This is the sixth blog post in a series titled Wonderful Websites. The first focused on general health and can be read here. The second focused on mental health and mental illness and can be read here. The third post focused on shopping and can be read here. The fourth focused on money and can be read here. The fifth focused on gigs, shows and theatres and can be read here.
Wonderful Websites about paganism:
1. Damh the Bard is a pagan singer songwriter. I absolutely adore this man’s music. I hope one day to see him live.
2. Llewellyn Worldwide publishes books around all topics pagan and spiritual.
For me paganism is about balance: light and dark, night and day, summer and winter, masculine and feminine and the Goddess and the God. Paganism is neither matriarchal or patriarchal, but both at the same time.
When it comes to statues of the Goddess and God, it seems that most pagan creators view paganism as matriarchal. You can find many statues of the Goddess in all of her forms (maiden, mother and crone). But finding statues of the God in any of his forms (youth, father and sage) is all but impossible.
Then about a month ago, I stumbled on a listing of lunamoodchild’s on ebay. I instantly fell in love with the statues she creates. Here’s a photo of the gorgeous, stunning and handmade God statues:
The basics: tools, visualisation, magic as energy, how to raise – intent – release energy and the importance of having a strong emotional resonance when spell casting.
Throughout brief mentions of the history of the Craft.
Magical Correspondence (along with why they’re important).
More advanced ways of working (nicely done as the book progresses so does the spell craft).
How to communicate and work with: the Fae, elemental spirits and the God/Goddess.
Here’s a list of spells in the book:
1. Spell to Heal Anything.
2. Chant for Power.
3. Spell to Banish Abuse from a Relationship.
4. Spell to Banish Humiliation.
5. Spell to Counter an Ill Wish.
6. Spell to Gain Psychic Protection.
7. Spell for Transforming Destructive Feelings.
8. Spell to Heal Psychological Trauma.
9. Spell for Justice.
10. Spell to Consecrate Your Life to a Chosen Purpose.
11. Spell to Gain the Right Home.
Dotted throughout Spellcraft for Hedge Witches are superb illustrations and purely on a visual front, these would have been even better if they had been in colour.
I’ve been pagan for well over a decade and still learned many things from Spellcraft for Hedge Witches. Beth also reminded more of many more things that I already knew, but had forgotten about. I found the ideas in this book inspiring.
Throughout Spellcraft for Hedge Witches Beth encourages the reader to be creative when spell casting and do what works for them. Beth truly is a wise-woman and this book is bursting with her wisdom.
At the weekend my good friend Simon and I went on an adventure to see Stonehenge and other ancient sites nearby. This is part 2 of my Stonehenge Adventure, part 1 can be read here.
We stayed in this Travelodge hotel. It was super cheap, clean and located close to amenities such as the various restaurants/food places in Solstice Park. Our room had a double bed and a single bed. On the single bed I could feel every spring on my back. I complained to a member of Travelodge staff, who said that all the single beds were the same and gave me a double duvet to put on top of it. The double duvet made little difference.
On the Saturday Simon and I had all you can eat cooked breakfast at the Toby Carvery on Solstice Park before heading off to Glastonbury.
Glastonbury is like a pagan commercial mecca. There are so many shops that fit into the categories of new age, spiritual or pagan. There are at least two charming courtyards with little tiny shops in. Sadly many of the shops are over priced. Some were so significantly over priced that they could be called a ripoff and make a person’s eyes water.
Some photos from Glastonbury:
Glastonbury town centre monument.
Entrance sign to one of a few courtyards.
A crystal shrine in one of the courtyards.
The Goddess and The Green Man shop deserves a special mention. Their products were fantastic with many unique items, the customer service was friendly and tremendous and to top it off their prices were fair and reasonable. It felt like The Goddess and The Green Man was the only truly pagan/witchy shop in Glastonbury.
Cautiously recommended. Be cautious about rip off prices in some shops.
Opening Times: Normal shop opening hours.
Parking: Pay and display carparks, £7-8 for a full day of parking.
Food, Drink & Toilets: Available in the various cafes and pubs locally.
The Chalice Well is a beautiful garden and well. The atmosphere at the Chalice garden and well is that of zen-like meditation. Here are some photos from the Chalice Well:
The Chalice Well sign.
Chalice Well.
You can drink from the well.
One of a few ponds within the gardens of the Chalice Well.
Admission: Adult £4.30 (without gift aid) and £4.75 (with gift aid).
Parking: No parking on site. Pay and display carpark a short walk away.
Gift shop on site.
The City of Wells was alive with the hustle and bustle of a Saturday outdoor market. Simon and I looked for somewhere to eat, but everywhere was ridiculously priced. Then I spotted a burger stall on the outdoor market. We ordered a burger each. I have never ate a burger that tasted so good. If you’re in Wells and want an tasty treat, go to the outdoor market and order yourself something from the burger stall.
Here are some photos from our time in Wells:
Gate/Entrance to The Bishop’s Palace.
Garden at The Bishop’s Palace.
A watch tower on the wall at The Bishop’s Palace.
Apparently in Wells they have a swan that can ring a bell. I didn’t see a swan, but I did see this bell.
Fireplace in the watch tower at The Bishop’s Palace.
Me in a arrow slit.
A big dancing event was taking place in Wells.
Wells Cathedral.
Essential Info:
The City of Wells has a Cathedral, Bishop’s Palace and some shops.
Recommended.
Opening Times: Normal shop opening hours.
Admission: Vary depending on attraction/places of interest.
Parking: Various pay and display carparks.
In part 3, I’ll be blogging about Stonehenge and Woodhenge.
