The Earth Spirit Oracle: Mystery

Moving unseen in her shadowy jungle world, the jaguar slips between the realms of night and day, reality and fantasy. Her golden eyes pierce through the veil of darkness, seeing all with pristine clarity. Mayan cosmology speaks of the jaguar’s connection to the underworld—the land without light. She is known as the keeper of secrets and the guardian of portals between realities. In Mayan, her name means ‘sorcerer’ or ‘high priestess’ and her spirit was invoked to guide spiritual seekers on vision quests.

This card, like a blank rune, represents the unknowable. You may be faced with a great mystery, something hidden in the shadows. Jaguar spirit is beckoning you to peer into the mysteries of life. When she is present in your life, you may experience enhanced psychic abilities, prophetic visions, or vivid dreams. You can invoke her spirit to achieve telepathy, remote viewing, precognition, or clairvoyance. Perhaps add some herbal tea with blue lotus flowers, hawthorn leaf or passion flower, or essential oils such as sandalwood, patchouli and lavender, to your nightly bedtime ritual. In conjunction with jaguar medicine, these will lubricate your mind and stimulate your third eye, otherwise known as your pineal gland—the psychedelic centre of higher states of consciousness.

When this card appears, prepare to be mystified! Remain alert for synchronicities, and be open to what bubbles below the surface in that inscrutable realm of the subconscious. Puzzling events, chance encounters, and curious riddles are all likely to present themselves. Bizarre experiences may manifest in an instant, as if formed from the ether, and be gone in a flash. Insights may appear in unconventional forms. The jaguar reveals herself for the briefest moment, before disappearing into the shadows. Her message is to embrace the mystery in whatever form it takes, with no regret for its fleeting nature.

“IT IS ONLY THROUGH MYSTERY AND MADNESS THAT THE SOUL IS REVEALED.” – THOMAS MOORE

Art in the Garden: A Faerie's Guide to Cottage Garden Colour

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness has descended over my far flung corner of the world, dear wildflowers. And the cottage garden is a tangle of spent summer blooms and drooping seed heads, nodding gently in the breeze. It is wild and weedy, and all the plants are tinged with burnt orange and caramel now. Rosy pink camellia petals and golden oak leaves flutter to the ground, and the earth breathes a long, deep sigh before settling into her winter slumber.

As the high heat of summer gives way to cool breezes and chill mornings, this little garden goblin can finally get on with the busy work of the season. Weeding, pruning, digging up bulbs and pulling out all the spent summer annuals. It is so satisfying to tidy up the cottage garden, but even on these cool Autumn days, it can be a hot and sweaty job for a wildflower! Phewwf!

I have gathered the cosmos and zinnias I like best, and now I’ll move on to selecting my favourite dahlias of the season, so I’ll know which bulbs to keep for next year, and which ones to give away as gifts. I’m looking at you, Mum! 

You may remember the episode where I began planning this new garden at Belladonna Cottage, and how I wanted a colour palette of plum and lavender, apricot, raspberry, and dragon fire orange. I made my selections from pictures in seed catalogues but, it is only now, after a summer spent in observation, that I can truly know the way each individual plant expresses itself, seeing their glorious display of shape and colour in context. The myriad hues and shades, when set against each other, blend and soften, or contrast and pop... and some, of course, clash rather unfortunately. And you can’t really know until you see it all come to life. 

Pale pastel and whites flower, for example, lend a sweet, softening effect to their companions in the garden, so I’ll definitely be planting purity white cosmos again, along with whirling butterflies, creamy David Austin roses and white velvet salvias. The same goes for foliage colour, which is why I love to add in silvery saltbush, white sage and lamb’s ears. 

I now know, roughly how tall each flower grows, how leafy and sprawling they can be, how large the blooms are, and in particular, the exact shade of their petals. After all, it’s really just another artwork, but this one is made with flowers, instead of paint and paper. I don’t know about you, but I’m really happy with how it all turned out, and I can’t wait to try again next season, with my shortlist of showstoppers.

It’s truly incredible how many seeds are produced from a single plant, which began as a tiny seed itself, just 6 or 7 months earlier. I’m almost certain that Mr. Rose and I could start a whole flower farm from this summer’s cut flower patch alone. 

I’m not sure we’ll find a place for all of these beautiful babies come spring, so I might pop a limited number of mixed seed packets up on my online store for Australian garden faeries to enjoy... they’re far too pretty to sit in my potting shed in the dark, and I’d much rather imagine them blooming in cottage gardens across the country, delighting bees and butterflies and inspiring a new generation of green thumbs.

If you’d like to see this episode in full, head on over to ‘The Rambling Rose’…

The Earth Spirit Oracle: Gaia

Gaia, the ‘ancient mother’, the embodiment of The Earth Spirit herself, is considered by many cultures around the world to be a living, breathing entity. Not only a vast, terrestrial planet, but a sentient organism, able to feel and speak in a multitude of subtle ways.

Allowing ourselves to simply be with her, silencing our busy minds for a moment, and tuning in with our senses, we realise we are intrinsically connected to nature, and our entire beautiful blue planet.

When we listen to birdsong or the sound of leaves fluttering in the wind; walk barefoot in the earth and feel the summer rain on our skin; breathing in the subtle perfume of wildflower nectar or the rich, earthy fragrance of damp moss, we become one with the universal life force.

Has your path led you away from Gaia? Do you feel lost in an artificial world? This card is calling you home. It asks you to listen to the quiet voice inside that yearns for a slower pace—a simpler, more peaceful, more connected way of life. Drawing this card is an invitation to rediscover your wild nature and take your place in the web of life. It is time to become grounded, and draw your attention back to the abundance and beauty that blooms all around.

Nature is a calming gift that restores the soul. Take time to immerse yourself in Gaia’s beauty as often as possible. Simply by spending a little time in nature every day, observing her rhythms and cycles, you will not only raise your own vibration and bring about deep healing within your own body and spirit, but create a ripple effect that will ultimately heal the planet and all her children.

“THE WILD WOMAN HAS A DEEP LOVE OF NATURE, A LOVE FOR THE ANCIENT MOTHER” – SHIKOBA

Our Vintage 60's Wedding at 'The Mariner'

A Dreamy Litha: Summer Solstice Rituals

“I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.” – Hafiz of Shiraz

Midsummer has arrived in the Australian Alps, and the high heat of the sun is beginning to paint the landscape in a palette of shimmering gold and hazy pink. The faeries are calling me down to the meadows of dandelion and daisy, and the weather is now warm enough to seek out solitude in quiet corners of the sweetwater river. Here I can seek out a little rockpool, pretending I’m a water nymph, and listen to the sound of the healing waters rushing by, cleansing my soul and refreshing my spirit. The long days have taken on a lazy, dreamy energy, and I find myself contemplating the meaning of Litha, and found this quote to be the perfect companion to my thoughts at this time of year – “I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.” 

Litha marks the summer solstice, the point on the wheel of the year when the day is the longest, and to me, it really feels like a festival of the sun. Also known as Midsummer, it is a time when the veil is thin and the fae folk come out of the shadows to dance in the light. These pagan holidays are rich with symbolism that predate the world religions and find meaning in the rhythm and cycles of nature.

This year, in the Southern Hemisphere, Litha falls on the 22nd of December, and I must admit, it can all be a little overwhelming when we are also celebrating Yule a few days later with our brothers and sisters in the North. So, I often refer to this holiday as Litha-mas and intend to take it slow and, in true hedgewitch style, I like to do things a little differently. So, in this episode, you’ll see how I blend the traditions of both festivals into one magical celebration of light, love, and hope. And, I’m letting the faeries guide me and inspire me to fill this day with flowers, fruits and sunshine, and things to delight my inner child. Litha is, after all, about that youthful energy that summer brings, providing so much scope for the imagination!

If you would like to join me, in my latest episode of ‘The Rambling Rose’, I’ll be celebrating by making a lovely peach and lemonbalm iced tea to enjoy with a book in the shade. I’ll also take a little dip in the Sweetwater River, make a flower altar to the goddess Freya, and paint a chapter header for my new book ‘Wild Faerie Magick’. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

Watch the full episode here:

A Cottage Witch's Gift Guide: The Art of Frugal Hedonism

“No one has ever become poor by giving” – Anne Frank

Summer has arrived here in Australia, and the days are getting warmer and longer in my sleepy little valley. Each morning I wake to the sound of magpies, fairy wrens and bower birds, happily chirping as the first rays of the sun spill out across the mountains. It’s easy to forget the outside world here sometimes, and, to be honest, I prefer to do so... A handful of friends and I, refer to this town as ‘The Shire’ sometimes, and I certainly feel like a harfoot at heart, wandering barefoot in my garden searching for berries, talking to faeries and following dragonflies along forest trails. But, adopting a slower pace and opting out of the modern world, requires some adjustments, and as the holiday season draws near, I’m reminded that one of those is developing the practice of frugal hedonism.

Simply put, it is the art of spending less, while enjoying everything more. Instead of trading your time and energy for money, ending up stressed and exhausted, with very little time to enjoy life, you can take back those precious hours of your life, and get creative with what you already have, rediscovering the incredible amount of free, and low cost, resources around you. 

When we begin to recognise that the myth of ‘more’ is not in the best interest of human biology, we can slowly start to say ‘no’ to the cult of consumerism, and ‘yes’ to the abundance of the natural world, and to the generousity of loving, conscious community. We can slow down, heal our tired, tender bodies, and focus on what we truly need to be happy.  

With a global recession looming, it seems many of us are tightening our purse strings even more this Christmas and so, I thought I’d share some ideas for delightful handmade gifts that you can make with materials found around the home, in the garden, or at your local thrift store.

A SWEET PET PORTRAIT – My first handmade gift idea, of course, is for the arty witches out there. Whether you are a painter like me, a photographer, or gifted with another creative talent, I thought to myself, what could be more special than a sweet pet portrait!? Pets are our beautiful, furry family, and our loyal familiars, so, I decided to gift one dear friend a painting of her beloved cat Forest. I will share a photo of Forest with my patrons on Patreon, so you can see how I did capturing his likeness. 

