The holidays are over!

Greetings to all. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I have to say that I am relieved to be able to get back to normal. The stress of the holidays is so draining!
I first want to remind everyone that you have less then a week to enter my latest giveaway for the Custom Spirituality Kit. Please remember that to be eligible you have to be a follower of my blog, you have to blog or tweet about the giveaway as well as telling me why this is a good giveaway for you.
With that said, I would like to tell you about my new items that I am sooo excited about as well as the work I recently did on my besom. I recently participated in a trade with a wonderful ETSY seller. Her shop is called EarthWrappedJewelry. I am in the middle of creating for her a Custom Spirituality Kit and in return she created some lovely items for me.
The 1st item is a beautiful Natural Quartz Druzy Geode Necklace.

This natural druzy geode slice is one of Mother Nature's finest. Light, white & yellow agate, with tiny quartz crystals. Mineral deposits are also visible. This druzy geode has lots of sparkle. Weaved with .999 Fine Silver wire on a Sterling Silver frame and comes on an 20" silver chain.




My second item is a Quartz Crystal Weaved Pendant with Amethyst Accents.
A large Quartz Crystal 45mm X 9mm x 7mm has been weaved with .999 fine silver. Small Amethyst rondelles have been added and really accent this crystal.


My third item is a Rainbow Moonstone Sterling Silver Pendant.
This beautiful Rainbow Moonstone has been weaved with a basket of fine silver. Stone is 10mm.


She also wire wrapped a lovely silver ring with an aqua marine bead. You can see this in the pics below.
The craftsmanship in EarthWrappedJewelry's items is unparallel. Each item is enchanting and magickal. They are all lovely additions to my metaphysical jewelry collection.
If you would like to check out her other wares please visit the link below.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EarthWrappedJewelry

I also decided that my trusty Besom needed a makeover. I have been thinking about it since I posted that blog about the use of besoms and how we Witches tend to neglect them at times. I have been guilty of that but no more! I put a lot of thought into this and finally decided to get to work. Once I decided what I wanted to do I got to work.

I added a nice quartz crystal to the tip of my besom and surrounded it with onyx, snowflake obsidian, dalmatian stone, and crystal chips.

The top of my besom has black velvet ribbon wrapped around it. I also atttached crystal chips to that. I then took purple and black ribbons and wrapped them around the length of my besom also adding some to dangle down the sides. I have a black velvet rose that wraps around the bottom of the wood handle as well. Around the twigs I also wrapped the black velvet ribbon and added clear and dark purple gems to the twigs as well.
At the top of my besom I added a cluster of beads and charms and for the handle I used black and white seed beads in patterns of six of course.
Forgive the pictures as my camera is broken and I have to rely on my video camera as my camera and it does not have a flash. So without further ado here is my new Besom....


















And here is a pic of me with my new jewelry on performing a reading for an online client...:)

That is all for today. Again, don't forget to pass the word about the Custom Spirituality Kit giveaway. I look forward to seeing who wins. All names will be added to a hat and the winner will be picked randomly.

Brightest Blessings to all!

New Giveaway~Custom Spirituality Kit!!!!!!

Are you feeling stagnant and unmotivated? Perhaps you feel as though something is missing in your life, but your not sure where to begin looking for it. The time has come to connect to your spiritual roots and inner light. Your life is a gift and how you live it is your choice.

I am pleased to offer to my blessed followers a new giveaway. I wanted to give away something really special for the new year to one of you. I decided to start off the new year with my biggest giveaway yet.

A Custom Spirituality Kit!

This kit will contain a Custom Blended Oil, A Custom Blended Herbal Sachet, and a Crystal specific to the intent we decide is right for you. Each item will be made to your specific spiritual needs.

You and I will converse through emails or chat to decide what is the best way for you to connect to your inner light and to aid you with living a life where you feel more confident, focused and spiritual.

I want everyone to understand that as a Tarot Reader and Spiritual Counselor I value confidentiality. Nothing you say to me will ever be repeated. I have heard everything so nothing you say will shock me either. To create the perfect kit for you, I will need you to be honest and open with me.

I greatly enjoy creating custom orders and it will be my pleasure to create for you a custom kit. I look forward to starting off the new year creating this for one of my followers. I thank each and every one of you for staying with me this year and I look forward to a prosperous new year for all of us.

Please note that if you have won one of my giveaways in the past it does not mean that you do not qualify for this giveaway. As long as you follow the below instructions, you are eligible to win this giveaway.

I will announce the winner on New Years Eve!

To Qualify for the giveaway you must do ALL of the following:

1. Be a follower of my blog.

2. Blog about this giveaway.

3. Comment on this blog telling me why you would like to win this particular giveaway.

~Note, if you do not have a blog you can Twitter about the giveaway. Please leave me your blog address so I know that you have shared this giveaway in your blog or on your Twitter.

Also, I offer a Custom Spirituality Kit in my shop if you would like to check it out. That contains an Oracle Reading, A Custom Oil, A Custom Herbal, A Custom Incense, and a Crystal. The photo shown in this giveaway is an example only and is from my shop listing of a Custom Spirituality Kit.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33938027

Thanks to all and Good Luck!

We Have a Winner!

And the winner of the Winter Solstice Swag is a new follower by the name of:
Talullahsworld!
Many thanks to all who entered and I will have another giveaway soon so stay tuned...:)
Magickal Blessings to all for a magickal Yule.
The Celtic Witch

Note~Picture shown in a new item I added to my store yesterday. It is a trio bracelet set of amethyst and metallic beads. Really cute if you would like to check it out.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/magickalenchantments

New Product Giveaway~Winter Solstice Swag

Juniper and spice, and everything nice. That is what you will be getting with my latest giveaway.
My Witchlet and I had a busy weekend creating. Saturday was a rainy day here in New England so we spent the day drying apples, oranges and lemons. We sprinkled the apple slices with a blend of cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon before baking. We put them on wire racks on top of a baking sheet in a 250 degree oven for two hours. They came out perfect and my house smelled fabulous all day!
We also strung cranberries and wired them into hearts and circle shapes for ornaments.

