Tag Archives: writing

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

One of the beautiful things about this springtime season is the constant emergence of life all around us. Surely it is enough to soften even the hardest heart. We seem to be transported to a place of innocence as we see the flowers, trees, and bushes bloom. I am personally transported when I see my stunning lilacs flowering again so boldly, or when I become aware of the ​creatures and their little ones taking their maiden steps.

We think of the badger as a quiet, shy, and reclusive creature. Although nocturnal, this is the time of year when they can often be seen at either end of the day, as the cubs venture out from the sett. The young ones are silly and playful, a complete delight to watch if you are ever fortunate enough to do so. Delayed implantation has allowed the young to be born into a springtime of favourable conditions.

They will grow into hardy creatures, with stout bodies and sharp claws, as well as a not-so-delightful odour to ward off predators! And did I mention they can run up to twenty miles an hour? Not too shabby for a creature that looks just a little clumsy. We can trace badgers in England back at least half a million years, roaming the land alongside wolverines and bears, no less.

The writer Kenneth Grahame cast his character ‘Badger’ as a wise mentor and protector in his beloved children’s book The Wind in the Willows. Little surprise then that the badger’s symbolism is wisdom, along with tenacity and determination. Spiritually, he reminds us to dig down and understand as fully as we are able​, and we are all about that​!

Last evening, after another glorious spring sunny day, our friend Spencer Rose came to visit. What a lovely evening, as he shared his thoughts and brought our ​wonderful messages. We had such a lovely time. Thank you so much, Spencer, for coming to see us! The lovely Chri​s Elliot chaired the proceedings beautifully, as we heard the lovely prayers and readings from ​The ​Family. Thank you.

Thank you, Julie, for running our music last night. Thank you, Sue, for your hospitality, and of course, Carole was in the house producing a very lovely chocolate cake.

We thank our dear healers and those training for helping so many last night, and thanks as always goes to everyone who helps with set-up​, break-down​, and washing up.

Prayer of the Week

Please pray for the Natural World. Sometimes we are the reason for ​their struggles, as we take away land without enough concern for the plight of those who share it. So many are trying to educate us and make us aware of what the land, the waters and the air around us need in order to sustain all the other life that lives and breathes alongside us.

Calendar to follow later.

Have a beautiful week.

It is heavenly out there.

​Don’t miss it!

Picture credit Andy Rouse Photography.

Posted on by
Reply

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 !

Posted on by
Reply

Reindeer have become synonymous with Christmas time. They are a very unique deer, native to parts of Europe, Scotland, Asia, and North America. The males and females grow antlers, unlike any other deer. The males lose them in autumn during the mating season, but the females keep them to protect their young. Their antlers are huge and so account for their particularly majestic look. Their eyes are not bad either, allowing them to see ultraviolet light and spot predators more easily. Their special noses can allow them to warm that cold air.

Folklore has them travelling, pulling Santa’s sleigh throughout the skies of the world, but they can actually travel very long distances. In North America, they are known by a different name. Caribou. Whatever the name, we enjoy them as a beautiful feature on our cards and calendars during the Christmas and winter season.

What a night Sunday!! It was our Carols and Panto gathering, and probably the wackiest service of the year. We sang our favourite carols, heard some lovely, humorous readings, and then it was time for the much-anticipated pantomime. This year, it was Alice in Wonderland. Steve Lidgett Williams played an Alice Cooper kind of Alice, while Rob Harvey was The Evil Queen donning Freddy Mercury regalia. As if that wasn’t enough, we had Sarah Dorgan as The White Rabbit and the Mad Mad Hatter, Alison Keogh as the Mad March Hare, Graham Searle as a Dozy Dormouse, as well as a playing card. Chris Elliot was our Cheshire Cat, and also a playing card, and Virginia Gordon was a caterpillar and a playing card, also. Chris Shore narrated the buffoonery. We also had Santa and the Elves coming by. Thanks to Julie, Nerina, and Sue.

We thank our readers and prayer people, Ailette lit our Shepherd’s candle for JOY, and Lisa ran our music. Carol and Sue brought us some delightful Christmas baked goods with mulled wine to wash them down with. It was a very festive night enjoyed by all. Thank you Everyone for all the work and effort!!

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Please pray for Peace around the world.

Calendar up later!!

Have a beautiful week, everyone, and slow down.

Posted on by
Reply

Sorting out my Christmas decorations, I came across a faux sprig of mistletoe. Associated with Christmastime, this parasitic but evergreen plant that grows on some deciduous host trees has a rich tradition of folklore and myth, where it was often thought to represent Peace and Love, whether among the Romans, the Druids, or the Norse ancient culture.

