University
Regular readers will know that back in September I started back doing two modules at Uni. (see Back to University) Well I’m still really behind on the work I MUST get my head down and do some of the work before the deadline in the first week of January. I have:

What’s worse is I just can’t seem to get motivated.

Christmas / Yule Preparations
I have bought everybody’s presents, even exchanged some. A few suprises for people that I picked up at the weekend need wrapping. I also need to organise to visit some people to exchange gifts. I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my family and friends.

Lots of self-bought Yule presents
I decided a few months back as I’m single and it is my first christmas in my new apartment (see The Move.) I was going to buy myself a few gifts to open Christmas day morning. So I bought myself a few bits ‘n’ bats and then on a whim when I got paid this month treated myself to some purchases on Amazon:

Ha ha, I think I’ve spent more on myself than on everyone else put together. Feeling so self-centred but quite satisfied at the same time.

Love Life
JB and I have continued to see each other as friends (see Honest Conversations, Cards on the table & Tastilious Food with a BUT…) and decided to go on a date between Christmas and New Years.

He had been planning a supprise for me on Christmas Eve but didn’t tell me and I have organised to catch up with some family and some friends to exchange gifts and catch up. He was gutted, I felt guilty and stupid (for making the assumption he knows what I do christmas eve, every year!). But it’s sorted with good communication and we are going to do it on the date. Have kind of a full day and evening together. He has been very patient with me considering how mad busy I’ve been in the last few weeks and I hope is patience will remain in the next two weeks which are still likely to be manic due to the looming Uni deadline.

Other Stuff
There’s loads of other stuff thats been going on that I haven’t had chance to blog about yet. But will do when life is less manic!

Keeping you updated and informed as always,

Antony

(Altar prepared with things for the games.)

(The kitchen.)

(The living room 1.)

(The living room 2.)

(The living room 3.)

A good time was had by all (see photos below). They had the grande tour on their arrival followed by drinks. We then did some Numerology, aura sensing and energy transfer. These activities were followed by food (pizza and nibbles) and then we did some more games: pendulums, tarrot cards and What’s my future game.

Kay and I gave them a gift of a small silver bag with crystals that had been charged with positive energy before they left, which was at twenty-past one.

Kay and I stayed up chatting for an hour after they’d gone and then shattered went to bed. The party was such a success that I intend to hold a psychic party annually.

Write soon,

Antony

Apollo’s Appearance: A young man with curly golden hair.
Symbol or Attribute: The Sun itself, the lyre (a type of musical instrument), the bow, and the chariot he drives across the sky daily.

Apollo’s Strengths: Creative, handsome, supportive of all the arts of civilization.

Weaknesses: Like his father Zeus, Apollo is all too happy to enjoy the charms of nymphs, as well as the occasional youth, and his conquests number in the dozens.
(From http://gogreece.about.com/cs/mythology/a/mythapollo.htm, Last accessed: 30th October 09)

Yet believe it or not, I can’t find a good statue of Apollo for my altar anywhere in the UK. A statue that truely repersents what Apollo means to me. My good friend Kay told me that I she was going on holiday so I showed her what sort of statue I wanted (from images on the Internet). When she went away, she picked me one up and here it is:

The photo took on my Blackberry Storm and it really doesn’t do it justice. On the photo you can’t see the detail and the true quality of the statue.

One of the main reasons that I love Apollo is because he is bisexual. He has had both female and male lovers. As a gay man I am most interested in his male lovers of which there were two. Here are the stories:

Apollo & Cypatissus

In Greek mythology, a myth set in Chios tells of Kyparissos (Greek: κυπάρισσος, “cypress”) — or Cyparissus (Latin: cupressus, “cypress”) — a young boy and son of Telephus. Though the mythic context and the setting is Hellenic, the subject is essentially known from Hellenizing Latin literature and Pompeiian frescoes.[1]

Apollo gave the boy a tame deer as a companion, but Cyparissus accidentally killed it with a javelin as it lay asleep in the undergrowth. The gift of a hunter’s prey is an initiatory gift in the sphere of the hunt, a supervised preparation for the manly arts of war and a testing ground for behavior (Koch-Harnack 1983). The tameness of the deer may be purely Ovidian. In a late reversal of the boy’s traditional role, perhaps an interpretation applied by Ovid,[2] Cyparissus asks Apollo to let his tears fall forever. Apollo turns the sad boy into a cypress tree, whose sap forms droplets like tears on the trunk.[3] Cypress was one of the trees Orpheus charmed.

