Witch Charms by Quirky Cinnamon

Meet Juniper! This amazing besom charm was made by my friend Cassia of @quirkycinnamon.

An incredible artist from São Paulo, Brazil, and living in my sleepy little town in England; Cassia creates amazing witchy items from the heart. She sculpted Juniper’s face from scratch and says that these creations take on a life of their own when she’s creating them.

She is absolutely beautiful, Cassia. I will treasure her forever and she will take pride of place in our home - thank you so much!

I highly recommend checking out Cassia’s page and creations.

Autumn Equinox Blessings!

A blessed Autumn Equinox everyone!

I didn’t observe it at the official time of 02:03 this morning, I was happily tucked up in bed.

Some people refer to this festival as Mabon, a name which was adopted in 1974 from Welsh mythology, but it has little to do with the Autumn Equinox. Mabon is taken from Mabon ap Modron, which means “Son, son of Mother.”

Using the name “Mabon” came into usage when Aidan Kelly tried to find a myth associated with autumn, in the same way that some associate Kore (Persephone) with spring. Some Welsh people dislike this appropriation of their mythology, and it takes away from the figure of Mabon ap Modron, so I tend to avoid the term where possible.

The Equinoxes appear twice a year. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Spring (or “Vernal”) Equinox happens around the 20th March, and the Autumn Equinox falls around the 22nd September.

The Equinoxes appear between the Solstices, and mark the point at which the Sun crosses the equator’s path, and becomes positioned exactly above the equator. They are a tipping point. Although the days started getting shorter at the Summer Solstice, we are now surpassing the point of balance and the nights will become longer than the days. The process starts all over again at the Winter Solstice, and at the Spring Equinox the days will start to be longer than the nights.

During the Equinox the day and night are roughly the same length - they are nearly equal. A few days after the Autumn Equinox we have the Equilux - when the day and night are exactly equal. The Equilux in March happens a few days before the Spring Equinox.

Equi = equal 

Nox = night 

Lux = light

I love the solstices and equinoxes for their astronomical roles in our calendar. The extremes - the longest and shortest days (the solstices), with the balanced and liminal days in between (the equinoxes).

Today we had Sunrise at 0650hrs, and Sunset will be at 1900hrs, so the descent towards darkness is quite marked now.

Wishing you many autumnal blessings from my home to yours. 

NEXT - Magickal Places: The Goddess Temple - Glastonbury
NEXT - Review: Witchology Magazine - Mabon 2020 Issue
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Blackberry
NEXT - Recipe: Wren's Faery Berry Jam

Recipe: Wren's Faery Berry Jam

As there are so many connections between faeries, elderberries and blackberries, I named this jam Wren's Faery Berry Jam.

WREN'S FAERY BERRY JAM

Ingredients:
800g Blackberries

200g Elderberries

1kg Jam Sugar (has added pectin)

2 Lemons, juiced

Butter, small nob (optional)

Method:

1. Put a saucer in the freezer.

2. Combine the sugar, lemon juice, and berries.

3. Heat on a low heat, stirring, until the sugar has dissolved.

4. Turn the heat up and cook on a rolling boil for ten minutes, being sure to stir, so that no fruit burns or sticks to the pan. Skim off any scum.

5. Put a small blob of the mixture on the saucer, and leave aside for a minute. 

6. Push the mixture with your finger - if it wrinkles the mixture is ready.

7. If it doesn’t wrinkle, cook for another 5 minutes and then try again. Keep trying until it’s ready.

8. When the mixture is ready, stir in the butter to dissolve any scum. (I personally don’t bother).

9. Pour into sterilised jars, top with a waxed disc, and add the lid. Do this when hot.

10. Store in a cool, dark place. 

NEXT - Recipe: Elderberry Vinegar
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Blackberry
NEXT - Review: Witchology Magazine - Mabon 2020 Issue
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Foxgloves 

Fabulous Folklore: Silbury Hill

Silbury Hill, located a stone’s throw from West Kennet Long Barrow, is the largest artificial, prehistoric mound in Europe. It is believed to have been built sometime between 2470 and 2350 BC; making it around 4,400 years old. Its purpose to the Neolithic people who built it unknown and no burial has ever been found inside. It is comparative in volume and size to the Egyptian pyramids.

