A New Year, A New Start

Finally, 2020 has been put to rest and what a year it has been - filled with challenges and moments of release as well as inward explorations into a whole new potential. As the new Gregorian year dawns, many of us are approaching it with a degree of hesitancy as the chaos that we became so intimately aware of during this last year, seems to be with us for a while yet.

However, there is much hope on the horizon - after 2021 equates to the number 5 which represents personal freedom (and the responsibility that comes with freedom) as well as change. Unexpected things may tend happen where the change is more acceptable and tolerated (especially compared to what we have more recently experienced). These changes will open up a greater sense of freedom that could be brought about through trying, learning about or adopting different approaches, new ways of doing things, as well as adopting new interests and learnings. We have already seen some of these things happen during 2020 with more people working from home, more on-line video conferencing platforms were established to continue teachings, which in itself enable more people to gain access to this information.

Congratulations to the Winners

There ended up being not one but two winners in my book competition - Veronica Gaunt and Tereza Karolin.

Congratulations to you both.

  

Competition Time - Win a Book

I am running a competition to win a signed early pre-release copy of Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life on my author Facebook page.

All you need to do are three simple things:

1. Like and follow this page: Frances Billinghurst - Author 

2. Tag two other friends. 

3. In around 25 words, share why you would like to win a copy of this book. 

You will have until 7pm Saturday, 12 December 2020 to enter. 

The winner will be drawn at the LunaNoire Creations stall on Sunday, 13 December 2020 at the Queen of Wands Psychic Fair at Klemzig! and announced later that day on my author Facebook page. 

If you are not able to collect the book in person, your prize will be posted to you - and this includes if the winner is international.

Conscious Women Retreat and the Dark Goddess

We are certainly living in rather interesting and somewhat challenging times.  After postponing the Conscious Connection with Self Women's Gathering, initially scheduled to be held in August, in early November I found myself heading to Queensland to, not only take part in this event, but also to host my Encountering the Dark Goddess workshop in Surfers Paradise.

The venue that I utilised was the Chameleon New Age Salon and if you have yet to visit this place, please do as it is absolutely wonderful - not only the staff and the array of offerings (from yes, hair styling through to incense, books and jewellery) including services and even yoga.  The space upstairs is perfect to lounge about in with a coffee or tea from their cafe.

Book Review: Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life

The following is the full no holds barred review of Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life by Ariadne Rainbird, a practicing Wiccan of over 35 years and who was my High Priestess in the early/mid 1990s.

Contemporary Witchcraft is an informative, comprehensive and well written guide to the practice of Pagan Witchcraft in the Southern Hemisphere, but also contains a lot of valuable information which readers in the Northern Hemisphere could equally benefit from.  The author uses the term “contemporary witchcraft” to describe the more traditional and initiatory practice of the Craft which can be traced back to Gerald Gardner and Alex Sanders, generally known as Wicca.  Unfortunately the word Wicca has been usurped by modern neo-pagans, practising a Wicca-based non-initiatory neo-paganism, and has therefore become a generalised term often including an assortment of New Age practices, as opposed to focusing on the initiatory teachings of Gardner and Sanders, much to the annoyance of those of us who are of an initiatory lineage.   The author muses that what is often called Wicca today bears little resemblance to what she was originally trained in, and what she practices today, and so has chosen to describe what she does as contemporary witchcraft rather than Wicca. However, she makes it clear that what she is writing about is in fact Wicca in its original sense, the traditional and initiatory form which honours oathbound materials and hierarchical training.

Book Review: Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life

On reading the introduction, I was transported back 35 years to my own introduction to the craft, and it set the tone for the rest of the book. Contemporary Witchcraft Foundational Practices for a Magical Life is a great read as it is formed from, in my opinion, genuine teachings, and genuine research and workings. It is a refreshing change from so much information available that at best is questionable in origin.

