Clan Dolmen Chronicles Samhain Issue

Clan Dolmen Chronicles Samhain 2018

AN INTERVIEW WITH DOLMEN LEAD GUITARIST/SINGER/ SONGWRITER JOSH ELLIOTT

WINTER READING GIG GUIDES SAMHAIN SPECIALS PLUS LOADS MORE!!! https://clandolmen.wixsite.com/mysite http://pagansymposium.org/

Clan Dolmen is a pagan organisation of mixed spiritual paths established in the early 90s by Taloch Jameson, which over the years has grown from one small circle in Weymouth Dorset, to several clans not only across the UK but worldwide.

The Spiritual ethos of Clan Dolmen has remained the same throughout and is based purely upon the Freedom of the Individual.

It is the collective belief that in an age where technology can often dwarf our humanity, it is important that we take control as individuals and embrace our own spirituality in order to maintain the equilibrium within an ever-changing world.

Although the Clan is not a political organisation preferring instead to focus upon the spiritual, this does not prevent either individual members or the Clan as a collective from playing an active part in humanitarian and environmental issues.

There are no hierarchy or titles within Clan Dolmen as it is our aim to encourage each man and woman to discover their own unique and authentic journey so that their spiritual connection is founded upon that which works for them as an individual rather than a spiritual rule book set for the masses.

The key to our success is the Round Table which is made up of around twenty people from a variety of spiritual paths who uphold the spiritual ethos of the Clan. They not only organise their respective moots but also the festivals and events hosted by Clan Dolmen.

Our Moots are regular meeting places which are held once a month in several areas. Although these are organised by and largely attended by Clan members, non-members are always welcome to find out more about the Clan and enjoy the company of other free-thinking people as well as the activities organised by the Moot.

There is a membership in place that enables those who wish to be part of this ever-growing Clan to enjoy reduced ticket prices for Clan Dolmen, festivals and where stated ‘member only’ Ceremonies and Courses. Although we host many Ceremonies which are open to the general public, to avoid crowding and to allow our members to celebrate free from pressure we also hold a number of ‘members only’ ceremonies throughout the year.

‘ALL ARE SPIRITUALLY UNITED WITHIN CLAN DOLMEN’ https://clandolmen.wixsite.com/mysite

CONTENTS 1…Clan Dolmen International – Diane Narraway 2…An interview with Josh Elliot of the Dolmen – Diane Narraway 3…The Dolmen Ten Years in Pictures – Sem Vine 4…Wytches & Cunningfolk – Taloch Jameson 5…Magickal and Healing Properties of Crystals – Cheryl Waldron 6…Life is Poetry in Motion – Bill Duvendack 7…Marshmallow; Soft and Gentle – Andrew Cowling 8…The Blood of Mabon – Rachael Moss 9…Magickal Herb and Spice Remedies – Shodie’s Cold Cure Mead – Shodie Wilson 10…The Wild Hunt – V.L. Vondreau 11…Aromatherapy – Sandra Wiseman 12…Friday 13th – Cheryl Waldron 13…Working with the Ancestors – Cheryl Waldron 14…Samhain – Daniel Bran Griffith 15…Learning Lenormand – Part 6 – Eirwen Morgan 16…Winter Reading – A selection of new and recent releases 17…Tribal Dreams Camp – Marisha Kiddle 18…Medusa – Lou Hotchkiss Knives

Photos in this issue: Joanna Caswell, Artwork in this issue by Sem Vine All Dolmen and Dolmen Grove artwork by Sem Vine Unless otherwise stated all other images are owned by the authors or from the public domain Cover Image Kayleigh Marchant by Mariëlle Groot Obbink Further information on Clan Dolmen can be found at https://clandolmen.wixsite.com/mysite https://www.facebook.com/Clan-Dolmen-110124449082503/ All information is accurate at the time of publication and all articles and images are assumed to be the work of those being credited Editor… Diane Narraway email: clandolmen@gmail.com Part of the Pagan and Heathen Symposium http://pagansymposium.org/

Clan Dolmen Wishes you a Very Happy Samhain

ou all a very

Clan Dolmen was originally formed over 30 years ago in Dorset England by Taloch Jameson under the name of Dolmen Grove. Over the years the Clan has grown and now has a membership which spans Britain, Europe, America, Canada and Australia.

It is no secret that Taloch Jameson who founded the Clan is also the lead vocalist of the Dolmen, who have consistently been pioneers of paganism and the freedom of spirituality through their music, and who tour regularly throughout Europe. This will undoubtedly have had an impact on the growth of Clan Dolmen International. Whatever the cause, Clan Dolmen has significantly grown over the last few years throughout Europe to the point where this year saw the first Clan Dolmen International gathering in the Netherlands; Wytches and Cunningfolk. This gathering saw Clan Dolmen members from the UK forging new friendships and bonds with European members which will strengthen as we all travel forward together as Clan Dolmen International.

Although the Clan Dolmen continues to grow throughout Europe it still remains, as it has always done to be a Spiritual meeting place for all people of all Nations of the Earth with no hierarchy, believing instead that the only authentic spiritual path is that of the individual. Within Clan Dolmen and now Clan Dolmen International the ethos remains the same and will continue to do so with all of its members enjoying the freedom to pursue their own unique spiritual path, because there is no need for a title or label in order to practice one’s personal spiritual path, if that path is based upon love and kindness then the heart is open to all things.

The ethos of the Clan is upheld by the Round Table; a group of volunteers made up from various paths who give their time freely organising and hosting Clan Dolmen gatherings, and events. The Round Table is facilitated by an Arlahes (pronounced Arladez); the current Arlahes is Diane Narraway.

Clan Dolmen is a non-Political organisation, preferring to concentrate upon the quest for spiritual enlightenment and the manifestation of Peace within a power-hungry world of chaos, and as such welcomes all spiritually minded people to enjoy good friendship with good souls who share common interests. https://clandolmen.wixsite.com/mysite htwww.facebook.com/search/str/clan+dolmen+international+official+page/keywords_search

Josh Elliott There is no denying the talent of Dolmen guitarist Josh Elliott, and for most of us to be able to play the guitar like him would be more than enough.

His guitar solos range from powerful to heart melting.

The album Journey by Josh Elliott and Taloch Jameson is a testament to just how beautiful a guitar can sound.

However, Josh Elliott is far from just a guitarist, he is also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, a singer/songwriter, a composer and is the owner of JGE studios. In this issue I explore the musical genius of Josh Elliott.

DIANE: When did you first realise that you wanted to be a musician?

JOSH: I was about 13 years old, in a Spanish class at school where we were learning to say (in Spanish) what we wanted to be when we were older. This was the first time I seriously considered what I wanted to do for a career. From there on, the more I thought about it, the more I knew that was what I wanted to do, mostly because I wasn't much good at anything else.

DIANE: Given that you can more or less play anything, what was the first instrument you ever played and exactly how many do you play now?

JOSH: Aside from all the childhood instruments I had, the first serious instrument I ever played was a violin. The school gave children the chance to learn violin at school if they wanted. My Mum and Dad put me forward for lessons and I was given a violin to take home and practice for a week. While practicing my Dad pointed out to my Mother that actually, it wasn't entirely painful to listen to, and they could in fact hear the tune that I was attempting to play. So, eventually I was presented my own violin and played that for a year or so.

Then about a year after that went on to have Piano lessons, followed by the Saxophone at the age of 9, and eventually when I was 14/15 years-old I started to learn the Guitar. Since then, I've just kind of applied the same methods I used to progress with those instruments, to progress in others. Piano gave me a bit of dexterity in my hands, Saxophone taught me about embouchure and breath management.

And Guitar taught me about fretting, muting and a variety of useful techniques which can be applied to

all fretted stringed instruments. I'm not entirely sure how many I can play now, but I'll have a go on anything that can make a sound. My next conquest will probably be the Trombone, but it's not the most sociable instrument.

DIANE: Where did you learn music? Were you self taught, classically trained, music lessons or is it just ‘in the blood’?

JOSH: Music has always been something that has felt natural to me, but I was fortunate to have a good amount of one to one lessons with good teachers. My guitar teacher especially. He helped connect a lot of boxes within music and just generally told me to just get on with it, which you definitely need as a teenager. That aside I taught myself a lot too. I was notorious for tipping up to a lesson and being asked "What have you practiced this week?" to which I would usually reply “I've learnt this guys song, written this, or had a go at this”. Normally the response would then be "But, I asked you to memorise the G Major scale in 3 octaves...." Or something to that effect. (If you are learning an instrument, scales are really important so definitely learn them. They're boring at first but a big part of connecting those boxes I was talking about).

I grew up in the middle of nowhere, I didn't really have an awful lot to do other than just play music.

Not that it mattered, because I loved it! Just sitting for hours playing along with music, writing/ recording music and just setting my self new goals.

I played in pretty much any school band that I could. From Concert Band, Big Band, the Saxophonics group, a Flute Choir, an actual ‘human

voice’ Choir, Steel Band - anything I could. Which in turn resulted in a vast knowledge and a love of many different styles, plus I got to play some incredible pieces of music.

