Ancestral Marriage Support

I met (and married) my husband in October, and as we move into the darker, colder months I like to call upon my ancestors for their love, support and guidance to watch over and protect the union that is my marriage.

Dorothy Kate

Beatrice Winifred

Ethel May

Clarence Alfred

Derek Lyle

Kenneth Stanley

They always feel very close to me around this time, and a little bit of anniversary love and support goes a long way.

In this picture you can see my handfasting cords (we handfasted a few years before we married) and a picture of my maternal grandparents.

On Samhain night I usually connect with my grandmother, Dorothy Kate. She was a woman to be reckoned with, and I can always rely on her to give me the best advice - and she’ll always give it to me straight. I also feel like my husband’s parents are around at this time of year - it’s nice to know that we are being watched over and cared for. 

NEXT - Samhain: 4 Types of Ancestor 

NEXT - Samhain: A Celebration Supper 

NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Yule - Midwinter

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 

Simple Magick: 9 Uses for Grave & Graveyard Dirt

Grave dirt, or graveyard dirt, is sometimes used in Witchcraft. It is considered that there is a strong magickal connection between a deceased person and the dirt from their grave. It can be used in spells relating to family matters, love, healing and grief; or it may be that dirt from the burial of a wicked person may be used in malevolent magick. Either way, graveyard dirt is used by many witches.

Amongst other things, grave dirt is used for:

• Samhain rituals
• Protection spells
• Communicating with spirits
• Altar item during mourning
• Banishing
• Habit-breaking spells
• Curses
• Ancestor Connection and veneration
• Summoning spirits

Taking and using grave dirt is a highly contentious issue. Many people find it disrespectful to take land from those who are trying to rest; however a work-around could be not taking it from specific graves. The dirt I have gathered is the dirt removed from grave digging - not all of it goes back, and is left in a pile; but it still holds the energy of this land, which for hundreds of years has been used for funerary purposes.

Gathering dirt from the grave of someone you know is usually preferable, and feels much more acceptable than taking from the grave of someone you don’t know; but this, like many other aspects of Witchcraft, is a matter of personal ethics; and not one I should lecture you on.

The character of the person who is buried in the grave may be crucial to your work; it might even be that they would have enjoyed being part of your workings. I suspect my grandmother would have taken a very keen interest in some of my spells!

Of course, it is always thoughtful and fair to leave a gift for the dead in exchange for what you have taken. Flowers, a libation, small coins, pretty stones or some other small offering is appropriate.

Do you use Graveyard Dirt in your practice? What do you think about it?

NEXT - Simple Magick: More Ways To Connect With The Land
NEXT - Simple Magick: Is It A Sign? 
NEXT - Spell: Graveminding Ritual
NEXT - Pagan Holidays: 65 Samhain Magickal Correspondences 

Fabulous Folklore: The Ring Stone at Avebury

This is the Ring Stone found within Avebury Stone Circle. Hundreds of Handfastings have been carried out here over the years, including my own, conducted by the great, late Terry Dobney; the Arch Druid and Keeper of the Stones, my beautiful friend.

Even though it works perfectly as an altar during Handfastings, it is not called the Ring Stone because of these unions. Terry told me that it was originally one of the tall megaliths that formed the circle, and would have had a hole in it, giving it its name. There is also an interesting, albeit sad, story about how it came to be a smaller rock.

Avebury is part of a set of Neolithic and Bronze Age ceremonial sites, and the recumbent Ring Stone had come to be used for pagan wedding and fertility ceremonies until it was smashed by a church minister who was enraged by it. I’m not sure exactly when this is supposed to have happened, but for ten years after the stone was smashed there were no babies born to newly married couples in the village. Concerned villagers realised that the minister had made a huge mistake in breaking up the rock; and so they collected up as many pieces of the smashed stone as they could find, burying them together. This action brought fertility back to Avebury, and babies were born once again.

