Tag Archives: nature

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If you are walking in woodlands around these parts, especially in this early spring, and you spy the unmistakable sight of yellow primroses growing in little bunches, you may well be in ancient woodland, particularly if that woodland also hosts bluebells and wild garlic.

These beautiful, delicate flowers provide essential nectar for early butterflies such as the brimstone and the tortoiseshell. Primroses have also naturally created hybrids over time, and along with many cultivated varieties, their colours can range from soft pale yellow to a rainbow of colours. They are also known for their gentle healing properties, often described as mildly sedative.

Both the flowers and leaves are edible, though be careful to correctly identify primrose and not confuse it with evening primrose, which is a completely different plant!

Symbolically, the primrose represents eternal love and emotional healing. In Irish folklore, it was planted by doorways to keep fairies at bay, as these mischievous beings were thought to steal the milk and butter. The primrose was thought to help guard the home from their trickery.

What a weekend we have had. On Saturday, Rob spoke on healing, took questions, gave demonstrations, and offered healing to all who wished to receive it.

On Sunday, despite a cancellation, we had a wonderful evening, as Steve Lidgett Williams chaired, and our own Chris Elliot served as medium, giving a beautiful address and delivering messages, assisted by Virginia Gordon. Steve also contributed with a few readings himself making it a lovely night for everyone.

Thank you to our music team, our hospitality team, and all those who gave prayers and readings. A special thank you as well to our wonderful healers, always on hand after the service.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please take a moment to pray for peace, peace everywhere, and especially in the many hotspots across our world. May God bless and protect those on the ground who are helping others in such desperate times of need.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Have a beautiful week and enjoy this early springtime!

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The beautiful Magnolia trees are coming into bloom. There is a stunning example just around the corner from me. They are ornamental trees; they were first brought to England in 1687 by John Banister for Fulham Palace, and in the 18th and 19th centuries, more varieties were introduced from China and the Himalayas.

These early spring bloomers really help with pollination, even though they’re not as nectar-rich as some blossoms. Arriving on the spring scene early, they help those bees take their fill. They are thought to be living fossils as there is evidence that they existed some 95 million years ago, although not in their current form.

Their petals are tough and are actually two in one, for what would usually be the green part of the bloom, and the petals are identical. Those tough petals help with the rough behaviour of those beetles, who like her, and are also the quieter pollinators of the springtime.

Their Spiritual symbolism is vast. Including purity, perseverance, and everlasting connections.

We are well aware of our everlasting connections when we gather, feeling those in spirit join us in such numbers. On Sunday, Helen Atkins came to visit on Mother’s Day at our Divine Service and gathering. Helen brought some lovely, inspired thoughts for us to ponder, and then went on to bring some lovely messages for the family. Thank you so much, Helen!! Our lovely Nerina chaired our evening beautifully, and we had such lovely readings and prayers from the family. We were also in good voice, which we were thankful for, as we did not have our hymnal, but that did not stop us from singing our hearts out. Thank you, Julie, for timing us for our healing silence, and Barbara, for making sure we were on pitch.

Of course, we were spoilt with two cakes, which went very quickly. Thank you, Carole and Sue.

And thank you to our healers and trainees on hand after the service. Thank you for all the set up, break down and washing up.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please continue to pray for understanding in this world, but also tolerance, especially from World Leaders right now in all the situations that continue to erupt.

Have a beautiful week. It should get warmer in these parts. We can’t wait!!

Happy St Patricks Day!!

Beannacht De’ leat!

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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

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We are moving through the season of Lent, an introspective time to not only be aware of the journey of Jesus of Nazareth, but also to ponder our own Spiritual journey so far. At this time, we have been blessed with days without rain and some sunshine, along with our evenings getting so much lighter, and the skies sometimes so clear we can enjoy a starlit evening sky complete with a crescent moon.

Life in the natural world is all a twitter with the birds, and now we have the brilliant cheeriness of the daffodils coming into bloom. These happy, sunshine-yellow flowers are a sure sign that springtime is around the corner. There are thousands of varieties worldwide, and evidence suggests that daffodils existed as far back as 300 BC. Originally, they came from Europe, Africa, and Asia. However, one daffodil that grows wild is native to the UK. These wild daffodils are also known as the Lent Lily, appearing during our season of Lent. It is not surprising that they have been adopted as the national flower of Wales, for they are a symbol of hope, renewal, and rebirth, and we all know that a ‘host of golden daffodils’ most definitely lifts our spirits high.

