Opening Day Jitters

Well, we officially open the doors tomorrow for the School - and I'm more than a little nervous, this all started as a conversation in Starbucks between two close friends - and has blossomed into a wonderful school that I think / know will do really well .....

And do you know what - this school has actually followed the Wheel of the Year - we had the discussion before Imbolc (sowed the seeds), the lessons were deadlined for Ostara (budding / blooming) and now we are welcoming the Students creativity and lust for knowledge (Beltane) .....

I have to say tho - I haven't really thought about Beltane this year - what with one thing or another - but - I will celebrate tomorrow I just haven't set up an Altar but sometimes life does get in the way and we have to 'roll with it'

On Saturday we will be having our 'meet and greet' and I'm really looking forward to meeting new people and expanding my knowledge as I grow along with the new friends I am going to meet!

Blessings

Raven x x

Glastonbury, Crystals and Family

Yesterday, I was naughty I took a day off from the merry-go-round that is my life and took my family to Glastonbury for some crystals....

My two daughters, grandchild, hubby and I headed off in the car and drove through the rain to Glastonbury - my eldest daughter is just starting her journey and is full of questions ......... certainly made the journey go quicker :)

I am now the proud owner of Shaman Quartz.......it is a powerful journeying stone amongst other qualites - and when I look into the stone I can feel myself falling and taking a wonderful journey - I'm really looking forward to working with this Crystal.

I also got:

Amber
Ruby
Quantum Quattro
Sacred Seven

My daughter got Selenite to help her to calm down and to help with her IBS.

I also got (yes I know ....... spendthrift or what!!) a Salt tealight holder and a Salt Lamp

The one that I've got has a split in it (naturally occurred I didn't break it!!!) so I'm really looking forward to lighting that and seeing how the split works with the light - last night I put a tea light in the holder and the energy in the room feels so different today.........

Hubby has a cold coming (Glasto effect) and so today we are back to normal with the food shopping and housework - but I have to say that I had a magickal day yesterday - spent doing very little but with my wonderful family around me - yes they are wonderful - I just don't tell them often enough!

Have a great day - whatever you choose to do!

love

Raven x x x

I is for ........ Intuition

It's that time again - the PBP and this week we start our letter I ......... I thought I had pretty much decided what I was going to write about Intolerance and Injustice - but I'm not feeling it today - so that left me with Intuition ............

If I had to label myself then I would label myself an Intuitive Witch - if it feels right I do it .... I don't seem to follow the mainstream on a lot of things but when I look up what I do - well, seems I'm pretty much covered with ancestors that have walked before me. 

That's great 99% of the time - but every now and then I will hit a boulder and have an almighty wobble - because intuition is extremely hard to validate!

Let me clarify, if I was to 'get the feeling' that you weren't at your brightest and best and I rang you up and said "hey how you doing (ala Joey from friends) and you replied "Fantastic, how are you?"

You see, in that instance....  well I'd say I was 'off' and that my intuition is about someone else or something...... however, later that day you become very upset and miserable and feel very down but you say nothing to me - well, my intuition was right on the money .......... but unvalidated!

You see, the Universe doesn't wear a watch and seldom does the intuition hit at exactly the right moment - which is why you hear so many Empath's and intuitive people saying ....I've got this feeling, something I just can't put my finger on!

However, when it is validated - whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhooooooooooweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee what a rush!

Rune Draw ....... 25th April

Fehu ~ Possessions, Nourishment

Wealth can be yours ............... if you are willing to work at it - but remember, money doesn't buy happiness so be careful that you aren't lusting after wealth to the detriment of your well-being!  Enjoy your good fortune and remember to share it ........!

Rune Draw ...... 24 April

Laguz ~ Flow, Water (Reversed)

 Laguz is all about the emotions and the flow of those emotions - getting Laguz in reverse reminds you that you can't push water uphill - so relax, chill and go with the flow!!!

