Witches Retreat!

Ever since Veronica Varlows very first Witch Camp over in the states, I have dreamed of attending something so magical. Witch summer camp - what could be better?

She would host rituals for self-love, teach attendees how to make flower crowns, read their tarot, take nature walks, and make gris-gris bags. Feed them on beautiful Vegan cuisine, even archery took place.

(Photos from Veronica Varlows Blog & Faerie Magazine)

As time went on, my dream expanded. I wanted to host my own Witch Camp...a retreat, here in little old Wales.
Long talks around the fire with one of my besties, about the future, and magic, just reinforced these dreams.
But financially now wasn't the time...Unable to move forward, with no money to complete my plans...they stopped. On hold.

And then one drunken evening, whilst talking about camping, lightning struck!
Combine the two and minimise my costs!
Do one night out in nature as a trial, see the successes, see the downsides, iron out the kinks.

And then...maybe one day...Witches Retreat could be opened to the public. Still intimate groups, but something people could sign up for. Pay to attend a four day retreat from reality, and work on their creative selves. Search and find the magic within themselves, and learn from other powerful, magical beings.

So, just like that it begins. Planned for the June Full Moon, with our location already booked, invites sent out, and the cogs already turning in my head, IT IS HAPPENING!

I'm currently working on goodie bags, daily schedules, and booklets for those attending.
Because I'm crazy enough to plan this for two months before my wedding. *eye roll*

Of course I will share photos and snippets of the retreat once it's been held, and if its something you'd love to do, let me know! I plan to re-do it in 2019 if it's a success.
Which it will be, obviously!

Serpent

With the Full Moon rising in Scorpio, this moon calls for soul searching. Every once in a while there comes a time of deep reflection, when we have to realign our self identity with our core values. This moon pushes us to cut through the nonsense and pretences.

Today I wore my snake vertebra necklace, (which was created from the remains of a snake that died of natural causes) to help me keep myself in check.
 We may have all been feeling a little out of sorts recently, our emotions a bit high strung, and too many thoughts flying through our head.
I for one have been having the vivid-est of dreams - it is natural to happen around the Full Moon.

Why a snake?
In ancient religion, and the path of witchcraft and paganism, snakes represent the primordial life force. A snake is duality and balance, a sign of rebirth. If a snake bites it's own tail, it creates a sacred circle.
Norse mythology believes that it is a serpent god,  Jǫrmungandr  , who holds the sea in place, by doing just that. Holding onto his own tail, in order to keep the sea contained. Knowing that the element of Water is most strongly linked to our emotions, could we see this as the containment of emotion?

To tie in with the meanings behind this Full Moon, think about the way a snake sheds its skin, this physical transformation, that enables it to grow and develop. That is what you need to do. Shed that which is old and does not serve you, and you fill find more space and happiness for that which you hope to gain.

When we think about transformation, lets also think upon the Snakes representation of cycles; birth, death and rebirth. Snakes hide away during the winter months, and come 'alive' again in the Spring. The heat dragging them back above ground. This time is the perfect time to use the snake in meditation, or to honour in ceremony.