Here resides a Hedgewitch…

For those who have come across this not knowing of Paganism, or Witchcraft; for those interested enough to want to know – settle down and I shall try, in my simple way, to explain what a Hedgewitch is, without long words, or ‘technical’ terms.

There are many paths of Paganism, some time in the future I’ll attempt to explain some, but for now I shall concentrate on what I know best – and I do know my Hedgecraft well, having practised it for nigh on thirty years. However, as this Path is a personal one (most witches have their own ideas and methods, there are no set rules), what follows – and any of the content of this blog – is Gwearbennen’s view, you can agree or not – your choice, but I refuse to get into any arguments over it. Accept me as I am, as I accept you as you are.

So to keep it simple, what is a Hedgewitch?

She / he is someone who has a deep respect and reverence for nature – animals, plants, the earth, the seas. You often find us working with plants and animals – perhaps healing either, for we like to nurture.

We work with herbs, and have a tendency to search the hedgerows and other such places for wild herbs (but now I personally do not pick wild flowers and herbs, due to many being  under threat, or rare). What we gather (or buy from reputable sellers) are used in herbalism or for magickal purposes.

Largely Shamans, we traverse between two worlds – that is the world we live in, and the Otherworld – for we have the knowledge and ability of soul flight. Working with our ancestors and nature spirits, is another part of our practise.

I can’t speak for other Hedgewitches but I am most happy alone, you’ll find me in places such as the moors, or remote country areas. Never lonely because how can I be lonely when nature walks with me? I find beauty and knowledge in the simplest places – a dandelion for example or a stone that other people would kick aside as a mere lump.

The cycle of life and seasons are honoured, and it is these that we live by; nature is our guide, our teacher, we work with it, learn from it.

Low magick (sometimes called folk magick, and means everyday, practical, common sense magick) is what we do, although we can – and do – use high magick when we need or desire to.

And we never stop learning…

For now that is your lot, more will be added in time.


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New beginnings

Life has a dreadful habit of barging in and hitting us with problems, and sometimes once they start they just flood in one after the other. Such has been the last twelve months of my life.

During this time my spirituality and power became weakened, real life affairs uppermost in mind I found it hard to keep my feet on the Path. This happens to many of us sometimes (no matter what religion you might be), and even though I felt lost without practising I was too weak in spirit to do so. It is no failing, nothing to be ashamed about, and doesn’t make us any less of a Pagan witch/ mystic/ etc.

However, as life pulls us down, it also pulls us up in due course. I always say the path of life is sometimes soft grass, sometimes sharp sand, sometimes gravel, and other times huge boulders to clamber over. I have now scrambled over my last jagged boulder and once again I am on softer ground.

Just in time for Imbolc, the clutter I have accumulated in spirit, emotional clutter, and stuffs that only drag me down, are cast aside. My vow for this next twelve months is to be true to myself, to put myself at the top of my list of priorities, for far too long have I stepped back to allow others to be content at the sacrifice of my own happiness.

Now is me time. Life is far too short not to be enjoyed, to find what happiness where one can. I hope you others will also start to look after yourselves for once, it’s not selfish, you can still care for others but the lesson I learnt is we have to draw a line somewhere, simply have to pursue our own happiness at some point.

Blessings at Imbolc and beyond.

Let’s talk about love…..

It has been a while since I wrote; once again much has been happening and yet nothing has happened. Life has that habit doesn’t it? Every single day seems a busy one yet when you look back what have you actually done?  Not an awful lot in my case.

So here we are fast approaching Beltane, the time of light and when the Goddess unites with her consort and love is thick in the air. I am talking Pagan love of course, not the hearts and roses and slushy stuff (although if that is what you want to do, why not?).

Lovemaking can be intense at Beltane, especially if you really let go and allow the force of nature to join in. This is about creation and sex creates not just children but an incredible force when two essences/ energies/souls/spirits come together. What could be nicer than al fresco love under the watchful eye of she who shines*, feeling the caress of air on your skin, the earth releasing his energy into both of you, the fire in your loins, and the water element… well, use your imagination! You may be muttering ‘All very well if it’s dry and warm!’ but take it from this hedge mystic that there’s nowt so sensuous than making love in the rain and if you’re doing it properly -really letting go – then you produce your own heat, enough to keep you warm during the chilliest evening. Just be sure you are shielded from prying human eyes, choose a the most private spot you can find or else you’ll not be able to concentrate for fear of being seen. Unless you are an exhibitionist, if so begone and find yourself a porn website!  :-))

But tis not all about sex and love for on Beltane eve the veil between the two worlds is as thin as it is on Samhain, those like myself will be acknowledging the magic that abounds at this time. The Faeries will be around and I shall be re-acquainting myself with them**.

Yes, Beltane is one of my more favourable times, for me it is a time of green, of promise, of recharged energy. Enjoy it, I know I shall!