Sunday turned out to be a beautiful day so we grabbed our collecting bag and headed to the park. Our collection bag is one of those green bags you buy for the market so you do not use the plastic bags. I have tons of those so we turned one into our collection bag. In this bag we have two pairs of scissors, a marker, two small glass jars with tops, and paper lunch sacks. This bag is great and having the separate bags allows us to collect and label our goodies.
We collected juniper, pine, pine cones, berries, grapevine twists, and acorns. We were at the park for about 3 hours and we had a wonderful time my Witchlet and I. It was a peaceful day and we even saw a little baby chipmunk with his little cheeks fat with nuts.
After our collecting we went for lunch at Burger King, Bella's choice, not mine..:)
Of course driving home I felt this tickling on my neck and pulled a lovely bug off of myself. It is amazing that I didn't get into an accident with the screaming and checking myself while driving for other members of the bugs family that were in my mind making a home in my scalp! Luckily it was only a 3 minute drive to Burger King where I almost stripped naked in the parking lot checking for bugs.
When we got home we soaked our acorns and pine cones in hot soapy water and scrubbed them clean. I also cleaned off the pine and juniper with lukewarm water.
Once our goodies were dry we created these lovely Winter Solstice Swags.
I created three, one for my shop, one for me, and one for the winner of this giveaway.
Your Winter Solstice Swag is made up of Pine and Juniper for it's base. I then added three cinnamon sticks, acorns, and pine cones. At the top is a spiced dried apple slice with a dried lemon slice and a lovely metallic bead in the center. I added a green crescent moon, a green star, and a gold star, which I glued on in different places on the swag. At the very top is a bow of green ribbon with a lovely green lamp work bead in the center.
The total piece measures about 10 inches long give or take.
This piece smells lovely and would make a lovely addition to your holiday decor.

Here are the magickal meanings of the objects in your Winter Solstice Swag:
Acorn:
Plenty, prosperity, good luck, birth, patience, and fruitfulness.

Cinnamon:
The masculine principle, power, love, spirituality, success, wealth, and healing. Associated with the Sun, and the element of fire.

Clove:
Strength, courage, and protection. Associated with Jupiter and Uranus, and the element of fire. Used in magical works for cleansing, protection, to bring prosperity, and to keep away negative forces.

Juniper:
Courage, protection, purity, and confidence. Associated with the planet Mercury.

Lemon:
Harvest, passion, discretion, luck, uplifting, energy clearing, and pride. Associated with the Sun. Said to bring protective spirits.

Pine:
Honesty, strength, fertility, generosity, silence, hope, solitude, and immortality. Pines cones were carried to increase fertility and for longevity. Pine needles have been burned as an incense to purify and cleanse. Branches were placed over beds to keep sickness away. Associated with the planet Mars and the element of air.
Pine Cone have been powerful, and ancient, symbols of Eternal Life

Apple:
Love, fertility, divination, luxury, knowledge, and romance. The apple has been associated with sexuality in most cultures.
Celtic: Fruit of knowledge, prophecy, and magic. The Silver Bough. The ancient Celts believed the apple had strong magic powers. It is also associated with the Other world. In many Celtic myths, people who travel to the Isles of Women and enter the Land of promise are met by a beautiful woman who carries an apple branch and promises to grant them their heart's desire. The apple was used to symbolize the goal of a quest.

To be eligible to win this enchanting Winter Solstice Swag you must:
1. Be a follower of my blog.
2. Comment on this post.
3. Tweet or blog about this giveaway and leave me the link to wear you have done so.
4. Please make sure I have a way to contact you if you are the winner.

Thanks to all and good luck!

Grab your Besoms My Fellow Witches!

Last night I grabbed one of my old Magical Almanacs to read. I love my Magical Almanacs and I have them going back to 1999. They are filled with information on various areas of the craft and I never lack for reading material.

The article that I opened up to was one about brooms and how we Witches often overlook how effective they are in magic. I am also guilty of this and tend to save my broom for magical house cleanings and for clearing my sacred space. Shame on me however, I should know better. A broom is so much more than that. After all, we Witches are known for having magickal brooms so why aren't we using them more?

The broom itself functions as a symbol of the sacred marriage of the God and Goddess, a rite that has been symbolically reenacted each spring by followers of earth religions for thousands of years. The pole portion represents the phallus of the God, and the bristles symbolize the mound of Venus that guards the opening to the Goddesses reproductive organs. When both parts are united in a completed broom they form a potent magical symbol of wholeness and creative potential.

This sexual imagery makes the broom the perfect choice for a magical tool to use in fertility rites of all sorts. It is also used at the conclusion of many Pagan marriages (called Handfastings) as the couple "jumps the broom" after exchanging their final vows.

In the distant past women would ride their brooms hobbyhorse style over newly tilled fields to encourage growth, and through barns and pasture lands to encourage the reproduction of animals.

Because brooms represent the totality of the deity-both male and female aspects- they have been used as talismans of protection. They have been placed under beds, across entryways and windows, at the entrances to sacred space, and they have stood guard at hearth sides.

The sweeping action of the broom itself, its ability to cleanse any area through which it is taken and to take whatever debris it collects to someplace else, is so obvious that the magical potency of this simple action is to often overlooked.

In the article I read last night which was written by Edain McCoy, she tells us about a well-to-do Irish lass named Alice who owned a magic broom that got her into big trouble.

A seventeenth century Irish widow named Dame Alice Kyteler knew the secret of the broom, and was apparently adept at using it to good effect until she was caught in the act and condemned to death for practicing Witchcraft.

Alice loved her children and was willing to use magic to help them succeed. She would take her broom out into the streets of her native Kilkenny late at night and begin a methodical sweeping action that was aimed toward her home. While doing this she would chant a magical rhyme in which she bid all the wealth in town to come to her eldest son William who lived with her.

No one knows just how long the very prosperous Alice had been working at this spell when she was discovered by a neighbor and reported as a Witch, but we do know that she was able to escape her persecutors and flee to England with most of her considerable wealth in tact.

Do you think she used her broom to escape her persecutors? I like to think so..:)

With the economy the way it is, I expect all of you to grab your besoms this evening when the moon is high and start your methodical sweep to bless your home with prosperity. You know that I will be out there!

So my fellow Witches, grab your brooms and start using them like they want to be used...:)

Brightest Blessings,

The Celtic Witch

Note, I would also like to add that especially at the holiday season our homes get bogged down with stress and negative energy. This is supposed to be the season of good will.

A good way to cleanse your home of negativity is to grab your broom and starting at your front door move in a clock wise motion through your home sweeping out all negativity. Be sure to get under beds and all closets and corners. While you sweep you can chant something like this or use your own words:

"Sweep, Sweep,

With this broom.

All bad out of this room.

Sweep, Sweep,

All good in.

The bad to never return again."

Be sure your magickal broom never actually touches the floor. Keep in mind that this is a spiritual cleaning and should be done after your regular cleaning for maximum effect.

Ta~Da, My New Wand!

