Can I get an 'om'?

So...the next tome from the Patterson head space is due to be officially published on 11th December (although Amazon have sneakily released it early so you can get it NOW!)...

Pagan Portals Meditation

"An introduction to the beautiful world of meditation... This book will take you on a journey giving hints and tips on how to meditate succesfully, breathing exercises, chants and visualisation tips. Also included are lovely meditation tea and incense blends, how to meditate with crystals, make meditation beads and a whole host of guided meditations for you to experience. Together with introducing you to other meditation skills such as pathworking, shape shifting, astral travel and working with meditation to cleanse your chakras. The ability to bend into a pretzel shape and chant 'om' optional..."

REVIEWS & ENDORSEMENTS

This is a very readable, user-friendly book, giving a taster of a broad range of meditation practices. Pragmatic, highly usable, and with plenty of inspiration and jumping off points, this is a great place to start if you want to explore meditation as a Pagan. ~ Nimue Brown, author of Druidry and Meditation

'Rachel Patterson has written an exuberant and free-spirited introduction to a subject often treated with undue deference and solemnity. She gives her readers permission to sample the smorgasbord of the world's traditions, providing a stimulus to craft their own practice and/or connect with relevant communities and teachers.' ~ James Nichol, author of Contemplative Druidry
www.rachelpatterson.co.uk
http://www.moon-books.net/books/pagan-portals-meditation

Wishing you a Merry Mix Up...

Confession of the day...this witch loves the festive season...A LOT...

That magical excitement you used to get about Christmas as a child?  I never lost it...

I must admit I struggled when I first came to the witchcraft pathway, avoiding any cards with Happy Christmas slogans and not hanging up anything that wasn't vaguely pagan...but years later I don't worry about it.

As soon as Samhain is done and dusted I get out the festive tunes...and Xmas 24 channel has been recording since 1st November.

My yule shopping is done and wrapped and our decorations will be going up in a few days, you might think that is early but we take them all down on 26th December so actually they are only up for 3 to 4 weeks.

I actually prefer the build up to the big day rather than afterwards, once the 25th December is out of the way it all seems a bit like a damp squib so we prefer to clear away the decorations on the 26th and have a good ole clear out.

I love the films, the music, the excitement, the wrapping, the card writing and the decorations oh and the food obviously - that anticipation and positive energy that builds up in the weeks and days beforehand to me is incredibly magical.   I listen to pagan solstice tunes but I also love the cheesy 70s and 80s pop Christmas songs, gospel singing and carols too, my playlist is a total mix up.

I am the only pagan in my family so I do a special dinner on the winter solstice and work some magic but the big celebration is on the 25th when my whole family gets together.  It isn't about presents, the solstice, a sacred star, wise men or baby Jesub... it is about family spending time together.

I was in the city centre a few days ago (drinking my gingerbread latte obviously) and the decorations were all up along with the Christmas market they have in the high street.  They had a lovely nativity scene in the centre which I was very pleased about - yes it is probably a weird thing for a pagan to say but there is so much 'sensitivity' about not upsetting other religions that I was happy to see it there as a symbol of why Christians celebrate on the 25th December but along side it was a huge green fir tree covered in simple but beautiful white lights...a pagan symbol for the winter solstice.   If you think about it all the symbols of the festive season are jumbled up, greenery being brought inside, mistletoe, holly, candles and even the jolly ole fat bloke in a red suit is a mish mash of traditions and myths - he might be Saint Nicholas, Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Odin or my preferred option...the Hogfather - but it doesn't matter to me, what does matter is that he is a symbol of hope, joy and happiness.

I agree that the season does seem to be taken over with commercialism but only if you let it affect you.  Also at the end of the day this is probably the busiest time for shops and all shops employ staff and all shops need to make money to pay the staff so that the staff can feed and clothe their families.   If it worries you about the big stores then buy locally and buy hand made...simples...