When my husband and I were Handfasted by Terry we were given a choice - be Handfasted for a year and a day, using this time as a trial period, with the opportunity to repeat the process as many times as we wished; or pledge a lifetime commitment, which is exactly what we did.

You can see a picture of us being Handfasted by Terry at the Ring Stone a bit further down my Instagram page.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Stonehenge

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Red Lion Pub

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Silbury Hill

NEXT - My Dear Terry: Until We Meet Again

NEXT - Farewell: Rest In Peace Terry Dobney, Archdruid of Avebury

Fabulous Folklore: Gravestone Symbolism

Many gravestones have symbols and images on them, some common, some uncommon,  with scholars still debating the various meanings and interpretations of them.

Here are ten gravestone symbols and their suggested meanings:

• Angels - Messengers between God and man

• Bat wings - Death, misfortune

• Bone - Death

• Candle - Life

• Heart - Romantic love

• Key - Knowledge, entrance to Heaven

• Lamp - Knowledge, spiritual immortality

• Oak leaf - Strength, stability, endurance

• Phoenix - Resurrection

• Winged Death’s Head - Mortal remains of the deceased

Next time you visit a cemetery or graveyard take notice of all the symbols you see - I’d love to  hear what you’ve seen.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Haunted Houses 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Door Knockers

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Blackberry

Turning the Wheel ~ Samhain is Coming…

It’s a strange time. There is a palpable change to the energy of the world. Our thoughts are turning inward, becoming more reflective. We are ending the old year and getting ready to start anew.

The Full Moon in Aries brought with it vivid dreams and nightmares, as is always the way for me. My dreams have now shifted into dreams of my ancestors, the list of those walking before me growing ever longer. I am connecting with them in my dreams - my grandparents clear as day, the night before last. Their voices, their mannerisms, their smiles; so easy to recall. Easier than when I try now.

It’s not just spending time with loved ones passed over, it’s messages, insights, small moments of knowing.

The air feels heavy, expectant.

I feel compelled to tidy, to clean, to organise. To prepare for winter, so that I may rest. So that I can concentrate on nothing else but staying warm in this freezing house. I feel compelled to let go of the things that no longer serve me, and to spend some time thinking about the changes I need to make.

How are you doing in the run up to Samhain?

NEXT - Customs & Traditions: Samhain 

NEXT - Samhain: 4 Types of Ancestor 

NEXT - Samhain: A Celebration Supper

Fabulous Folklore: Wing Maze

This is the “Maze” (actually a unicursal labyrinth) at Wing, which is about five miles from my home. It is one of only eight remaining turf-cut labyrinths in the U.K. It is about 40ft (12m) in diameter.

The information on the board makes a lot of Wing’s Viking name, and it has been suggested by some sources that the maze is over 2500 years old, but it is most likely to be Medieval.

I’ve been looking at some old local history books and it has been suggested that there were labyrinths at nearby Liddington and Holt; though not much is written about them, and their secrets have been lost to time.

It is thought that people would recite prayers as they walked them, or shuffled along on their knees; and that they provided some sort of meditative purpose.

There is a local legend (referred to in 1843) that says a roosting cuckoo would be penned in the maze, in a symbolic attempt to “keep spring eternal”, however I can’t help but laugh at the idea of it simply flying off each time this rite was attempted.

It has also been suggested that it was used as a “walk of shame” inflicted by the church onto wrongdoers; and I wonder if this is at the root of some Christians disapproving of labyrinths, considering them “pagan” or “new age”.

Apparently they were once common in England, Denmark and Germany, and similar labyrinths were found in other parts of Northern Europe, but these were formed by placing stones rather than cutting turf.