SCENTED CHARM BAGS – My second thrifty gift idea is for all the skilled seamstress witches! It’s an easy little sewing project whether by hand, or machine. And you know, even my sewing machine and kit are thrifted! Since it’s high summer, the rose goddess garden I shared with you in the last episode is in full bloom, so we’ll be using the petals to create a heavenly scented charm bag. With a pinch of glamour magick. I’ll need to dry these petals first, but don’t worry, I have some dried ones saved up from last season. Now I only took up sewing again recently, and in true rambling rose style, I totally winged it with this pattern: I made quite a few mistakes, which is no surprise when you don’t even measure first! But I promise to write it up perfectly for my Wild Roses on Patreon, so you don’t have that feeling of ridiculousness when you realise it’s all inside out and upside down. 

CHOC MINT TRUFFLES – My third homemade gift idea is for the kitchen witches, using any ingredients you have on hand to make a yummy edible gift. Now, I’ve got peppermint growing every which way in my garden this summer, even underneath my steps - let’s give them a quick sweep on the way to the herb garden shall we? I thought I’d use this voracious peppermint, along with some other ingredients in my pantry, to make choc mint truffles. I’ll pop the truffles in gorgeous tin from – you guessed it – the Op Shop! And i think they’ll make a lovely gift.

MINI FAERIE GARDEN – My fourth frugal gift idea is for the green thumbs, the garden fairies that just have a gift with plants, and it all started with a cutting from this beautiful spotted begonia. So, with an old painted pot that I previously repurposed, I thought I’d make a miniature fairy garden with this begonia cutting. With my own gift wrap and some more thrifted ribbon, in a charming bow, this gift cost next to nothing… and I feel like any garden faerie would adore it!

SUGAR SCRUB BARS – My final thrifty gift idea is for the green witches, the lovers of potions and lotions, and it uses another ingredient that’s growing in abundance this summer. Calendula! This magical flower stimulates collagen production, and will make your skin so youthful and bright. Along with some other ingredients in my home apothecary, we’ll be making some luscious sugar scrub bars for radiant, glowing skin. I think they look like the golden sun itself, don’t you? Beaming away in the garden. Once again, this recipe will be shared in detail with my Wild Roses on Patreon later this week, but they are quick and easy to make, and cost next to nothing.

Watch the full episode here…

Designing a Rose Goddess Garden

Planting a garden and watching it come to life over the years must be one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done. It brings me so much joy to work hand in hand with mother nature, creating something of beauty and magic, a living artwork with my own two hands. Being out in the garden is incredibly healing, sun on my skin, earth between my fingers and toes. It allows me to enter that flow state, where all my fears and anxieties recede, my chattering mind goes quiet, and I feel in a peaceful state of ebb and flow, effortlessly dissolving into the rythym of nature. My heartbeat seems to slow to that of the pace of earth itself, and insights flow to me.

I’ve recently added a film to my vlog ‘The Rambling Rose’ where I show how I created a rose garden in honour of one of my favourite goddesses. You might recall that in my ‘Sowing A Secret Garden’ episode, I introduced you to the different zones in my ever evolving cottage garden, and how I promised to plant a brand new garden bed with you, centered around this stunning goddess bird bath?

When I spotted her on my local buy, swap, sell group, I knew instantly, that she was the one. Faeries love magical garden decor, mirrors, water features, wind chimes and such, and I felt they would be adore this bird bath. I thought, she would make the perfect centrepiece for a rose garden, one that would delight any romantic soul or, sweet little nanna at heart. And, of course, with the hot Australian summer on the way, it would hopefully become a beloved oasis for native birds, bees and other beneficial insects. 

But at first, I couldn’t quite decide which goddess she most resembled... and which one I most wanted to honour with this garden. So... let’s start planting, and wait for a sign from the faeries. And, once all that hard work is done, we’ll head on up to my art loft to paint another page of my new illustrated book ‘Wild Faerie Magick’. Finally, a few weeks later, we’ll return to the rose goddess garden for the final reveal.

Watch the full episode here…

Sweet Beltane: A Romantic Witch's Self Love Rituals

We’re supposed to be in the height of Spring here in Australia, our skin being kissed each day by the warmth of the sun, and the bright fire being ignited as the wheel turns towards Summer... but, unbelievably, it has been snowing, and this little rose needs full sun to blossom. 

And so, this Beltane, I’ll celebrate by treating myself to the most romantic and relaxing day ever, embodying both the god and the goddess, and spoiling myself as I would a lover. I’ll start with a long, lazy morning baking a scrumptious breakfast in bed, lots of cuddles with my beloved furry companion, and an indulgent herbal bathing ritual in my outdoor tub. I’ll paint just a single page for my new book ‘Wild Faerie Magick’ and light a Beltane fire in my moon garden to burn away any stagnant energy and invoke the bright new beginnings of the season ahead.

If you’ve been following me for some time, you might have noticed what a hopeless romantic I am. And I couldn’t think of anything more perfect than luscious Sweet Strawberry Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting. Strawberries are, of course, an aphrodisiac. Named so after the goddess Aphrodite, goddess of beauty, fertility and sensuality, who I’ll be invoking in all of my rituals throughout this day.

As a Taurus Sun, Pisces Moon and Libra Rising, it is no surprise that Aphrodite is my favourite goddess, and I work with her often in my spellwork. According to mythology, when Aphrodite rushed to the side of her dying lover, her tears mingled with his blood. Wherever this tincture of her tragic heartbreak fell to the earth, strawberries grew. (I will share the strawberry rolls recipe as a printable page for my beloved ‘Wild Roses’ over on Patreon).

My date for Beltane this year is my beautiful white wolf, Noah. And, since we’re all in such a romantic mood, I thought I’d share the inspiration behind his name. Firstly, it reminds me of the rainbow that appeared after that fabled ocean of tears that threatened to drown the earth. Just like that rainbow, Noah appeared in my darkest hour, and I will always love him for that.

Another reason I named him Noah, was after that epic romance ‘The Notebook’. Do you remember how the main character, built his sweetheart the house of her dreams, a white house with blue shutters and a room overlooking the river so she could paint.

On the wheel of the year, Beltane marks the midway point between the spring equinox and summer solstice. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s traditionally celebrated on the first of November, and in the north, the first of May. The exact date this year (2022), however, falls on the 7th, so there’s still time to plan your witchy celebrations. 

Beltane is the festival of passion, pleasure, fertility and love. The word translates to ‘bright fire’, and in earth-based traditions, represents the symbolic marriage of the God and Goddess, and their eternal embrace. But, with the endless winter here in Victoria, it has felt so much more like Samhain, or Halloween, than Beltane recently. There have been mushrooms growing in my garden, spooky stormy nights, cool winds and there are still leafless trees. I’ve even felt the veil thinning and ancestors walking beside me. It’s quite unnerving, and I fear that climate change is affecting the earth’s deep primordial rhythms, her heartbeat, and our ancient rituals, by unbalancing the wheel of the year. 

Perhaps because the seasons seem so jumbled this year, I’m not all feeling the customary energy boost of Spring’s peak. In fact, I’ve been feeling utterly exhausted, and so, I’ll turn to Aphrodite again, to make blissful herbal bath soak in her honour. I’ll provide the recipe over on Patreon, but you can also follow along via ‘The Rambling Rose’ vlog.

Watch the full episode here…

An Australian Faerie Tale

Once upon a time, in an ancient land of platypus and pink bottlebrush, desert pea and rainbow lorikeet, there lived a quiet little girl, with a big imagination. She loved nothing more than to escape into fantasy realms. Books became portals to fairy kingdoms, where unicorns danced in butterfly meadows and dragons slept in caves of gold & gemstones. She loved books so much, that she began to make her own. With her pencils and crayons, she told tales of enchanted animals and brave little vikings, cities beneath the sea and exotic islands lost in time.

This little girl was born on a day when the veil between the worlds was very thin. Where she lived, it was Samhain, All Hallow’s Eve, a night when spirits walked the earth at midnight, witches danced under the moonlight, and much magic and mischief was afoot. But, on the other side of the world, it was Beltane, a time of flowers and sunshine and merriment, when Queen Flora set all the flowers alight, bursting with colour and joy. Being born in the month of May, she was a child of The Willow tree, sensitive and artistic, deeply connected with nature, and aligned with the emotional energy of the moon.

Her very favourite book was ‘Elves & Fairies’ by a most enchanted Australian Cottage Witch named Ida. Ida was born in the late 1800s, and she was, perhaps, the first of her kind to really ‘see’ the magic of the fae in the Australian bush. She sensed their presence in the fluffy yellow wattle flowers, taking flight on the backs of willy wagtails and kookaburras, and wearing little gumnut hats.

The little girl was so enchanted by Ida and her beautiful illustrations, that she dreamed of becoming an artist too... when she was all grown up. But, as is the way with so many children, the girl grew up and moved to the city, and got lost in grown up ways. She saw that the world of man, of concrete and steel, was often sad, and cold and cruel. And so, her magical pencils began to gather dust as the little flower wilted under artificial lights, the brilliant sunshine far away, and the enchanted forest and her faerie friends forgotten.

But one day, many years later, she returned to the forest. And sure enough... her faerie world was waiting for her, as if not a minute had passed. Upon her return, she heard bells chiming and the soft sound of laughter on the breeze. Wild violets peeked out from underneath leaves, ferns unfurled their delicate fronds, and... a patch of four leaf clovers appeared. Recognising this sign that the fae folk were near, she closed her eyes and asked ‘beloved faeries, please will you give me my name?” She waited a moment, holding her breath, and the answer came sweetly on the breeze – oh, the most beautiful perfume filled the air, and upon her return home, there, gowing wild amongst the blackberry brambles and bottlebrush at her front fence... a rambling rose.

So dear ones, I guess you’re curious to know... do I really believe in faeries? Well, I certainly do... but, not in the way you may think. Let’s make a nice cuppa and have a chat about it, shall we? 

Faeries, I believe, are multidimensional beings, in a sense, they exist on many levels. In one way, I believe they exist in our imaginations, in our stories and folklore, indeed, our history and culture. And to my mind, what exists in the imagination, exists. Simple as that. Being a hedgewitch, a clairvoyant, who ‘jumps the hedge’ between worlds, it doesn’t seem at all strange to me to consider that the things I see with my eyes closed, in dreams or otherwise, are as real – sometimes more so, than those I see in my waking world.