*The moon is in her last quarter phase (waning) this Beltane, work to be done during this phase includes banishment of negative things in your life and the rejection of such things that cause us problems.

** Calling the Fey is something not to be lightly undertaken, so please don’t ask how this is done. Only after numerous years have I got this meeting down to a fine art and even now I tread carefully with them. Scoff is you wish, I care not.


On Imbolc

February 1st brings us to Imbolc, (Imbolg, Oimelc, St Brigids Days are other titles; Candlemas is on the 2nd February) the time when Spring starts stirring in the belly of the earth. In fact the word Imbolc derives from the old Irish ‘I mbolg’ which I believe means the pregnancy of a sheep – this I recount from my days working as a farmhand for an Irish farmer, if I am wrong then please put me straight! But isn’t it a delightful imagery, the earth pregnant with the stirrings of tiny baby seeds, slowly waking and stretching out shoots as the soil warms up (oh alright, spoil it and say ‘but it’s still frozen here!’ so it may well be but defrosting will happen in due course and who knows, perhaps if we all hold that imagery of warm earth in mind, the powers responsible for the cold conditions might just get the hint!).

As usual I have no desire or need to go into the background and meanings of Imbolc, one can easily find all that in books and on the internet. Instead I want to tell you my view of this day, what it means to me and how I will celebrate it for this is the journal of an ordinary female who just so happens to be a Hedge witch. [I am leaning more towards the idea of Hedge Mystic which is the same thing but has a more mature ring about it, more apt for my age now methinks. Although content as I am in my acquired knowledge and wisdom from over many years, I have no great need to worry about ‘labels’.]

So, Imbolc. As a follower of the Tuatha De Danann I suppose my observing this day and walking with Brigit is natural. Brigit is of course the daughter of the great Dagda; a triune Goddess of Fertility, Healing, Smithcraft and Poetry.

Fire is her element, so on this day at sunset (17.07)  my home will be filled with the burning of candles in every room, red and yellow candles will be lit and placed on our front door step, and I shall light a fire in front of my garden altar. The altar itself  adorned with Brigit’s cross made from corn gathered last year from our garden, pots of daffodils (only their verdurous sprouts showing at the moment which to me is very fitting), a white candle for Brigit and yellow for the god and a bowl of milk. Personally I don’t worry about setting up an indoor altar for Imbolc, it is enough the garden one is used, unless of course rain decides to pour, have you ever tried keeping candles alight in pouring rain? No? here’s a tip – don’t bother!

The day is spent cleaning, not just practical cleaning as in Spring cleaning but spiritual cleaning, and so after the bleach and vinegar have been used to great effect (including the windows, I am ashamed to admit my windows are overdue a good scrub and some elbow grease applied!), the sage smudge will come out along with the willow hand besom to sweep out any clinging negativity of the house.

As is my wont I shall be planting some seeds this day. Rather annoyingly I forgot to order the Mugwort, Goat’s Rue, and Angelica seeds. These are all plants associated with Brigit, but I’m afraid this year she will have to be content with Chives, Basil and Sweet Peas which will be sown in pots and grown indoors until warm enough to be transplanted into the garden. For those of you who might say ‘well, it’s a bit early to sow those!’ I’ll tell you that I have sown all kinds of seeds at this time of the year and had much success. Nothing ventured, nothing gained you know!

My ritual is, as always, very simple and being personal to me I refuse to reveal what I do, but if you are wondering about that bowl of milk I assure you it is drunk during this time not only by myself but shared with my animals and the rest left out for any passing visitors of kind. Through it all the renewal of the sun, the coming warmer days will be uppermost in mind, and the cold of winter – both physical and the emotional coldness I have endured these past months – will be set aside. No longer will I dwell on barren coldness, no longer shall I carry within the bitter emotional winds that have been caused to reside in me by certain people and events, tis time to let it go. Those icicles, small maybe but there nevertheless, that have clung to my essence now melt away.

Eyes fixed firmly ahead, good people; fixed on that golden orb that brings us warmth and all the goodness that accompanies it. Yes! Barbeque* time is coming!

Have a lovely Imbolc and enjoy the coming months of warmth.

* For the record, I cannot stand barbeques. Am I alone in this?


A simple Samhain

‘What’s or who is Sam Hane?’ is a question I am often asked, with a small smile I have to correct the pronunciation first for it is said as Soween. I shall try and explain it as simply as I can…

To Pagans it is the time when the Sun God who died at Mabon (September) is safely in the womb of the Great Mother, awaiting his rebirth at Yule. It’s the period of the Crone, when darkness falls upon us, the dead leaves and plants are giving back to the earth to help it nurture next years crops. It’s a time to battern down the hatches and make sure we survive the cold, dark months.

Samhain is my New Year, the time when the final harvest is gathered and we can sit in peace pondering on the past year; putting mistakes behind us -accepting them, reliving the good things that have happened, and also make plans for the year to come.