There is a lot of rich history in this area. The folklore and customs of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire overlap, as they all border Rutland (which is tiny!), and there’s an abundance of holy wells, hill forts, barrows, mazes, sacred stones and even caves here. I look forward to reading (and sharing) more about them. One thing is for certain: when trying to learn about my ancestors the information I find only just scratches the surface, and leaves me wanting more.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Leicestershire & Rutland Leechcraft

Simple Magick: Our House Guardians

This is Copernicus. He is one of the six stone heads that are mounted on the exterior of our home, who I refer to as our House Guardians. (You can see the others on my “Welcome to our Cemetery Lodge - Part Two” Reel).

Copernicus is named after Nicolaus Copernicus, the Renaissance-era mathematician, astronomer and Catholic clergyman, who formulated the idea that the Sun was at the centre of the universe, rather than Earth (a Greek astronomer had actually come up with the same idea some eighteen centuries earlier).

He has been here since the house was built in 1860, “outliving” any of the humans that have stayed here, looking down on us as we enter and depart the building.

I feel the House Guardians - but especially Copernicus, who resides at the back of the house - watch over our home and keep us safe. Whenever we leave the house I petition Copernicus to look after our home, and when we return I thank him. I believe he helps me connect with the genius loci of our home.

We always intended to name the other Guardians, but so far they haven’t come forward with names. Although I don’t feel spirit in those as strongly, they definitely work alongside Copernicus to help keep us safe.

Do you have an animist view? Does the spirit of something other than an animal or human keep you safe? If so what is it? And do you think that modern homes are less protected by spirits than older ones? I’d love to hear your views.

NEXT - Simple Magick: Liminal Spaces 

Spell: Graveminding Ritual

A graveminding ritual is one that anyone can undertake, regardless of spirituality or religion. It is purely about connecting in with, and venerating, the dead, and holding space for them.

Graves are often left unattended and unvisited for long periods of time, so caught up are we in the busy hamster-wheel of life, so Samhain is the perfect time to carry out this special visit.

For this ceremony you will need:

Gardening and cleaning equipment; a water bottle spray, gentle soap, and a cloth

Flowers/floral tributes

Candle

Cakes, cookies, or biscuits

On your way to the cemetery bring your beloved dead in to your mind, and think about the time you shared together, or the role they played within your life. Recall memories you have of them, and picture them in your mind’s eye if at all possible.

When you arrive at the grave spend time cleaning it and clearing away any dead grass or foliage. When you are ready, leave your tributes, saying a few words if you wish. If there are others with you allow them to do the same.

Light the candle, and imagine that your connection with them is represented by the flickering flame. Appreciate that their memory will always burn in you.

Stay here for some time in quiet meditation and contemplation. Partake in food and drink and if there are others with you you may wish to share stories, poems, readings, or songs. Say these words:

As the veils of Samhain fall, 

Sense this light, hear my call,

Blessed dead in earthly tomb, 

Your memory in me abloom.

You may wish to spend the whole day undertaking this pilgrimage, and if the grave of your loved one is far away, or it takes a lot of cleaning and clearing up, then it is entirely possible it may do so.

Leave the candle burning if you can, if the cemetery authorities allow it.

Graveminding ritual taken from The Journey into Spirit by Kristoffer Hughes. 

NEXT - Spell: Protective Evening Beauty Ritual
NEXT - Cemetery Stuff: Extracts From Regulations
NEXT - Cemetery Stuff: Memento Mori

Review: The Magic of Marie Laveau by Denise Alvarado

For some, their first introduction to Marie Laveau was via American Horror Story: Coven - her vamped-up character played by the wonderful Angela Bassett. But there was a lot more to this incredible woman than her on-screen portrayal showed. She was extremely committed to the people of her community; she helped the sick and the poor, she visited people in prison, and she attended court cases to help others, amongst many other acts of charitable kindness.

The Magic of Marie Laveau: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans is an amazing book by Denise Alvarado, and only a few pages in I was ready to pack my bag for New Orleans, to go pay my respects to this amazing woman.

Head over to the Witch With Me Blog (www.witchwithme.com) to read my @witch.with.books review if you want to read it there and check out other brilliant reviews; this is definitely one you don’t want to miss.

