WyseWitchUK

  Beltane is a time of fertility, fire, fairies and folklore. It is the start of Summer. At this time of year the power of the sun and the fertility abundant in nature is on the rise. Everything is growing, the temperature is becoming warmer and life feels good. Fairies are especially active at Beltane as their favourite flower - the blossom of the hawthorn tree - is in bloom and in Celtic Myth Beltane was an important Spirit Night and a counterbalance to Samhain at the opposite end of the Wheel of the Year. At Beltane bonfires are traditionally lit on hills for cleansing, protection and as a great excuse for a party, May Poles are erected and danced around, Holy Wells are also visited and dressed with the flowers currently in bloom, May Kings and Queens - the personification of the Summer and the Festival - are crowned. It is a busy time of vibrant energies for all creatures and all of nature.   1. Aragonite   Blessed Bee Necklace (with Yellow Aragonite) by Cauldro

Mother Earth Pagan Prayer Beads by Cauldron Crafts Mother/Father Earth has had many names through the years, so to celebrate Earth Day I thought I'd write about a few...  Akka ('Old Woman') or MaderAkka ('Mother Woman') - Finnish and Saami Goddess of Fertility and Nature. She is the wife of Ukko, the Thunder and Sky God, and when they make love, thunder rolls. In Scandinavia thunder and its associated rain is often said in legends to make the earth fertile. Akka gives life to the body. Akka is associated with mountains such as the Ahkka massif in Sweden that still bears her name. Ceres ('To Feed') - Roman Mother Goddess of Agriculture, especially Grain, and Fertility. Ceres is said to have discovered spelt wheat, created the art of pastoral agriculture and created law and order. Our word cereal comes from her name, as do our words creativity , creation and increase . Ceres was honoured at a seven day festival in April called the Cerealia festiv

In Spring garden centres and supermarkets fill with an array of beautiful plants to tempt and inspire us. One of the most brightly coloured and prolifically flowered of these plants is usually generically labelled as Campanula, which actually refers to a family of flowers. Its Latin name derives from the bell shape of its flowers for   campanula means 'little bell' and in times past these plants were also known as Fairy Bellflowers or Fairy Bells. Another name for Campanulas is Fairy Caps for some Faeries are said to wear the flowers like hats.   The bell shaped flowers open to a five pointed star which means that these purple flowers are linked with the symbolism of that most Witchy of symbols, the Pentagram. Just as the Pentagram is a symbol of magic, protection, the five elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water & Spirit), our five senses and the Goddess so too are Bellflowers. The Purple/Blue hue of many Campanulas is associated with Spirituality, the Faerie Path, the

“Men fishing in the sea caught in their nets a wild man.” Ralph of Coggeshall The beautiful Suffolk seaside town of Orford boasts the stunning sands of the Ness, a fine Mediaeval castle and the ancient tale of a Wild Man or Merman.   Tales of Wild Men exist the world over, from the Himalayas are the tales of the Yeti, in Arctic Scandinavia is the Snömannen and in Scotland there are tales of the Fear Liath. Such Wild Men are usually associated with remote, mountainous areas where many mythical creatures, both big and small are still said to live.    Others are thought to be apparitions of the Wild Men of the Woods, akin to the ancient archetypes of the Green Man, the Lord of the Wildwood, Robin Goodfellow or Robin of the Green.   What makes the Orford Wild Man different is that he came out of the sea.   The coastal areas of East Anglia are rich in myth and folk magic.   Over the years many villages have been lost to the sea and many of their church bells are still said to sou