Midsummer mischief

Well, not really mischief actually, just the circle, a bottle of mead and a box of strawberries. We had a lot of fun last night, toasting for prosperity and good things that are to come. I toasted to my anscestors and to the Gods to give them my thanks on the longest day of the year.

Alignment by MsLionking

What I really want is to celebrate another feast with ritual again. It's been too long... The thing is, when you're in a tiny apartment with two cats, you really have no room to perform a ritual indoors. We're in the Netherlands, so weather is always a tricky thing here and you need to have a back up plan for when it's raining cats and dogs (like yesterday). And lastly the problem you always have when you want to work with others. Trying to find a moment in time where everybody is available both mentally and physically.

The next turn of the wheel brings us to Lughnasadh, which we will be celebrating on Castlefest like we do every year. Perhaps Mabon will be a chance to try to celebrate with a group again. We'll see!

I did finally charge, bless and annoint the magical candle I had made a while back, but was waiting for the right moon-phase and the right mindset. So on midsummer it was still new moon and midsummer is a festival that is all about power being at its height. Yesterday at noon (the height of the day) I set my candle aflame. Now, as to not to overwhelm, it will burn a little each day until it is all burned out. Can't wait to see what the magic will bring!

Candle ritual by Janna Prosvirina

With the candle yesterday, I tried something a bit different, and loved it! In our tradition we're taught to bless the candle with the four elements and then annoint it. Which elements you pick in which order is all up to you, but the blessings go like this; you sprinkle the candle with salt and say something like 'I bless this candle with the element earth' or, if you're a bit more theatrical like me; 'I bless this candle with the element of earth to give it a solid base on which the magic can grow.' Then you pass the candle through the smoke of the incense and say; 'I bless this candle with the element of air so that it may carry my wishes to the heavens', next you turn the candle through a flame, swiftly and carefully, leaving thick black marks of soot on it. You say; 'I bless this candle with the element of fire so that it may burn bright and steady'.  You then sprinkle some water on the candle and say; 'I bless this candle with the element of water, may the magic flow smoothly, like a river, towards me'.

Now you have a candle that is wet, black with soot and sprinkled with salt. It's time to get out the oil. Putting a few drops of oil in the palm of your hand you start annointing your candle. Start in the middle and stroke upwards, grip the candle back in the middle again and stroke downwards. Do this is a multitude of threes (magical number). While annointing the candle. you also stroke the soot into the carved symbols, making them stand out more. It's a real messy and complicated way to annoint your candles, although it is quite beautiful.

For the candle I made yesterday, I did something a bit different. I got out my herbs, spices, flowers and oils. From them I selected a few that would compliment my goal and put them in the palm of my hand. By chance, or not of course ;), I had three herbs, three oils and one gum. This is what I used to annoint my candle. A lot less messy and it felt a lot more natural. I suppose I've found a way which works better for me. I then placed the candle on top of a small shelf I usually use as an improvised altar and surrounded it by the elements. That way I had a mini altar and a place where the candle was blessed by the elements without actively having to do so.

Litha by Supersyndrome

So there you have it, a small peak into a practice I use, hope you liked it and I hope that you have all had a wonderful Midsummer!

Love and Leaves,

Marjolijn Ashara

Music of the Horned One...

Cernunnos by Jane Starr Weils

...or, how can I introduce three of my favourite pagan music artists? :D By sharing a few of my favourite songs, which incidentally are all about the Horned God! As a priestess to the Horned God, I love songs that tell of his worship. Cernunnos, Pan, Herne, the Horned One, the Hunter. It doesn't matter what name you use, he is the God of the hunt, of passionfilled nights and mischief. The God of the Forest and the Wild, who runs with the wolf and the stag.

My favourite part about the three following songs is that they all have an easy and catchy chorus which could easily be used as a chant. So get up out of your chair and dance to the rhythms of the Horned One!

Hymn to Herne by S.J. Tucker. What I love about this one is the sensual beat and the low and sultry voice. Can't you just imagine dancing 'round the Beltaine fire with this song? It's also a bit cheeky and a lot fun, like the rest of Tucker's music.

