Oathbound Secrets

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Leo Season

This picture is of the "First Fruits" I harvested on August Eve. They are red currants from my parents' garden. We sat outside and had a plant-based barbecue. I thought about how lucky I am to have food on my plate and a safe place to sleep that night. I'm also grateful to have friends and family who are there for me, through thick and thin. The Sun is in Leo, the lioness. We can imagine a pack of lions as a network of friends and family who support each other. Leo craves a strong army of comrades to feel secure in life. The energy of Leo naturally draws people to charismatic leaders. When looking in the mirror, Leo inspires self-confidence and ambition. Somebody with strong Leo energy always holds their head up high and presents themselves with a strong self esteem. Leo season inspires us all to find our inner lion. How can we all take leadership within our own lives, and build a strong comradeship? How can we support each other as family, friends, and the wider com...

Decolonise

There is an interesting phrase I heard, that Britain colonised itself before the rest of the world. How can a country colonise itself? Well Britain was an island of many cultures, many nations, before the United Kingdom was created and a uniform British culture imposed on everyone here. Regional variations were extinguished, while amateur folklorists attempted to record the dying traces. What a huge sacrifice for the sake of homogenisation. To this day, we feel that one part of Britain is ruling over the rest, sucking up all of the wealth, leaving the rest of us impoverished. This is the same process of colonisation which was then inflicted upon other countries captured by the British Empire. I would say that London and the surrounding South East area is the "Imperial Core" of an Empire which still exists, although in a neo-colonial form. Poka Laenui suggests five stages of decolonisation: Rediscovery and recovery Mourning Dreaming Commitment, and Action

Down Hill From Here

June went by in a flash didn't it? My plans were all over the place but I ended up going to Bournemouth for the summer solstice, and had a little celebration on the beach. We lit a little fire and burned some herbs and resin as an offering of thanks. I had a lovely cleansing swim in the sea. I cut all my hair off for the new moon, which really helped me feel refreshed. I did a little protest action at the Langham wine estate, against the incinerator they want to build at Portland port. A bunch of us went to the Langham "summer fayre" and handed out leaflets to let people know that it's the Langham family who are responsible for Portland port and everything that happens there. First it was the Bibby Stockholm and now it's the Powerfuel waste incinerator. The Langhams really don't care about people outside their own little bubble, and treat Portland like a dumping ground for anything they consider unsightly. Looking at their finances, we know they donated over...

Approaching Summer Solstice

The tarot card I pulled today was The Knight of Swords. This card provokes us to consider activities we want to do, travel, being out and about, getting things accomplished. I feel lately that I just don't have the time or energy to do all the things. I am feeling tired, a little lost, somewhat fed up. I am trying to connect with what brings me joy, my passion. The Knight points to a need for silence and space to deepen our understanding. Clear cut answers are revealed when we focus our minds in meditation. The oracle card for today is Mystic Mermaid. She reminds us to pamper ourselves with a heavy dose of self-love. I think it's been difficult for me to remember to look after myself with the most basic things like a healthy diet and good sleep. I am having to remind myself to drink water and stop doomscrolling on my phone.

Magic Hair

There was a very brief time when I had wool locks plaited into my hair. I spent a whole day installing them, but a week later, my home made dandelion and burdock ale exploded all over them, and I had to take them out. I just couldn't go through the agonising process of doing them again. It's much easier to just attach the wool locks to a hair band and wrap them around a ponytail. This look has been popular in the goth subculture for a long time, and I don't really know why. I guess it's just an easy way to add colour and texture to your hair. I've been dying my hair since I was 16, and had just about every colour possible. I was into alternative subculture as a teen, particularly goth and punk, and spent a few years of my early 20s being "emo" before sliding into a more "indie twee" look. I have found the need to assimilate into mainstream culture for the sake of work, and appear as normal as possible for the boss. They do tend to remark that I...

Folk Revival

I was looking at all the fantastic May Day celebrations across the country and thinking how much it benefits people to have free events for the whole community to enjoy. A friend of mine was telling me that back in her youth, there were Maypoles all along Weymouth Esplanade, and every school in town turned out a group of kids to dance around them. I think today’s kids should be taught these fun traditions, and get away from their social media to take part in physical activities like dancing and making music. The South West of England, with its rich history of music, dance, storytelling, and seasonal customs, has seen a notable revival in folk culture in recent years. From Cornwall’s vibrant traditions to Dorset’s mummers’ plays and Somerset’s wassailing ceremonies, communities are rediscovering and reinvigorating their cultural heritage. This resurgence brings both opportunities and challenges, as enthusiasts work to keep traditions alive while adapting them for contemporary audie...

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