A beautiful full moon for the New Year

A couple of days ago I said I was going to choose the best picture that a reader had submitted to A Bad Witch's Blog this year. My shortlist was:

Coldrum Long Barrow - I was sent some lovely pics of this megalith in Kent by a reader back in April.

It's In The Trees... - In July I received a photo of a tree that looked a bit like an owl or an elephant or maybe a wolf.

Full Moon - Anne Reckless sent me a lovely picture of the full moon, which I posted in September.

I said I would pick the winner on New Year's Eve and you can see the photo I have chosen at the top of this entry - Full Moon by Anne Reckless.

Congratulations Anne and thanks very much for sending in your lovely picture.

The photograph of the moon seems appropriate too, as there is a full moon tonight. There is also a partial lunar eclipse that will be visible in London from 6:53pm to 7:53pm and it is also a blue moon.

All in all this is a very special night. I hope you all have a fantastic New Year's Eve and that 2010 brings you all that you wish for!

Links
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/12/witch-picture.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/09/harvest-moon-fun-and-games.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/12/once-in-blue-moon.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/02/blood-moon.html

Once in a Blue Moon...

A rare and magical event takes place this New Year's Eve - and I don't just mean the turning of the decade. When we are getting ready to say goodbye to the old year and usher in the new one, there is a Blue Moon - according to some people at least.

Many people say that whenever there is a second full moon in a single month, it is called a Blue Moon. According to the Blue Moon Calculator that next happens on December 31 2009 at at 7.11pm GMT.

But the definition of a Blue Moon is subject to argument and debate, although most people agree it is a full moon that does not follow the usual pattern of a single moon in each of the 12 months of the year.

Lunar months are 28 days, but calendar months are mostly longer, so there are about 11 extra days every year. This means that every two to three years there is an extra full moon. Different definitions place the odd moon out at different times.

Christians historically called the extra moon the "Betrayer Moon". Betrayer is "belewe" in Old English, which sounds a bit like the word blue. Mind you, in Norman French "bel ewe" means "beautiful water" and is the origin of the family name Bellew. I'm sure that double meaning could have caused some confusion in historical times.

According to Wikipedia, Christian clergy placed the so-called Betrayer Moon at Lent in years when the moon was extremely early in the season before Easter.

An American definition from the early 20th century defined a Blue Moon as an extra full moon that took place in a single season. A season normally has three full moons. If it had four, the third full moon was called a blue moon.

The common modern definition of a Blue Moon as being the second full moon in a month is wrong, according to The Farmer's Almanac. It says that this comes from a mistake first published in the March 1946 edition of Sky & Telescope magazine and that earlier definitions are more accurate.

In folklore, the full moon for each month has a different name. Although the names themselves vary from culture to culture, there are generally only 12 of them and they relate to things that are expected to be happening in nature or food production at that time. For example, December's full moon might be called "Snow Moon" or "Long Night Moon" while August or September's full moon might be called "Harvest Moon".

This meant that in years with 13 full moons, the first full moon of a month with two moons could be a bit early. Calling the first full moon in a month with two the blue moon instead put this useful device for seasonal calculations back on track.

The most literal meaning of a Blue Moon is when the moon looks blue from the Earth. This can be caused by pollution or smoke particles in the atmosphere. It doesn't have anything to do with the phase of the moon at all, but is rare.

Whatever your definition of a Blue Moon might be, this New Year's Eve will be a magical time with the full moon in the sky and everyone making their wishes for the future. If you do believe in the power of the Blue Moon, however, you might want to put on something blue to mark the occasion and call on the power of this rare event to make some seemingly out-of-reach dream come true.

The picture, entitled Blue Moon, comes from Enchanted: The Faery and Fantasy Art of Linda Ravenscroft available through Amazon


Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_moon
http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moonnames.htm
http://www.farmersalmanac.com/what-is-a-blue-moon
http://www.farmersalmanac.com/astronomy/a/once-in-a-blue-new-years-eve
Enchanted: The Faery and Fantasy Art of Linda Ravenscroft
http://www.obliquity.com/cgi-bin/bluemoon.cgi

Witch picture?

I hope you don't mind me posting my second picture of a robin a week, but I've been playing around with my new zoom lens and am delighted at how much easier it is to get close-up photos of the birds in my garden.

