tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45623621218448869232024-02-07T20:05:22.951+00:00On Raven's Dark Wing....Personal Journal of a British Traditional Witch, covering my spiritual, magical and mundane life, including poetry and musings on a wide variety of topics!Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-14515602930163643272014-01-25T10:07:00.001+00:002014-01-25T10:07:35.623+00:00Imbolc Approaches..........As the title says, the Sabbat (or Festival) or Imbolc approaches, Feb 2nd is the traditional day to celebrate, traditionally it is a festival of returning light, the fires of Brighid are kept alight for the full day, the symbolism of the first Lamb's being born, an agricultural festival of the first births of the animals for the coming year, the Ewe's are 'in milk', hence the origin of its name.
Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-58268288253316935022014-01-06T18:05:00.000+00:002014-01-06T18:05:47.364+00:00A New Year?So, A New Year is upon us, 2014 CE, if you follow the accepted labeling of time as per the Roman Calendar, and yet, in these Isles those of our Ancestors who lived pre-Christianity measured the year from another point, rather than some arbitrary date a week after the Christian celebration of Christmas (which itself is nothing more than an attempt by the church to supersede the Roman festival of Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-69456507903898856662013-11-06T10:43:00.002+00:002013-11-06T10:43:50.210+00:00Revisiting a classic......
Following the Spiritual OD of the past week neither of us is ready to come back down to mundane reality, yesterday left us both feeling disjointed and wanting more, wanting to maintain the high level of connection, so last night we decided to relax and watch some TV, nothing seemed to be on, and Lee went up to look at the DVD's, and amongst the choices was the Robin of Sherwood boxset, have toMrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-71311929522449387992013-11-05T09:39:00.001+00:002013-11-05T09:43:11.197+00:00Samhain Rites - the Veils are still thin............As stated in my last post, last night was our Samhain Rite at home, circumstance kept us from performing the Rite any closer to Samhain itself, but as the first frost was yesterday morning (an old sign of the date of Samhain), the synchronicity and symbolism worked well for us both.
The living room was prepared, candles and incense lit, and then a feast was prepared and a dumb supper held, Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-57231626593878567152013-11-04T16:40:00.003+00:002013-11-04T16:40:54.816+00:00Old Samhain.................Hmm, synchronicity occurred today, we had our first Frost of the Autumn, something that some of those within BTW consider to be the actual date of Samhain rather than the more accepted 31st October, which as we have been away over Samhain and busy for the past 2 nights (Coven meeting last night and Damh the Bard concert the night before) coincides rather nicely for our planned Dumb Supper Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-45850091340940336582013-11-03T11:05:00.001+00:002013-11-03T11:05:09.907+00:00Another Year has passed......Once again I return, the mundane life challenges that have kept my attention away from where it is supposed to be have now been addressed, time is now right for a return to a focus on the more Spiritual and Craft aspects of my Crooked Path.
To sum up the past two to three years, I stood up at work for what I believed, spoke out (through an allegedly anonymous Staff forum) against Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-5748258713842229492012-10-21T13:13:00.001+01:002012-10-21T13:13:40.803+01:00A Pagan Baby Naming celebration - thats not overtly Pagan?I was asked yesterday if I could come up with a Pagan Naming Ceremony for a friend's grandchild, but one that wasn't overtly Pagan as the other grandparents are very religious (christian), so using an online available template I came up with the basic format below..........
The Naming Ceremony(Celebrant)We gather today to bless and name this child in the name of all that we hold individually Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-33068134067546066892012-10-07T11:39:00.002+01:002012-10-07T11:39:30.328+01:00Samhain Approaches............
We awoke a week or so ago to find a hard frost on the ground, cars and houses in the neighbourhood, there is currently also an abundance of berries on the trees as is right at this time of year, but the one thing that makes me think most of Autumn and Samhain is that certain smell that is present in the woods, a musky, mellow fragrance that pulls on the memories and tells you that time ofMrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-61761345594169960142012-09-09T13:50:00.001+01:002012-09-09T13:50:17.504+01:00Do the Gods really exist?Greetings, a question posed and prompted by a TV programme due to air this week, exploring whether science and religion are mutually exclusive or whether they can co-exist, can they both be right? I will share some musings of my own, but ultimately only you can decide for yourself!
