Laurel's Grace

11/11/2024

It's all about perspective! 😒😏😌🙂‍↕️🥰 It isn't just fun to make light of wading through the tasks of this time point, during this moment of human existence, in this plane of universal reality. Returning to fun and innocent perception is perception free to re-experience and find new ways to be glad we chose this now!!

09/18/2024

09/11/2024

Sometimes you have to be watching to receive a gift, and sometimes a gift appears right in front of you. Red tail hawk feather right on the path as I returned from an evening walk.

07/11/2024

It is hard to stay your course...

There is what is termed 'The Little Death' within shamanic lore.

It comes from an understanding that we die again and again to what we no longer need in life and yes it feels exactly like a death, a great sadness, a great loss is happening from within.

It is the natural death of some outmoded concept or way of viewing things that no longer serves.

One can feel as if they are going through a type of psychic death so that the old story can be dislodged from the psyche.

It feels deeply uncomfortable and can literally bring you to your knees.

However, these 'Little Deaths' are important transitions in the life of someone who walks the conscious path.

One can learn so much during these rites of passage.
Do not try to fight, avoid or hurry these deepening times, however painful they feel.

Merge with the feeling of release, open your heart to letting go of what no longer serves and allow the process.

Keep close to nature, merge with inner nourishment (Sanctuary and kin), and let yourself release in whatever way feels safe.

There is natural magic in this transition.

Blessings ✨
(c) O. Nightsky
(Art: Dasha Bobkova)

07/10/2024

Just so much to look at!

06/01/2024

Tiny strawberry, out in the grass, I never see you little red fruit. I wonder who gets to enjoy them?

05/09/2024

🧚‍♂️ The Fairy Pools of Isle of Skye, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💙

01/07/2024

I certainly feel the energy from Clachmaben Stane!

12/29/2023

Looks like my house!

12/29/2023

The Smudging Nights of Northern Europe and Scandinavia ~ The Incense of Winter

“Our ancestors called the twelve days between December 25 and January 6 - the time between the first day of Christmas and epiphany (the day of the holy kings) - the “raw nights”. They are now more generally known as the twelve nights of Christmas. They also recognized four “smudging nights” during which the people smudged their homes and stables with herbs to protect against evil influences.

Old tradition has it that during these nights - especially the nights before St. Thomas Day, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and epiphany - the spirits are out, haunting. In these dark times, ruled by elemental powers, the spectral army of Wotan’s [Odin’s] wild hunt hurried through the clouds, uncanny spirit beings fighting the battle between light and darkness.

Rituals were in order to ward off the demonic influences and to conjure a rebirth of the sun after the dark days. At nightfall, ‘house and stable were smudged with healing herbs: mugwort, juniper, milk thistle, fir resin’ (Storl 2000b, 150). Because of these smudging rituals (originally pagan and later performed by Catholic priests), these nights were known as “smudging nights”, People burned juniper and many other aromatic substances to drive out demons. The smoke transformed the aromatic woods and herbs into scent that was supposed to implore the gods to take mercy on human beings and to keep away all evil. They also placed various combinations of magical herbs (called “nine herbs”) in their beds for protection and mixed them into their animals’ food.

The smudging nights are still taken seriously in Scandinavia.”