With photography in mind, I thought it would be a great idea to choose my favourite photo of the year out of all the pictures that people have sent me to use on A Bad Witch's Blog. I'm not going to include pictures sent by publicity agencies - only those that have been specifically sent to my blog by individuals.

If you want to help me choose which picture is best, here is the short list of pictures and the entries where they appeared.

Coldrum Long Barrow - I was sent some lovely pics of this megalith in Kent by a reader back in April.

It's In The Trees... - In July I received a photo of a tree that looked a bit like an owl or an elephant or maybe a wolf.

Full Moon - Anne Reckless sent me a lovely picture of the full moon, which I posted in September.

Feel free to leave a comment about which one you prefer. I will pick the winner on New Year's Eve.

I am always delighted to publish on A Bad Witch's Blog pictures of ancient sites, nature, pagan events or any other suitable subject sent in by readers. I will, of course, mention the name of the photographer when I publish them unless you ask to remain anonymous.


Links
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/04/days-out-coldrum-long-barrow.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/07/its-in-trees.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/09/harvest-moon-fun-and-games.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/12/who-killed-cock-robin.html

A perfect Yule

After all the stresses of the past couple of months and a hugely hectic Solstice weekend, it has been lovely to relax at home with my family over the winter bank holiday and not have to go out and face the world.

I've also been given some wonderful presents.

The best one - possibly the best present I have ever been given - is a 70-300mm zoom lens for my camera. Ever since I started writing on my blog about the wildlife in my garden, my partner has heard me grumbling that I didn't have a telephoto lens to get close-up shots.

I often wandered into camera shops and eyed up various lenses, then wandered out again mourning the fact that really couldn't afford one. I was completely surprised to find a zoom lens wrapped up for me under the tree - and I am bowled over that my partner has bought me such an expensive gift!

I am very much looking forward to using it and will hopefully get some great pictures of fox cubs, birds and any other wildlife that graces my garden over the coming seasons.

Another superb gift was given to me by a friend who had heard me say I wanted to learn tea-leaf reading. It is the book The Art of Tea Leaf Reading by Jane Struthers. Once I have read it, I will definitely write about it on my blog.

Other friends who perhaps read my posts on Yuletide music last year gave me CDs: Enya's And Winter Came and Loreena McKennitt's To Drive The Cold Winter Away. They are both perfect soundtracks for a perfect Yule.

Links
The Art of Tea Leaf Reading
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM Lens
To Drive The Cold Winter Away
And Winter Came

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/vote-for-your-favourite-yule-song.html

Who killed Cock Robin?

One December 25 morning, several years ago, I looked out of my window and saw a chirpy little robin with a bright red breast sitting on the low wall of a garden over the road. How perfect!, I thought.

Then, as I watched, a large tabby cat crept out from the cover of a nearby bush, pounced - and little Cock Robin was no more.

I guess it only shows that life is no greeting card and cats have no sentimentality over Christmas.

Who Killed Cock Robin is a traditional nursery rhyme that was first published around 1744 - it is a murder story, though at first glance hardly a murder mystery as the first verse gives away the killer's identity - not a cat, but a sparrow:

"Who killed Cock Robin?
I, said the Sparrow,
with my bow and arrow,
I killed Cock Robin."

Nevertheless, mystery surrounds who the Sparrow, the Robin and all the other birds and creatures in the rhyme represent.

There is evidence that the poem might date back far further than a few hundred years. Owl would have rhymed with shovel much better in Middle English, for example. A version of the story is found in Germany and some folklorists think that the rhyme might be about the mythological murder of the Norse god Balder, who was shot with an arrow made of mistletoe.

Others have suggested it might be about the ritual pagan sacrifice of a king while a theory based less on mythology is that it was written about William Rufus, who died of an arrow wound in the New Forest in 1100. Others have said Cock Robin might be Robin Hood.

According to superstition, it is extremely unlucky to kill a robin. If you do, your hands will shake forever after. If you steal a robin's eggs, then something of your own will then be stolen. The Encyclopaedia of Superstitions - A History of Superstitionby M Radford says that if a robin taps at the window of a person who is ill, they will soon die.

