The Magick Of Old Photos

A couple of years ago I visited a beautiful grand house where Lord and Lady someone had lived, I love the history of the house and especially love the furniture and nik naks.  While walking into the round sitting room (yep it was round) there in the fire place something caught my eye so over I went to investigate and that's where my passion started.

The fire guard that covers the fire place so that it looks tidy was decorated with old Victorian photos, there were women, men and children and it was so unusual that I went away with the intention of creating one for our home but I had no idea where to buy the photos from so it got put on the back burner.

My husband and I like to visit antique fairs so a few years after visiting the grand house we took off for the day and to the antique fair, soon my heart began to thump with excitement because there on the table was a pile of Victorian photos and the rest is history.

I now have a wonderful collection which is still growing, my collection consists of Victorian albums as well as loose photos.  I love to connect with the people looking back at me and do wonder what kind of a life they had, where they lived and in particular I love the clothes the women wore.  It is quite sad to think that some of these people had a hard life and with a lot of the photos it shows.

I like to give the photos a loving home where they will be cherished by me and looked after, it is hobby that connects me with the past and since I love tracing my ancestry it gives me an insight into how my ancestors lived.  I get excited when names are written on the back or a postcard type of message, the very thought that I'm reading a message that was written all those years ago by someone who might have been in service, who was happy or were trying to better their life makes me wonder what became of them.

It is a hobby, a passion and one I will continue because these old photos have a sprinkling of magick within them.

The last two photos are of the same couple, I bought the photos at different antique fairs, one was in Wales and the other in England, what were the chances of that!.....this is a very small part of my collection and soon I'll add more photos.

Rachel x

The Joys Of Being An Earthie

I'm sat here in my living room looking out onto my back garden and to the woodlands which are directly behind me and it makes my heart flutter a little and even though it is raining I want to go barefoot out into those woods and converse with the energy that is there.

I've been a Earth spirit since a baby, I've loved crawling on the grass and picking daisies to roaming the mountain that surrounded my childhood home.  I've always felt a deep connection to Mother Earth and am at my most content when walking through woods as I can pick up on the trees energies, the smell of moss that lingers in the air and watching for the little woodland creatures as they scurry away with their food finds.

I feel so blessed to live where I do because in any direction and in no time at all I am able to walk through wooded areas, along a beautiful and secluded canal where I can watch dragonflies, spot pretty flowers pushing their way up through the earth, collect nuts from the tress and elderflowers.  This gives me so much joy and I feel as one with my surroundings, it is as though Mother Earth shares her energy with me as I immerse myself in her greenery.

For some of you, you might feel a deep connection with water, being up in the air or around fire....which are you connected to......

Rachel x

The Magick Of Summer Holidays

I'm talking about the summer school holidays which I know there are parents who love em or hate em and I'm in the love em category.

There are only 2 weeks left for the kids in school and by this time of the year I am shattered, I can feel my energy drooping and the longing to stay under the duvet get stronger and stronger to the point where I dangle my legs over the side of the bed while laying down still and hope that is enough...alas not lol, so not a fan of the alarm clock when it goes off at 6.20am.

I have 3 children and as much as I do love doing the school run it seems to be going on forever and I have quite a few more years left (I am counting down) plus I work shifts which can mean no lay in on a weekend for a few weeks and I do appreciate a lay in but the school holidays have always had a magick sparkle to them even when I was a kid, they seemed to last forever and I loved that because I was an outdoor kid.

The summer holidays for me means no routine yay, spending time with the kids although being kids they have their own interests eg tablets, mobile phones so I don't get much of a look in unless there is food and a family dvd involved.....oh yes and a shopping spree but even though I still have to work through the holidays it just means we aren't living dangerously to a dead line with time, no stress first thing in the morning with "Have you brushed your teeth" and "Have you had breakfast" to "Where's your coat, you'll need it" and trust me this lasts until they are well into their teens!

You'd swear it was me breaking up from school and I guess in a way it is because some days I still feel like that child that has the magick of the summer holidays around the corner.

Rachel x

How To Meet Your Guides (Angel, Faery, Elemental etc)

We all have a guide or two that work with us and sometimes we are aware of them and sometimes we are not.  You might know the signs that someone is with you such as the hairs on your neck or arm raising, a popping in the ear, a coldness, a fragrance in the air but this is how far it goes and you want to know more.

Whether it is a new guide in the shape of a soul who used to walk this Earth, an angel, faery, elemental, animal etc you can use the same technique to connect, see, converse with them and it is so simple too.  Meditation is wonderful for many reasons and what better way to connect.

I like to play some music in the background, any music that you feel has meaning for you is good, not too loud though and then get yourself comfortable on the bed and relax.

In my mind I always ask first for the company of my guide and I then proceed to picture a place where I want to be so you could picture a beach, woodlands, mountain, cave, sea etc and just imagine you are walking there, take in the surroundings, the smells, the weather......then find yourself somewhere to sit comfortably and ask your guide to come forward and sit with you.

