Tag Archives: Spiritualism

Posted on by
Reply

Living on the edge of woodlands, I am treated, on a regular basis, to rare sights that perhaps a garden with a more suburban backdrop might not enjoy. The birds that visit me don’t come because of a fantastical bird table, or gourmet treats (for mine is a simple table within a dead Camellia tree, and some suet crumbles that seem to suffice,) but simply because of location, location, location! My glasses, alongside my coffee, are needed to be sure of exactly who does turn up at the 7 o’clock hour.

Hawfinches are very rare to see, and although I was unable to get a picture, I do know that it is absolutely possible to spot them near woodlands. He has an unmistakable large beak for his size, a very handy tool for crushing cherry stones and tree seeds. He is the largest finch in the UK, but sadly he is Red-listed, meaning that he is becoming increasingly rare, probably because of the loss of his habitat.

They are very shy birds, preferring to keep high in the canopy of trees, and their numbers increase slightly in winter as their European cousins arrive, giving us a better chance of seeing them.

His symbolism is often linked to that wonderfully powerful beak. In old England, he was known by names such as ‘Cherry Chopper ‘ for his ability to break open those hard cherry stones with ease. That strength of jaw and beak has come to represent inner strength and breakthroughs, a reminder that maybe we do have the ability to crack open what seem to be the impossible problems and reach the truth hidden within.

He’s also something of a mystery, usually unseen amongst the trees, with a simple, sharp call and an almost ghostly presence. I will choose to believe I did see him, face whatever obstacles arrive in my day with a little more strength, and a determined confidence.

Last night in Chawton, we welcomed Lorraine Francois and Catherine Whitbread. Between them, they shared a beautiful, thoughtful address and brought our lovely messages. Thank you so much, Ladies!! A lovely evening. Our own lovely Chris Elliot chaired the evening beautifully. We always thank our family for their readings and prayers, as well as our Music Team, with Julie running the music last night. Thank you for the yummy cake, Carole, and thank you to Sue for hospitality.

We are ever grateful for our diligent healers, ever ready after the service, as well as everyone who not only sets up but also breaks down the evening, and makes it quick, light work.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK.

Please pray for our Natural World. This earth and her inhabitants are going through it. With so many natural disasters occurring, as well as our interference with the ways of nature, we must remember that all of creation is affected, not just us.

Calendar up later.

Have a beautiful week.

Pause and enjoy the change of seasons.

Picture credit: Gary Jones Wildlife Photography

Posted on by
Reply

Well, the rain dancing worked!

We have been treated to everything from short, sharp bursts of rain to long, thunderous showers. I think I can even feel the relief of my garden fauna as, finally, they get hydrated with water from above rather than my dirty dishwater!

The back and forth of sunshine-filled days and cooler, Autumn-like mornings is now quite obvious, and these rains have brought out snails in mass abundance, almost like an end-of-summer party. Glad of the rainwater to clean off their dry shells, they are now able to travel along smoother, wetter paths, seeking out food and breeding opportunities. They can lay their eggs in the moist soil and fill up on sustenance before the cooler seasons begin in earnest.

The humble garden snail. What a fascinating creature.

These little molluscs are hermaphrodites, meaning they possess both male and female reproductive organs, quite an evolutionary leap! When two snails mate, both may go on to lay eggs!

We have so many jokes about their speed: snail mail, moving at a snail’s pace. And yet, in their world, it simply works!

They carry their heavy shells wherever they go, providing protection for their soft bodies, and that ‘delightful’ tell-tale silvery slime they leave behind serves many purposes. It helps them move, retain moisture and navigate their little world, but producing it comes with a high energy cost.

And so, as you return home on a wetter day, tread carefully along your path. Somewhere beneath your feet, a humble little snail is probably travelling from A to B, and it may take a while…He/she is in no rush. And perhaps, as we watch these creatures move through our damp gardens, we might take a moment to slow down ourselves. What a thought! We protest and insist that the world calls us here and there.. but may we remember, whatever we are travelling to…Home has always been right where we are, at this moment.

