Creativity is the singing of the soul. When we create, we draw from the deepest parts of who we are and express ourselves to the world. The act of creation, the drawing forth and connecting to our inner selves, is the joy involved in creativity. Having something nice in the end, to me, seems like a bonus! I believe this act of channeling the awen is not only inherently spiritual, it is also part of what it means to be human. But to allow our souls to really sing, we have to grow comfortable with what we create, we have to set aside our judgement, and and to grow our skills as bards.

Last week, I explored what the bardic arts are, the cultural challenges associated with the bardic arts, and some ways community groups circumvent said challenges. We looked at the creative spirit of children, and how that spirit…

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Taking up the Path of the Bard, Part I

The Druid's Garden

Bardic Artistic Expression through Clay, Sand, and Straw (cob)! (This is part of a tree piece I collaborated on at Strawbale Studio in Michigan)

A group of people sharing stories and songs by the fire. A fine pair of leather shoes. A beautiful woven garment. A tale full of twists and mystery. Finely wrought iron doors. An amazing wood carving on a stump. A marble sculpture. A wildly painted mural on a wall. A cob structure with whimsical trees and forms. A song that reaches deep within you when you hear it. A rousing speech. Each of these, and so many others, represent the natural creative expressions of humanity. Taking up the path of the bard is one of three paths in the druid tradition (along with the work of the Ovate and the Druid). Yet, many people aren’t sure how to take up the path of the bard because…

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Ptaki Mądrości

THE POWER OF LITHOMANCY

Good Witches Homestead

Lithomancy is the psychic art known by terms such as “reading stones, divination by stone, divination by gems, divination by crystals, etc.” Lithomancy is similar to reading runes, tarot cards or tea leaves. It involves casting or picking stones to interpret an omen, foretell the future, or to seek insight on a specific subject.

Lithomancy, the casting of stones is an ancient art. This type of divination is usually associated with both Witchcraft & Shamanism, world-wide.

In France, the French word for witch, ” sorcier ” is used for a male witch & ” sociere” is used for a female witch. The witch or sorcier / sorciere is one who practices Sortilege, literally one who casts lots for the purpose of divination. Sortery is when certain objects have been assigned a meaning or characteristic. Tarot cards are a form of sortery. Each card is assigned a title and meaning, like

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Ozark Encyclopedia – C – Crawdads

Cultivating the Flow of Awen in our Lives

The Druid's Garden

I shall sing of the awen, which

I shall obtain from the abyss

Through the awen, though it were mute

I know of its great impulses

I know when it minishes;

I know when it wells up;

I know when it flows;

I know when it overflows.

–Taliesin, “The Festival” from the Book of Taliesin, 13th century

What the poet Taliesin writes of is the “Awen”, a central principle in the druid tradition meaning “flowing inspiration” or “divine inspiration.” In ancient times, bards embraced the flow of Awen to be masters of memory, sound, and expression. The bardic path was a lifelong pursuit and vocation; bards would spending many years (by one Scottish account, 7 years[1]) learning the bardic arts which included the arts of memory, diction, rhyming, and composition.

The flowing of Awen isn’t just an experience, it is a magical and meditative process. Perhaps you’ve…

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Grand Fire Trine, Sagittarius Full Moon 6-9-2017

starsbydesign

Sagittarius Full Moon

This full moon is shaping up to have the heady swiftness of the last new moon, another Grand Fire Trine forming with the Moon in Sagittarius and the Sun in Gemini. This fire trine forms between Saturn in Sagittarius at 24 degrees, Uranus in Aries at 27 degrees, and the North Node in Leo at 27 degrees.

Trines increase the velocity of energy, so we can expect relevant events affected by these planets and hours to increase in speed and impact. In the case of the node, the head of the dragon where our karmic future lies in the sign of creative expression and fun, now might be a nice time to engage ourselves in the drama of the moment. All the world is a stage — so act accordingly to make the most of it! With the moon sharing space with Saturn, the lord of restraint and constraints, it…

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