Do they Gods exist? In a world of science, of learning, of the internet and the fact that most subjects can be Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-4117950660361872582012-09-02T12:52:00.001+01:002012-09-02T12:52:30.457+01:00RitualsTo most of us Pagans there is nothing more Sacred than completing a Rite, be it one to commune with the Old Ones, one to work some spellcrafting, one to mark a festival or important day within our lives, or just for the sheer joy of connecting with those not of our Realm.
Unlike those of the 'Book' faiths (so here called as their holiest wisdom is codified within their Holy Books for the priestsMrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-84114245673256327402012-09-02T10:05:00.003+01:002012-09-02T10:31:19.518+01:00Catch upGreetings, it has been a while since I last posted, mundane life has intruded and challenged both of us this past year. The Old Ones have set challenges before us, challenges that have forced change upon us, reminding us that the only constant in life is change, growth and change, the opposite of which is stagnation and death. Society wants us to conform, and as creatures of habit we tend to lookMrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-16223454755731867892011-11-02T14:59:00.001+00:002011-11-02T16:06:33.945+00:00Glastonbury - Samhain 2011 & a catch up of 2011
Once again I return to post here, the mundane world of work, stress, crisis and disaster having pulled my attention away from what is truly important, yet only through allowing myself to be who and what I am, by making time to follow my heart will I eventually find a path that fulfills and brings happiness, joy and spiritual prosperity to my soul.
The past 12 months have been an emotional Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-79951368337251773072010-12-07T12:24:00.000+00:002010-12-07T12:24:51.207+00:00See now the world in a new light,
As most of it is hid from sight,
Like some darkly cancerous blight,
The fog that descends in the night!
Wrapped in veils of frigid moist air,
The fog now holds you in its snare,
Of world around, you become unaware,
Barely half seeing all that is there!
Sounds now deadened by the mist,
Noise of footsteps cease to exist,
You are too powerless to resist,
As Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-87185072787713159162010-12-07T12:23:00.000+00:002010-12-07T12:23:38.021+00:00Crash - A poemA split second is all it takes,
As foot hits hard upon the brakes,
Tyres squeal as car begins to slide,
Yet you know, you will collide!
Time seems now to flow so slow,
As if each second takes a minute to go,
Each and every detail you do spy,
Is now etched deep into your minds eye!
Slow motion picture now unfolds,
Your agonized attention it now holds,
The face before you horror filled,
The womanMrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-46980771534552832382010-12-07T12:22:00.000+00:002010-12-07T12:22:40.360+00:00The Holly King - A PoemHidden deep in the forests darkest gloom,
Will you find a special, secret room,
Walls of trees, overhead branches loom,
Like some strange Hall or wooden tomb!
In the center stands great blaze,
Into the air the flames do raise,
Painting all with deep bronze glaze,
Lighting all in these dark days!
Laid on tables oh so wide,
Feast of fruits down each side,
Forest residents with hooded eyes,
At Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-7852219543675789622010-12-05T08:42:00.000+00:002010-12-05T08:42:35.791+00:00Tru;y a Witch, a poemTruly a Witchby ~RavenSummerisle
What does it mean to be a Witch?
Its not about chasing a golden snitch!
Lucky Black Cat and Pointy Hat?
There's no real need for all that tat!
Watching Charmed on the telly?
Tattooing triskelle on your belly?
Singing along to Practical Magic?
Oh, dont be so bloody tragic!
Watching Twilight and New Moon,
Cant wait for the next one 'coming soon'?
Angel and Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-73996722510280351862010-11-24T18:16:00.000+00:002010-11-24T18:16:49.389+00:00Damn the Bard!Damn the Bard!
Damn the Bard, Damn him I say!Storytelling and singing for all of the day!With song in his heart and wisdom on his lips,He engages my mind and emotions he strips!With tales of myth he teaches wisdom so fine,His lessons we learn, those stories do shine!With voice so fair, and talent so rare,He takes me to places as though I was there!With riddles so hard and knowledge so deep,He Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-16718425523532676172010-11-18T12:57:00.000+00:002010-11-18T12:57:27.557+00:00Sleeping Dragons and Other bits n bobs!Sleeping Dragons
Under the ground in hollow hill,Sleeps the Dragons, living still,Heartbeats so very very slow,So their presence few will know!