I have finally completed my wand! I am so excited about it. When we went apple picking last month I collected some very nice apple branches. Once home I went through the braches and picked out a nice branch that felt just right in my hand. I peeled and sanded it. With a pencil I then drew some symbols on it that I wanted to wood burn. I am not an artist in any way so I kept the symbols simple. I am also new to wood burning so I was so scared to death to take that tool to my lovely wand that I almost didn't do it. I finally got up the courage last night to try it and I am quite pleased with the results seeing that it was my 1st time wood burning. I drew a pentacle at the top of the wand, a bit under that a Goddess with two crescent moons on each side of her, under that a triple moon, and at the bottom a god symbol. I drew swirls coming out of each symbol to run around the wand at a curve.
I then placed a lovely quartz point at the top and used a pretty purple ribbon at the top and bottom.
I chose my favorite charms and beads to adorn my wand and then used purple and white ribbon to hang down the side.
I am so happy with this wand that I can't put it down, lol. It feels so good in my hand, it was meant for me. I also burned my initials on the very bottom of the wand.
Here are some pics:

I would love to hear your thoughts and stories of how you all made your own wands.

I hope to get around to making one for my shop soon. I also have some lovely white birch branches that I collected a while back intending to make a wand from them as well.

Wishing everyone a bright and blessed weekend.

p.s.

I added some new items to my shop if anyone would like to take a peek. I created a Peaceful Sleep Kit, a Peaceful Sleep Spell Candle, and some Sleep Incense that I will be listing this weekend.

www.TheCelticWitch.com

Blessed Be!

Pagan Pride Day 2009

Yesterday was the Rhode Island Pagan Pride Day and I stopped in for a bit intending to treat myself with a little something. Last year I was a vendor however this year I did not participate as a vendor but I didnt want to miss out on the day.
It was a beautiful day weather wise, the sky was blue, there was a nice breeze, and the energy floating around the event was wonderful. I got their early when they 1st opened at 10 am. Last year they gave away goody bags with samples but apparently there weren't any this year..:(.
While going through the stands I came across a Tarot deck that I have been wanting since its recent release. The Tarot of The Sweet Twilight. I purchased this from The Silver Willow which can be found in Rehoboth, MA. Their website is www.thesilverwillow.com. They have a wonderful assortment of Pagan items and the owners are warm and friendly.
The Sweet Twilight is a beautiful deck from Lo Scarabeo featuring the artwork of Christina Benintende. This deck is like no other I have owned or seen. The images on each card are enchanting. They invite you into a world full of mystery and beauty. While some of the images do have the key symbols, others do not making it a perfect deck for the intuitive reader.
The box that the deck comes in has the following poem by W.B.Yeats:
Out-worn heart, in a time out-worn,
Come clear of the nets of wrong and right:
Laugh heart again in the great twilight,
Sigh, heart, again in the dew of the morn.


I look forward to performing readings with this lovely and truly one of a kind deck.
I also purchased some new crystals. Two beautiful large chunks of rose quartz, a selenite tower, and two crystals to add to my Witchlets crystal collection. For her I purchased a lovely midnight blue goldstone in a heart shape and a pretty bunny carved from soapstone. She loved them both.
I came to see that my best purchase was my Selenite tower. Although I have a large collection of crystals I have never owned Selenite before. This crystal resonates with energy and is said to help one connect with their higher self and to become aware of our own divinity. It has many uses for healing and magick however the one I learned quickly was it's ability to aid with dream recall. I am someone that has trouble remembering my dreams and only once in a while will one stick with me till the morning. I am also a very deep sleeper and once I fall asleep I sleep like a rock till the morning. Last night I placed my selenite on my headboard shelf right above my pillow. Let me tell you, I awoke last night about 3 times from dreams! How I wish I had thought to place my journal next to me! I was to tired to get up and get it and of course I didn't remember them this morning. I look forward to working more with this crystal. It is said that Selenite was a healing tool in Atlantis. It can be used to scry into the past, present and future. Past life regression are also assisted with selenite. It increases sensitivity, greater insight, psychic development, mental clarity, and removes blockages. It is said to be perfect for accessing ancient knowledge. How did I only now purchase this wonderful crystal? Perhaps I was not ready for its power and now I am.
I also purchased Llewellyn's 2010 Witches Spell a Day Almanac, The Llewellyn's Sabbats Almanac for 2010, and The Witches Almanac for 2010. The Witches Almanac is based right here in Newport Rhode Island. Nice bunch of guys running that table. I can’t wait to start receiving their newsletter. Go check out their site at www.thewitchesalmanac.com.
I try to purchase these almanacs every year as they are full of wonderful stories, recipes, crafts, and lore. The Sabbats Almanac is a great almanac with crafts, lore, and recipes for each Sabbat. A definite addition to every Witches book supply. I personally love books and can’t get my hands on enough of them, especially older additions of anything related to the old ways.
I would also like to give a shout out to a local seller right here in my hometown of Johnston, R.I. Here name is Liz and she creates some wonderfully organic items. Liz is a certified herbalist and is friendly and more than happy to answer questions with her wealth of herbal knowledge. Check her out at www.mywickedgarden.com
So, those were my treasures from Pagan Pride day.
Wishing everyone a great week.
The Celtic Witch

Winner of Floral Spice Giveaway

The winner of the Floral Spice Giveaway is Bridgett! Bridgett writes a lovely Holistic Blog if you would like to check out her writings..

http://allnaturalboo.blogspot.com/

Thanks to all who entered and I will be offering a new giveaway soon! As always, if there is something you would like to see for a giveaway from my shop feel free to drop me a line..:)

Brightest Blessings,

Kat

Samhain Guided Family Meditation

I have a wonderful old book called "Circle Round, Raising Children in Goddess Traditions"
The Authors goal for this book is to support families building their own spiritual tradition, by bringing you celebrations, explanations, activities, and the experiences of other families. The author’s definition of families being loving people who join together in the hard and important work of raising children. Children and families need love and support. The goal of this book is to offer these things.

I thought I would share this short story that can be used as a Samhain Guided Meditation for yourself, your children or perhaps as a guided family meditation or story.
So grab a cup of tea and sit for a spell...