However, seeing a robin is usually thought to be good luck. If you see one on New Year's Day or the first day of spring, make a wish and it will come true. If you see a robin on Valentine's Day, it means you could be in for a bit of romance with a sailor.

According to ornithomancy you should observe where the bird is sitting to predict the weather. If a robin is perched on top of a tree or building, the weather will be fine. If he is sheltered in branches, it will rain or snow.

These days, robins are a symbol of the festive season. Like many modern Christmas traditions, this is said to have started in the Victorian era. Postmen at the time wore red uniforms and were called robin redbreasts, so people associated getting Christmas cards with robins.

However, robins are such a lovely sight in midwinter - with their red breasts, puffed up feathers to keep out the cold and chirpy singing to attract a mate and declare their territory - that I would be very much surprised if our ancient ancestors didn't welcome the cheery robin on a cold and frosty morning just as much as we do.

This year, a robin has made his home in my back garden. You can see him the photo (above left). I do love seeing him there, especially over Yuletide, and I wish him more luck than his predecessor.

Links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cock_Robin
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Christmas-Robin&id=285743
http://www.icons.org.uk/theicons/collection/the-robin/features/robins-in-lore-and-literature
http://www.bto.org/news/news2006/nov-dec/robin_for_christmas.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Robin
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/mistletoe-facts-and-folklore.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/01/bird-watching-portents-and-ornithomancy.html
http://www.mystical-www.co.uk/animal/birdsr.htm#ROBIN

The Holly King - or should that be Queen?

Bringing holly into the house in December is a tradition far more ancient than Christmas trees, and even older than Christmas itself.

Historical accounts show that the Romans would decorate their villas with holly for Saturnalia, and it is likely that pre-Christian pagans all over Europe used the evergreen with its bright red berries to bring cheer into their homes in the bleak midwinter.

Magically, holly is said to have protective powers. Planted around your home, it will help protect all who dwell there from harmful spells, malicious fairies, evil spirits and even lightning. It brings good luck if you hang it inside at Yule and is also supposed to have the power to make your dreams come true.

Scott Cunningham says in his book Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs that if you gather nine holly leaves, wrap them in a white cloth and tie it with nine knots then place it under your pillow, what you dream of will become reality. If I was you, I'd make sure that cloth was quite thick though - holly leaves can be very sharp!

For Christians, those sharp leaves represent the crown of thorns that Jesus wore at his crucifixion, and the red berries represent the drops of blood he spilled to save humanity.

Many pagans believe the mythological figure of the Holly King rules over the half the year from midsummer to midwinter. At Yule, he fights with his ancient rival the Oak King, who defeats him to lead us back into summer, but at midsummer they fight once more and the victory is reversed.

According to some legends, the Holly King is married to the Ivy Queen -ivy being another powerful protective evergreen plant.

In magic and folklore, holly is considered to be male - which is actually a bit odd. Holly trees (or more accurately shrubs) are dioecious - meaning they can be male or female. Only the female holly bushes have berries, and they need to be close enough to a male bush in order for the flowers to be pollinated. So, if you have a holly shrub in your garden that never produces any berries, it is either a male or a lonely female.

After learning that, whenever I see a Holly King adorned with red berries I can't help but wonder if he is really an ancient pagan version of another Christmas tradition - the pantomime principal boy - a male hero such as Prince Charming who is played by a girl on the stage.

If you do bring holly into the house, however, it is worth noting that holly berries are poisonous and should not be eaten.

Links
http://www.treesforlife.org.uk/forest/mythfolk/holly.html
http://www.controverscial.com/Holly.htm
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/blackbirdhollins/articles/Holly%20tree.htm
Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_King_(myth)
http://landscaping.about.com/od/helpforbeginners/f/holly_flowers.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal_boy

Ghosts and Monsters

A spooky story at Yule is as traditional as mince pies and mulled wine by a roaring fire, and I always love surprise presents, so I was delighted to get an unexpected parcel in the post containing two books from Oxford University Press about ghosts and monsters.

One of them - On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears by Stephen T Asma - doesn't come out until January, so I was particularly happy to see an early copy.

The press release that came with it says:

"Monsters. Real or imagined, literal or metaphorical, they have exerted a dread fascination on the human mind for many centuries. They attract and repel us, intrigue and terrify us, and in the process reveal something deeply important about the darker recesses of our collective psyche...