David Garland (President, Pagan Awareness Network Inc, Australia)

Pre-Ordering Available through Waterstones

The British book retailers, Waterstones, operates some 283 shops throughout the United Kingdom as well as some neighbouring European countries.  As such, I am rather excited to find out that my two forthcoming titles, Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms and Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life, can be pre-ordered through them.

Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms guides you through what this challenging facet of the Divine Feminine, the Dark Goddess, is truly about, and encourages you to step through the veils into her hidden realm to explore 13 aspects of herself.

Whether you seek healing from past trauma, release from fears or acceptance of the “unacceptable” aspects of your self, Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms offers ways for you to transform and heal your life through the power of meditation, ritual and inner journeying with the Dark Goddess into her shadowy realms.  

Review for Contemporary Witchcraft

A couple of snippets from the latest review that I have received for Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life from Ariadne Rainbird, a practicing Wiccan of over 35 years and who I had the privilege of circling with back in the mid 1990s when I was extremely "green" around the edges:

A somewhat personal "bug bear" that has infiltrated modern paganism in more recent times, to the extent that even more seasoned practitioners using these alleged alternative words because "they sound great" as opposed to keeping true to the origins.  Will this point make my book "controversial"? 

Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life is not due for release until July 2021 however pre-orders will soon be available through the various outlets listed on my publisher's web site:

https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/moon-books/our-books/contemporary-witchcraft

Meanwhile, I have commenced writing what seems to be the second book on contemporary witchcraft that will lead on from these foundational practices.

Contemporary Witchcraft Books Have Arrived

It is always exciting when a delivery finally makes its way to your door.  The current COVID-19 situation seems to have thrown not only postal services around the world completely out of whack, but has also impacted upon other modes of transport and delivery.  I found time ticking merrily away recently as it has been a number of weeks since my publisher had notified me that I was able to order early pre-release copies of Contemporary Witchcraft; Foundational Practices for a Magical Life.  

With the return of weekend markets starting to appear in my calendar, the first this Sunday, 18 October 2020 being the Adelaide Psychic Fair that is held at 230 Flinders Street in Adelaide, I was starting to get concerned that my delivery of books would not arrive in time.  Ye of little faith.  The long awaited boxes (plural as there were two of them) of books were collected from the post office this evening.

My dissatisfaction with books aimed at neophytes (seekers) venturing into the world of magick and witchcraft where the emphasis seemed to be merely on spells as opposed to establishing deeper practices that would aid and support them upon their journey, resulted in me writing Contemporary Witchcraft.  

As already mentioned on the book's own page, Contemporary Witchcraft aims at providing the neophyte with the ability to render the “veils” between this world and the mystical one by applying themselves to the work in order to understand these mysteries.

Ironically a pre-introduction to contemporary witchcraft, or modern Wicca, emerged when I had sent the manuscript off to the publishers.  That pre-introduction evolved into A Little Book of Wicca which is specifically designed as an initial information guide for anyone who is curious about the practice of Wicca but who not not yet decided whether this is actually the right spiritual path for them.

If you live in Adelaide and are looking for something to do on Sunday, I will be at the Adelaide Psychic Fair at 230 Flinders Street.  Later in the month, on Saturday, 31 October 2020, the Adelaide Health & Wellbeing Market will finally be returning to the beautiful Church of Trinity on Goodwood Road, Clarence Park.  I will be minding my LunaNoire Creations stall under the marquee out the front.  Then on the Sunday, 1 November 2020, I will be at the Gawler Psychic Fair. If you are attending any of these events, please pop along and say hello.

Shadows, Shades and the Dark Goddess

Lately I have noticed an increase in social media chatter about “shadow workings”, and in particular relation to working with “shadow beings”.  While these days everyone seems to have their own interpretations with respect to things, I feel it is important to differentiate between “shadow working” (based on a Jungian psychological term for understanding the repressed/rejected aspects of the self), and working with actual ghost like “shadow beings” who are not of this mortal world.

