Pagan Blogs

I've just been told that I've been added to a list of active Pagan blogs at Lucky Pleiades.
I've not been through them yet, but I'm going to have a nose through the list.....never know you  might find a gem for yourself too :)

I did stumble across this blog a few days ago that I love. It's worth checking out. Walking The Hedge.

The Guardians Q&A

What is your earliest memory?My third birthday party...probably because it was the last birthday where both my parents attended.

When were you happiest? Now!

Which living person do you most admire, and why? My Mum.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself? My effortlessly talented ability to criticize myself

What is the trait you most deplore in others? Dishonesty or bad manners

What was your most embarrassing moment? Probably the first time I ever got really drunk. My Mum has never let me forget it!

Property aside, what's the most expensive thing you've bought? My guitar

What would your super power be? The ability to read minds! Coz I'm nosey & paranoid!

What makes you unhappy? Not being acknowledged. You don't need to have an entire conversation with me, just say hello.

What do you most dislike about your appearance? The genetically passed on nose!

If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose? The dodo, just so we can be closer to Wonderland!

& they do look quite whimsical!

Who would play you in the film of your life? Megan Fox, or Lacey Turner just to make me look good.

What is your most unappealing habit? My shyness can be & has been seen as coldness or aloofness.

What is your favourite smell? Vanilla or Nina Riccis "Nina"

What is your favourite book? "Alice In Wonderland" as life always seems so much more simpler after reading it.

What would be your fancy dress costume of choice? Probably a fairy tale character.

What is the worst thing anyone's said to you? "You're being a drama queen" or "I won't be there for you" about my Depression.

Cat or dog? Cat...they don't make me feel lazy!

What is your guiltiest pleasure? Watching Eastenders....shhhhh!

What do you owe your parents? Independence & individuality from my Mum & stubbornness from my father

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why? My Gran, for not visiting more before she passed away

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? Marilyn Monroe, Stephen Fry, Henry Rollins & Jim Morrison.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? "I have to admit...", "...know what I mean?"

What is the worst job you've done? Babysitting a girl that wouldn't stop crying until her parents came back home 4 hours later!

When did you last cry, and why? about 10months ago when I found out I was lied to by people I regarded as sisters!

What is the closest you've come to death? An overdose....intensive care for a week for monitoring, I was & am fine! :)

What song would you like played at your funeral? "Free Bird" by Lynard Skynard


or "Don't Fear (The Reaper)" by The Blue Oyster Cult

How would you like to be remembered? Fondly & with love

What is the most important lesson life has taught you? Not to take it to seriously, it's not weakness to ask for help & the grass is always greener where I'm standing!

Halloween Crafts

Crawling through the web looking for interesting tit bits I came across these & thought they were AWESOME!!!

Perfect for spooky Halloween!

These fantastic paper crafts can be printed out FREE at Ravens Blight. Check is site out as there's LOTS of groovy things to make. Just remember to buy some extra printer ink!

These I think are stunning & are made from maple leaves, yes....leaves! Awesome or what!
The instructions can be found HERE.

Urban Fairies

I was going through some of the blogs I read regularly when at Domestic Witch's blog she had posted about the fairy doors around Ann Arbor, Michigan.

I remember coming across this site a while back & LOVE it!

I adore the interaction...check out the droppings! Not only beautiful to look at but helping charity too!
& you've got to love how they really tickle the inner child in us. I'm disappointed that quite a few had be vandalised...some people have NO heart, but the fairies are tenacious, soon fixing and rebuilding their homes.....

Aren't they awesome!!

But you know it's not just America that have fairies, we have some in the UK too
I have 2 that have taken up residence in my flat. They don't seem to mind the cat or the badly painted walls

Mono Print & Crochet

Uni started again on Wednesday.
I was a bit nervous, as it's a new module & new lecturer! But I needn't of worried :)
The teacher, Patricia, is lovely & shows a real interest in everyone individual style of art!
For the first time I was able to discuss my own work...where I want it to go. It was SO refreshing.
Considering there are other artists on the course who exhibit & sell their work I have been surprised of the lack of interest so far by the lecturers in pupils personal work. To me an artists work tells you SO much about the individual.....so many questions about a person can be answered by just looking into someones art.
Well that's what I think anyway.....