About the Author Denise Alvarado (1960) was born and raised in the rich Creole culture of New Orleans, Louisiana. She has studied indigenous healing traditions from a personal and academic perspective for over four decades. She is the author of numerous books about Southern folk traditions, including The Conjurer’s Guide to St. Expedite, The Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook, The Voodoo Doll Spellbook, Voodoo Dolls in Magick and Ritual, and more. Her provocative artwork has been featured on several television shows including National Geographic’s Taboo, The Originals, and Blue Bloods. She is a rootworker in the Louisiana folk magic tradition, a spiritual artist, and a teacher of Southern Conjure at Crossroads University. Visit her at www.creolemoon.com.

About The Magic of Marie Laveau: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans
As a cultural anthropologist and Louisiana folk-magic rootworker, Alvarado is more than qualified to take us on Marie Laveau’s journey, and jumps straight into her history with a vivid introduction. She immediately delves into Laveau’s prowess and personality, and even throws in a ghost story for good measure. She assures us that if Laveau were here today, she would be at the forefront of the #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter movements, and from what I read about this amazing woman in just the introduction alone, I can only nod my head in agreement. Only a few pages in, I was gripped and totally fascinated; ready to book my flight to New Orleans to pay my respects at Marie Laveau’s gravesite.

“Stories abound about her magickal prowess, freeing men from the gallows and healing the sick from the brink of death.” -The Magic of Marie Laveau: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans

This book examines in great detail the history of the time; slavery, the cultural climate, and the social environment that Laveau was born in to. We learn about her magical, spiritual, and religious background, and Alvarado covers Laveau’s familial history and makes some beautiful and just observations in regards to the tragic intergenerational trauma that Laveau and her family must have suffered as a result of the slave trade. Despite the many unconfirmed allegations that littered the press about Laveau during her day, Alvarado debunks several myths; including her place of birth and age at death, helping the reader to get to the heart of who Marie Laveau really was. We hear about Marie’s spiritual court and the deities and spirits within this, and the syncretism in New Orleans Voudou as a result of the Louisiana Black Code. As if that weren’t enough, we learn about modern-day Laveau devotees, and the practical aspects of this craft; such as how to set up a devotional altar, how to petition Marie Laveau, and how to walk the path. Later, in the third part of the book, we are treated to categories of Conjure in the Laveau Voudou Tradition, and given spells, rituals, prayers, and gris gris.

The Book’s Strengths The most illuminating thing about this book is the huge amount of history and knowledge that has been packed in clearly and concisely; it is absolutely brimming with facts and magickal information. It is clear that the research for this book must have been a huge undertaking for Alvarado; but without knowing the history and social background of the time, one cannot even begin to understand what a magnificent character Laveau was, or appreciate the world she walked in.

Alvarado’s amazing descriptions of her character, and the quotes woven throughout, add a rich vividness to the story; and we come to know Marie intimately as if we have travelled back in time, and are walking beside her. We can’t help but form a picture of her in our minds, and all this is achieved whilst maintaining an easy read - a feat that only the most talented of wordsmiths can achieve.

Alvarado handles many difficult subjects beautifully and sensitively, whilst educating the reader. Despite the unfairness of Laveau being demonised by an unforgiving press as a wild and crazy woman, whilst simultaneously being acknowledged for her piousness and held as a saint for her charitable work, we don’t feel sorry for Laveau. Alvarado ensures that her tenacity and determination are clear for all to see. 

What You Can Learn... Insights into Laveau’s character include her industrious and hardworking nature; and even though she was often passed off as a con-woman rather than cunning, we learn that she had a large, warm, and intensely generous heart, who would always go the extra mile for others. She lived by the Catholic principle of living life compassionately in service to her community, and after reading this book it is clear that one does not have to be Catholic, a Voudou initiate, or even a devotee of Marie Laveau, to honour her, and find immense respect for her.  

