Mabh Savage
Words and the world passing by; how it sings to me; how I clamour back.
Winter Wonder: Win my book!
Another bite of winter. If you want to submit an entry for my Winter Wonder series, please send your winter related prose, poetry or art via the form below. If you want to attach an item rather than write straight onto the form, please use the form to send me your email address and I will contact you directly. The best submission will win a free copy of my book, A Modern Celt. I’d love to see your writing on Yule, the solstice, the cold, the weather, the festivities; what does winter mean to you? Joy? Sorrow? Reflection? Or feasting and fun?
Excerpt from A Modern Celt
Another year [at the winter solstice] we became a little lost in the dark, and weren’t sure quite how to find the spot we were looking for. We heard wings overhead, and followed the sound. When the sound stopped, we checked our position. Shining our torches about, we discovered we had been led to the spot we had been searching for. As soon as we were done, a wind whipped up then suddenly stilled. Twigs snapped as though something heavy footed were walking towards us, and the wings began flapping back the way we came. We moved fast to follow the sound, and though the night had been still before, as we moved away from the woods and down the path, with the lake to our side, a new wind whipped ripples up across the surface of the water, seemingly always one step behind us. Just like the year before, we left swiftly and didn’t look back. Both these latter experiences led us to believe we had witnessed an aspect of “The Wild Hunt”: the idea that gods and their entourage, or in Celtic tradition the Fae or aos sí, ride out in a mad cavalcade to hunt down the unwary who dare to be abroad during the darkest midnight. We spent the rest of those evenings snug and warm, drinking and feasting and appreciating good company. Although we had a wonderful time and felt blessed to have felt that presence so strongly, we would not have ventured back there for anything less than an emergency.
A Modern Celt is available now in paperback and on Kindle.
Picture source: hdwallpaper2013.com
One Winter’s Night
Big thanks to Leigh Laycock for submitting the first piece for my ‘Winter Wonders’ this year; a series of pieces intended to get us into the spirit of winter, Yule and the festive season.
One Winter’s Night
In the dead of night there came a tapping
Then more urgent sounds of someone rapping
Who would be knocking on the glass
Is it some lost and lonely lad or lass
Who’s there we ask before we open
No words in answer are ever spoken
A heavy chill descended down
Causing all to fear and frown
But still the tapping did continue
All we could see was just white sinew
Just an outline caught our eye
But I was sure I heard the figure sigh
Let him in he must be cold
It seemed to listen if the truth be told
The knocking ceased as it waited there
But all I could do was stand and stare
Don’t open the door a shrill voice cried
I am upstairs – I can see outside
There is no one knocking at our door
No one in sight I can see for sure
The road is empty – not even a soul
or ghostly form, or body whole
As we stood rigid with the shock
There came another unearthly knock
And so we shook with mouths agape
The ghostly figure of a monk took shape
The glass pane rattled but there was no wind
The apparition did not rescind
White knuckles rapped upon the door
We ran upstairs, we could look no more
Dived under the covers the night we stayed
Four in a bed all silently prayed
The knocking dimmed but continued to drum
For us eventually sleep did come
For in the morn we braved to peer
To see what had caused us such fear
Nothing was there that we could understand
Just the tell tale marks of a ghostly hand
And the shape of a monk, or just his cowl
Did he seek sanctuary or was he foul
What did he need this man in black
For us to open the door – just a crack
Was it a warning or maybe a sign
Of what does wander when the moon doth shine
To this day I can tell you no more
Of who came knocking at our door.
copyright Leigh Laycock 2013
Winter is coming…
Ok I couldn’t resist. Joking aside though, we are definitely (in the Northern hemisphere) moving into the colder and darker time of the year. For those of us in England, it’s been a bit of a shock as the season has been between 4 and 6 weeks late all year, which was good news for gardeners after the lengthy winter; it was still snowing in April this year. Suddenly, the wheel of the year seems to have caught up with itself, and I have been scraping ice off the car and even off my clean washing!
As the nights become longer, I’m going to publish a series of articles on winter, including excerpts from my book, A Modern Celt. If there is an aspect of winter you would like me to discuss, please leave a comment and I’ll look at it for you. here is an excerpt abut an experience I had upon a Winter Solstice:
My most precious memories of the winter solstice all seem to be of going to a specific lakeside on the longest night. I remember it always feels later in the day than it is, because despite it only being early evening it is already pitch black, and once you move away from the roads there is only a little ambient light, depending on the weather and the moon. One year, the black, velvet sky was perfectly clear, and the moon was completely full. The lake was frozen from one bank to the other, and glittered preciously in the cold blue light from above. Bare trees stretched their limbs in a perfect frame for this scene. There was no wind, and it seemed as if the world had been frozen into a perfect postcard simply entitled “winter”. There were several of us together that year, and after our ritual celebrations we acted like children, walking out onto the ice and daring each other to go out a bit further, and pondering the strange shapes frozen within. It was simply a joyous time. Another year in exactly the same place, the same group of us finished our celebrations, only to have a thick fog follow us all the way out to the path where we left the site. That was spooky, but exhilarating. We truly felt that whatever was abroad that night had said thanks, but it’s time for you lot to go now: my turn. We took the hint, I can tell you!
