Musical Musings – The Witches’ Tree

Song: The Witches Tree
Artist: Cernunnos Rising
Album: Urban Druid

I sit beneath the witches tree
The elder mother talks to me
A journey to the other side
The fragrance takes me there

Old lady standing, wise and bent
With summers night,
I breath your scent
The other world, so near so far

So will you lift the veil?

I sleep beneath the witches tree
The rurite stones watch over me
The fae, they dance by full moon light
I watch them as they shine

We even drink wine

Queen of herbs, good fortune bring
Your mystic healing ways I sing
For you, I'll need the faery folk
All dancing in a ring

Old girl, give up thy secret world
And staff and wand, to me you should
For I will give you some of mine
When I become a tree

I sleep beneath the witches tree
The rurite stones watch over me
The fae, they dance by full moon light
I watch them as they shine

We even drink wine

You'll give me thy fruit and flower
The winely essence and the power
See ahead more clearly now
The pathway in the mist

Old lady standing, wise and bent
With summer's night, I breath your scent
You'll do well, so near so far
I see beyond the veil

I sleep beneath the witches tree
The rurite stones watch over me
The fae they dance by full moon light
I watch them as they shine

We even drink wine

Post a Pic – The Beauty of Autumn

The Beauty of Autumn by Indigo Janson

Nothing confirms the turning of annual cycle of life and nature more than the vibrancy of Autumn. It makes it a time of accepting the changes that have occurred/are occurring in my life over the last year and I find it empowering to take stock and see just how far I have come over 12 months. It also means my favourite time of year, Winter, is not so far away. So while many may mourn the passing of the hot summer days I celebrate it. Who knows we may even get snow this year – I can hope so at least.

© J Farmer 2013

Shamanism

Ancient archaeological evidence has been found throughout Europe that points to shamanic activity. It is more than likely the shaman played an important role in ancient tribal life even if the belief systems of our Palaeolithic and Mesolithic ancestors were not entirely shamanic.

A shaman is a spiritual leader within a tribal society fulfilling numerous functions within the tribe. The roles of the shaman include:

• Priest;


• Mystic;


• Counsellor;


• Interpreter of spirits;


• Healer;


• Magician

A shaman oversees the rites of passage from birth through death and may also foresee the future.

The ways of a shaman are secretive, therefore the gods of the shaman are not always generally known to the community. These gods are often totemic taking the forms found in nature such as stones, plants, animals, humans and spirits. The powers of the shaman are elemental and are those of the earth, air, water and fire.

Shamans also gather secret and magical knowledge from the hidden realms of their familiar spirits. Using ecstatic practices the shaman can transport to these magical otherworlds where they encounter the powerful energies of spiritual forces that reside there.

Ecstasy is an altered state of awareness where the individual often feels they transcend themselves. Carl Jung states that it is the realization that ‘he is of the same essence as the universe, and his own mid-point is its centre’.

The calling to a shamanic path often results from deep transformative experiences such as:

• Traumatic incidences (near-death, lucid dreams, visions);


• A close relationship with nature;


• Natural psychic, magical or healing abilities;


• Understanding the underlying spiritual energies in nature;


• Intuitive messages;


• Causing change through unseen or magical means.

We all have elements of the shaman as that is what has called us to whatever path we follow. Indeed the characteristics often cross over. It is quite clear a close relationship with nature would also involve an understanding of nature’s spiritual energies and harnessing them for healing and even magical purposes.





© J Farmer 2013