Outside the weather is cold and sharp and in a lot of places its snowing, men and women are busy looking around the shops for gifts and children are happy  and excited. How seasonal is that.

In the shops lots of Yuletide goodies on display and seasonal spirit is abundant as it is every year to most of us (regardless of the early time in the month). Everybody is under way with their plans for  a merry yuletide and money is being saved and scrimpted to have as bountiful time as ever, it appears we all make a great effort not to spend more this year than last year, but alas it fails every time and by the arrival of December 25th we are riding high on a mountain of food, gifts,accessories etc that we dont really need or in the end, even want.

But there are other gifts we could give that dont cost anything to buy and you dont even need to pay for the postage, these gifts have a far more long term effect than a box of chocolates ( though they might have a long term affect on your weight) or a watch or  clothes or even money.They are called  “thought and love”.  Now these can be given in any number of ways , a phone call, a visit or an email (by far the cheapest) but no less effective, as when you send an email the reciever will know that you have sat down at the computer and set up an email with them in mind and shown that although they may be out of sight they are not out of mind. Surely we can  all make the effort especially when we know that a particular individual may be alone this coming Yule and we are with our family and friends.

So this year as well as buying goodies for ourselves, family and friends lets send out some free but priceless gifts of love and thought. For some these will be valued and appreciated beyond measure.

        A Very Warm and Blessed Yuletide to All

I was angry and dismayed to read via the internet of the callous shooting of  “The Emperor” reputedly the largest wild animal in Britain  at least 9ft  tall. It appears the deer was shot for its antlers, and to add oil on water, the landowner was paid for shooting rights.

Once again it shows the lack of respect for our animal companians and nature itself, for what?……… MONEY. that gold and silver (and paper) stuff that not only can save lives but through greed will ultimataly destroy lives as well. One of the saddest things  mentioned, was it is likely that he was shot before the mating season which means there is no chance that he may have passed on his famous genes.

When are people going to realize that we do not own this planet we are just lease holders that is all.We borrow everything including our time here. We are suppose to work WITH  nature not control it out of proportion, because we think we are superior in everything. Okay perhapes it can be argued that we are the most intelligent species, but if that is so we are then capable of looking after and treasuring our planet and everything  the Earth Mother gives and trusts us with.

In short use our better judgement  (if any)

Soon Samhain will be approaching, and with it one of the most important rituals of the witches calender. The honouring of  our loved ones and ancestors who have passed into the light. That will no doubt be the prime focal point.

But there are also other’s in our lives , by some no less family member’s than our human  ones. Our pets. Those special faithfull companians who have spent their entire short lives sharing with us their most devoted love and loyalty. Cat or dog,it matters not.They have shown such affection and love few humans can boast of being equal in measure.

Recently a close friend came home to find their beloved dog dead in the very place he waited every day for them to return from work. Torn to pieces in heartbreak my friend broke down over the phone as they grieved for their beloved pet. I could feel the pain through the phone call. They told me that only the night before the dog jumped up onto the bed laid his head against my friends head and his nose resting on her’s. I know in his way he was telling my friend this will be the last “physical bond of love and devotion” they would have together in this life. 

All seemed well the next morning . My friend took him for a walk and then left for work as usual. When she returned ,her faithfull pet had waited for her for the last time. This evening i discovered a lovely prayer written by a lady called Patti Wiginton simply called ”A Prayer for a Dead Dog” i believe although i am not certain of this that she may have written one for a cat also. This prayer was found under “Samhain “on the internet. Perhapes some of you may have already heard of it. Anyway i emailed it to my friend ,hopefully she may use it in a little ritual to her beloved companian whom she discribed as her best friend.

So this Samhain it might be a good idea if whilst we are honouring the passing of our human relatives maybe we should spare a prayer and blessing for our departed but ever loyal and loving animal  “family member’s”………the faithfull one’s

               A Blessed and Sacred Samhain……………………………Romasanta  

I attended a meeting some time back and met a friend who was feeling out of sorts with themselves and the world in which they were in.  The person in question will not be named. They were depressed  with what life had doled out to them. I could tell that they felt unloved and unattractive. I know we have all been like that at some point in our lives and it truly is a bitter pill to have to swallow.

Anyway as much as i looked out for this person at the event.I could not find them in the crowd but i knew they had attended as they had arrived around the same time as myself. It was plain to see that they had retreated into their own futile unhappy world.

Eventually i spotted them a good 10 minutes after the event had finished and i felt so unhappy for them as they looked so out of place and unwanted . As i  looked into this persons eyes they were colourless and sad almost lifeless. I went up to this individual and said with sincere meaning (not an act out of sympathy) and remarked how sorry i was that they were leaving so soon and that i was disappointed i did not have a chance to chat to them. That was  all i said. Nothing more.

The transformation was startling. At once i noticed life and brightness come back into their colourless eyes .It was like seeing a unloved rag doll come to life through those  simple words. This person felt moved and special that another human had told them how important it was that they were missed during  the event. 

I can safely say that those words and the hug i gave them fired them with the confidence that somewhere along the line, had been knocked out of them.

So the conclussion is,that even if you acknowlege a person  who is  feeling lonely and forgotten with a few words (you dont need to send a 6-page letter) or even a simple email just to let them know you have not , as the case maybe very often”out of sight out of mind” forgotten or a phone call, that they exist it can make a BIG world of difference. 

A little warmth and a thought can produce miracles. And also it may help to mend a despondant heart and give confidence and faith in ones fellow men.

As for the feedback I got from this, it was more than just rewarding . It was estatic.

                                                      Blessings…………….Romasanta

For some time now , i have been writing my own rituals and creating my own spells.  Some  of the spells i have written have been spiritual in effect, some have had an inspiring air about them, but some have been quite  successful.

I, like so many others no doubt have put the success down to the right day or planetary alignments or even perhapes the right coloured candles!  But over the years i have noticed the results have been owing to simpler than that. Secrecy.

Unbelievable is’nt it ?    ……… not so.

As witches we, most of us keep  a Grimoire (or two or three) where we record craft activities  to use and share. But i have discovered that  a spells strength is its secrecy.”Oh” i hear you say ” Its not fair, not to share” but that is not what it is about . Its not about keeping things  to oneself. It is about getting yourself rewarding results. 

All the cunning men and women of past times never shared their magical notions and potions with each other , oh no, it was jealously guarded, kept within a “locked box” in their minds or (as some of us may do ) written (in some cases) in another alphabet so it could only be desyphered by the magician themselves .

So it comes to this, if you are creating your own magical workings and you DO notice even the smallest favourable result ,lock it up . For me (and other like-minded witches) ,strength is in secrecy.

As most of you know (except those fortunate few) city life is hectic, stressful and often in certain circumstances can be depressing. I live in a city a large and thriving one but i made a discovery of a place where you can “go back in time “as it were. There is a large forest, and when you get there there are little homes and even a village back from the past . As you walk through the woods passing the cottages and the farms ,you will find it peacefull with no sounds of cars and lorries and no radio-inhanced music. Absolute bliss.

The only signs of life are the many bird songs and the sound of cattle lowing and the  lovely pungent smell of burning wood. I have been there last November walking in the gardens on a wintery evening alone but not entirely alone ,my companian was Nature herself (who better for a companian),it was dark and drizzly with rain but powerfully magical. That night when i returned home  and went to my bed i “travelled” there again.

For those of you who are wondering where this magical”chilling out ” place is ,if you dont already know its called the National Museum of Welsh life   St Fagans

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