Chorus:
He will call you out
Make you sweat
Give you a blessing
That you'll never forget

So revel in the chase
And let your heartbeat run
Blessed are the children
Of the Horned One

 

Noon of the Solstice by Damh the Bard. It's pronounced 'Dave' not 'Damn', although I must admit, we do call him 'Damn the Bard' in our house, just because it sounds funnier :). What I love about Noon of the Solstice is that it tells a story. Throughout the song Damh takes us on a journey through the year of the wheel and the tale of the Oak- and Holly King. Which is an important tale in the coming Summer Solstice! His music is simple and upbeat and he has a wonderful storytelling voice.

Chorus:
I'm the Horned God
I'm the face in the trees

I'm the breath of the wind
That rustles the leaves

I'm the Green Man
In the wildwood I roam

Cernunnos,
I'm Pan and I'm Herne

Hymn to Pan by Faun. It is rare for this German band to make songs in English, but Hymn to Pan is one of the few English songs they have in their reportoire. I first heard this song on Castlefest last year and it immediately became our 'theme song' for the rest of the festival. What I love about Hymn to Pan is the slow beat that draws you in. They tell the story of Pan and the Faun in hushed voices that makes you lean in to hear the rest of the tale. The music is beautiful and a bit less 'simple' than the other songs, who use only two or three instruments. This song can really put you into a trance, like I experienced on Castlefest. Suddenly I was standing in a green wooded glen with Pan walking towards me. Fond memories and one of the reasons I never grow tired of this beautiful Hymn.

Chorus:
Listen now and I shall follow
Listen now and I may follow

Listen now and I may follow


So there you have it, a few of my favourite pagan artists with a few of my favourite songs! May the Horned One inspire and bless you all!

Love and Leaves,
Marjolijn Ashara

Faerie Fashion Feature - Mirror jewellery

Mirror, mirror on the wall.....

Selina Fenech - Looking for Fairies

Of course we all know that one, and what follows next. Mirrors are often found in fairytales and other fantasy stories. Just think about Snow White and the Queen's magic mirror. Beauty and the Beast and the mirror that could show you anything you wanted to see. Alice and the Looking Glass which is a portal to a different realm.

Mirrors are often found in Faerie Folklore as well. Kenny Klein speaks in his book Through the Faerie Glass, which is a must read by the way, about mirrors being a portal to the Otherworld. Many stories involve either stepping through a mirroring surface or crossing over a mirroring surface. This is not always a glass or silver mirror, this can also be a lake or even an ocean. It is also said that when you look into a mirror to what's behind you, you can see the true shape of a faerie or witch. It makes you see things like they really are.

In witchcraft mirrors are also powerful tools. They can be used for protection, to send harmful magic back to its sender. They can be used for binding, for telling the future, for evocation and for channeling energies. Scrying, which is a way of fortune telling, is often done with a black mirror, but can also be done with a normal mirror. By staring into the mirror (or a bowl of mirroring water!) you can see visions of the future, the answer to your problems or maybe even see a loved one who is far away.

So I thought it fitting to do a small jewellery feature of this very magical tool. Mirror jewellery is especially handy because not only do mirrors look beautiful, they are also a practical size to have your magic mirror with you at all times!

Rose Mirror Keychain by Night's Eyes

The Mirror by Elvarinya

Mirror Mirror by Meeshah

Techno Logy Mirror Necklace by VampirePumpkin

A Mirror by Aknesaknes

Mirror, mirror on the wall... by Mornie-Alfinus

Night Mirror by Jagienkaa

Maybe we'll dive into the magic mirror more in a next entry... There is still so much to tell...