A Modern Celt is available now for only 99p from Amazon! Also available in paper format from all good book retailers.
A Modern Celt: 99p!
Another promo: my book, A Modern Celt, is now only 99p on kindle from Amazon! This book explores the impact the Celts had on modern life, through the eyes of everyday people. It examines paganism, spirituality and healing and even the impact on the modern entertainment industry. Grab a bargain!
Samhain approaching
Samhain is now understood as the night that the veil is at its thinnest; where our ancestors may temporarily rejoin us, travelling from their abode in the Summerlands. The original meaning of Samhain was probably either ‘end of summer’ or ‘beginning of winter’, as for the Celts it was the day and night that was the transitional point from the lighter time of the year into the darkness of the winter months.
Our seasons don’t exactly follow this pattern, and the changes are obviously quite gradual, but it’s clear to see that the air is cooler, the sun packs a little less punch and physically, we are moving into a darker period. Psychologically, this can affect many people, with the darker days contributing towards conditions such as Seasonal Adjustment Disorder, and particularly affecting those with depression or anxiety.
As we turn towards our ancestors and our memories of those that have gone before, let us also remember those around us today that need our help and support. They may know that they were once loved; let them know that they are loved now. Now is a time for the final preparations for Winter, and no one should be left behind. And most of all, remmeber to celebrate! Light candles, make food, feast and be with the ones you love, and who love you.
When the Dolphins ran out of Electricity…
…Atlantis fell, and crumbled into the Ocean floor. All the power drained away, and the Dolphins realised they were free; no more working the generators, or counting the coins that were passed from fin to fin to ensure the power flowed, like the water surrounding it. As the artificial lights went out, a new light lit in the hearts of each mammal, and they moved out from their home. The city which had housed them had also caged them. Released from the responsibility of its upkeep, they swam and dived and leaped beyond the waves, blinking in the new dawn light.
Word Emporium
Last night saw Trinity Church in Leeds play host to Word Emporium, an open mic event with the aim of sharing stories and telling truths. As part of the Love Arts Festival, one of the aims of this event is to get people talking openly about issues that effect them, including mental health experiences and our attitudes towards them.
The venue is perfect; Trinity Church is a beautiful Georgian church that has remained an integral part of the city’s architecture, despite the enormity of the shiny new Trinity shopping centre that is its new background. Rommi Smith, our host for the evening, comments on the appropriateness of the venue:
‘Creativity is my faith’ she says, and I think as artists we do put our faith in our word or our pictures; they give us hope and something to reach towards; they let us constantly improve ourselves, far more than most religious practices.
The night starts with pieces by Leeds Survivors creative writing group. The opening piece, ‘Don’t Bother’ has the room roaring with applause and I smile, knowing this is clearly going to be a good night.
The Baggage Handlers , another creative writing group facilitated by Rommi, perform a group piece accompanied by Samuel Moore on spanish guitar. Each takes short phrases that speak of their own stories and these wind together to become a much larger tale, reminding us that we each have our own uniqueness, and this should be celebrated.
The open mic itself is fast paced and has to be in order to fit all the poets in! 12 in all I think, and that’s just the first half. Phew! Each poet does one poem and is limited to 3 minutes, so the evening moves along very quickly indeed. I decided to do a poem about anxiety, which is a new piece penned only two days ago. I’d felt like this was one of the most honest and open poems I’ve ever written about this condition, but within the oceans of truth surrounding us this night, I was merely paddling near the shore.
During the ten minute interval (ciggie break for me, so much for Stoptober, oh well) the judges scored the poets and six went through to the second half, culminating in three winners: Maureen Rich, Addie P. Abbott and Davy Charles. All three prizes were well deserved; Maureen shows a vulnerability that takes incredible courage to put into words, and moved may of the audience to tears. Addie’s stories of journeys and the metaphors he uses are so relevant to, well, anyone really and the rhythm and sheer energy with which he performs are inspiring.
The overall winner was Davy Charles, with his two very different but equally impressive poems; the first about growing up with a stutter, and using the rhythms and rhymes within poetry to overcome this. This performance is one of the most engaging I have ever seen, and the way he incorprates a musicality and the organic nature of his own heart beat into the words is magical. The second is a love story, or a story about love stories, looking at the premise of meeting someone in a previous life, then meeting them over and over, getting the chance to fall in love all over again. Love poetry is dangerous as it can so easily fall into the banal, and Davy is as far from banal as can be! This tale is told with humour, lightheartedness and a genuine sense of yearning that (cliché alert!) tugs softly at the heart strings.
Talking to people afterwards, there was a general sense of warmth and wellbeing that comes from being in a safe environment where one can say what one wishes; where one can be the person one desires to be.