Throughout history, “shadows” (as in “shadow beings” or “shades” as they were also called) referred to the spirit or ghost of someone who had died and was residing in the underworld.  When the Greek hero Odysseus descended into Hades (the Underworld) in Homer’s Odyssey, he encountered “shades”, tormented ghost like beings.  Likewise, Aeneas who traveled into the Underworld in Virgil’s Aeneid.  In his Divine Comedy, Dante Alighieri also referred to many of the dead as “shades”, including his own guide, Virgil. 

When U R not Okay

As I manage three blogs, I have spent a good part of today considering where to put this. While this is primarily my writer's blog, the topic aligns with my forthcoming book, Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms, with respect to our shadow.

Today is ”R U OK” day here in Australia, a day where people are encouraged to “meaningfully connect with the people around them” and to start a conversation with anyone who may find that they are struggling with life.

This campaign was born out of the tragic suicide of Barry Larkin in 1995 who, according to the “R U OK?” web page, left family and friends in deep grief and with endless questions. Fourteen years later, in 2009, his son, Gavin, chose to champion just one question to honour his father and to try and protect other families from the pain his endured. That question was “Are you OK?"

Contemporary Witchcraft - Pre-orders of the Early Release Now Open

I am delighted to be able to advise that pre-orders for my forthcoming book, Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life, will open on Saturday, 5 September 2020, with physical copies expected to be received by the end of the month.

Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life aims to set the series of foundational practices that will benefit any neophyte (beginner) interested in contemporary witchcraft (initiatory Wicca) or to magick in general. As I explain, how you design and build your practice is entirely up to you however with solid understanding of some foundational practices, you can be assured that you are effectively set for life, regardless of where your own path takes you.

 My initial instruction into contemporary witchcraft not only focused on the practical application of ritual and magick, but also the “behind the scenes” information, providing an insight into the psychological changes, as well as what is actually happening on the astral level. It is this understanding that enabled me to gain a stronger belief in the magical work that I was undertaking – a belief that also proved to be most beneficial during dark nights of the soul, the times of doubt when the logical mind saw me questioning what I had been dedicating much of my adult life to. 

Encountering the Dark Goddess on Book Depository

Pre-orders of Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms can now be made through Book Depository.

The Dark Goddess is often associated with the Underworld where she leads the uninitiated through a transformative journey of self-discovery, change and soul renewal. She is connected with the unwanted, the forgotten, the ignored or even ashamed parts of our psyche. However there is more to her than that. 

Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms guides you through what this challenging facet of the Divine Feminine, the Dark Goddess, is truly about, and encourages you to step through the veils into her hidden realm to explore 13 aspects of herself. 

2020: Life in Retrograde AWC Conference

Due to COVID-19 a lot of events scheduled for this year have had to be postponed, cancelled or move on line. The annual Australian Wiccan Conference (AWC), scheduled to be take place over the weekend of Friday, 11 to Sunday 13 September 2020, is one such event. Instead of cancelling the event altogether, this year's conference will be moving online and will consist of a selection of panels, workshops and debates that have taken place during the 35 years that the conference has been running.

I will be presenting a workshop on The Dark Gods on Sunday, 13 September 2020 at 12 noon (Australian Eastern Standard Time) that I originally presented at the 2011 conference that took place in Tasmania.

Books, Covid-19 and Devotional Works

I recently sat down with Rebecca Buchanan where she asked me about my devotional work with various deities, including the Dark Goddess, how my spiritual practice has been affected by Covid-19, as well as my writing projects, both past and upcoming projects.

Rebecca is a pagan poet and author of fairy tales, fantasy, horror, romance and science fiction.

My interview with Rebecca can be found here.

I first became acquainted with Rebecca through her involvement with Bibliotheca Alexandria, who have published a number of anthologies that I had contributed essays and poetry towards including:

Unto Herself: A Devotional Anthology for Independent Goddesses (includes my essay on Neith),

Contemporary Witchcraft will be setting the foundations

As I write in the introduction to Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life, much appears to have changed since the early 1990s when I took my first steps into the world of contemporary witchcraft (then generally referred to as Wicca). Back then the neophyte (beginner) was expected to learn how to render the “veils” between this world and the mystical one by applying themselves to the work in order to understand these mysteries. 