"Stephen Asma's On Monsters is a wide-ranging cultural and conceptual history of monsters - how they have evolved over time, what functions they have served for us, and what shapes they are likely to take in the future. Monsters embody our deepest anxieties and vulnerabilities, Asma argues, but they also symbolize the mysterious and incoherent territory just beyond the safe enclosures of rational thought."

The second book, Magic, Witchcraft and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds by Daniel Ogden came out earlier this year. It is aimed at undergratuates studying the classics, but also looks as though it has plenty to interest amateurs like me who dabble in modern-day magic. The press release says:

"In a culture where the supernatural possessed an immediacy now strange to us, magic was of great importance both in the literary and mythic tradition and in ritual practice. Recently, ancient magic has hit a high in popularity, both as an area of scholarly inquiry and as one of general, popular interest.
"In Magic, Witchcraft, and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds Daniel Ogden presents three hundred texts in new translations, along with brief but explicit commentaries. This is the first book in the field to unite extensive selections from both literary and documentary sources. Alongside descriptions of sorcerers, witches, and ghosts in the works of ancient writers, it reproduces curse tablets, spells from ancient magical recipe books, and inscriptions from magical amulets."

With these two books, I guess I've got my Yule holiday reading sorted - my only quandary is which one to start first. Then maybe I'll get that roaring fire going, heat up the mulled wine and mince pie and settle down in my comfy armchair with a good, scary book.

Links
On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears
Magic, Witchcraft and Ghosts in the Greek and Roman Worlds
http://www.oup.com/

Three minutes to sunrise!

It is three minutes before the sun rises this Winter Solstice Day!

If I was a good witch, maybe I would be out shivering on some frozen hill or clifftop, or at some windswept Megalith with a bunch of hardened druids, waiting and watching for the glorious rays of the newborn sun to spill across the ice-bound land, heralding a new day and the turning of the year.

But I'm not a good witch - I'm a bad witch. And if you are reading this at 8am, just as this post goes live, then I am currently curled up snug in my warm bed, sleeping off a hangover.

My excuse - it's been a weekend of some heavy partying. There was my work's Christmas do on Friday then two wonderful Yule celebrations on Saturday and Sunday. Or, at least, I am assuming the one on Sunday will have been wonderful.

You see, I'm not only a bad witch, I'm also a bit of a cheat, because I'm writing this blog on Sunday afternoon before going to the party - then posting the entry to go live for Monday morning, December 21.

And I've just taken the photograph above - the rays of the late afternoon sun melting the snow that has fallen over my garden and making the ice and droplets of water glisten and sparkle. So, it isn't really a picture of a sunset, or a sunrise - just a pretty winter's day.

Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful Midwinter Solstice, whatever you are doing.

Sunrise today in London is at 8.03am. Sunset is at 3.52pm - I might be up in time to see that :)

Links

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/understanding/winter_solstice.shtml

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/12/winter-solstice-open-rituals-and-events.html

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/mistletoe-facts-and-folklore.html

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2007/12/solstice-sunrise.html

Witch balls and spirit balls

The glass baubles we hang on our Yule trees might seem just pretty ornaments, but they hark back to a magical tradition to ward off ill-doers and evil spirits as well as to predict the happiness of the household.

According to Cambridgeshire Customs And Folklore by Enid Porter, witch balls were usually balls of coloured glass, usually blue, red or green, and were 6in-8in in circumference with a metal loop at the top so they could be hung in a window. The book states:

"One example in the Cambridge Folk Museum, from a house in Gamlingay, has the date 1798 embossed on the metal top. These balls were formerly 'watch balls' because they were closely observed, as they hung in the window, by their owners. If the bright surface remained undimmed, all was well; if it became clouded or tarnished, then sickness, death or some other disaster was thus foretold."

The New Encyclopedia of the Occult by John Michael Greer says witch balls are more often blue, green or violet and that they were used to banish the evil eye or other forms of hostile magic. It states:

"Some contain pins and needles to disperse negative energies while others are empty."

Art glass retailer Free2Garden sells beautiful witch balls like the ones in the pictures.