Weekend weirdness

I have had the strangest weekend - Saturday morning went to WW and it was a very tough, mentally exhausting time - it was hard to go back - not only because we (hubby comes with me) haven't been tracking and I knew I'd put on - but .. every Saturday after WW I would pick up the phone, ring Mum and ask her if she wanted anything in town and share with her the 'scores on the doors' - she would then cheer or commiserate and then we would discuss the 'games' night! I'll admit to a tear or two when we left

Then, we went to the train station to pick up my cousin and his daughter - he lives in London and we normally only see him at Births, Deaths or marriages but we have all decided that we need to build some memories for our children as when WE were children we spent a lot of time together! Then we met up with my other cousin and my daughter and the grandchildren - so much noise - but so much fun!

I was in bed by 10.30pm and slept til about 1.00am and then I was awake on and off all night - so had a bit of lazy Sunday morning - watched the marathon in bed and was going to spend a day chilling and relaxing - and then I got a message that the WHS (White Hat Society) on FB was to close down.  Unfortunately, this doesn't surprise me, it saddens me immensely but doesn't surprise me -  it looks as if people were sending negative emails and PMs to Jasemine if she 'enforced' the rules - Jasemine is an Empath and I just know how much she would struggle with that much negativity .... However, I would like to say how much I appreciated the group while it existed - seems like, yet again, a few 'bad' apples can turn a whole barrel sour....

So, it's been an up and down kinda weekend and so, as April turns to May I look back on the month with sadness as I said goodbye to my Mum and several other special friendships and with excitement as the Kitchen Witch School sets to open it's doors and with love for all my family and friends - someone told me 2012 was going to be a big year .......... how right they were and we are not even halfway through!

H is for Healing

I really didn't think I would be able to do another H post - especially as the previous one got no reaction at all - maybe I hit a nerve I don't know - perhaps I should have done H for Honesty.  But as I'm sat here I'm thinking of H is for healing and I'm actually thinking of one particular aspect of healing.............

Tears


I'm a Brit - and I've often pondered the reasoning for the Stiff Upper Lip - don't cry, don't show emotion, be stoic - why???

Tears are healing, they allow the sadness, desperation, grief, anger to flow down your face without any effort on your part - ok, admittedly you end up with a headache, puffy eyes and runny nose - but even the runny nose is cleansing!.... I've yet to meet anyone that looks good crying!

Think of all the times you've cried, when  you were a child you cried and someone would come to wipe your tears away and give you a cuddle and tell you that everything would be ok .......... yeah, I know we soon grow out of that and then we 'pretend' that it doesn't hurt, we 'pretend' that we are ok and that we can deal with all the brown, smelly stuff that gets thrown our way!

Tears are a way of showing you hurt, you don't have to bleed to hurt, you don't have to have scars or injuries, emotionally we are all a walking mass of bruises, scars and cut arteries so how can you show that - cry!

Let the water flow and when you do let the tears take any negativity, self loathing, anger and grief away - wipe it on a tissue and toss it down the loo!

H is for ............ Hypocrites...

I know harsh or what ........... but it's something that has been brought to my attention more than a few times this week.  So, what is the definition of a hypocrite........

hyp·o·crite

 [hip-uh-krit] 

noun

1.

a person who pretends to have virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that he or she does not actually possess, especially a person whose actions belie stated beliefs.

2.

a person who feigns some desirable or publicly approved attitude, especially one whose private life, opinions, or statements belie his or her public statements.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/hypocrite

I think I've talked about it before, people who 'talk the talk' but don't 'walk the walk' .. we are Pagan's we have the freedom to study from all walks of life,  we can be as Eclectic as our Path guides us to be - and we celebrate that, we love that and  we discuss how other religions don't allow that sort of freedom, we talk about the rules that they have and how it's not so much a case of Thy Will Be Done and Thy Will Be Don't and then some small minority amongst us try our hardest to make sure that anyone who says they are Pagan follows their way of practicing the Craft, no discussion  - it's a do it my way or you are WRONG mentality!

Don't get me wrong - I have no problem with anyone telling me that they have an alternative way of casting a circle, or chanting a spell, or mixing that potion and I am ALL about the learning .... what gets my goat is people laying down the law to me especially when they have no experience to back it up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Several times recently in the various groups I belong to I have witnessed people being made to look foolish by 'longtimers' and it's made me angry.  Nothing gives anyone the right to 'diss' anyone's way of doing things - so they may walk the circle with one trouser leg up and one down - so what!!!???  They may want to paint the candles with glitter and sprinkle bird seed in their ritual bath ...... SO WHAT! 

