Rite of Her Sacred Fires

Catching Up!

So it was mid-March since I last posted a blog entry, so I guess I should do a quick round up of everything that’s been going on…

The end of March marked not only my 30th birthday, but also the birthday of my boyfriend and our six month anniversary. To mark this, we went away to London for the weekend. For me it was my first, proper visit to the capital and we had great fun (despite the weather) taking in the sights. One of my highlights (not including the sexy barmen in Soho bars) was standing next to a statue of Dionysos in the British Museum and seeing a gorgeous jug depicting Hekate.

 

April brought about my 30th Birthday Party! It was a riot and I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was so happy to be surrounded by good friends and loved ones. I partied into the small hours, playing silly games, drinking and eating and taking plenty of pictures so that I have lots of fond memories. Huge thanks to my friend Rob too for his awesome catering skills – everyone commented on the buffet! At the end of April the boyfriend and I went to a Summerween Party, in fancy dress, where I got my satyr on!

And so now we are well on our way into May (where does the time go!?) The weather is turning for the better, the days are getting longer. Beltane saw me get crafty and create my own, mini-Maypole decoration which turned out really well. My boyfriend has now moved in and we are all lovey-dovey and sickeningly happy, lol. I have just finished editing and published the latest issue of Askei Kataskei (available for free pdf download) and fast approaching is the fourth annual Rite of Her Sacred Fires!

And tonight marks Hekate’s Deipnon, which I shall be quietly celebrating this evening after I finish work. But I would like to share the following, beautiful image from Mandragora Magika of our Saffron-Robed Lady of Hounds. Hail Hekate!

Hekate Symposium 2013!

If there’s one thing guaranteed to get me all excited, gentle reader-folk, then it is when something as awesome as The Hekate Symposium returns for a second (and hopefully ongoing annual) time!

The first, which took place in Glastonbury during the weekend of May 5th & 6th was a superb success; the first of its kind it brought together devotees, priests and priestesses of the Goddess Hekate from near and far for a thrilling weekend “filled with lectures, rituals, meditations, invocations and celebration, in which all participants will be encouraged to learn more about the three-formed Goddess of the Crossroads; experience her as the initiatrix and protectress; and participate in transformative rituals, meditations and trance workings through which participants can explore her mysteries.“

And now, due to both popular demand and the hard work of the organisers – which include Sorita d’Este – this year’s is set to be even more unique, exciting and intense, taking place just after the fourth annual Rite of Her Sacred Fires – a wondrous ritual that kicked off a huge surge in all things Hekatean over the last few years.

On Saturday June 1st, many people will once again gather for this years one-day event which promises a diverse and interesting selection of speakers and workshops as well as a no doubt fabulous evening ritual (which if it’s anything like the previous year, will be something very personal and memorable for all involved!)

The “sneak-peak” teaser that is given on the event’s website speaks for itself…”Elemental Blessing and Consecration, Hekate and the Sorceress Circe, Hekate and Oceanic Magics, the Four-Faced Goddess, Thracian Religion and Magic … There will also be a Sacred Ritual Theatre production, and evening ritual for all attendees.” With a full program still to be released and I’m sure tons more to be confirmed.

If you are a devotee of, or in anyway drawn to/intruiged by Hekate, then I would definitely recommend finding out about the Symposium and the Covenant of Hekate that facilitates it. It promises to be a unique and worthwhile event that cannot be adequately described or duplicated. I myself am excitedly looking forward to it – especially the fact that author and priest Georgi Mischev will be jetting in from Bulgaria to give a talk on the Four-Faced Goddess Hekate and Thracian Religion. If you haven’t heard of/read his book “Thracian Magic”, I heartily recommend it!!

With stalls selling books, magical & devotional items, artwork etc as well as being located slap-bang in the middle of the stunning hamlet of Glastonbury, this is shaping up to be AWESOME!!!

This time last year…

…I was a wreck.

Not even a month fresh off the back of a complete breakdown, I was in a very dark and lonely place. Isolated, withdrawn, fearful, angry, frustrated, powerless, weak…I had let life get the better of me yet again and the Gods were not going to stand by and watch me wreck my outlook another time and so they pulled the rug from under my feet and sent me spiralling into oblivion.

But now…now I’m back at work, sticking to my guns with regards to not being walked all over/taken advantage of. I am more confident, more assertive, more happy. I have wonderful people in my life – some very new, but still very special – all of whom have been there to help motivate me and keep me walking in the right direction.

In the last twelve months I’ve been able to finally find and be the person who I am meant to be; a glimmer of my ultimate, True Self. I’m also going to the gym – finally putting my money where my mouth is and getting in shape to enable me to feel confident on the outside as well as the inside.

I’m not perfect. But I’m taking it a day at a time. I have my slips. I have my difficult days. But I try to remain focused on the good days, on the things to look forward to. For memories. For friends. For family. For lovers.

So I suppose what I want to really say with this little ramble is “thank you”…to everyone (myself included) for everything – however small or fleeting – they have done that’s helped turn my life around in such a big way in the last twelve months!

I’ll Do Anything

Give me your smile and I’ll make the sun,

Give me your tears and I’ll turn them to diamonds.

Give me your hand and I’ll never let go,

Give me your heart and my love you will know.

 

Show me you are happy and I’ll sing with joy,

Show me your are sad and I’ll hold you close.

Show me you are there and I’ll stand by your side,

Show me your love and I’ll beam with pride.