According to a different tradition Cyparissus was the son of Orchomenus, the brother of Minyas, and the mythical founder of Kyparissos in Phocis, which later was called Anticyra.[4]
(From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyparissus, Last accessed: 30th October 09)

Apollo & Hyacinth

Hyacinth, the young son of the King of Sparta, beautiful like the very gods of Mount Olympus, was beloved of Apollo, shooter of arrows. The god often came down to the shores of the Eurotas River, leaving his shrine in Delphi unattended, to spend time with his young friend and delight in boyish pleasures. Tired of his music and his long bow, Apollo found relief in rustic pastimes. He would take Hyacinth hunting through the woods and glades on the mountain sides, or they would practice gymnastics, a skill which Hyacinth then taught to his friends, and for which later the Spartans would become renowned. The simple life awoke Apollo’s appetites, and made the curly-haired boy seem more charming than ever. Apollo gave him all his love, forgetting he was a mere mortal.

Once, in the heat of a summer afternoon, the lovers stripped naked, sleeked themselves with olive oil, and tried their hand at discus throw, each vying to outdo the other. The bronze discus flew higher and higher. Finally, the powerful god gathered all his strength, and spun and wheeled and let fly the shiny disk which rose swift as a bird, cutting the clouds in two. Then, glittering like a star, it began to tumble down.

Hyacinth ran to meet it. He was hurrying to take his turn, to prove to Apollo that he, though young, was no less able than the god at this sport. The discus landed, but having fallen from such a great height it bounced and violently struck Hyacinth in the head. He let out a groan and crumpled to the ground. The blood spurted thickly from his wound, coloring crimson the black hair of the handsome youth.

Horrified, Apollo raced over. He bent over his friend, raised him up, rested the boy’s head on his knees, trying desperately to staunch the blood flowing from the wound. But it was all in vain. Hyacinth grew paler and paler. His eyes, always so clear, lost their gleam and his head rolled to one side, just like a flower of the field wilting under the pitiless rays of the noonday sun. Heartbroken, Apollo cried out: “Death has taken you in his claws, beloved friend! Woe, for by my own hand you have died. And yet its crime was meeting yours at play. Was that a crime? Or was my love to blame – the guilt that follows love that loves too much? Oh, if only I could pay for my deed by joining you in your journey to the cheerless realms of the dead. Oh, why am I cursed to live forever? Why can’t I follow you?”

Apollo held his dying friend close to his breast, and his tears fell in a stream onto the boy’s bloody hair. Hyacinth died, and his soul flew to the kingdom of Hades. The god bent close to the dead boy’s ear, and softly whispered: “In my heart you will live forever, beautiful Hyacinth. May your memory live always among men as well.” And lo, at a word from Apollo, a fragrant red flower rose from Hyacinth’s blood. We call it hyacinth, and on its petals you can still read the letters “Ay,” the sigh of pain that rose from Apollo’s breast.

And the memory of Hyacinth lived on among the gentlemen of Sparta, who gave honors to their son, and celebrated him for three days in mid-summer at the Hyakinthaea festival. The first day they would mourn his death, and the last two they would celebrate his ressurection.
(From: http://www.gay-art-history.org/gay-history/gay-literature/gay-mythology-folktales/homosexual-greek-mythology/apollo-hyacinth-gay/apollo-hyacinth-gay.html, Last Accessed: 30th October 09)

If I was to invoke a god (take a god or goddess’ spirit with in your physical body) in the future it would be Apollo.

Kay and I are planning a Psychic Party / Home Warming at the end of November and the invites have gone out via Facebook. So check your Facebook inbox for invites, should be a good evening of fun.

