Good dogs do not always wear white.

Dogs are a symbol of guidance, protection, loyalty, faithfulness, devotion, trust. Dogs are often seen as the messengers between this world and the next one. The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and Celtic all saw dogs as the guardians of the underworld. This is why dogs are often associated with death and often are guides on astral plane journeys. Anubis is the classic example of this easing the transition from your life to the afterlife. Anubis is a jackal headed God and therefore has the sensory perception of a dog. This also means that the next life contains for us security and protection. Dog are also sacred to Hecate, a Greek-Roman overseer of all, but most importantly those misunderstood.

Death

Every time I glance into the mirror, Death is there.
Every time I am sad and melodic, Death is there.
Death is coming quicker than the Valkyries.
I wish you were here and Death will go away.
Every time I am playing with friends, Death is there.
Every time I see the humming birds, Death is there.
Death rises like the sleeping Sun.
Stay with me always and Death will go away.
Every time I remember to fly, Death is there.
Every time I see the phenomenon of beauty, Death is there.
Death is somewhere out in Neverland.
If you catch me as I fall and Death will go away.
Every time I feel like an alien, Death is there.
Every time I walk the crimson forest, Death is there.
Death is the weight of the world on my shoulders.
Found with you and Death will go away.
Every time it is the season of the rain, Death is there.
Every time I commune with the dark mother, Death is there.
Death flies like a beautifully gothic butterfly.
If you long for me and Death will go away.
Every time I breathe fire, Death is there.
Every time I am torn between good and evil, Death is there.
Death wants me with a throbbing blood thirst.
Make me your mistress and Death will go away.
Every time I hide in my tree house, Death is there.
Every time I call to Mother Nature, Death is there.
Death stalks me waiting for the holocaust.
Hide me from the sun and Death will go away.
Every time I silently suffocate, Death is there.
Every time I become the girl or beast, Death is there.
Death remains behind the Convent.
If you fix me and Death will go away.
Every time I lose my magic, Death is there.
Every time I am the outcast, Death is there.
Death is better as Santa’s replacement.
Just pinch my bottom and Death will go away.
Every time I am caught longing, Death is there.
Every time I am bathed in a dark glow, Death is there.
Death flows like a blood river.
Let me be your forgotten muse and Death will go away.
Every time I listen to the darkness inside, Death is there.
Every time I play the mad scientist, Death is there.
Death is on more than a solitary journey.
If we shared a magic moment and Death will go away.
Every time that a day is like Halloween, Death is there.
Every time I act like the grand conjurer, Death is there.
Death has shattered and broken my porcelain heart.
If we have many sons and Death will go away.
Every time that I am lost, Death is there.
Every time that I am drunk on absinthe, Death is there.
Death is not amongst the calm of the forest.
Miss me love and Death will go away.
Every time I walk on air, Death is there.
Every time I tattoo my body, Death is there.
Death is amongst the sanctuary of shadows.
Collapse into me and Death will go away.
Every time I see the beauty from other world, Death is there.
Every time I journey to the other side, Death is there.
Death plays with me like a cold doll.
Tame this mad girl and Death will go away.
Every time I shine a magical light, Death is there.
Every time I dance on the grave, Death is there.
Death is the king of the frozen hearts.
Turn my life into a fairy tale and Death will go away.
Every time I seek the fellow traveller, Death is there.
Every time I add to my collection, Death is there.
Death is missing me like a dream.
Smile at me and Death will go away.
Every time I taste the blood of apples, Death is there.
Every time I waste waiting, Death is there.
Death is longing for me to give in.
Make more than your samhain witch and Death will go away.
Every time I burn with the passion to be with you.
Every time I ride with white lightning.
Every time I hear the bell tolls.
My love keeps Death at bay and one day you will know.

Deer pressure

Deer (and stags) are a symbol of gentleness, healing, connection to the Earth and the forest, keen scent, grace, swiftness, being alert for any danger, psychic powers, innocence, love, kindness  sensitivity, pride, independence, purification, strength, nobility. The Celts believed that deer were a link to the fairy realm. Both Celts and Native Americans linked deer with herbs, as they always seemed to know where the best herbs could be found. The deer seems to speak of inner treasures within all of us. Does are also seen as having infinite generosity. They seem to radiate kindness. In China the deer is a symbol of good fortune and happiness. The deer is also associated with dawn, the moon and the East. In Greek mythology deer is associated with Artemis. In this sense it is the force of power that can not be subdued. They are part of every culture except Australia. They are also a symbol of regeneration as they shed their antlers every year. As this takes course over five years, these associations of the deer could be a part of your life for those five years. For some the antlers are representative of a spiritual antenna and the deer tells us to be more spiritual aware. Sometimes the deer energy represents that fight or flight mentality.

