Not that long ago it was the lions gate portal and the Leo new moon. In Islam we are in Muharram which is the first month of the Islamic calendar. In the Vedic calendar this is a Jyotish new moon.
Part two of this lengthy article is now published! I may consider a part three to explore other voices and identities within LGBTQA, Black community and men who consider themselves witches or wizards
Part one and two mainly focussed on the women I know from around the world who practice a form of witch craft. It is these beautiful friends that made these articles exist, their voices brought my writing to life but I’d love to expand, I am even considering creating a podcast.
It has been liked 41 times and shared 16 times on Rebelle Society Facebook already!
I am now writing a new script for a meditation and a poetry book collection to be published.
My next large article will explore the Priestess Path so stay tuned for that.
Here is a recent altar I have created- this is a peak into my heart. It was my time with the Be Woman Project and my teacher Sharada who encouraged me to follow my heart and be true to myself. It is the trainings with the Be Woman Project that helped me know my magic again.
I’ve been creating altars since I was about 13, I’d use trinkets and natural objects with photos to decorate on a shelf in my room and I’ve been creating altars ever since.
I have a sweet memory of my mum coming to me with a small black bowl and said “My little water fountain has broke so I had to throw it away, thought you might want to use the bowl as a cauldron?”
Even though she didn’t understand what I was doing because we are from a Roman Catholic family. She still gave me that bowl as her way of telling me she accepts that part of me ( to some degree).
My spirituality is very grounded and earthy. Everything you see on the table are simply symbolic of memories and happy thoughts. It is my little place of refuge, my temple. When times are rough, I just sit by an altar and I’m reminded of my self worth, loved ones, sacred beauty, my travels, my dreams and much more.
I do not “worship” all these things. They are representations of what already resides in me and out in the world. As above so below.
Continue reading
It is the Aquarius full moon in the season of Leo.
This is an interesting mix for sure. Especially for my partner who is an Aquarius with a Leo moon. Things will feel topsy turvy for him in relation to matters of the heart. Leo rules the heart anyway (Leo Lionheart!) and the moon governs our emotions. Needless to say my partner at this time will struggle with flipping from emotion to thought, emotion to thought. For Leo tends to be extroverted feeling and Aquarius, whilst expressive and a bit of an eccentric, has introverted thought processess and they tend to overthink like a computer with a million tabs open.
But he has his moon in Leo, so deep down he’s a cuddly lion (I’m super lucky about this, I’m his Queen and I get the best hugs). As his best friend says “Some people wear their heart on their sleeve, Craig wears his all over his body.”- ACCURATE.
Heavenly forecast: Month of Leo with Aquarius Moon
Craig: Aquarius sun, Leo Moon
AQUARIUS FULL MOON IN THE MONTH OF LEO
The Sun entered it’s home sign of Leo on August 1st, bringing with it a fresh and optimistic, gregarious outlook. Today the Full Moon occurs in the opposite sign of Aquarius, a colder more aloof placement. We may feel a strong push-pull energy this Full Moon, for Leo and Aquarius are opposite axis (Like Libra/Aries for example).
Axis points are important to understand as they represent opposing energies that also compliment each other. Leo and Aquarius are very different, yet they contain seeds of the other. Much like a yin and yang symbol.
Leo energy is connected to the Sun, so it’s warm, Aquarius is connected to Saturn & Uranus so it’s more cold and distant. Leo is all about self and being the leader, whereas Aquarius is all about the collective, the world and humanity.
The Leo/Aquarius axis is all about the Individual and the Collective, the Self and the Whole, The Personal Ego and Humanity, the Inner work and the Outer work.
This Full Moon, we must ask ourselves – how can we balance the needs and desires of the collective, of humanity and balance it with our own individual wants and desires? How can we do both our inner personal work, and outer collective work at the same time? Continue reading
During lockdown I was a little upset with myself because I felt that I wasn’t able to be of service to help others, I felt useless and selfish. So many people were making free masks, yoga classes online and inspiring content simply to cheer everyone up.
What was I doing? What could I do to contribute? I currently don’t have the space to offer classes online but I do have a soft, calming voice and a talent for writing! So I set myself the task of writing articles for people’s amusement and scripting meditations! It has taken a short while but my first meditation is now up on Sound Cloud. It is not perfect but it is created to a high standard (to the best of my ability, using basic equipment). Continue reading
Third and final article about crystals for your dosha. This has been a playful series finding crystals to soothe each dosha- whether Vata, Pitta or Kapha.