This night is for remembering those gone over to the Summerlands, our ancestors who still reside in us and from whom we were created. The veil between the two worlds is thin and happen-chance I will pass through and ‘visit’ the other side. Nothing sinister in this, sometimes it doesn’t happen at all, other times it occurs with little effort on my part.

So what exactly do I, as a solitary hedge witch, do on the night of Samhain?

It all starts the day before, when I make preparations for the feast – I’d prefer a vegetarian meal but I have to put my own desires aside living with a carnivore! This year I have cooked a ham (studded in cloves with a final roasting in a honey and chilli glaze), with that there will dishes of potatoes, parsnips, carrots, braised onions, corn on the cob,and home made pumpkin seed bread,  followed by pumpkin pie and fresh double cream. (I’m getting hungry writing this). I usually make mead but sadly tonight I discovered half my ingredients missing, so will have fruit cider instead which is no hardship!

The pumpkin shell has been cut out and will be gracing the front door tomorrow evening, along with wreaths of multi coloured fallen leaves and whatever takes my fancy during my walk on the day.

The altar will be set up, decorated with corn, apples, conkers, acorns, leaves, whatever flowers still remain in my garden and  photos of my two special aunts who passed away during the last year. Brand new candles of  white for the Lady and the new coming year, while black represent the Lord and the old gone year. We will also have candles in autumn colours scattered around the house especially on all the windowsills (and outside if weather permits) to guide passing souls to their rightful place.

The entire home will be filled with the fragrance of Sandalwood incense as it burns, not to mention those delightful Glade candles of Winter Spice!

Once all is prepared, and that includes a total house clean – a proper one with bleach and polish as well as a symbolic sweeping out of all negativity and bad energy using my broom –  I will shower using a special oil of my own making to rid myself of all negativity and clothe myself in my ritual dress.

Dinner will begin, and a place is set for our ancestors complete with meal and drink. A few words will be spoken by me before we eat, inviting these special people to partake in our food and a glass will be raised to the seemingly vacant seat.

Hopefully the weather will be dry to allow me to light my outside altar candles and fire. If the Lady shows her quarter face, I shall honour her with a chant and swaying dance, holding a candle to her beauty. Then at around 11.30pm I shall be indoors and begin my ‘proper’ ritual at the altar, this will last a good hour, maybe longer as I tend to do an intense divination and scrying at Samhain.

So this then is my personal Samhain. It is worth saying that, Paganism being as it is, other practising Pagans will no doubt have their own methods and rituals for there are no ‘rules’, no rights nor wrongs in our Path. It is you may say a personalised religion but nevertheless whatever we do at Samhain (or any other sabbat) will be carried out with the same basics.

Now go in perfect peace, love and trust.

Gwearbennen. xx

Drawing down a Samhain full moon. Digital art © Hedgerow Art. 2010

Absence

I’m sorry it’s been so long since I last posted. Personal life has a habit of taking up time, and we all know how quickly each day draws to a close when you are busy.

I am about to pen some more thoughts, so I’ll be back very soon.

Moonscape. digital art by Hedgerow Art

Fantasy in Lathkill Dale

Recently I was taken on a fantastic walk along the Lathkill Dale, near Monyash, Derbyshire. It turned out to be a gloriously sunny day despite the morning weather leading us to believe it would be overcast and drizzly; it also turned out to be one of those days that Gwearbennen’s imagination ran riot, as you will see in due course.

Lathkill Dale was mined before the Roman invasion seemingly for lead, with galena being the predominant ore mined. Galena is a combination of lead and sulfar and has many uses including as Kohl eye makeup (the Ancient Egyptians applied it not for beauty but repel flies), and it just so happens that Derbyshire was one of the main areas to extract this deposit, although I have difficulty imagining Derbyshire people with black ringed eyes – who knows?

As the name Limestone Way suggests, quarrying for this gorgeous stone has been undertaken and Ricklow Quarry, although no longer a working quarry, is awash with limestone. Such a wonderful stone, especially when polished to give a ‘grey marble’ that is used for doorsteps, hearths, etc; it is also the home of fossilised crinoids (marine organisms) [1].

So you can see this is an area steeped in history but enough of that, I want to tell you about something else.

We started from the B5055 by the disabled toilets (which I had to use of course), after getting a ice cream from the van parked there and proceeded along the path, licking and slurping on our creamy ices. First stop off was to look at the wild-life ponds which were teeming with pond skaters and dragon flies (please don’t ask which ones I’m not that clued up). This was a place I could have sat all day but there was other stuff to see so off we set again. Of course we stopped many times to look at things, take photos, and sigh with delight over the beauty of it all.

Believe me there is much to sigh over; black lichen, hoary mullien, orpine Sedum Telephium, figwort, wild marjoram, meadowsweet – to name but a few. I have to mention the cheeky birds (which later turned out to be Redstarts) hovering over the thistles or playing hide and seek in the limestone nooks and crannies, they fascinated us. Lathkill Dale is one of the places that Jacob’s Ladder thrives, this rare British wild flower is glorious in its violet-blue prettiness. It is well worth a walk just to see that.

