November newsletter
4 November 2024
Evening everyone,
I hope you all had a lovely Samhain. Our blessing was beautiful so a big thank you to friends old and new who joined us. Our circle space was carpeted with colourful leaves and we spent time remembering our loved ones. The Wheel of the Year has turned once more and we welcome a new year.
)o(
November is a busy month for us, as after the blessing on Saturday a few of us celebrated Annie G's birthday. This coming Saturday is Sharon's birthday, followed by our Divine Feminine Interfaith moot the Saturday after. On 23 November it's Divine Moon's 12th birthday and then my birthday at the end of the month.
It's hard to believe our moot has been running for so long. We've had a few venues in the past. Some members have come and gone, some have come and stayed. I'm so grateful for everyone who attends moot and makes it the wonderful group that it is. So much work, planning and money goes into delivering a moot and a blessing, so it's always lovely when people turn up!
)o(
As the last of the leaves change colour and fall from the trees, and as we retreat inwards as the days shorten more and grow colder, I hope you enjoy the remaining few weeks of the autumn season.
Bright blessings
Annie J
)o(
October newsletter
3 October 2024
Hi all,
Hope everyone is doing well.
I don't know about you but I can really feel the veil thinning as we approach Samhain. The new moon yesterday in Libra coincided with a solar eclipse (not visible in the UK) so there was some intense energy. I can feel my ancestors around me which is such a comforting thing, but bittersweet too.
)o(
I love October, I think it's such a beautiful and special month. The reds and oranges of autumn are really starting to show now, and evenings are getting cosy as the nights are drawing in more and more.
I'm noticing lots of Halloween events popping up on social media that it would be helpful if I could be in two places at once to be able to enjoy them all! So far I'm going to Halloween Farm, the scare maze at Sandwell Valley and the new horror bar in Birmingham. I love the fun side of Halloween and the more serious side of Samhain.
Last week I put my Halloween decorations up at home, and in the office so everyone at work had a lovely surprise when they walked in. We have a Halloween tree this year which looks fab :-D
)o(
I'd just like to remind everyone that we need confirmed numbers for the Interfaith moot on Sat 16 November by the end of October please. There's been a disappointing response so far which is a shame as we have a lovely moot planned for you all. Please confirm your attendance on the event on our Facebook page or by emailing us at anniej.5@outlook.com
Final bookings are now being taken for the last of the seasonal workshops. The Winter Workshop is on Sat 23 November where we'll be looking at how to make the most of the winter months and not burn out over the Yuletide period. The event details are on our Facebook page or you can email me at the above address.
)o(
Our Samhain blessing is taking place on Sat 2 November so we hope you can join us for this. I think for many Pagans, this is seen as the biggest of our Sabbats as it marks the start of the new Celtic year and it's a time to honour our ancestors. Julie will be leading the blessing and she'll let us know more details as soon as possible, at which point I'll update the Facebook event.
)o(
It's Lola's birthday at the end of the month so wishing her many happy returns of the day.
Enjoy the season of the witch everyone and if I don't see you on 2 November, I wish you a very blessed Samhain.
BB
Annie )o(
September newsletter
3 September 2024
Hello everyone
Well here we are at the start of meteorological autumn! The leaves are starting to turn and fall, there are acorns and conkers aplenty and the harvest season is in full swing as the Wheel of the Year turns towards Mabon/Autumn Equinox.
I'm really looking forward to delivering the Autumn workshop on 14 September. We'll be focusing on how to wind down after the summer and start the retreat inwards towards rest and relaxation. It's such a lovely season of change and cosiness.
)o(
This month we'll be announcing the moots for 2025 and I have some ideas of a different format to try and keep things fresh and interesting for you all. These dates will be updated on the events tab and our Facebook page as soon as they've been planned. We also have some new workshops for next year too and more information will be posted very soon.
Talking about events, we have our Mabon blessing this month on 21 September which we hope you can join us for. We're also busy planning the Interfaith moot in November and we'll be hosting it moot style on the subject of the Divine Feminine with four very different talks. Please help us promote this event with friends, family, colleagues etc from different faith groups. Places are limited and need to be booked by 31 October at the latest.