Write soon,

Antony

Basically karma is the princple that what you send out in to the universe (in terms of your actions, how you treat others, etc.) come back to you threefold. If you send out positive (treating people well, being considerate of your actions) you will recieve positive in return. If you send out negative (treat people poorly, be mallace in your actions) you shall recieve negative in retun.

The universe works in mysterious ways – it isn’t always obious that something negative that happens in your life are associated with your past negative actions/negative treatment of people. The universe also has to take a lot of other things in to account – such as your life learning lessons, timimg, etc. But it does work.

Karma in a Nut Shell

Karma
As part of the universal balance, what you send out you shall recieve. What this essentially means is that if you put out positive energy you shall recieve positive energy. But if you put out negative energy, treating people wrongly, this will come back to you with you recieving negativity in return.
(from: http://www.antonysimpson.com/paganism.php, 17th October 09)

Let you be aware!

Antony

Magick can be done in many creative ways. So I decided to come up with a Grand Plan for the next 5 years of my life. How do I weave the magick in to it? With colour and symbolism through a collage. See below:

My plans are stuck on the fridge so everyday I will see them. Everytime I see them they will go deeper in to my subconcious (until they are imprinted there) and my subconcious will gather the energy required on the astral plane to meet all of my plans in the next five years.

Why don’t you try it?

What I’ve learned about magick is that after a while it just sorta happens. I find myself doing less spells, potions and brews and simply wishing and it happening. In Edain McCoy’s book Advanced Witchcraft: Go Deeper, Reach Further, Fly Higher it calls this Wishcraft. (There’s loads of more interesting reading in this book – so if your pagan I would highly recommend it.) Although I am still learning with regards to the craft (and most definitately always will be), I recognise how far I’ve come.

With thanks to my muse – who inspired me to express my grand plan in such a creative and fun way.

In love and light,

Antony x

SPIRITUAL GOAL : in each incarnation the true goal of taurus is to find their soul mate.
(from: http://www.paralumun.com/taurus.htm, Accessed online: 12th July 09)

In honesty I do want to find Mr. Right. Is that the same as a soul mate? But at the same time it is not my only goal in life. There’s lots of things I want to learn and experience. There’s also lots of important people in my life (besides Mr. Right), my friends and my family.

PERSONALITY :
POSITIVE : conservative, dependable, calm and loving.
NEGATIVE : stubborn, and be warned – never betray a taurus!
(from: http://www.paralumun.com/taurus.htm, Accessed online: 12th July 09)

Conservative, I’m not sure if that’s positive or not? Ha. Ha. Yes I am dependable, calm (well sometimes) and loving. However I couldn’t help but think that this missed out some other of my other personality traits. Where’s my creativity, sense of humour and many other personality traits I value in myself?

Negatively I am very stubborn. But I have learned to recognise when I’m being stubborn and given time I’ll even come back and appologise for my stubborness. I’m not quite sure what it meant by: and be warned – never betray a taurus!

SECRET TAURUS : takes the long term view.
(from: http://www.paralumun.com/taurus.htm, Accessed online: 12th July 09)

I don’t know why that is so called “secret”? But yeah, I do take a long term view of things.

TAURUS AT HOME : enjoys comfort and luxury
(from: http://www.paralumun.com/taurus.htm, Accessed online: 12th July 09)

Very true. I love my new home and it is comfortable and luxiourious.

WORK : hard worker, prepared to work long hours,
(from: http://www.paralumun.com/taurus.htm, Accessed online: 12th July 09)

I think I am a hard worker and at times do work long hours. I think sometimes I work a too many hours I am trying to cut down to keep my Work & Life in balance.

The website goes on to say:

LOVE : lucky is the starsign that finds a taurus partner, but be warned – a taurus will never forgive a betrayal.
FRIENDS : will expect absolute loyalty.
INTERESTS : painting, horse riding and collecting things.
HEALTH : watch your kidneys and thyroid.
(from: http://www.paralumun.com/taurus.htm, Accessed online: 12th July 09)

Ha ha none of which seem to apply at all to me. So my conclusion is that although star signs can give you an idea of someones make up, it is not exhausive and not always completely correct.