But I also believe that they exist, in a form, in what we humans call our reality – I believe they are the spirits of the plants and we can ‘see’ them with our imagination and our intuition. Even communicate with them, if we learn the language of the plants. Each flower, fern and tree has a spirit – it’s very own faerie, that takes flight from time to time, not only on the wings of our imagination, but on those of dragonflies, birds and butterflies, and all the lovely creatures of the air.

Have you ever read the book ‘The Hidden Language of Trees?’. It is a fascinating book that tells of the intricate language that connects these living beings. At one point, when all matter was forming from star stuff, we were one and the same. And I believe we have simply lost the ability to ‘hear’ them... but I also believe, deep down, we know in our DNA this language. Indeed, Biologists, ecologists, foresters, and naturalists all increasingly argue that trees speak, and that humans can learn to hear this language.

When we communicate with plant spirits, when we tend a garden lovingly, or stop to smell a rose, or whisper to a seedling, we are communicating with the fae. At least, that’s what I believe. And the more we open our minds and hearts to this language, the more like the fae, we inevitably become.

You may have guessed by now that I am deeply connected to my inner child, and try to live my life according to the wishes of that little girl with the big imagination. As children, we can see and hear faeries because our minds are still open to the world of magic and wonder. When we see the world through the eyes of a child we see all things with curiosity, and the unknown becomes a secret door to a world of possibility. So, I’m very certain that the faeries LOVE it when we embrace our inner child.

I will share more on ways to connect with the faeries in future episodes of ‘The Rambling Rose’, but I thought it might be nice to start by crafting a spell jar to attract them into your garden, and call in good luck and abundance. You don’t need to have a physical garden for this spell to work, as the garden is simply a metaphor for life. If you tend to your goals with love and intention, and offer your kindness and childlike curiosity to the faeries, you will be blessed with abundance. And you know what? This spell really works! I will share this spell in detail as a printable page for my Patreon supporters, and over on my blog, but for now, you can follow along on my vlog.

Watch the full episode here:

Sowing a Secret Garden & Harvesting Purple Veggies

I stumbled upon the quote, ‘The secret garden bloomed and bloomed, and every morning revealed new miracles.” It is from the beloved book ‘The Secret Garden’ by Frances Burnett Hodges, and I recall that this story is about healing. A garden left abandoned and forgotten for a decade, just like the little orphan Mary herself, is brought back to life with love and care. With the help of a robin, Mary discovers the key and slowly begins to interact with the seasons, the dirt, and the flowers – and both she, and the garden are beautifully transformed.

I loved this quote, because gardening has healed me too, and I feel like we are healing each other. Every morning, when I walk to the back of my garden to let my chickens out to roam and forage, I always stop to marvel at something new and beautiful that seems to have appeared overnight, every day a new surprise. It does feel like a secret place, away from the world, where I can let my imagination wander.

I have big dreams for my secret garden this season, and want to try my luck at growing flowers from seed, to fill out any little gaps in the garden beds. I have names for each an every one, there’s the moon garden, the faerie garden that I planted for my birthday last year, and... a new rose goddess garden centered around a stunning bird bath.

It’s all a bit wild and weedy in my garden and my excuse is the incredible amount of rain we’ve had these past few months. La Nina is in its third consecutive year here in Australia. And I must say, the weather has really challenged my co-creative gardening skills. I do love a good cosy rainy day, but I am itching to get out in the garden and get to work. I guess this weather is just another life lesson taught to me by nature. You can only do your best, and that’s always good enough. 

Co-creative gardening is where you work with all the forces of nature and the plant spirits, working together rather than imposing your will. It’s not neat and tidy, it’s rambling and shifting, like a conversation, thanking the plants for all that they provide, and asking them what they need in return. I always talk to my plants, giving them tender words of encouragement and explaining what is going on and where and why I’ve planted them. I also play them classical music, especially when transplanting, to help settle them into their new home. I often place crystals in their pots, and when I’ve planted something new, I sit with it for a moment, and with one hand on my heart and one over the plant, close my eyes and visualise sending them love and joy, picturing them growing beautiful and strong and leafy and blooming, season after season.

At the end of Djilba season, just after the equinox, is just about the right time to harvest the last of the winter greens, and prepare the beds for the season’s crop. In the last episode, I talked a little about colour magic, and how simply reading the colour of a plant is a simple way to reveal it’s healing or magical properties. Purple is associated with the crown chakra, the portal to other dimensions and higher states of consciousness. When you see this colour in a fruit or vegetable, you know it’s high in anthocyanins, which are known to improve vision and have neuro-protective effects. I love it when modern science figures out an ancient kind of magic that pagans have intutively known for centuries, don’t you?

I’m so pleased that the purple kohlabi, kale and cauliflower all did so well this year, even with so much neglect, and I’m going to use them to make fritters with kale pesto (and share the recipe with everyone on Patreon!)

All of my brassicas are going to seed now, and the bees are loving it. Some might say I’ve made a mistake in planting too many varieties together, and letting them all flower at once, as this means they will likely cross pollinate and create strange and not so productive hybrids... but I’m happy experimenting and practicing an intuitive gardening style. I feel like this is more magical and special. This way, I’m creating my own unique little ecosystem, complete with weeds and beneficial insects, and letting the plants surprise me. After all, its a secret garden, and its designed to reveal new miracles.

But, in order to create a truly magical cottage garden – one that attracts beautiful birds, butterflies and bees... and, of course, faeries – one needs to grow more than just herbs and vegetables. Flowers are of course, essential to the secret garden of my dreams. And this year, I’ve collected some really exciting varieties of flower seeds. 

Now, being an artist, I have a loose colour palette in mind for each of my garden zones – It feels like painting a Monet, dabbing pastels and jewel tones across my garden canvas, hopefully creating a dreamlike harmony, and an enchanted place that I will want to spend my summer days in, reading books and drinking iced tea, chatting to the faeries and chasing butterflies.

When it comes to planting seeds in seedling trays, I think there’s something quite meditative about little repetitive tasks. And of course, being outside in the fresh air, and working with soil, is so healing. I often feel that gardening is a metaphor for life, and I ponder the quote; ‘the seed never sees the flower’. I find it so profound to think that, in the passage of time, this tiny seed, will never know the magnificence that it will one day become. It makes me think of my younger self, little Nancy, and I wish she could see the woman we have become, all of the beautiful art we’ve made and the home and garden I know she’d love.

So, I hope you will join in the fun with me as I plan out my garden, harvest some veggies, sow seeds for an enchanted faerie wonderland, and paint a few pages for my upcoming book, ‘Wild Faerie Magick’.

Watch the full episode here:

Tiny House Garden Project: Chicken Cottage Makeover

In my latest vlog over at ‘The Rambling Rose’, I shared how I gave my chicken coop a cottage garden makeover and figured out what herbs and flowers are best suited to my chookos. I even got to work with some power tools – yes, faeries use power tools! I share a few insights into building a tiny home, living off grid, and starting a cottage garden. And so, I thought it might be nice to share a little snippet here on my blog too…

When I found this little block of land back in 2019, my heart was filled with romantic dreams of creating an off-grid tiny home, with an overflowing veggie garden, an outdoor tub, meandering animals, and flowers everywhere. I thought I’d be self-sufficient, plastic free and living like a reclusive, forest witch in no time. But, dear wildflowers, I had no idea just how hard it would be to make that dream come true.

I shivered through the first three winters, after realising that my solar battery would not see me through the cold and dark and snow, trudging out to start the generator in my gumboots and dressing gown, faerie umbrella in hand, crawling under the house to reset the battery, brushing spiders and cobwebs from my hair. There have been so many challenges, blood, sweat and tears, and a whole lot of mud and mistakes.

But the garden teaches me so many things, and one of the most important is patience, and learning to adapt to your conditions, problem solving, and... when you make a mistake, you can always try again next season.

On one of my forest walks recently, I was drawn to a little creek and considered that, when a rock falls in its way, the river simply flows around it. When a tree comes down after a thunderstorm, it is as if nature just shrugs and simply sends some mushrooms and moss to make it their new home. I felt like the forest faeries were whispering some wisdom to me – mistakes are just opportunities to try a different approach.

My chicken coop has seen better days, and just like me, my two chickens have been doing it tough in their tiny home this winter. Now, as the days get brighter, I thought it was time to treat them to a Spring surprise, and build them a beautiful new home with a cottage garden of their very own. I put together a lovely green and white ‘cottage style’ chicken coop, made the nesting boxes cosy with wood shavings and herbs from the garden, and potted up some flowers to place around the coop. I also put in a little stone path leading up to the coop, and, in a future episode, want to build a ‘Hobbit style’ chicken run with wicker swinging gate and climbing vines. I honestly think I could live in a little green and white cottage surrounded by garden flowers. Hmm... I kinda do!

It looks like my girls are already loving their new home, and I’m so pleased with the result too! I feel much better knowing that they will be safe and warm through winter, and cool in summer here under the leaves of a peach tree. I can totally imagine little faeries sitting on the poppies and blessing my chickens too! Can you?

Watch the full episode here:

Ostara Picnic with Lemon Thyme Tea Cakes & Violet Lemonade

This week on ‘The Rambling Rose’ vlog I began my Ostara celebrations by baking up some scrumptious lemon and thyme tea cakes and a sweet violet lemonade made with magical herbs and edible flowers from my garden. I also try my hand at one of my favourite crafts for this sabbath – pretty painted eggs in a traditional floral folk style! So, be sure to watch the video here, and don’t forget to like and subscribe if you’d like to see more.

Here in the Southern Hemisphere, we celebrate the pagan sabbath Ostara – otherwise known as the Spring Equinox – on or around September 21st, while our friends in the north are celebrating Mabon. The turning of the Wheel of the Year, has been recognised by rural agrarian peoples for centuries so it is not just witches and faeries who celebrate these special days, but farmers and gardeners and anyone who simply loves being in nature... and of course, the plants and animals. 