We gathered last night in Chawton to enjoy Irene Hall and Em Dowsing, who came to visit. Irene shared some lovely, inspired thoughts, and then they both gave lovely messages for the family. Thank you so much, ladies!! Our own Chris Shore chaired our evening beautifully. Thank you to our prayer people, our music team, our hospitality, as well as all those who set up, break down, and wash up. As always, a special thank you to our healers and those learning.

Prayer of the week.

Please pray for Mother Earth. We need to protect her and our physical home. She has provided everything we need. We must make sure humankind does not destroy her resources and her beauty.

Calendar up next.

Listen to the birdsong.

Have a lovely week!

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The blue skies are teasing us between the endless downpours, but at least we know that the new season is not far away. You know that is a reality when the crocuses, as usual, beat the ‘daffs’ into bloom and we are in a countdown to the springtime. What a past few days we have had, with such weather changes, and yet these colourful, bulbs have burst into flower all over the place.

Crocuses have been around and beloved for centuries, hence the many beautiful garden hybrids. In Greek mythology there are several stories associated with them. One tells of Crocus, a young man accidentally killed by a discus. After such tragedy, he was transformed into a flower by the god Hermes, and ever since the crocus has symbolised love and joy.

In the Bible, the humble crocus is mentioned in the Book of Isaiah, signifying new hope, rejuvenation, and restoration in the most difficult of circumstances. Something to hang our hats on as we near the start of Lent, a season within the greater Christian Church encouraging reflection and turning inward, leading us toward Easter

What a weekend we have had!

Saturday was our Valentine’s Coffee Morning, a wonderful time of readings, healing, tasty baked goods, coffee, tea, and warm conversation. In all, there were over fifty readings, and at least twenty-one people received healing. We thank all our visiting mediums: Irene Hall, Em Dowsing, Eve Cowell, Bob Baker, and Lorraine Francois. We also thank our in-house readers, our healers, and everyone who helped organise and help with the smooth running of the morning. The baked goods were, as always, such a delight, and so thank you to our hospitality team.

Right on the heels of that, John Morrow visited our little church on Sunday evening, and we shared a truly lovely time. Thank you, John, for your messages and your thoughts. The evening was chaired beautifully by our own Sarah Dorgan. Thank you, Sarah. Thanks as ever to hospitality, to the readers, the music team, the healers, and all those who set up and cleared away.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please send a tidal wave of love and peace to the whole world.

Calendar to follow later.

Have a beautiful week, and take time to ponder.

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We welcome Valentine’s week, not necessarily the unceasing rain, but there is much afoot in the world of love. All life in our wet woodlands is gearing up, and amongst them, the rabbits of our countryside are well into their breeding season.

There is only one rabbit species in England, the European rabbit, introduced into England by the Romans in 43 AD, and most probably kept as pets or food. This population was thought to have died out as they were kept enclosed and unlikely to survive in the wild. The Normans then introduced them for meat and fur, but it was in the fourteenth century that rabbits managed to escape and go AWOL. Rabbits, being rabbits, quickly increased in numbers and formed colonies.

Rabbit numbers have declined in the UK, and rabbits are not a protected animal, although certain cruelty laws still apply. Their symbolism is luck, no surprises there, and also fertility. They are associated with the feminine and also the moon. and represent the transition from winter to spring, and renewal

Last night, many braved the rain again to come to our little church with a big heart in Chawton. We were delighted to welcome Lorraine Francois and Alan Salmon as our guests. What a lovely evening of inspired thoughts by Alan, and messages brought by them both. Thank you so much. It was a lovely night. Our own special Nerina chaired the evening. Thank you, Nerina!!

We thank Lisa for running our music. We thank the readers, the hospitality, Carole, and Sue. We thank our diligent healers and trainees, and also those who help with the set-up and break-down. Everyone makes it light work.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please add to your prayers all those who are dealing with cancer.

Thank you.

Calendar up later

Have a lovely Valentine’s week!

Love is in the air!

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Rain, rain, go away, come back another day! Happy February, everyone! It’s encouraging to see signs that spring is on the way. This little fella, a Palmate newt, is making his journey to a moorland pond to begin the breeding season.

He’s often confused with the Smooth newt, but there are a few differences to look out for: notably the fine filament at the tip of his tail and his webbed back feet. He feeds on worms, slugs, and insect larvae, but he also has to watch out for his own predators. Foxes, badgers, and even grass snakes might all see him as a tasty snack.