I studied music at GCSE and A Level as well as Music technology at A Level. And just generally played and talked to anyone I could. There's something to learn from everybody, no matter what ability. Everyone sees things differently so, there is always more to learn.

DIANE: How and why did you become part of the Dolmen and what opportunities has it afforded you?

JOSH: I joined the band a little bizzarly. My Dad was flicking through the Friday news paper, as he did most weeks, when he came across an advert for a guitarist. He walked in, put it in front of me and told me to give them a ring and ask for an audition.

I refused point blank stating that they would never want me, as I was probably not good enough and being only 17 etc. So that was that!

As it happens, at the very moment he had plonked the news paper down in front of me, I was practicing Queens ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and ‘Killer Queen’ on the Guitar as I was to perform in the schools ‘Flute Chior’ for a competition the next day.

The idea was that the flutes all play the vocal lines and harmonies then myself, a bass player, pianist and drummer would play the backing. So I got to learn how to play all the Guitar Solos which was wicked.

Anyway we played the concert and it all went very well, the judges especially commended me on my playing, so I walked out of there feeling pretty good with my self.

I drove home, walked through the door and went straight to the paper. I rang up and asked for the audition, and I got one. I was told my first gig would be in 3 days and I was given 23 songs to learn. I learnt them all, and we didn't play any of them at the gig!

It's funny really as I'd never heard of the band before joining, but later discovered I had actually been to a few events they had played at, either as a guest or as a performer. I must have walked past them at one point while they were packing down, but I had never heard them play.

Since being in the band we've played some fantastic shows and some world renowned festivals/ venues and met some great people along the way! What's not to like!

DIANE: You also run a studio, How long have you been doing that?

JOSH: The studio is something I've been doing for years. Me and a friend recorded some school bands which was great fun. We kind of collaborated all of our equipment together to make a home studio and since then I have put all the money I earn from recording and gigs aside until I eventually got myself a professional set up under the name of JGE Studios. It's just grown from there really and I have had the pleasure of working with acts from across the globe as well as working on some fantastic music.

DIANE: Can you also tell me what is your favourite Dolmen CD and era is and why?

JOSH: My favourite CD is Nuada at the moment. It took quite a while to get together as people know and we wrote a lot of music before Nuada finally became what it is today. During that time we released 3 or 4 other albums that were comprised of tracks that just didn't quite fit the atmosphere we were trying to create for Nuada. But eventually we got there.

Where it took so long to complete there is music that we wrote right after storm such as ‘Free Will’ and ‘Invite Me in’ all the way up to tracks which were only written in the last year of completion such as ‘Azazels Serpents.’

It's a crazy experience creating them and then hearing them evolve. If you think, a song starts out with basically an acoustic guitar/ piano and vocals.

After that, there are a million ways in which a song could finally be produced. Will it have drums? What kind of rhythm? Will it have electric guitar and/or acoustic guitar? Bouzouki? Who's going to sing it?

It's a fascinating craft and that's why I love it! The technology is incredible too as it makes us capable of so much. You can recored a song 10 times and it'll never be the same twice and it's knowing when the magick is there in the music. Once you've found it, you know you're on the right path. That's what I like about Nuada. I feel we've kept the magick vibe throughout. Putting together a CD is a bit like having a child, it grows and changes with time.

DIANE: Which was the first Dolmen track you wrote and/or sang if they are not the same thing?

JOSH: Hard to say really, I don't really remember.

But I can say the first album I worked on was the 'Crabchurch Conspiracy' so would be one of the tracks off of that.

The weird thing about that album from my respect was that, as I mentioned before, I joined the band to play guitar. I walked into the studio, all excited to start work, went to get my guitar out and was told I wasn't to be playing that.. And was passed a Bouzouki!

I'd never played the thing before, but was open minded and it was the perfect sound for the album.

Thinking on it, the first track we worked on might well have been ‘England's Freedom Soldiers Rights’ that's seems to ring a bell.

I think the first song I ever sang lead on was ‘Black Sails’ on the Spirits Of The Sea album which was the second album I worked on. It was just a track I had been messing about with at home, showed it to Taloch one day and he liked it so it made the album.

DIANE: And who or what has been your greatest inspiration and what inspires your music now?

JOSH: I can't really think that I could put it down to one thing. My Dad has always been a massive influence on me musically. Although not a player, he'd always support me and did anything he could to help me out. When I was 16 my guitar kind of died. But I had gigs, so he made sure I had a guitar to play and a similar story with my amp. Let alone getting me the gear to get started in the first place.

Pianos, Saxophones and Violins all cost money and he made sure I had them. He'd taxi me to

rehearsals, me and the rest of the band to gigs. Not to mention his carboot bargains he'd bring back.

Vintage Guitars, Clarinets, Fifes and of course finding me the ad to join the band,. I just wouldn't be in the position I'm in now without him and for that I will always be so grateful!

Musically I've listened to all sorts. My Mum and Dad had a decent record collection and we had a HIFI in the Living room. I'd be forever putting discs on and listening. When I got older, I got heavily into ska and reggae. I think the first album I went to buy myself was Anthem by Less Than Jake.

Me and my Dad used to go out locally and see live music and I used to take a lot from that. I used to enjoy going and listening to other musicians. But there was a big part of me that just wanted to be up there with them, playing. We had some fantastic musicians around. Most notably a Guitarist called Robbie Mcintosh. He's regarded as one of the worlds best guitarist, I definitely concur. He's played with some huge names including The Pretenders, Talk Talk, Norah Jones, Tom Jones, John Mayer, Mark Knopfler and Paul McCartney to name but a few. We used to watch him whenever we could and it was just the most fantastic experience. To actually hear someone of his ability soaring through the most incredible sounding gear. I used to get home after one of his shows, quickly pick up a guitar and try and work out as much as I could remember before going to bed. It was inspiring to think a guy is one week playing a few shows with his friend while he's home, the next on a world tour and in

some of the most renowned studios. It made my dream of being a professional musician seem reachable and I knew if I worked hard enough, I could make it happen!

The music I listen to know is pretty diverse. At this present moment in time, if I'm going to put some music on, it'll most likely be something by Bill Withers, Al Green, Bobby Womack or I've got Mozart's Requiem on the Vinyl player for the moment.

Other Artists I really like at the moment are Snarky Puppy, White Denim, Grizzly Bear, Midlake. I don't really listen to Guitarist super bands. It's funny as when I started playing with The Dolmen, I'd have loads of people come up to me and say "you sounds like Dave Gilmore from Pink Floyd" and my response would be "who's that" haha. People were shocked. I think I actually heard the reggae/ dub version of Dark Side of The Moon first, appropriately named ‘Dub Side of The Moon’ and I used to love that.

I only really got into guitarists since joining The Dolmen. Since then I've got a real appreciation for people like Mike Oldfield and Jimmy Page.

DIANE: What are your hopes and plans for the future?

JOSH: Just to make and play more music and perform at more events. The Dolmen Pirate Festival 2019 is stepping up a gear, which is quite exciting.

And we are currently working on the Wytches and Cunningfolk album, so looking forward to getting that completed and to hearing people's thoughts on it.

I am also in the process of slightly merging JGE studios with a friend who is refitting a church to be used as a creative/performing arts hub.

It'll be a much bigger space and much more versatile, so we will be able to record orchestras and big bands etc.. So very exciting indeed. New doors and walls are being put up at the moment and we should be up and running in the new year all being well! I'm also thinking of releasing some music online. I've got a whole computer full of bits I've written, half finished or just never released. I've kind of come to the conclusion it's a bit useless left on a hard drive as it is and it may as well be where people can hear it. So, expect lots of strange mixtures of music. It's basically my escapism, how I relax and it's a freedom being able to write whatever I want with no restrictions or boundaries. And because it doesn't really fit anywhere, it's never really been anywhere.

I'm also trying to get on with a few more videos. It's just finding the time especially at the moment. But I'll get there!

For further information on Josh Elliot and the Dolmen www.thedolmen.com Facebook : https://m.facebook.com/JoshElliottGuitarist/ Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/joshelliottguitarist/ GW Guitars : www.gwguitars.co.uk Hamstead Amps : www.hamsteadsoundworks.com

DOLMEN GROVE MOOTS All Dolmen Grove Moots hold regular meetings where people can find out more about Dolmen Grove membership, ethos and upcoming events including camps, workshops and talks Hampshire, Fareham, – The Heathfield Arms 116 Blackbrook Road, Fareham PO15 5BZ First Monday of every month, 7:30pm onwards. https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.dolmengrovehampshiremoot Dorset -Weymouth and Portland Weymouth -Old Town Hall High West Street DT4 8JH Weymouth, Dorset Second Wednesday every other month, 7:30pm onwards Portland - The George Inn 133 Reforne, Portland, Dorset, DT5 2AP Second Wednesday every month, 7:30pm onwards https://www.facebook.com/groups/435089566582005/ Cornwall - Indian queens pit in the community Hall. TR9 6PB First Wednesday of every month, 7:30pm onwards https://www.facebook.com/groups/460165050682366/?fref=ts Isle of Wight – Venue and times TBC https://www.facebook.com/groups/751767741696777/

All Dolmen Grove moots are advertised regularly on Facebook. www.dolmengrove.co.uk dolmengrove@dolmengrove.co.uk

Wytches &Cunningfolk Stepping away from the conventional has always been a great way to insure originality and that is something The Dolmen have maintained over many albums, and Wytches & Cunningfolk is now proudly added to that long list.

