.
She is desire and defiance, vitality and fertility. Honour her in spring to bring abundance and joy into home and garden.

Dreams of Cerridwen

 

Cerridwen (keeper of the cauldron of knowledge) the crone aspect of the Welsh Triple Goddess. Often associated with witches and magick as well as nature, death, inspiration, astrology, herbs, science, poetry, spells, knowledge.
She is wisdom and inspiration, death and transformation. Honour her when seeking great changes.

Arianrhod

 

Arianrhod (lady of the silver wheel) the mother aspect of the Welsh Triple Goddess. She has a citadel in the stars (Aurora Borealis), to which souls withdraw to between incarnations, thus she is identified as a Goddess of reincarnation and karma.
She is the mother and protector, healer and justice. Honour her to reveal hidden truths of the heart and soul.

Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh – 1 August

Lammas, Lughnasadh or Lughnasa (pronounced /ˈluːnəsə/, LOO-nə-sə) is a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of the harvest season when the dying sun’s energy is stored in every fruit, nut and grain. It’s time for seed collecting, bread-making and corn-dollies. Do honour to hazel, gorse, and meadowsweet. Begin to reap what you sowed. We are reminded to take stock and think back on those ideas we seeded at Imbolc, nurtured through Ostara, watched mature over Beltane and Litha… how have they grown, what fruit have they borne.

South-West
yellow/red
horned deer, cattle, sheep, goats
loom, shuttle
Mother Goddess: Ker, Grain Goddess, Demeter, Ceres 
God: Lugh, Celtic god of light, son of the Sun

Lughnasadh  
Give thanks and honour
The harvest bounty

Elder Ruis: Elder Mother

Elder Ruis: The Elder Mother, The Wild Tree
Lunar month: November 25th to December 23rd
Sabbat association: Yule
Colour: black, dark green
Stone: Jet, Obsidian
Element: water
Animal: Black Horse, Raven
Meaning: Death and regeneration, transform
Lesson of Elder: Embrace and celebrate change

Reed Ngetal: In Honour of the Ancestors

 

Reed Ngetal: The Oracle, The Spirit Tree
Lunar month: October 28th to November 24th
Sabbat association: Samhain
Colour: Crimson
Stone: Onyx
Element: water and earth
Animal: Dragonfly
Meaning: Cleansing and healing, psychic protection
Lesson of Reed: Holdfast to the earth in the changing tides

Ivy Gort: Bind and Entwine

 

Ivy Gort: The Searcher, The Connecting Tree
Lunar month: September 30th to October 27th
Colour: Indigo
Stone: Opal
Element: water
Animal: Butterfly, Bees
Meaning: Bind and entwine,
Lesson of Ivy: Learn when to let go

Vine Muin: Flow like Magic

 

Vine Muin: The Traveller, Tree of Bounty
Lunar month: September 2nd to September 29th
Sabbat association: Mabon
Colour: blue
Stone: Emerald
Element: water
Animal: Swan
Meaning: healing, prosperity and abundance, finding a way
Lesson of Vine: Go with the flow and learn to relax

Hazel Coll: The Seeress

 

Hazel Coll: The Seeress, The Tree of Creativity
Lunar month: August 5th to September 1st
Sabbat association: Lammas/Mabon
Colour: orange and mossy green
Stone: Peridot and Topaz
Element: air and water
Animal: Salmon
Meaning: Divination and enchantment, creativity and the healing arts
Lesson of Hazel: Find clarity from the murky depths, remember to play

Holly Tinne: The Holly King

 

Holly Tinne: The Holly King, The Shining Tree
Lunar month: July 8th to August 4th
Sabbat association: Lammas
Colour: red
Stone: Bloodstone
Element: fire and earth
Animal: Dragon
Meaning: Strength and fierce defence against darkness, shining bright
Lesson of Holly: Fight for clarity and light beyond the storm

Oak Duir: Cernunnos, The Greenman, The Oak King

 

Oak Duir: The Oak King, Tree of Cernunnos
Lunar month: June 10th to July 7th
Sabbat association: Litha
Colour: gold
Stone: Diamond and Aventuring
Element: water and earth
Animal: Stag and Unicorn
Meaning: Endurance and strength, wisdom and nobility
Lesson of Oak: Stand fast, believe in the wisdom and strength of your will

Hawthorn Huathe: The May Queen

Hawthorn Huathe: The May Queen, The Faerie Tree
Lunar month: May 13th to June 9th
Sabbat association: Beltaine
Colour: midnight blue
Stone: Lapis Lazuli
Element: fire and air
Animal: Owl
Meaning: Through contradictions and opposition comes unity
Lesson of Hawthorn: work through duality to reach the whole 

Willow Saille: The Faerie Tree

 

Willow Saille: The Shaman, The Healing Tree
Lunar month: April 15th to May 12th
Sabbat association: Ostara/Beltaine
Colour: silver
Stone: Moonstone
Element: water
Animal: Snowy Owl, Eagle
Meaning: Love, divination and healing. A witches tree, holding the magic of the cauldron
Lesson of Willow: Bend, don’t break

Alder Fearn: The Warrior Tree

Alder Fearn: The Warrior Tree, The Tree of Nobel Causes
Lunar month: March 18th – April 14th
Sabbat association: Ostara
Colour: purple
Stone: Ruby
Element: fire and water
Animal: Hawk and Hare
Meaning: Shield and protect, heal and nourish
Lesson of Alder: Feed your fire and take action, be courageous, then heal with water

Litha

Summer Solstice – 21st/22nd of June. 