 My initial instruction not only focused on the practical application of ritual and magick, but also the “behind the scenes” information, providing an insight into the psychological changes, as well as what is actually happening on the astral level. It is this understanding that enabled me to gain a stronger belief in the magical work that I was undertaking – a belief that also proved to be most beneficial during dark nights of the soul, the times of doubt when the logical mind saw me questioning what I had been dedicating much of my adult life to. 

These days Wicca has almost become a generalised term for neo-paganism, which often includes an assortment of New Age practices, as opposed to focusing on the initiatory teachings that stem from the original vision that its founder, Gerald Gardner, and later, Alex Sanders, had. Despite what seems to be a copious amount of information available today, much tends to be the same material regurgitated without any real instruction as to why or even how certain techniques are done, let alone any form of acknowledgment as to where the information was originally obtained. There also seems to be an increasing belief of “anything goes” and “do what you feel”, resulting very much in a self-styled form of witchcraft with an emphasis on using one’s own intuition, as opposed to older foundational work.

Times may have changed, as have the needs and desires of people, and whilst spiritual practices also have changed, this does not necessarily mean that all of the original vision Gardner had is outdated and needs to be discarded. As the saying goes, we do not have to “throw the baby out with the bathwater”. When it comes to magick, there are still aspects and techniques that simply can only be learnt over time through the practice of the magical art. Such things cannot really be taught through the pages of a book or the internet. There are other aspects of magick that are best taught under physical instruction of a trained practitioner as opposed to a handful of inexperienced novices boasting about their alleged successes.

Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life will be published by Moon Books mid to late 2021.

My Interview with Witch: Radiant & Rooted Now Available

I am delighted to announce that my interview with Kim from Witch: Radiant and Rooted is now available.

You can listen to it on podbean through this link

https://witchradiantandrooted.podbean.com/e/interview-with-frances-billinghurst-episode-9/

Alternatively, you can watch it on following You Tube video where I chat with Kim about my forthcoming book, Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms, as well as why I consider working with the Dark Goddess important when it comes to shadow work, and also my second book with Moon Books due for release later in 2021:

Guest Appearance on Witch: Radiant + Rooted Podcast

Kim of Witch: Radiant + Rooted with her copy of
Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey
into the Shadow Realms

This morning I had the delightful pleasure of being interviewed by Kim, one of the co-hosts of the podcast Witch: Radiant + Rooted, a Southern Hemispheric seasonal podcast that celebrates the stars, the earth, and the in-between.

In the interview we talked about my forthcoming book, Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms, which will be officially published by Moon Books in March 2021.  Kim had just finished reading a pre-release copy that can be ordered direct through me.

We also talk about my second book to be released through Moon Books next year, that being Contemporary Witchcraft: Foundational Practices for a Magical Life.

For non-Australian readers, pre-orders of Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms can now be made through John Hunt Publishing as well as Amazon.com.

My interview is expected to be available on the Witch: Radiant + Rooted podcast round the Southern Imbolc, which will be taking place next weekend (1-2 August 2020).

Introduction to the Shadow and Shadow Work

In his On the Psychology of the Unconscious, psychologist Carl Jung stated:

“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.”

In my forthcoming book, Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realm, i described the Shadow Self as:

"The Shadow Self is also seen as an archetype that represents the neglected side of our nature. It is this aspect of ourselves that can drag us down into a pit of despair. This “darker” side of our personality relates to the “reptilian”, or our more primitive, instinctive brain functions that we share with all reptiles and mammals. These most powerful functions form part of our oldest coping brain functions and without which, we would not be alive. These functions include emotions and impulses such as anger (often coupled with fear), sex drive (need to procreate) and selfishness (survival). If any of these functions are taken to the extreme or enacted upon in a less than desirable manner (dictated by society’s norms), then we may find ourselves shunned, our actions disproved of, and we end up being categorised as “undesirable”."