Following on from Nuada, they continue a journey into the magical realms and illusionary perceptions of reality, challenging conventional thought and prejudice, by highlighting the use and purpose of those obscure characters who have walked the earth adapting and evolving within a hybrid race known as human.

This new album is dedicated to those magical souls who make a difference.

The Dolmen have always voiced a belief that within all humans there is a natural magical ability, but there are also those who connect intimately to an ancient dna within the human hybrid.

We call these beings Wytches & Cunningfolk, travellers of many realms, conjurers and manipulators of natural and super-natural forces.

These individuals have been persecuted, their blood staining every page of history even in these so-called civilised times.

However, there is still a need and purpose for these ancient spirits of old, their part in this realm is far from over.

Taloch Jameson www.thedolmen.com www.cdbaby.com/Artist/ TheDolmen www.clandolmen.wixsite.com /mysite

Since it began Clan Dolmen Chronicles has featured a variety of pagan/heathen and occult writers, and while they have not always members of the Clan the biggest majority of them were and are. As editor and publisher of Clan Dolmen I have always done my best to ensure the quality of the articles and features.

For the last several years our Aromatherapy feature has been written by Sandra Wiseman, a practicing aromatherapist, who has over the years provided us with a variety of information on the uses of both carrier oils and essential oils; undoubtedly, she too has seen a lot of changes within the magazine.

The latest change being the transition from Dolmen Grove Chronicles to Clan Dolmen Chronicles. And with this comes another change; Sandra feels that it is time to step down and pass the Aromatherapy page to someone new. And although it is with sadness that we say a heartfelt thank you and goodbye to her, and wish her all the best for the future. There is also an excitement for the future as we welcome Betty Timmer and Signy Esmeijer from Clan Dolmen International as our new Aromatherapy columnists.

Betty is a trained Reiki Healer and practicing witch and is very experienced in the magickal use of herbs and oils.

Signy, is an essential oils coach as well as a trained Reiki and Ohm puncture therapist. Although, both are trained holistic theapists they approach aromatherapy from a different perspective to Sandra.

I believe that they will bring something new to the feature and I look forward to working with them both in the future.

Diane Narraway (Editor Clan Dolmen Chronicles/ Arlahes of Clan Dolmen)

Life is Poetry in Motion This may seem like an odd title for an article about astrology, but I assure you all things will be made clear. The title for this article works on the very simple premise that all things are fluid, yet poetic at the same time. Therefore, what we are effectively doing is painting our swath on the greater tapestry of this paradigm. As the American author Henry David Thoreau pointed out, the world is but a tapestry for our imagination. All things are fluid, there is a rhythm and a reason for everything, and nothing is static. If yesterday’s villains are today’s heroes, then today’s pains are tomorrow’s pleasures.

This fits into the current astrological position due to the fact that we are coming out of a month of eight retrogrades in the sky, resulting in a lot of personal changes. When planets are retrograde, it means there is an internal focus on our personal qualities. Therefore, most will have been inwardly focused and making changes accordingly. Or, they have been living in denial, which is their right; in either case, a lot of people have been focused on internal growth. However, the reaper requires payment, hence the need for us make the necessary changes. This has led to many people coming out of August changed, scarred, or in a state of bliss; the latter being brought about by ignorance. I don’t know of one person that came out of August unchanged. The reason for this is important. It is because we are about to enter the second half of the zodiacal year. These first six signs have been intense, to say the least, so what will the next six bring?

More of the same? Or something more balancing?

The next six months are going to balance things out from these last six months, so for those of you that have had an interesting time of it, I can tell you things will calm down a bit. Does this mean that things are going to become placid and smooth? Of course not! There is no “mutually exclusive” when it comes to astrology. We still have a Mercury retrograde yet to occur, and various other retrogrades, stationings, full moon and new moon cycles, so there is still a lot

that can occur. However, you can watch for things to quieten down substantially and the focus to be shifted. For the next few months you can expect the emphasis to be on opportunities where you can demonstrate what you have learned.

We are getting ready to experience an equinox, a time of balance which occurs no matter where you are physically located on the planet. In the Northern Hemisphere it is the Autumn Equinox, and in the Southern it is the Spring or Vernal Equinox. No matter where you are, this is a profound period and opportunity to bring about balance within the self. The way this relates to the title of the article is that we will now experience the second half of the poetic verse.

Was the first six months of your astrological year turbulent? If so, this will balance it out.

However, if the first six months of your astrological year have been quiet, this will balance it out. This is the lesson for the entire astrological year, it’s just that the first six months were the karmic prepay for what is coming.

I don’t want to sugarcoat things and leave you thinking that it will be rainbows and light on the horizon because it will not, instead I want to give a sense of reality. While, now is the time when things will be balanced out despite our perceptions and beliefs, likewise the next six months will be balanced regardless of how we think they “should” be balanced. That, my friends, is the bitter pill to swallow. The trick as Buddha told us, is to see our thoughts as a river, yet remain detached from what we see. Going into the next six months of the astrological year, we now know what to expect. And it would be in poor taste and ignorance to get upset at situations that we perceive to work against us, because in fact these situations are occurring to balance things out in some way, shape, or form.

Hence if we get upset at something, the first thing we should do is look into the mirror and practice the Hermetic axiom, “As Within So

Without.” For example, if we think we were

wronged in a situation and yet the next few weeks bring us headaches, then we should put our ego aside and focus on the facts at hand. If karma is saying we screwed up, regardless of what we think, then we screwed up, and we should internally work on understanding this and working with it.

Our perception of the situations in our lives should come secondary to what is happening around us. After all, this is the scientific method of thinking. We should perceive and interpret what we see in order to extrapolate the wisdom.

In this way life is poetry because of the serendipity involved. However, it is a great life lesson in the way the world works, and the next few weeks will provide a window of opportunity for reflection, and this reflection can produce the information for what to expect over the next half of the zodiacal year. But, in the course of this reflection, one should be honest in their assessment. Being egocentric would be detrimental to the cause.

If you’ve been out of balance, now is the time to right the scales. If things have been out of balance in your life, now is the time things will correct themselves. A lot of this will happen naturally, but it is wise to assist when you can, by letting the things go that no longer serve you in some way. The discernment test is to know what to release and what to keep, but I’m sure you have figured that out by now. After all,

discretion is the better part of valor. The really cool secret is that the way we release and the way we keep are both strokes of the brush of our will on the tapestry of the world. Some people let go of things compassionately, others are more brash in their approach. In truth it doesn’t matter how you do it, simply know that however you choose to do this, it is your brush stroke on the tapestry of the psyche of the human mind. My advice would be plan accordingly.

An unspoken concept in astrology is that what is happening now will be an inverted reflection of what will be occurring six months from now, because this six - month cycle happens to everyone all the time and all this means is that all of us are stronger than we may realize. If we pay attention to these intermediate cycles we can find a lot of power is within our control if we seize the day or night, as the case may be. In this way we can look backwards to six months ago to see how things will be balanced and harmonized again, we can also understand that our own behavior will, to some extent dictate what is coming up six months from now. So, look at how you were living six months ago. And then look back five years. Those two things will tell you what to expect for the next six months.

Choose how you want to paint the next six months, while considering what five years into the future might hold if you continue on your regular journey.

Bill Duvendack bill@418ascendant.com

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Marshmallow – soft and gentle Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) is one of my favourite herbs, not only because of its wide applications in healing but also because of its beauty.

It is one of over 1000 species in the Malvaceae Family which includes Hollyhock (hock is an Anglo-Saxon word for mallow) and the various mallows many people grow in their gardens and which grow the wild profusely on Portland.

The Latin name derives from the Greek Altho meaning to cure; a sure indication of its long use as a medicinal herb. Marshmallow indicates the plant’s preference for damp ground although it flourishes in my rather dry garden.

Central to marshmallow’s properties as a healing plant is the large amount of mucilage it contains, a substance with a viscous gloopy texture which is soothing to damaged or inflamed tissues. All mallows contain mucilage to some degree but marshmallow is used by herbalists because it contains more of this substance than others.

The soothing nature of the mucilage, which is found in both leaves and root means that the plant is demulcent and emollient; antiinflammatory and expectorant. For herbalists whether they use the root, leaf or both is a matter of personal preference. My preference is for the root.

These properties give it a wide application in soothing and healing inflamed mucous membranes lining the digestive system, the urinary system and the respiratory system. The mucilage forms a protective coating over the damaged mucous membrane, soothing it and offering it an opportunity to heal.

In the digestive system it can be used with other herbs to treat inflammations such as gastritis, peptic ulceration, enteritis and colitis.

In the urinary system it is used to soothe irritated membranes of the bladder in acute cystitis or irritable bladder in a mix designed to combat both the infection and/or inflammation.

It has a similar role to play in treating urethritis and inflammation caused by kidney stones or gravel.