Hare out of Ostara

Myths have a way of perpetuating themselves and I have never heard this one before, so I am not sure how I feel about the “validity” of it, but I like it anyway. Ostara is the Saxon Goddess of Dawn and is thought to be responsible for returning Spring. One time she comes across a bird that was frozen and dying and so she cradle it in her arms and saved its life. According to legend this bird become her pet or lover (!) but was unable to fly after its close brush with death. She turned the little bird into a snow rabbit and called him Lepus. As a nod to his previous life as a bird, she granted the rabbit the ability to lay eggs but only one day a year. Hence the association with eggs and the Easter bunny.

Let’s make an ostara to remember.

Usually about a month before a a ritual I am planning the next one, whether it is solitary or within a group. This month I am only now coming round to the idea of Ostara, mere days beforehand. It has taken me longer to shake off the winter blues that I suffer with all the time, probably because we are still get snow in March! However, as the planning has not been done by me but by a fellow coven member, this ritual is a very light-hearted approach to the season. I think I will be better for it.

Too much spring cleaning!

This is the time of the year associated with spring cleaning, and that I have been doing it to make my life more bearable, but I think it is about to become spring cleaning into a new start. Money worries have got beyond tight, and I can not see me staying where I am much longer. This may lead to me giving up my identity to return to my parents. This is not something I would like to happen but it may not a be a choice. It is a shame that the voluntary work that I do is not paid, as I really enjoy doing the work, and I love the people there as well. Another unpaid opportunity that is keeping me sane at the moment is becoming a poet in residence for a publishing house, which may become a book after about a year, which in turn could bring me money, although that does not help in the here and now. Everything is up in the air and I do not like it.

Crow Angel

Crows are a symbol of guardian of the place before existence, carrier of souls from darkness into light, working without fear in darkness, guidance while working with shadows, moving freely in the void, understanding all things related to ethics, shape-shifter  secret magic of creation, thief, trickery, boldness, skill, cunning, single-mindedness, a bringer of knowledge, swiftness, eloquence. The crow is associated with life cycles and magick. The crow is seen as a provider of insight. While it is a sign of luck, it is also a trickster and therefore you have to be careful of being deceived. The crow will develop your sight, transform you, and connect you to the magic of life. However, the crow is also seen as a bad omen, death and black magick. It is also seen as the core of creation. Crows are strongly associated with magick, and have the ability to change their appearance. As crows are found all over the globe, it symbolise that magick is everywhere. When you see a crow observe its behaviour it will give you a clue to the magick that inhibits it. Because of the association with magick it is often seen as a totem animal for shamans who use the magick for transformation purposes.

Crab’s new flame

Crabs are a symbol of the ability to escape by moving sidewise, understanding the power of dance, ability to move through water (emotions), male aspects of community, protection of home space, cycles, trust, emotion, protection, regeneration, transformation. As crabs cast off their shells, they are seen as a symbol of rebirth. Having a strong exterior shell means that crabs are a symbol of protection. The crab shows us that not all path are direct and not all meaning are obvious. If you are going somewhere but feel you are not getting there, then the crab shows us how to get there by an unusual path. It also teaches us to survive that we need to be like a warrior and take up the armour, but this armour has always been part of us.

Country Druid

I have just finished reading Ronald Hutton’s book Blood and Mistletoe and this is a very informative book. This is not a book on how to “live like a Druid” but the history of Druids through the eyes of an academic. The history of the Druids is a very difficult subject as there is little evidence for them and thanks to people like Iolo Morganwg, some of the “evidence” is falsified. What I found particularly interesting is the differencing of opinion of each country of the British Isle, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England and Druids. Druids seem to have many faces from philosophers and priests to blood-thirsty and ignorant and the book look at how different times in history saw changes in the perception of Druids. I would recommend this book to both historians and followers of any nature based religion.

Coyote Rain

Coyotes are a symbol of understanding that all things are sacred – yet nothing is sacred, intelligence, ability to laugh at one’s own mistakes, shape-shifting, teaching balance between risk and safety, illuminations, stealth, clowning and humour, wisdom of folly, prankster, insight, playful. Navajo are said to never kill coyote as they believe that they accompanied the first male and female into the physical word.