Author Snapshot Interview: Frances Billinghurst

This week I had the great honour of appearing in Rachel Patterson's Author Snapshot Interview.  Rachel is a well respected author on kitchen witchcraft, High Priestess of the Kitchen Witch Coven, and is an elder of the online Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchcraft. 

Some of the questions Rachel asked me included:

:: what or who inspires me,

:: whether I had any daily spiritual practices and if so what they were,

:: what my favourite sacred or spiritual places are,

:: what were my favourite subjects to write about, and

:: what is the one article, book or talk that I am most proud of.

Rachel also kindly included a list of the books that I have published to date, both self published through TDM Publishing as well as the two that I have currently in various stages of publication with Moon Books.

If you are interested in what I told Rachel, you can read my Author Snapshot Interview here.

Death, Descent and the Dark Goddess

Artist Unknown

Working with the Dark Goddess often involves descending into the Underworld and undergoing a form a "death".  This "death" could relate to the releasing of unachievable expectations and beliefs of ourselves, including career or relationship goals, and even the removal of outdated idealisms and perceptions that we have often taken onboard from our social environment.

As such, it is important that these "deaths" are treated in the same way that a death of a loved one (or pet), the ending of a relationship, or some other milestone in our lives are dealt with.  By this I mean that regards of what the "death" is, we still find ourselves go through the five various stages of experiencing grief as identified by Swiss psychiatrist, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, even if we are not consciously aware of this.

Live Reading from Encountering the Dark Goddess

I will be doing a live reading from my latest book tomorrow afternoon (3.30 pm Adelaide time). "Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms" is due for release in March 2021 through Moon Books.

The Dark Goddess is often associated with the Underworld where she leads the uninitiated through a transformative journey of self-discovery, change and soul. She is connected with the unwanted, the forgotten, the ignored or even ashamed parts of our psyche. However there is more to her than that.

"Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms" guides you through what this challenging facet of the Divine Feminine, the Dark Goddess, is truly about, and encourages you to step through the veils into her hidden realm to explore 13 aspects of herself.

Early pre-release copies can be ordered direct from me (Australia and New Zealand only) through this link.

UK/USA and rest of the world copies can be ordered through John Hunt Publishing

ONE DAY DARK GODDESS RETREAT
I will be hosting an one day workshop at the Riverdell Spiritual Centre, near Gawler on 12 September 2020. Bookings are essential as there are limited places available.

I am also hoping to be at the CONSCIOUS CONNECTION OF SELF Women's Retreat to be held in Queensland, in November 2020.

Do not forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel

Book Review of Encountering the Dark Goddess

Book Review: Encountering the Dark Goddess - A Journey into the Shadow Realms

by Frances Billinghurst (Published by Moon Books)

Review by Daniel Bran Griffin, The Chattering Magpie. 

It is rare that I write a book review. By the time I get around to the actual writing, the book has often been in print quite some time. My thoughts are therefore, of little value to the publisher; even if my fellow bibliophiles would and do appreciate my opinion. On occasion I am asked to write a review by a publisher or by a magazine editor.

I often decline these invitations and the accompanying offer of a free book. I do this because for reasons that puzzle me, I am frequently asked to reviews works that are not of interest to me and would not under normal circumstances consider reading. I am of the opinion that under these circumstances, others could write a more appropriate and appreciative review. This does mean that I have refused the offer of a work that I could potentially have sold later for profit but honesty prevents me from accepting these offers. Encountering the Dark Goddess by Frances Billinghurst is therefore, something of an exception. This is a work on a subject that is of interest and is indeed a book I would read.

Winter Solstice: The Return of the Light

The timing of the winter solstice is marked when the sun reaches its furthest north position in the sky and starts to move back towards the south.  As it does, it marks one of the main turning points in the year, the others being the equinoxes as well as the summer solstice (that occurs in December).  

