~ Whispering Secrets ~

Trees talk to my hands.

Bark~braille whispering secrets

to seeking fingertips. 

9th June, 2011

~ My Love is Green ~

My love is scarlet

and ruby.

Cocky and merry;

rich in stars;

 ancient with shadows;

never sober.

Brightness sweet as air

Singing away.....

20th October 2009

~ Soft Night ~

Light from a boat, nearly full moon, Jupiter. 21st September 2010

Soft night.

Silent moon~arrows
open the evening,

sliding fiery, blazing music

on the air.

Blow the sleek sea

and remember home.

8th June 2010

~ Samhain ~

Ash trees have lost their leaves;

Only their keys

Hang dark and stark

Like the silhouette of inverted bats,

With thin witch-finger branches

Clawing up

Into a deepening azure dusk.

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Today, I went out to our local car boot sale and later, a supermarket, dressed like this:

Off to get the broomstick

I enjoyed it so much! I think there's a little touch of a thespian in there somewhere! What I found interesting though was the range of reactions from people when they noticed how I was dressed. 

Most, I am glad to say, smiled; some asked me where did I get my hat....one lady sang it to me :~) Others laughed and delightedly said how much they loved how I looked ~ that made me happy * There were a sad few who looked in derision, scorn and had cross, unfriendly faces, and one pretty lady who said she liked my hat then laughed nastily? I felt strong enough to take it today or I would not have gone out looking like this, but it did make me wonder what their lives must be like that they reacted that way. It made me think of all sorts of reasons and excuses for them. Maybe they are having a really hard time. Maybe they are ill. Maybe someone they love is ill. Anyway, I send them love and hope they find happiness.

My favourite one was a little boy in the supermarket who turned to his mum with huge eyes and whispered "Mum, there's a witch" :~) I had such a pleasant little chat with him, which made my day.

                    

        

~ Happy Samhain ~

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~**~

~ A month of Haws ~

Oh beautiful October how I am loving this summery autumn you are gifting us ~ thank you*

The Rowan berries are in full orange fire
and the air is biting into an Autumn crisp;
while the light is sliding from its warm summer pink
to the cooler blue of shadowy fall.

Twice this month I have collected, simmered in cider vinegar and water, mashed and strained through a sieve, the meditative process of making hawberry ketchup. The picking and de-stalking are reminiscent of sitting as a child with my nana on her peaceful doorstep, shelling peas we had just picked from her abundant garden.

Red haws

blue sky.

A willow basket

made with love to hold 

these berries

~ little capsules of heart medicine ~

It is an excercise in patience to mash the cooked berries through a sieve, but listening to this, which makes it summer at any time of the year, and this which must surely make anyone just want to dance made it purely pleasurable. Many berries have to be picked to make up a weight of 500g which, as a ketchup fills just one bottle, but the taste is so good that it was worth the effort of doing it twice, so we could have two bottles!

I heard that if you turn the bottles upside down when you have poured in the hot sauce, it makes them self sterilize, so that is why these two are rather a sticky looking mess :~)

Be Kind to Yourself

Like yourself

Smile a lot

Hug a friend

Make herb tinctures

Talk to trees

Ride a motorbike

Dance in the moonlight

Run barefoot through fields

Kiss a loved one

Pick daisies

Write a poem

Climb a mountain

Go bare-back riding

Make a daisychain

Dance in the rain

Watch a thunderstorm

Drink herb teas

Wear funny hats

Paint your toenails

Sing with the wind

Be kind to a stranger

Watch a stormy sea

Be who you are

Laugh out loud

Sit in quiet, sit in peace

Be kind to yourself

Be your best friend

words: Helen Lee 2001