Midsummer or the Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year and such most powerful day for  sun god deities. As well as the Sabbat celebrating the peaking powers  of the Sun, it’s also a time to express thanks for the life giving light, and warmth which will ripen the fruit on the trees and the wheat in the fields for a bountiful harvest at the end of the growing season.  

South
Earth/Water
blue/turquoise
salmon, seal
Goddess: Sulis, Áine
God: Cernunnos, Belenos

Litha
Rejoice in the rays of light
To the sun king’s great delight

Ash Nuin: The Goddess Tree

Ash Nuin: The Goddess Tree, The World Tree, The Faerie Tree
Lunar month: February 18th to March 17th
Sabbat association: Imbolc
Colour: white, pale blue
Stone: Turquoise
Element: water, fire
Animal: Seahorse
Meaning: The sap begins to flow and life grows. Magical and connected to the Devine
Lesson of Ash: Send your roots deep and reach for the sky

Rowan Luis: The Maiden

Rowan Luis: Mountain Ash, The Maiden, The Tree of Hope
Lunar month: January 21st to February 17th
Sabbat association: Imbolc / Ostara
Colour: green, sea blue
Stone: Tourmaline
Element: fire
Animal: Blackbird and serpent
Meaning: Protect and nurture. The promise of growth and fertility in the cold ice of winter
Lesson of Rowan: Look forward, believe in hope

Birch Beith: The Lady of the Wood

 

Birch Beith: Lady of the Wood, The Tree of Light
Lunar month: December 24th to January 20th
Sabbat association: Yule
Colour: silver and white
Stone: Crystal
Element: air and fire
Animal: Snowy Owl, Winter Fox
Meaning: Renewal, transformation and rebirth. Herald of the sun’s return
Lesson of Birch: Look to the light, honour the dark

Beltane/Beltaine

Beltane/Beltaine 30th of April – 1st of May.  

Beltane or Beltaine, meaning bright fire and of the four fire Sabbats. It is often associated with fertility and abundance and is considered the beginning of summer. It’s the joining of the energies of the young virile lord and the lady changing from maiden to mother. From the fertile potential of Spring energy to the golden days of  summer growth for a bountiful harvest. This is traditionally a popular time for handfastings and conceiving children. It officially begins at moonrise on May Day Eve when cattle and other livestock were driven between fires to bless them and their offspring to be healthy and strong. 

Correspondences 

South-East

Fire

red/yellow

mare, dove

Lover/Virgin Goddess:(Ker)Rhiannon; Olwen; Elen; Blodeuwedd

Beltaine

Dancing through the fires

With the blessings of the lord and lady

 

Ostara

 

Ostara – Spring Equinox – 21st/22nd of March.
It is traditionally the day of equilibrium, neither harsh winter or the merciless summer, and is a time of childish wonder, growth and rejoicing in the return of the light and warmth. Ostara is the celebration of the beginning of spring proper. March/April is the peak time of year for the appearance of eggs, which were a highly valued source of protein for our winter-starved ancestors. Ostara’s legacy is all those coloured eggs which many of us still hang on trees, or hide for our children to find every year.
The deity associated with this festival, in Europe (from the Germanic pantheon) is known as Eostre or Ostara, the maiden goddess of fertility, the dancing white maiden wreathed in flowers. She is the joy and vigour of youth, the awakening earth, warm days of showers and sunshine, the spring dance of the hares, the return of the birds and the appearance of much needed fresh greens.
All hail the maiden as she washes away the cold nights of winter and heralds the warm welcoming days of spring.

Correspondences
East
Water/Earth
green/gold
hare, hen
Goddess: Sulis, Eostra, Ostara

Ostara
Bid farewell to the night
Goddess bless the seeds of life
For the coming time of light

Imbolc Brigid’s Day

 

Imbolc (Candlemass, Imbolg, Imbole) – 1st/2nd of February.
This holiday is also known as Candlemass, or Brigid’s Day. One of the 4 Celtic Fire Festivals of the 8 Sabbats in the wheel. It commemorates the changing of the Goddess from the Crone to the Maiden, and the beginning of spring, the quickening of the year. At this time pagans in the northern hemisphere honour the lengthening of the days by cleansing away the long winter in various ways, from spring cleaning the home to visiting the holy wells. A time for cleansing bodies and spirits. The lighting of many candles and large bonfire celebrates the strengthening sun god and honours the maiden goddess, who represents the hope for fertility and bounty in the following growing season.

Correspondences
North-East
Fire/Earth
white/red
White swan, cow
Maiden Goddess: Brigit, Bridie, Blodeuwedd
Sun God: Bel, Belenos

Imbolc
Welcome dear Brigid
Blessed is the goddess of the sacred flame