And I am sure The Family felt ‘home’ as usual last night in Chawton. Unfortunately Vanessa Smallwood was unable to be with us, but our own Steve answered the phone on a Sunday, and so he was the appointed one!

Steve did such a great job bringing a lovely address about St Francis of Assisi. I think we all learnt a few things, and we know our family is packed with animal lovers, and then Steve went on to bring many messages. Thanks so much Steve for giving us such a good night. Our evening was chaired by Alison. Thank you.

There were beautiful prayers and readings from the family. Cake with cherries. Thank you Carole! We are indeed spoilt. And then good conversation, washing it all down with not just tea and coffee, but with healing to give us a good night’s sleep. Thank you also Julie for running our music. Thank you all for the set up and breakdown of the evening.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please pray for Nepal and the horrific flooding. So much devastation and loss of not just human life, but animal life also. Please let us pray that aid can increase, and that healing is in sight.

Have a beautiful week! More sun is scheduled apparently, but we know that Autumn is now just around the corner…

Posted on by
Reply

We are marching steadily towards August, and we have had a little break in the temperatures. It is still warm, but there are cooler mornings and evenings, and a welcome cooler breeze sometimes during the day. It feels like we have been spoiling for a massive thunderstorm in these parts, and we did have a little rain yesterday.

Speaking of the coming thunderstorms, the coming Thunder Moon, or Buck Moon, was clear and luminous in the sky as we drove back from church last night. It was a few days prior to full, but still absolutely beautiful in the heavens above.

How do these moons get their romantic names? They are usually tied to seasonal events. The stunning Buck Moon hails from Native American culture, as the male deer shed their antlers around this time, and the Thunder Moon is simply the time when thunderstorms are most probable during the summer’s build-up of heat and electrical charge.

There is something celebratory about moonlight, especially when you can see the beauty of the sun’s light reflecting off this natural satellite orbiting our earthly home in the spring and summer months.

Far from being myth, the moon does affect us. Our physical bodies are made up of approximately sixty percent water, and if the moon creates the tides through its gravitational pull, it most certainly affects us.

Concerning myth, folklore, and symbolism, there is a craziness associated with the full moon, that is, lunacy, and she is closely linked with the element of water and the feminine aspects we all have,: empathy, intuition, nurturing, and receptivity. It is also a time when we can get especially emotional, so its best to keep our thoughts high, whatever is going on. The Buck/Thunder July Moon will be seen full from Thursday evening all through Friday. Enjoy!

Well, we had a wonderful Sunday again in Chawton. Ann Marie Hogan came to visit us and shared beautiful thoughts and brought our lovely messages, along with laughter. Thank you so much, Ann Marie! Our Steve was at the helm, guiding the evening so well. Thank you Steve!

The readings and prayers were just lovely. Thank you, everyone. Thank you, Lisa, for the music. Thank you, Carole and Sue, for the hospitality, and what an array of baked goods!

Thank you for the set-up and breakdown of the evening, along with all the washing up, and always a special thank you to our healers for bringing the healing energies through from the unseen ones.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please pray for all those in this world affected by these devastating natural disasters. Humankind are not the only ones affected.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Keep your thoughts high and your hearts warm

Have a beautiful week!

Picture credit: Getty image

Posted on by
Reply

This year I didn’t see the blackbird chicks in my garden, but I have noticed their parents much more over the past few weeks.

At the weekend, the male perched on the bird table and, for nearly half an hour, this usually shy garden visitor seemed to share some moments chirping back and forth with me. I imitated his chirps, and each time he answered with a slightly different pattern. I finally had to get on with my day, but it felt quite unusual for such a shy and cautious bird and was a wonderfully uplifting way to begin an early summer morning.

Though blackbirds are not strictly monogamous, pairs will often return to the same territory together year after year if both have survived the winter. They are also remarkably intelligent and can recognise individual humans by their appearance, routines and even their voices.

The blackbird is actually a member of the thrush family, a medium-sized, ground-feeding songbird with a truly beautiful voice. It is no surprise that Paul McCartney wrote his famous song, Blackbird.

