WINTER SOLSTICE BLESSINGS
Dec 21st - Today is the longest night and the darkest day of the year… With the knowledge that unveils... it will get a little brighter again every single day... The returning of the Sun. ☀️ And how beautiful it is to see the sun reflect the winter landscape.
The Winter Solstice is a celebration of our creation. It helps to be aware of the light that is slowly increasing again after today. Especially in the often still dark January and February months.
Precious Sun…
We are welcoming and honouring your returning ☀️
Since the earliest human times, it has been both natural and necessary for people to gather in the warmth and glow of community to welcome the return of light to a world surrounded by darkness. Through the imitative gesture of lighting candles and fires, we breathe new life into the spirit of hope into our hearts.
We celebrate the Solstice magic, 🕯… with fire... candles... music and ginger compresses (to support our health during this time of the year) …
✨ May you also be surrounded with light of any kind ❄️ Lots of winter solstice love to everyone ✨
WHAT IS SAMHAIN? THE BELIEFS AND HISTORY OF THE CELTIC FESTIVAL
In modern times, Samhain (pronounced as ‘SOW-win’ or ‘SAW-win’) is celebrated from October 31st to November 1st. It is part of a pagan, Celtic spiritual tradition that marks the end of summer, welcoming in the harvest, and bringing in the darker half of the year.
“GOD GOD – WHOSE HAND WAS I HOLDING?”
For Halloween we’ve attempted to round up some of the scariest sentences ever written – and who better to ask for their recommendations than some of the finest horror writers and editors around? We asked some of our favourite experts to tell us the line that scared them most and why.
THE WITCH IS A POST #METOO ICON OF DEFIANCE, SOLIDARITY AND CREATIVITY
Witches are no longer just a pointy hat for Halloween. They reflect back our current concerns and obsessions, inspiring activism and art.
SEE THE PUMPKIN ORANGE FULL HUNTER'S MOON OF OCTOBER 2022
Skywatchers will be able to see the nearly full moon for several nights before and after the Hunter's Moon — which gets its name from the fact it once signaled a time to hunt in preparation for the coming winter.
HELP BUGLIFE SAVE THE PLANET
“If we and the rest of the back-boned animals were to disappear overnight, the rest of the world would get on pretty well. But if the invertebrates were to disappear, the world’s ecosystems would collapse.” - Sir David Attenborough
SEE THE PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE ON 25 OCTOBER 2022
The Moon will pass in front of a part of the Sun on the morning of 25 October 2022, in an event that will result in a partial solar eclipse.
This solar eclipse will be visible from much of Europe, as well as north Africa, the Middle East and western Asia. It will not be visible from the US, Canada, south American countries or Australia.
FIRST ALL-DIGITAL ISSUE OF THE FAIRY TALE MAGAZINE IS HERE!
The Fairy Tale Magazine's October 2022 Issue features ten fairy tales and poems that highlight this enchanting season!
TOP 7 MOST POLLUTING INDUSTRIES IN 2022
The past decade has seen much of the world wake up to climate change – with some governments actually trying to do something about it now. We’ve seen an ever-growing use of renewable energy, climate strikes beyond belief, and the lowest use of coal in some countries since records began.
But there are still a number of major industries that are continuing to damage the environment. Read on to find out which ones are polluting the world the most, and what we can do about it.
CDP VOWS TO TACKLE PLASTIC POLLUTION BY EXPANDING ENVIRONMENTAL DISCLOSURE SYSTEM
Environmental disclosure organisation CDP will expand its global environmental disclosure system in an effort to help solve the plastic pollution problem.
CDP (cdp.net) is a not-for-profit charity that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states and regions to manage their environmental impacts. The world’s economy looks to CDP as the gold standard of environmental reporting with the richest and most comprehensive dataset on corporate and city action.
SOMETHING WITCHY THIS WAY COMES
“Scotland's Witch Trail Map has been launched today as part of the Year of Stories 2022. It invites visitors to discover some lesser-known spooky stories, dark history, truly magical places and find ways to live like a modern-day witch.”
BLESSED MABON AND HAPPY AUTUMN EQUINOX!
The Autumnal Equinox is upon us! It is a time of balance; a time of Dark and Light. During Mabon, we seek to align ourselves with the coming Darkness and to "reap what you sow." It is a time to celebrate the last Harvest.
SCOTLAND’S RAINFORESTS
The Earth’s soils, rocks, air, water, plants and animals are all valuable resources that provide a wide range of services and benefits. These resources need to be carefully managed and maintained to support a healthy functioning environment. In this Natural Capital podcast series, hosted by Rachel Smillie we will explore different natural capital assets and their value to Scottish agriculture and the rural economy, including the opportunities and risks for the future.
WITCHES OF SCOTLAND PODCAST
"Claire Mitchell QC and Zoe Venditozzi, Author co-host the Witches of Scotland podcast. Over the forthcoming weeks we hope to bring you interviews from those who know about the history, law and stories of those accused of witchcraft.“
THE WITCHCRAFT SUPPRESSION ACT
“In January 2016 the Commission concluded that the Witchcraft Suppression Act’s prohibition against identifying as a Witch and professing knowledge of Witchcraft was inconsistent with section 15 and therefore unconstitutional...”
VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT
“The Voynich Manuscript is a mysterious codex from the 15th century which is written in a script that remains unknown. The book depicts many puzzling things including astronomical drawings, alchemy, and strange plants of no known origin.“
FULL ACCESS PASS TO THE 2022 RIP CURL WSL FINALS
WSL Commentator Laura Enever makes her way to San Clemente, California, the site of the 2022 Rip Curl WSL Finals, just in time to see an insane warm-up session. Then comes finals day! Laura is behind the scenes and all up in the mix as World Champs are crowned and celebrated! Follow Laura on this wild one.
PATAGONIA FOUNDER GIVES AWAY THE $3BN COMPANY TO ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES
“The founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, and his family, have given away the company to an environmental trust and non-profit.
The company will still be an active producer of apparel, camping supplies and other goods — but all profits will go to the organizations to fight the climate crisis and pursue other environmental goals.“
A 'PRISCA THEOLOGIA' OF EUROPEAN PAGANISM
‘The Atlantic Religion’ is a blog dealing with the history, culture and philosophies of indigenous paganism in Europe’s Atlantic, Mediterranean and Eurasian provinces. The cultural identifier of ‘Celtic’ has modern as well as ancient ethno-linguistic connotations which place unnecessary limitations upon the history and geographic extent of a philosophical/belief-system which once was once common across the entirety of historic and pre-historic northern Europe.
THE ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS NETWORK
"The Archaeology News Network (TANN) is a non-profit, online open access, pro-community news website bringing together people in related fields with active interests intersecting archaeology. As such we publish all the latest press-releases and news articles relating to the fields of Archaeology, Anthropology and Palaeontology, as well as from other scientific disciplines, including Earth Science, Evolution, Astronomy, Ecology and Natural Heritage."
