As Remembrance Sunday draws to a close the veil descends and we can leave behind our thoughts of the beloved dead; remembrances and rituals that began at Samhain and begin to look forward again. And enjoy the wonderful winter season ahead xxxx

We celebrated our fourth Lughnasadh  this year.

Thanks to all those who have made inquiries, sent emails and requests to join Blackthorn. We are currently answering them all – and there are quite a lot – so apologies if you are still waiting to hear from us, we hope to complete the replies by the end of today.

These are all now done so we can sink back into the dark time of the year, look forward to our Samhain celebrations and enjoy.

At last we had some warm weather for our trips to the woods. We went on various walks and explorations looking at flowers, trees and different woods and hills.

We spent Midsummer overnight in a fantastic dark wood and then watched the sunrise – which was misty and drizzly as always!

We’re really sorry but as of Beltane 2013 we can no longer take any new members into the coven.

It takes at least a year to integrate anyone new into the group and we just can’t take anyone else at the moment.

We may be open to new applications after Samhain 2013.

Our visit to Stonehenge, in the rain

And in the woods

Ostara

April Full Moon

Beltane

Imbolc Altar

Some of the group with our ‘Maiden’

Maiden wearing her circle of lights

Imbolc Circle

February Full Moon

Blackthorn’s Yule altar in the woods and our High Priestess

Circle of light welcoming the returning sun

We celebrated Yule late at night in the woods, deciding not to stay out overnight as we did last year.

The sunrise was the usual vague lightening of the sky and the weather unseasonably warm. A circle of light surrounded us as we celebrated the slow awakening deep within the earth and within ourselves.