)o(
We now have a new moot logo which has been updated on the cover page of the website and on our social media sites. I finally had time to find a logo app and play around with ideas as I was sat around the pool in Ibiza drinking a Malibu and coke! The ideas were put to the moot members who are part of our Whatsapp chat group and they chose their favourite. Next step is to get this printed onto t-shirts and hoodies....
)o(
It's Tina's birthday this month so wishing her a very happy birthday.
Enjoy the start of the autumn season everyone!
BB
Annie )o(
August newsletter
1 August 2024
Hello everyone,
Well we've finally had some weather that's been much more like summer, although for some it will have been a little too hot!
)o(
This week I had the very sad news that my old manager, John, had passed away following his battle with cancer. John was only 57. It brings it home that our time is so precious and we have to make the most of every day that we're blessed with. Make the most of these last few weeks of the season, embrace the energies of the summer and all of the abundance in your lives. Rest easy John, thanks for all the laughs over the years.
)o(
Our Lammas/Lughnasadh blessing was a wonderful occasion with so much fun and laughter. We had a beautiful altar full of flowers, fruit and bread. It was fantastic to welcome new friends, as well as old ones. And we enjoyed another summer picnic sat in the beautiful setting of RSPB Sandwell Valley. We're so blessed to have such a lovely space to celebrate our Sabbats.
We've now passed the peak of the growth season and it's time to harvest. The leaves are turning to a dustier green and some are already falling. The berries and fruits are ripening and the fields are being ploughed.
In a few weeks, we'll notice a real difference in the amount of daylight as the mornings and nights start to draw in.
)o(
Last month was the final workshop of the Shadow Self. I'm thinking of running this again next year if there's enough interest. Please let me know if it's something you'd like to attend. The cost is £50 for three sessions, including support as we work with the Shadow.
)o(
One of the best meteor showers happens in August, reminding me of my childhood days when I'd stand in the back garden with my mom and grandad looking out for those bright shooting stars across the night sky. The Perseids are actually active now, but they peak on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 August. Best viewed before dawn or after dusk, especially after 22:50 when the moon sets.
)o(
Have a wonderful August everyone and we hope to see you all at our Sacred Dogs moot on Saturday 31 August. Full details of what to expect are on our Facebook page.
BB
Annie )o(
July newsletter
1 July 2024
I hope everyone had a very blessed Litha. Our celebrations were fabulous and the weather was nice enough for us to have a lovely picnic in the woods. I say picnic, it was more like a banquet!
Next Litha we're planning on going to Avebury for the weekend. It's a slightly quieter event than Stonehenge. If you'd like to join us, please send us a message on our Facebook page. We'll be travelling down on Friday ready for the sunset, and the sunrise on the Saturday.
)o(
Our thoughts now turn to the harvest season that's approaching. Our Lammas/Lughnasadh blessing is an Interfaith event and we hope people of different paths will be able to join us and see how we celebrate our wonderful Sabbats.
Soon we'll see the landscape start to change as the fields are ploughed and the crops are harvested. Lush green fields turn brown, and the leaves start to dull. The fruits will swell as they start to ripen, and some of the flowers in our gardens are producing seeds. Mother Earth is busy indeed.
)o(
Bookings are now open for the Autumn workshop which is being held on 14 September. The Spring and Summer workshops have been well received. If you'd like to book, please message on our Facebook page.
The Shadow Self workshops come to a close this month. It's not an easy journey but I hope my participants are now starting to feel a difference now they've embraced their shadow.
)o(
Finally, it's Lorna's birthday at the end of this month so I'd like to wish her a magickal day :-)
)o(
See you all at the Lammas gathering.
BB
Annie )o(
June newsletter
1 June 2024
It's hard to believe that we're in June already! We're almost at the halfway point of 2024 and we're fast approaching the Summer Solstice. I always find this to be a bittersweet time of year. Although we have the long, light days of summer ahead of us (and hopefully some nice weather), in four weeks' time we reach the Solstice where the sun stands still before we start the descent to the waning half of the year.
I was driving to Walsall yesterday to drop off some artwork for an exhibition and I noticed that the trees are so heavy with lush green leaves. My garden is bursting into bloom and the plants and flowers are growing at such a rapid rate. This year I planted lots of bulbs so I'm looking forward to seeing how they flower over the next few months.