Charlie of Free2Garden said:

"When we explain the history behind the witch balls at our shows, customers are amazed that it is part of Britain's folklore, which we find very strange.

"The superstition behind spirit balls dates back over hundreds of years. A spirit ball, also known as a `witch ball' is said to ward off evil spirits and negative energy by capturing them in its interior glass strands. Unwanted spirits are mesmerized by the ball's colours and reflection and enter the ball, being caught inside and thus protecting the home.

"It has been suggested that Christmas baubles were descendants of spirit balls, helping to ward off any evil spirits and negative energy that would attempt to ruin your Christmas.

"Our handcrafted glass spirit balls are beautifully made, mouth-blown glass ornaments that make the perfect gift. Each glass spirit ball is supplied with a decorative ribbon and a brief history linking spirit balls with protection of your home.

"The sunlight shines through the mouth-blown coloured glass, which sparkles beautifully when hung inside windows, or outside in trees and arches as garden features. They make a wonderful inspirational gift for Christmas, anniversaries, birthdays, bridesmaid gifts, leaving gifts, celebration of a birth, house warming gift or to simply remind someone that you're thinking of them."

Pagan resources website Pagan Magic (sadly no longer running) showed how you can enchant a Yule bauble to create your own magical witch ball:

"Purchase clear glass or plastic Christmas ornaments from a craft store, along with bottles of liquid gold and silver metallic craft paints. Next, remove the wire loop at the top of the ornament. Squeeze small amounts of the paint on to the ornament. Swirl the ornament around,so the paints blend and coat the interior of the ornament. Leave it to dry overnight. On the next day, replace the wire loops at the top of the ornament and charge it with your magical intent. Hang it with a pretty cord in your window or on a holiday tree. The pattern made by the paints will trap and hold any negative energy."

The pictures and quote from Free2Garden are copyright Free2Garden and were supplied for the exclusive use of badwitch.co.uk and must not be used by any third party without the express permission of Free2Garden.

Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_ball
http://www.wyrdology.com/charms/witch-balls.html
http://www.witchball.co.uk/70001/info.php?p=12&pno=0
Cambridgeshire Customs And Folklore
The New Encyclopedia of the Occult

A visit from the God of Snow

Yesterday, as I was writing my Yule cards, I glanced out of the window to see snow falling and it continued to fall thickly all afternoon. It couldn't have been more perfect!

OK, the snow didn't settle as much as in the photo (right). That picture was taken on Snow Day back in February, but for a while the street outside my house was transformed into something more seasonal than climate change has allowed in recent years.

And to mark the occasion of the first snow I have seen this winter, I am picking for The Bad Witch's God of the Week Aisoyimstan, Native American God of Snow and Ice.

According to the website Godchecker.com:

"He is the White God and 'Cold Maker' who blankets the earth with frost and snow. It is not easy to spot him at work as he is completely white, with white hair and white clothes. He even rides a white horse. You would need to be really close to spot the whites of his eyes."

So perhaps it isn't surprising I didn't see Aisoyimstan in person - but I am sure he was visiting. And he is welcome to come back on the morning of December 25!

Links

http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/native_american-mythology.php?deity=AISOYIMSTAN

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/02/no-business-like-snow-business.html

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2007/12/bad-witchs-guide-to-fortune-telling.html

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/call-for-yule-cards.html

http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/11/choosing-perfect-yule-cards.html

The darkest night before Yule

Although the longest night is still to come, we have reached the darkest night of the year. There is a new moon today at noon, London time, and the nights are black and cold.

But, for some, the weeks around Yule are bleak whatever the phase of the moon.

It should be the most magical time of year, when everyone wishes for peace on earth, love and good stuff whether they believe in magic or not. Midwinter, the festival of lights, Christmas, Hanukkah, Yule, New Year – whatever you like to call the festival at the end of December, pretty much everyone likes to celebrate.

Sadly, the reality is often no party. It is a time when people get into serious debt, when marriages break up and when accident rates - and suicide rates - soar.

For the impoverished, the homeless, those with no family, the elderly living on their own, single parents trapped indoors while everyone else is out having fun, there is little joy. Even for the rest of us, the season for giving can stretch us to our limits.