So I will be decking my halls with boughs of holly..fa la la la la...and trimming my tree...and yes I also love roasted chestnuts...and I will do it earlier than some but hey it's my call to make, my life, my house, my choice to make...and I shall do it with love in my heart and singing badly and out of tune to cheesy songs of the season...

Ho Ho Ho...Merry Christmas, Yuletide Greetings, Happy Hogswatch and whilst we are at it Happy Hanukkah...

Look beyond...

I was nominated this week for one of those facebook thingummies that suggested I should "pick five photos of me that made me feel attractive"...

My initial inner self confidence wanted to reply straight away with "seriously I look fahabulous in all my photos darhling..."

My inner rebel wanted to reply with "really?  what kind of madness is this?".

But then I thought about it...and then I started to look back through my many facebook albums...seriously how many photos?  I don't have that many real photos in proper albums!  Anyway I initially started with photos of my younger self, I have a few from the mid 80s when I were a young 'un and actually apart from the really bad hairdos when I looked, I didn't think they were my most attractive.

Spin forward to the late 90s when I was slim, blonde and tanned...nope even then I thought "they are OK but..."

Then I realised that actually this is all about self confidence, it is a self esteem and a big boost for your inner "look at me, look at me" to shine...

The images I liked the best were recent ones, photos of me in ritual or laughing at my husband taking photos of me...

My dress size is much larger than when I was 16 or 21 but I am actually very happy with my curves...

My hair is going grey but hey...hair dye sorts that out.

I no longer follow fashion (flash back to the 80s with neon leg warmers and ra ra skirts) I wear whatever the heck I like (much to the dismay of my children) and I wear it because I like it.

The realisation that actually although I am now 47 and my face (and parts of my anatomy) are a lot lower and saggier than they used to be it is now that I am at my happiest and most content, my inner confidence is probably at the highest it has ever been.  Obviously I have my bad days and my wibbles every now and then but as a human being I feel OK.

So apart from being a bit of a trip down memory lane looking at all the photos it has to do it...go on...do it now...five photos that make you feel attractive...see beyond the outer shell...look within and see the images that make you sparkle ♥

The Shepherd's Crown...finally...

For those of you that have read my blog or facebook you will be aware that I am a huge Terry Pratchett fan and have followed his books for probably close to twenty five years.  When he passed away earlier this year I was heart broken...and continue to be...

Anyway...his last ever Discworld book - The Shepherd's Crown was published in August and it arrived on my door mat on the day of publication.  I opened the package and put the book beside my bed...that night I opened the front page and read the inscription...and promptly shut the book and that is where it stayed untouched until a couple of weeks ago.  I couldn't bring myself to read it at first but eventually the time came...

I cried before the second chapter and continued to read with a very heavy heart.  But the real tear jerker is the 'afterword' at the end of the book written by Terry's assistant Rob.  That one had me sobbing.  But it did also answer some questions.

The Shepherd's Crown is the final book in the Tiffany Aching arc of Discworld stories and it does bring some closure to storylines but I have to admit as I read it I could tell that Terry's mind was elsewhere and there did seem to be gaps.  Rob explains in his afterword that the book was only 95% finished when Terry passed away, his usual plan of action on finishing a book would be to go back over it and fill in the gaps...unfortunately this time it was not possible to do so.

Don't get me wrong...it is still a fabulous book and a wonderful addition to the Discworld series and if perhaps I wasn't quite so familiar with his style of writing I would not have noticed anything was amiss.  I still encourage you to read it.

The Discworld series is amazing, these are the books that I always go back to and have read more than any other in my collection (and I have a lot of books).  They are my 'go to comfort' books.  And they still make me laugh.

If you haven't ever read any Discworld (really? where have you been?) I do encourage you to do so. But even Terry would recommend you not start with the first book (Colour of Magic), my personal choice would be to start with Equal Rites (the first of the witches books).

The books don't actually need to be read in order but there are mini series within - the Witches series, the Guards series and the Tiffany Aching ones, those do work best when read in order.

My personal favourites are probably the witches series (obviously) with Witches Abroad being most excellent but I also like the Guards ones (Guards, Guards being the first in that mini series).

