Willow's Cauldron

Image by Willow's Cauldron It is a rare time indeed, when I am compelled to get my art stuff out and actually attempt to draw ... Still very much a work in progress, but hopefully, when it's finished, it can take center stage in one of my blog posts 'My Pentacle and me' (part 2)

Do you remember these from my post two days ago? Take a look at how they turned out, and in plenty of time for Ostara too! We started out with a large block of air drying clay two days ago and decided that we would try to make our own symbols and models to celebrate Ostara. There was a strong chance that the clay would not be dry enough to paint, but luck was on our side and as you can see from the image below, I don't think we did too badly, do you?

In effect, Ostara is the second of our Spring sabbats, (Imbolc being the first) and marks the Spring Equinox, where the length of day is equal to (or almost) that of night. Image used courtesy of Buckadoe Photography It is the time when Spring begins, according to the solar calendar. For those of us in the United Kingdom, Ostara is celebrated on 21st/22nd of March. However, the Vernal Equinox itself falls on the 20th March at 10.28. It is a good time to banish all the negative things in your life, things that are holding you back, preventing you from moving forward, and on to better things. A time to truly reflect on what you really want from your time in this life and how to set about achieving them. It represents fertility, not just in the sense of reproduction and birth in the physical sense, but also of giving birth to new ideas and nurturing them into fruition. This is a time to celebrate the new life growing all around us, to bless seeds that are ready

Image courtesy of Buckadoe Photography As we prepare to celebrate the Vernal Equinox and the joys of Spring, I'm mindful of the many stories that surround the changing of the seasons. In addition to the many versions surrounding our own celebrations of Ostara, I am reminded of my favourite childhood story of how the seasons came to be.   I am of course, talking about the love story that surrounds Demeter (The doting mother)  Persephone (the beautiful and loving daughter) and Hades (the original Bad Boy!)

It's been a busy old day at the Cauldron today. We've had some lovely Mother/Daughter time baking cakes in the morning and making clay models in honour of Ostara this afternoon. Considering it was the first time Little Miss has attempted to make a Hare and a symbol of the Goddess, I think she did extremely well, and I'm really proud of her. (Her models are to the left of the wand, just in case you were wondering!) Don't ask what the circular band and the disk is, I don't think she knows herself, yet! All we need to do now is paint them! We had some interesting conversations about why we use the Hare and Eggs as symbols to celebrate the Spring Equinox, which I explained, is essentially our equivalent to Easter. How the Hare became the Easter Bunny and how the brightly painted eggs (once we get round to it) are now represented by the chocolate variety at Easter. A little confusing for a seven year old, perhaps, but as long as she was still getting he

Well, I started this week with eight ideas for blog post, which I thought might make for interesting and light reading. I now have two left, but can't decide which one to embark on next. So... which would you choose from these working titles? 1) Working with Tumeric - The medicinal values OR 2) I See Dead People

To all my friends around the world, and those I've yet to meet, may today be filled with happiness and many dancing feet. May joy and laughter fill the soul, give voice to merry song. I wish you all the best of life;  good fortune all year long. witch, cauldron, willow, St.Patrick's day, luck, Irish, spells, wicca, celebrations

Well, we couldn't sit around and let all yesterdays glorious warmth, blue skies and sunshine go to waste now, could we?

 In addition to being Mothering Sunday, here in the United Kingdom (U.K), Sunday 26th March, marks the start of British Summer Time (B.S.T), when the clocks are turned forward by one hour, giving us that all important extra hour of daylight in the evenings.

Today is a glorious day! We have lovely blue sky with light fluffy clouds, with a little bit of haze on the far horizon. The lotus tree that we pass each day on the way to school has started to bloom and always looks stunning when fully dressed. A good day to be out in the garden, planting and sowing, especially if we want to have something to harvest, later this year!

Spirit into water, up to Air unto Earth, onwards to Fire and Spirit's re-birth. Elements combining , creating the 'whole', constantly changing as each lesson ' s learned , t hus is the wheel of life slowly turn ed.

Sorry for the absence of a post, yesterday. It was just one of those days that needed to be lived and appreciated. Very, very busy! There were a few bits and pieces required for the garden, but we also ended up buying a couple of Gooseberry bushes for Little Miss. She has quite a penchant for the hairy little fruit, and loved harvesting them from the hedgerows near where we live, not to mention picking the odd one or two on her way to and from school! Sadly, the fields along which these hedges run, now have rather large houses built on them and the hedges have been somewhat depleted, what is left form part of the properties boundaries, and the new owner is not the sort of person to take kindly to us picking fruit from his hedge. So, we have bought her two varieties of Gooseberry Bushes. One red and one green. She doesn't know yet, but I'm sure she will love planting them and harvesting her own crop, later this year!

Good morning, everyone! How are we all? Looking forward to tonight's Full Moon? I know I am. March's full moon has many names, depending on where you are. For me, She is known as the Storm Moon, and has certainly made Her presence felt so far, this month.

There are an abundance of Karma related meme floating around on social media these days. Many raise a smile, as I'm sure is the intent, some may strike a poignant chord for those who may be struggling as a result of another's actions, intended or otherwise. No doubt, we have all wished for a little "Karmic Intervention" from time to time, but it's how we react, when we hear that Karma has delivered on our request, that interests me.

Like many of you, following the prolonged wet and variable weather we've been having, we're now playing catch-up with our gardening tasks. Normally, by the end of February, we would have the ground prepared and ready for planting in March. But with the ground so sodden, weeding, clearing and digging over become a monumental task.  So, it had to wait. As a child, I was once told by a very kind, elderly and knowledgeable gardener that,  "If mud sticks t' tha boots, lass, 'tis too wet t'work soil." How very true! Thankfully, there was a long enough break in the wet weather and we managed to get most of the clearing done at the beginning of March and are now ready to proceed with the following tasks: 1. Plant onions in prepared soil. 2. Cover any strawberries with a cloche. 3. Divide and replant herbs. (mint, chives, lovage and marjoram etc.) 4. Plant asparagus. 5. If the weather turns warmer this month, it would be a good to sow broad beans, ear

Words are a powerful tool. They can hurt, or heal so choose them wisely, for however well intentioned your words may be, they are also open to misinterpretation. Our thoughts, can also affect our actions, whether we choose to voice them or remain silent. Whilst it is good practice to be mindful of how your choices may affect those around you, it's not your fault if they choose to take the hump! Image used with permission

Despite the variable extremes of weather we've been having recently, I can confirm that spring has most definitely arrived at Willow's Cauldron!

"Did you know that your daughter tells everyone you're a witch?" "So?" "So, aren't you annoyed?" "Why, she's telling the truth?" "Yeh, right. Course you are." "Yep! Has anyone else had a similar conversation at the school gate recently? Was it a conversation stopper or did they want to know more? Personally, I haven't had any negative responses, but then, with my black sense of humour, I think they end up convinced that they've been wound up, and are still none the wiser when they leave. My favourite response to the ever present phrase "You don't look like a witch." is,