Perhaps it could be said that they celebrate more than anyone! Especially when it comes to Ostara! I see daffodils nodding their heads, as if wearing ruffled Elizabethan collars of pure sunshine, masses of cherry blossoms, blue hyacinths, fluffy camellia and the scent of sweet magnolia on the breeze. 

Moving from the city to lead a slower, simpler life in the countryside, and settling in this place with a Victorian-esque climate, I have fallen in love with the changing seasons and felt more connected than ever to the earth and her magical rhythms and cycles. The pagan festivals and their crafty, colourful rituals captured my imagination, and I feel like this is what led me to the green witch path. If nothing else, celebrating the changes we see in our gardens every six weeks or so, is just a fun way to make life more enchanted. And I just love any excuse to bake, craft and celebrate... and let my inner child enjoy some whimsy and wonder. So, this year, I decided on a beautiful picnic among the blossom trees, fancying myself like Anne of Green Gables just revelling in the Spring sunshine. She always used to say ‘it provides so much scope for the imagination’ and I adore that.

So, my lovely wildflowers, here are the recipes for you to enjoy:

Violet Lemonade

Ingredients
1 cup of violet flowers
2 cups of boiling water
2 tbsp of raw honey
1 cup lemon juice

Method
Simply add the violets to a teapot and pour over the boiling water. Add a generous helping of raw honey and stir until thoroughly combined. Place the teapot in the refrigerator to cool for a spell. When cool, add to a stoppered bottle and pour over the lemon juice. Give it a little shake. If the lemonade has not turned the violet colour you desire, a few butterfly pea flowers will do the trick nicely!

Lemon & Thyme Mini Bundt Cakes

Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
a handful of freshly picked thyme leaves
2 lemons, zested
115g unsalted butter
2 eggs
2 cups plain flour, sifted
1 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp Greek yogurt
60 ml fresh lemon juice

for the lemon glaze
2 cups icing sugar, sifted
1 tbsp yogurt
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
a handful of freshly picked pansies

Method
Prepare the bundt pan and pre-heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). With room temperature butter, brush the moulds of your mini bundt tin.

Add the thyme and lemon zest into the bowl of sugar and rub it between your finger tips for one minute until the sugar is moist and fragrant. Next, in a large bowl, add the butter and sugar with the thyme and lemon zest, and cream them together with an electric hand-held mixer fitted with the beaters on medium-high speed, for 5 minutes until pale.

Reduce the speed to low and add in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition until well incorporated. Scrape down the base and sides of the bowl. Sift into the mixing bowl half of the flour and baking powder and mix on low speed until just combined. Add into the bowl the yogurt and lemon juice and mix again. Lastly, sift in the remaining flour and using a rubber spatula, fold through until a few flour streaks remain.

Either scoop the batter into the prepared bundt moulds or fill a piping bag with the batter and pipe into the moulds until they are two-thirds full. Bake for 20-25 mins until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for ten minutes before turning out the bundt pan onto the wire rack. Give the pan a slight tap and the bundt cakes should drop out. Let the cakes cool completely and then decorate with the lemon glaze and pansies. The perfect faerie picnic awaits!

I so hope you enjoy these recipes and, if you’d like to see the full recipe, picnic, and crafting the painted eggs for my Ostara altar, please head over to my YouTube channel ‘The Rambling Rose’. I appreciate every comment and would love to hear how you went with the recipes and your own Ostara crafts. Blessed be, sweet souls and a very happy Spring Equinox.

All my love, Nancy xx

Watch the full episode here:

Garden Quiche with Potato, Kale & Rosemary

In the latest episode of my cottage witchy vlog ‘The Rambling Rose’, I share this recipe for a simple Garden Quiche, made with seasonal herbs and greens harvested from my very own veggie garden. I also use eggs from my two beautiful chickens, Hollyhock and Foxglove, who have been laying again – another wonderful sign that spring is just around the corner. In the episode, we also gather flowers such as daffodils, jonquils and snowdrops that herald the Return of the Light, or Imbolc on the pagan Wheel of the Year, and use them as inspiration to paint a few pages of my new book 'Wild Faerie Magick'. With this Garden Quiche we enjoy a simple brunch and a cup of tea in honour of the goddess Brigid. Here’s the recipe…

Ingredients

8-9 free range, happy eggs
2 sheets of vegan puff pastry
1 tbsp of plant-based butter
a splash of almond milk
50g of almond feta
a small handful of kale leaves
a sprig of rosemary, stem removed
1 potato, sliced thinly
salt & pepper, to taste

Method

Preheat oven to 200°C and grease a pie dish with the butter.

Press pastry into the pie dish and around edge to form a crust, trimming excess. Poke holes with a fork and press around the edges for a decorative effect.

Whisk together 6 eggs, milk, salt and pepper and pour on top of pasty in the pie dish.

Spread potato gently on top of the egg mixture and then crumble the almond feta on top. Strip the stems from the kale, wash the leaves and chop roughly, then sprinkle on top along with the rosemary. Crack the remaining eggs on top and gently break the yoke.

Brush the pastry edges with a little extra egg mixture and bake for 25-30 minutes until pastry is golden brown. Enjoy!

Watch the full episode here…

Six Senses Imbolc Altar

The next magical date on the fae-witch calendar is Imbolc, the cross quarter day between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. In the Southern Hemisphere, this day falls around the 1st of August and marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It’s when you see those wonderful signs of life in the garden emerging again, wildflowers burst into colour, and the sunlight returns. Also known as ‘The Feast of Torches’', ‘Candlemas’, or ‘Brigid’s Day’, Imbolc is a time of new beginnings, fresh starts, and cleaning out the old to welcome the new.

To fully grasp the significance of Imbolc, it is necessary to understand the life-and-death struggle represented by winter in any agrarian society. In a world lit only by fire, the snow, cold and ice of this season literally holds you in its grip, only relaxed with the arrival of spring. Although the Equinox does not arrive until later and spring is celebrated with Ostara and Beltane, Imbolc is the harbinger and the indication that better times are coming. For a sun lover like me, this pagan sabath brings relief from the dark days, and a glimmer of hope with every new wildflower I encounter on my chilly winter forest walks.

In Australia, yellow wattle flowers are a favourite decoration for the Imbolc altar, as well as other white, yellow and purple flowers like the gorgeous Warraburra. You can also collect gumnuts, and search in particular for ones that have a five pointed star on top. Imbolc signals the arrival of ‘Djilba’ season, named so by the original custodians of this great southern land. Djilba is a transitional time of the year that heralds a massive flowering explosion of yellow, white and striking violet blue wildflowers. As the days start to warm up, we start to see and hear the first of the baby animals appear. The woodland birds will still be nest bound, hence the swooping of the Koolbardi (Magpie) and even the Djidi Djidi (Willy Wag Tails) and the Chuck-a-luck (Wattle Birds). A walk through the wilderness at this time of year is a magical experience, filled with excitement as you spot signs of new growth and the arrival of spring.

Jumping back over to pagan traditions for a moment, I’d like to introduce Brigid, the goddess associated with Imbolc. Also long known as ‘The Mistress of the Mantle’, Brigid is a solar deity, blessing us with light, inspiration and fire. In the Celtic pantheon, the fires of inspiration, as demonstrated in poetry, and the fires of the home or forge, are seen as identical. Therefore, Brigid is celebrated as the traditional patroness of healing, poetry and smithcraft⁠⁠—a benefactress of vital energy, practical skills and creativity.

As the patroness of poetry, and filidhecht, the equivalent of bardic lore, Brigid, like ‘The Woman of the Fairy Hills,’ and the poet-seers of old, keeps our oral traditions alive. It is widely believed that those poets who have gone before inhabit the realms between the worlds, overlapping into ours so that the old songs and stories will be heard and repeated. Thus does Brigid keep these traditions alive by inspiring and encouraging us.

To celebrate Imbolc this year, I am planning to create an altar to Brigid, and I’d love it if you would join me! I invite you to take a ‘Sensory Journey’ into the forest to collect items to offer up to the goddess of Imbolc—one for each of the six senses: sight, touch, taste, smell, hearing and intuition. Think of it like a wild treasure hunt or a game you can play with the faeries of the forest, and your inner child. For example, you might encounter some fluffy wattle blossoms for ‘touch’, wild violets for ‘smell’, or collect a feather to symbolise ‘hearing’ after listening to the enchanting birdsong on your walk. For ‘intuition’, simply search for something magical and curious that awakens your imagination… I found the most perfect witch’s broomstick in the form of a twisted, ghost gum branch that had fallen overnight in a wild storm.

Gather your items and create an altar to Brigid. On the night of Imbolc, you might like to light candles, burn essential oils of orange, frankincense, cedarwood, cinnamon or rose, and say this little prayer:

Mighty Brigid, keeper of the flame,
Sister of the faeries,
Daughter of the Tuatha de Danaan,
Blazing in the darkness of winter.

In autumn, the nights began to lengthen,
and the days grew shorter,
as the earth went to sleep.

Now, Brigid stokes her fire,
burning flames in the hearth,
bringing light back to us once more.
Winter is brief, but life is forever.
Blessed Brigid makes it so.

May your Imbolc celebrations be warm and wonderful, enchanted ones. And if you are in the Northern Hemisphere right now, you’ll be celebrating Lughnasadh (for which you could also create a Six Senses Altar). As The Wheel of the Year turns, I wish you all the most magical time exploring the faerie realms and the world between the worlds. I would also love for you to write to me in the comments below and share what you find on your ‘Sensory Journey’.

Blessed be xx

A Winter Solstice Ritual

At the winter solstice, the face of the goddess, Gaia, hides from the sun to allow deep rest and introversion to replenish her spirit. It is a time of deep wintering, the longest night of the year. As creatures of the earth, we are guided to go within our body temple for silent reflection and contemplation. It is a time of profound revelation, deep healing and spiritual transformation. In goddess devotion, winter is personified by the crone archetype – the wise old mystic. She is the epitome of the darkness, death and rebirth, and this is the time of the year when her energy can be felt most strongly.

The pagan Wheel of the Year symbolises the continuous turning of time and mirrors nature’s cycles of death and rebirth. As a wildling, a gardener, and a lover of all things folklore and magic, I have found that living in tune with this natural calendar helps me feel like I’m one with nature herself. It has been healing to live my life in accordance with these rhythms; it feels joyful and creative (and utterly enchanted!) to celebrate the turning of the wheel and acknowledge the passage of time with reverence and wonder.