)o(
Next year I'd like to try and get us to Solstice Fest in Salisbury. I've been looking at the event for this year and it looks fabulous. If we go ahead, details will be posted on our Facebook page in due course.
)o(
Last weekend, Lorna hosted our moot on the subject of Taoism. It was a really fun, interesting and interactive gathering which we all really enjoyed. Next week I'll be hosting the second of our seasonal workshops where we'll be focusing on the energies of summer and how to find freedom and joy over the next three months. Saturday 22 June is our Summer Solstice blessing and I'm hoping for dry weather so we can have a picnic in the woods. All of the details are on our Facebook page.
I understand that it can be daunting to join a moot for the first time. I just want to assure you that we're a laid back and friendly lot and we'll make you feel most welcome. We're happy to come and meet you on the car park so you don't have to walk in alone. Please just drop us a message on Facebook messenger and we'll do what we can to make you feel comfortable.
)o)
Wishing you all a very blessed Litha/Summer Solstice.
BB
Annie J )o(
May newsletter
1 May 2024
Blessed Beltane everyone.
We held our Beltane blessing on Saturday, led by Julie. A beautiful robin joined us for the whole ceremony. It was truly special. Also lovely to welcome old faces and new to our circle.
)o(
We're now at the start of Celtic summer at one of the most beautiful times of the year. Nature has burst into life and everywhere is looking so lush and green. There's a delicate scent of blossom in the air, joined by bird song. The woods are full of wild garlic and bluebells. This is a time of such optimism and joy, with the long warm days of summer stretching out before us. I can't wait for some warmer weather when I can sit out in the garden and paint.
As we enter late spring, we should be feeling our energy levels rising, just like the sap in the trees. There may be a need to get outdoors more, start projects and get more active. The plans and plants that we planted at Imbolc and Ostara should be growing nicely.
Take time to be in Nature and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells that the last few weeks of spring have to offer.
)o(
We have our Taoism moot on Saturday 25 May, hosted by Lorna. Please join us if you can.
I'm taking the last few bookings for the Summer workshop on Saturday 8 June. Bookings close on 4 May. All details can be found on our Facebook page or the events page on this website.
)o(
Wishing Lucian, Emma and Julie the happiest and most magickal of birthdays.
Blessed Be
Annie J )o(
April newsletter
9 April 2024
I'm sat here writing this newsletter wondering if it will every stop raining! I'm longing for the warm, sunny days of spring but it feels like winter won't quite let go some days. My garden was all planted ready for summer flowers but the wind has decided to cause some damage. Ok, so spring is connected to the East and the element of Air, but come on!
)o(
Last month we went on a spring foraging walk to celebrate Ostara. It was lovely to see so many signs of spring around RSPB Sandwell Valley; those fresh green buds emerging from the branches, catkins aplenty, blossom.... and a couple of hail showers in amongst the sunshine. At our coffee stop at Forge Mill Farm our new mascot entered the fold when Jo bought an inflatable unicorn that she named Ursula Ostara. There's never a dull moment with Divine Moon!
)o(
Last night we saw the new moon in Aries, combined with an eclipse. Many of us in the UK didn't get to witness the eclipse first hand but we really felt the energies of it. For me, I've been feeling very restless and I've been having really vivid dreams.
The new moon is a time to set intentions and these intentions will be given a burst of energy by the eclipse. Forget new year's resolutions in January, now is the perfect time to formulate your plans and wishes for the coming year, and you're more likely to see them through when you set them in the spring.
)o(
My friend and I went on a little road trip last weekend to visit Barbrook Stone Circle near Sheffield. There are actually three stone circles and two ring cairns which stand on Ramsley Moor. The energies were very gentle there. More information on the site can be found at www.stone-circles.org.uk
)o(
We'll be gathering again at the end of this month to celebrate one of my favourite Sabbats; Beltane. I love the energy at this time of the year. Nature is blooming and there's such a feel of optimism as we reach Celtic summer. It's such a special time as we celebrate the union of the Goddess and the God. Sadly we won't get to travel to Clun for the Green Man festival on the bank holiday as we'd planned as it's been cancelled due to all of the recent wet weather. You might find us on Lorna's narrow boat instead......
Hope to see as many of you as possible on 27 April for our Beltane Blessing. All of the details are on our COA Divine Moon Facebook page.
Blessed Be )o(
Annie J
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