For a full list of the books and other brilliant Discworld paraphenalia check out http://www.discworldemporium.com/ and if you ever get to visit their shop it is like a scene from Ankh Morpork...

The turtle moves...

Post Witchfest...

Quite a few months back I got a phone call inviting me to talk at Witchfest...I was very honoured to accept if a little nervous and actually as the day got closer the nerves got worse...

Anyway...Saturday I was up before the sun rose and on a train with the lovely Ness and Josh heading towards Croydon to meet up with Tracey.  We arrived in torrential rain...

As I was a speaker and the guys had gold membership tickets it was both useful and also slightly embarrassing to be escorted by a Witchfest crew member past the huge long line of people queuing outside the venue in the rain and given special access straight to the front door...

Inside it was already bustling with people and full of vendors selling their wares.

We started with a mooch around the stalls and then at 5 to 12 we entered the room for my talk...

Packed to the rafters...all the chairs were full and people were still going in and sitting on the floor - I suspect I looked like a rabbit in headlights because I was hit with an overwhelming desire to turn and run.

However...once I got going all was OK (after checking that people were in the right room and hadn't thought it was the sex magic talk...) they were a lovely crowd, albeit at one point an avocado was likened to a testicle...something I shall never be able to get out of my head...

A huge thank you to everyone that came to the talk ...and stayed...it was very much appreciated.  Also a big heartfelt thank you to all the Kitchen Witch posse and those familiar faces that attended the talk took, I ♥ you guys.

After a quick bite to eat (a very nice vegetable dish) it was time for the book signing.  Big thanks has to go to the two ladies running the COA book stall, they worked tirelessly all day.  Another big thank you to those that came and purchased books as well - most of them sold out completely!

With the talk and the book signing unfortunately I didn't get to attend many of the other talks and workshops.  I did get to watch the opening ceremony led by the fabulous Tylluan Penry and also made it to Professor Ronald Hutton's talk towards the end of the day - always worth listening to.

It is a huge event and one that must take a massive amount of organising so thank you to all those involved in staging it.

Inner witch versus sensible head...

OK so this blog post is not very deep or thought provoking and it certainly has nothing to do with world peace or any kind of serious political issues...but it is a thought rattling around in my head so I thought I would share it with you...

I am going to be giving a talk at Witchfest for the first time ever this Saturday, for those that don't know about Witchfest it is supposedly one of the largest witchcraft festivals in the world...only it's held in Croydon...it is (for me anyway) a big deal and I have to admit to being a bit nervous...

My talk is all sorted in my head (subject to all sorts of diversions on the day), my bag is ready with books and a big box of chocolates should bribery be needed however the one question that is unresolved so far...what to wear? (see I told you it wasn't earth shattering).

My inner witch says "go full on Steampunk witch...floor length velvet skirt, lace up corset and top hat with goggles"...my sensible head says "really?  it is going to be a very long day, you will be up with the larks and home with the owls, sitting on a train, lugging books from the station to the venue and standing up all day...you can't even sit down in your corset without dying through lack of oxygen..." Sometimes I really dislike my sensible head.

But to go 'casual and comfortable' just doesn't feel right...I am a speaker...should I not at least attempt to look 'witchy'?  But then my sensible head steps in and says "what does a witch look like anyway? Do you have to be full on draped in black velvet just to be a witch?"  Well of course you don't, I am sitting here in jeans and a grandad shirt with baseball boots on...and I am still a witch!

So...sensible head may have to compromise with inner witch and come up with an outfit that is both comfortable for a long tiring day but also a bit 'dressy' so that I at least feel like I have made an effort.

If this is the only dilemma I have to worry about today then I am incredibly lucky...

Maiden, Mother...who?

A few weeks back I put up a new profile picture on facebook, one taken at our Kitchen Witch earth ritual in October and I was overwhelmed with the lovely response from people...and then...the comment "handsome crone" appeared...and although I am pretty sure it was meant as a compliment I was a bit taken aback.  Now I realise I am no spring chicken and definitely not in the maiden category (having just passed my 47 birthday and having two school age children) but...crone?

