Dorset's chalk ridge refers to  dramatic chalk escarpments like the  Purbeck Hills  and the  Wessex Ridgeway , formed from ancient seabed limestone, offering panoramic views,  chalk grassland , woodlands, and historic sites like  hillforts . Key sections include the Purbeck Ridge (Flowers Barrow to Ballard Point), notable for its windswept paths and views of Poole Harbour and the coast, and the Wessex Ridgeway, an ancient route with landmarks like  Hambledon Hill  and  Cerne Abbas . These ridges are popular for walking, cycling, and horse riding, showcasing distinctive landscapes and rich geology. Today, the patron saint of Dorset is recognised as Saint Wite  (pronounced Wee-ta)  aka St Candida, her name referring to the white chalk. My theory is that she is an echo of a much older goddess.  Legend has it that she was a 9th-century  Saxon  holy woman from  Dorset  who was killed by marauding Danes.  Loc...

Whenever the word "witch" is uttered, we conjure up a memory of "the burning times" when people were being accused of witchcraft and tortured by feverish villagers of 16-17th century Europe. It was an era of heightened paranoia, religious persecution, intense misogyny, and colonisation. This was the dawn of capitalism, as the former system of feudalism was gradually replaced with something more "liberal". Power struggles between monarchs and politicians caused riots, massacres, and sieges. Witches were scapegoats for all of the turmoil, as the wealthy could point a finger "look over there!" and shift the blame. The witch represented an enemy of the state, a cause of mass terror, an invader from the infernal realm. Those accused were usually poor elderly single women. Socially discardable, having outlived their usefulness, the accused witches were easy targets of popular violence. The development of capitalism meant that former peasants became lan...

The partial lunar eclipse happened when the moon was low in the sky, and there was a fair amount of cloud here. But after the eclipse, the clouds cleared and the moon rose over the rooftops. I had a bonfire lit and locally picked herbs to burn. Key words for this full moon were: - Compassion - Vulnerability - Imagination - Sensitivity - Avoidance - Procrastination  Questions and Considerations: The power of imagination and intuition. How can we follow our hearts and live a compassionate lifestyle? This is a time of great sensitivity toward the emotions of others, and a yearning to give comfort to anyone who needs it. This willingness to help can grow to feel like a great burden. This can lead a sensitive person to hide away from the world because they feel overwhelmed by the work that needs to be done. In this case, we really need to take care of ourselves, to become emotionally stable and focused on practical goals. The key is to find some small way that you can use your beautiful...

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...

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

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...