I have been watching the bumblebees favour a particular wildflower growing through the cracks of my patio. She has been growing in complete wild abandon this year, I might add. The bees just keep coming and coming to her, and I found myself wondering why this flower, in particular, was so favoured.

The flower is Linaria purpurea, originally from Italy but brought to the UK in the 1700s. She also has the wonderful common name of Purple Toadflax. With a name like that, it was enough to entice me to search further.

Although originally introduced and cultivated in the UK, she, like so many others, became an escapee and can now be found growing in the poorest of soils and in the most unlikely places of wasteland, like my patio!

The bees love her, especially the ‘Bumbles’ because their weight allows them to press down the lower lip of the two-lipped bloom and reach the rich treasure of nectar that so many other pollinators simply cannot get to. Bees, in general, are also drawn to that beautiful purple-blue colour.

Folklore has had a field day with this flower. The two-lipped flower resembles a toad’s mouth, giving her common name. Of course, she is associated with the faeries and their hidden treasures, but she also carries symbolism of protection, resilience, and even the breaking of hexes!

She must indeed be a treasure, for I have watched the bumblebees visit her from dawn’s early light right through until dusk on these beautiful summer days.

We gathered again last night in Chawton after one of those glorious summer days. Rob Harvey, our President, gave an address on just how close spirit can be. He then shared a little clairvoyance, with education and demonstration, with the help of some of the people who sit in Circle. It is a wonderful way for the whole family to understand, at a deeper level, just how close and real the other realms truly are.

Thank you, Rob, and thank you to Sarah Dorgan, who chaired the evening so beautifully. It was such a lovely, relaxed evening.

Thank you to our readers and prayer people, who help to build the energy. Thank you, Carole, for another delicious cake, and thank you to everyone who helps with hospitality. Thank you, Julie, for the music, to our wonderful healers, and to everyone who helps with setting up and packing away afterwards.

Prayer of the Week

Another heatwave is on its way. Please hold in your prayers all those who are vulnerable, people, their beloved companion animals, and don’t forget our wildlife and all animals. Yes the bees and the little ones too. They all need hydration. Prayers for all. Thank you.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Drink before thirst, take care in the heat, and enjoy these beautiful sunny days and heavenly blue skies!

Photo credit :Ross Knowlton

What exactly is it that foxes are doing at this summertime point in the UK? I’ll tell you.

Most kits are probably fairly grown by now and getting into all sorts of mischief. The other morning, at precisely 3.30am, I was awakened by quite a din of yelps and general chaos. Looking out of the window in the early morning light, I saw five fox kits, all slightly different in size, playing with,and enjoying immensely,an old ice cream carton that appeared to have some ice cream still in it, obviously thieved from a nearby dustbin.

What a delight.

I watched them for so long that, yes, I got dressed and went downstairs. Standing in my little front garden in the early morning light, I was amazed that the birds were singing so early and so loudly.

The smallest kit came bounding into my garden. He froze on seeing me, like a rabbit in the headlights, then darted back to the safety of the woods. All the others froze too, before quickly following suit.

They have a rough road ahead of them. Not all will survive their first year. There are so many perils for young animals as they begin exploring their newfound playground.

With everything going on in this world, and sometimes in our own lives, reminding ourselves of the beauty and enchantment of nature is just the tonic to start the day,even if it is a little too early. The small things are actually the big things.

We were enchanted Sunday night to have Sarah Wawman, aka Pink Sarah, come to visit us in Chawton. It was a beautiful evening filled with her inspired thoughts and simply wonderful messages. Thank you so much, Sarah. We loved having you.

Our dear Nerina chaired the evening beautifully. Thank you!

The family gave readings and prayers to uplift us, and we were in fine voice. Carole had made the most beautiful chocolate cake, which most definitely did not disappoint. Thank you to our wonderful hospitality team. Thank you to Lisa for running the music, and thank you to our healers. Very quick work was made of packing everything away afterwards.

Prayer of the Week

Please pray for the people and animals affected by the recent disaster in Venezuela. So much chaos and suffering has been caused, and they need our thoughts and prayers.

Calendar up later.

Have a beautiful, and hopefully cooler week.

One of the most striking butterflies to be seen in the UK during June is the Red Admiral. Originally known as the “Red Admirable”, his original English name, the butterfly’s name became “Red Admiral” over time.