Excerpt from “Pagan Christmas “ by Christian Ratch and Claudia Muller – Ebeling

12/29/2023

💜 My Dear Friends 💜
We've reached to the last week of this year. Sun is born & we close the year 2023. Full Moon in Cancer & Mercury retrograde. Every day is filled with symbols, signs, smiles of the Universe & special small & bigger wonders.
Now is a good time to have a little peek into the coming new year. The year of mysterious & majestic Green Wood Dragon.
Green Wood Dragon is a creative & positive creature. His year will start with the New Moon on February 10 & will be a year of change for the better. There are five Dragons in the Chinese horoscope. The most inquisitive, peaceful & creative is the Green Wood Dragon. He likes to learn, take on new things & experiment, he is talkative & cheerful. Green Wooden Dragon symbolizes power, strength, energy, transformation & progress. His element, wood, represents growth & development & green means harmony & new life.
However, it is worth remembering that the Dragon is still a predator, tough & defiant entity & is able to severely punish those who engage in questionable activities. It's best not to make him angry. We will have to adapt to his mood & desires.
The Year of the Green Wood Dragon will provide an opportunity for breakthrough & change. The world can expect rapid & intensive growth, both spiritual & economic development. It will be a good time to start new businesses & projects, as well as for investments & financial transactions. Business projects launched in 2024 will have excellent development in the future. However, this time can be unstable, transforming the global economy, social & political system. Changes will occur not only for individuals, but for the entire planet. The time that awaits us may be challenging but it also presents huge opportunities for growth & self-development.
The planets that will influence events in 2024 are Saturn & Venus. Saturn tests for strength, so the year is waiting for us quite tough, but at the same time, Venus will soften it.
Pluto will finally move into the sign of Aquarius for the next 19 years, making unpredictable & irreversible, drastic changes in the life of every person. This transit can cause large-scale changes in society, technology, world events & our attitude to them. Pluto in Aquarius brings rapid development of technology, social media & environmental developments. Pluto's ingression is not only about changing the mechanisms of managing , but also about changing the coalitions that control the masses of people. We will see the real effects on the second half of 2024. (AI..) It can change our society so much that it will be felt in decades. This transit can also create instability & crises in society, social & political disagreements, growing conflicts & revolutions. Around May the new financial systems & a new currency may appear. In summer a possible global system error event, probably a man-made, can cause a panic. A new religion based on freedom & the emergence of new spiritual leaders are possible. The pursuit of spiritual knowledge, philosophy & spirituality will reach new heights.
This year will reveal information about some of the known people that has been hidden for a long time. The names of those who acted chaotically or unfairly in the political arena will be made public. The illusory world will collapse & priorities will be rearranged.
Issues of school education & upbringing of the younger generation, the value of a child's life will be raised. Hopes will shine for the resolution of long-standing conflicts, dark matters will be clarified & more & more politicians who refrained from expressing their own opinions will come out of the shadows.
Pluto in Aquarius offers more than just the possibility of a major war. It also symbolizes the radicalization of public sentiment, rapid acceleration in the production sectors & in all spheres of life.
The energy of chaos & instability is activated, when the situations will change every day. The events of the year will determine our future for many years to come, so it is very important to stay in harmony with yourself & the world around you.
The most dangerous atmosphere on our planet will form on the tense aspects between Mars & Pluto in February, in June & from October 14 to the end of the year.
In the second half of the year, Lilith moves into the sign Libra, symbolizing the struggle for equality & justice. People will feel undervalued.
There will be two solar eclipses. Spring eclipse on April 8 in the sign of Aries & autumn eclipse on October 2 in the constellation Libra. Both eclipses will have a serious impact on relationships between people in business, family & romantic ones. People can suddenly show the dark side of their personality & behave unexpectedly. We should not believe everything that is said. Be wary of fraud, especially in the global network. There is a risk of encountering forged documents & illegal schemes. Any transactions should be made with extreme caution. Very unfavorable time for negotiations & speeches, which can only worsen the situation. Current agreements & contracts may be terminated. Conflicts.
Three lunar eclipses. 24-25 March, 8. April, 17.-18. September.
These luminaries will cloud reality, create an atmosphere of deception, illusions, meanness & frustration. These eclipses affect the environment, the planet's water resources, up to the impact on ocean currents, as well as areas such as migration, pharmaceuticals & agriculture.
2024 is also a leap year, which is considered a negative period, bringing grief & problems.
The number of the year, 8, in numerology is an examination, the changes of the structure both political & social, practicality & material wealth. There will be much more opportunities to improve our financial situation than in previous years. Number 8 is associated with self-confidence & willpower, good year to achieve our goals, despite the obstacles on the way.
The energy of number 8 can be considered the most dual energy, it has two completely opposite sides of calm, balance & depth, & destructive, cruelty & vindictiveness. It is important that everything is fair & legal in 2024. We will be in search of the truth, but we should try to do so through acceptance, kindness & open dialogue. Without aggression & excessive emotionality.
2024 will be a year of dramatic transformation. Everyone gets what they deserve.
So the New Year is a year of big changes for each of us. Gather all your strength, you will have to show courage & let go of everything old. This period opens up new horizons & allows us to reach our full potential.
I wish you a beautiful week, light, wisdom, joy, peace, abundance, health, love, success & happiness! May your wishes be fulfilled & you, dear friend, blessed!
💜💜💜

12/11/2023

My gift to all the Moon lovers here 💜🌒🌕🌘💜 The year of Wood Dragon