Through the words in this book, Laveau teaches us that daily practice is imperative to building your magickal practice, and that compassion for your human counterparts is the way forward. Whilst there are many books written on her life and legend, very few books except this one focus on her magical and spiritual legacy; which the author concludes lies in her name, and in the ‘unique magicospiritual tradition’ that defines Louisiana today. Alvarado has worked tirelessly to separate fact from fiction; and consequently she does indeed present Marie Laveau to the world as she should be seen: a Queen.

The Magic of Marie Laveau: Embracing the Spiritual Legacy of the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans may be purchased here. NEXT - Review: Witchology Magazine - Mabon 2022 Issue

Simple Magick: Meet the Ancestors

I met my husband seven years ago today. As we head into the darker months I felt compelled to reach out to my ancestors:

Dorothy Kate

Beatrice Winifred

Ethel May

Clarence Alfred

Derek Lyle

Kenneth Stanley

I asked for their love, support, and guidance, and to watch over and protect the union that is my marriage. You can see my hand-fasting cords in front of the picture of my maternal grandparents.

They feel very close to me right now. My thoughts this evening have strayed from them, to the fact that even though I have a wonderful family I always felt like the odd one out. It reminded me of a beautiful passage about ancestors by Bert Hellinger:

“The So-called ‘Black Sheep’ of the family are, in fact, seekers of liberation roads for the family tree. Those members of the tree who do not adapt to the rules or traditions of the family system, those who were constantly seeking to revolutionize beliefs, going in contrast to roads marked by family traditions, those criticized, tried and even rejected, those, by General, they are called to release the tree of repetitive stories that frustrate entire generations.

The ‘Black Sheep’, those who do not adapt, those who scream rebel, repair, detoxify and create a new and blooming branch… countless unfulfilled desires, unfulfilled dreams, frustrated talents of our ancestors manifest themselves in their rebellion looking to take place .

The family tree, by inertia, will want to continue to maintain the castrating and toxic course of its trunk, which makes its task difficult and conflicting… that no one makes you doubt, take care of your ‘rarity’ as the most precious flower of Your Tree.

You are the dream of all your ancestors”

Our ancestors are close, the veil is thinning. Rejoice.

NEXT - Simple Magick: 9 Pink Correspondences For Relationship Magick
NEXT - Samhain: 4 Types of Ancestor

Samhain: 4 Types of Ancestor

As we head into the darker half of the year and the veil between world of Matter and world of Spirit thins, I am being drawn to spend time thinking about, communicating with, and honouring my ancestors.

This is a time where I feel them more strongly; there is a very clear pull from them, and to them. Veneration of one’s ancestors is an ancient practice that is found in cultures all over Earth. By remembering and honouring our ancestors we not only keep their memories and stories alive, but we reestablish the connection of who we are to our own selves.

We often think of ancestors as being those we are related to by birth, but there are several types of ancestor.

Familial Ancestors

These are the ancestors we are related to, share DNA with, or are members of our family due to marriage or choice. They may be recent relatives or individuals from generations back. They may be step family or adoptive family.

Spiritual Ancestors

These are the witches, shamans, and magicians that walked before us. They are past members of our covens, they are gurus, or teachers. They have spiritual significance to your path or tradition in some way. As a Reiki Practitioner I include Mikao Usui, a man who taught Reiki to over 2000 people, as one of my Spiritual Ancestors.

Land-based Ancestors

These are the people who lived in our houses, villages, towns, cities and even countries. The energy of their beliefs, festivals, habits, deeds, trials, and tribulations are imprinted on the land forever.

Animal Ancestors

I’m including animal spirits in my list because we should not forget the animals that walk upon the earth beside us, be them indigenous animals, pets or familiars.

Who do you count amongst your Ancestors? 

NEXT - Samhain: A Celebration Supper 

NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Yule - Midwinter 

NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Imbolc