This beautiful butterfly is migratory, arriving from North Africa each spring. Many return south in September, although not all make the journey. With the milder winters Britain has experienced more recently, increasing numbers are choosing to remain here, hunkering down in sheltered locations through the winter.

The Red Admiral is particularly fond of Buddleia, AKA “butterfly bush”, for the nectar-rich blooms. He is also frequently seen feeding on fermenting fruit, when necessary, and tastes with his feet, marching up and down to see whether it is worth a munch.

He is fiercely territorial and a little grumpy. Males will often establish their patch and aggressively chase off rival butterflies.

In folklore and spiritual symbolism, the Red Admiral is often regarded as a messenger, representing transformation, protection, and courage. A sighting of him is sometimes interpreted as a sign of guidance, reassurance, or positive change on the horizon.

After another gorgeous day in these parts, we welcomed Karen Bazazan Noghani to us in Chawton last night for our Friendship Service. Thank you so much for your inspired thoughts and bringing our messages last night. We were so glad to meet you. Steve chaired our evening beautifully. Thank you, Steve.

The energy was high as we enjoyed beautiful readings and prayers and sang some lovely hymns. Thank you to our readers. Thank you, Julie, for running our music, and thank you to the hospitality ladies. Carole and Sue. Our healers stood by to help those in need after the service. Thank you, and so many pitched in to pack up and clear away.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please pray for our little church, that we can find new ways to serve our own church family, but also those in our communities.

Calendar up tomorrow.

It’s almost midsummer. Enjoy the long light evenings!

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The cuckoo, known for its famous two-note call, arrives in the UK from Africa around April. The female cuckoo lays her eggs in another bird’s nest, often first spooking the host bird away. She then leaves the unsuspecting foster parents to incubate the eggs, feed the chicks, and raise the fledglings! What a strategy that helps conserve the cuckoo’s energy and resources. This behaviour is known as brood parasitism.

Quite a trickster, and perhaps seemingly unfair, the cuckoo demonstrates just how it has evolved and the lengths it will go to help its young survive. They are also known for having multiple partners during a breeding season to increase the chances of reproduction and survival. Other birds also engage in brood parasitism, but the cuckoo is by far the most famous.

That cute little bird appearing each hour on our cuckoo clocks is far more devious than we might imagine, yet also highly intelligent and practical. While the word “cuckoo” can mean, in some contexts, foolishness, its symbolism is often associated with transformation, intuition, and adaptability.

Last night in Chawton, we hosted our beautiful Healing Service. It was an evening filled with wonderful energy, readings, prayers, and, of course, healing. Healing was administered during the service, and I trust everyone enjoyed a sound sleep afterwards.

Thank you to Rob for leading us and to our readers. Thank you also to the hospitality team, to Julie for the music, and to our diligent healers. We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful Healing Team. So much thanks should go to all those who set up and broke down the evening also.

Prayer of the Week

Please pray for all those caught up in the violence of wars around the world. The suffering they endure is beyond our understanding. Please send your thoughts and prayers to them, for they are so very much in need.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Yes, it’s raining… umbrellas in June! Try to keep dry.

Have a beautiful week!

One small creature that probably survives the winter well is the wood mouse, also known as the field mouse. Unlike the dormouse, he is not usually found inside our homes unless he is desperate for food and shelter in the colder months. Instead, he prefers sheds or the endless tunnels he creates, where he stores food to sustain him through the harsh winter months.

With his large eyes, big ears, and soft light-brown fur, he has that appealing, almost Disney-like look we associate with many cartoon characters. At this time of year, he becomes especially active, with the approaching breeding season, which can last until autumn! And there is a flurry of activity as nests are built and food is gathered.

He is nocturnal, an excellent climber, and a fast mover. However, despite his speed, he is vulnerable, for owls and foxes see him as a substantial snack. Spiritually, the wood mouse symbolises resourcefulness, humility, attention to detail, and the ability to find magic in the mundane, truly wonderful qualities indeed.

We gathered on Sunday evening, over the bank holiday weekend in Chawton and shared a lovely evening of prayers, readings, and hymns, some well-known and perhaps one less familiar, though we made a valiant effort!

Our own Steve Lidgett Williams chaired the evening beautifully for Rob Harvey, who led an ‘Evening of Clairvoyance.’ Rob gave an address concerning recent healing and clairvoyant work he had undertaken. He then invited a couple of the house mediums, along with two fledglings, to come forward, and together, they brought the messages while explaining what they were perceiving, helping everyone gain a clearer understanding of how clairvoyance works.