I like to use marshmallow in acute bronchitis where the cough is hot, dry (non-productive) and painful. The effect of the mucilage is to lubricate and soothe the inflamed mucous membranes in the respiratory passages and initiate expectoration whereby the lungs begin to produce more mucous which leads to a productive cough, helping the lungs to expel infection. The plant can be used to soothe other respiratory inflammations such as pharyngitis and laryngitis.

The leaves can be used to make a poultice and applied to abscesses and boils to draw out the pus.

Marshmallow to me is one of the finest examples of the Doctrine of Signatures, a very old concept which says that something about a plant (taste, smell, flower colour, shape, habitat, leaf markings etc.) tells us what the plant can be used for. In this case the soft, velvety texture of the leaves and the delicate colouring of the flowers beautifully illustrates the soothing nature of the plant. Visitors to my garden invariably express

delight at the soft velvety texture they find when they come into contact with this herb.

The plant has an ancient history too.

Marshmallow pollen was found among a number of other flower pollens around the grave of a Neanderthal man buried in a cave in Iraq over 60,000 years ago. It is believed the plant was laid next to him to strengthen him on his journey into the next world.

It has a more recent association with the dead; the tradition of planting it on graves and using it in funeral rituals dates back to the ancient Greeks and an alternative name for the plant is Mortification Root.

It can be eaten as a vegetable; the Romans and Syrians were particularly fond of it. The roots can be boiled and then fried with onions and butter while the leaves can be eaten raw in salads. The Romans also used the plant in barley soups, presumably as a thickener and in as stuffing for suckling pigs.

In days gone by it was an ingredient of marshmallow sweets, made by heating the roots with sugar and water to thicken and then straining. Nowadays marshmallows are made from synthetic materials.

In folk medicine the seeds were believed to have aphrodisiac properties. The seeds were gathered under a full moon, steeped in oil and then applied to the genitals. Alternatively, an amulet made from the leaves or roots was placed near the genitals.

Carrying a piece of marshmallow was thought to attract a new lover or make a departed lover think of you.

The Blood of Mabon The day fades into the deep glow of the autumn tones, Brittle leaves fall like bitter tears, Puddles of mashed up vomit In hues of orange, red and brown.

Beech masts sprawl scattered and broken, And hawthorn berries, like globs of blood, lay splattered, Gleaming in the half-light.

Equinox, and darkness throttles the remains of summer, Gathering into dark and more dark, But now the darkness is deeper, The light of the world diminished, And the bounty of the season with its fruit and seeds That shudder with possibility Seem futile, a promised future bleak and empty, The rich stench of the season that would thrill and excite, Now a reminder of pointless, hopeless, death.

Overhead ravens cry their butcher’s call, and You are there, white stripes bright In the suffocating dusk, Scuttling along the woodland edge by the creaking trees, And I try and hold the image of you in my memory, All muscle, claw, coarse-pelted, snuffling As you forage into the maligned night, And I want to touch you, to stroke your bristling fur, See my own face reflected in those small sparkling eyes, But I can only watch and wonder in the distance between us Will you survive until morning?

The wind blows cold, A spiteful stabbing wind, harsh, reckless, cruel, And all around a banquet dropping and rotting On the sodden ground, And the world is grim in its lack of care.

You, again, are prosecuted, my nocturnal friend, Subterranean creature of the night, Demon of the dark depths or Frightening beast of their prowling Unconscious perhaps, And now blamed and sentenced to death once more, For the folly of their ways.

And I’ll remember you this hour, With the sun collapsed and the hedgerows heavy and fat, The owl shrieking and the swelling moon choked with cloud.

I saw you hurry, rustling as you move on short strong legs, Into the thin strip of blackened woods, The little we’ve left you of your home.

And it’s your domain, the hours of night, Growing longer to spread like a disease, Where your lives and your mysteries are plundered, They call you a protected species, but lure you Into the trap and to the bullet Do you scream when they come for you…

The harvest moon hung hefty, hideous, and obese, Its glare startling the midnight still as death, Leaves tumble with a crash into silence And frantic owls cry desperate tunes.

Chilling dread grips the world struck dumb, And there, a rifle crack, splitting the night in pieces A woman in a pink night-gown runs into the Ashen grey moonlit stare And another, and another, Crack, Crack, And then more…

And in my mind, I see your body blasted apart And I hear their vehicles roar But I can’t save you And how can the brutality of this weary world Rejoice in the fruitfulness of Mabon When your crimson blood Stains the fields and thickets Of England’s green and pleasant land

Rachael Moss

November Thurs 01 Fri 02 Sat 03 Sun 04 Mon 05 Tues 06 Weds 07 Thurs 08 Fri 09 Sat 10 Sun 11 Mon 12 Tues 13 Weds 14 Thurs 15 Fri 16 Sat 17 Sun 18 Mon 19 Tues 20 Weds 21 Thurs 22 Fri 23 Sat 24 Sun 25 Mon 26 Tues 27 Weds 28 Thurs 29 Fri 30

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Garlic, onion sets

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Of England’s green and pleasant land

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Garlic, onion sets

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Garlic, onion sets

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Magical Herb and Spice Remedies...

Shodie's Cold Cure Mead As winter approaches it's best to be stocked up with a few things that will get us through the times when we're infected with those horrid germs which result in coughing and sneezing. While I can't guarantee a cure, I can say that a glass or two of this will make you feel better.

The home brew: Honey is probably the oldest sweet food known to mankind. The bee is sacred to Zeus, so it can be argued that honey is the nectar of the gods. The industrious work of the bees, I believe, magically empowers honey. 100% of their energy goes into making it. It is their life's work.

Energy can't be destroyed so it's no wonder that honey is so very healing.

(RECIPE: 1 gallon 3 jars) Next, I add a hand full of beetroot stems, which apart from its nutritional properties: iron, folate, magnesium and betacyanin, magically represents blood and my own energies put in to the brew.

1 then add one UK gallon of Water.

I use the water from a red stream which runs from the mountain through the grove I live near, in which our own goddess resides, but you can magically charge tap water for your brew. This can be done by either chanting over it, passing it through smoke or by the light of the full moon.

Finally, I add the yeast: As well as the alchemical process of turning water and honey into alcohol, yeast represents the growth of health in the drinker. So, I magically charge my yeast.

This will take 6 to 8 weeks to brew in a warm place. If you don't have the time the recipe can be adapted for bottled mead.

Spicing and Sweetening: Amounts are for 1 x UK gallon with those for 1 x 70clbottle in brackets 2 (1x2) teaspoon Turmeric promotes healing 4 (1) teaspoon Ginger helps in the preservation of the mixture 4(1) teaspoon Cinnamon for protection 2(1/2) crushed chillies in a tea bag or cloth adds fire to the mixture Note: A chopped piece of root or stem ginger can be used in a cloth with the chilli.

Use as much as you would in a cup of ginger tea per bottle.

Remove the chillies after 3 or 4 days and strain the mead to remove any particles. Add 1 (1/4) jar of honey to the mead and leave till it has dissolved.

Can be drunk or taken on a spoon or by dropper as a remedy for adults.

THE WILD HUNT The startling blare of the horn, Black habit the attire of scorn, We chase the dawn leaving a trail of those who mourn.

Surrounded by the braying chaos, Dogs leading the frantic way, Chase the wandering spirits at bay, Right through till break of day.

Moonlit hollow the rugged path, Encounter the Draugr in their wrath The un-lamenting trumpet blast, Shades of the iconoclast, Hooves crash, shrieks chill as the horde thunders past.

Odin, take me with you tonight – I turn my horse with all my might, Pounding his sides, whip in sight, Galloping, we take to the air, in flight, Ride through the horror of pure delight.

V. L. Jondreau

Aromatherapy If you are new to Aromatherapy or have not read previous articles on this then an insight to it is: Aromatherapy is the use of organic essences extracted from aromatic plants for healing and maintenance of vitality.

It may help minor ailments, keep us fit whilst still enabling us to be relaxed and at ease with ourselves.

The oils work by entering the blood stream via the skin, smells evoke memories and the brain registers the scent via the neurological and the endocrine system.

The therapeutic potential of essential oils, like other plant derived remedies, has yet to be fully realized.

Although numerous medical herbs have been utilized since antiquity, many of which have become of modern drugs such as Quinine and cocaine In order to use an essential oil apart from Lavender and Tea Tree they MUST be blended with carrier oil.

Grapeseed Oil A light green oil which is pressed from the seeds of various varieties of Vitis Vinifera grapes, an abundant byproduct of winemaking.

Due to Grapeseed Oils high linoleic acid value (greater than most other carrier oils), the oil is highly moisturising and is ideal for use in skin care. The oil absorbs very quickly into the skin’s pores making this excellent for a variety of skincare applications, especially when used as a base carrier oil for essential oil fragrances. It is often used on skin types that do not easily absorb oils, having the added benefit of not leaving a greasy feeling. Grapeseed has natural nonallergenic properties.

For anybody considering massage - Grapeseed is an essential massage oil, being suitable on a wide variety of skin types and those with nut allergies.

Grapeseed is the staple of most massage therapists.

Grapeseed oil makes an ideal base and can be combined with other carrier oils such as Jojoba to make a tailored skin care or massage base, or by combining Sea Buckthorne with Grape seed for a very special facial oil.