We might try to make merry, we might even succeed, but that commercialised Coca-Cola image of a jolly Santa making everyone happy has a flip side that is grim, bitter and bleak.

We could do well to remember that - and reject the advertising dream world we are all being sold on the TV, over the internet and in the high streets.

It is sensible to work out what we can afford and stick to that rather than get into debt. No one will mind if we tell our friends that we aren't buying gifts for everyone this year, we are just buying them for children. We don't have to get in enough food to feed the five-thousand - if we are only cooking Yule dinner for a family of four then it is much less wasteful to only buy enough food for four.

And those who are feeling depressed and lonely or who will have nowhere to stay over the festive season should accept that it is OK to ask for help. Charities offering advice and practical support include:

The Samaritans: http://www.samaritans.org/
Crisis: http://www.crisis.org.uk/
Shelter: http://england.shelter.org.uk/
St Mungos: http://www.mungos.org/
Age Concern: http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/
Relate: http://www.relate.org.uk/home/index.html

The Citizens Advice Bureau can also offer advice on legal, financial and other problems: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

I hope the festive season is going to be a good one for you but, even if you feel you have no cares in the world, do be sensible - and also spare a thought for those less fortunate.

The Five of Pentacles card pictured above is from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck available from Amazon

Winter solstice open rituals and events

December 21 is the Midwinter Solstice - the longest night of the year. It is one of the oldest known festivals and our ancient pagan ancestors constructed huge monuments, such as Stonehenge, to mark the dawning of the sun after the longest night of the year.

Here are some open rituals and pagan events that are going on this year to honour the Winter Solstice:

18 -20 December; Midwinter Bear Feast.

This midwinter festival inspired by Sub-Arctic animistic and shamanic traditions is taking place in Cranborne, East Dorset. Although it is a residential festival, with full tickets costing £45, there are also some day tickets available. For more information and to book tickets, visit http://www.beartribe.co.uk/

19 - 20 December; Yuletide Fayre

Westgate Hall, Canterbury, Kent is the venue for a Yuletide Fayre. This winter solstice celebration will feature traditional music, seasonal plays and festive food. Entry free. For details visit http://www.magicalfestivals.co.uk/.

Saturday 19 December; Sabbat Ceremony in Avebury

A Pagan Sabbat Ceremony for the forthcoming Winter Solstice is taking place at Avebury Stone Circle, in Wiltshire. The event starts at 1pm. For more details, visit the website http://sn15.net/aveinfo/Aveinfo.html

Sunday 20 December; Druid Open Rituals

If you are in London, you can celebrate Alban Arthuan (the Light of Winter) on Primrose Hill with the Druid of Wormwood Scrubs. The event starts at 12.45pm and ends at 1.45pm. Meet on Primrose Hill, London NW1 8YH at the entrance opposite Rothwell St.

In Sussex, Anderida Gorsedd is holding a Winter Solstice Ritual at The Long Man of Wilmington. The Anderida Gorsedd is a Druid group facilitated by Damh the Bard and Cerri Lee. It holds regular open rituals at the Long Man of Wilmington to honour the seasons. For the Anderida Gorsedd open Winter Solstice ritual, meet at 1.30pm near the Long Man of Wilmington car park, for a walk up the hill at 2pm. Then after retire to the Giants Rest pub for a social drink. For more details, visit http://www.anderidagorsedd.org/Anderida_Gorsedd/Home.html

Monday 21 December; Ritual in Avebury

On the day of the Winter Solstice Sunrise is at 8.04am and Sunset is at 3:54pm, measured at Avebury Stone Circle, in Wiltshire. You can celebrate the Alban Arthuan, Yule or the Winter Solstice at Avebury Stone Circle in an open event at 5.47pm. For more details, visit the website http://sn15.net/aveinfo/Aveinfo.html

Thu 24 - Tue 29 December; Gaia Partnership Winter Retreat

This retreat on Welsh Borders near Hay-on-Wye is being run by the Gaia Partnership with Elaine Brook. It offers an opportunity to rediscover the real spirit of the season with good company, healthy food, beautiful country walks, meditation and relaxation.

Mornings will be in silence and the evenings will be spent around the fire telling tales and poetry.