Wildlings and witches in the Southern Hemisphere will celebrate the Winter Solstice today – on June 21. This date also marks the beginning of the Midwinter, or Yule, celebrations for those of us in the lands ‘down under’. The origin of the name ‘Yule’, some say, comes courtesy of the Norse god Odin, for this was the time of his ‘Wild Hunt’ when he would fly through the night sky on his magical flying horse Sleipnir. The 12 days of Yule festivities begin tonight and celebrate the lengthening days and the return of the light. It is a time for flickering candles, mesmerising bonfires and twinkling stars on a clear winter’s night.

I felt this Winter Solstice was the perfect time to begin a series of posts on simple spell casting and rituals centred around The Wheel of The Year. I do hope you’ll delight in these posts throughout the year as we take this magical journey together, and I dare say, your ancestors will be thrilled to see that you are returning to the old ways; to know that we haven’t forgotten our sacred roots.

So, for all you beginner witches out there, here’s a simple ritual you can do to celebrate this year’s midwinter festival and call in the most wonderful, enchanted year.

• Cleanse yourself by taking a salt bath and burn rosemary to cleanse the air

• Build an altar – place natural objects found on walks in nature, like pine cones (symbolising the spiral dance of life), seashells with a spiral pattern (if you’re a sea witch), crystals like moss agate (to symbolise the new growth of living things) and citrine (to call back in the blessed light of the sun)

• Burn a white candle and as your candle burns, meditate on the year that has passed and set your intentions for the new year and the return of the sun

• Take your favourite oracle or tarot deck and lay out a 3-card spread. Ask the cards what to leave behind from the year that has passed, to reveal a gift hidden in plain sight, and what will grow in the new year

If it’s your first time ever celebrating solstice, know that your first time is your rebirth. You are stepping onto the wheel, and you’re stepping into that liminal space between time, between worlds. Let this be the beginning of your rebirth and let it be meaningful. Blessed be, dear souls xx

The Earth Spirit Oracle

I’ve just received the first sample of The Earth Spirit Oracle, and I’m absolutely thrilled with the beautiful colours and velvety feel of the cards. This was a dream project for me, and I am so grateful to my beautiful co-author, Melissa Jane Conrad, for inspiring me and collaborating with me to make this dream a reality. As I create each card, I am lovingly imbuing the illustrations with magic, channeled from nature herself. Moving through the seasons, weaving the lessons she teaches me into every new card, I have never felt more connected to my inner child, and my faerie soul. You’ll find themes of folklore and fairytale, ancient wisdom traditions and herbalism, astrology and the tarot, and as you work with the cards, you’ll find a deeper meaning that resonates and blossoms within your own life. I guess you could say that every single card is close to my heart and dearly special to me. As an artist, and a wild, witchy woman, this is the ultimate expression of my creative and intuitive gifts – from my spirit to yours.

“A dreamer, I walked enchanted, and nothing held me back.' ~ Daphne du Maurier

Oracle cards are some of my very favourite intuitive tools. My ancestors used runes to divine knowledge of the past, present and future, and I still use those mysterious ancient stones today, but as an artist and a lover of enchanted things, I simply cannot resist a beautifully illustrated oracle or tarot card. I love to gaze upon the images, letting my imagination run free and my intuition unravel deeper mysteries hidden (consciously or unconsciously) within the art itself. I turn to my many beloved decks for guidance almost daily and love to sit with them and contemplate their meaning as I walk in the forest, meditate, practice yoga or even whilst cooking. Once I open up to their intrinsic magic, I find that the cards act as a portal to inspiration, insights and beautiful synchronicities unfolding in my life. Sometimes, I like to place a card on my desk while I paint, allowing the energy of the card to flow through my hands and into an artwork. After all these years, I still marvel at the uncanny accuracy and perfect timing of my cards. With this deck, I wanted to capture the cheerful, rainbow colours and positive energy of the natural world, as it is seen through the eyes of a child. Because when we step into our inner child, we become a bright light, eyes wide and full of wonder, and so much more open to receive.

It is my dear hope that these oracle cards will gently awaken your intuitive wisdom and inspire the joyful imagination of your inner child. Melissa and I have designed this oracle to provide insight into the present, guidance for the future and a portal into the sublime magic of the natural world. With each card you pull, we encourage you to feel it deeply and unravel the meaning presented to you. We want you to dig your feet deeper into the dirt, feel the path you are on and be reminded that the Earth has your back – and we have hers. The Earth speaks to us in a language we already understand. What is she saying to you? What calls you forward? We created this oracle to pull you into the depths of her soil, beneath the ocean reefs, to the heights of the star strewn atmosphere and to feel the synergy of the trees and wind in your body. You are connected to each bee, bird and wild flower that you see – and you were meant to see them for a reason!

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” ~ Jawaharal Nehru

At the time of writing this blog post, I have just 14 cards left to illustrate, and the deck is due to be published in August 2022. You can pre-order your copy now via my shop, and follow along my journey on Instagram as I share each new card I illustrate. In a following blog post, I will share my sketches and creative process. Each card is sketched in pencil in my notebook first, before I begin the luscious colouring process. I’d be delighted to share my journey with you…

Third Eye Awakening

Did you know that you can develop intuition and improve your health at the same time?

Well, you can, through the pineal gland. You may be asking, well, what is the pineal gland? The pineal gland, also known as the pineal body, is a small pine cone shaped gland that lies deep inside the centre of the brain in the epithalamus. It is a part of the endocrine system and helps to regulate melatonin, which is a chemical produced in the brain that helps the body sleep at night. The pineal gland function lies in governing the production of hormones as well as the maintenance of the circadian rhythm, which is essentially our sleep/wake cycle.

Almost all animals have a pineal gland and its role remained a mystery for a long time. The role of this tiny gland was one of the last to be discovered and has only recently begun to be understood. In fact, scientists are still studying it today and as of yet, it’s complete role and function has not been defined by researchers. It has long been associated with the idea of the “third eye”, which is a spiritual symbol of all-knowing according to yoga philosophy and often perceived as a gateway for the soul’s liberation.

In his book Kundalini Tantra, Swami Satyananda Saraswati says, “It has also been called ‘the eye of intuition‘, and it is the doorway through which the individual enters the astral and psychic dimension of consciousness. Perhaps the most common name for this chakra is “the third eye”, and the mystical traditions of every age and culture make abundant references to it. It is portrayed as a psychic eye located midway between the two physical eyes and it looks inward instead of outward.”

The idea of the third eye has also floated around science circles previously, as some believe the pineal gland is what has been leftover in the human brain of an actual, physical third eye which we eventually evolved out of. The gland itself is very small, about 1/3 of an inch long and is located in the centre of the brain. It is a reddish-gray color and is primarily made up of pineal cells and neuroglia cells.

Calcification of the pineal gland often occurs as a result of excess fluoride and other mineral deposits. This may, in turn, affect the body’s ability to regulate melatonin and its circadian rhythm. The pineal gland is photosensitive and secretes less melatonin during the day and more at night; hence, why most people are awake during the day and feel tired for sleep at night time.

Swami Satyananda Saraswati says: “The pineal gland acts as a lock on the pituitary. As long as the pineal gland is healthy, the functions of the pituitary are controlled. However, in most of us, the pineal gland started to degenerate when we reached the age of eight, nine or ten. Then the pituitary began to function and to secrete various hormones which instigated our sexual consciousness, our sensuality and worldly personality. At this time, we began to lose touch with our spiritual heritage. However, through various yogic techniques, such as trataka and shambhavi mudra (third eye gazing), it is possible to regenerate or maintain the health of the pineal gland.”

The pituitary gland is a gland that acts as a master gland, controlling many of the hormonal functions in the body. It is located in the hypothalamus in the brain, which also contributes to our sleep/wake patterns  This means the pituitary and pineal gland work together for proper function. Imbalances in the pineal gland (and pituitary) can lead to sleep disturbances and problems with your sleep/wake cycle. Therefore, this tiny, little gland plays a bigger role in our lives than previously thought!

Spirituality and the Third Eye

In addition to the physiological role the pineal gland plays in the body, it is also commonly associated with spiritual thought and mystical experiences. Ancient sages and mystics believed this area of the body to be the space for ascension and enlightenment through the brain/body. It is perceived as a bridge between our inner and outer worlds, as well as to a connection to something beyond what we know to exist, to a higher state of consciousness.

It was called the “seat of the soul” by French philosopher Descartes, although science has mostly discarded his sentiments. However, now that it has been proven that melatonin is in part regulated by the pineal gland, it does lend credibility to the fact that increased melatonin production can produce transcendent or mystical experiences during a waking state such as meditation through its function as a psychotropic chemical.

Outside the realm of science, the pineal gland is associated with the sixth chakra, called ajna or the “third eye” centre located between your eyebrows (essentially deep back in your brain). The ancient yogis who wrote The Vedas in India between 1500-500 B.C. outlined a long time ago these physiological and psychic energy pathways that run through the body as a map we can still use today to better understand ourselves. When you strengthen and activate the third eye, you awaken intuition and inner wisdom on the path to Self-Realisation.

It is the second to last step before reaching total enlightenment (according to yoga philosophy, which actually occurs through the crown of the head). Psychic energy is said to accumulate in this area of the brain and body.However, in the grand scheme of the world, when this centre is active and open, you can better understand your role in life and the various signs and synchronicities that occur and point you in the right direction.

Symbolically, the third eye represents union on the path to cosmic consciousness, divine wisdom, inner knowing, and intuition. This is the place where the ego is left behind and the concept of duality begins to unwind in order to embrace unity or the concept of oneness.

“When we begin to see each other through what the metaphysician calls, the third eye, we begin to know each other on a level that is beyond what our physical eyes can see.”