This amazing little fella can regrow a limb if need be, and move effortlessly between land and water. His spiritual symbolism is one of transformation, resilience, and gentle magic.

Despite yet another downpour, many braved the weather to make it to Chawton last night. The evening was led by our President, Rob Harvey, and chaired by the ever-humorous Steve Lidgett Williams, whilst Rob offered insight into clairvoyance, explaining both its challenges and how it works from both sides.

Rob brought some messages, after which the Fledglings, supported by the more experienced, took to the floor. Quite a number of messages were delivered, with the newer mediums explaining how they were perceiving the information. It was an evening enjoyed by all.

We also enjoyed beautiful readings and prayers, along with some lovely hymns, followed of course by cake and healing. Our thanks go to the readers and to Carole and Chris for their hospitality and to Julie for our music. We are so glad for the many who make light work of set up and break down as well as wash up.

We are also very grateful to the healers and delighted to see our newer healers training alongside those more experienced. I suspect quite a few people went home to enjoy a very good night’s sleep!

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

How can we not think of the homeless with this endless rain and cold snaps of weather? Please pray for them that resources are coming quickly. May they be seen and included within our communities. We must extend compassion in all possible ways.

Calendar up next.

Have a beautiful week. It is sunny above the clouds!

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Walking through the woodlands this morning, I must admit there wasn’t too much inspiration in a visual sense. No wonder this month inspired the song lyrics ‘January sick and tired you’ve been hanging on me’, and yet my ears had a feast of bird song and then the unmistakable loud drumming of a woodpecker, most probably The Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

None of the birds have a chance to moan about this month, for they are preparing. Finding their mate is of the utmost importance, and the woodpeckers are no different. The drumming is to establish their breeding territories. The Greater Spotted Woodpecker is small with a black and white plumage and a dash of red at the back of the head for the males.

As food is scarce, you may get a treat and see them in your garden. Along with the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and the Green Woodpecker, they are fully fledged native residents in the UK. A woodpecker’s Spiritual symbolism is that of persistence, divine timing, and communication, encouraging us to dig deeper to find inner wisdom. A good example for us as we move through the start of this year.

And what a start to the year we have had. Last night in Chawton, we had another of our own taking the podium, as in the lovely Sarah Dorgan, who shared such meaningful, inspired thoughts, and then went on to bring so many messages. Well done, Sarah. We had a lovely night!! Chris Elliot was our chair, making a great team to lead us through the evening.

We thank the readers also for raising the energy. We thank Lisa for running our music. Carole and Sue, we thank you for the hospitality and cake!! Thank you to our healers who were quite busy last night! And of course, busy hands setting up, breaking down, and washing up. Thank you!

Prayer of the week.

Please pray for the bereaved. Some suffer a very sudden loss, and some experience the loss of a child, which can be especially difficult. Please pray that they can all be lifted into understanding and Peace which can change everything.

Calendar up later.

Remember, the endless rain will give us such a lush springtime.

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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.

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The New Year has brought bare trees, and the weather has been quite cold, with only endless rain to follow. If there is a pause, we look for something of colour in our natural landscape. Thank goodness for the evergreens. Some plants are blooming already, though. One in particular gives hope for the birds and animals in way of food during the cold, bleak days. Witch Hazel is in bloom with its spindly petals and either orange, yellow, or red colouring. Her name came from wych, an old English word for bend, as her flexible branches were used as water diviners.

She was imported from America in the 1700s, and appears in our woodlands and gardens blooming from December through to March, and did I mention she is healing? Wych hazel was certainly known during my youth, as she is anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and a great antioxidant. Like essential oils, the tonic is extracted by steam distillation of the twigs and leaves. Gardeners love her. She is fragrant and gives us just that burst of colour to lift the spirit when all else is looking grey.

We gathered in Chawton last night for our first in-person gathering of the New Year. We were so glad to welcome Bob Baker!! We had a night of lifted spirits. Bob shared some lovely thoughts and then went on to bring some equally lovely messages. Thank you so much, Bob. What a lovely evening!! Our own Chris Shore chaired the evening proceedings beautifully. Thank you!

We thank those who offered prayers and readings. They always give us pause. Thank you to Lisa for running music. Thank you, Sue and Nerina, for helping with hospitality. Thank you to our healers on hand after the service. And as always, the set-up and breakdown are done diligently every evening we gather. Thank you.

Prayer of the week

Please pray for a calming of all the chaos in this world and a restoration of Peace.

Calendar up later.

Have a beautiful week, and don’t forget the bird seed!!