Love and Leaves,

Marjolijn Ashara

The ancestors on my altar

In my last blogpost I told you guys and gals about the pretty celtic skull I had bought for the ancestral altar I want to make when we actually have room for it XD. So for now, the ancestors have to settle for a permanent spot on my normal altar. I don't think they mind :) I redo my altar almost every sabbath, more if I feel like it. I really view my altar as a representation of not just nature and the seasons, but also me and what I am working with/on at the moment. So I thought it fitting to give my ancestors a small spot for themselves. So here is a picture of my altar as it is;

The petals are for the upcoming Litha feast. Litha, to me, is a festival of love and happiness. And also the festival where me and my fiancé got handfasted six years ago! The altar setup like this doesn't really change much, the elements have their own corners filled with gemstones and other things that fit with their element. Feathers for Air, shells for Water, a candle for Fire and a couldron filled with ivy and a giant pinecone for Earth. The two faeries on the altar are also always there and represent the light and the darkness, of myself and of the path. On the pentacle rests a golden sun, symbol of summer, with an apofylite on top, a strong energy channeler.

The purple wand resting against the mirror is the wand I work with most. I made it myself out of a butterfly bish and then painted with several shades of purple. It also has swirls and leaves on it :) The oracle cards are the Wild Wisdom of the Faerie Oracle by Selina Fenech. The cards speak of connections to other species and races, letting go (of fear), opening new doorways and of the ancestors and the others who have come before me. I thought them very fitting.

A closeup of my small ancestral corner. The skull is resting on top of the white rose petals. White (glass) runes surround it. Wunjo for happiness, Othala for birthright and home, Gebo for gifts of the Gods, Thorn for protection, Ansuz for communication between realms and Mannaz for me and 'the people'. I didn't know what else to do when I had this laid out, but I new I needed something. I started searching in my books what kind of herbs I could offer to my ancestors. Many sources talk about 'feeding' your ancestors by offering them herbs and incense.

In my books I couldn't find anything, so I went with instinct. Chamomile for the connection to 'the beloved dead' as they are called. Marjoram for me and my bloodline. My name is Marjolijn, which is the Dutch name for the herb Marjoram, be it spelled a bit differently. Normally it's spelled Marjolein. I thought it very fitting to represent me and my family. The last are Juniperberries for protection and connection to the divine. Next to the skull and the herbs sit a small candle inside an offering dish. So there you have it! Ancestral altar, part one!

There will be more on my ancestors as I search for them, which is not an easy task. However, I promise next blogpost will be another Faerie Fashion Feature! ;)

Love and Leaves,

Marjolijn Ashara

Keltfest 2012

How fast time goes. I had no idea it had already been fourteen days since my last post. My apologies. In my defense I've been quite busy :) But only with fun and good things :)

Music Village by Fantasymedia

Last sunday me and my Greenwood mates went to Keltfest, an annual Celtic festival here in the Netherlands. Like every year it was laid back, relaxed and joyfully pagan. :) I love Keltfest, walking around on that festival is like walking around in a community of like-minded people. Everybody is happy and relaxed and friendly!

We were very lucky in terms of the weather. They had predicted rain and rain and more rain. Which there was, just not on Keltfest. While other parts of our small country were battling the water, we had sunshine and heat. Go Keltfest! I had rained the day before though, so the terrain was one giant mudpool. Which they turned to their advantage by roping off a small portion and calling it a 'Swinepool' anyone who wanted could jump in and wrestle of just roll around XD

The Greenman by Brigid Ashwood

The plan was to perhaps follow some lectures in the big tent. They were doing a 'Greenman experience' where you would meet the Greenman in meditation. After of course some much needed information about this elusive mythological figure. Unfortunately the experience wasn't for free and since the money fairy has yet to show her face, we didn't attend. I hope to get the uportunity another day, perhaps at Castlefest...

The best part of the day was the closing concert. A band we'd never heard of; Celtica, pipes rock! And oh my, how they rocked indeed. A very pleasant surprise that had us dancing in the mud and singing along loudly. They had us laughing by their rendition of famous heavy metal songs on bagpipes. One of the women was fire poi-ing on stage and the bassist suprised everyone when his basguitar turned into a flamethrower.... which the poi woman then used to light her poi... It was awesome! We bought one cd of the two they had and it has already been played more times than I can count. We hope to see them again soon! Here, have some smoke on the water and Scotland the Brave! :D

I did buy something... I've been playing with the idea to make an ancestral shrine in our home. Not that we have room for it, but it's been in my head for a while now. So when I found this beautiful ornate Celtic skull, made from resin, I couldn't resist. Luckily it wasn't that expensive, so I had to have it! It's quite small, but very beautiful and will make an amazing center piece for the altar. I already have some ideas for the rest of the layout but we simply don't have space. So it'll have to wait until we move into a bigger house. I can't wait, I think it will be beautiful.