~ Marianne Williamson

Using this powerful centre can teach you to trust in divine while managing your ability to focus your life to the best of your ability and play your part in the world. When this occurs, your actions, words, and choices reflect this state of being and a more peaceful existence is possible. So how can you learn to amplify your pineal gland to live a better life? Who doesn’t want a little more wisdom knowing they’re on the right path…

Here are 5 steps you can take to begin amplifying your pineal gland today:

1) Meditate Regularly

Meditation is one of the most popular ways to learn how to awaken your third eye and stimulate your pineal gland. Meditation stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system to relax the body and mind so that mundane thoughts of everyday life do not impede your ability to live a happy and healthy life. There is research to support the fact that people who meditate have higher concentrations of melatonin than those who do not meditate. Closing the eyes during meditation stimulates the perception of darkness by the brain, which may be a reason for this occurring. Mindfulness Meditation is a practical way to begin a meditation practice.

• Find a quiet spot to sit comfortably, close your eyes and follow your breath.

• Allow your focus to be completely absorbed in your breath. If your mind wanders, bring it back so that you become a witness to your breath.

• Over time, you can choose what your focus is – perhaps it’s a body part, or a sound, or anything you can imagine.

2) Practice Gazing Meditation

According to ancient yogic philosophy, specific gazing techniques such as Trataka meditation can increase third eye activation. The most common way to practice Trataka is by candle gazing, or gazing at the flame of a candle without blinking for 1-3 minutes. Then, close your eyes and focus on the afterimage for several minutes until it disappears. You can repeat this several times in one session.

Another way of practicing this is to focus your eyes on a specific point in space, called dristhi in yoga. A common third eye meditation involves gazing at a spot in line with your nose, then gazing at the tip of your nose, and finally, directing your gaze upward to your brow or third eye area (called Shambhavi Mudra). You can practice each gazing point for up to 10 minutes each.

3) Try Colour Visualisation

Visualisation is another way to amplify the power of your pineal gland and third eye centre. In chakra theory from yoga philosophy, the Ajna chakra or third eye is the colour indigo, which is a deep blue-purple colour.

You can envision this colour in your mind’s eye at the space between your brows or even deep back into the brain where the pineal gland resides. The Sanskrit word Ajna means “command”, so by visualising this colour here, you further activate your “command centre” in order to live your life to its fullest potential by piercing obstacles in your path through your own willpower.

4) Eat Cleansing Foods

In order for the pineal gland to function at its optimum potential, a balanced and healthy diet is essential. Fluoride, which is frequently found in water supplies and toothpaste, calcifies the pineal gland, which lowers its function. Therefore, a cleansing diet rich in super-greens like spirulina and chlorophyll will be very beneficial for keeping the pineal gland active through the detoxification process and nutrients they provide.

5) Experiment with a Sensory Deprivation Tank

Because the pineal gland is photosensitive, exposing yourself to full sunlight as well as immersing yourself in total darkness at night will help to maintain a healthy pineal gland. If total darkness is not regularly possible, try a sensory deprivation tank. Also called “float tanks”, these containers allow you to be immersed in a closed tub of water where you feel like you can float, completely cut off from all of your senses.

“The sixth doorway is the Doorway of Vision. This relates to seeing with the eyes of love and corresponds to the energy centre located in the third eye area of our forehead. When this doorway is open, we’re more able to see life through love instead of differences.”

~ Marci Shimoff

The more that you practice these techniques, the more you will begin to ‘see’ a change in your life. Gradually, you will begin to notice a shift in your thinking, acting, and way of being. There are some telltale signs that your pineal gland is healthy as you activate your third eye centre.

Signs You are Amplifying Your Third Eye

• You find deeper meaning in the events that occur in your life

• You understand that physical reality is a manifestation of duality, and your soul seeks to be liberated from this duality

• You never feel alone, but instead feel connected to all things, animate and inanimate

• You feel the vibration and rhythm of everything around you

• Your senses are heightened (touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight)

• You begin to see and feel your own energy body and others as well

• You identify less with your ego sense

• Negative emotions such as anger, greed, envy, and lust begin to disappear

Remember to enjoy the process and be patient with yourself as you try to incorporate these techniques to amplify the power of your pineal gland. This tiny little gland does a lot more than we give it credit for, so when we start to nurture this aspect of our mind, body and soul connection through regular healthy practices, big changes can happen.

Let’s start amplifying the power of your pineal gland right now with this meditation. Tap into an infinite sea of wisdom as you receive the sound of the theta waves. This meditation has a tremendous activation effect on the pineal gland which often dries up from exposure to a range of chemicals found in our environment and due to psycho-emotional traumas. It’s a great way to calm your nervous system.

Shadow Work

If you’re truly honest about growing, changing, and living life to the fullest, you will, at some point, come across many parts of yourself that you’ll find difficult – if not completely disturbing – to accept. These ugly and frightening parts of ourselves are elements of the Shadow Self: the darker side of our nature. In the domain of psychology, renowned psychologist Carl Jung devoted a lot of thought to this problem of the “Shadow Self,” being deeply invested in the research of ancient esoteric knowledge and spiritual scriptures to not only treat the mind of man but his Soul as well.

In response to his serious preoccupation, Jung created the Archetypes model, a concept wherein he believed our unconscious minds are fragmented or structured into different “selves.” These selves attempt to organise how we experience different emotions, situations, and challenges in life. Two of Jung’s major Archetypes are the Persona and the Shadow Self.

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“Beneath the social mask we wear every day, we have a hidden shadow side: an impulsive, wounded, sad, or isolated part that we generally try to ignore. The Shadow can be a source of emotional richness and vitality, and acknowledging it can be a pathway to healing and an authentic life.” – C . ZWEIG & S . WOLF

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WHAT IS THE PERSONA?

So what exactly is the “Persona” and “Shadow Self”? Well the Persona, according to Jung, defines who we would like to be and how we wish to be seen by the world. The word “persona” is derived from a Latin word that literally means “mask,” however in this instance, the word can be applied metaphorically, representing all of the different social masks that we wear among different groups of people and situations.

WHAT IS THE SHADOW SELF?

On the other hand, the Shadow Self is an archetype that forms part of the unconscious mind and is composed of repressed ideas, instincts, impulses, weaknesses, desires, perversions, and embarrassing fears. This archetype is often described as the darker side of the psyche, representing wildness, chaos, and the unknown. Jung believed that this latent energy is present in all of us, in many instances forming a strong source of creative energy.

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“It is a frightening thought that man also has a shadow side to him, consisting not just of little weaknesses and foibles, but of a positively demonic dynamism. The individual seldom knows anything of this; to him, as an individual, it is incredible that he should ever in any circumstances go beyond himself. But let these harmless creatures form a mass, and there emerges a raging monster.” – CARL JUNG

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We are all born pure, like blank canvases. But at some point during our childhood development, we learn knowledge that teaches us to separate things into good and evil. The moment we eat from this tree of knowledge, our shadows are born and we begin to divide ourselves into multiple parts. Furthermore, in our cultural socialisation process, we begin to sort out those traits within us that are acceptable to society (the Persona), and those that are unacceptable (which are later hidden away – the Shadow). This is where the Persona and Shadow Self go hand-in-hand: the Persona is the lovable face we present to the world while the Shadow is the face we hide from the world. The creation of the inauthentic but socially-acceptable Persona birthed the creation of the authentic but damnable Shadow. Both are inseparable.

Thus, the dark shadow traits that we all possess accumulate in the corners of our unconscious minds, never becoming adequately integrated into our conscious minds because we never see our split state in the first place (due to our psychological defence mechanisms). And so we continue on accumulating these dark desires, motivations, and fears.

This lack of awareness of the Shadow Self – and the disconnection from our true Whole self – can be dangerous. Through observing many of my inner work students, for example, I’ve come across certain individuals who have allowed their Shadow Selves to accumulate for so long that they’ve erupted and overpowered the person through depression or an unconscious accident that ended up manifesting their inner demons. The denial of the Shadow can lead to physical, emotional, psychological, and interpersonal consequences that last for a very long time.

REPRESSION OF THE SHADOW SELF

It’s understandable that the process of becoming civilised requires us to repress aspects of ourselves that do not fit in with the structured ideal of our society. However, it comes at a great cost to us. We are born whole and complete, but we slowly learn to live fractioned lives, accepting some parts of our nature but rejecting and ignoring other parts.

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”What we call civilised consciousness has steadily separated itself from the basic instincts. But these instincts have not disappeared. They have merely lost their contact with our consciousness and are thus forced to assert themselves in an indirect fashion. This may be by means of physical symptoms in the case of a neurosis, or by means of incidents of various kinds, or by unaccountable moods, unexpected forgetfulness, or mistakes in speech… modern man protects himself against seeing his own split state by a system of compartments. Certain areas of outer life and of his own behaviour are kept, as it were, in separate drawers and are never confronted with one another.” – CARL JUNG

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A holiday to a different part of the world will show you how arbitrary some of these “good/bad” divisions are (that create the Shadow Self). In the West, for example, eye contact is perceived as confident and engaging, whereas in Japan it’s perceived as arrogant and rude. In the Middle East burping after a meal is a sign of pleasure, yet anywhere else in the world it’s seen as vulgar and uncouth. And in America, TV shows depicting violent murders are considered more acceptable than showing nudity or sexual acts, whereas in Europe it’s the complete opposite. These are just a few examples. Basically, the repression of our negative traits or emotions in society is one of the biggest barriers in any person’s journey towards self-love and living authentically. How can you completely and wholeheartedly accept who you are if there are sides of yourself that you’re too afraid to explore?

SPIRITUALITY AND THE SHADOW

The idea of the “Shadow Self” doesn’t only apply to psychology. Many ancient Shamanic teachings, including the ones I was taught, involved the preparation towards an illness or a spiritual death (by ascending into your own darkness or “Shadow Self”), and being reborn in an attempt to provide you with the experience and insight to heal yourself and bring that healing wisdom to the people of your tribe.

So, apart from society’s ideas of acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour, what else causes such great repression of the Shadow Self? In truth, a lot of it actually comes from the endless cornucopia of “feel good” motivational teachings out there. If you notice, a lot of modern spiritual and religious work revolves around moving towards the “light,” accepting the “light,” and seeking for the “light.” Yet by doing so, we ignore the entirety of what it is to be human! In fact, many of the spiritual and new age teachings out there provide an escape for those who do not want to be responsible for the entirety of themselves and their lives.

