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!

Water

Bathing in the white springs of Glastonbury

Being a Scorpio, my element is WATER. But long before I investigated my star sign, I was drawn to all things water; the open ocean, lakes, rivers, swimming pools, baths, boats. Any excuse off come the clothes in the water I'd go.

Without water nothing can live.

Our bodies are 50 - 60 % water, we simply would not exist without it.

It holds power over both conception and death.

Water is a cleansing element, and linked to psychic intuition, the subconcious and the emotional. For this reason it is considered a feminine element. Water gives life, as does the woman.

Water also holds sway over our creative personality, because it is so intrinsically linked to our emotions. The birth of an idea.

Water evokes clarity, purity, and calmness.

It's natures way of allowing us to clean our mind, body and soul.

So, when you can't shake the icky sense of someones bad energy from your skin, go bathe in natural water.

When your crystal has been used for some intense magic, hold it in a river.

When your mind is full of toxic thoughts, have a relaxing bath, let the water drain away around you and take those thoughts with it.

That second hand athame that you need for magical working...you guessed it water!

It is the element of constant movement, but not rapid and destructive movement; slow and steady.

This movement is powered by the moon as we all know, so those with a star sign linked to Water, may have an affinity with moon magic.

An easy way to show Water  on your altar is with either a small vial of water, or the presence of Shells, as the elements correspondence is to the West, they should be placed in the West position.

Blue and White are to representative colours of water.

The magical item of water on your altar is the cauldron or cup (Can't hold water without a womb or vessel.)

You can use water in magical working around;

• Purification
• Scrying
• Love
• Peace
• Friendship
• Dreams
• Psychic Awareness

my secret stream I often escape to

Being a Scorpio with my moon sign in Aries, whose element is FIRE, means I can either balance these out amazingly or not at all. Crazy mood swings anyone?!
I see traits of both signs in me, but unlike some, I am more representative of my Scorpion side. Meaning my love of water makes sense. 

A really lovely thing is that my partner and I are both water signs.
He is a Pisces.
According to all the resources our combination is ultimate compatibility.
Soulmate stuff.
"The destiny of a Pisces is to bring people together, and when this energy meets Scorpio’s intensity and tenacity, there is no stronger bond."

The attraction of Scorpio to Pisces, becomes an addiction QUICKLY.
Being water signs, they are both highly sensitive and perceptive.

I never put a lot of energy into star signs until recently. Being born on the cusp, I spent most of my life believing myself to be a Libra star sign. It was only when I made a recent delve into an astrological book, that I realised how much more my personality fit with a Scorpio...and something that had previously made no sense to me, started to form shape and substance.
Then looking into my relationships with other star signs, seeing what could be predicted, and how accurate friendships and partnerships were portrayed to communicate and interact... well now I'm certainly a lot more believing. 

Even witches can be sceptical! 

Blessed Be!

Apophyllite

Would you look at this beauty!?!

Apophyllite is native to India, and it occurs in ancient lava and basalt flows. It is most often found in glassy rectangular prisms in it's natural form. It was only discovered in the 1800s, but may have been given a different name before this date, which makes it's history hard to trace.

These crystals contain a high amount of water molecules in their structure, which is firstly what makes the appearance differ slightly to that of clear quartz, but secondly that which  makes them compatible with those with a connection to the water element.

(Like me as a Scorpio)

It is believed to be a very spiritual crystal, it bridges the gap between the physical and spiritual realm - it helps your spiritual connection, and there for should aid wonderfully in divination.

It can be used also in meditation, as a crystal it is known to aid in calm and tranquil feelings; so this combined with it's breaching of the spiritual world, makes it ideal for dreamscape work, journeying, scrying, astral travel, and meditation.

If you hadn't guessed by this crystals attributes it is connected to your third eye chakra.
Apophyllite is known as an "ascension stone", which means it helps bring light and clarity to emotional situations. It helps you be more honest with yourself about things, and brings the truth from others.

I got this gorgeous gem from http://www.crystalfaery.co.uk/ 

Visit the online store, for all your crystal needs - just follow the link for 'Crystal Cavern', or feel free to browse and enjoy the other wares they have to offer.

Witch

A deep rumble in the womb,

Reverberations of memories ages old.

Blood coursing with the tide,
Women running side by side;

Coaxed onwards by the moon.
An ancient connection,
Feral and Wild.