Circle round, close your eyes and imagine...
It is late at night on Halloween, and you are very excited. All evening long you've been out, dressed up in costumes, collecting candy and apples and other treats from the houses in your neighborhood. Now you are quiet. It is time to go to sleep, but you can feel the magick in the air.
"Do we have to go to sleep?" you say.
"Tonight is a night for magick dreams," say the old ones.
"Set out an apple for Grandfather Deer, and maybe he will take you someplace."
You choose your best apple and set it out on the windowsill for Grandfather Deer. Then you lie down and close your eyes.
Now the room is filled with an earthy, animal smell. Open your eyes, and before you stands the glowing spirit of Grandfather Deer, the oldest and wisest stag in the forest, with many branching antlers he wears proudly on his head.
“Hop on my back, and I will take you someplace" he says.
You climb on his back, and hold tight to his antlers. He moves so swiftly and smoothly, you feel like you are flying, out of the house, over the tops of the trees, out past the streets and the cars, out into the spirit world of swirling color.
At last you come to a sandy beach by the shore of a dark ocean. You are not afraid, even though you can’t see much in the dark.
Get down off my back," Grandfather Deer says. "I cannot take you any farther. Now you must go on by boat."
You slide down off Grandfather Deer's back, and thank him. A boat glides across the water and you hear the crunch of sand under the keel as it reaches the beach.
"Do you wish to ride in my boat?" says a voice. You can’t see anyone, but you know the voice is magic because it sounds different to everyone who hears it. Some hear a woman’s voice, some hear a mans. Some hear a child or an animal or a bird.
What do you hear?
"Do you wish to visit the Shining Isle across the Sunless Sea?" the voice says.
"Yes," you say.
"Then you must pay me something."
"But I don’t have any money, I’m only a kid," you say. And you left all your candy at home.
"I like stories better than money or candy," says the voice. "Tell me a story about something you have done that was hard for you to do."
What story do you tell?
"Climb into the boat," says the voice.
You climb aboard, and the boat slips away from shore. It moves silently over the dark water.
In the distance, something shines. Slowly it grows bigger and brighter. You begin to smell something very sweet on the air, something that reminds you of fruit and flowers.
Now you see the shining thing is an island in the distance that grows bigger as you approach. On the shore are beautiful trees and flowers that shine with a light of their own.
"Who lives on that island?" you ask.
"The beloved dead, and the unborn," says the voice.
"Am I dead?" you ask.
"No. Tonight is Halloween, the only night of the year when the living can visit this island."
The boat reaches the shore, and the sand scrapes under its keel.
"Thank you, thank you!" you say, jumping off and wading through shallow water to the shore.
You step up onto the shore of a magick land that looks different to every person who comes here. You see the most beautiful place you can imagine, and just the sort of place you like best, whether it’s a valley or mountains, or a beautiful garden or a beach or a warm house. Someone is there to greet you, an ancestor, someone who loves you very much.
Who is it?
Is it someone you know and miss and remember, or someone you have never met before? Or is it someone you have met in a dream?
You play for along time, and at last, when you get hungry and thirsty and tired, an old, old woman appears. She is so old her face is covered with wrinkles, but her eyes are so bright they glow like two big round moons. At her feet is a big, round iron pot, a cauldron, and she is stirring something in it with a big wooden spoon, around and around and around.
You go close to the cauldron and look inside. At first it seems dark, but then you notice thousands of tiny, glowing lights, like little stars. Around and around and around they swirl, until you get a little dizzy watching them.
"Those are the souls of the dead," the old woman says. "And they are also the souls of the unborn. In my cauldron, I brew them back into life. Would you like to taste my brew?"
She holds out her spoon and puts one drop of her brew on your tongue. It tastes like the best thing in the world you can imagine. Just one drop is enough to leave you perfectly satisfied. You look into her eyes again and realize she is the Goddess.
"Remember this taste," she tells you, "whenever you are afraid or have to do something hard. It will give you strength and courage. But now it is time to go."
Sadly you say goodbye to the Goddess, to your ancestor, to everyone you have met here on the Shining Isle. You walk slowly back to the shore. A whole year will pass before you can visit here again, but you will remember your ancestor, and maybe in your dreams you will meet again.
At the shore the boat waits for you. You step inside and feel the scraping of the keel on the sand as it pushes off across the dark, dark waters of the Sunless Sea.
On the opposite shore Grandfather Deer waits. You smell his warm, animal smell and the rich smell of the moist earth. Now the boat reaches the shore again, and you thank the magic person who has guided the boat for you. You jump out, splashing through shallow water. and hop onto Grandfather Deer’s back.
Again you fly through the swirling colors of the spirit world, back over the treetops and the streets, to your own house again. You thank Grandfather Deer as you slide down from his back and feed him his special apple. Then you curl up to sleep, warm and safe in your own bed.~

New Piece, Goddess Cluster Ring

Last night I made my 1st attempt at making a wire wrapped ring. I have been wanting to make one for so long and have not got around to it. However yesterday I tucked a piece of Labradorite in my head scarf so it rested right at the crown of my head and had a very creative day.
If you have never tried using crystals in this way, give it a try. I also tuck them into my bun or ponytail when I am not wearing a head scarf, which I usually am. If there are no crystals hiding in my hair, chances are they are tucked into my bra. I use crystals on a daily basis for many different types of needs from headaches, to prosperity, to anxiety, to creativity. You name it and there is a crystal that can aid you with it. I am lucky enough to have a very large supply of different types of crystal at my home as I have been collecting them for years.
ok, On to the ring..:)
I would love to hear your thoughts on this piece. Next time I am going to make the band a bit wider. I used Peridot as it is a wonderful crystal for healing, prosperity, and calming anger and anxiety. It is a lovely crystal that has a lovely hue to it.
I added a silver spiral goddess charm to the center. She is decorated on both sides so no matter which way she turns she looks lovely. She is around a size 7 1/2.

I also would like to say Greetings to my new followers! Thank you for taking the time to read and follow my blog! Best of luck to everyone who entered the Floral Spice Giveaway, I will be picking a winner this week! Also, the winner is picked at random. All names are placed into a bowl and my youngest usually picks the winner.
Thanks for all your blogs and tweets, much appreciated!
Brightest Blessings to all!

Floral Spice Perfume Oil Product Give Away!

Greetings all,
I don't usually "toot" my own horn when it comes to my creations however,....:)
I loooove my new oil blend Floral Spice! It came out so awesome that I can't stop wearing it!
It is spicy and enticing and enchanting all rolled into one! I am more prone to the spicy woodsy blends but the little bit of floral added to this blend really completes this oil. I receive compliments every time I wear it.

It was time for a new product giveaway so I am offering a bottle of this oil blend to one of my followers. All you have to do is comment here and I would also appreciate if you would spread the word about this giveaway...:)
Twitter it, mention it in your blog, Facebook it, any of those would be appreciated.
I will choose my winner by next week.
Remember, you have to be a follower of my blog as well as commenting here for a chance to win. Once the winner is picked, I will announce it here.
Good Luck all!