Spontaneous Creativity Award
I was very surprised and delighted to be awarded a Spontaneous Creativity Award from Void Poetry…
Book Review: Ariadne’s Thread by Laura Perry
“The myths of ancient Crete, her people, and their gods twine through our minds like the snakes around the priestess’s arms in those ancient temples. They call to us across the millennia, asking us to remember. In answer to that call, Ariadne’s Thread provides a window into the spirituality, culture and daily life of the Minoan people, and commemorates the richness of a world in which women and men worked and worshiped as equals. In these pages, the glory of Crete once again springs to life; the history, the culture, and most of all, the intense spirituality of these fascinating people and their gods can inspire and transform our modern ways of thinking, worshiping and being. The ruined temples and mansions of ancient Crete may crumble along the coastline of this tiny island, but Ariadne’s thread still leads us into the labyrinth and safely back out again.”
The tagline on the Moon Books site is “The Minoan world comes alive through seasonal rituals and rites of passage, honoring Ariadne and her Labyrinth.” This immediately resonates with me as (as you may know) I am fascinated with the impact ancient culture has on modern people, in ways both large and small.
From the outset I am thrilled by the passion Laura shows for her subject. Clearly the Minoans have inspired her from an early age, and it’s wonderful to see that fascination nurtured and blooming into the magical relationship she describes.
Crete comes alive for me; Laura’s description of the island belies the fact that all this information comes from research rather than first-hand experience. Laura covers all the pertinent studies relating to the Minoans and while presenting all the possible facts, is keen to stress the most likely ones as her picture of how the Minoans lived and the key points in their society. This is an intelligent and open minded approach which sits well with me. As does the focus on the everyday Minoan and not just the priest/priestess; after all, ultimately we are the ‘common folk’, so reaching back through time we may find more links to our ancestors by focusing on everyday life: the mundane as well as the magical.
The magical, of course, does play a huge part in this book. We hear about the Minoan pantheon; some are familiar but certainly for me, there is a great deal to learn and Laura keeps me turning the pages to do just that. I was astonished at the range of gods and goddesses included here! There are also the meanings of symbols, animals and how Minoan ceremony works within the Wheel of the Year. In the ritual work section, she is careful to explain the whys and wherefores of using certain symbols or not; the approach is inclusive with a hefty dose of common sense.
Rarely have I read a book that goes into so much detail about the spirituality and mythology surrounding one particular culture. The explanations of the symbolism of the Labyrinth are surprising and enlightening. Laura also looks at the similarities and differences between Ariadne and her ‘equivalents’ in other cultures, including mainstream religion. This book is truly comprehensive but what is more impressive is that it’s also fascinating and entertaining. If you are interested in ancient culture at all, you will adore this. If not, you would still get a kick out of the beautiful descriptive paragraphs and analytical style.
Ariadne’s Thread is a permanent addition to my ‘regular reads’ library and a triumph in what I consider the most necessary task of Pagan books: making it relevant. The thread Laura spins weaves all the way through time and is never broken. We can follow it either way, each page a new spool to turn.
*****/5
Book review: Pagan Portals: Moon Magic by Rachel Patterson
“Moon Magic is an introduction to working with the phases of the Moon, what they are and how to live in harmony with the lunar year and to utilise all the magical powers it provides. It’s filled with the basics of the lunar cycle, the representations and correspondences of each phase, what magic to work and when and also includes a look at the lunar year, moon deities, moon spells, meditations, specific moon rituals, moon names, tree moons and moon recipes.”
Published by Moon Books
Pagan Portals is, as the name suggests, a series of books (by various authors) with the aim of introducing various aspects of Paganism. Moon Magic seems a staple in this diet, as there are few branches of Paganism that don’t require at least some familiarity with the cycles of the moon. My initial concern is that this book may have little to offer the experienced practitioner. Just looking at the contents page dispels these fears instantly. Not only does Rachel (also known as Tansy Firedragon) cover what I would think of as ‘The Basic’ such as the phases of the moon, Esbats and some of the more well-known moon rituals, she also brings a fascinating amount of detail including working with cords, charms and supernatural creatures.
So rubbing my hands together gleefully at the prospect of learning something new about my favourite satellite, I dive right in. Rachel writes in an accessible style that is very inclusive to readers of all aptitudes. Facts are listed in well written, easy to consume bites, and each section that stems after is broken down in such a way it could almost be used as a reference book. Each moon phase has its own correspondences and magic, so it’s easy enough to flick through to find what you need at a specific time. I would find the information on oils and crystals particularly useful.
The meditations included are beautiful; someone really needs to make a podcast of these though so they can be downloaded and played at whim!
We move from the phases of the moon into the seasonal moon and examine different ways of using a moon calendar including relating it to the controversial Celtic Tree calendar. I’m glad she includes this though; it shows that moon magic and timings are not just for Wicca, but for any path.
I am particularly pleased with the Planting with the Moon chapter; this is such a simple aspect of biodynamic agriculture but so many people forget the impact the Moon has on plants and the soil. I’ve often used lunar agrarian principles for my own garden and others’, but this chapter teaches me things I never knew and will definitely implement myself.
This book is very short and as such you really have no excuse to not read it. If you have even the slightest interest in Paganism, Magic, natural living or astrology, this book will be relevant to you. The moon affects all of us, after all! Rachel brings a wealth of information together in such a way that you can go back to this book time and again, without it ever feeling old. The style is simple and full of common sense, yet magical and wondrous at the same time. Quite an achievement.
*****/5