Grapeseed oil contains -Vitamin A Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E

Lovage Essential oil (Levisticum officinale) Lovage is part of the Umbelliferae family and is a hardy herbaceous perennial, which can grow to about 2 m (6 ft) in height, with a stout hollow stem and dense ornamental foliage; it has greenish yellow flowers and a strong aromatic smell. It looks similar to fennel coriander and parsley, and tastes like celery. The French, sometimes refer to it as bastard celery and in the UK, it is sometimes called love parsley.

It is native to Southern Europe and western Asia and usually cultivated in Belguim, France, Hungry, Germany and other former Eastern European countries.

It is extracted by steam distillation from the fresh roots’ leaves and stalks. Its colour is clear/brown and its consistency is thin.

The principal constituents are mainly phthalides up to 70% with traces of guaiacol and isovalerianic and Volatile acids amongst others.

The oil contains antiseptic properties and is often added to soap because of its sweet aroma and benefical skin properties.

It can be used for improving the circulation and on fatigued muscles. It can also be used to breakdown the accumulation of toxins; gout oedema and water retention. For the digestion it helps with anaemia, flatulence, indigestion and spasms. It also helps with cystitis, painful and heavy periods.

Lovage leaf oil is very strong and has a highly distinctive scent; so, you should be liberal in dilution. For its antispasmodic applications it is best used when massaged into the skin with a carrier oil.

Safety Data Not to be used when pregnant, if going out in the sun use in small doses.

(Julia lawless. The Encyclopedia of essential oils)

Friday 13th Friday There are plenty of people who will not set foot out of their front doors on Friday 13, let alone venture to work or to the local shop, sign contracts or have any business or money dealings on this dreaded day; these individuals are sincerely distressed with just the thought of doing any of these activities. Fear of the number 13 has a scientific name: “triskaidekaphobia” (Tris-kai-da-ke-phobia from the Greek meaning Friday and 13). and is horribly real for those persons who suffer similar anxieties to those with arachnophobia when faced with a spider.

Traditionally, Friday 13 is an auspicious day and has inspired numerous horror films and thriller books. It is a date, feared world-wide but what initiates the fear and superstition into our hearts and minds on such a global scale?

After all Friday 13 is just another day on the Gregorian calendar. The 13th day that falls on a Friday.

The fear of the day Friday 13, has deep roots in Christianity and stems from two quite separate fears… Fear of Fridays and fear of the number 13.

Friday is, the day of the over 1000 years old taking its name from English Frīgedæg or the Norse goddess Freya's day, which is equivalent to the Old English adjective. frēo meaning free.

In Goddess in many varying pagan pantheons/beliefs.

The name Friday is over . In Norse mythology, Freya is associated with love, beauty, finery, fertility and sex. She is the passionate seeker of pleasures. Frigg, the Queen of Asgard and wife of Odin is often considered to be Freya. Both Frigg and Freya are Goddesses of transformation, love and pleasure.

In Roman mythology, Venus is associated with Friday. She is the Goddess of love and light, and like Freya and Frigg, she is associated with beauty, desire, prosperity, fertility and sex.

Venus is the mother of the ancient Roman people.

Aphrodite is the Greek Goddess of love and sexuality and is associated too, with Friday, like our previous Goddesses. Her festival, Aphrodisia (meaning sexual desire), was originally held in July at her temple in Corinth.

Worshippers would pay tribute to her by having wild and passionate sex with her Priestesses in rambunctious fertility rites.

Friday is, generally, seen as the completion of the working week…a day of fun, relaxation and raucous unpredictability…that “Friday feeling and Goddesses such as Freya, Aphrodite and Venus, are associated with the spiritual aspects of people as they manifest on the physical plane. Because of this, Friday is sometimes thought of as an unpredictable day. This alone denotes the day as being one of power, the end of the working week, ruled by feminine energies. In a patriarchal society where women were once to be subdued, the day of Friday could not be connected with such prominent rebellious female figures and energies.

Magickally, Friday is the day of the week to do spells or rituals that involve love, romance, marriage, partnership and sexual matters; friendship, beauty, social activities, pleasure, music and arts and crafts, it is a day of creativity, inspiration and vision.

The Biblical floods, the story of Noah’s Ark from the Book of Genesis allegedly began on a Friday, Jesus was crucified on a Friday, the Temple of Solomon was destroyed on a Friday and Abel was slain by Cain on a Friday.

Friday was the day that Eve was deceived by the serpent and bit from the apple of the Tree of Knowledge. The serpent’s deceit brings shame and chaos upon Eden; consequently, these negative and destructive concepts that occurred on a Friday, once again bring about another negative and destructive view of women within the Christian religion…a theme that would continue through to modern times.

13 Likewise, the Bible associates the number 13 with rebellion against constituted authority. In primeval history the Sons of Belial (bee-lee-uh) rebelled in 13:13, saying “Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known. Belial means "worthless" in Hebrew. Paul uses it as a name for Satan and later Belial became an evil angel associated with lawlessness and lust.

The Israelite went around Jericho 13 times before sounding the horns, causing the walls of Jericho come crashing down. In the Book of Mark it says there are 13 evils in the human heart, it is the number of people who were present at the Last Supper of Jesus Similarly, in the Norse tradition while the Gods were feasting, Loki walked in, uninvited. The banquet, originally a party of 12, was crashed by Loki, bringing the total group number to 13. An enraged Loki determined for revenge arranged for the blind God, Hoder, to unknowingly shoot Balder with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder dies and the Earth falls into a darkness of mourning. This parallels the story of the Last Supper, contributes to the belief that you should never sit down to a meal in a group of 13; a tradition that became very popular in Victorian times where it was believed that the first to rise from a table of 13 people will reach serious misfortune. This popular myth was used by Agatha Christie in her novels and was a superstition upheld by the US President Roosevelt.

The number 13 has countless associations, with many of them being negative aspects. Is it a coincidence that our children begin to rebel at the age 13? Who knows?

Although 13 is universally known as a corrupt and unlucky figure. It is one of the most venerated occult numbers as it is perceived to possess mysterious and tangible power. The 13th card of the Major Arcana in the Tarot is the Death card. In ancient Egypt it was believed that life, was a quest towards the goal of spiritual ascension; 13 was the number of immortality; the first 12 steps of the ascension were life itself, with 13 symbolising death.

There were 13 steps on the ladder that leads to eternity, representative of the 13 levels of ascension.

In dream interpretation, seeing or hearing the number 13 symbolises dealing with chaos, bad luck, facing hardships and problems. It is an emblem of secret knowledge that confers power upon those who use it. A knowledge that religious orthodoxies have long feared and tried to suppress. It may appear to be unlucky to those who fear the secret gnosis it represents, but for adherents of those secret mysteries, it is, and always has been a sacred number, a potent feminine number. There are 13 Moon cycles each year, connected to the average 13 periods of female menstruation and the 13 days of ovulation throughout the year. The negative 13 pre-dates Christianity and-patriarchal theology figuring in many belief systems based on the Moon matching the menstrual cycles of women in a year.

There are roughly 13 weeks in the period between the Solstices and Equinox’s. For the non-pagan, non-witchcraft, non-occultist community, all of this helps contribute to the fear surrounding it.

There are traditionally 13 witches that make a coven, something the Wiccan community like to uphold. This stems back to the Norse belief that the witches of the north would gather under a dark Moon near the entrance to Valhalla, on moonless nights that fell upon a Friday. Frigg would often join this coven of 12 witches, bringing the total number to 13. This idea may also have originated from within the Christian Church itself; but with lots of folklore, it is impossible to accurately verify the exact origins. A similar Christian legend holds that 13 is unholy because it signifies the gathering of 12 witches and the Devil, this legend seems to stem back to Malleus Maleficarum (the witches hammer), written by Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger and published in 1847 and used extensively throughout the witch trials of the 16 and 17 centuries.

There are 13 months in the pagan lunar calendar which corresponds to the human menstrual cycle, once again connecting the number 13 to femininity, and moving with the flow of Divine energy. The sacred cords of the Druids are made from 13 segments.

In France, on the dawn of Friday 13 October 1307, King Philip IV with the backing of Pope Clement V, ordered the arrest of hundreds of

members of the Knights Templar, the Soldiers of Christ and the Temple of Solomon. They were all but wiped out and the Grandmaster, Jacques De Molay, is said to have cursed King Philip IV before his execution, which was also on a Friday 13, resulting in bad luck whenever the cursed day returned. Both Pope Clement V and King Philip IV died soon after.

By bringing Friday and the number 13 together; it made for a very powerful day for feminine energy and creativity. Its symbolism represents a powerful time of death and rebirth, signifying the midpoint in the lunar cycle, a time of new energies as the old ones slip away. For this reason, it is held in high regard by magickal men and women of the neo-pagan and occultist communities, it is a significant day to hold rituals and perform spells. It is an important day for those who follow and acknowledge the cycles of nature.

Occultists assign the number 6 to represent the number of man and the number 7 to represent the number of Divine perfection adding them together makes the number 13, thus, when a person climbs the “Jacobs Ladder” (the connection between Heaven and Earth) towards self-perfection, they strive for this. In the realm of the occult, the number 13 represents the state of Divine perfection; selfachieved perfection and illumination.