The cost is £350, and a £50 deposit is required. To book, send cheque for £50 deposit, plus £15 per night if you wish single room, with details of your name, address, phone number, email and accommodation and diet requirements to: Nurses Cottage, Long Lane, Peterchurch, Hereford, HR2 0TE. Make cheques payable to Gaia Partnership Ltd.

Telephone: 0845 458 4718 for more details or visit the website http://www.gaiapartnership.org/

For other ideas for pagan ways of celebrating the Midwinter Solstice and Yule, visit http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/what-to-do-at-yule-if-youre-pagan.html

For details of future events visit my events page at http://paganevents.blogspot.com/,

Links
http://druidry.org/obod/festivals/arthan.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/12/what-to-do-at-yule-if-youre-pagan.html
http://sn15.net/aveinfo/Aveinfo.html
http://www.anderidagorsedd.org/Anderida_Gorsedd/Home.html
http://www.magicalfestivals.co.uk/

Pagan Poetry Yule Competition

The Pagan Poetry Pages is running its Yule Poetry Competition for 2009.

All you have to do is write a poem after viewing pictures on the website (one of which is shown on the right) and then email your poem to editors@paganpoetrypages.com with a few details about yourself and an indication of which picture you are writing about.

The first prize is a fountain pen and a £20 Amazon gift voucher. The second and third prizes are £10 gift Amazon vouchers.

The competition is open to everyone and the closing date for entries is December 24. The winners will be announced in January 2010 on Pagan Poetry Pages.

Pagan Poetry Pages was founded by three Irish women - Dawn, Socarie and Beirn - as an online space devoted to pagan poetry. The website says: "The definition of 'pagan poetry' is necessarily very wide; it can be defined as the expression of man's condition in relation to his physical environment or simply a poem written by a pagan."

For further information, see the Pagan Poetry Pages - http://www.paganpoetrypages.com/

Pagan events, festivals and lectures

Monday 14 December; Shaminism and Time; Shaman UK discussion and social evening with a journey for those who want to make one. From 6.30pm - 9pm at The Open Centre, 188 Old St, London EC1V 9FR. Cost £9 waged, £5 unwaged. Booking essential. For more details or to reserve a space email Zoe on info@shaman.uk.net.

Wednesday 16 December; Saturnalia party at The Moot With No Name. Venue Devereux public house, 20 Devereux Court, off Essex Street, London WC2. Meet from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm. Admission £2. For more details, visit http://www.theatlantisbookshopevents.com/page13.htm

18 -20 December; Midwinter Bear Feast. Festival inspired by Sub-Arctic animistic and shamanic traditions. This year's event is fully residential, with accommodation in a Celtic roundhouse and Viking longhouse. Rituals and performances will be held in a reconstruction of a Bronze Age tribal parliament from the Isle of Man. The location is in Cranborne, East Dorset, England. Tickets are £45 each and meals, entertainment and accommodation are included in the price. For more information and to book tickets, visit http://www.beartribe.co.uk/

19 & 20 December; Yuletide Fayre at Westgate Hall, Canterbury, Kent. Winter Solstice Celebration featuring traditional music, seasonal plays and festive food from 11am to 4pm. Entry free. For details visit http://www.magicalfestivals.co.uk/.

Review: The Hummingbird's Journey to God

I tend to be cynical about anything anyone claims is a miracle cure - but if accounts of San Pedro, the "Cactus of Vision", in The Hummingbird's Journey to God are even partly true, then I might just consider being a bit more open-minded.

The Hummingbird's Journey to God: Perspectives on San Pedro - the Cactus of Vision by Ross Heaven is a lovely book about healing and the search for God in the Peruvian Andes as seen through the eyes of those who have taken a hallucinogenic brew made from the plant Trichocereus pachanoi.

This cactus has been used by Peruvian healers, shamans and spiritual seekers for thousands of years, but its effects have not received the same amount of attention as some other hallucinogens and "teacher plants".

Ross Heaven's book is not a scientific study of San Pedro, it is more a collection of personal accounts of people's experiences while under its effects and how the visions they have experienced have altered their lives afterwards. Many have claimed to have been healed of emotional or physical problems.

The Peruvian healers who work with the plant claim that most illnesses, if not all, are psychosomatic and that the key to getting well is "a change in spirit or mental perspective on the part of the sufferers".