You can find all this in a valley overlooked by that majestic limestone escarpment! Amazing isn’t it?

My imagination started to buzz when I was shown the cave from where the river flows during the winter months and heavy rainfall.  As I sat on a nearby boulder a dragon popped its chartreuse green head out, gave a prolonged sigh of ‘oh tourists!  Not again!’  Then, with a clumsy shuffle, withdrew back into the dark depths. Smiling to myself, amused by my childish thinking, we continued down the way.

Suddenly just round the corner I spied something that set my pulses racing, the hairs up on the back of my neck – not in horror but sheer enchantment – and my brain electrified with images. For there, on the left, towering above us were the remains of a castle! Not a man made castle, oh no far better than that because this has been shaped by nature herself. The curvature of the keep, topped by a scalloped corbel, stands proud of the curtain wall. A narrow ledge leads horizontally to the entrance at the base of this wall, while below it one espies another entry into the keep itself. On the battlements trees stand in a soldierly fashion, proud against the skyline they keep watch over the valley.

So thus a story was created, a tale of green dragons, a castle and a knight called Jacob Ladder… as happened in Lathkill Dale, Derbyshire.

[1] http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~gcaselton/fossil/crinoid.html


The ‘Castle’ at Lathkill Dale.

By kind permission of S. M. Middleton

Mullein the Great!

The plant Mullein, that tall yellow beauty that grows on wasteland and in hedgerows, has many useful properties.  You may know it as a different name (Donkey’s Ears, Flannel Plant etc) as it has many common names, but the one I like is ‘Hag’s Taper’ referring to the old lore that witches used it as wicks in their candles during their rituals. Not something I have personally tried to do, although I might! Contradictory to this is the lore that burning mullein keeps witches away – all I can say is they need to make their minds up!.

Of the family Scrophulariaceae the one most used for medicinal and herbal applications is the Common or Great Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus), there are other types such as Hoary Mullein, and Dark Mullein but for this article I shall concentrate on the Great Mullein.

Being one of those plants that is an all rounder, mullein has antihistaminic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties among others. You can use a decoction of the root for toothache, cramp, incontinence, and migraine; infusions of the flowers as a topical treatment for piles, bruises and sprains. However mullein is really good for problems of the chest and respiratory system as it has a high concentrate of mucilage and saponins, even emphysema can be relieved somewhat by this herb. A tea made from the leaves must be strained as it is a hairy plant, but the best way to use it is by smoking the dried leaves.

Mullein is a feminine plant and associated with the planet and God Jupiter and the element Fire. Magical uses include giving courage, protection, cleansing and purification areas and altar tools, not to mention banishing the darker spirits. Carried as an amulet it protects you when walking from snakes and nasty beasts (wonder if it will work on nasty humans?) and give you courage.

And if you need graveyard dust for a spell, mullein leaves – ground up – are an excellent substitute.

Me? I just love the stately, beautiful plant.

Thoughts on badgers and Bovine TB

Not wanting to enter into the badger / Tb debate purely because without scientific background I stand to get myself into a pickle. I am, however, not afraid to air my own opinions, qualified as I feel I am by having a farming background and being country born and bred.  As the South West and Welsh farmers are yet again baying for badger blood, a few thoughts cross my mind.

I’m not so blonde as to not acknowledge that badgers do have a part to play in passing on TB to cattle, but is the answer really a mass wipe out using the vilest means of gassing, poisoning? Could not the badgers themselves be caught, tested and vaccinated, culling only those who are heavy carriers.

Farmers get emotional on the subject – of course they do, this is their livelihood, but has anyone stopped to think that perhaps a policy of whole herd destruction of cows would better solve the problem? Currently, only those cows testing positive for TB get culled. Is this enough to stop the spread?

Another point is that in infected pregnant cows the skin test doesn’t always show correct, giving a false negative due to suppressed immunity. And, I’ll not hesitate to ask how many less stringent farmers ‘forget’ to test on the due date, or worse?

Farmers are stock travellers; they transport their cows to market, to shows, and stud bulls get put on loan to other farmers. How can they be so sure this travelling is not playing a part in the spread of TB? Let’s not forget that the disease can be passed on by drinking or eating from a contaminated bucket or trough, as well as increased chances of contracting it in enclosed areas such as barns, stables, cattle trucks.

One of the first unwritten laws of animal husbandry is that you check each animal every day, in doing so you get to know what is normal for the individual, thus giving you the ability to know very quickly if there is something wrong. Large size herds are almost the norm nowadays, how can any farmer notice each and every cow? I know that stock checking used to take me some time with a small herd; I wouldn’t like to have to do it to the average UK herd of some 113 head of cattle. Yes, I am aware that in its first stages Bovine TB has no obvious symptoms, but for the herd out at grass for long periods, is it not possible that one animal be unnoticed until the signs are there?