The mediums and fledglings taking part were Nerina Dannatt, Steve Lidgett Williams, Rob Harvey, Chris Elliott, and Alison Keogh. It was a truly lovely evening, spent with our church family, who also gave prayers and readings. Thank you, everyone!

Thank you, Sue and Carole, thank you for your wonderful hospitality and another divine cake creation. Julie, thank you for the music. And many thanks to our healers and trainees for offering healing after the service. Thank you also to those who helped with the set-up, break-down of the evening, and the washing up.

Prayer of the Week

Please keep in your prayers children who may be unwell or in hospital. Illness can be frightening for a child, and it is also a deeply distressing time for their parents and families.

Calendar to follow shortly.

Wishing you all a beautiful week!

Happy May!!

Picture credit: Simon Dell, George the mouse.

Reflections on Life, Faith, and Love Beyond This World – The Latest from Rob Harvey

Several new articles have been published on Rob Harvey’s website exploring some of the most common questions people ask about life, death, and the spiritual world. These topics often arise during readings, conversations with families, and spiritual meetings where people are searching for understanding about what happens beyond this life.

While each article explores a different subject, they are all connected by one central theme — love, understanding, and the journey of the soul.

Are Funerals Only for the Living?

One of the most frequently asked questions is whether funerals are simply for those left behind, or whether they also have meaning for the person who has passed.

From Rob Harvey’s experience conducting funeral services, funerals can be important for both the living and the departed. When someone dies, they leave their physical body but may still remain aware of their surroundings for a short time.

The atmosphere of a funeral can make a real difference. When people gather with open minds, celebrating the life of their loved one and sending love, it can help the person who has passed as they begin their transition to the next world.

This perspective offers a comforting reminder that funerals are not only about grief — they can also be moments of connection, love, and support for the soul continuing its journey.

You can read the full article here:
https://robharveylifeafterdeath.co.uk/2026/03/13/are-funerals-for-the-living-or-the-departed/

Is Going to Church Necessary?

Another question that many people ask is whether attending church is necessary for living a good life or preparing for what comes after death.

Rob Harvey explains that while churches can be beautiful places for prayer and reflection, the most important thing is not simply attending church, but how we live our lives and treat the people around us.

Through many spiritual readings, Rob has observed that those who led kind and compassionate lives often find it easier to connect with loved ones after passing. What truly matters is the love we show to others, the help we offer, and the kindness we share.

In the end, faith and spirituality are not about appearances or rituals, but about the genuine goodness we bring into the world.

Read more here:
https://robharveylifeafterdeath.co.uk/2026/03/13/do-you-need-to-go-to-church/

A Message of Love from the Spirit World

During one spiritual meeting, a powerful message came through focusing entirely on the importance of love.

The message described love as the force that connects everything — this world, the spirit world, and the souls who move between them. It reminded those present that love can be seen in everyday life, from the beauty of nature to the bond between families.

According to the message, love does more than comfort us. It attracts more love, brings people together, and even allows loved ones in the spirit world to draw closer.

It also suggested that gatherings where people come together with kindness and intention can create powerful moments where the spiritual and physical worlds connect through love.

You can read the full message here:
https://robharveylifeafterdeath.co.uk/2026/03/13/a-message-about-love-from-the-spirit-world/

A Shared Message

Although each of these articles explores a different topic — funerals, faith, and spiritual messages — they all point toward the same deeper understanding.

Life is about how we love, how we help others, and how we grow as individuals.

Whether we are celebrating someone’s life at a funeral, questioning the role of religion, or listening to messages from the spirit world, the same truth continues to appear:

Love is at the centre of everything.

To explore these ideas in more depth, visit Rob Harvey’s website and read the full articles linked above.

Even through some foggy mornings and days, springtime is coming, as noted by the endless birdsong and activity, and the now luminous green appearing in our woodland. Even the moss gives a fantasy look to the forest, with its lime-green, almost luminescent colour.

The humble but very territorial blackbird is out and about with all the other busy birds, cocking his head to hear the earthworms underfoot. The male is black with that bright orange beak, and the female has a soft brown plumage.

They are a protected bird, and also one of our most common birds, so common that perhaps they get overlooked in favour of the more striking colours of some of their kin. His song is beautiful, though, as noted in many poems and songs. Numbers swell in the wintertime as their Scandinavian and Baltic cousins join them in this slightly warmer climate. These pairs often stay together for life. The female lays about three to six beautiful turquoise eggs with rusty spots. They used to be named “ousel,” as noted in the works of Shakespeare, but in 1486 they were renamed simply blackbirds. Folklore in general has them as harbingers of change, and Celtic symbolism holds that their song thins the veil between this world and the next.

