Jenny Hedley came from Reading to visit us in Chawton on Sunday. She shared some beautiful prayers and inspired thoughts. Thanks so much, Jenny! Alison Keogh chaired the evening.
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The catkins have arrived, now we are truly in springtime. The Goat Willow, or Pussy Willow as it is so lovingly called, is a welcome arrival for early pollinators. Those soft, silver catkins protect the delicate flowers within from the chilly days until the sun warms their world. Native to the UK and Europe, with relatives in the Americas, this tree offers a quiet beauty.
Willow has long been associated with healing. Its active component, salicin, an active ingredient of aspirin, has been used for centuries as a natural pain reliever. Native Americans understood its healing ability, using willow in their daily lives for ailments and pain control.
The catkins themselves resemble tiny kitten paws, and a Polish legend tells of a mother cat, distraught because her kittens fell into a fast-flowing river while chasing butterflies. It was the willow branches, bending low over the water, that gave the little ones something to cling to, saving their lives.
The willow is a symbol of renewal, resilience, and adaptability, and even weather magic, as twigs thrown into the wind are supposed to calm storms. Perhaps someone was working that magic, as yesterday gave us a truly glorious spring day, with no rainstorms in sight, and we came to church in high spirits.
Although Louise Barnes was unable to join us, her cohort, Jenny Hedley from Reading, offered truly beautiful, inspired prayers and thoughts. Thank you, Jenny. Your words were truly lovely. The evening was chaired by our own Alison Keogh.
Our family, as always, shared heartfelt readings, followed by beautiful messages from our house mediums with two of the fledglings. Thank you to Nerina Dannat, Virginia Gordon, Julie Shearman Searle, and Aimee Andrews. It was a lovely evening, complete with another beautiful cake from Carole, warm conversation, and healing on offer from healers and trainees
Thank you also to our music team, Julie and Lisa, and to everyone who helps set up, break down, and take care of the washing up.
Prayer of the Week
Please send a prayer up for unity in our world. Its lack is the cause of so much division, not only on the world stage but within our communities and homes. May we learn to see others as ourselves, beyond differences of culture, politics, or belief. Anything less is sheer spiritual ignorance.
The calendar will be up tomorrow.
Wishing you a beautiful week!
Hello sunshine !
We are always glad to get to our mid week gathering on Zoom, our oasis during the week. enjoying beautiful prayers, readings and music. We gathered again last night and enjoyed our brief half hour of peace and community, followed by healing. Thank you to everyone for their offerings.
Please continue to pray for Peace in every way in this world, especially in the war zones of The Middle East, Gaza, and The Ukraine.
Louise Barnes with Jenny Hedley will be visiting on Sunday in Chawton. You wouldn’t want to miss!
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Lesley Knight came to visit last night. The evening was chaired by our own lovely Sarah Dorgan. What a lovely evening. Thank you!
The garden birds are busy preparing at this important time of year, and the birds of prey are going through the same motions and stresses also. The Eurasian Sparrowhawk may be one of the smallest birds of prey, but it is mighty in its own way. After a decline in numbers several decades ago, they are now quite abundant around the UK.
From March through to June, you can witness their stunning aerial “skydancing” displays, part of their dramatic mating ritual. The female takes charge of nurturing the eggs once laid, while the male goes on the hunt, using that remarkable stealth to provide the extra food needed. One swoop with a sudden shower of feathers often signals a sparrowhawk nearby.
Interestingly, the females are quite a bit larger than the males, which is unusual. Symbolically, they represent extreme focus and awareness, reminding us to pay attention. They are also linked to new beginnings and, in some traditions, are thought to be spiritual messengers.
We were fortunate to have one of our own spiritual messengers last night, as our dear friend Lesley Knight came to visit. What a beautiful evening it was. Lesley shared beautiful thoughts and gave wonderful evidence of continuing life, along with such lovely messages. Thank you so much.
Our own Sarah Dorgan chaired our gathering beautifully, and we are grateful to our family for the beautiful prayers and readings. Thank you to Julie for the music, Sue for her hospitality, and to Carole for another divine cake creation.
Thank you to our healers, always ready to help afterwards, and to all the wonderful healing trainees. And thank you to everyone who helped set up, break down down, and take care of the washing up.
Prayer of the Week
Please, let us pray for peace everywhere. May leaders find peace within themselves and become more aware of the consequences of their actions.
Calendar to follow.
Have a beautiful week!
We gathered yesterday evening on Zoom, after a glorious, beautiful day full of the joys of spring. We love to see each other mid-week and share the lovely prayers, readings, and music. The healing followed. Thank you, everyone!
Please continue to pray for compassion in this world, and the hope that we can all look at each other with kinder eyes.
Lesley Knight is with us on Sunday, in Chawton!
Join us.
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Alton Christian Spiritualist Church 