Perfection reached without dogma or doctrine.

Because the number is seen historically as a number of completeness. The number 13 is an outlier. There are 12 months in the Gregorian calendar year, 12 Gods of Olympus, 12 hours on the clock, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 Apostles of Jesus, 12 Descendants of Muhammad, the 12 labours of Hercules, the 12 signs of the zodiac… the list goes on. 12 is a complete number, 13 is not. 13 is an outcast and odd number.

The Babylonian and ancient Greek systems of astrology and astronomy go back for thousands of years. Claudius Ptolemy mentions a 13th zodiac sign. Serpentarius or Ophiuchus (Ow-fekuss) the Serpent Holder is in the constellation of Mazzaroth, between Scorpio and Sagittarius.

This had been ignored in Ptolemy’s time because the Sun covers the constellation for 19 days every year and thus, appears to be a direct

jump from Scorpio to Sagittarius. The Sidereal astrological sign of Ophiuchus dates from November 30 to December 18. The Sumerians, were amongst the first people to map the stars, their system used a zodiac that included 13 constellations.

In France a 27,000-year-old carving called Earth Mother of Laussel, was discovered in the Lascaux Caves. It is cited as an icon of matriarchal spirituality. It depicts a female figure holding a crescent shaped horn, the horn bears 13 notches. Some historians and archaeologists suggest that the notches are representative of the number of lunar and menstrual cycles. We know there was certainly was a pre-history era of primary Goddess worship and at least equal status of the female to support it. But there is no actual evidence that this is connected with the original concept of 13 zodiac signs.

Certainly, the number 13 has acquired layers of superstition relating to Christian history. It is possible that these feminine correlations are another reason the early Christian Church denounced their associations, concepts and practices. Instilling their masculine importance and authority over the female cultures and concepts of early modern pagans.

Friday was traditionally known as “Hangman’s Day” in Britain, the day of the week that convicted prisoners would make their way to the gallows. There were 13 steps that led to the gallows and 13 knots in the hangman’s noose.

Likewise, in early Rome, Friday was the day of execution.

It would seem, that the superstition of Friday 13 really took off in the Victorian era; the Victorians put Friday and 13 together to create a doubly unlucky day and even today many Western countries do not have a number 13 door, with several hotels purposely not numbering the 13th floor. We are taught from a young age that the number 13 is extremely unlucky, although we are never really given any serious justification or Once a lucky or unlucky notion gets into your head, it is very hard to un-know it. It remains buried in our psyche.

The notion of fate as being something we can control by doing lucky things or avoiding doing unlucky things such as, knocking on wood, saluting magpies, crossing our fingers, avoiding black cats, ladders and cracks in the pavement is something that stays in our minds, as they have become part of our language and culture

While research indicates, that there is an increase of accidents on this day, it is the belief in the Friday 13 superstition that could, in fact, prove to be the greatest risk to the average person. If people believe they are in greater danger on that day. As a result, they may become more anxious and distracted and this could lead to accidents. It becomes a selffulfilling prophecy.

Cheryl Waldron

Working with the Ancestors Samhain – Halloween – All Hallows Samhain is upon us and with it comes the ideal opportunity to participate in divination and spirit work.

Working with the Ancestors and communicating with them is an ancient practice that has been well documented throughout history.

Our intuition tells us that the Ancestors and spirits are there, beyond the veil. For some of us, divination comes naturally, for others, it takes practice, determination and a belief in our own abilities. There are of course risks involved when contacting spirits, so it is important to have some understanding of what you are, or are not doing correctly.

There are, generally, three types of communication that happens when we divine with spirit: • • •

The friendly spirits The not so friendly spirits The spirits who choose to ignore you

To the inexperienced practitioner, calling out to random spirits can bring with it a host of problems, so whether you are casting runes, scrying with obsidian, using a pool of water or spirit boards, it is important to bear in mind the following: • • • •

Protect and shield yourself and your space; Do some background research, ask experienced practitioners for advice Never summon a spirit that you would not be able to confidently banish Never make promises to spirits unknown

If you are at all unsure about what you are or are not doing, seek advice, and remember, when done with care and caution, divining with the Ancestors and spirits can be an enjoyable and spiritually rewarding experience.

Cheryl Waldron

Today the majority of contemporary Pagans recognise and celebrate a sacred calendar built around eight festivals. This “the Wheel of the Year,” although based upon historically recognised celebrations, is a modern development that can be credited to Gardner and Nicholls (Hutton 1999, d’Este and Rankine 2008). The public are aware of these festivals as many were deliberately Christianised by the early European church and many customs found today at Easter, Halloween and Christmas are of Pagan origin.

Of the eight Pagan holy days two are at the forefront of the non-Pagan public perception, often being featured in the media. The Summer Solstice, the point when the sun is at its height and marks the beginning of the astrological sign Cancer, is a solar festival. This means that the date is not fixed but determined by astronomical phenomena, the actual movement of the Sun. The date of the festival can fall as early as the 20th of June or as late as the 23rd and this festival is most often associated with white robed Druids at Stonehenge.

The second festival that is prominent in the public consciousness is Halloween, called by many Pagans “Samhain.” This is an Irish Gaelic word meaning “Summer’s End” and is most often pronounced Sow’en or Sow-ain (Farrar and Farrar 1981). There are other pronunciations and this can cause confusion. However, Ireland like mainland Britain has a plethora of dialects each with their own idiosyncratic manner of pronunciation and similar words also meaning Summers’ End are found in Welsh and Scots’ Gaelic (Nichols 2005).

The festival itself is of Celtic origin and it is both New Year’s Eve and the first day of Winter (Farrar and Farrar 1981). The Celts divided the year into equal halves of Summer and Winter. Summer began on the first day of May, and Winter began on the first day of November (Nichols 2005). The Celts measured the day from sunset to sunset not from dawn to dawn and this is why Celtic festivals are celebrated on the eve of the day marked in the calendar.

In times past the tribes would prepare for the Winter by culling the weaker animals and preserving the meat for the dark months lying ahead. It was a time of feasting, because not all the meat could be saved (Pagan Federation 1994). It was a harvest but the crops were already in, so this is the harvest of the animals.

As a harvest Samhain is the third in our Wheel of the Year. The first being August Eve, sometimes known as Lammas or Lughnassadh is seen as the cereal harvest, the Autumn Equinox in September is the harvest of the fruit and the vine. Samhain is historically the blood harvest because of this animal culling and the Heathen calendar recognises this by giving November the name Blotmonath (Jennings 2003) meaning Blood month.

Samhain today is also a spiritual harvest. A time to look back over the past year, a time to review our experiences, a time to remember those we have lost and to consider that more may die during the Winter.

All this leads to further misunderstandings of the festival and has in our modern society, led to an undeserved reputation for evil. This has come about in part due to the focus on death but Samhain is not about death, Pagans have a “death” festival and that is the Autumn Equinox when life in the fields is at an end and the “true” harvest takes place.

Samhain is much more a festival of the dead (White and Talboys 2004). It is an important time of remembrance and it is an odd “coincidence” that Remembrance Day falls on November the eleventh, which under the old Julian calendar would have been Old Samhain (Farrar and Farrar 1981).

Like Beltain or May Eve which is the time of the Fairy Folk and marking the beginning of Summer, sits opposite Samhain on our wheel, the veil between our world and the other is thin. Contact with the Old Gods and our Ancestors, spiritual or physical can be real and tangible. Pagans may therefore leave food and drink out over night as a welcome to visitors from the otherworld and to honour the Ancestors. This is a ritual known as the

dumb supper that although of Pagan origin, found its way into the Catholic Church before the Reformation (Hutton 1996).

different and rather than being hunted, Pagans may look forward to joining the hunt after death and riding beside their God across the night sky.

Within Paganism the religious aspects of this time also mark a shift as the Goddesses honoured during the Winter are likely to be those of fate, the otherworld or the underworld. The Gods of this time will be similar, not so much Gods of fate but Gods of the otherworld as guides and guardians of the dead. These are Gods not of the cereal or vine but are Gods of the hunt.

This corruption of meaning and symbolism, this misunderstanding of the themes associated with Samhain and the many Pagan Gods known to history, whether deliberate or accidental, has given this festival an undeserved reputation. There is far more meaning to this time on a deeper spiritual level than just an excuse for a party, dressing up or carving pumpkins.

This subtle change of emphasis is marked in the Craft with the recognition that the Lady is no longer honoured as the mother of the harvest but as the Crone, Goddess of Winter and Wisdom. The Lord has also changed his mask and he is no longer honoured as the Oak King, the Lord of Summer but as the Holly King, the Lord of Winter.

Death or to be precise dying, is often a painful experience but death itself should not be feared.

Any individual, who has any spiritual belief or religious faith whatsoever, is aware that death is not the end. There is in truth no end, for life is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth.

The coming of the Winter brings a new face to the Gods that now roam freely and pass through the veil from the otherworld to ours. This is the time of the Wild Hunt. This hunt is led by a Stag Horned man on horseback who hunts across the skies with an escort and a pack of fearful fairy hounds.