We are all individuals and I for one like to be treated like an individual not a star sign.

Blog soon,

Antony

The article starts off ok:

The ancient stone circle was awash with Druids, Pagans, healers, sun-worshippers and hippies beating drums, chanting in celebration.

“It’s the most magical place on the planet,” said antique salesman Frank Somers, 43, dressed in the robes of his Druid faith.

“Inside when you touch the stones you feel a warmth like you’re touching a tree, not a stone. There’s a genuine love, you feel called to it,” he said.
(from: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2492806/Solstice-Pagans-have-hippie-time.html, Accessed online: 21st June 09)

However the balanced view doesn’t take long to become unbalanced, making pagan’s, druids and the like sound like a group of party-mad drugies:

…is the site of an annual night-long party …
(from: same source as above)

Police arrested about 30 people on charges including drug offenses, assault and drunk and disorderly conduct….
(from:same source as above)

I guess as The Sun didn’t report that they were ritually scaraficing children, we got off lightly. What do you think?

I would quite like to go next year and see the solstice in at Stonehenge (as I’ve never been).

Take Care,

Antony

Litha – 20th June
The longest day of the year. It is the summer time harvest. I like this blessing:

As the sun spirals its longest dance,
Cleanse us
As nature shows bounty and fertility
Bless us
Let all things live with loving intent
And to fulfill their truest destiny
Wiccan blessing for Summer
(from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/summersolstice.shtml, last accessed: 08th February 09)

The god and goddess reaffirm their relationship and commitment to one another.
Colours: Blue, green, red and yellow.
Themes: Fruitful endevours, child-like play, affirmations, water & emotions.

(from: http://antonysimpson.com/index.php/2009/pagan-festivals/, Accessed online: 21st June 09)

To celebrate Litha and because my new apartment needs magically protecting, I shall hopefully get round to cleansing and charging with intention my quartz cluster (see A Lovely Day with Simon:

Blog soon (got some good posts coming up),

Antony

It’s a lovely evening of chilled out blogging for me (I know it’s about time).

So lets catch up….

The other weekend David and I went to Alderley Edge. It’s kind of like an…well…an edge. A beautiful view (unfortunately I didn’t quite manage to get a picture. David and I had an intimate kiss – it was lovely. We did have to watch out for straight people about but that’s what you get when you live in a hetrosexual world.

I did manage to get a random picture of a cave:

(David and I had to sneak under the fence to get this – which was haliourious as David had a backpack on!)

In other news, I have rather naughtly started buying for the new apartment. I bought this kettle:

It is sooo camp and flashes all different colours when it does different things. – I know, us gays are attracted by bright multi coloured lights! As you have no doubt guessed, the apartment will be a gay one.

This weekend just gone David and I went to Manchester Minerals. We both bought various crystals (for a lot cheaper than they would be at various new age shops I might add). But I bought this big clear quartz:

I have decided I am going to buy one a month when possible to fill my new apartment, with positive, healing energy. David and I both knew that it was Ostara on Saturday (see Pagan Festivals) and although we did nothing specific. We did recognise (and buy the crystal) for my new home (new beginnings) as well as buying several

Orange, red, yellow and pink.

Crystals. Do you think that will do?

Sunday was Mothers Day and I went down for Sunday dinner at my mums. She cooks the absolute best Sunday dinners I have ever had! Gordan Ramsay – eat your heart out!

Mum and I watched the two Narnia Films, especially the Prince Caspian one that I haven’t seen. I realised that a lot of the film themes around sacrifice. If we made more sacrifice’s for one another, would the world be a better place? (Just a random thought there!)

Hope the update was worth the read. Coming soon, Tina Turner – photos and videos.