The timing for the winter solstice here in Adelaide this year was this morning, Sunday, 21 June at 7:13 am (ACST time).  From this moment onwards, days start becoming longer and night times shorter.  However with the worse of the winter weather yet to arrive, this thought is not often the first that comes to mind.

With the increase of light it was hoped that social distancing in relation to the COVID-19 may have been relaxed.  However, as new cases are still be detected, and despite South Australia still being remarkably lower than other States, it has been decided to continue hosting events via Zoom conference calls at least for the time being.

This means that the July Gathering Around the Cauldron event which is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 2 July 2020, at 7pm (ACST) will be in the format of a Zoom conference.  The theme for July's Gathering Around the Cauldron is The Witch's Familiar.

In European folklore and folk-belief from the Medieval and early modern periods, witches and cunning folk were believed to assisted by certain supernatural entities that were known as “familiars”. These spirits would appear in numerous guises, including as in a humanoid figure, but more commonly as an animal. When they served cunning folk, familiars were often thought to be somewhat benevolent, however when they were in the service of witches, familiars were considered to be rather malevolent.  On 2 July 2020 we will be exploring the historical sources as well as the modern perception of familiars.  More information as to how you can register for this discussion can be found here.

At this stage other events being hosted at Riverdell Spiritual Centre are still going ahead.  These include Imbolc celebration on Saturday, 1 August 2020 and A Day with Hekate on Saturday 15 August 2020.

Book Review: Encountering the Dark Goddess

The following review of Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms has been received from Shani Oates, author and the Maid of the Clan of Tubal Cain:


The author sensibly opens the text with demythologising the concept of ‘dark’ relative to this primal form. She then moves on to describe the various forms that peoples across the globe have prescribed for Her, including Kali, Nephthys, Lilith, Hekate and Baba Yoga. Her value is here acknowledged as the essential catalyst for sloughing off guilt and fear associated with ‘womanhood,’ breathing new light into Jungian concepts of the shadow; suggestions are given on how to reabsorb the shadow through recognising “little griefs” that cloud perspective. More importantly, she guides the reader away from floundering on the rocks clutching to the ‘victim’ mentality, a tragic state linked by the author to PTSD. Tackled through the Virtue of Medusa, the sufferer is coached towards release and revitalisation.

Book Review of Encountering the Dark Goddess

The underworld: a place of fear, wisdom, and transformation, where powerful and terrifying Goddesses wait with a smile.


"Encountering the Dark Goddess" is an intimate exploration of one woman’s descent into the underworld, and her encounters with the many different aspects of the Dark Goddess. Through personal anecdotes, mythological and psychological analysis, rituals and spellwork, and soul-deep devotion, Billinghurst invites the reader to join her on this journey through the shadows of the underworld, through a dark night of the soul, and into the transformative heart of the Goddess.


Publisher: Moon Books
ISBN: 9781789045
Release Date: 26 March 2021


Review by Rebecca Buchanan, Eternal Haunted Summer

Book Review: Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms

Frances Billinghurst, Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms (Moon Books, 2021).

Reviewed by Caroline Tully.

One of the first things that a reader of Frances Billinghurst’s new book, Encountering the Dark Goddess, will come to understand is that this is not a book designed to provide feel good ego gratification. If anything, it is the opposite. This is a workbook that will teach you how to form relationships with the Dark Goddess in her various guises, in order that you may traverse your personal Underworld and emerge back into the light.

Essentially the book teaches you how to endure the Dark Night of the Soul and survive. Only then may you presume to form an allegiance with the Dark Goddess and, even then, she may demand that you undergo more trials. As the author shows, the Dark Goddess will strip you to your authentic core – and that can be scary. Not only that, but it can be inconvenient.  It is far easier to go along through life avoiding serious introspection, self-questioning, surrender and loss of control. It is simpler to avoid the chthonian abyss, the underworld, and potential annihilation. But sometimes it is forced upon you.