For this module I'll be able to create something that I want to create. Something that means something to me, instead of the heartless, soul-less work I've produced so far for uni. Work that I made to fit a criteria & not a personal goal.

We were playing with printing, mono prints in particular - something i hadn't tried before.
This is what I came up with.......

The face & flowers are mono prints, the hair pencil & background highlighter. None of us really had the best of equipment with us (we weren't told what we would need - very annoying), so we made the best of what we had.
Some of the work made by the others were fantastic!

Of course I've been hooking away.....
I finally finished L's Sackboy
I couldn't find a zip so I added a scarf & frying pan to make up for it.

I spent Easter at my fellas folks house so I thought I'd make a little pressie to say thanks. I ended up making three! A bunny & two chicks. I gotta admit they're cute!

I made them from the Tiny Ami pattern from the book "Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet" by Ana Paula.

This little dude I made when I was bored one night.

& I made this for my mate Ellie. Interested in Buddhism & loves to write! Hopefully she'll like it!

The chart I got from HERE for free.

Street Drawings......

You HAVE to check out the work of the artist Julian Beever!

Even if you're not a fan of art you'll be amazed at his work........

Can you imagine you're reaction to turning a corner in your local town & coming across one of these masterpieces???

Fox Totem

I was reminded of my totem animal last night. I think it's rather bizarre that it happens to be a fox & what do you call a male fox??? A Tod!!!!!! & what's my fellas name????
*whistles the Twilight Zone theme*
Anyway I thought I'd reread some articles about my totem & share them with you guys.....




Your native British totem animal is:
Fox - The fox can get by, wherever life has put him. He will show you how to adapt to the peculiarities of your own situation.
Life isn't easy for the fox - in the country there are those who would kill him as lief as look at him; in the cities he has to scavenge for a living.
But he sees life as an unquestionably worthwhile challenge, and will help you to do the same.


FOX




Stealthy messenger of the gods,
Cunning and wise, reliable friend,
Guide my steps through this maze of deception
And see this problem to its end.


Magic, Shapeshifting, Invisibility

Fox are seen as totems throughout the world:
the Chinese believed they could take human form,
in Egypt the fox brought favor from the gods,
there was a fox god in Peru,
foxes help the dead get to the next life in Persia,
Cherokees, Hopi other American Indian tribes
believed in its healing power;
the Apache credited the fox with giving man fire.

Since the fox lives "between times" --
on the edge of land, visible as dusk and dawn, and can guide the way to the Faerie Realm.

A fox can teach you to control your aura so that you can be more in harmony
with others and the world.

If you have a fox totem, learning to be invisible is very important in your life.
Imagine yourself blending in with your surroundings, becoming part of the background.
Be very still and quiet.
Through practice you can be unnoticed even at a party or in a crowd.

I have an acquaintance who used this power to evade several muggers;
he stood there in plain sight next to a building ,
and blended himself into the wall;
they did not see him and left without harming him. It can be done!

A fox totem also teaches good eating habits;
the fox eats small amounts frequently which medicine is now telling us is better for our health.
But fox people already knew this.

The fox is a wonderful totem to have
(http://www.linsdomain.com/totems/pages/fox.htm )

Its brown summer coat helps render it invisible in the forest while its white wintry coat allows it to blend in with the snow. The fox is a very observant and fast animal, ready to take action at any time. Its power lies in its cleverness-for example, when leading its enemies astray.

Another characteristic is its concern for its family. People who possess the power of the fox are usually quiet observers and are skilled at remaining unnoticed. This means that they blend into their environment, moving around unnoticed in any kind of company and society. They are masters of camouflage.

The fox teaches how to grasp concept of unity and how to use this knowledge wisely on all levels. A fox charm is suitable mainly for those who travel a lot.
(http://www.betterliving.co.nz/content/theFamily/new-age/Totem-Animal-Fox.aspx )

Fox is a master at the art of camouflage. Like all members of the canine family, they make exceptional parents. The fox's keen sight and hearing make it an excellent predator. Its tail serves as a balancing device when it stands on its hind legs to peer over the tall grass in search of a mouse, gopher, or field rat. It is a survivor, able to exist in the unpopulated countryside. Its ability to be unseen makes it a superb family protector.

