Uncanny Moon-Child

(* Spoiler Alert! * This will contain elements of the Introductory and First Gwers of the Bardic Grade.) I began the Bardic Grade with the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids recently and the very first Gwers contains an Initiation ceremony to complete whenever you feel ready. I instantly decided that it wasn’t something I wanted to do until further on in the grade, so moved on and left it. I didn’t really think much about why I’d made this instant decision until I sat down to look at the second Gwers. I felt really frustrated that there seemed to be a block from stopping me from focusing properly to even read the first page. It suddenly dawned on me that there had been a lot of feelings surrounding my decision to leave the ceremony until later and I hadn’t given the proper time to exploring them. There was anxiety; fear in the pit of my stomach, ever-churning. Even as a Witch I’m not big on the full ceremonies and rituals and prefer to do things that are much simpler. It has...

Like many types of journey, my life-journey has sometimes been arduous. I've had to climb the tallest mountains into the clouds, and walked blind through thick fog. I have fallen, and had to walk back on myself when the way ahead was blocked. I have changed direction many times, but had faith that it was the right thing to do. At times the views have been amazing and I've had glimpses of where I'm heading, but mostly the destination is just out of sight, around the next corner. I have questioned my journey a lot, especially since I began to near the age of 30. It seems like I should have my life figured out; I should know where I'm going. Yet, in these last few months of my 20's I know I am more fully myself than ever before. I stand taller. I am more fierce and unapologetic. My roots have begun to reach deep into the belly of the Earth: The Great Goddess supports me. I have begun to find my voice and I'm no longer afraid of who hears it.  Part of w...

Deep inside my heart I have been aware for a long time that something has been missing from my life. Something lacking. Something stopping me from being whole. I suspected what it might be when I started a certificate in counselling skills and was thrown into a close-knit group of women. Interaction was unavoidable and I felt out of my depth. I bonded with some beautiful women as we journeyed together, but in all honestly I knew I was still holding back. Last year just before Samhain I randomly discovered Lisa Listers book 'Witch'. I had never considered Witchcraft as a path to follow, and had reservations about anything claiming the word Feminism. I realise now that I held fear over that word because it meant accepting the feminine in myself and admitting that I deserved to embrace the power I had inside as a woman. I consumed the book within a few days and it ignited something in me that was long forgotten; my feminine energy and power. I had neglected, and even been c...