This is Herne the Hunter of Shakespeare, but the legend is far older than the Merry Wives of Windsor (Rankine and D’Este 2007). This is a Saxon or possibly a Celtic Hunting God, just one of the many Pagan Horned Gods that was to become a prototype for the Christian Devil.

The medieval Christian interpretation of the Wild Hunt is that of the Devil gathering the souls of sinners who will then be taken to Hell. Obviously, the contemporary Pagan interpretation is somewhat .

The true meaning of Samhain as a festival of the dead is as a time to remember with joy the lives of our dear ones while acknowledging our own sense of loss. As a time to honour our Gods, it is a time of recognition, when guardians and guides ride out to protect us and to lead us home.

All this and more are remembered by Pagans today. Samhain is both a time of sadness and joy.

Pagans do not fear death because like the trees that lose their leaves and sleep through the Winter, to produce new life in the Spring, we are all reborn. When we are reborn it is our hope that it will be in the same place and at the same time as our loved ones, so that we may know and love them again.

Daniel Bran Griffith

Learning Lenormand part Six. By now we are a third of the way through the deck of thirty-six cards. So, in this part I am going to focus on the next six cards giving meanings and then asking a question using a nine-card spread.

Number 13 in the deck is The Child, this represents something new or something just beginning. It can also can stand for an actual child until he or she has finished puberty when the man or woman cards are more appropriate.

The Fox is number 14 has two quite separate meanings, it can represent work, one’s occupation or main source of income. It can also stand for a tricky or deceitful person depending on the context, the question, and its position within a reading and this is where the reader’s intuition/skill comes into play.

An example of this could be, asking about a new lover. ‘Is the new love interest that I’ve met trustworthy?’ So, if we had Garden, Child, Fox, Snake, Rider this would indicate that a social occasion (Garden) led to meeting a new (Child) love interest (Fox) who is not to be trusted as there is deceit (Snake) and he will soon move on Rider. This is an oversimplification for the purposes of illustrating the meaning of the Fox card, however, when it comes up in a relationship spread I’m wary of the person its depicting and/or their intentions.

Number 15 is the bear, this can often describe a big dark-haired person usually male, and can even represent someone from a different country. It can also represent security, as in a mother bear protecting her cubs, as well as representing plain and simple power; how that power is being wielded is usually represented by the surrounding cards. and again, relies on the skill of the reader. The Stars is number 16 and can represent a few things. It can simply mean ‘many’ of something; it can stand for the internet or mass communication.

Some readers see it as meaning drugs (medicinal), or being under the influence of a substance.

Number 17 is the Stork, it follows the traditional association with pregnancy and/or good news.

Generally, if you are waiting for an outcome about an issue there is going to be a positive result.

The Dog is number 18, this represents a friend and is seen as a positive card. The only time this can be disappointing is if you ask this about a potential love interest who will remain friends and will not take it further into a love relationship.

For our nine-card spread I am reading for a client who is asking how the next six months are going to go for her. This is a theoretical reading and therefore we are treating this as a teaching exercise. Please note that when reading for any client there are ethical considerations which will be the subject of the last part of this series. The Cards read from top to bottom and left to right So, at a glance we can see this is a positive six months for this client. I begin by reading this as a story from left to right and vertically which is the time line of the reading. The first vertical line is Child, Rider, Stork so, it appears this client has had good news about something coming into their life. The second line is Dog House Fox so, it looks like they have met friend through a House move (Rider House) which if they have recently moved house, this may have

possibly involved a new job new job, hence having met someone The last line is Birds Tree Bear so, that this involves communication/networking, which is growing (Tree) and which offers security (Bear). Using the tool of knighting we see that Child knights Tree and Fox. So, this new opportunity with work has led to this new meeting, affording it the opportunity to grow.

The House is the central card so it looks like the house move has triggered all these positive outcomes. The Friend, (Dog,) knights Bear, signifying protection and security and the Stork brings positive news. So, this is a friendship that has brought amazing opportunities into this client’s life.

Please note that as this reading is for the next six months the client might not have as yet met the new friend however they are either hoping to move or are in the process of moving.

Finally, we can read the corners which give a kind of overview of the story. Reading from top left in a clockwise direction we have Child, Birds, Bear, Stork. To summarise the reading new communication or networking provides security which is positive.

Child

Dog

Birds

Rider

House

Tree

Stork

Fox

In the next part of this series we will be looking at the next six cards and beginning to discuss The Grand Tableau.

Eirwen Morgan

Bear

Winter Reading As the winter evenings draw in and the nights get colder, for many of us it is a perfect time to catch up on our reading which has taken a back seat during the long warm summer nights. With this in mind I have put together a selection of perfect Samhain books that are currently available from independent pagan/heathen and occult publishers. A mixture of fact and fiction to suit all ages and tastes.

Diane Narraway

Vampires: A World History by E.R.Vernor – Dark Moon Press $29.99/£22.70 – $49.99/£37.85 Get ready to learn what you’ve always wanted to know about vampires! From their roots in ancient mythology to obscure folk tales and legends, to their transformation into the suave Byronic heroes, to the popular culture of today, along with the development of the vampire into the protagonist in plays and poems and novels.

Hardback, limited edition signed, full color - $49.99/£37.85 www.darkmoonpress.com

Lilith Queen of Demons by Gillian Macdonald – Black Moon Publishing $25.00/£17.76 This book introduces people to the practice of working spiritually with Lilith.

It provides insight into her extensive background and offers guidance on how to identify with your Lilith. It is not and cannot be a fully comprehensive book on Lilith, my path is a living one, constantly expanding in knowledge and experience. For readers who have little or no experience of Lilith I hope that this book provides a basic introduction and guide to gaining some understanding and deepening their own connection with her. For the more advanced, this text can provide both reference material and hopefully new light on an ancient deity. A basic working structure and several tried and tested rites to the Lilith’s within the scope of my experience are provided. www.blackmoonpublishing.com

AMOR DIVINA The collected documents and papers by

Aleister Crowley Theodore Reuss, C.S. Jones, G.J. Yorke, Marcelo Motta & others Edited by Cœmgen La Vaughan – Hell Fire Club Books £59.00/$77.13 - £333.00/$435.32 Writings on sexual magick: the occult praxis of esoteric Thelema Ordo Templi Orientis, modern occultism and witchcraft.271 printed pages of secret papers on the occult arts Limited to 45 superior copies, 156 subscriber copies and 444 library copies. www.hellfirebooks.com

Sat En Anpu - Sirius Limited Esoterica While a Popular deity, there is really very little known about Anubis, as the Greeks called him. Often and increasingly relegated to a minor role in the Egyptian mythos, Anubis was actually so much more than a helper to Isis. He was the original god od the dead, and the central figure in the predynastic epoch.

Often times he is misunderstood or considered to be something he is not. This tome will take a detailed look at him, his history, related characters, and magical tools and practices that correspond to him. it will also take a look at the many masks of death gods in various cultures to see how they related back to him. This is the most extensive look at Anubis that has been published to date.

Dark Fruit, Enochian Grimoire Volume 2 – Sirius Limited Esoterica $350.00/£272.00

Deluxe leather-bound edition bound in white leather with silver tips and sewn in satin bookmark. Comes in mojo bag and two illustrated cards. One of only 11 hand numbered copies produced!

Written by Bill Duvendack Artwork by Rich Brewer The companion book to In the Shadow of the Watchtower, Enochian Grimoire Volume 1. Dark Fruit shares the experiences that occurred during the exploration of Enochian Magick by a group of intrepid explorers. Specifically, it focuses on the events that occurred when the Enochian system from the first volume was implemented.

This book is a collection of images, stories, gnosis, and initiations that serve not only as an introduction to this newly discovered Enochian material, but is also a glimpse into the magical record of a working Enochian group. Published by Sirius Limited Esoterica, this quality book takes the reader on an adventure into the unknown, and offers an intimate look at this material.

LOST SOULS - Peter Smith and Sarcophagus Press, of South Yorkshire, England, 1990 This was first published as a project of the Esoteric Order of Dagon (E.O.D.) They are reprinted here, along with two stories published in London in SKOOB Occult Review, edited by Christopher Johnson and Caroline Wise, and two tales not published elsewhere.

The Callanish Stones, originally published in London, in SKOOB Occult Review, is a fantasy with more than a grain of truth. A word to the wise: Be careful out there!

The Eater of Lost Souls was published as part of the original collection, Lost Souls. This tale was inspired by a camping trip to Duck, North Carolina on the Outer Banks, an anchor- point of the Bermuda Triangle far out into the Atlantic Ocean. I witnessed this phenomenon myself and obviously lived to tell this tale.

Great Dismal, while not strictly "true”, does reflect a truth about the world, my own strange attitudes toward trees and a fascination with the Great Dismal Swamp, experienced in all its moss-hung strangeness on our many long drives between Pittsburgh and the Outer Banks. Published in both in SKOOB Occult Review and as part of the original collection, Lost Souls.

Requiem is a complex "demon" of a tale, published as part of the original collection, Lost Souls. The bones of the story were inspired by a friend who “dropped out” to join the Hare Krishna’s and

subsequently disappeared and the veterans I know who suffered nerve and damage due to the use of “Agent Orange” in Vietnam.