The Goddess Kuan Yin

Kuan Yin is believed to have been the daughter of a wealthy, cruel man who desired her to marry for status. Gentle Kuan Yin, in hopes of gaining spiritual enlightenment, disobeyed her father and entered a temple. There, she quickly became known for her kind deeds and compassion. But her father was so angered by her act that he had the girl killed. For her good works while alive, Kuan Yin was brought to heaven where she could enjoy an eternity of bliss.
But as she searched for heaven's gates, Kuan Yin heard a cry from below. It was someone suffering upon the earth, someone in need of her help. Then and there she vowed never to leave humanity until every last person was free from woe. For this vow, Kuan Yin was transformed into a Goddess.
Today the goddess Kuan Yin is widely worshipped. She is believed to heal those sick of heart and body, mothers and children in distress, and even seafarers in storms.
To often in life we are overwhelmed by troubles. Sorrow encompasses us-and there is only so much we can do. For those beset by worries or illness, the merciful goddess Kuan Yin is a wonderful goddess to invoke.
Many believe that the magickal act of saying Kuan Yin's name helps the troubled gain comfort. Others choose to go on pilgrimages to the goddess's temple on the mountain of Miao Feng Shan; to win her notice, they shake rattles and other noisemakers as they pray.
The next time you feel overwhelmed with worries, spend some time in nature. Choose a place that is beautiful and serene; even if you live in a city, a quiet glade of trees is often only a train ride away. Bring with you a small offering of fruit or a flower for Kuan Yin.
When you reach your destination, take some time to walk around. The act of walking suggests the passage of time: Time will pass and so will your problems, as difficult as that may be to believe.
When you find a quiet spot where is in unlikely you will be disturbed, sit and unburden yourself to Kuan Yin. State aloud what is bothering you and why. She will understand, compassionate goddess that she is. Take your time. Remember, the act of saying Kuan Yin's name aloud is believed to bring peace to even the most troubled of hearts.
When you have finished, leave the goddess your offering - and thank Kuan Yin for her help.

This information about the goddess Kuan Yin came from my enchanting book:
Embracing the Goddess Within by Kris Waldherr.
This is a lovely book and has been a wonderful addition to my collection of pagan books. You all know what a shameless book whore I am...:)
Brightest Blessings,
The Celtic Witch
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A Brief Introduction to the Beliefs of Buddhism

I want to apologize for this post taking so long to appear! To my defense I have been busy with my shop and I recently wrote a new article for Ye Olde Witches Brew. I now have my own blog there as well as starting a column where I take pagan themed questions from readers and post their letter and my answer on the column. If any of my readers here have anything they would like to see addressed on that column feel free to contact me through this blog or through the online publication!
With all that said, today's post is about Buddhism. I recently purchased a book on Zen and am greatly enjoying my read. I decided to share some of this with you.

The Enlightenment of the Buddha is central to Buddhism. The word "Buddha" means "enlightened" or "awakened". It refers to a fully enlightened being who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance or who is enlightened about both his or her own nature as well the nature of the world. Historically, the word Buddha is most often used to refer to Siddhartha Gautama, a prince of the Shakya clan in ancient India (sixth century BC) who, after a long spiritual struggle, had a great spiritual awakening and became the Buddha, the Enlightened One. As the enlightened sage (muni) of the Shakya clan, he also came to be known as Shakyamuni Buddha.
In his enlightened experience, the Buddha gained insight into the suffering or pain that pervades our existence. He discovered a new mode of awareness and way of living driven neither by the grasping of desire nor by the aversion of hatred. This enlightened awareness is free of the ignorance and delusion that is characteristic of our normal consciousness. It finds expression in a host of positive qualities, most importantly, great wisdom and great compassion. These are exemplified in the life of the Buddha.
The Buddha embarked on a long life as a teacher in Northern India in order to communicate this experience, with its liberating knowledge, to others. He founded a community of followers establishing the basic patterns of institutional life, meditative practice, and philosophical and religious thinking known as Buddhism.
The teachings of the Buddha are preserved in the Buddhist scriptures (sutras).

Buddhists take refuge in the Three Jewels:
The Buddha, who has realized enlightenment
The Dharma, the teaching of the Buddha
The Sangha, the community of Buddhist practitioners.

The young prince Siddhartha Gautama is depicted as having everything one could desire-wealth, bodily beauty, intelligence, a beautiful wife and child, abundant leisure time and so on-yet something was lacking in his life. Despite all that surrounded him, he was still troubled by the fact of death and by the fundamental questions of existence. Awareness of his own and others pain provided the starting point for Siddhartha's spiritual quest. A long search culminated in his becoming the Buddha, the Enlightened One.
It is said that when the Buddha had his awakening, his great enlightenment experience, he doubted whether he could communicate something so profound to others.
After some hesitation, he set out on his quest to teach the knowledge he had gained.
Rather then talk about his great experience, even though it is what made him the Enlightened One, Shakyamuni made the fact of suffering and pain the starting point of his teaching. Acknowledgement of pain is the entry point into a deeper investigation of reality, an opportunity to begin to know things as they are rather then as we might imagine them or wish them to be.
The truth of suffering is the first of the Four Noble Truths.

The Four Noble Truths:
The truth of suffering, dunkhaThe truth of the arising of suffering
The truth of the cessation of suffering
The truth of the path to the end of suffering

According to the Buddha, the cause of the angst in our lives is to be found in the patterns of clinging and aversion that dominate our minds and govern our actions. From moment to moment, we are driven by the desire to get rid of or avoid pain. So enmeshed have we become in patters of desire and avoidance that these patterns have assumed lives of their own and come to control our lives. We do not act in clear awareness, but under the control of often unconscious drives and emotions. Our actions, rather than satisfying our desires, often result in further frustration and antagonism.

That is a brief introduction to Buddhism. It is so much more then what I have provided here and I have found what I have read so far to be completely enlightening!
I hope you enjoyed the read and that it has inspired you to look further into this enlightening way of looking at life on your own. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog!
Don't forget to let me know if you would like to be the first reader featured on my new column at Ye Olde Witches Brew. Send in your questions or what nots!
Brightest Blessings,
Kathy

Winner of Past Life Reading Picked!

I picked the winner of my past life reading giveaway!
The winner is Gwenevier! Congrats to Gwenevier on winning this giveaway.
I look forward to reading for you.
I will start a new giveaway soon.
Brightest Blessings to all!