Understandably the “light” energies are usually represented with noble values such as love, peace, joy, harmony, and compassion. Many spiritual and religious movements completely ignore or condemn the darker elements such as anger, vengeance, control, fear, shame, competitiveness, jealousy, and lust. Because these darker characteristics are associated with negativity or “evil,” they’re avoided out of fear and buried even deeper within us. But this is a tragic mistake with dire consequences.

The more our darkness is avoided, the more it grows within us, waiting like a volcano to gush out at any unexpected moment.

THE IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATION VS . SPIRITUAL BYPASSING

Interestingly, many seekers of spiritual growth think that somehow all of the negative qualities within themselves will eventually be transcended as they “awaken to their Higher Selves,” “work through their karma,” or “become more enlightened.” Yet from my own experience, this is a form of spiritual bypassing: using spirituality to avoid everything uncomfortable within us instead of facing it with honesty and courage.

Furthermore, actually turning toward your Shadow Self helps you to embrace these disconnected parts of yourself, creating more psychological and spiritual balance (wholeness). Denying your darkness only creates chaos and disharmony.

The keyword here is “integration,” which comes from the Latin word integratus, meaning ‘to make whole’. To integrate an inner quality is to take ownership and responsibility for it, rather than rejecting or denying it. The benefits are many: sanity, healing, greater compassion, calmness, understanding, and wholeness are all to be found in integration.

On the other hand, the opposite of integration is to “disintegrate” – or to become fragmented and divided into pieces. A person that “breaks down” or “falls apart,” for instance, is someone who has been unable to handle stress and who has ignored too many of their personality traits, especially Shadow Self traits to function normally. In reality, a fragmented person can never handle adversity because they have no whole centre, and they’re always handling life from the corners of their personality parts. This is why integration is so essential: it helps us to become whole again.

THE RIGHT AND LEFT-HANDED PATHS

In esoteric branches of Hinduism such as Tantra or Western Esoteric occult teachings, they have what is called Right and Left-handed paths towards experiencing Oneness, Enlightenment, or the Higher Self. Throughout history, the left has always been associated with dark, radical or sinister elements. Even the etymology of the word “sinister” means “from the left side.” Also, in Muslim, Chinese, Judeo-Christian, and even Hindu religions, the left hand is associated with being the unclean side.

These days, the “right-handed path” is what most of us understand to be the pursuit for positive things such as overcoming personal flaws and limitations, purifying our sins, and anything else that helps us connect to our “higher selves.” The left-handed path, however, is associated with parts within us that are typically fought against, rejected, denied, feared, and thus it becomes our biggest inner hindrance, but at the same time, the key to our liberation.

The right-handed path seeks to improve the personal self, overcome its flaws, but the left-handed seeks investigation, seeks to face the shadows in its pursuit of self-care. Just as is represented in the ancient symbol of the Yin and Yang, when you balance both opposites, the dichotomy of right and left will disappear.

Personally, I like to think that first there was darkness. Unlike light, darkness is infinite. Under every rock, you will find darkness, but light and darkness need each other to come into existence. Unless you learn to first embrace that darkness within yourself, you can never pursue the light of self-love in a balanced way.

Many right-handed new age teachings talk about leaning towards the “higher chakras” and avoiding the lower ones. However, in the long term, this won’t be very helpful. Unless the foundation of your home is solid and stable, no matter how beautifully you decorate and work on the house itself, sooner or later your house will collapse and crumble down. The truth is that we have both hands, not just one, and we must learn to use them in a balanced way if we seek to live a balanced life.

13 SHADOW TYPES

All of us carry demons inside. Sometimes we catch fleeting glimpses of them, sometimes we witness them in full frontal chaos, but for the most part, we ignore and bury their existence either out of fear, guilt or pure shame. Discovering our demons is a vital part of inner work. Our inner demons come in many different shapes and varieties. While some are more ferocious than others, others don’t really seem to be all that monstrous at all – until we reap the devilish consequences later on in our lives.

Below I have ‘catalogued’ 13 different Shadows you might meet on your path. Some overlap with each other and many are interconnected, meaning that it’s not uncommon to possess more than a number of different Shadows:

1 . THE EGOTISTICAL SHADOW

Root cause: primal fear of “not being good enough”; not existing, being nobody – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: arrogance, egocentricity, pompousness, inconsiderateness, self-indulgence, narcissism, excessive pride.

2. THE NEUROTIC SHADOW

Root cause: fear of life, others, and self; desire to regain control – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: paranoia, obsessiveness, suspiciousness, finicky, demanding, masochistic, compulsive behaviour.

3. THE UNTRUSTWORTHY SHADOW

Root cause: fear of life in general – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: secretive, impulsive, frivolous, irresponsible, deceitful, unreliable.

4. THE EMOTIONALLY UNSTABLE SHADOW

Root cause: basic feeling of being “unlovable” and powerless; reaction to unresolved emotional pain – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: moody, melodramatic, manipulative, weepy, overemotional, impulsive, changeable.

5 . THE CONTROLLING SHADOW

Root cause: basic mistrust of life, feelings of abandonment and “not being good enough” – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: suspicious, jealous, possessive, bossy, obsessive.

6 . THE CYNICAL SHADOW

Root cause: protection against feeling too vulnerable – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: negative, overcritical, patronising, resentful, cantankerous.

7. THE WRATHFUL SHADOW

Root cause: fear of others, mistrust of life, closed heart – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: ruthless, vengeful, bitchy, quick-tempered, quarrelsome.

8 . THE RIGID SHADOW

Root cause: fear and rejection of the unknown, chaos, and ego death – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: uptight, intolerant, racist, sexist, ableist, homophobic, obstinate, uncompromising, inflexible, narrow-minded.

9. THE GLIB SHADOW

Root cause: distrust of life, others, and self – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: superficial, cunning, inconsistent, sly, crafty.

10. THE NONCHALANT SHADOW

Root cause: buried grief, fear, and shame (numbness is a defence) – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: emotionally detached, distant, indifferent, uncaring, unexcited.

11. THE PERVERTED SHADOW

Root cause: repressed sexual energy, possible unresolved childhood wounds – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: sadistic, lustful, depraved, corrupt.

12. THE COWARDLY SHADOW

Root cause: fear, disbelief in self – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: weak-willed, timid, fearful.

13. THE NAIVE SHADOW

Root cause: refusal to grow up, lack of individuated ego – This shadow brings out the following characteristics: puerile, petty, immature, illogical, simpleminded, vacuous.

How many of these inner Shadows can you relate to? Keep in mind that this list only explores the dark side of the shadow, not the light side (where the positive repressed qualities of our nature are buried).

Creating a Crystal Grid

The ancient Lemurians encoded cosmic wisdom in crystals and used them as powerful activators to enhance psychic ability, telepathy and healing gifts, to manifest and even to create portals to other worlds. Grids are intentional arrangements of stones designed to raise energy for a specific purpose. Think of them as a way to amplify and supercharge the power of the crystals within them.

There are many ways to create a crystal grid, being guided by your intuition to create a mandala of great beauty, radiating out in the shapes of sacred geometry – think of the flowers of a petal. But, for a basic grid, take 4 of each stone you want to work with, 8 small quartz shards, 1 central ‘power stone’ and 16 tiny tumbled chips. I like to work in multiples of four so that the stones point in multiples of the 4 cardinal directions.

Gridding in any sacred geometric shape is powerful. Use your intuition to place stones according to size, shape, colour or texture and remember to have fun! Whisper mantra or invocation as you place your stones, burn essential oils and even add flowers and leaves to your grid for amplification and beauty.

Remember that you’re magnifying the energetic properties of the crystals and getting them to work together in a synergistic way. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide to placing your first crystal grid:

Step 1: Set your intention

The first thing to do is determine the intention behind making a grid. Possible purposes could include manifesting abundance, attracting love, amplifying your intuitive powers, activating lucid dreaming or balancing a specific chakra. As an example, I’m going to create a grid with the following intention in mind: “Activating my throat chakra, so that my heart can experience it’s fullest expression and my higher chakras can transmit their knowledge freely to my heart. Calling on the courage to speak my truth at a time when we’re all being asked to be more courageous in the world and not shrink.”

The throat chakra (Vishuddha), and it’s vital role as a conduit between the heart and higher chakras, is something I’ve been thinking of a lot lately. The signs of an unbalanced throat chakra include fear of speaking, social anxiety, shyness, and the inability to express your thoughts.

Step 2: Pick a grid shape

Grids can be tiny or massive, but a nice basic grid can begin as a circle, with a large central ‘power’ stone, 4 medium-sized rough or tumbled stones and 8 small clear quartz shards radiating out from the centre. You can then create a ring around the entire grid of 16 tiny stones or flower petals – just have fun with it! Different geometric shapes work with different energies - triangles tap into simplicity and structure, squares help with boundaries, while spirals are about reaching out and expanding. The circle represents belonging, oneness, and protection. I like to place grids in my bedroom, so that their effects will work overnight while I’m dreaming, near plants and by a window to receive solar and lunar energies.

Step 3: Choose your stones

You’ll want to choose crystals that have the properties that coincide with your intention. I’m choosing a grid to help me tap into my voice and overcome the fear of speaking up, so I will choose stones that help me reach that place. These include stones like blue lace agate (which I will place at the centre), lapis lazuli and chrysocolla to help with communication, heart chakra stones like amazonite and malachite for universal love, self-compassion and self-acceptance, clear quartz shards to call in my spirit guides and the council of light, and some rainbow moonstone chips around the edge to bring balance, harmony and hope while enhancing creativity, compassion and inner confidence.

If you can’t find everything you need, use what you have, even including elements of nature like flower petals, leaves and seashells. You can also place other trinkets in the grid, whose energy coincides with your intention. These can stand in for the stones and add even deeper meaning to your grid because of their personal connection to you.

Step 4: Use your voice to activate your grid

Once you have your grid in place, activate it with your intention. This means speaking the intention aloud so that the universe knows you’re serious. For example “Star guides, star ancestors, Council of Light, with this crystal grid I activate my throat chakra and inspire courage in me. Through these stones, I ask that you help me lift my voice and shine my light, even when I have the urge to shrink.”