Do not rush or push yourself, your guide will come to you when you are ready and it may take a few tries over a few weeks before it will fall into place and that is ok.  When the time is right and your guide steps forward ask them to sit with you, talk to them and ask whatever questions you feel you want to know.  I like to ask them about their journey, about their life, their name....take in their looks, clothes, smile, their voice......

When you feel you have to leave just thank them, ask them to meet you here again soon and also ask them to connect to you when you need them.  One of two things will then happen, either you will awaken from the meditation and carry on with the day or you'll fall asleep, there's no danger in meditation after all when we go to bed to sleep we tend to relax and play out scenarios and eventually we drift off to sleep.

Keep a journal if you want to and record all your experiences, looking back over them in a year or so can be quite interesting but most of all enjoy the time spent in a magikal place with those who are special to you of another world.

Rachel x

Dryads & Fauns

**Many of us have an affinity with trees, they call to us as we pass them by and their soul has breathed in the many secrets of Mother Earth. I would place them as Earth Elementals as their roots take firm hold within the soil and they are known as Dryads. Each tree has a Faun attached to it and to tell you more about them both I've written a little piece about each one 

The beautiful Dryads are tree faeries. Should you find yourself close to a tree you will undoubtedly feel the energy oozing out from every part of the tree including the roots. Being this close allows you to be on the cusp of the otherworld where the elementals reside. Try sitting beside a tree and jot down your emotions etc. It will be magical 

A Faun is a nature spirit known as a tree spirit. They help trees to grow and in a way they nurture them, the Faun will offer his consciousness to help a tree grow in love and to be connected to their place of growth. In return the tree provides an opportunity to experience connection, love, a feeling of belonging etc. A faun is tied to his tree for all his life and is therefore dedicated.

© The Faery Enchantress

Changing Times

Hi everyone,

It's been a few months since I last posted and that's because I decided last September to make some changes to my life and took the plunge by going back to night school college.  I took Psychology and although the course is by far not an easy one I decided to concentrate my efforts in learning and revising which hopefully pays off.

I've always been interested in the mind and how humans develop but didn't realize just how much we would be learning within this course but sometimes we have to make changes whether it be to better our chances of a new career or to keep our mind stimulated, staying stale is not an option for a healthy life and getting out there enables you to builds confidence as well as making new friends.

Now that my exams are over I can breathe easy for a few months until I enrol in another course but for now it's concentrating on having some fun with my writing, and hobbies and look out for some new blogs coming soon.

Rachel x

Wanting Space & Not Feeling Guilty

Space is something that is important for each and every one of us no matter our age but there are times when we feel guilty about wanting that space because what if it comes across as not wanting to spend time with those we care about or love or it might seem we are just being grouchy and will they be able to cope without us for a few hours..... I think these are our perceptions.

Firstly we need space for many reasons such as:

sanity
growth
down time
creative time
re energize
re connect with yourself

Sound familiar?

Space allows us to close a door and to go within our soul to a place where we can relax, be ourself, think quietly, slow down our pace, solve problems etc so why the guilt? perhaps our other half might feel left out or the kids want our attention, friends need someone to off load on, the housework needs to be done and so the list goes on and our excuses.

Truth of the matter is everyone is entitled to space and daily life just has to make a space and fit you in, family & friends can wait an hour or have this time as their own space.  So when you next need your space allow yourself to feel the benefit of what comes with spending quality time with you and don't feel guilty about replenishing energies, keeping yourself sane during a hectic day, being at one with your soul after all you do deserve it.

Rachel x

Is That Autumn I Can Smell?

I wondered the other day why I could detect a faint smell of Autumn in the air after all it is the height of Summer isn't it? warm and muggy days with blue skies and no clouds with a basking sun so I was puzzled let me explain why.   I always seem to be months behind with my inner body season clock even though I pick up the signs a month or so before, once we've entered a season I tend to stay there for far more months than it should last and maybe that is wishful thinking but I think it is down to the fact that time whizzes by without so much as a "excuse me please while I pass you"

So why am I surprised at this faint smell of Autumn after all next month we say goodbye to Summer as my husband pointed out, my reaction was I want more warm weather first, more visits to the beach before I feel I can say goodbye for another year but time waits for no one so I guess I must get used to the idea.

But there's something exciting about seeing in a new season and I love asking the kids to breathe in the air and tell me what they smell and yep the responses at first were quite funny but I do feel it is important that they are aware of the changing seasons and what comes with them.  Now I love Autumn with a passion, always have so the very fact that my flowers are all starting to die back along with a dead leaf smell mixed with conkers is telling me something is going to happen and soon.

I shall prepare next month with a Autumn/Mabon altar, a few offerings, a party for the family, a spell and then reflect on the Summer before looking forward to what the coming months bring.

Rachel x