Quick Reminder, Last Chance to Enter into Past Life Reading Giveaway!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be picking a winner for the Past Life Reading Giveaway by this weekend. You only have another day to leave your comments in the post for that giveaway. I know I said I would have picked a winner by now but life has been busy these last few weeks so I am sorry about that.
With that said, time is short people, a winner will be picked soon!!! I am very excited to be doing this reading and I cant wait to see who the winner will be.
Winners are picked randomly, literally, lol. Everyones name is put into a bowl and my youngest daughter picks the name out. So hurry up and leave your comments so that I can add your name to the bowl! You have to be a follower of the blog AND leave a comment in the giveaway post to be eligible to win.
Also, please leave me your email if you dont mind, it makes it so much easier for me to contact you when you win.
Best of luck,
The Celtic Witch
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Past Life Reading Giveaway

Here is my next giveaway, a past life reading through the Tarot. This is something that I am going to start offering in my etsy shop so I figured it would be the perfect item to offer here first.
Reincarnation has long been one of the esoteric tarot's hidden teachings and is the perfect tool to aid with recalling past lives.
In 2005, ABC did a story on a 6 yr. old boy named James Leininger. His family believed he was the reincarnation of James M. Huston, Jr. a world war 2 fighter pilot. A number of people, including Huston's own sister have been convinced by the vivid details the boy recalls from his life and death.
Some people believe that stories like these are proof of the reality of reincarnation, others claim these memories are nothing more then dreams or vivid fanatasies. What do you believe?
I do believe in past lives and have had glimpses of what I can only assume are my own past life through meditation and astral travel.
If you are interested in exploring your past life then comment on this post and let me know why you would like to have this reading done.
I will be picking a winner for this one within the next week or so, I know I usually give more time then that but I am looking forward to performing this reading...:)
I will include a picture of your layout along with your layout explanation. These will be sent to you via email. I will need your full name (given at birth) and your date of birth.
I look forward to hearing from you all.
Brightest Blessings,
Kathy

Spending Time With Faeries

With Spring in mind I thought an entry about the faeries would be appropriate.



Faeries love nature as much as Witches and will occasionally manifest in it, although their ability to stay there is as limited as our ability to remain long in the astral. And because of the deep archetypal association of faeries and nature, many witches new at faery contact find that a natural setting better facilitates faery sightings and contact whether in a shifted or normal waking state of consciousness.



Shifted state contacts with faeries are often easier in natural surroundings because this is where both your conscious and subconscious minds have been conditioned to believe you will find them. Remember however that if you are disturbed while in a meditative state, you will probably be unpleasantly jolted back into yourself -a metaphor for a quick return to waking consciousness. This will not cause you any harm, but such interruptions repeated over time can cause your subconscious to become leery of the process, making it harder for you to achieve the state of mind you seek.
Wide awake faery sightings are much harder to achieve even by those skilled in the art, and you will have better success if you use a light, eyes partially opened trance. Remember that the Fae, like woodland animals, have every reason to be distrustful of human motives and are not likely to just walk up to you.



To successfully find faeries in natural outdoor settings, one must first find a quiet and secluded spot to relax and where few other humans are likely to be at that time.
Next, you must find the sort of places where faeries are likely to be found.
Finally, you must offer some sort of inducement for them to manifest in the physical world, such as a bowl of milk or a bit of fresh butter. The first two of these things have a profound effect on how, and how well, your mind is programmed for faery sightings, and the last is just common sense.



Faery mounds are traditionally the homes of faeries throughout much of the world and would be a good place to start your search. The best time to approach a faery mound is mid summer while wearing protective charms. Faeries are very active at this time and are known to revel for days to and just after this Sabbat. To see a faery at midsummer, go to a faery mound and if it is possible, place yourself in a light trance. Tap on the side of the mound lightly three times and request it to open for you in the name of the Goddess. Then stand back and see what happens.
Faery rings, faery trails, and faery islands are popular faery sites, but they are also the ones most fraught with danger. However, a little common sense can untangle many of these murky legends for us.
A faery ring is a dark ring of grass, perfectly round and distinctly deeper in color then the grass which surrounds it. This is another of those freaks of nature which no scientist has ever been adequately able to explain. Pagans have long believed them to be the faeries magick circles, and numerous reports of faery rituals and revels within them have been chronicled.
A faery trail, or path, is like a faery ring except it is a long trail of dark grass rather then a circle. Often the trail goes on for miles, and again, there is no scientific explanation for it. These trails are believed by pagans to be the paths taken by the trooping faeries on their Rades.
If you wish to see faeries in a faery circle or on a faery path, sit at a respectful distance and slow and focus your thoughts. You might even request aloud to be permitted to see the faeries if they are there. Announce yourself as a fellow worshipper of the Old Gods and Goddesses, and as a friend who intends them no harm.




Remember that faeries as a whole cannot be summoned at will, nor controlled by egotistical magicians. They are sentient, living beings who are sensitive, and they deserve our respect.
I hope you have enjoyed this entry and been inspired to seek out the Fae on your own.
Don't forget to check out all my Faery treats at Magickal Enchantments!
Brightest Blessings,
The Celtic Witch

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~Blog Winners~

I picked three winners for my latest giveaway of Magickal Morning Glory Seeds.

I very much appreciate all of my followers and I want you all to know that.

The winners of the latest giveaway are:

~Ava from Handmade By Ava~

Ava has a lovely shop on etsy, stop by and check out her fabulous creations.

Here is a little about Ava:

"I have been creating jewelry for about 4 years and started selling my creations around 2 years ago. I really enjoy creating and use it as a chance to recollect and gain some much needed perspective. I am a mom of three, a full-time student. "

http://handmadebyava.etsy.com/

~Sarah from Cottage Garden Studio~

Sarah has a lovely shop on etsy as well and she offers wonderful items. Take a few moments to check out her enchanting wares at:

http://www.cottagegarden.etsy.com/

Here is a little about Sarah:

"My Etsy shop is Cottage Garden Studio. I offer my whimsical art and my husband’s fine mineral specimens. We are from the beautiful Northwest United States - Idaho to be exact. I've been an artist & teacher most of my life. I offer a variety of subjects including holiday art. I am very fond of Fall and Halloween. I also work in several mediums, acrylics, colored pencil and pen & polymer clay. You will also find some lovely mineral specimens in my shop. They are from the collection of my Dear Half Jim. He digs, collects, trades and sells these amazing pieces. They make wonderful display pieces or to compliment any altar. "

And last but not least Hibiscus Moon...:)

Please check out her blog at:

http://www.hibiscusmoon.blogspot.com/

She has a great blog with lots of great info and a wonderful way with words that will keep you reading.