Conscious Connection with Self Women's Retreat

I am delighted to be part of this wonderful retreat that will be held in November in Queensland.

You are invited to join us for the ultimate self care weekend consciously connecting with self. Our weekend retreat will give you time and space replenish your spirit, and connect with other women.

Our weekend together will include connecting in sisterhood, sacred workshops, communing with nature, and immersive experiences to remind you of the sacred, divine goddess you truly are and awakening your consciousnesses to self healing.

You will gain personal awareness through healing exercises, workshop facilitation and meditations.

More information can be found here: https://mysticalrealmsaustralia.com.au/spiritual-retreat 

Enchanted by Morgan le Fay

I have long held a fascination with Morgan le Fay, the half-sister to Britain's "once and future king" (Arthur), whose brief tryst with Lancelot of the Lake saw her turn her back on her inheritance, her calling and seemingly spend her life wandering without any true meaning or purpose.  Yet, despite all that, there is something alluring about her.

The Morgan le Fay we often hear about today, the evil sorceress who appears largely as the bane of King Arthur's existence, stems from the Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. Hailed as the greatest piece of English literature to have emerged from the Medieval era, Malory's version consisted of 21 books, commencing at the ill-fated meeting between Uther Pendragon, the King of Britain, and Gorlois, the Duke of Tintagel, where the king become infatuated with Gorlois's beautiful wife, Igraine, and ending with the death of King Arthur from a wound inflicted upon him by his own son.

Catching Up With The Cackle Club

The Cackle Club is the monthly gathering organised by the Launceston Pagan Network, based in Tasmania.  Like many groups, The Cackle Club gatherings are currently being held via Zoom while social distancing and gathering restrictions are in place.  Tomorrow evening, Thursday, 28 May 2020, I have the great privilege of being asked to be this month's guest speaker.

Details about the Zoom call can be found here.  Please note that you will need to register your interest in attending so that you can received the Zoom link.  As the Launceston Pagan Network is organised by volunteers, donations to help cover costs are always gratefully received and can be made via PayPal.

More information about The Cackle Club can be found here.

  

Pre-Orders of Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms

I am delighted to announce that from 1 June 2020 I will be taking pre-orders for my forthcoming book, Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms, due for actual release by Moon Books in March 2021.

Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms

The Dark Goddess is often associated with the Underworld where she leads the uninitiated through a transformative journey of self-discovery, change and soul renewal.  She is connected with the unwanted, the forgotten, the ignored or even ashamed parts of our psyche.  However there is more to her than that.

Encountering the Dark Goddess: A Journey into the Shadow Realms guides you through what this challenging facet of the Divine Feminine, the Dark Goddess, is truly about, and encourages you to step through the veils into her hidden realm to explore 13 aspects of herself.

When Author Copies Arrive

Friday evening just passed I made a trip to my local post office rather begrudgingly.  I had only been there the night before to post a LunaNoire Creations etsy order, yet when I had gotten home, there was a card in my letter box advising me of a parcel needing collecting.  Why hadn't they given me this parcel the night before?

When I opened the box, all was quickly forgotten - my author copies of ENCOUNTERING THE DARK GODDESS: A JOURNEY INTO THE SHADOW REALMS had arrived.  Rather unexpectantly.  I was not expecting to receive any copies until closer to the release date, 26 March 2021.

To actually be holding in my hands the manifested result of something that I had been working on for the last five or so years, well I could barely contain myself not to squeal with delight when I hastened a live streamed video for Facebook (as this is apparently what one does these days).

This video is a brief flick through of Encountering the Dark Goddess that from mid-late June 2020, should be appearing on the John Hunt Publishing webpage as well as appearing for pre-order through Amazon US, Amazon UK, Indiebound, Barnes & Noble, Waterstones and the like, with ebook pre-orders appearing a month or so before publication (26 March 2021).

The book has arrived in perfect timing with my Encountering the Dark Goddess month long sadhana due to commence in just under three weeks as one lucky participant will be gifted a copy of one of these author copies.