Finally, it has to be remembered that it is not only badgers that can pass on Bovine TB. Oh no, it can be passed on by deer, swine, and humans – yes humans. Perhaps it is time more thought and less emotion was given to Bovine TB then?

Past life

Today I have had a reading for my Past Life. It is rather interesting, so I thought I would share some parts with you. It has to be said I do not usually bother with such things, thinking many of them just a waste of time and money. I stick to my own Tarot, Runes and Scrying, but this reading has given me food for thought:

Your Sun is in a harmonious sextile aspect with Uranus.

You have a great deal of originality, ingenuity, independence, and intuitive ability. Because of your exceptional intellectual and higher consciousness capabilities, to some people you seem inclined to be a dabbler into an extraordinarily wide variety of subjects, projects, and occupations (a Jack-of-all-trades, yet master of some). Your futuristic, scientific/technological as well as mystical, New Age interests are sometimes light years ahead of the mainstream. Your main motivation is likely to be helping others through your abiding interest in things psychological and astrological,  especially in esoteric traditions.

Your afterlife experience in the Uranus dimension of awareness tends to make you an extremist. Feeling that anything worth doing is worth overdoing, you do not go at anything halfheartedly. our most prominent past life was probably an Atlantean one, where you may well have been quite influential in unifying teachings for the moral, intellectual, and material uplift of others. In the present, you can best aid seekers — whether beginners or advanced students, laymen, the great or the would-be great — in knowing their true relationships to their souls, their god, and their overall purpose for being here, through the application of spiritual guidance and philosophy. You may be the greatest help to others by giving advice which aids them in their seeking for truth, without becoming dogmatic. Such an activity is likely to bring you the greatest blessings as well.

Your Moon is in an inharmonious aspect with Venus.

You may experience particularly painful emotions at times of feeling unloved and unappreciated. The Moon is reflecting those emotions back to you from your past relationships and experiences,  both in the Venus dimension of love and in previous incarnations in the earth. Your vulnerability and hypersensitivity involving affection is probably linked with one who in your previous life was, or in this life is, your mother. Also in a past life you may have been unloving and uncooperative. This may be blocking you from experiencing more love and cooperation from others in the present.

You can balance this part of your akashic account by continually giving a great deal more than you seem to receive and by bending over backwards to compromise in your relationships. Then you will see more and more love coming back into your life. To have friends one must be friendly and to receive love one must give love. Thus your subconscious tendency to feel unloved, neglected or rejected will be overcome by actively, willfully CHOOSING to be more loving and cooperative.

Financially you may have a tendency toward carelessness,  and therefore need greater wisdom in handling your money, especially in setting spending priorities. You are more likely than most to experience both very lucky periods as well as periods when everything you deal with may seem to “go to pot.”

These ups and downs relate especially to your investments and expenses stemming from tendencies such as overindulgence in evening pleasures like partying. Disappointments come from this inclination toward self-aggrandizement. This can be balanced by learning to apply your all-powerful will to control and develop yourself, as if you were pushing yourself to exercise harder.

Remember that the Creative Forces have given each of us both the power to be over all that has been created in the material realm, and the opportunity to work with the constructive forces in the spiritual realm. If these become clouded by self-aggrandizement, by self-indulgence, by the desire for fame and fortune, then we become confused and erratic. But if we continuously look to the spiritual value in our relationships with the mental and material, there is harmony, peace, understanding and wisdom in the knowledge of the divinity within.

Your Moon is conjoined with Neptune.

Strongly inclined toward the spiritual and mystical,  you are exceptionally intuitive and sensitive. Being especially impressionable, and often psychic, at least as far as absorbing the feelings and vibrations of others is concerned, disillusion and disappointment are likely to frequently inhibit your emotional reactions to life.

For instance, one manifestation of this challenge is your tendency to be verbally inhibited and to keep your powerful feeling nature and great sensitivity below the surface, out of the sight of others.

Your inner longing for love, compassion and spiritual freedom through mystical union is a pursuit that can not be found outside yourself, in the external world of personality and materiality. Your search can only be rewarded by going within, in your prayer, meditation and dream life. Your intense devotion to a spiritual ideal or to an idealized loved one is also reflected in a likely urge toward public or social service. You also probably have marked artistic and musical talent, yet may lack the outward drive to pursue an active involvement in these creative areas.

In other words,  from your experience in Neptune and your past life review carried out in the Moon sphere between lives, you have an innate tendency toward the ideal and the easy, the beautiful and the harmonious, and have natural inclinations toward the arts, including acting. Yet you also may have the tendency to be a bit lax in applying yourself. Especially when it comes to hard work or in taking extra time and patience, you may tend to slide by and take the easier way to attain your goal. With application of your will, this may be overcome.