Each time you pass your grid, you can hold your hand to your heart, take a deep breath and remind yourself of its purpose. Crystals are from the earth. They’re healing. They’re supportive. They’re there for you. We’re walking on them all the time. They’re with us in our own brains and they’re as old as stardust itself. And so are you! Enjoy x

Photos: Maha Rose & Unearthed Crystals

Are you a Starseed?

Do you feel like Earth is not your true home? Are you fascinated with extraterrestrials and space? Have you always felt different from those around you? Then you are very likely a Starseed. Being a Starseed on Earth today is pretty exciting. We are in times of ascension, a very crucial point in Earth’s history, where we are going from the 3rd dimension to the 4th and 5th dimensions of existence together. Starseeds play an important role in helping humanity through this exciting but chaotic transition.

“The atoms of our bodies are traceable to stars that manufactured them in their cores and exploded these enriched ingredients across our galaxy, billions of years ago. For this reason, we are biologically connected to every other living thing in the world. We are chemically connected to all molecules on Earth. And we are atomically connected to all atoms in the universe. We are not figuratively, but literally stardust.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson

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What is a Starseed?

Starseeds are advanced souls living in human form on Earth today whose spirits have, at some point in history, originated from other planets, dimensions or galaxies. A call for help was sent out into the Universe to help Earth conquer the negative forces that long have been in control here, and help humanity transition into the golden age/fifth dimension. If you are a Starseed, it means you said yes to the call and came here as a galactic volunteer. However, most Starseeds are not aware of their unique gifts and have forgotten their cosmic origins and mission on Earth. Just like any soul who incarnates on a third-dimensional planet like Earth, they had to go through a veil of forgetfulness, ultimately forgetting they are spiritual beings living a temporary human experience.

Most Starseeds are old souls and have lived several lifetimes on Earth to prepare for the time of Ascension that we are in now. You may have heard of me speak of ‘end times incarnators’ – these are souls that choose particularly cataclysmic timelines in order to be of service to humanity in times of need. However, Starseeds will not know their soul’s mission until they have had their awakening. This awakening can be instant or gradual, but it always includes a ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ where they temporarily go through a dark or chaotic period if their life, before they rise from the ashes and awaken. Most Starseeds on Earth are from the Pleiades, Sirius, Orion, Arcturus or Andromeda.

50 signs that you may be a Starseed

1. You are highly sensitive. You easily feel overwhelmed and drained when you are in a place with many people and with intense stimuli – like shopping malls, clubs, and networking events. You might also be sensitive to stimulants like coffee, alcohol and even dark chocolate. You are sensitive to scary and violent movies and video games and make a point to avoid them.

2. You have always felt like you don’t belong. You find it difficult to fit into groups of people and you often felt lonely in school and at work. You probably have a few close friends you vibe with and can be yourself with, but you are not one of those people with hundreds of friendships. Many people are drawn to your light, but you are very picky with who you spend your time with.

3. You find society hostile. You feel sad about how we are damaging the planet, poverty, the debt-based economy, greedy leaders, fear-based media, etc.

4. You are intelligent. Starseeds are usually smarter than the average, however, this doesn’t always translate into good grades in school. In fact, many starseeds did not enjoy school and are not fans of Earth’s school system.

5. You are going through or have gone through a spiritual awakening.

6. You are into holistic health. You don’t trust Big Pharma and only resort to Western medicine when you have to. You prefer to use herbs, sound healing, reiki, acupuncture and other natural options, that don’t have the nasty side effects and go deeper than just hiding the symptoms.

7. You are peace-loving and don’t believe wars are the way to solve problems. You don’t understand why people would sign up to the army.

8. You are highly intuitive and you usually make decisions based on your intuition rather than logic or common sense.

9. You are good at reading between the lines. You can easily spot when people are lying and see behind the mask people hide behind. Genuineness is therefore something you value highly.

10. You have a fascination with flying. Perhaps you enjoy flying in your dreams or are into paragliding or skydiving.

11. You are into conspiracy theories. You probably love the movie The Matrix, and if you were in the movie you would pick the red pill any day. Ignorance is NOT bliss according to you.

12. You are a wise, old soul. You’ve always felt more mature than your age group, and might have older friends because of this. This made you stand out as a kid and you might even have been bullied in school because of it.

13. You love sci-fi and/or space. You might be a big Star Wars or Star Trek fan, or simply always been fascinated with the moon and the stars.

14. You have had a near-death experience caused by an accident or out-of-body experiences like astral projection and sleep paralysis.

15. You feel like you have a big mission in this lifetime. However, you might have no clue what it is. You just feel an urge and responsibility to help the planet and humanity in some way.

16. You have psychic or paranormal abilities. You might have had dreams that came true, a third eye awakening, experienced astral projection, seen ghosts, had encounters with angels or extraterrestrials when meditating etc.

17. You love nature. You feel very drawn to nature and feel it’s important to be in nature every day. You love camping or going on forest walks.

18. You feel drawn to a vegetarian diet. You think it’s important to eat foods that are natural, preferably organic and alive. You can’t help feeling guilty when eating meat and are strongly against factory farming.

19. You have unexplainable memories, where something makes no sense or doesn’t add up.

20. You are spiritual. You believe in God and that we are all One, but you don’t adhere to any specific religion. You love talking about the supernatural and paranormal and you keep people close who you can have these types of conversations with.

21. You love animals, and animals love you. Sometimes you even prefer the company of a pet than humans! It’s an unconditional, non-judgemental kind of love you rarely get from humans. Animal cruelty is one of the biggest frustrations you have with the world.

22. Sometimes you feel homesick on earth. You feel like it’s not your true home and that you belong in the stars.

23. You are constantly searching for your life purpose and you have tried tools like astrology, numerology and tarot cards to get closer to finding it.

24. You have had dreams about aliens and spaceships. You have had paranormal dreams and sometimes they have felt very real.

25. You believe in extraterrestrials and that most are positive.

26. You read about Starseeds. The fact that you are reading this is a big indication that you could be a Starseed. You wouldn’t be attracted to this article otherwise.

27. You have seen UFOs. You’ve seen spaceships in the night sky and maybe you have even had visits physically, during psychedelics or in a dream state.

28. You are an empath and can easily pick up on others’ emotions. Even if someone says they are fine, you can pick up on what they really are feeling.

29. You have memories or a feeling you have lived on another planet.

30. Sometimes you feel disappointed by your body, it’s so dense, heavy and fragile! You wish you could do telekinesis, levitate, fly, etc and you feel like you used to be able to do that. The reason why many Starseed feel this is because their consciousness actually comes from distant star systems, where existence operates on much higher dimensions.

31. You love reading. You are especially fond of spiritual books like The Power of Now and Conversations with God, and if you are more into fiction books, then you might be a big fan of the Harry Potter or Lord of The Rings sequels.

32. You are very good at problem-solving, better than the average person.

33. You have low blood pressure and low body temperature. You easily get cold. Or the other way, you easily get hot and don’t need to dress up as warmly as others in winter.

34. Sometimes you feel that your biological parents are not your real parents, or that you have another family in the stars.

35. You had imaginary friends as a child.

36. You are sensitive to electronics. Your supercharged energy has led to electronic appliances break in your presence, lights flickering, electric shocks often, etc.

37. You have a feeling you have lived many lives and you believe in reincarnation.

38. You often experience feelings of deja vu.

39. You are a dreamer. You daydream a lot. You have big dreams for your future. You might also be into lucid dreaming.

40. You believe in karma – what goes around comes around. You make sure to not create more karma and follow the golden rule of treating others as you want to be treated.

41. Touch is one of your primary love languages – you like being touched and hugged.

42. You are a lone wolf and have no problems being alone for long stretches of time. Most Starseeds I know are introverts, including myself.

43. You are highly creative and full of ideas. You always have a new passion project you are working on. It doesn’t have to be an art you pursue, but could be an instrument or coming up with business ideas.

44. You enjoy being nude and barefoot and prefer non-restrictive clothes.

45. You feel drawn to crystals and own a few (or many). You love going into crystal shops and touching the different crystals and feeling their energy.

46. You are into healing. You might love to listen to Tibetan bowl sound healing, taken a course in Reiki, taken Ayahuasca to heal traumas etc.

47. You love to travel more than the average person and value freedom. You might feel tempted to go off-grid or become a nomad.

48. You have a special fascination for ancient civilisations like Ancient Egypt, Atlantis and the Incas.

49. You want to meet extraterrestrials and might be very nerdy about the topic.

50. You have a desire to find people of your kind. You might join (or start) book clubs, Facebook groups, retreats in high energy places etc.

What is a Starseed’s purpose?

The main purpose of Starseeds is to serve humanity at this time of Ascension, with their unique gifts and wisdom. A lot of the work is happening when your body is sleeping but even when you are just going about your day you are anchoring divine light into Mother Earth and affecting everyone around you. You are doing Earth a huge favour, just by being here. Starseeds have incarnated on Earth many times to learn how humanity and Earth works and how it is to be human. We all come in with a soul contract, signed before birth, on what we want to accomplish this lifetime on Earth. This mission will look very different from Starseed to Starseed, but it always involves spreading your light to humanity in your own unique way. Most often, your inner child knows the answer to the question – what lights you up?

What is a Starseed soul family?

Although it may feel lonely at times, know that you are never alone as a Starseed. Starseeds are incarnated with other Starseeds that they reunite with throughout their life, who help and support them. When you are incarnated here, your soul family are forgotten due to the veil of forgetfulness, but your soul will know when you encounter one today. Your Starseed soul family are easy to spot. You will feel like you have known them for many lifetimes. You can have deep, spiritual conversations from the heart with your soul family and they will not judge you. You know you can trust them completely and that they are here to help you on your mission. I always know a fellow Starseed when I see one – not only because I can ‘sense’ it in their energy and aura, but by their eyes. They say they are the windows to the soul, and so, when I look into another Starseed’s eyes… I just know. I hope this article resonates with you… and if you’ve ready this far, welcome home! It’s so nice to see you again x

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If you would like to take a deep dive into your soul’s memory, Starseed origins and your mission on earth, click here to read more about my completely personalised 8 Week program, Initiation: Starseed Ascension School.