The name Mistletoe actually derives from the Anglo-Saxon phrase ‘ Dung on a Twig.’ Delightful. This is no doubt the way in which the seeds are spread by birds eating those juicy, waxy, white berries. In this era, she is mainly known for the tradition of kissing beneath her boughs. This tradition was started in the Victorian age, when every time a couple kissed beneath her, a white berry was plucked, but when the berries were gone, they were gone, and you were definitely out of luck. She is toxic to pets and plants, but she is a blessing to birds, deer, squirrels, and even butterflies in the depths of winter.

Spencer Rose was in the house Sunday night, and we had an amazing evening as we celebrated the start of Advent. We were joined by some from Basingstoke Spiritualist Church, and the cross-pollination felt wonderful.

Spencer’s address was so inspiring, and the energy was off the charts. He went on to bring simply wonderful messages to some. Thank you, Spencer, for your laughter and spirit. What a lovely evening! We thank Chris Elliot for chairing our evening brilliantly, as well as those who gave beautiful readings and prayers.

Ken spoke about the Advent candles, and Sue came up and lit our first one for Hope. Thank you, Sue, also for the hospitality. Lisa worked on our music, and our healers stood by after the service. The setup, breakdown, and washing up are always taken care of by our family in record time. Thank you!

Prayer of the week

Please pray for all the victims of the terrible floods in Asia. We think of our own kind, but also the animals and all life affected. May help come and life be restored.

Calendar up next.

Slow down amid the decorations and shopping, and take a moment.

‘Tis the season for a reason.

Have a beautiful week!

Posted on by
Reply

I see the acorns are falling fast and furiously on the woodland floor, especially with the wind and the downpours that have kicked up recently. You know this little mite will not be wasting the opportunity. He is the ultimate hoarder. Grey squirrels are already preparing for the winter months. We could all take note. Acorns, flowers, pine cones, and sometimes even bird eggs are all on the hoarding list as he gathers and finds a secret space for his stash.

The playful young squirrels born in spring and summer, playing up and down the tree trunks with one another, will also face their first cold snap and will have to ‘catch on’ and get organized. Did you know he can also create pretend storehouses and act out burying nuts, so that thieves are kept confused and his winter larder remains full. His symbolism is obviously that of preparedness and resourcefulness. A character loathed and loved, but quite obviously here to stay.

We had such a lovely evening in Chawton last night. Dave Collins visited us and brought along Lorraine Whitfield. We were blessed to have a ‘twofer’ while they worked as a team. Dave gave an inspired address, giving us plenty to think about, and then they both brought the messages and laughter for us. What a lovely evening. Thank you so much!! Our effervescent gal, Sarah Dorgan, chaired the proceedings, so you know it was full of fun and laughter!! Thank you, Sarah!

We thank our Family for the beautiful prayers and readings, and thank Julie for the music. Thank you to Carole for the cake, Nerina, and Chris Shore for the hospitality. Thanks always to our healers and all those setting up, breaking down, and washing up!!

Prayer of the week.

Please pray for more Love in this world. Just throw out the love in whatever way you can, daily. The world so sorely needs it.

Calendar up next.

Have a beautiful week, everyone. Get your woolies out. Summer is over.

Posted on by
Reply

Finally, my beautiful Butterfly Bush, AKA Buddleia, didn’t just spring into life, but erupted into colour and grew so quickly this year. Aptly named, she attracts not just a large variety of butterflies but bees and ladybirds also.

Along with her beauty and colour, she emits a wonderful scent, her ultimate lure for pollination. She has grown so quickly this year, I can look through my upstairs window and see up close and personal the varieties of nature she attracts, as well as enjoy nature’s perfume at its best, wafting through the rooms.

She was introduced into England from China in 1896, and she has remained a firm favourite ever since, sometimes growing in the most unlikely places. What is it with Buddleia and railways? Her Spiritual symbolism is that of transformation and renewal. Something we can’t all get enough of.

Brave souls made it out to Chawton after some wacky weather last night. Downpours seemed to be all around, yet we had a good turnout despite that for our In-House Evening of Clairvoyance. Chris Shore chaired the evening with her usual grace while Rob Harvey, our President, shared thoughts concerning Life after Death with a personal story. He then went on to give clairvoyance along with a couple of fledglings, Chris Elliot and Alison Keogh. It was a good learning night, whilst bringing some lovely messages for some. Thank you all!!

Thank you to those who gave prayers and readings to lift the vibration of the space. Thank you to Julie on the music. We know that Carol never disappoints when in the house, as we enjoyed more cake, tea, and coffee. Healing completed the evening. Thank you to all those who set up and break down, as always.

Prayer of the week

Please watch, look, and listen for the needs of each other in our daily lives. Let us be tuned in to what our brothers and sisters might need.

Calendar up tomorrow

It’s going to be another warm week!!

Drink beyond thirst!