The Moon experience immediately after ending a given lifetime brings up for review your emotional karma from the life just ended, particularly your relationships with your family, especially your mother. From your experience in Neptune, you are likely to attract strange or peculiar experiences in your home life, such as secret enemies and intrigues which bring special challenges to your ideals as well as your emotional vulnerability.

Your health and physical constitution are likely to be as sensitive as your emotional body (although any health problems, particularly when you are young, are likely to be just as hidden as your feelings). Be cautious about drugs of all kinds and especially anesthetics, should such ever become necessary.

Your Venus harmoniously aspects Saturn.

The greater gains for you this lifetime, both financially and spiritually, will be from the middle age on, with the earlier part of your life seeming to be much more difficult. That is,  you are likely to experience and share with others a great joy in life during your latter years: in fact, your soul development may well advance you in the afterlife to the higher spheres of Jupiter and the Sun (or beyond this system, to the central stars Arcturus or Polaris).

On the more personal level, one of your main worries in the first half of your life will probably concern your love life. You are likely to be the one who is hurt rather than the one doing the hurting: that is, contentions arise more often in the other camp than in your own. Most of your saddest experiences this lifetime have come through the breaking up of friendships, family and marital and relationships. At the same time,  many of your happiest, most pleasant and most peaceful experiences have come through these same relationships.

You have a definite spiritual beauty which develops out of your successfully overcoming these adverse personal challenges. In other words, you are one who has found and overcome many vicissitudes and changes in your present lifetime. Yet you eventually attract tried and true partnerships. In your later years, in fact, may well come the great love of your life, a companionship that will bring a contentment that will be very satisfying. Your financial affairs are also likely to get better as you mature further.

Your Venus inharmoniously aspects Neptune.

At the time of your re-entry into the earth plane your soul flight paths from Venus and Neptune were squared off or opposed in the zodiac. Your choice to be born when these two planet- flight paths were at odds with each other resulted in a call-up from your soul’s past life records which reveal a love liability in your cosmic account.

This same challenging choice of re-entry from Venus, realm of love and beauty, and Neptune, realm of spirituality and mysticism, is made by many sincere seekers who are earnest students on the spiritual path. It points out this lifetime as an especially important one,  for you are directly faced, among other things, with the necessity to spiritualize the disappointments you have experienced through your great need for love.

That is, your deep desire for affection — and resulting heartaches from feeling the lack of it — all must be given up and instead has to be universalized into BEING, manifesting Love and Compassion.

This is not to say that you should be impractical in being too empathetic and allow yourself to be deceived (or to deceive or delude yourself), for instance, by giving too much to the wrong — especially spiritual or moral — cause or marrying the wrong person whom you have emotionally over-idealized.

The other area of your unclear vision and lack of good judgment at times might manifest in a kind of “mystical moodiness” as far as inner guidance is concerned (this applies particularly to dreams and meditation experiences). That is,  you may be moved by an impulse thought to be from without — from higher, spiritual sources — when it is really within your own head. Or, conversely, you may often be prompted to act or fail to act on what you think is only a feeling from within when it is really from without.

There are indicators that an excellent outlet for you would be in counseling others who are emotionally or spiritually needy, either directly (one-on-one or by leading small groups) or through writing, or both. The main requirement is for you to CHOOSE.

Finally,  what is the ideal yet practical manner of expressing these purposes in relationship to those you deal with on a day-to-day basis. Then, whether it be in fact or fiction, in a private journal or widely read book or column, WRITE about what you have come up with! There are many, many souls who would benefit, as long as you really have something constructive and helpful to say as part of a specific purpose and lesson to be learned.

Your Venus is opposite Jupiter.

Your experiences between earth lives in the Venus and Jupiter dimensions of awareness generally make for benevolent, positive influences in your life. Nonetheless there are some inclinations toward wastefulness and vanity which need curbing. Unless this is done and there is a gradual comprehension of your true spiritual purposes, these influences toward excesses may become drawbacks in your overall soul development.

Part of your extravagance,  especially concerning money matters, comes from a moody, “I don’t care” attitude at times which borders on self-destructiveness. This tendency may not be an obvious threat to your well being until your later years, when you may well wish you had spent your resources more wisely. One way to deal with this challenge is mentally to begin replacing such urges with more practical choices in favor of self-preservation through creating attitudes of helpfulness and hopefulness instead.

Careerwise, or as an avocation outside homebuilding, social service would be a good outlet for you, even if only on a volunteer, part time basis. Do follow in such pursuits and positive dealings with others, holding before your inner Self the principle that what you sow is what you reap.

Also,try not to let a single day go by without interesting yourself in others and doing something specifically for someone else that has been a helpful influence in their life.

Your Mars is in an inharmonious pattern with Saturn.

Mars is the consciousness dimension experienced between earth lives which prompts us toward action and applying energy (whether aggressively, athletically, competitively, militarily or wrathfully).  Saturn is the realm of heavy changes and basic soul reprogramming.  You chose a day of birth when these two planets were inharmoniously squared off or opposite each other in the zodiac, as seen from the earth.  This is a challenging pattern which creates a tendency for you to be pulled often in opposite directions: for instance,  you may have urges to act yet feel equally strongly the necessity not to act.