The piece I did here on the blog about Nehalennia and the idea of the ancestral shrine inspired me to dig deeper into my own (spiritual) ancestry. I've been searching, digging and writing about the Gods and Goddesses that we used to worship here in the Netherlands. I never knew we had this many local Gods and Goddesses. Not much is known about them, but so far I've managed to put some very interesting info together. It is in Dutch, but I'm hoping to translate it once it's done and then of course share it with you all!

Love and Leaves,
Marjolijn Ashara

The Art of: Mickie Mueller

Time for another Art feature! One of my favourite artists, Mickie Mueller. I am in love with the feel of her paintings and of the amount of love and thought she puts into every piece. If I had the money, pagan paintings of her would cover every inch of my house ;) They show the way I feel about nature, paganism and witchcraft. Mickie's artwork inspires me to search, to look beyond what we see every day. Everytime I hit a rut in my craft, Mickie's inspirational art urges me to move forward. Please enjoy a few of my favourite pieces my Mickie Mueller!

Lady of the Forest

Celtic Heather

Wisdom in the Woods

Heal the Earth

Voice of the Trees Oracle - Back design

So far Mickie Mueller has done the art for three Oracle decks. The Well Worn Path and the Hidden Path, both in collaboration with Raven Grimassi. Her last Oracle deck is the Voice of the Trees oracle. This is her first solo project and boy, did she go all out. The deck is an Ogham deck and in the accompanied book she writes how she took a little piece of each tree and blended that into her paints as she painted each card. So even though you're holding paper, you're still holding a tiny piece of the tree in your hands.

For more on Mickie Mueller, check out her website, or better yet, her blog for all updates! She also has an etsy shop!

Love and Leaves,
Marjolijn Ashara

Nehalennia, Dutch Goddess of the North Sea

I live about an hour away from Scheveningen, a seaside resort that looks out over the North Sea. Together with my friends we visit the beach and stare out over the sea. We come to feel the wind in our hair, taste the salt on the wind and feel the soft sand between our toes. I look for seashells and smoothed out stones. So far I've gathered quite a few and am planning to make a Seaside Runeset out of them :).

Surf's Up, our favourite surfing movie.

My friend had the crazy idea that she wanted to learn how to surf. Since that's something me and my fiancé always wanted to try we, very enthousiastically, said yes! Yesterday was the day that we went surfing. It was awesome and hilarious. My muscles ache and I can't lift my arms anymore, but it was totally worth it. I didn't stand on the board, I had a hard enough time just laying on it, but that's alright. I had a lot of fun and my fiancé is a natural. His second wave he stood up and rode to shore... He's awesome!

On the 3rd of May, my fiancé's birthday, we also went to the beach, to visit the Sea Life zoo they have there. We also had the idea to make an offering to the Dutch Sea Goddess Nehalennia, to ask for good weather and beautiful waves when we went surfing. We drew a bindrune in the sand and placed a charged stone in the center. Then we waited and watched as the waves took our offering to sea. The weather yesterday was splendid, warm, with the sun shining on our faces. There was no wind, but still beautiful waves rolled to shore. Perfect weather for surfing!

So today, I wanted to tell you all a bit more about our Goddess of the Sea!

Nehalennia. She is probably the best known Goddess of the 'Low Countries'. She is also the Goddess we know most about. (which still isn't much) She was most probably a Goddess of safe sea travel, a Mothergoddess and sometimes seen as a Goddess of death and rebirth.

A drawing of a votive stone.
The texts clearly visible.