It's not your way, or my way and what gives us the right to judge - we don't want to be told how to practice our Craft, if we did (then forgive me, but) wouldn't we be following a more mainstream religion????

Before, anyone starts yelling - yes I know there are new Witches and Pagans that are just as pompous, overbearing and RIGHT as longtimers - but I like to think that they will, as they work with Perfect Love and Perfect Trust, see that we can not judge anyone else for being right or wrong! 

I really fail to see how this small minority can walk this Path and yet still fail to see the irony of how demanding they are that they follow the only 'true and right' way to practice the Craft!

 In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust 

Raven x x x

Image courtesy of google search - no author given

Rune Draw ..... 19th April

Kano ~ Opening, Fire, Torch

This Rune shows that while you have been operating in the dark, the person you have been operating on is YOU....you will have more clarity, more understanding and more insight into your own nature and that in turn will open you up to more light and more positive outcomes.

Rune Draw ... 17th April

Wunjo ~ Joy, Light

Yayyy, fly the flags, put out the bunting, it's time to celebrate - every cloud has a silver lining and you are coming out of the dark and into the light.

Rune Draw .... 16th April

Jera ~ Harvest, Fertile Season, One Year

This is the Rune of beneficial outcomes - it is the Rune of reaping what you have sown after waiting patiently for the cycle to complete ...... but you will have to wait - this is not the Rune of quick fixes - all good things come to those that wait!

H is for ...... Help!

One thing I have learnt on this path I follow - is that I am really, really bad at asking for Help when I need it.  It is assumed that as we are Witches, Light workers, Healers etc - that we have the ability to solve every problem or situation that comes our way!

Why are we so bad at asking for help?? Why, do we never ask for that helping hand??

Unfortunately, I don't know the answers to my own questions, I would hazard a guess that it's due to shyness, not wanting to be an impositition or any number of inhibitions that will play their part to hinder us!

However, having been through a tough time of it lately and having relied on some extremely wonderful people both blood and non blood family to help me through it - then all I can say is ASK - never be too proud to ask for help - there is ALWAYS someone there waiting to guide you and advise you and to love you ..... even if it's just an ear to listen to you!

And, never underestimate the power of Meditiaton and prayer - I know many think prayer is a christian concept but I pray to the Goddess all the time and I know that She listens to me!

Know you are loved!

Raven x x x

Rune Draw ...... 14th April

*Apologies for the break in the draws but ............. *

Laguz ~ Flow, Water, That Which Conducts

This is an emotional Rune and is all about the ebb and flow of those emotions - unseen forces are at work and well, you can't push water uphill - so don't try - just go with the flow and let it all wash over you!

In Memory of my Mum

*shields up*


I feel so lost and oh so alone

This house is no longer a home

The heart of us has been ripped out

My mum has gone, she's not about


Tho I try to be brave and face each day

It's to you that my thoughts will stray

How I wasn't there at the end

And never told you, you were my friend


You died in Dad's arms, where you'd want to be

Is it selfish that it's my arms I want you now to be

When they came to take you away

I wanted to beg them to let you stay


You were my strength, my rock, my guidance too

I am so very lost and scared and don't know what to do

Dad is relying on me to be there and be strong

Mum I want you home where you belong!


I'll take each day, I'll live and breathe and cry

I'll see you in the twinkle in Jessica's eye

I'll see your face when I go to sleep

And I'll try to smile and no longer weep


Mum, if there was ever any doubt

Let me say it now, let me shout

I love'd you more than words can say

And together we'll be, just not today


love you mum x

G is for ...... Grand Openings

I have to be honest and say that I've really struggled with my G post for the Pagan Blog Project - I've had the idea to write about grief given recent events - but the recent events are still to raw for me to want to share with everyone!

So, as this is very much a big part of my life right now - I thought I would re-advertise the Grand Opening of the school that I am involved with.