“Blackbird singing in the dead of night…”

Blackbirds sometimes sing after dark because of light pollution confusing them.

The female is a gentle, soft brown, while the male is unmistakable with his glossy jet-black feathers and bright golden-yellow beak. They have long been woven into myth and folklore. Far from being a bad omen, the blackbird has often been seen as a messenger of hope, renewal, transformation and new awareness.

Last night we had many messengers of hope and love as our own Sarah Dorgan took the platform to share an inspiring message about slowing down, taking a moment to stop and smell the roses. She then went on to bring some beautiful messages. It was a lovely evening of laughter, and chaired beautifully by Virginia Gordon. Thank you so much, ladies.

Our church family offered beautiful prayers and readings that lifted the energy in the room. There was cake, there was music, and there was much laughter.

Thank you, Julie, for our music. Thank you, Carol and Chris, for your wonderful hospitality. Thank you to our healers, and to everyone who helped with the setup and breakdown after the gathering.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please pray for Peace close to home and across our world, for all those who need that solace in their lives.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Have a beautiful week.

Take a moment…. You’re allowed.

Posted on by
Reply

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!

See less

Posted on by
Reply

I thought I had witnessed a June bug when I caught an iridescent metallic flash of emerald green on my windowsill, but June bugs do not live in the UK, do they? However, a smaller imposter does, and this smaller, stunning flying beetle turned out to be none other than the Rose Chafer.

Gardeners are probably well aware of the chewing habits and destruction caused by this little critter, for he can demolish a flower, eating the fleshy parts of petals and leaves. His favourite snack is likely the dog rose, whose nectar and pollen he very much enjoys. He is very visible now and will remain so throughout the summertime, sometimes staying around till October here in the UK.

This stunning flying beetle carries wonderful symbolism for many people, representing inner alchemy, transformation, and the journey from humble beginnings to something radiant and beautiful. His stunning metallic green colour flashing in the sunlight, can feel like the arrival of a spirit messenger, encouraging awareness.

Those wishing to protect their roses may find some success with planting marigolds and lavender which help deter the beetles, while fine mesh provides a more reliable barrier. Otherwise, they will simply do what rose chafers do best, feast upon the blooms that attract them.

A beautiful garden visitor, a living jewel flashing in the summer sunlight, the Rose Chafer remains one of the most beautiful and memorable beetles seen during a UK summer

After a more gentle late spring/early summer day yesterday, we gathered in Chawton and were so pleased to welcome Sarah Norris to us again. Sarah’s energy just invigorated the room and she brought a beautiful inspired address and such lovely messages. Thank you so much Sarah. We really had such a lovely time. Alison Keogh chaired the evening. Thank you.

Thanks to our readers and prayer people for lifting the room with your words and energy. Thank you Carole for your cake and thank you all those who helped with the hospitality for the evening. Thank you to Lisa running our music, and setup and breakdown has become a fine art, and we also thank our healers for their dedication after the service. A lovely evening!

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please pray for our supposed enemies in this world. They need the prayers and healing. Whether on the global stage, or in our own lives, those who cause dissention and hurt to people or animals or lack of respect for any of creation need the prayers and healing badly.

Calendar up later!!

Have a beautiful, cooler week!

Posted on by
Reply

The upside of having a wild, out-of-control garden is that it becomes an adventure. That’s my excuse! Most years I am fighting with the ivy, but this year a more unassuming little wildflower has become the bane of the back garden. Masquerading as Herb Robert of the same family, and growing right alongside it no less, while somehow managing to seed itself inside the pots of my lovely golden cypress and seemingly causing their demise in record time, is Rock Cranesbill. Named aparently because of the shape of her seed capsules.

With her pretty innocent pink blooms, red stems, and aromatic citrus scent, she seems to have taken over this year… or perhaps she was simply biding her time. The pollinators absolutely adore her. So many are coming and going between the delicate flowers.

Rock Cranesbill belongs to the geranium family and is native to the Balkans and the south-eastern Alps. She is hardy and has been in England since the 16th century. It is unclear who introduced her, but she arrived unofficially during a time when botanists and explorers were bringing many new plants into the country.