 

Offer me your lips and I’ll press mine against them,

Offer me your frowns and I’ll turn them upside down.

Offer me your thoughts and I’ll listen with intent,

Offer me you love and I’ll treasure every moment.

 

Bring me you happiness and I’ll watch you forever,

Bring me your woes and I’ll comfort you fondly.

Bring me your soul and I’ll take you into mine,

Bring me your love, my sweet and our love will intertwine.

What is Love?

Love isn’t a number, Love isn’t a time.

Love isn’t a place and Love isn’t mine.

Love isn’t just yours, Love isn’t to keep.

Love isn’t to hide and Love isn’t to weep.

Love isn’t alone, Love isn’t afraid.

Love isn’t by itself and Love isn’t kept in the shade.

Love isn’t bound by distance, Love isn’t just a game.

Love isn’t merely a nice word and Love isn’t always the same.

Love isn’t a simple definition, Love isn’t a word in a book.

Love isn’t something to say to make someone feel better,

And Love isn’t always in the places you look.

Love isn’t many things to many people,

But something holds for us.

No matter what people say or do,

Love IS – just because…

Noggle: In Memoriam

Last Sunday we unexpectedly lost our little baby, Noggle. Barely a year and a half old, his unexpected passing left us in shock. This morning we have collected his ashes from the kind and caring people at Individual Pet & Equine Cremation and he’s currently being watched over in his “new home” by Bastet.

With this post though, I just wanted to relive a few of the memories of this quirky little furball and share some of the endearing photos we took in his tragically short life.

And so it all starts back in Sept 2011 when we went to collect a kitten just outside Rugby. When we arrived and entered the garage where the kittens and mother were being housed I jokingly wondered aloud which one we would take home. When the door opened, a little grey-black ball of fluff was gambolling towards us. Scooping him up, much to his frustration, the choice had been made.

The entire journey home, he was climbing around me in the back of the car – doing anything but sit in the nice comfy box we’d brought for him. Once we got him home, he was quick to explore and proclaim his ownership of all his little googly-eyes surveyed, most importantly forgetting his older and much bigger foster-siblings who were less than impressed (initially) at the arrival of a furry ball of chaos.

His name “Noggle” I selected from “Your Magickal Cat” by Gerina Dunwich after a mischievous grey-coloured European spirit. It certainly seemed to fit his boisterous little personality and he certainly grew into his namesake.

That first night we were to play an unexpected 20-min game of “Where’s Noggle!?” when the little tyke completely vanished! Panic-stricken, we all but tore the house apart searching for him; fearing he may have climbed in the washing machine, the dishwasher or even some how managed to slip past one of us and escape outside. In the end, the little bugger had crawled between the cover lining at the back of the sofa and all was well with the world again.

He never was a cat that liked a cuddle; the instant you’d pick him up he would squirm and fidget and all but leap out of your hands rather than except a bit of loving. That said, when he learnt how to purr was quite comical as it freaked his little self out to the point where he’d purr and cry and then run around as if trying to escape the vibrations that seemed to be following him around. It was cute and amusing, despite his little terror-filled eyes as he darted from one end of the house to the other.

Plastic bags were also one of his favourite things. He would slip inside any bag that was left around and lie in wait until one of his siblings – or even myself – would walk by, then he would launch out like a thing possessed to attack! Usually it would end up with him hanging off my jeans leg; or in the case of his sister (especially) almost riding, piggy-back style as she freaked and ran in the opposite direction.

Eventually he learnt to associate purring with the receipt of food and strokes – so much so he would expect stroking WHILST he ate his food. He also only ever wanted fuss on his own terms. He would come to you and you would stroke him and if he walked away, it wasn’t that he’d had enough it was that he expected you to follow him and continue his petting and pampering whilst he got on with his day to day.

Yule time, he always had a ball – claiming the tree as his own and climbing as high as he could, draping himself along the branches like some pygmy panther. Occasionally you would see a paw emerge from amidst the bristles to swat at baubles, or his siblings should they be too nosey as to why the tree was shaking. 2012 saw him attempting to help (or hinder) decoration of the tree by organising a sleep-in protest in the box of tinsel.

In the last few months of his life, he took to suddenly desiring full on attention – but only when everyone else was going to bed. As I’d go around switching off the lights and telly, he would leap onto the arm of the sofa and meow loudly whilst purring full pelt and nudging my hand with his head – but even then, he still wouldn’t let you pick him up, instantly taking flight, lol!

From cuddling up with his older brother and sister, sleeping between my legs, curling up on my computer desk chair, sleeping in boxes and bags – he did like his shut eye. And given that when he wasn’t asleep he was charging around the house, goading his brother into play fighting and games of “tag”, it was quiet respite for us.

And now he’s home…as his spirit soars, I keep his cremains safe in the beautiful wooden casket box I choose. It has been saddening to loose him so suddenly and so young, but I have been immensely touched by the thoughtfulness  kindness and support of family and friends during this last week. I have also been thinking off all the other felines I have known and lost in my life…Ananka, Billy, Zoe, Amber, Sooty, Topsy, Sinbad, Sparky, Benny…and I’m sure he’s giving them all a run for their money!

Sleep well my beautiful little boy…daddy loves you always…

Bastet, Sekhmet, we give you back your child.
Noble, regal, honourable cat.
Watch over him, and guide him on his way
to the spirit world.
May he be blessed in Your names,
and hunt ever after beside you.