Hugs,

Antony

So in order that I not miss any further of my pagan festivals I decided to add the dates to my diary and post them here. I will give the festival name, date and some information about the festival. Here we go:

Imbolc – 2nd February
Known as the festival of light. It celebrates the end of dark winter and welcomes the sun and the light to the world. Asking the world to wake up out of hybernation.
The goddess is seen as the maiden at this festival. Indeed the festival celebrates her as a maiden. She is still in recovery from child-birth.
Colours: White, yellow & gold.
Themes: Fire, creativity, poetry, inspiration, light, healing.
Related Blog Posts: Tatton park, a poem. (Creativity & poetry), Ups and Downs (Healing)

Ostara – 20th March
Ostara celebrates the first day of spring. When light and dark are in balance.
The god matures and becomes a man. He will live and rule until Samhain.
Colours: Orange, red, yellow and pink.
Themes: Fertility, new beginings, flowers, nature.
Related Blog Posts: Welcome to the notice board of antonysimpson.com! (New beginings)

Beltane – 1st May
Beltane is the midpoint between spring and summer.
The god and the goddess meet, become lovers get married consecrating their union. The goddess becomes pregnant.
Colours: White, purple, blue and light green.
Themes: Love, relationships, commitment, fire, fun – music and dancing.
Related Blog Posts: Catergory – Love & Relationships (Love and relationships), The Feeling were Awesome (Music and dancing), Bathroom dancing, Inspired and Just Discovered (Dancing), Thanks to the attractive stranger (Kylie – music and dancing)

Litha – 20th June
The longest day of the year. It is the summer time harvest. I like this blessing:

As the sun spirals its longest dance,
Cleanse us
As nature shows bounty and fertility
Bless us
Let all things live with loving intent
And to fulfill their truest destiny
Wiccan blessing for Summer
(from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/summersolstice.shtml, last accessed: 08th February 09)

The god and goddess reaffirm their relationship and commitment to one another.
Colours: Blue, green, red and yellow.
Themes: Fruitful endevours, child-like play, affirmations, water & emotions.

Lammas – 1st August
The harvesting of berries and grains take place at around the time of this festival. Days are getting shorter.
The gods power continues to wane.
Colours: Purple, black, brown, yellow (pale shades).
Themes: Magick, death, banishing, hopes, work.

Mabon – 22nd September
The autumn equinox. Light and dark are again in balance, however from this point on we shall have less sun light as it get’s darker. It’s about also giving thanks to the mother goddess for providing enough food (from the havest) for the winter.
The god prepairs for his journey to the underworld. The mother goddess is heavily pregnant but continues to rein and begins to age.
Colours: Brown, violet, indigo, blue & black.
Themes: Land & property, goals, introspection, past life regression, relaxation, letting go.
Related Blog Posts: Catergory – Thinking (Introspection), Goals for 2009 (Goals), Relaxation (Relaxation)

Samhain – 31st October
The last harvest. When the vails between the worlds are thin. Seen as the pagan ‘New Year’. Also known as Halloween.
The goddess is now the crone. With age coming wisdom.
Colours: Black, orange, purpose, violet, white.
Themes: Ancestors, death, rebirth, banishings & bindings, spirit & guide communication, guidance.
Related Blog Posts: Samhain Ritual, goes well (Samhain)

Yule – 21st December
The first day of winter also known as the winter solstice. Longest night of the year. Evergreens and pine are ideal for your alter along with traditional Yule logs. Wreath’s symbolise the wheel of the year.
The goddess gives birth to the god and then goes in to hybernation being tired from child-birth.
Colours:White, green, red, gold & silver.
Themes:Prosperity, death, rebirth, banishings, protection, goal setting, happiness, peace & harmony.
Related Blog Posts: Yule & A Lifetime Gift (Yule)

Useful Links
BBC – Religion – Multifaith Paganism
Pagan Holidays
Walk in the Light – Wheel of the Year

Personal Beliefs

God and Goddess
Many pagans believe in a god and a goddess. I differ slightly. I do believe there is a god-like being, but that it is one that is genderless as it is simply energy. Some pagans would disagree with this, although like I said earier these are my own individual beliefs.
(From Antony Simpson Paganism)

With thanks
With thanks to my friend Sye, who helped explain the goddess’ birth of the god and place it in the right festival. He used Scott Cunningham’s, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner.

Books @ Amazon

Hope this is as useful to you all, as it will be to me.

In love and light,

Antony