The shop in Dunkeld is now open which is great there are a few changes still needed to be made such as it has over night turned into a gift shop which I never wanted I want the shop to be about natural products herbs and holistic treatments, but that part of the dream some how ended up; up the back of the shop while the gift items ended up at the front. Through no one fault but my own. It is an easy problem to rectify.
Another huge change to Highland Essence is there is now two of us. I am no longer a one man band YIPPEE!! A wonderful woman has come into my life and she goes by the name of Wendy, I have been studying with Wendy for just over a year now and we struck up a friendship through our common interests: psychics, Herbs, Natural products out love of dance music (although I am a rock chick at heart, I do love dancing away to teiesto in a club every now and then). Our friendship was cemented when Wendy came to my rescue the week running up to the launch night of the shop. There where a few hiccups along the way and Wendy was my pillar of strength. She helped me to make up creams etc etc. What has made me join forces with Wendy isn't just the fact we have common interests, no no no, it's the fact Wendy has knowledge way beyond her years you ask her anything on herbs and natural base products and she could rattle off the botanical name and tell you exactly what they're good for, her creams are of a quality that would put estee lauder (I know I've spelt it wrong, but you know what I mean) to shame. Why have someone who lives 10 minutes away who does the same as you go into direct competition, when we could work together. So that's exactly what we did. Wendy and I have joined forces so Highland Essence now has two people behind it, and I am extremely grateful for Wendy coming along when she did.
Anyhoo my chickens what else has been happening I now have 3 baby chicks. We incubated the eggs and 3 hatched it was a magical experience watching these little eggs come alive and crack through and out popped little baby chickens, we have named them: Yolk, omelette & Eggford. I love them they're chirping away behind me while I write this blogg. I also have my Scottish dumpies (a type of rare chicken apparently) outside in the hen house, they were collected today from Inverness, I have a cock and two hens, I'm turning into a real old crone living in the middle of no where surrounded by my animals ha.
Let me talk about summer solstice I love this time of year and I love this sabbat on the witches calendar, don't you think in the summer everyone smiles at you, its time to have friends round for BBQ and drinks, all my fondest memories are of summers past, from playing on a rope swing over a stream when I was a kid, to the beach parties when I was a teenagers and now I enjoy watching the kids run around outside while I sit and chat with my friends over a summer cocktail, there really is nothing better.
June is the month of summer solstice, when the sun is at its strongest. The flower of June is the rose. Symbolic of female beauty, the rose epitomises the gentle, fragrant spirit of summer. The herbs associated with the month of June are eucalyptus and lemon balm. These can be dried or burnt as incense or used in spells. The full moon of June is known as the dryards moon. The dryards are the elemental life force of trees, and each tree has its own guardian dryard. The ancient Celts had a special relationship with these elementals and would invoke their presence in battle. If you have a tree in your garden, make an effort to get to know the dryards. Sit beneath the tree if you can, and just silently acknowledge the presence of the tree element. Spend time with the trees regularly, and eventually the dryards will make themselves known to you. I had the most out of this world experience while sitting under a tree ( I call it my thinking tree as I always go there to think funnily enough) and this time I was sitting there I was troubled but after 10 minutes 3 birds of prey perched 200 yards away from me and just sat with me, I took that to be a message of some kind for a number of reasons 1) I have never seen 3 birds of prey together at anyone time 2) They were looking right at me and they seemed to be at peace in my presence. Nut job I can hear you all saying but that experience was extremly spiritual for me. Anyway back to summer solstice; this time of year is also known as Litha. At this time of year decorate your altar with objects that bear the sun's image - candle holders, lanterns and oil burners. Place a deep yellow or gold cloth over your altar surface and add lots of gold candles. Vases of buttercups and sunflowers look fabulous on a Litha altar as do citrine and amber crystals. Add yellow and gold ribbons, and maybe a daisy chain around the edge.
At Litha, witches also honour the glorious abundance of Mother Earth. Celebrate outdoors in the sun (In Scotland that can sometimes be a little difficult) you can include faery magick, BBQ and perhaps a visit to a sacred site such as a stone circle. Burn this months herbs and oils, decorate trees and local wells with flower garlands and ribbon while making a magical wish. Sing, dance and feast on the wonderful summer foods. Enjoy your friends and family.
Until next time my friends, toodle pip xxx