I have always struggled with the idea of the triple goddess because I think in this day and age there is a slot missing.  I feel that the gap between mother and crone is too large and should have 'matriarch' popped in there.

But who decides at what age/stage in life you slip from one phase to another?  Is there a set time? Should there be?  I think it should be on a personal basis.

Maiden makes sense - young girls, full of life, new beginnings and possibilities and their whole life ahead of them until they get married perhaps?  But what if they don't get married?  What if they never have children?  At what stage do they reach the mother phase?

The mother phase makes sense to me because I have children but what if you don't?  Are you in the mother phase all the time you are able to bear children (whether you decide to or not)?

At 47 I don't feel ready for the crone stage and I still have school age children so does that mean I am in the mother phase or have I moved into the matriarch?  I think matriarch does feel more comfortable because I am sure as heck not a crone, I am no where near ready for that...

Matriarch fits in after the mother stage, I am peri menopause so technically I could bear children (eeek...no more thanks!) but I am past that stage of wanting babies and toddlers, my children are growing and becoming their own individual personalities and are quite capable of not needing my undying attention all the time...I have gained my own space back and can do things that I want to do without worrying about nappies and milk...

Crone to me is perhaps when you hit your late sixties or early seventies...when your children have left home, when you have maybe retired and have time to yourself to do whatever you want to, when you are full of confidence about who you are, where you have been and what you will do next...the sage, the wise woman.

There are four seasons in a year which I equate to the goddess:
Maiden is spring
Mother is summer
Matriarch is autumn
Crone is winter

I do feel I am definitely not in winter yet...autumn suits me fine for now.

And then there is the issue...why would I be worried about being called a crone?  Crone means wise woman and an elder so actually it should be given as a huge compliment but in my head and maybe because of society...it makes me think 'old' and 'wrinkled'...not that there is anything wrong with being old or wrinkled because let's face I will be at some point and I will wholeheartedly embrace it when it happens, I shall wear floppy hats and kaftans and spit at children... but I am just not ready for it yet...(although I do already wear floppy hats...).

What it means to me...

I do not condone war, I do not celebrate war, I do not support war...

So why do I wear a poppy?

My grandfather was in the army during World War II and he was a part of the D Day landings so yesterday on Remembrance Sunday I remembered him and the role that he played in fighting for our freedom, in being a part of a bigger force of people that fought for our country and defended us from being invaded.   Did he join up through choice or was he called to arms?  I am not sure.  I do know that he came back from the war with a heap load of memories, most of which he would never talk about and I can understand that because I cannot even begin to imagine what horrific sights he saw and terrible events he experienced.  In those days there were no counsellors or support afterwards...you were just handed a de-mob suit and a five bob note on your way back home.

Whilst he was away fighting my grandmother joined the NAAFI (a group that ran canteens, shops and clubs on military bases) and she also worked in a factory, which is where she lost the fingers on one of her hands in the machinery (no health and safety then).

To me my grandparents were part of a nation that fought for what it believed in, whether on the front lines or back at home keeping the country running they all worked towards a common goal.  On the front lines men stood side by side - many different nationalities and religions and many allies - all fighting for freedom for their country.  

The people didn't ask for war, they didn't vote for war but when the situation arose they stood up and were counted.  Those people make me proud to be British.

I teach my children about their great grandparents and in fact their schools teach them about the wars too, future generations need to know what was at stake and what kind of nation we were and how important remembering and honouring those that came before us is, we were a proud and united country.

I wear the poppy in remembrance of all those that fought for my freedom, for me to be able to live in the country that I do today in the way that I am able to.  I remember those that fought, I remember those that fell and I honour them for doing so.

If you choose not to wear a poppy or honour those that went to war that is your choice, your right, your freedom to do so and I will not judge...it is those rights and that freedom that was being fought for...

I will wear my poppy with pride and I will wave my Union Jack with the same proudness - if it offends you then that is your issue not mine...