Beltane : First Day of Summer : Growth Beltane, the festival of love and fertility that marks the end of spring and the start of the heat and energy of summer, falls in early November in the southern hemisphere, and early May in the northern hemisphere. In 2019 it falls on the eve of November
Samhain : First Day of Winter : Death Samhain, the festival of the ancestors and the dead that marks the beginning of winter, falls in early May in the southern hemisphere and early November in the northern hemisphere – and on October 31 in popular culture, where it is celebrated as Halloween. This year in
My favourite book this year is Harp of Kings (39/52) by my favourite author Juliet Marillier (with her Beautiful novel and Madeline Miller’s Circe very close second). It’s the first in her new Warrior Bards Trilogy, so now I’m impatiently waiting for book two! It’s such a beautiful, magical, mysterious, action-packed, adventurous, enchanting and hope-filled
I’m so excited that Into the Air is almost ready for release. To celebrate, every pre-order made by Friday September 27 comes with the ebook free, plus a free gift. It might be a gorgeous print of the beautiful artwork that graces the cover – Light and Dark by the awesome Selina Fenech – or
Equinox Blessings To You – September 23 Today is one of the two days each year of harmony and balance, when the sun is directly above the equator and there are twelve hours of light and twelve hours of dark. Ostara Wishes! The spring or vernal equinox, also known as Ostara, is celebrated between September
Circe is one of my absolute favourite books I’ve read this year, and author Madeline Miller’s previous book The Song of Achilles (32/52) is as beautifully written and almost as wonderful (it’s just obvious that I would lean slightly to goddesses and witchcraft rather than warcraft)... While walking through our gorgeous park and visiting the
July was all about high tea book launches (thanks Kate Forsyth!), and falling for audiobooks, thanks to Juliet Marillier’s audiobook exclusive last month (well played Audible!). I’ve been listening to Michelle Obama’s Becoming when I walk each night after working out, or if I’m driving on my own, and I’m loving it. I’ve been reading
Imbolc blessings to my friends in the southern hemisphere. Spring has sprung! Last night on my walk I saw jonquils, and friends have seen snowdrops 🌿💐 Wishing you all the joy, new energy and awakening as the light returns, and you plant the seeds of what you’d like to grow in your life 💕 And
I read some wonderful books in June as part of my Book A Week Challenge – although two have to be kept secret for now (yes, it is killing me – one is by one of my favourite authors!). But I will post about those two as soon as I can... Juliet Marillier broke my
When the call went out for authors to take part in a Summer Solstice Fantasy Bookfest, I had to answer. The solstices, equinoxes and cross-quarter days are such a strong magical thread running through all six of the Mists series books – although of course June 22 is the Winter Solstice down under, while our
Yule : Winter Solstice : Rebirth The winter solstice falls around June 21 or 22 in the southern hemisphere – this year it is 2am on the morning of June 22 – and around December 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere – you can check the timing for you here. It’s the longest night
Litha : Summer Solstice : Fruition The summer solstice falls around June 20 or 21 in the northern hemisphere – this month it occurs on June 21 – and December 21 - 22 in the southern hemisphere. (Check your times here...) It’s the longest day and the shortest night of the year, with the sun
May was a little tricky for reading, because I was in England for the month with my beloved, and we spent all our time searching for stone circles, wandering across the moors, climbing tors, and drinking tea and eating scones in little tearooms. But between the English Heritage website and google maps, I dipped in
Tonight at the dark of the moon, I’m wishing you much love, bravery and awareness as you embrace the magic of introspection and what it can reveal to you. This is a powerful time to reflect on your year, and your self, and to look within, seeking the truth of any obstacles you might be
Samhain blessings to everyone in the southern hemisphere, and to those in the north, magical Beltane wishes… Samhain, the festival of the ancestors and the dead that marks the beginning of winter, falls in early May in the southern hemisphere (in 2019, it falls on May 6) and early November in the northern hemisphere –
I’m still doing well with my Book A Week Challenge, and managed five this month too (although I can’t talk about or show you the cover of one just yet – but it shouldn’t be too long...)... My absolute favourite book of the year so far is Circe by Madeline Miller, which is saying something,
Samhain – First Day of Winter Samhain, the festival of the Ancestors and the dead that marks the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, honours the Wheel of the Year as it turns towards the barrenness of the coldest season, in nature and in our lives, and is a time of withdrawal and
Beltane – First Day of Summer Beltane marks the first day of summer, and is representative of vitality, fertility and the energy of the sun, so its foods include luscious fruits like cherries and strawberries, green leaf, herb and flower petal salads, oat or barley cakes, dairy foods and honey. Mead, a type of honey
One of my plans for 2019 is to make time to read more books. My post-NaNoWriMo December book binge* got me off to a great start – I devoured five books, which was bliss 💕📚🌟 And I did that again in January, and in February, and in March too. Such bliss! My first read this
One of my Instagram prompts for Camp NaNoWriMo this month is to interview a fellow author. American writer Kastie Pavlik is an avid gamer, artist, techie, and hopeless bibliophile. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2008, she has subsequently beaten breast cancer, and spends her days entertaining (annoying?) her feline overlords while adapting to her endlessly