Fox medicine involves adaptablility, cunning, observation, integration, and swiftness of thought and action. These traits may also include quick decisiveness, and sure-footedness in the physical world.

The Fox's ability to meld into one's surroundings and be unnotices is a powerful gift when one is observing the activities of others. This allows it to be the protector of the family unit. If danger arises, Fox is johnny-on-the-spot. Great Spirit has honored Fox with the duty of keeping the family together and safe. Fox accomplishes this through the ability to observe undetected, without making others self-conscious. Fox is always concerned with the safety of family members and is an excellent tailsman for those who travel.

If Fox has chosen to share its medicine with you, it is a sign that you are to become like the wind, which is unseen yet is about to weave into and through any location or situation. You would be wise to observe the acts of others rather than their words at this time. Use your cunning nature in a positive way; keep silent about who and what and why you are observing.

Its keen eyesight also has the ability to see movement and objects on the very edges of the field of vision. Those with active fox medicine can often see Spirit, and the beings "between worlds". If this is an ability that you'd like to develop, practice at twilight and call upon fox energy to help you. With fox's super-sensitive hearing, you may also be able to hear Spirit.

It's tail is considered to be one of the most sacred parts of the fox. While the actual body of the fox is very small, the mass of hair that protects it gives the impression of greater bulk. Hair and fur are ancient symbols for energy and fertility. Fox has two kinds of fur, it's short dense undercoat and it's long stiffer guard hairs lying above. For one with fox as a totem, hair is very important. If a change is needed on certain levels, changing the hair to reflect this desire helps to activate fox medicine and it's magic of shape shifting. The changeability of the colors reflects change of the expression of the inner force. A study of colors and their symbology would also be very insightful. In general, the Red Fox is associated with sexual energy, the kundalini, and the freeing of the creative life force.

The ears and tail of the fox have messages for you. The ears help the animal to keep cool in the summer as they expel body heat through the ears. If you're too warm, pull your hair away from your ears; if you're cold, let your hair cover your ears. The tail acts as a portable blanket to keep the nose and feet warm. Do you sleep in socks? Do you always want something on your feet? The tail also says that you have the ability to protect yourself from unpleasant and uncomfortable situations and relationships, and can stay cozy and warm with your own inner strength.

The fox also has a highly developed sense of smell, and you may be very aware of smells, odors, and their subtle differences. And aroma therapy would be a beneficial study for anyone with fox medicine. You are also alert to unpleasant situations and/or danger because something just "doesn't smell right". The study of aromatherapy may be just the thing for you.

Sexually the sense of smell is one of their strongest stimulants which has a big impact on the intensity of arousal for people with fox medicine. Sexual energy is part of the kundalini energy force within our bodies and is our most creative energy. An individual to whom fox comes has a great capacity for sexual expression.

With Fox medicine you know instantly what will happen next. After observing for a while, you will become aware of a certain predictability in given situations and be able to quickly make your move. Fox medicine teaches the art of Oneness through its understanding of camouflage.
Much like the clowns in the rodeo, Fox can keep the raging bull from stampeding a friend or family member. Fox can use silly tactics as a brilliant comouflage move. No one could guess the sly power behind such ingenious maneuvers.