The cactus offers people visions that not only help them heal themselves by overcoming emotional issues but also also by realising that they can simply choose to get well. The idea behind this is that the mind has the ability to affect the body - the power of belief. Those whose stories are told in The Hummingbird's Journey to God claim to have been cured of ailments from altitude sickness to diabetes and even cancer.

Psychedelic plants are also often reputed to grant spiritual insights and Ross Heaven explains that one of his personal reasons for taking San Pedro was to find God. His wish was granted in a vision of symbols and allegories leading to his understanding that God - and all gods - "are all around you, in everything" and "we are all part of God".

The Hummingbird's Journey to God is a delightful book to read - well written, engaging and thought-provoking. I must admit I am still somewhat cynical that all its claims are true, but I'm certainly intrigued enough to want to find out more.

The Hummingbird's Journey to God: Perspectives on San Pedro - the Cactus of Vision is available through Amazon

Note: This book review is not advice. Drugs can be dangerous. Never take illegal drug. Always consult a qualified doctor or qualified medical herbalist before taking any drug or herbal remedy.
Links
The Hummingbird's Journey to God: Perspectives on San Pedro - the Cactus of Vision
http://www.o-books.com/obookssite/
http://fourgates.com/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/11/drugs-dreams-and-delusions.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echinopsis_pachanoi
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/12/anger-management.html

The power of words

These days, it seems, you can adopt pretty much anything for charity to give people as gifts or just for your own amusement - from animals at the local zoo to words in the dictionary.

The website adoptaword.com is encouraging people to adopt a word on behalf of Ican, a charity which works with children who have problems speaking.

I thought this sounded like a good idea, so I thought I'd have a look if "witch" was still available. It was at the time I checked, but I quickly decided against adopting the word when I saw the definition the site was offering:

"WITCH: a person, usually female, who practises or professes to practise magic or sorcery, esp black magic, or is believed to have dealings with the devil."

I prefer some of the definitions given on thefreedictionary.com:

"witch (wch)n.

1. A woman claiming or popularly believed to possess magical powers and practice sorcery.

2. A believer or follower of Wicca; a Wiccan.

3. A hag.

4. A woman considered to be spiteful or overbearing.

5. Informal A woman or girl considered bewitching.

6. One particularly skilled or competent at one's craft.

I then had a look to see if "Wicca" was available to adopt, but I wasn't greatly enthused about the definition given for that either: "the cult or practice of witchcraft". Am I being oversensitive to think the word "cult" has slightly unpleasant connotations?

Some people adopting words are plainly quite happy to have a wicked side. The word "evil" has been adopted by a Mr Mike Grace. He gave his reason for adoption as: "Someone had to. How can you have a good without an evil?"

That is, indeed, an interesting philosophical question.

Despite my misgivings over Ican's archaic idea of what witches and Wiccans do or are, Ican does seem a worthwhile charity to support and the gift of a word for Yule would certainly be an unusual present.

Links
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/witch
http://www.adoptaword.com/index.php

Mercury: God of the Week

December 11 is Agonalia, the Roman festival of business endeavours. Agonius is an epithet given to several gods including Apollo, Zeus and Hermes.

Hermes, god of communication and master of the dodgy deal, is certainly a business deity. But, because Hermes has already been The Bad Witch's God of the Week, I thought I'd write about his Roman incarnation - Mercury.

According to the website Godchecker.com Mercury is: "Messenger God of Commerce and the Roman revamp of Hermes. Has own planet, metal industry and name leasing business."

The term mercurial also means changeable and volatile - a term that comes from astrology and describes the likely behavior of someone under the influence of the planet Mercury.

So, if you are starting a new business, about to make a deal when good communication is vital or just want a change in your work or life, tomorrow could be a good day to ask Mercury for a little help.

The picture above shows a photographic print of the Pool of Mercury in the gardens of the Real Alcazar from Robert Harding available from Amazon

Links
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2007/12/time-to-get-down-to-business.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2009/04/hermes-bad-witchs-god-of-week.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(mythology)
http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/roman-mythology.php?deity=MERCURY
Photographic Print of Pool of Mercury in the gardens of the Real Alcazar from Robert Harding