Thanks to all of my followers and I will be offering another giveaway soon! Of course, if there is something you would like to see offered feel free to drop me a line. I would love to hear what products you would all like to see offered as a product giveaway.

Brightest Blessings to all!

Pictured item in this blog is one of latest additions to my shop.

It is an Herbal Kitchen Witch Charm and you can view this item by following this link:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22495333

Biddy Early, Irish Healer and Seer

I have always had a great fascination with Biddy Early. I devour everything I can about her and call on her when doing any type of healing work.
I would like to share a little about Biddy and her life with you and perhaps she will spark an interest in you about healing and how you can aid those around you in a natural and loving way.

Biddy was born Bridget Ellen Connors in lower Faha near Kilanena in 1798. Biddy was the daughter of a small land farmer, John Thomas Connors and his wife Ellen Early. Biddy is described as being small in statue and pretty, a woman who kept her good looks throughout her life. While married four times, she always used her mother's maiden name, believing that her gifts were inherited through the female line. Her mother taught her all about herbs and how to make potions, just as her own mother had taught her.

As a child, Biddy wore clothes that her mother made by weaving fibers from the flax that was grown nearby. She spent most of her time alone and was said to "talk to the fairies". She was good humored and showed a keen intellect but, like most people of her time, she did not learn to read or write. With her family and friends she spoke Irish, but she also had some knowledge of English. She may also have spoken Shelta, the language of ancient mystics and Irish Travellers, but it is unknown where or how she would have learned it.
Biddy's Mother, Ellen Early was well known for her exceptional herbal cures and taught her daughter many of her recipes. These recipes were regarded as family secrets, as was common for the time. When Biddy was 16 years old, her mother died of malnutrition, leaving Biddy in charge of the household. Just six months after her mother's death, Biddy's father died of typhus. Unable to pay the rent, Biddy had no choice but to leave her childhood home. Little is known about this period of her life, but for the next two years she probably wandered the county roads, working where she could along the way and experimenting with herbal cures.

When Biddy was 18, she began working for a landlord in Carheen near Limerick, but she was often taunted for her aloof behavior. She left after a short time and went to live in the local poorhouse, where she was treated even more poorly. During this period, she would often walk into Gurteenreagh on market days, and it was there that she met her first husband, Pat Malley of Feakle. The couple faced a number of obstacles: Pat was twice Biddy's age and already had a son named John, and Biddy had no dowry to offer. However, there were advantages to the relationship as well, such as the security that Pat could offer, so they married. After their marriage, Biddy gave birth to a son and they named him Paddy. This would be Biddy’s only child.

The family lived in a three room cottage in Feakle, and this is where Biddy began to earn a reputation for her cures. Biddy never requested money for her services, but allowed her clients to decide how to compensate her. Whiskey and poitín were common trade items in those days, so her house was frequently stocked with an abundance of alcohol and eventually became known as a place where people could go to drink and play cards. This ready availability of poorly distilled alcohol may have contributed to the death of Pat Malley five years into the marriage. Biddy became a widow for the first time at age 25.

Biddie married her stepson, John Malley, shortly after Pat’s death. John was closer to her age than Pat had been, and the two of them got along well. During this marriage, Biddy's fame was increasing but her family life was frequently disrupted by large numbers of people coming and going at various times of the day and night. Her son, Paddy, left home some years after her marriage to John and never returned. John died in 1840 due to a liver ailment that developed from excessive consumption of alcohol, and Biddy was a widow again at 42.

One of the mysterious and interesting things about Biddy was her magick bottle. There are different stories on how she acquired the bottle and I will share them here with you.
At some point Biddy acquired a bottle that became as famous as she was. She would frequently look into the bottle, which contained some sort of dark liquid, when considering possible cures for her visitors. She took the bottle everywhere, and it was even with her when she died.

Biddy’s powers of clairvoyance are credited to this mysterious dark bottle. How this “magic” bottle came into her possession, has since become part of her myth and legend. Some believe her late husband Pat Mally gave it to her before he died, others believe it came to her from the “sidhe” (fairies). There are some stories that say she was away with the sidhe, and went to live among them for a time as a child. As a little girl it was said she could see and talk to the sidhe in their own language, which was different from Gaelic and that they taught her how to use her gifts.

She was instructed that by looking into the bottle with one eye and keeping the other eye open, she would be able to see what ailed people and view the future. In exchange for this ability, she was never to charge money for her services, or she would lose the power. She could accept gifts, but was to give away whatever was left over from her own needs. She must never allow others to look into the bottle, or else they would either die or go mad.

Biddy also brought relief to animals, and treated them with great care. In her time, the death of an animal could bring particular hardship to people living in a mainly rural farming community. Animals were relied upon for everyday living, and to lose one could lead to eviction if farming chores were not completed. Many of the stories about Biddy include tales of her healing a family’s most important horse or cow. She also helped many people restore their wells, often the only source of clean water, to solve problems that women ran into while churning butter. Water and butter were also vital to a peasant’s everyday life.

During the nineteenth century, superstitious belief in fairies and all things apparently supernatural was very strong, and when something happened that appeared to be miraculous, without the aid of the church, it was commonly and easily attributed to witchcraft and the devil. As such the local church viewed Biddy with suspicion, and all the local clergy were totally opposed to her. As her fame spread they even tried to warn off people who went to visit her. One story of the churches opposition occurred in 1865. While visiting friends in Ennis, Biddy was charged with Witchcraft under the 1586 statute, however the case was dismissed due to a lack of sufficient evidence. Many of the local people stood their ground against the clergy, maintaining she did nothing but good works.

In 1868, her third husband Tom died, but Biddy now seventy years old, still only looked fifty, and a year later married her fourth husband Thomas Meaney. However he too got sick and died within the year. Many believed her husbands all died from alcohol abuse, as there was so much whiskey and other strong liquors brought to her in payment. Her husbands did not need to work as she herself provided everything through her healing work. After her last husband died, Biddy’s own health slowly deteriorated, she died in April 1874 with a rosary around her neck and her mysterious dark bottle wrapped in a red shawl beside her.

Before her death and despite their differences, Biddy had befriended one of the local priests and asked him not to let her bottle fall into the wrong hands when she died. According to her wishes, the priest took the bottle and hurled it into Kilbarron Lake. Since then, such was the belief in Biddy’s legend, many attempts to trawl the lake in search of the bottle have been made, but to this day it has never been found.