These conflicting, if not erratic, influences have been fed by your interlife soul activities in these planetary heavens, with the challenge wherein you “blow hot, then cold.”  This results in dissatisfaction frequently entering into areas of your life — especially your career — in which your physical energies are directed.

So special effort will be needed at such times for you to exert your will force to control your temperament. This is particularly likely to be true of urges toward anger and a tendency toward hastiness in drawing conclusions and judging others. This is usually because others are not in accord with a specific desire of yours to impel them to think the same way as you do.

On the more resourceful side, you have a naturally good business sense and with application of your will toward tempering your temperament, development of your soul forces –bringing you contentment and satisfaction — is likely to come near the middle of your life.

Your Jupiter harmoniously aspects Saturn.

You are patient, persevering, honest, sincere and inclined toward the arts. At the same time,  you have marked executive abilities with a somewhat masculine mind in your ability mentally to project goals and physically to carry them out. Yet this rather Saturnian frame of thought is almost always tempered with your Jupiterian urge to seek higher, ennobling influences as the criteria for a more spiritual life.

From your experience in Jupiter, were you to apply your natural sense of good judgment in counseling others, you would be successful in helping them to straighten out their mental and emotional problems. This you could best do through a practical integration of imagination and deeper soul visions while visualizing the positive psychological effect being created. One way such healing could be carried out is through guided imagery and group prayer. In such ways you could accomplish a great deal for yourself and for others.

Through this kind of application, you are able to share with others in need a safe, sane understanding of what you uniquely know, believe, dream of or envision and hold deep within yourself. Yet do not forget that while to know and not to do anything with what you know can count against you in soul development, to not know yet to do the best that you know, feel and experience within is counted as true spirituality and righteousness.

Jupiter’s influence also tends you to have relationships with groups and larger numbers of people, rather than isolated individuals. Saturn’s influence makes for many specific projects and activities which are full of financial and social prospects but often do not materialize to the fullest extent possible. These instances should be seen as clear opportunities not for longsuffering in the sense of duty but for developing a higher patience as an opportunity for soul growth, peace and harmony within. This is that patience through which you know and therefore most truly possess, your own soul.

Now,  your experience in Saturn is one to which you cast yourself as being insufficient in earthly terms and in the present, you have the opportunity to rebuild, remold or resuscitate your inner soul forces in line with your outer objectives. From Jupiter you have a truly philosophical and religious spirit behind your Saturnian, worldly ambitions. Because you are willing to apply what you know and work for what you want, you will achieve success.

In the application, then, of your own talents will come a contentment that you are living up to your ideal, regardless of how others may criticize you. Above all, do not criticize or condemn yourself. Instead, act in such a way that you will always do the very best with what you have in hand at any given time.

Your Sun is in Gemini (Tropical zodiac).

Coming as you do under the double sign of Gemini, there are likely to be two natures within you as far as your inner, subconscious urges are concerned.  One of these urges is to seek to know (and this thirst for knowledge may sometimes involve questionable things or conditions, at least as far as others are concerned).  The other part of this dual urge from Gemini’s influence is your innate as well as outwardly manifested spiritual seeking for a greater, better and more perfect relationship with another. At times these two urges may be more in conflict than most people ordinarily experience.

Also, as in other Gemini children this tendency toward double-mindedness at times may find expression in inclinations to change your mind and overspeculate about things. With application of your will, these inclinations can be curbed.

Now, you were probably part of European culture during the Middle Ages, when there was considerable action and adventure, for example in the continual feuding and strife among the many fiefdoms, families, tribes, castles and kingdoms comprising Europe before its present consolidation into several nation-states.

You may even have been among the gentry or upper class of France or England, attending or participating in jousting tournaments, making long journeys to the Crusades against the Muslims in Palestine, or involved with trade exchanges with the caravans going to and from India and China.

In other words,  because Mercury is the planet which rules or symbolizes the essence of Gemini, overall you may have experienced in one or more of these lifetimes a sense of restlessness enduring into your present life.

Finally, centuries or even millennia earlier, you may have led a life in what has become known as Australia or on one of its neighboring South Pacific islands.

Your Moon is in Libra (Tropical zodiac).

You may remember,  in your deeper meditations and dreams, experiences from long ago when you were among great artists, sculptors, poets, and craftsmen of ancient India as well as the more recent leaders of prosperous, classical Greece.  Even later day Venice, Florence and other Italian cities developed some of this love of culture, beauty and appreciation of art which you were closely involved with then and which you find rewarding still.

Venus is the planet of love, beauty and art, so it is very appropriate to convey the symbolic essence of the sign Libra, which it rules.  Venus’ influence through Libra also makes that which is crass and primitive quite unnatural for you to accept gracefully, or to participate in willingly.