Mighty race once so strong and proud,Flew the winds and roared so loud!Now they lie oh so stiff,Oft mistaken for a cliff!
Around them now slopes have grown,Horns mistaken for standing stone,Nostril seen as a cave,But dont go in, unless your brave!
Past Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-82915653066344381902010-11-13T14:09:00.002+00:002010-11-13T17:51:04.240+00:00Shadowy Worlds Half SeenShadowy Worlds Half Seen
In Shadowy Worlds only Half Seen,Abide those who before have once Been,All they were and all they Mean,Are still aware in waking Dream!
With passion and lifeforce they once Shined,The Ancestors, legion in rank, deeply Lined,Make contact, share with your Mind,Wisdom once more for you to Find!
All their hopes and all their Thought,All they were can still be Sought,Their Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-10557777385324627962010-11-12T21:31:00.000+00:002010-11-12T21:31:39.248+00:00DreamLandDreamLand by Robert Carol
When midnight mists are creeping,
And all the land is sleeping,
Around me tread the mighty dead,
And slowly pass away.
Lo, warriors, saints, and sages,
From out the vanished ages,
With solemn pace and reverend face
Appear and pass away.
The blaze of noonday splendour,
The twilight soft and tender,
May charm the eye: yet they shall die,
Shall die and pass away.
But Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-16982517261459233162010-11-11T20:47:00.000+00:002010-11-11T20:47:46.850+00:00Sacred Rite, a delve into the first outdoor circle I cast many moons ago! Sacred Rite
Dead of darkest Night in silent Wood,Heeding the calling that stirs in my blood!Sacred space swept, circle cast clear,Soon we start, soon You will be here!
Heart and Intent aligned as One,Now this Rite truly has Begun!With Badger, Owl, Fox and Hare,This Sacred night we do now share!
Calling Dark Mother to claim mine by Right! As Daughter of Moon and Child of the Night!Horned OneMrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-43782407236257561162010-11-10T17:45:00.002+00:002010-11-10T17:45:57.404+00:00Have you seen the film Earthlings? Lost a balance, then cruelty be sure to happen!
Nature be red in tooth and claw,This we know, of this we're sure!Playing their part, Hunter and Prey,In darkest hour and on brightest day!
Herne, Cernunnos, Cern and Pan,Woodland Gods, half beast half man!Bringing meaning and something more,To those needed deaths, something pure!
Playing their part the dead doth go,Their blood taken so Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-2627210057254826862010-11-09T15:24:00.001+00:002010-11-09T15:33:18.344+00:00A Gentle Touch from the Old Ones.... The Gentle Touch
Walking along the Crooked Path,With Knife and Cup, Stang and Staff,Old Ones walking by my side,Taking me along, far and wide!
Time to Learn, time to rest,Trust the Old Gods, they know best!Finding Knowledge along the way,Hearing what the Old Ones say!
Heed Their Words, listen hard,Wisdom found in words of Bard,Simple things, nothing much,Yet feel the tingle in gentle touchMrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-71988834091850299692010-11-08T20:22:00.003+00:002010-11-08T23:32:43.386+00:00A return to the mundane........ feeling disconcerted!Greetings once more Seeker, today you find me feeling disconnected / disconcerted / discontented, disorientated and feeling as though more than my Path needs to change within my life! For the past 2 weeks I've been on holiday, time to relax, time for a trip away to Glastonbury and to reconnect with the Old Ones, and time to plan with fellow walkers of the Crooked Path, friends all, fantastic Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4562362121844886923.post-16126639851820625432010-11-07T13:11:00.003+00:002010-11-07T16:32:48.470+00:00New Beginnings?Greetings Seeker, and welcome once more to my rambling writing!
Possible name and formal logo of the new working group
New Beginnings
With the Years tentative new start,Comes the chance to practice our Arte,With staunch companions by our sides,Endless possibilities, wide open skies!
Heeding the Call from Old Ones voices,Working together, with intent and choices!By Badger, Fox, Owl and Mrs Dobbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03100130627184947910noreply@blogger.com6