In 1645 a large part of the Zeelandse Dunes in Domburg were eroded due to a huge storm. What they found were altarstones or votive stones dedicated to the Goddess Nehalennia. These stones dated back to the second and third century BC. They also find the remains of a Temple. Which suggests that there once was a Temple dedicated to Nehalennia there. Although it is still not known whether this Goddess was Celtic or Gemanic, it is known that the Romans in the area worshipped this Goddess. The texts on the votive stones are in Latin. Therefore it is thought that Nehalennia is the name the Romans gave to the Goddess. The stones found in Domburg were displayed in the church, which turned into a sort of museum. However in 1848 lightning struck the church tower, burning it to the ground. Most stones were distroyed.

In 1970 a fisherman at Colijnsplaat in Zeeland noticed four large stones in his fishing net. He decided to take them to shore and showed them to a lot of people. They recognized the name Nehalennia, which was still readable on one of the stones. In the years after this discovery they excivated more of these votive stones, together with pieces of building materials. Suggesting that here too, once a Temple dedicated to the Sea Goddess stood.

To this day they have found over 200 of these votive stones. A large amount of them are exhibited in the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden in Leiden. They have an entire floor dedicated to these beautiful statues. In Colijnsplaat they rebuild the Temple. It opened in 2005 and is a place of education, but you can also make an offering to the Goddess.

There are a few symbols that are common on the votive stones for Nehalennia. Most of them depict a woman clad in robes, either sitting on a throne or standing on a ship. In her lap she has a basket filled with either apples or loaves of bread. Next to her we often find a dog, looking up at the Goddess.
On most of the votive stones found, there are texts. Usually we find a name. Sometimes we also see the place where the person who has offered the stone came from. Sometimes it states that person's job and the reason for his journey. Followed by an expression of his gratitude towards Nehalennia for a safe journey. The shortref V.S.L.M. is often found. It's Latin; V(otum) S(olvit) L(ibens) M(erito), which means something like 'his promise repaid, pleased and with reason'. People from all over the region came to the Temples to pay their respects to Nehelennia and ask for a safe sea voyage. Upon their safe return they would sacrifice the votive stones to her. They would have been painted once, but the paint has been eroded by the waters. Sometimes they find scraps of paint on the surfice of the stones. In the Archeon in the Netherlands they have a painted replica of one of the stones.

Reconstruction of a votive stone.
the Archeon, the Netherlands.

The symbols on the stones tell us a lot about what kind of Goddess Nehalennia is. In art, a woman sitting on a throne is a woman of great importance. A lot of Goddesses are depicted while sitting on a throne. The ship tells us that she was a Goddess of the Sea and of travel. Apples stand for wisdom as well as abundance and the Mother aspect. The loaves of bread show us that she is the Goddess of the land, as well as the sea. The dog can mean either loyalty, or is a symbol of death. Sometimes Nehalennia is seen as a version of Hel. The dog would then be one of her hounds, guarding the underworld. A dog is also a protector of man, something this Goddess is also. One thing we don't the symbolism of yet, is her clothing. She is often depicted wearing flowing robes which fall to the floor. However, she also wears a capelet, something that is unique to this Goddess. In no other Roman depictions we find this specific piece of clothing. It was once thought that it was part of Zeeland's folk costume. Since the Zeeland's folk costume as we know it didn't come into view until the 18th century, this has been proven incorrect. Why she wears capelet is a mystery.

I've only had the pleasure of working with Nehalennia once, since it was the Matron Goddess of one of our ex-coven members. I do, however, plan on learning more on this truly Dutch Goddess and hope to visit the new Temple one day.

I hope I've awakened your interest into the myth and magic of the Low Counties. May Nehalennia bless your travels and your land.

Love and Leaves,
Marjolijn

The feast of Beltaine

The first of May is almost upon us. Beltaine, the feast of Flame and Faerie! On this day the Beltaine fires merrily burn, bringing blessings and wishes to all who leap through them. It is the day of letting go, of dancing and singing and frolicing about, not caring who is watching. It is one of my favourite festivals.

The festival of Beltaine is also an important Faerie Feast. Together with Samha'in it is the day that the veil between the world is at its thinnest. Beings from both sides of the veil can cross over and communicate and most importantly, celebrate with each other. I was taught that the festival of Samha'in was the time that our ancestors crossed to our side to dine and celebrate with us. On the festival of Beltaine it is the Fair Folk who come out to dance and sing with us!

