Our Way to the Well

"We will never,
never lose our way
to the well,
of her memory.
And the power,
of her living flame,
it will rise,
it will rise again!"
- Reclaiming chant

I start this blog post with this chant, having settled a bit with the change of the wheel of the year, as we passed by Imbolc another time round.

Many may forget about Imbolc, as it's not one of "the big ones" like Beltane, Samhain, or Yule... yet for me it holds a very dear place in my heart. 5 years ago, Brighid entered my life when I was first discovering what Witchcraft was really all about, and I participated in a ritual over the radio! What a first experience, and I've not looked back since.

This year I had an opportunity to lead a public ritual, and while we had low census due to the local transit service being on strike, we still had about 25 people who shared in an amazing ritual with me. I was truly honoured to get to lead a ritual that I felt really connected people.

We created sacred space, I invoked Brighid through word and song (SOLO by the way!), we meditated, and then we raised great energy together to put our spells to work, while chanting the song that starts this blog... followed by an amazing potluck feast.

Anyhow, supper is ready, I'll post more about this later.

Blessed Be, and Merry Imbolc,

Nebthet

A New Year, A New Dawn, A New Lifestyle

As I sit here writing, freezing rain and snow mix comes down around me, with temperatures having been well below freezing all week. Winter has arrived and it was heralded in by the arrival of 2012. 


We're 1 week into the new year and already I see so many changes.


With myself, I've completely cut gluten out, due to being diagnosed just before the holidays with a gluten allergy - not intolerance which would just be pesky stomach issues.. a full on allergy - complete with rash, itchiness, and a wheeze that means I have had to start taking my puffer again. It's been a hard and tricky adjustment, to my new lifestyle. However, because I've had to change my diet, I've started shedding the pounds - guess this is how the universe manifested my desire to lose weight and eat more healthy foods. I'm only just coming to that realization now that this is my manifestation... looks like this is my new path :)


FYI, for those who are also struggling with gluten allergy, gluten intolerance, or celiac disease (or even just want to cut wheat out), check out this link. GFG has been a lifesaver (literally!) for me http://glutenfreegirl.com/ 


As well, I've been getting a lot more heavily involved in the community - doing more rituals. I think it'd be amazing to see rituals happen every month in Halifax, so a group I started last year, Halifax Lightworkers, is going to lead a full moon ritual on the Saturday closest to the full moon every month. The first one is tonight, and I am so grateful for my friend SingingGrass leading the ritual in my stead, as I've got another bad rash today. 


2012 is going to be a full year - I'm doing the monthly rituals, the final plans for Imbolc Community Appreciation Night and Imbolc Ritual are coming together, and I am so excited about that event! Getting the chance to say "We notice and appreciate and respect the work you do" is so important. I'll be working on AEGIS again this year, and also am looking at another festival coming to the Maritimes, though that one may be arriving in 2013, depending on how planning goes. Nonetheless, this is a packed year for me in the public realm. 


For my private life, I've got a big wedding to plan, a couple spiritual retreats to attend, and I've gotta kick my ass into high gear on this Shamanism course - That'll be starting in the next week or two, and though I've already completed 3 units of it, I'm going to start right from scratch and dedicate a part of every day to my spiritual enlightenment. I'm tired just writing all of this down! Hah!


Oh and I'm developing my own business... I'll be posting info on that here soon.


Blessed Be,
Nebthet

Merry Yule!

I've been quite lax with my blog lately, and I hope in the new year that will change. I hope to post weekly or biweekly updates, and hope you, my readers, will keep me on track with doing my shamanism course!

Many yuletide blessings to you all, hope you're all celebrating it in high style :)

Blessed Be,
Nebthet

Into the Leaves

Leaves turn golds, reds, and browns, falling down, down, down.

Imagine yourself as one of those leaves, a part of the tree, a part of the whole. Feel the sun touch you, reflect on what you've sown while you fall down, down, down,

to the next part of the cycle.

This past week, the transition to Autumn from Summer, I have been sick as a dog. While I should be working, I'm too sick to go in, and I thank the goddess for having sick time available. I was able to take this time to reflect on my inner balance, and thank the cold for clearing negative junk out of my body.

I think I'm going to take a walk today, out on the trails, and maybe enjoy that bit of solitude.

In the next half of the year, the dark goddess reigns supreme, full of introspection, working with your shadow selves, and confronting your demons. These are the cards for this next time of year:

From Goddess Guidance:
Kali (or Kali-Ma) - The goddess of Endings and Beginnings, we must release the old, clear out negative, so that the new vibes and transitions can enter our lives. Kali is the embodiment of mother nature and cleanses our spirits with her fierce storms and winds of change, making your spiritual ground fertile for new crops to be planted... this next few months will be full of clearning - cleansing and learning - I wish you all peace and blessings on this journey.

From Earth Magic:
Clouds (Shapeshifting) - This energy is exactly what Kali-Ma is all about - shifting into a new vibration, a new path. Our energies are shifting over the next few months, changing us into new beings, changing our auras, as they are cleared and cleansed of negativity.

Throughout this transition, keep your mind and body healthy so that the spiritual transition is easy and gentle. Many spiritual healers have colds right now, clearing the physical gunk out so it's easier. If you have a cold, embrace it, be Present with it, and see what lessons it has to teach you, and know what it's clearing out of you. Thank the gods for clearing that energy out of you, and proceed to keep yourself healthy throughout the next phase as we all transition to a higher vibration.

Many blessings,
Nebthet