While researching for my MA folklore dissertation on female folkloric creatures, and simultaneously diving into the study material for my specialised coaching major on female life transitions, I’ve come across a lot lately that’s made me examine and question the traditional division of women’s lives into the three phases of maiden, mother and crone. Sara…
Category: Paganism
The Way of the Sacred Celebrant
It’s not often that you gain a whole new family within the space of a week… …But that’s exactly what happened this September at ‘Celebrant’s bootcamp’, otherwise known as the Sacred Celebrants Academy training in Glastonbury. I had chosen to attend this course for continuing professional development – I’d run rituals and ceremonies for many…
Lughnasadh and Gratitude in Difficult Times
Though it seems like the Summer Solstice was only moments ago, the time of Lughnasadh, the first harvest, is nearly upon us. This is a time of abundance and hope, the earth is ripening under the caress of the sun and the grain harvest is beginning. Above all it is a time for gratitude. Gratitude…
A Partnership for the Earth…
Exciting times here at Earth Spirals! I’m really excited to share with you that we are now part of the SoulTrees Partnership program, and 10% of all profits from Earth Spirals will go to TreeSisters, helping to fund their amazing work reforesting the tropics, empowering local women and giving back to the Earth. “We are…
Discovering Brides Mound – People and Place
In the last post we looked at the many legends surrounding Brides Mound in Glastonbury. Now I’d like to look at how people interact with this special place. How do people celebrate the land, and connect to the living mythical landscape? How do the enduring legends contribute to the sense of the land as sacred,…
Marking the Thresholds
Coming of age rituals in many forms have been celebrated by people the world over since ancient times, though in our increasingly secular society they seem to have gradually received less attention. I’ve written before here about my belief that humans have a need for ritual and story in our lives, to build connection with…
Light the Bel-Fires!
Wishing you all a merry Beltane, feel the sap rising within you ready to burst forth in renewed creativity and passion! Brighid of the Flames She rises from the flames as the hypnotic drums beat their passion into the night Born of the Bel-fire, emergent yet ancient Women’s wisdom of a thousand generations calling Her…
Brighid – A Celtic Artemis?
As Imbolc beckons, Pagans everywhere prepare to celebrate the Goddess Brighid and the quickening of life in the womb of the earth. As a newly initiated Priestess of Brighid, and fizzing with the creativity she inspires, I thought I would share some thoughts about her that I’ve been mulling over for some time. Brighid is…
Almost a Priestess…
This weekend was the last training weekend of our two year journey to become Priestesses of Brighid. It’s gone so fast and yet as I sat in circle with my sisters for the last time before our initiation weekend in January, I was realising how much we’ve all changed, and how far we’ve come. I…
Finding The Flow of Awen
What is the awen? To cut a very complex story recklessly short, it is sometimes translated as ‘the flowing spirit’. Awen is a Celtic or Druidic term for that mystical quality of inspiration, be it poetic, magickal or artistic. The Druidic awen symbol features three rays, which are sometimes considered to be rays of light,…
Earth Spirals 