Beltane by Julia Helen Jeffrey

Beltaine is also the day that the Seelie Court will rule again. The court of Summer and Light. It is said that the tradition of electing a May Queen is a reminiscense of the Queen of the Summer Court. The Seelie Court is the Court of Fae who are more benevolent towards humans. They will warn us when we have offended them, even if we didn't even know we had done it. The Seelie Fae are also more prone to bestow blessings and gifts on ones who have treated them well.

In the cycle of the God and Goddess, Beltaine is the festival where they become one. They dance and lay together and wherever they walk, flowers and grain will sprout up from the ground. It is the day of fertility and growth. The animals go out into the field again, together with their little ones. The Goddess is now pregnant with the Sun Child and has turned from the Maiden into the Mother.

Beltane by Mickie Mueller
Taken from the Hidden Path Oracle deck

Join us on this first of May,

To sing and dance,

to laugh and play.

Leaping over the roaring fire,

we cry and chant,

our heart's desire.

We call out, for all to hear;

Blessings upon you all,

Summer is here!

Beltaine by Marjolijn Ashara

What to do on Beltaine.

Here I've put together some ways to celebrate Beltaine. Some are more elaborate than others. Personally, I prefer the small, more natural celebrations. Enjoy and happy Beltaine to you all!

One way to honour the Summer Lady is to wear a wreath of flowers in your hair.

If you bathe in dew on the morning of Beltaine, it is said to bring beauty and happiness for the rest of the year.

Dance and Sing songs of summer and Beltaine. Go out into an open field and dance and sing to your hearts desire!

In twilight or at dawn, take a thin branch of Rowan. Twist it in a ring. It is said that if you look through it, you're able to see the Fair Folk.

Paint a branch silver and tie silver bells to it. Walk with the silver bough, chiming as you go. This will attract the Faeries to come out and play.

Leave offerings to the Fair Folk. They love milk with honey, May wine and sweet sugary cookies. Present it in a pretty way, make an effort. Beware of iron, the Fair Folk will consider it and insult if you offer them anything of iron.

Weave ribbons around a maypole. Big or small, it doens't matter. Make a small maypole by putting your wand or another wooden branch into a flowerpot!

Have a picknick or go for a long walk. Look around you and search for the signs of Beltaine. Small animals, hares, beltaine flowers. Bring some things home with you and decorate a shelf or a corner of your garden. This would make a perfect place to attract Faeries into your home!


Of course there are tons of other things that I haven't covered here. So go out on the May Morn' and celebrate with us this feast of Flame and Faerie. May the Blessing of the Summer Queen be upon you.

Love and Leaves,
Marjolijn Ashara

Magpie's lessons

A more personal blog post this time... *takes deep breath* I'm losing my job... There, I said it... I was told the day before yesterday that my 6 month contract will not be renewed. So, come may, I'll be unemployed. It sucks, I'm quite heartbroken. I love this job and love the people I'm working with and to lose all that, together with financial security, physically hurts. I have an ache in my chest every time I think about it.

So yesterday was difficult, but at least that day I was home with my fiancée. Today I had to show up for work again. It was awkward, it was hard, I'm glad I made it through the day without crying... Two and a half week to go, and I'll be done. Part of me can't wait, the other part doesn't want it to be over.

Wednesday after I got the news I went home, crying on the subway. People looking weirdly at me. Me trying to hide in my book, hoping no one will notice me... So I got to our flat and in the back we have this round bit of greenery. So when you approach it, it looks like a crossroads. There I found the most beautiful feather. It was a tail feather of a magpie. Black with a beautiful oily sheen on one side. The thing is, I've been hoping to find one of those feathers for a while now, so that cheered me up immensly. However, as I looked back, I saw another feather. Another magpie feather with the same beautiful colours! I was smiling when I got home :)

Thieving Magpie by Una Fricker for Magic the Gathering.