So there is Biddy Early's story. It is by no means complete and there are different versions of her life of course. I invite you to do your own research into Biddy's life.
Last year I acquired a large blue glass bottle that I made into my own version of Biddy Early's Bottle. As soon as my computer is fixed I will add the pictures of it here for you to see.
So what did you think of Biddy Early's story? Do you find it inspiring?
I encourage you all to look to Biddy at times when you need healing knowledge, she has been a wonderful addition to my life and I wish the same for you all.
As always, I look forward to your thoughts on this blog entry.
Brightest Blessings,
The Celtic Witch
)0(

p.s. I will be announcing the winner of the Magickal Morning Glory Seeds this week as well. I have decided to pick two winners as I have quite a bit of seeds that I collected last season.

Rhiannon, A Welsh Mother Goddess

By now, you all know how much I enjoy my Celtic and Irish mythology. I figured it was time to share another myth with my friends. Today I will be telling you about Rhiannon. Her story is an interesting one and I hope you enjoy your read.

Rhiannon, meaning great queen, was the otherwordly wife of Pwyll, ruler of Dyfed. Like other charachters of the welsh tradition she is thought to have once been a goddess, but with time and an eroding christian influence, she survives demoted to an otherworldly wife. Rhiannon is equated with the Roman Gallic Goddess Epona.
In the Mabinogion, she makes her first appearance riding a magickal white mare.
Her son's birth shares a mysterious parallel connection with a colt, and lastly she herself suffers a punishment of having to carry people on her back, as if she were a beast of burden. Tradition does preserve the birds of Rhiannon, who are her companions and a relic of her divinity. It is said their song was so potent an enchantment that it would wake the dead and place the living in a dream.
In the Mabinogion, the character of Rhiannon who resembles more fairy then Goddess, falls in love with a mortal, Pwyll- a man with otherworldly associations. His land of Dyfed was an area of Wales where the veil between this world and the next was treacherously thin. So our story begins....

Pwyll was holding court at the royal seat of Arberth, and in the evening he went to sit on a sacred mound of earth that legend said was a portal to the otherworld and where none could pass the night without vision or adventure.
As Pwyll sat patiently surveying the land, a woman riding a white mare appeared on the highway. He called to his men to fetch her, and while she looked to be traveling a gentle pace, none could catch her. The next day the scene was repeated and a faster horse failed to reach her. Pwyll suspected some illusion at play and rode out after her himself, but when his speed brought him no closer he called out to the woman asking her to stop, which she did, remarking that it would have been better for his horses had he asked long ago.
She drew back her veil and fixed her eyes upon him, and he thought their beauty and depth beyond compare.
He asked the purpose of her journey and she explained she had come on her own errand to find him. Pwyll was most pleased.
She introduced herself and went on to explain that her love for him had prevented her from marrying any other. But now her Father in the otherworld has promised her to a man named Gwawl against her will, and she would not marry him unless Pwyll rejected her.
Pwyll assured Rhiannon that she was his choice of all women. They then made a secret pledge to meet again in one year at her fathers palace. When the day came, Rhiannon had arranged a wedding feast and all would have been well if Pwyll, in a thoughless moment, had not agreed to grant an unconditional boon to a guest, who unbeknownst to Pwyll, was the jilted suitor, who naturally asked for the bride.
A clever woman, Rhiannon was quick to stall the wedding yet another year and gave Pwyll detailed instructions to return on the date dressed as a beggar with a magic bag she gave him. As a beggar he could ask Gwawl for the bag's fill of food from the feast and when the bag would not take its fill, Pwyll was to tell Gwawl that only a man of noble blood could quell the appetite by placing his feet in the bag.
All unfolded as planned, and when the trusting Gwawl obliged, Pwyll quickly enveloped and trapped him in the bag. Pwyll's men then fell upon the hall and entertained themselves in beating the bag, calling their amusement "Badger in the Bag". An injured Gwawl protested that he did not deserve such treatment, and the disgusted Father of the bride agreed. Pwyll called for a halt to the game and then pressured Gwawl to return Rhiannon. Gwawl agreed and was released.
The couple returned to Dyfed, where Rhiannon became a kind and capable Queen, but as she was foreign the people were reluctant to accept her. Furthermore, as she had not given birth to an heir, Pwyll came under pressure to forsake her. He refused, and in the fourth year a child was born, but the babe was then mysteriously stolen from under the noses of six sleeping nurses. Thinking they would face the death penalty for their neglect, the nurses conspired to kill some puppies and smear the queen's hands and face with blood, accusing her of devouring her own child in the night. Rhiannon suspected the plot and promised the nurses protection for the truth, but they stood firm six to one.
In the end, the queen herself asked for penance, rather than contending with the cruel company of the women. A council decided that for seven years she hould sit each day at the horse block, where she would tell passersby of her crime and offer to carry them on her back to the castle.
Rhiannon's tale traveled to a friend of Pwyll named Teirnyon, who began to suspect the babe boy who had come into the keeping of him and his wife was the son of the lord of Dyfed. They took the child to court, and Teirnyon told the strange tale of how on the first of May a colt would be born to his mare, but would then mysteriously disappear. The same night of the Queen's alleged crime, he had stood guard over his mare and newborn foal to fight off the mysterious apparition of a black hand that had reached out in the dark to snatch the colt. In the
wake of the unearthly creature, he had found the child, whom they took in and raised as their own. All the court agreed the child was the image of Pwyll, his father. With the return of her son, Rhiannon named him Pryderi (meaning "care" and "anxiety"), and he grew up to be the capable, much loved ruler of Dyfed. After the death of Pwyll, Rhiannon went on to marry the wise and respected Manawydan, son of Llyr.

So what do you think of Rhiannon's tale?
Why do you think her punishment was to carry people on her back?
I wonder how Pwyll, who loved her so much could believe such a story about his wife and allow her such a cruel punishment when she must have ached over the loss of her child as it was.
I would love to hear your thoughts as always.

Also, don't forget to check out my handblended Rhiannon's Anxiety Oil.
This lightly scented oil is blended with essential oils known to calm and relax the mind and body. Rub this oil on your pulse points and chakras to relax your mind and alleviate anxiety.
The smell is lovely and light so that it will not overpower any other scents you choose to wear.

I use only top quality essential oils mixed with organic carrier oils in my oil mixtures. They are safe to wear on your skin and can be used as a massage oil, bath soak or added to an oil burner to enjoy the aromatherapy values of this amazing oil.
Click the link below for more information on my Rhiannon Oil.
Magickal Enchantments