The Romans built a settlement around the base of the mound, with a road running past it, and a structure may have been built on the top during the medieval period.

Unfortunately, due to three excavations that were not properly handled between 1776 and 1970, a 14 metre crater opened on the summit in May 2000. It was made off-limits to the public, and only a few people were allowed to access the mound due to safety concerns, including my late friend Terry, the Arch Druid of Avebury, who would go up there to work the energies. It was filled with polystyrene before further research was carried out around 2007. Eventually it was filled with chalk. The summit is still officially off-limits, but you can walk around the base of the hill.

Folklore says that it is the resting place of King Sil, who lies beneath the mound, with the hill encasing a life-sized gold statue of him astride his horse.

It was also said that the Devil created the mound. He was on his way to Marlborough to bury it under a heap of earth when he met a cobbler carrying a bag of worn out shoes. The Devil, who never seems to quite know what he’s doing when it comes to these schemes, asked the cobbler how far it was to Marlborough. The clever cobbler replied that it was so far away he’d worn out all the shoes trying to reach it. Dismayed, the Devil just dropped the earth where he stood, creating Silbury Hill.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Nine Ladies Stone Circle

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Ring Stone at Avebury

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Major Oak

Fabulous Folklore: Hecate on the Hell Staircase

This blurry image is Hecate and is part of a huge mural at Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire. The mural covers the ceiling of what is known as the Hell Staircase, and was the last commission of Antonio Verrio (1636-1707), a Baroque mural painter who served the Crown over a thirty year period.

The impressive staircase portrays Hell as a fiery, gaping mouth of a huge cat. Spilling from its mouth are tormented souls, and there is an appearance from the Grim Reaper, who grapples his scythe. There is an equally beautiful Heaven Room, where gods and goddesses from ancient mythology mingle and socialise. It is here that we learn of Venus and Mars’ adultery.

I love that Hecate was included in the Hell ceiling mural.  She was a Titan goddess of great honour in Ancient Greek religion; presiding over sorcery and spells. She was associated with crossroads, light, necromancy, the Moon, ghosts and Witchcraft; amongst other things. She witnessed the abduction of Persephone to the Underworld and searched for her. It is hard to know what she is doing in the mural, but she seems to be pointing the way.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Bees
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Knockers of Cornwall
NEXT - Moon Magick: New Moon in Aquarius

Fabulous Folklore: The Hurlers on Bodmin Moor

The Hurlers, situated on Bodmin Moor, are three stone circles that date back to the Late Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. Their arrangement in a row is unique in England; and whilst the exact function of The Hurlers is unknown, it is believed to be a ceremonial monument and a meeting place for community gatherings.

It is possible that these stone circles mark a processional route between the Stowe’s Hill Neolithic hilltop settlement in the north, to the Caradon Hill barrow cemetery in the south.

Local legend says the stones were men who were turned to stone for playing hurling on a Sunday, with The Pipers, two nearby standing stones, being two men who were also turned to stone for playing music on a Sunday. This makes a lovely change from them being women, who were popular targets for being turned to stone in myths and legends about other stone circles across the U.K., for example the Nine Ladies on Stanton Moor in Derbyshire.

This is a fantastic site to visit but the weather can be extremely changeable ~ or even just extreme! ~ but the horses and cows seem to like it.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Ring Stone at Avebury 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Duloe Stone Circle

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Cornish Piskies 

NEXT - Nine Ladies Stone Circle 

Review: The Bewitching by Jill Dawson

The Bewitching ~ A book by Jill Dawson

A huge thanks to Louise at Hodder Books (@hodderbooks) who sent me this a couple of months ago. The Bewitching is a story drawing on the 16th century case of the Witches of Warboys and is written by Jill Dawson (@jilldawsonauthor).

At first glance I thought my mum had sent me this book because she lives in Warboys, so you can imagine my delight at receiving this! Warboys is a village in the Cambridgeshire fens, and the story of the Witches of Warboys is very much kept alive there. Images of witches can be found all around the village on cars, homes and businesses.

I was especially excited to read this as reviews describe it as “fascinating” “atmospheric” and “gripping,” and it has been a long time since I’ve read fiction or historical fiction.