We welcomed the lovely Sarah McLaughlan last night to our little church with a big heart. Sarah brought many inspired thoughts to remind us and uplift us, and then shared many lovely and very helpful messages for the family. Thank you so much, Sarah. We really did have such a lovely evening. Alison Keogh chaired our gathering. Thank you.

As always, we thank our readers and prayer people. We thank hospitality and Carole’s cake making. We thank Lisa for running our music, and also our healers who were on hand afterwards. Thank you to everyone who pitches in with the set-up, break-down, and the washing up.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please pray this week for more understanding in this world, understanding in our homes, in our communities, and on the global stage. Understanding brings compassion, and compassion heals situations. The Golden Rule stands in every age.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Have a lovely week. Find the beauty in every day.

Photo credit: Mireille Berthoud

Photo credit Colin Rees. Creative Flower Photography

We move into March, that crazy, unpredictable month of March winds and ever-changing weather. What’s new? Meteorological spring began yesterday, on the 1st, St David’s Day, as Ken reminded me at church, though the spring (Vernal) equinox is not until the 20th this year.

It is absolutely gorgeous in this neck of the woods right now. So much is beginning to bloom, and even some early cherry blossoms are already out. The weather may be a little “choppy” for a while, but it will grow warmer and calmer, at least according to the 17th-century expression, “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” Let’s hold fast to that.

Yesterday we enjoyed our special Healing Service in Chawton. It was an absolutely beautiful evening of prayers and readings, followed by the gentle outpouring of healing love from above, led by our President, Rob Harvey. Thank you, everyone.

The Spiritual energies were so high that, whether healer or healee, we were all bathed in love and goodness. I trust everyone slept well afterwards. We usually take a group picture, but we were so busy fellowshipping and enjoying Carole’s cake that we completely forgot!

Special thanks to our healers:

Julie Sheraman Searle, Steve Lidgett Williams, Rob Harvey, Barbara Matthews, Ken Matthews, Jane Trillaud, Chris Elliot, Aimee Andrews, and Alison Keogh.

Thank you also to Sue and Carole for hospitality, Julie and Lisa for the music, and of course to all who helped set up, break down, and wash up. Always so appreciated.

Prayer of the Week

Please pray for Peace in our world. As more conflict erupts, so many innocent lives remain in peril.

Calendar up later.

Have a beautiful week. Let us be thankful for all that we have, for what we have is somebody else’s dream.

In the dank of January, there seems to be very little life around. On my walk through the woodlands, it was quiet, with an occasional squirrel running across the path. However, as I returned to my garden, I saw our ultimate garden birds suddenly dancing in abundance again. Our British Blue Tit, flitting here and flitting there, is with us year-round. We kind of take them for granted. Even in the darkest days, these small ones are close by, and never miss a beat when crumbled suet balls are out on the bird table.

They seem to be happy, energetic souls who gather together. Their plumage is bright with yellow breasts and bright blue on the head, wings, and tail, and a black stripe on their bib. They will already be looking for a place to nest, which is probably why there is sudden activity. Tough times are ahead, as raising the young when they come is no walk in the park, and many fledglings die from starvation. They sing their hearts out, though with their high-pitched song, which is always welcome on some of the more dreary January days.

We sang our hearts out last night in song when we had one of our own, Virginia Gordon, take the podium in Chawton. Virginia brought completely inspired thoughts to give us pause. Thoughts that we could hold onto, and then went on to bring many lovely messages. Thank you so much, Virginia!! We love our Family Nights!! Alison Keogh chaired the proceedings.

We thank Julie for running music, Sue and Carole for hospitality, with a delicious coffee cake for everyone to enjoy. Thank you, of course, to our readers, and prayer people, and our healers standing by afterwards. The ‘washer-uppers ‘ and those who set up and break down are always appreciated, and we thank them.

Prayer of the week.

Please pray for a wave of healing to heal the intense fear in this world. Fear sometimes brings on such bad behaviour in the way of dominance, violence, lack, and depravity. It also destroys our quality of life when we live fearfully and keeps us in the shadows, unable to live fully.

Calendar will be up soon.

Have a beautiful week, and relish the moments. They’re golden.