Author: Pen Humphries
Rain, rain and more rain
It’s not been a very good winter for an outdoor magical group!
The ground is muddy and soggy and every time we go out it’s raining.
Now we don’t mind getting a bit wet and we love the crisp cold winter nights but wading through mud and lighting fires in puddles is where we have to draw the line.
So our last two rituals have been inside, listening to the rain and wind crash against the windows.
It’s very different being inside. Not better, not worse just different.
Instead of being surrounded by the elements and open spaces there is a feeling of being surrounded by the ‘unseen’.
Meditations flow more easily as there are less distractions. But it’s not as edgy.
So as Imbolc draws near we are hoping for a cold dry night so we can venture out again and reconnect with the woods and the land.
First we have a night in the pub meeting some interesting people on Wednesday…
Winter 2013
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
Lammas 2013
We celebrated our fourth Lughnasadh this year.
Twisted tree
On our visit to the woods last week for some dark moon crafting we lit our fire and set up a circle under this beautiful tree
Training Group
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.
Summer 2013
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!
Joining Blackthorn
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.
Out and About
Our visit to Stonehenge, in the rain
And in the woods
Spring 2013
Ostara
April Full Moon
Beltane
February 2013
Imbolc Altar
Some of the group with our ‘Maiden’
Maiden wearing her circle of lights
Imbolc Circle
February Full Moon
Yule 2012
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.
November Full Moon Celebration
We visited some new woods for our celebration of the Earth Moon and it was a clear calm night, perfect for what we had planned.
Not sure we expected to find this!
or this.
Full Moon Altar
Samhain
Samhain Altar
Open Social Meet Up
The Witches of the North West group is holding an Open Social meet on Thursday 8th November 2012 at 8pm in the Fairfield Arms in Audenshaw.
All are welcome to come and share their Samhain experiences and chat with other like minded witches. We look forward to meeting up with old and new friends and you will be made very welcome.
For more details go to:
http://www.meetup.com/Witches-of-the-North-West/
Or contact Blackthorn at
blackthornmoon@hotmail.co.uk
Summer 2012
As we are approaching what is, for Blackthorn, our favourite time of year, the time when we reflect on what we have harvested and look forward to sinking into contemplation and darkness, we look back on another eventful summer for the coven
This was not the best summer to get out and about in the woods and hills… we’ve been beaten up by the wind, soaked by the rain and Beltane was so cold that we were wrapped in blankets.
We spent our customary Midsummer night vigil in the woods in the wind and drizzle watching and waiting for the sunrise that didn’t really appear only as a vague lightening of the heavy, grey sky.
We worked with whatever was thrown at us and allowed ourselves to listen to the messages from the elements and be guided by them, especially the winds.
The east wind brought new ideas, new directions, changes and inspiration and was often strong and insistent.
The ancestors and guiding spirits whispered to us on the winds from the west.
Once we even felt a warm wind from the south bringing us thoughts of the sun God, the heat and a vague promise of summer: the wind from the North didn’t visit us at all, perhaps saving itself for the winter. Though we’re sure we saw some gnomes around…
On rare calm cool clear nights the watchers have prowled around the circle with eyes on what we were up to while the trees wrapped themselves around us and we felt warm, safe and protected.
We learnt that it’s much easier to light a fire and keep it going in the rain than in the wind and that it doesn’t really rain all the time! So many times we have started in the rain and as soon as the circle was raised the clouds cleared the stars, and even sometimes the moon herself, became visible through the trees.
We’re looking forward to our autumn ritual this weekend and it looks as though for the first time this year the weather is actually in line with what we are up to, though we are not expecting it to be as cold as midsummer! Enjoy x
Beltane 2012
Beltane 2012
We abandoned our tradition this year and held our Beltane celebration on May 5th to connect with the ‘super moon’ that was predicted for that night.
It was a cold night, around freezing, colder even than Yule, which felt strange for Beltane, but clear and calm in the woods.
As usual we dressed for the occasion with flowery headdresses and cloaks, with offerings of flowers and food on the altar.
As we raised the circle the huge vanilla coloured moon rose over the hills casting a golden light onto the trees and changing the colours of the flowers on our altar. Long shadows appeared from the trees casting strange fingers of darkness around us.
We wove coloured ribbons around the stang, wove in some magic and jumped over the fire making wishes.
We missed the presence of a couple of the coven who were involved in family ties, especially Brock, who is our ‘keeper of the flame’! But we managed to build up a large fire without him to enjoy our feasting and drinking afterwards.
It was well after the witching hour when we closed the circle and, as often happens, as we closed the circle the moon went behind the clouds and the temperature dropped as we left the woods behind, after our third Blackthorn Beltane celebration.
Spring Equinox 2012
It was a warm sunny day which turned into a cool evening and an even colder night as we made our way into the woods for our Ostara ritual. We have a tradition of using certain places at different times of the year so this was our third Ostar here and it now feels the right plcae to be to celebrate the balance of day and light and to welcome the light of spring.
The fire was lit, offerings were made, our deities were invited to join us and our own Blackthorn ritual was played out against the backdrop of ancient trees and a clear starry sky.
The Elderthorn Coven 