Fox has long been thought of as a nuisance to farmers however the fox is actually a great asset to farmers as the fox consumes a great number of bugs and especially mice and other rodents. Foxes are mostly carnivores (meat-eaters). Most foxes hunt alone. They are nocturnal; they hunt mostly at night. Fox eats small amounts frequently throughout the day which is significant for those with fox as a totem.
The fox has knowledge of underground things hidden from human eyes, and this is shared with the dreamer, telling the dreamer of roots and herbs that are healing and curing; fox shares the powers of swiftness and cleverness as well as gentleness. In this gentleness, there is strength and courage, as indicated by one of the songs of the Fox Society; "I am a Fox. I am supposed to die. If there is anything difficult, if there is anything dangerous, that is mine to do."
Fox is considered to be persistent, yet is gentler and less aggressive than the wolf. Fox teaches us about feminine magic, but this does not imply that it is a totem for women. Rather, both men and women who have the fox as a totem are being told to stay in touch with the feminine side of their personality and character.
If fox shows up in your life it is a sign that you are to be aware of the actions of the world around you. The world is shape shifting and growing into new patterns all the time. Use the art of camouflage and keep cunningly silent about who and what you are observing. After observing for a while you will become aware of certain patterns of predictability in situations and you will know what to do. Fox's medicine of camouflage teaches Oneness with all.
(http://www.birdclan.org/fox.htm )
Foxes are highly adaptable creatures who will move into urban surroundings when, their habitat is encroached on by humans. They maintain a territory, but it greatly decreases when they live in urban areas as opposed to hill country. Each territory is kept by one family group, which consists of a dog fox, vixen, and their cubs. If there is a good food supply than the family group can expand to include a few other adults. Nevertheless, only one vixen will produce cubs in the group. As for food, foxes are not too picky eating anything from earthworms, crabs, and fruit to small mammals. They bury the excess prey to eat when the food supply is short.
Fox's clever nature makes it a master of camouflage. When hunted by hounds, Fox will psyche them out by doubling back on its own trail, and run around in circles to break the scent. It has the amazing ability to meld into the background, allowing it to quietly observe the situation around them.
Fox comes to us when we need to slip out of a situation so we can be silent witness to what is really taking place behind the scenes. We need to use our cleverness to our advantage, but we must remember to be discreet. Fox asks us to carefully look at where we are coming from, so we can remember to approach things with a clear conscious.
( http://www.animaltotem.com/fox.html )

Overwhelmingly, cultural consensus on fox animal symbolism deals with:

• cunning
• strategy
• quick-thinking
• adaptability
• cleverness
• wisdom

Additional perspectives and cultural viewpoints on the fox animal meanings are as follows:
In China, fox animal symbolism revolved around the afterlife. Lore has it that a fox sighting was thought to be a signal from the spirits of the deceased.
Fox animal symbolism takes a turn of intelligence in the Celtic realm as the Celts believed the fox to be a guide, and was honored for its wisdom. The Celts understood the fox knows the woods intimately, and they would rely upon the fox as their guide in the spirit world.
In Japan, the fox was considered one of the rain spirits, and a messenger of Inari the rice god. Here the fox also symbolizes longevity and protection from evil.
In Native American lore, fox animal symbolism deals with two interpretations. One perspective (Northern tribes) observes the fox as a wise and noble messenger. The other (Plains tribes) views the fox as a trickster playing pranks, or worse - luring one to demise.
Other generalized fox symbolic meanings deal with

• focus
• determination
• right-action

It is noteworthy to observe the fox while it is on the hunt. We see its entire body is pointed like an arrow - straight and tightly aimed. This is a symbolic message for us to set a determined, and powerfully focused mindset in order to "hit the target" of our desires.
The red in the fox is representative of a solar emblem. As a solar emblem the fox animal symbolism deals with:

• passion
• desire
• intensity
• expression

The fox encourages us to think outside of the box and use our intelligence in different, creative ways. The fox also brings us a message to try to approach our circumstances differently that we normally would. Be aware of some of our habits, and try a different angle of action.
The fox also a reminder that we must utilize all of our resources (seen and unseen) in order to accomplish our goals. Sometimes this means calling upon some unorthodox methods.
Furthermore, the fox is a sign to be mindful of our surroundings.
Immaculate shapeshifters and incredibly adaptable, the fox beckons us to not make too many waves but rather, adapt to our surroundings, blend into it, and use our surroundings (and circumstances) to our advantage.
It should be obvious from this summary that fox animal symbolism goes far beyond what we may see on the surface. On the contrary, the fox has an incredible amount of knowledge and wisdom to share with us if/when we are willing to be still for the teachings.
Spend some meditative time with the spirit of the fox - odds are you will be amazed at the powerful insight this regal creature has to offer you.

(http://www.whats-your-sign.com/fox-animal-symbolism.html )




http://healing.about.com/od/animaltotems/ig/Animal-Totems-Photo-Gallery/

Goddess Dolls

I just love Goddess Dolls. I love how individual each one is, just like a real person.....
Here are two I've made in the past....

I should really get round to making some more......

I love THIS site for free doll patterns.
A popular goddess pattern but was taken down. However, I found it HERE (scroll down) Woo-Hoo!!
& a dancing spirit doll pattern can be found HERE.

& if you're feeling generous you can always join