These three constitutions are used in the healing system of Ayurveda to help a person find balance in their mind-body and within their lifestyle.
Pitta types are driven, confident, quick to anger, are warm-bodied, tend to sweat a lot, super active, super strong digestive system and prone to skin irritations. If out of balance their mind-body overheats hence why they tend to have sore acne and other inflammations in the body.
Most people are a combination of two doshas out of the three, I recommend taking an online questionaire to have a basic idea of what you are. This can also help you discover what foods to avoid, best sleep patterns and good activities to help you find balance. Continue reading
“I am my mother’s savage daughter,
the one who runs barefoot cursing sharp stones.
My mother’s child dances in darkness,
And sings heathen songs by the light of the moon,
And watches the stars and renames the planets,
And dreams she can reach them with a song and a broom.”
~ Pagan folk song
Witchcraft, being viewed with suspicion and even hostility for hundreds of years, has gained a surge in interest recently, and has become magically woven into a mainstream phenomenon.
Interestingly, the original meaning of Witch means Wise, and comes from the old Anglo-Germanic word Wicca, pronounced Wiche (feminine) or Wicha (masculine), which developed out of Ingvaeonic (also known as North Sea Germanic). Continue reading
“Kapha means “that which sticks,” and derives from the elements Earth and Water (picture damp earth or chocolate mud cake).
When in balance, Kapha dosha is stable, soft, cool, calm, loving, caring, and affectionate. Kapha doshas have deep and soothing voices and age gracefully because of their doughy, soft skin.
They also have large eyes and smiles. Kapha women especially blossom beautifully during pregnancy. They are the earth mamas and papas who are very kind, compassionate, and patient.
When out of balance, Kapha dosha is prone to weight gain, depression, and lethargy as well as chesty coughs, sinus congestion, and water retention.” Continue reading
It has been a while since I have written an article for Yogi Approved and I felt called to create something light and airy. Everyone loves healing Crystals and I felt that mixing my knowledge of crystals with Ayurveda would be fun. This first article is all about Vata Dosha. This is a Dosha that needs grounding due it consisting of the elements of Air and Space. People who are Vata dominat tend to be highly anxious, live in their minds a lot and are prone to feeling spaced out, scatter brained, erratic and suffer with nervous disorders and insomnia.
“According to Ayurveda, we all have doshas, which are biological and subtle energies residing within the body-mind that govern all physical and mental characteristics.
These doshas are considered to give a person their unique constitution that is innate and does not change throughout a person’s life. However, they can fluctuate, which can cause an imbalance in your mind or body.
Once you find out your dosha, you can learn what kind of exercise, meditation, sleep patterns, healing crystals, pranayama practices, essential oils, colors, and environments are good for you along with things to avoid to help you lead a much more harmonious and balanced life.”
Find out more at Yogi Approved: Crystals for Vata Dosha
Two more articles discussing Pitta and Kapha are on the way!
The reason why this is late is because, I have been writing articles for wellness sites and creating new content for this blog.
Before I talk more about this Capricorn moon, you may ask why I call myself a hedgewitch? Simple: The word “witch” means “wise” and a hedgewitch was once a woman who lived on the fringe of society/village- basically over the hedge. The wise women usually had a solitary existence but people came to them for spiritual guidance, herbal remedies and more, she was known to straddle between worlds-that of “normal society” and over the hedge “other realms”. Hedgwitches usually don’t follow a “religion” (or orders), they are free spirits of witchery. Just like any passion you are dedicated to can be a form of “yoga”, anyone “wise” in their subject area: It’s “witchery”.
Capricorn is associated with the planet Saturn, named after the Roman God of the same name (Greek version: Cronos). Interestingly Saturn is also associated with the biblical concept of Lucifer and the symbolism of falling from grace, temptation and desires. And this is because Saturn is the God of Karma and time. Saturn tests us and will push us to our limits. Saturn represents authority, discipline, hard work, labour and commitment. It’s also about guilt, resistance and delay. These are all attributes that a lot of Capricorns struggle with- they are usually very smartly dressed (usually like wearing business suits), very intelligent and intellectual, disciplined and believe in the realistic law and order of things. But Capricorns are also very emotional too, once pushed over their limit of duty and order they cry silent tears and can become real grumpy goats (A lot of Capricorns can struggle to unchain their primal side to let it frolic in the wild for a bit). Continue reading