While spinning round this morning whilst saying white rabbits three times, because it's the first of March, I wondered where does this come from, why white rabbits.  The best reasons seems to come from the story of Ostara the Spring Goddess and Goddess of the Dawn.
It is said she was late arriving one year to bring the spring warmth and sunlight in, when she did arrive the ground was still frozen and covered in snow.  She felt even worse about being late when she discovered a small bird with his wings frozen dying from the cold.  Ostara picked the bird up and cradled him to warm him through, but his wings still remained damaged and he couldn't fly.  Feeling remorseful about the bird not being able to fly she turned him into a white rabbit or rather a Snow Hare and named him Lepus. She gave him the gift of great speed and turning ability and to remember his time as a bird she gave him the ability to lay eggs, eggs of many colours, but only for one day a year.
So it could be that that is why saying white rabbits on the first of March, or some say on the first new moon of this month, brings you good luck.  Why the spinning, I don't know, maybe that's just me.  Does anyone else spin?
Looking forward to eggs of many colours at the Spring Equinox :0)

This website building lark takes a looot of time up and is very very very frustrating.  Did I mention it's frustrating?  Hopefully it should work better than the old one and be easier to use.  Think I'm beginning to get somewhere now though, this site is now live and I have some content on it :0)  There are some items you might like to take a look at, Jewellery and other things, and also a space for Lammas Camp.  Lots of filling out to do yet and tweaking, but if you want to drop me a message to tell me how it looks so far or have any helpful suggestions that would be great.  
The cats meanwhile are hoping that I'm going in the kitchen soon instead of clickity clicking on here.

Ah Valentine's Day, either love it or hate it comes round every year and always seems a bit of an odd celebration to me stuck in the middle of February as it is.  Now May that is more the month for that kind of thing, especially Beltane time ;0)
So I thought I would find out a bit more on the origins of St Valentine's Day and why on earth a saint is thought to be in charge of love and sexy stuff as I'm sure saints aren't supposed to have such thoughts of doing that sort of thing.  This is ​

​The main colours of it are red and gold which are some of her colours, a triskele to represent her triple goddess aspect and shells for her association with water, one is which is a Shiva Shell and has a natural spiral on it.  Heat treated and forged metal lend to her fire aspect and inspiration to create it.
It uses recyled sari fabric, beads, copper and a little goddess figure as well and fastens at the front to make it easy to get on and off.
This necklace is now being happily worn in America, but if you would like something in a similar style let me know.

Love all the Brighid representations in this art work by Danielle Barlow , most of the Brighd symbols I knew but not how the serpent was linked to her. 
I did a bit of research and found that according to Celtic mythology an awakening hibernating serpent will emerged from it's lair at Imbolc, and by it's movements it was calculated how many more days of winter there would be, if it returned to it's lair then spring wold be a month or more in coming.  Although Brigid is a triple goddess she is mainly thought of as a spring goddess, so as she is to usher in spring this would be imported to know.  Serpents also represent new life and fertility, much like spring, as well as transformation, creativity and inspiration,
Paths of Earth energy, ley lines, were also called serpent paths and at Imbolc they are stirred from their slumber as the earth warms.

January normally limps along for far too long but this year it seems to have gone really quickly and I've not half the things done that I intended to do so far this year, do you think we can start again for Chinese New Year?
2019 is the year of the Brown Earth Pig 新Xīn年nán快kuài乐 lè! or Happy New Year.
Still working on Valentines gifts, I have a few ideas that I'd like to get out in time 💖

Spring is stirring, even though snowflakes are falling again as I write this.  There is definitely more daylight and the urge to get out rather than hibernate is growing stronger, shoots are pushing their way upwards and the birds are singing.  

One of the goddess mostly associated with this time of year is Brigid. 
​Last February or the moot I brought straw in for us all to make Bridgid crosses with, I'm going to pop the notes I made to say a little about her before we began in here incase you find it useful -
Brigid
Pronounced Breed Brigg-id Bree-id, other names Brid Bride Brigantia or Bridgit.
A great mother goddess, she was one of the most widely worshipped across Britain and Ireland.  It’s quite possible that the Northern British Tribe, the Brigantes derived their name from her.

Her most special time of the year is Imbolc (in the belly) coming of spring/ tale end of winter/ more fertile times are coming.  Midwives.

Brigid is a Sun Goddess, Goddess of the Dawn.
She is also the Goddess of the Well and the Waters. There are healing wells still dedicated to her in Ireland.

The spark of inspiration, the muse of all creativity, Brigid is the Goddess of...

• poets,
• musicians and singers,
• storytellers,
• scholars and teachers,
• artists, trades persons, and artisans, especially metalsmiths
• healers and herbalists,
• magick-workers,
• seers and prophets.

Brigid’s Cross is an ancient symbol for Brigid and is also known as a Celtic Sun Wheel or Solar Cross  Solar Crosses are one of the most ancient of symbols and are found all over the world.
Brigid’s Crosses are traditionally made with rushes or straw and hung for protection, especially from fire but also from ill intent, mainly hung over the doorway but also by the fire for fertility
The intention could be whatever you want your Solar Cross to be for -- honouring the Sun Goddess, protection for your home, blessings and protection for your loved ones, etc.
It may also be given as a blessing and protection to someone you care about.
Another option is to offer it to the Goddess. You can hang it on a tree (particularly hawthorn) or leave it in nature somewhere, or burn it in a ritual fire (a bonfire or cauldron).  You could also hang it above your altar, to keep Brigid's presence near you all year long.

The Demotion to Saint Brigid
In Ireland and other Celtic countries, Brigid was a primary Pagan Goddess. This didn't sit well when Christianity took over. But the people were unwavering in their devotion to this Goddess, and the Christian fathers couldn't eradicate Her worship.
So they did what has worked so well throughout the ages and around the globe: they incorporated Her into their own mythology.
In the 5th Century, She was remade as a Christian saint. She was given a fictitious history, and canonised. (Then in 1960, I guess the Church thought they'd made a mistake, and de-sainted Her! Or maybe they thought they could at last do away with this so-tenacious and beloved female deity.)

Imbolc is usually the time we release Lammas Camps tickets for sale but due to demand they've been on sale now since the week after Lammas Camp 2018.  They are still at Early Bird prices until Beltain though, so still a little time to grab yourself a bargain but don't hang around too long as we only sell a limited number to keep the camp small and friendly with a community feel to it. 
​Hope we all have a joyful spring, Happy Imbolc x

A few more photos and details of the hand forged Copper toggle bracelets that are available on the shop page.  There wasn't enough space on there for them without it getting messy, but wanted to show more of the details for you to decide which one you might like :0)  The photos should be scrolling round.
The Fire Agate one fastens with a lobster clasp rather than a toggle clasp, but other wise is the same type of style.
The bracelets are all about 7" in length and the textured parts are approx 3 x 4.5 cm. 
​The patterning has been aged to bring out the details and texture.

It's the last day of January so spring is on it's way, though it doesn't feel very like it at the moment as snow has fallen, the frost is thick and ffffreezing.  The daylight is lasting longer though, buds are appearing everywhere and shoots are thrusting their way upwards.  

The feeling of wanting to cosy up and hibernate should start diminishing as new light and energy enters our lives, well that's the theory ;0)   I'm putting off spring cleaning for a little while yet while I try to get my new web site sorted, this ere one that you're on now.  I hope you find some interesting things and bookmark it to come back to again.  Until then I wish you a happy start to spring however you celebrate it, may your daffs grow straight and tulips your bold.