The book doesn’t disappoint, and “atmospheric” and “gripping” sum it up perfectly. Only a few pages in you’re transported to 16th century England, and you don’t want to leave. I learned so many things reading this book; as you travel the journey of the story you gain insight into the social history of the time. You’re rooting for all the characters in the book, and you’re reading it from the 21st century, so you understand why things play out the way they do. This book triggers the imagination, and I guess I particularly loved this book because I spend time in Warboys, so I felt even closer to the story. I didn’t want to put it down, and I was so sad when I had finished it!

I loved it so much I’m going to check out Jill Dawson’s other books, and make more time to lose myself in fictional books, rather than always reading reference books on Witchcraft.

Have you read this book? What did you think? Did you enjoy it?

NEXT - Review: The Sacred Cycles Journal by Jill Pyle
NEXT - Personal Magick: Home Is Where The Heart Is? 

Fabulous Folklore: The Tulip Piskies

Somewhere along the River Tavy on Dartmoor, a sweet and kindly old lady lived in a beautiful little cottage, surrounded by flowers. She had lavender and hollyhocks, rosemary and mullein. Forget-me-nots and lilies, sunflowers and tulips. She worked hard to create a beautiful garden that bloomed all year round; it was her pride and joy. She was proud of the tulips, especially the red ones.

This sanctuary extended beyond her garden. She lived next to a green meadow which was covered by piskie rings. The locals held the rings as caused by piskie-led ponies being driven round in circles in the dead of night. But the old lady knew differently.

One night the lady was woken by a sweet tune drifting in through her window. She lay there for a few minutes before realising the tune was a lullaby. She sat up in her bed and cast her gaze out of her window - her prized tulips were shimmering and waving in the moonlight to the gentle tune. As she woke properly from her slumber and her ear sharpened, she realised the tulips were gently singing along to the tune.

This continued for a number of nights, and the old lady, tuned in to the ways of the world, realised what was happening. The piskies were bringing their babies to the tulips, laying each precious baby within a tulip flower. The tulip nannies gently rocked and sang the piskie babies to sleep, while the adult piskies danced their merry dance until the break of dawn. No ponies were needed to make the rings; the piskies made them all by themselves.

The piskies loved the land surrounding the cottage, and they loved the old lady. They never forgot her kindness. Her tulips lived longer than those of the other villagers. They smelt a little bit sweeter, and shone a little bit brighter.

Sadly, in time, the old lady died. The old man that moved into the cottage did not care for flowers or tulips or pretty things; he wished only to grow vegetables for himself. He built a fence to keep animals and birds out the garden. The piskies saw to it that nothing would flourish and grow ever again; and the whole garden soon became barren and empty, much like the old man’s heart.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Toads in Witchcraft

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Oak Apple Day

Fabulous Folklore: Witch Balls

This is a recreation of a room in the home of a Moorland woman, circa 1850. It can be found in the York Castle Museum, along with an excerpt from her diary.

The passage from her diary reads:

“Life on the moors is hard work. Me, John and three little ones are all in one room with the rest of our cottage needed for the livestock. I suppose I can’t complain, we’ve got everything we need which is more than some can say. Our bed is good and solid. It’s been in my family for years, and we were lucky that it was passed down to me, skiing with some other bits of furniture. I’ve brought a few ornaments and some pictures. They’re nothing fancy but I think they brighten up the place.

It can be lonely here, but having the witch ball at the window to ward off any evil makes me feel better. I must remember to check how much peat we have left. If we don’t keep the fire lit we won’t have any hot food or water which doesn’t bear thinking about. My John says that half the country’s population now live in cities and our way of life probably won’t exist for much longer. I wonder if he’s right.”

Notice the witch ball in the window?

Traditionally, but not always, they were blue or green in colour and made from glass, but some were made from other materials. They were hung in cottage windows in England during the 17th and 18th century to ward off witches, spells and evil spirits.

There were several theories behind them. Some thought that the witch balls diverted the evil eye, others believed that the bright colours would entice evil energies which were then trapped inside. Others thought that the balls prevented witches from entering the room because witches did not have a reflection or could not bear seeing their own.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Witches' Homes