The Hunted turns the tables on the many deer-hunters we have in Southwestern Pennsylvania. This tale could and did happen. Published as part of the original collection, Lost Souls.

From a Dream, first published here, recounts what at first appeared to have been a dream, but upon reflection contains an eerie sense of being a strange omen from the future. Was this a dream, a past-life memory, time-travel to alien dimensions, or a vision of unspeakable events yet to come?

Agent B.U.Z.Z. is essentially a satire seeing its first and only publication here, bringing together many threads that were prescient in 1982 when the story was originally written and presents a chilling reality in the current age of devastating chemical warfare, deadly railroad accidents, organ printing, the resurgence of psychedelics and fears of an Extinction Level Event in the near-term human future.

Magickal Tales to Delight and Inspire Diane Narraway/Cheryl Waldron - Dark Moon Press £11.66/$15.00 Magickal Tales is something new and different and is aimed at children, parents, carers and those who work with today's young witches and pagans. The stories are not only entertaining but also bring to life a variety of spiritual and magickal and at times historical aspects of today's pagan and magical beliefs. There is a notes section included at the back of the book that provides teachers and carers with ideas for adapting the stories into rituals that are easy to understand and suitable for children to either perform or take part in. There is also a complete play/ pantomime to entertain children whilst teaching them the history and original purpose behind one of the most our prominent customs, ‘Trick or Treating.’

Blessed Trininty Edited by Laurie Pneumatikos – Dark Moon Press £14.92/$20

Welcome to a little guessing game I like to call: Who, in the name of all that is unholy, wrote that? While you may recognize some of the names of familiar authors featured in this book, others have taken a vow of anonymity, presumably to protect the guilty. This book is what happens when twisted minds open up just enough to allow us a peek into their gruesome imaginings. “One of the greatest books I’ve read in a long time! Very Demented! And that’s a good thing in a wickedly devilish way!” – Blake Turner

Tribal Dreams Camp 2018 Friday

Tribal Dreams camp began with the opening ceremony, the Dolmen drummers started their usual catchy beat alerting us all to gather in the market stall area, everyone gathered into a natural circle formation around them. Taloch and Diane gave everyone a heart-warming welcome and the festivities began.

No campfire was lit due to the extreme dry conditions that had occurred from the glorious sunshine we had had for weeks before camp, but a makeshift fire, with a battery-operated colour changing candle was used in its place.

Shortly after the opening of camp the wonderful Crow Dancers took to the stage in the clubhouse, enchanting the full house before them. I asked a friend what he thought of the Crow Dancers. To which I got the reply “feckin awesome!” The evening rounded off with Ren getting his boots ‘burnt’ by the colour changing camp fire!

Saturday

Lots of talks today! Which started with the lovely Lou Hotchkiss Knives who talked about the real Versailles and the alchemy surrounding it.

Taloch spoke about performance magic, using the will of within to create passionate harmonics by creating an interactive talk using sound. There was a lovely energy in the room created by audience participation, in the form of throat singing, with Taloch teaching the technique in the “Universal Song of Life” And remember that “sound never fades away, it travels and becomes the earth song”.

After a successful talk at the lnternational Left Hand Path Consortium in America, Cheryl Waldron spoke about the Dark Feminine. After a turbulent time in her life Cheryl spoke about her personal journey with the “rebellious goddesses”, infusing with balance, dark/light, transformation and learning to work her way back to a more knowledgeable fuller life.

The Clan Dolmen’s favourite historian professor Ronald Hutton gave a very enjoyable and informative talk on water deities, including a mesmerising account of the Greek God Poseidon and spoke of the sea and earthquakes.

About this time the weather changed and the daytime marquee had to be taken down.

Ana Adnan’s talk followed Ronald’s and continued with Poseidon.

Ana’s a natural story teller and I love the graceful way she interprets a good story, this time was no exception and her talk was enhanced by Taloch playing music alongside Ana’s story of Andradite. Ana divided her audience into small groups to discuss how Poseidon is still prominent in our own lives today and in what ways we could thank him, which we then did all together in a small ceremony at the end of Ana’s talk.

Saturday night, entertainment came all the way from the Netherlands as Pyrolysis played their first ever UK event and they did not disappoint! I need more! (good job I bought the album).

The Dolmen took the main stage and as always gave us an outstanding performance.

Anyone that was left at the end of the evening congregated around the colour changing LED campfire chatting and enjoying the merriment of each other’s company.

Sunday

The great God’s of the East and West decided to grace us with their presence last night and all day! Every outside activity had to be cancelled due to the wet and very windy weather, shame as I was looking forward to the Lammas Games with the ‘Trash Fash Warriors!’. Still it did not faze us and we all carried on regardless.

Diane Narraway took us back to basics with Tarot cards, showing us different styles of cards and the difference in the imagery also the cards history in religion. Diane explained how you can buy your own cards and don’t have to rely on having them gifted to you, she also spoke about the different ways cards can be used such as in spells, on altar tables and how to use them intuitively using your “witch’s hat nav!”

The weekend entertainment was (as always) amazing! Stepan Honc from Perkelt played a solo set to entertain us, Amy and the Raven, The Boarding Crew, Esme Knight and Seren all gave outstanding performances over the weekend.

Clan Dolmens Tribal Dreams has been another huge success and I cannot wait for the next Dolmen family gathering!

Marisha Kiddle

MeDUSA I saw you once Medusa We were alone I looked you straight in the cold eye, cold I was not punished, was not turned to stone How to believe the legends I am told?

I turn your face around!

It is my face the frozen rage is what I must explore Oh secret, self - enclosed And ravaged place!

This is a gift I thank Medusa for.

May Sarton, "The muse of Medusa", 1978 Avert your gaze. Medusa is still, in our cultural landscape, one of the most terrifying figures to have emerged from ancient times. The daughter of the lost sea god Phorkys and his sister Ceto, Medusa alongside her two sisters Stheno and Euryale, formed a trio of she-monsters, the Gorgons, bloodcurdling creatures straight out of the bygone reign of the Titans. Despite her wings, serpent's tail and snakes for hair, Medusa was said to possess a strange beauty, although it can be questioned whether her unfortunate onlookers got much of a chance to appreciate it- as we all know, Medusa's gaze had the terrifying property to turn her beholders into stone. The Roman writer Ovid adds a later twist onto the story, telling us that Medusa had once been very beautiful, but her rape by Poseidon in front of the altar of Athena had enraged the virgin Goddess, who, in turn, had punished the unfortunate Medusa by turning her into the monster we know today.

The fact that Athena chose to punish Medusa rather than her rapist has led some specialists to speculate that the myth is an allegory for the transition from an era of female sovereignty to the oppression of patriarchal times. This theory is further supported by the story of her grisly end, when the hero Theseus uses a mirror (an attribute of goddesses and queens in ancient times) to vanquish Medusa. Indeed, Medusa is the epitome of everything that is regarded as ugly and terrifying about womanhood, about being female. She is both aesthetically fascinating and repulsive, untouchable by virtue of her powers; alone, malevolent, enraged. Needless to say, women practitioners have long tapped into her energy to catalyse and unleash their inner rage. Medusa's assistance can be summoned to paralyse an enemy, or to explore the desolate landscape of female anger; an emotion often repressed by our education and gender bias, as expressed in the poem above.

A word of caution, though!

This spirit, long neglected and unloved, can be a feral one. I cannot stress enough the importance of covering every mirror in the house when performing the ritual. Avoid other reflective surfaces, such as glass or screens... and please, DO NOT take selfies, no matter how cool your ritual make-up and garb are!

Should you not respect these basic rules, expect the effects of your spell to come back to you in the most unpleasant way.

You have been warned...

Lou Hotchkiss Knives

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Veneficia Editing is aimed at providing a quality service to authors and writers, specialising in, although not limited to Pagan, Heathen, Occult and Magickal Works including Grimoires and Ritual Workings.

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As authors and editors, we understand the importance of providing polished and readable articles, essays and MSS. Veneficia Editing exists because there are a lot of writers out there but not enough affordable editors and so much goes unpublished.

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Clan Dolmen Chronicles is FREE to read online and most issues are available to download. It covers a wide variety of Pagan and Heathen topics....Lets keep it that way so if you are interested in contributing we are always interested in hearing from you ....We consider all pagan/heathen articles for the next and future issues of Clan Dolmen Chronicles. . I am especially interested in articles on the various pagan paths including shamanism, voudon, occultism, alchemy etc./ Gods and Godesses.

Tree/herb lore/ Sacred sites,/Spells or incense/powders/washes recipes plus any pagan food recipes etc/ Folklore/Poetry and Wheel of the year short stories are also welcome. Articles should be between 250 and 750 words . If wishing to use specific images please be aware of copyrights...We also accept childrens contributions including short stories, poetry,artwork, their celebrations, the difficulties faced being a small pagan in a largely xtian society, poems, spells, pictures, the wheel of the year, forging their paths etc etc. This section is for children up to 16 years old or for those writing in retrospect as to what it was like being brought up pagan/heathen .

We are ethical and all work is credited to and remains the authors property!!!

Diane Narraway (editor) Please message me either on Facebook or via email at clandolmen@gmail.com