What I realized later was that one feather laid in one fork of the crossroads, and one in the other. I have a thing about crossroads, I find them fascinating. The lore, myth and magic behind them is something that I've been wanting to study. So I'm taking the hint and will dig deeper into the lore and magic of crossroads. I showed the feathers to my fiancée and the first thing he said was; they are a sign. That's exactly how I felt about them so I looked up the symbolism of the magpie. It said that they find treasure everywhere, so I should look closely for something that could be a treasure, even if it doesn't look it. They also signify change and the creative use of ones voice.

Funny thing is that my boss also mentioned that she thinks I'm at a crossroads right now and that I shouldn't rush into anything. Think about which road I want to take. Another funny thing is that one of my colleagues mentioned that she thought the American Book Center here in the Hague might be something for me (for a job). Which is something that I've been thinking about to. So I'll look into that!

Last night I went flying with the magpie, in my dreams. I saw a woman flying below me, flying like she was swimming. She had beautiful red-blonde curls that moved with the wind. Then I saw a woman dancing, moving to the movements that we were making. She had straight and long brown hair. Her face turned up to the sky, but I couldn't see it. I have no idea what these women mean, but I'm keeping my eyes open for a curly blonde and a brunette ;p

Even though I'm heartbroken that I will lose my job, I'm starting to see some good things. Or rather, starting to focus on some good things. I want to focus more on my art, jewellery and writing. I also asked my mother in law if she would learn me how to sow clothing. I want to focus more on witchcraft and paganism, not that I have more time on my hands. I think in the end, this will be a good thing, even though it hurts right now...

I will of course let you know when I find a new (better ;)) job or when the magpie reveals more of her secrets!

Love and Leaves,
Marjolijn Ashara

The Art of: Selina Fenech

Time for another Art feature! This time I will share with you a few of my favourite pieces made by Selina Fenech. She is an Australian Faerie Artist and by far my favourite. I may have gotten into the Faerie art through Jessica Galbreth, Selina was the one who got me Hooked. (Yes, with capital H! ;)) Her combination of realism, soft colours and flowing lines bring a fairytale feel that most of us long for. So, get enchanted by the Art of Selina Fenech!

Along the Forest Path

Golden Gift

Guardian

His Goddess, Her God

Storykeeper

These are a select few of my favourite artworks of Selina Fenech. For more, check out her website. I'm also a proud owner of her oracle deck, the Wild Wisdom of the Faery Oracle Cards, which I use fequently and to great result. I also use them to decorate my altar, which is guarded by a statue of 'Shimmer'. Check back later for a review of her Oracle cards and much, much more! :D

Love and Leaves,
Marjolijn Ashara

The Art of Ian Daniels

Happy belated Fairy Day!!! I know, I know, shame on me for not posting anything for 10 days, but I'll make it up to you by posting two things tonight! I did have something planned for the 24th (Fairy Day), but since I had to work until midnight on the 23rd, I had other priorities, namely sleeping! But here is a beautiful Faerie Art Feature with the art of Ian Daniels.

I just started in the book 'Dark Fairies' by Dr. Bob Curran. I immediately fell in love with Ian's beautiful drawings that are featured in the book. So, I looked up his website and was happy to find that he not only makes beautiful (dark) faerie drawings and paintings, but also pagan themed art and images of myth and legend. So to honour Fairy Day here are some of my favourites from his gallery!

Dreamsleep

Greenman

Ur-Nanna

Mathonwy

Summerqueen

Ace of Skulls

Pagan Arts Journal - Week 2

Week 2's prompt was; Love!

This is what I made of it:

I had this idea in my head of two people embracing a certain way, so that they would have a heart in the middle. After a few sketches I decided that this worked much better :) I made a big heart with the couple in its centre, holding another heart. On the background I wrote a lot of keywords connected to love. They are not all individual words, most are used twice, some even three times. Not all of the keywords were related to a relationship, like 'marriage' or 'romance', but also words like 'family', 'friends', 'clan', 'Goddess' and 'God'. Just anything I could think of that was related to Love! I am quite pleased with the end result, it just screams 'love' to me, which was exactly what I wanted!