Her symbolism is that of resilience, purity, loyalty, and spiritual endurance. She also possesses healing properties as an astringent and anti-inflammatory.

No Mow May is still in effect, although I think it may be best to get organised before the month is out, before this innocent but hardy wildflower takes over completely!

We certainly needed to stay organised on Saturday as we kicked off our Bank Holiday weekend with our Spring/Summer Coffee Morning. A great deal of coordination was needed as we welcomed four visiting mediums alongside our House Mediums and Healers. Thank you to everyone who helped keep everything running smoothly, no easy task. Many thanks to our visiting mediums: Lesley Knight, Sarah McLaughlan, Debbie Reeves, and Rachel Setford Berry. You brought such wonderful messages. Thank you! Our House Mediums were busy throughout, as were our Healers. Thank you all.

Thank you also to Carole and Sue for your hospitality and the cakes! There was plenty of chatting and wonderful high energy on a glorious sunny morning.

On Sunday we welcomed our friend, Jim Demitri, and once again we shared a lovely gathering filled with laughter. Thank you so much, Jim, for your beautiful messages. We look forward to seeing you again later in the year.

Chris Shore chaired our evening beautifully. Our family gave beautiful readings and prayers, and we still had delicious baked goods left to enjoy afterwards while our Healers stood by to help. Thank you all.

Prayer of the Week

Please pray for Africa. She is facing hurdles in every direction with conflict, drought and extreme weather, starvation,along with social and political unrest. May there be a way forward of plenty, stability and Peace.

Calendar will be up later.

Have a beautiful week. Hydrate! It is going to be very warm for the UK.

No complaining!

Posted on by
Reply

We all have our little rituals, and one of mine, as I come up to my front door, is to stop and choose the newest bloom of my climbing Zephirine roses to breathe in their heady scent. I can take no credit for these beautiful pink roses, as I inherited them when I bought the house.

Roses have such a history, dating back some 5,000 years, and they have evolved into so many varieties. Of course, they have also been cultivated almost to death, so that many modern roses no longer have a scent because the enzyme RhNUDX1 has effectively been bred out of them. That is more than sad, because a rose is not just about beauty, as its fragrance is a lure for pollinators, and in fact, the Damask rose, one of the old rose varieties, is the plant used to make Rose Damascena, or Rose Otto, the therapeutic rose oil which has the highest vibration of any plant on this earth.

Most roses bloom between May and June, but these climbing varieties, encouraged by a mild spring, have bloomed earlier than usual to cheer us up during this mixed weather we have been experiencing.

Their symbolism is, of course, love if red, while yellow often represents friendship, white purity, orange energy and enthusiasm, and the beautiful pink at my front door speaks of gratitude, grace, and joy. In any case, their beauty catches the eye and, hopefully, their heady scent reminds us to figuratively stop and smell the roses in our own lives. We always have a moment.

We had many beautiful moments last night and such a lovely evening with Ann Marie Hogan, who shared such inspired thoughts and brought our wonderful messages. Thank you so much, Ann Marie, and thank you to Sarah, who chaired our evening beautifully.

We are also grateful for the prayers and readings from the family, the hospitality and cake from Sue and Carole, the music led by Julie, and our lovely healers who helped after the service. Thank you too for the quick set-up and break-down of the gathering.

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please pray for the animals in this world. They need so much help, whatever circumstances they are in. May humans move ever further towards kindness and understanding with them.

Calendar up tomorrow.

Have a beautiful week. A heatwave is on its way!

Stop and smell the heady scents of springtime.

See less

Posted on by
Reply

On yet another Wednesday evening we gathered on Zoom to hear the beautiful prayers and readings and listen to the lovely music. It had been a grey day, but outside the sun was finally making an appearance. Thank you everyone. Healing followed as always.

Please continue to pray for those trapped, and now attacked and seized in the straits of Hormuz.

Ann Marie Hogan is with us Sunday in Chawton!

Join us!!