You may also have been among many who reincarnated in the American South just before the Civil War.  In the present you may have to learn the lesson of providing for your own needs, luxury and comfort rather than having others do provide these things for you.  In fact, one of the challenges of Libra lies in being too liberal or indulgent with oneself.  With prayerful application of your will, this too can be overcome.

Your Past Life Decanates

According to an ancient Vedic astrology method
still practiced in India, Past Life Planets are realms
in which you sojourned between earth lifetimes.  They
are identified through the position of your sidereal
Sun and Moon in the decanates (a decanate is a one-
third division of a zodiac sign; each is ruled by a
planet).  Any patterns involving these Past Life
Planets are therefore of special importance.  Pay extra
attention, then, to any sections of your reading which
interpret these planets.

NOTE:  If your Sun and Moon are both located in a
decanate which is ruled by the same planet, then
only the Sun position is interpreted; the Moon’s
decanate position, being the same as the Sun’s,
therefore does not need to be interpreted.

Your Sun is in Virgo Decanate

Your sidereal Sun is in VIRGO decanate, which is ruled by Mercury.  Mercury as Past Life Planet gives you a high intellectual capacity, marked data handling or communications skills, a distinct thirst for knowledge and a natural aptitude for writing, teaching and research.

A prominent Mercurian lifetime as an Egyptian or Hebrew scribe and/or teacher in colonial Asia, Africa or the early Americas is therefore likely.

Your Moon is in Libra Decanate

Your sidereal Moon is in LIBRA decanate, which is ruled by Venus.  Venus as Past Life Planet points to high priorities in creativity, sociability and relationships, especially in your family/home life and in the world of nature.  Urges toward these experiences and interests from your sojourn in the Venus dimension are likely to originate in parallel lifetimes of soul development through these areas of self-expression.

Especially indicated are lives in the early Jewish-Christian Church and later as an artist-musician in modern times, whether in the West (Europe and/or America), or in modern or colonial Asia.





Cleavers

Have you (or your dog) ever emerged from a woodland walk, or a rummage in the hedgerow, trailing long, sticky ribbons of a green creeper? If so you know what Cleavers is. Also known as Goose-grass, Sticky-Willy, Catchweed – and a few others – its official name is Galium aparine.

You can find it climbing and meandering in almost any hedge, woodland or shady place as it’s rather rampant and also a choker in that it overwhelms other plants. Wildlife loves it, and it attracts bees, beetles, flies and many species of butterfly larvae. I’ve also found many a frog, toad and slow worm hiding beneath it.

Yes it’s what you might call a weed, but in my book it is one of the more useful wild herbs that can be gathered freely. An annual plant, it can grow up to three metres, and is prettily bright green. The stems and leaves are covered in tiny hooks, which is why it will stick like Velcro to clothes and animal fur.

In June to August it blooms tiny white star-like flowers, incidentally these are hermaphrodite, followed by seed pods in August – September.  It is these seeds that are an excellent substitute for coffee, simply gather, dry and then lightly roast, honestly they make a lovely brew!

When I had my horses and farm animals, I’d gather goose grass by the barrow load for being rich in minerals and silica it is brilliant as a general tonic and gives a lovely bloom on horses coats (especially when mixed with nettles), and helps maintain healthy skin. Hens, ducks and geese particularly thrive on it, which is good news as it produces a good strong eggshell.

One of our horses suffered terribly from a condition called grease, wherein the skin on the heels and up the back of the legs gets scabby, cracks and itches like mad. My ex- husband spent a small fortune on vet treatment (it was his horse), none of which worked.  I stepped in with my trusty goose grass; pounding the fresh herb to a paste, mixing it with cayenne pepper and liberally smearing a thick layer on the infected part of the leg and heel, plus a twice daily mash of the whole plants (cut small) with bran and molasses – within two weeks the grease had cleared up, leaving healthy skin… and no more foot stamping and itching! I’ve also used a poultice of goose grass to cure an abscess on a goat, in no time at all.

Of course it’s not just animals that can benefit from this herb; it can be used in the treatment of ME, hepatitis, tonsillitis, glandular fever, cystitis, insomnia, and I have heard of it helping to treat cancer when drunk as a tea (although I cannot vouch for that).

To make the tea, simply steep two or three (I prefer three) teaspoons of the dried plant in a mug of boiling hot water, and infuse for ten minutes or more depending how strong you prefer it. Strain if desired, and drink it straight, don’t drink more than three mugs a day though or you may need to buy more Andrex!

I like to gather the longest strands of it, form it into a wreath or swag which then decorates my home whilst it’s drying. When my children were small, a fun time was had using it as wigs – it will hold into any shape or form if you have patience.

On the witchy side, Cleavers is a plant of the moon and is used in binding spells (hardly surprising considering how it grips hold of anything).

So there you go, your ‘pesky’ weed is actually one of the Mother’s marvels!

Cleavers aka Goose-grass

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