COMING SOON!! Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchery Lessons in natural witchcraft written by a team of experienced witches who have backgrounds in Kitchen Witchery, Green Witchery, Wicca, Druidry, Hedge Witchery, Traditional Witchcraft and Hoodoo. Each lesson is taken at your own pace, in your own time and marked personally by a member of our Leadership Team, who are always on hand to help, support and answer any queries. Also included are separate classes on a variety of subjects such as tarot and runes we will also host online rituals, chats and study classes, together with an online journal for documenting your journey. Our leadership team: Tansy Firedragon Sunchylde Tintagel Moon Raven Willow Rune Skylark Spiritsinger Aurora Moongazer More details will be released soon! The school will be hosted here within our online forum www.kitchenwitchhearth.com

Rune Draw ..... 8th April

Nauthiz ~ Constraint, Necessity, Pain

If you look at this Rune you will see that the horizontal line crosses the vertical line at the top - and this is the Rune of obstacles, of things being in the way, this is the Rune that says we have work to do on ourselves before we can move forward ........ but move forward we will as the obstacle is at the beginning and not at the end of the project!

I thinks I must be a Witch!

30th March I wrote this ................. makes sense now ..... yes???? 

Ick what a poo night - had a rune in my head all night and I just couldn't shake it - well I say A rune - I had the image of Perth in my head - but I insisted in my dream/wake state that it was Eihwaz



Perth - Initiation, Something Hidden, A Secret Matter

This is a rune of fundamental change at the deepest level - nothing but a complete renewal of spirit is required - this Rune is the rune of the Phoenix and the mystery of how this bird rises from the ashes - symbolising a death - nothing external matters here - let go of everything no exceptions!



Eihwaz ~ Defence, Avertive Powers, Yew Tree

Patience is the counsel of Eihwaz - if there is an obstacle in your way then you are reminded that even a delay may prove beneficial. This rune indicates the difficulties that arise at the beginning of a new life - baby steps!

And the card I drew today:

Coming to Life .... Something beautiful is being born in your life

When you look back on your life, can you see how you have grown and evolved over time? Perhaps you have 'shed' skins and identities and created new ones, or at the very least matured in your ideas about yourself and the world you inhabit. You know things take time and Spirit's timetable is rarely in sync with your own.

This card indicates that a long-held dream is beginning to show signs of life you must try not to coax it along, or shape it according to your desires. Spirit knows the best form for the manifestation of this dream, and your life can become even better than you could possibly imagine. Now is the time for reverence and awe. Allow the contours of your Path to be carved by the hands of the Divine. All you have to do is show up!

Rune Draw ...... 4th April

Perth ~ Initiation, Something Hidden, A Secret Matter

This is a rune of fundamental change at the deepest level - nothing but a complete renewal of spirit is required - this Rune is the rune of the Phoenix and the mystery of how this bird rises from the ashes - symbolising a death - nothing external matters here - let go of everything no exceptions!

And it's goodbye from da bunni...

I have been gifted a new craft name and so I've changed the blog title and 'stuff' - but if you follow me then let me explain what has prompted the changes and why nothing has really changed ....

Last week I had the worse week ever, I had a death in the family and it prompted a lot of thinking.  I have grown a lot since I started this Path formally.  As I've grown I have changed and evolved and when I look back I realise I am not the person I was two years ago........

So, I asked my guides and Raven Willow Rune was gifted to me ........ I must say I feel very grown up with a new name.

Bunni will always be part of me and I will be forever grateful for all that She has given me, but now like a favourite blankie from when I was a child I will put her away and remember her with fondness and affection (and no doubt when the urge arrives the bunni will put in an appearance!!!)

I will also keep her picture up in the corner to remember where I came from!


However, as I said at the start - nothing has really changed as I will still be doing my Rune draws and various blogs :)

love and blessings to all

Raven x x x

Rune Draw ...... 3rd April

Hagalaz ~ Disruption, Elemental Power, Hail 

Hagalaz has no reverse meaning and is the Rune of disruption ..... but also of change, freedom and invention - when you draw Hagalaz there is a need to break free from your current way of thinking. 

Time for a change?????

Well, its come to my attention that my 'personna' Bunni has slowly become a bit defunct - I have matured as a woman and as a Witch and no longer need to 'hide' behind the far more outgoing and confident screen name - I AM that outgoing and I AM that confident.

So, how to change a name that has meant so much to me (and to others) without disrespecting that name - I'd like to find a way to honour Bunni and maybe incorporate it into a new name.....

Hmmmm - thoughts from a Warren indeed ........