Cold Tranquility Descends

On winter's nights, so calm, so still,
the Goddess starts to sing,
a voice of warmth against the chill,
that touches mortal wing,
a moon lit beacon, over hill
and valley peace She'll bring.

This tranquil spot amid the stone,
the words of Ancient's call,
on moment passed from maid to crone,
where boulders remain tall,
and blighted frost inspires the tone,
embraced within prayer shawl.

My Goddess sits in skies serene,
amid the night's star light,
ponder Her gaze upon the scene,
Her love where hearts unite,
the gift of peace from heaven's Queen,
as souls on Earth delight.

The Familiar

Theoughout history the familiar has been a vital member of various cultures and traditions. In Roman times a familiar kept the family from harm, shamanic cultures have long honoured and respected the spirits of the animal world for wisdon and assistance in ritual and magic. Yet even today most people will immediately conjure up the image of an ugly evil witch and her fearsome cat. This stereotype is straight from the pages of fairy stories and has its basis in the superstition and prejudicial practices of the Dark Ages, it bears little or nor ressemblence to the modern witch's familiar. A witch's familiar can be his or her closest companion, offering moral support, special knowledge, and/or physical healing. Witches may seek a familiar through meditation or divination, but most do not believe that familiars can be summoned, contrary to traditional Western legend regarding witches and black magic.

I see the Familiar as a gift of grace from the Goddess, which offers hope, tranquility, inspiration and confidence to  me as I make my Pagan path. My Goddess called my Familiar back as is her wisdom, maybe it means it's time I walked my path and she believes I can. I sure do not believe she has left me alone, although it felt like it for a few days. Crowe was/is still with me in my heart and I can feel that reassurance.
I will however miss his companionship and devotion but perhaps that too is forever with me.

With thanks to Jeff Green for the following poem:


Once you were Jem adopting feline form
You walked where she could never hope to tred
And heard each word that she had never said
Familiar with magic to perform

Your eyes were deep yet always soft and warm
You rode your mistress like a motor bike
So different you two were yet alike
Familiar with magic to perform

Without her Crowe can Jem outrace the storm
What can she do now she must search alone
For you are now a spirit in the stone
Familiar with magic to perform

Gathering Stones

StoneWall by Andrew Wyeth

Poem: Stone Gatherers by Marie Marshall

From the ancient standing stones to the stones used in construction today man has always made use of the rocks around his location. For as long as I can remember I have found the ancient stones fascinating. From Avebury and Stonehenge to the Inca temples, from castle ruins to Hadrian's wall they all pull me in. I do not know why most of them exist yet they call to me. Where they exist people would gather for whatever reason and we still do. Is it the voice of the Ancient's wisdom that resonates to my Pagan heart or the stones themselves, I know not. I strongly believe if I need to know somehow I will find out and somethings are beyond my understanding for a reason.

Having said that I am an addict of 'Time Team'. So much information to our past lies in what to my eye is just a pebble or scrap of clay. So just how much history is in the Ancient stones, just waiting to be decoded and understood. It will not change the way we use them to worship our Pagan gods.

Meditation





Blessed Be