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Can you feel the change in the air? A chilly edge to the wind, the taste of rain on the horizon, the smell of wet earth and damp woodlands. The rose hips bob in the hedgerows, almost ready, and the elderberries glisten, apples fall~ Autumn comes.

I am somehow taken unaware this year. Even though I knew that Autumn was here, the equinox energy is strong and flowing suddenly, like a river in flood, jolting me from my late summer reverie. “Change”, she whispers on the strengthening breeze, “honour and let go….move with me, dance with me, trust in me” 

With hearts open, there is wisdom and deep learning to be gained in the balancing of our inner and outer worlds. Equinox energy moves us to clear out our cobwebs, open the windows and let her blow through our hearts and minds one last time before we retreat, to dream the dark of the year. 

Mabon heralds a natural pause; a time to ground and reorient ourselves upon the path. A time for gathering your achievements to you and honouring how far you have come. 

A time to reflect; What have you grown this year? Where have you reaped your harvest? What are you most proud of? 

Take this moment and celebrate every sacred part of yourself; growing and changing as you are, spiralling with the seasons. 

Give Thanks; Take your morning tea out into the garden. With a prayer, raise your cup up to the windswept blue sky and the sunshine, in gratitude and acknowledgement, then pour out a libation upon the Earth to honour her part in all that you do. Bring that Earth and Sky blessed cup to your lips and drink a toast to yourself and your achievements.

The day and night are of equal length and beauty, and the full moon this week has blessed us with her magical light that bathes all areas of our lives. Her gifts of abundant creativity flow, and her light illuminates the paths of our lives to give us clear sight, far sight, both forwards and back. An opportunity to gain new insight and perspective. Meditate, pray, dream and Give Thanks in her presence. 

Get out in the wet silver grass of the full moon garden and sing to her, tell her your stories of journeys made and mountains climbed, of joy and sorrow interwoven, of rainbows and muddy puddles, sticky fingers, dirty faces, new friends and days full of simple pleasures. 

Ask for her blessings on the many adventures to come, that you may journey well, with Her good grace and a light heart.

One balmy Sunday afternoon at the end of July, the women of The Red Thread came together in celebration of our merry band.

We brought our children, our partners and lunch to share and spent the afternoon in the summer garden. There was much playing, exploring and bouncing on the trampoline (and that was just the Dads!)

walks by the pond, piano playing, duck watching, lots of picnic rug chatter,

really delicious food shared and not a few waspy friends joining in too… It was a truly lovely, peaceful afternoon spent in wonderful company. 

I am ever grateful and in awe of the gifts that The Red Thread has brought in to my life and without doubt, the best of these is the gift of some wonderful friendships. Thank you all you lovely Mamas, for nurturing with me this dream of the Mothers Circle, and may it, like all our children, flourish and grow in our Love and care. 

with bright blessings, Keeley x

“Only when we stop reaching off balance for the light, and equally welcome the darkness of our souls, will we find the exquisite inspiration that comes from being rooted, nourished and blessed by nature. Open to the sanctity of nature’s currents, can we then experience the vibrant flood of energy that is offered us as life, finding the deep resources of wisdom and fuel within our nature, and exploring the freedom of perfect self expression.”

Emma Restall Orr, Kissing the Hag.

photo~ Pascal’s Oak Heart, June 2010

I am the sea

I am the mountains

I am the light

I am eternal

This confusion is fog
There is light beyond
I sense it and feel its warmth
I move toward it
but not headlong
I fear to stumble,
to fall with pain.

There are women everywhere with fragments
When we learn to come together we are whole
When we learn to recognize the enemy
we will come to recognize what we need to know
to learn how to come together

I know the many smiling faces of my enemy
I know the pretence that is the weapon used.
I have been the enemy
and learned to know myself well.

The ones who talk only from the throat
see only with two eyes
hear only with ears
but pretend to do more
are the enemy

I walked amidst shards
and fear laceration
I must dare to bleed
I must dare to cut myself
To amputate
the festering pain.

I will learn to mix medicine bags for those with faith
I will learn to chant the power chant
I will learn to mix
medicine bags for those with faith
I will learn to chant the power chant
and play the healing drum.
I will not fear moss voices
water songs
                                Small furry things with sharp teeth
              or my own hesitancy.

I am falling
I am falling

Past star
Past time
       through space
                    and my own fragments

oh sisters the pain

I am scattered
I am scattered

gather fragments
weave and mend

  scattered fragments
weave and mend

In golden light
I recognize the enemy faces
fear of our bodies
fear of our visions
fear of our healing
fear of our love
fear of sister kind
fear of brother kind
fear of fear

Love is healing
healing is love

There are women everywhere with fragments

gather fragments
weave and mend

When we learn to come together we are whole
When we learn to recognize the enemy
we will know what we need to know
to learn how to come together
to learn how to weave and mend.

Old Woman is watching
watching over you
In the darkness of the storm
she is watching
watching over you

weave and mend
weave and mend

Old woman is watching
watching over you
with her bones become a loom
she is weaving
watching over us
weave and mend
golden circle
weave and mend
sacred sisters
weave and mend

I have been searching
lost
alone
I have been searching
for so many years

I have been searching
Old Woman

and I find her
in
mySelf

from Daughters of the Copperwoman by Anne Cameron

This Thursday at The Red Thread, we held a Blessingway ceremony for Tracey, who is not only journeying to birth for the 3rd time, but is also travelling back to her native New Zealand to live.

This was a moving occasion for us~ our first Blessingway as a group for one of our beautiful Mamas and a fond farewell too. Tracey has been an inspiring and important part of our circle for a while now and we will miss her tremendously!

The Blessingway was a beautiful, heartfelt offering from us all; Marianne had crafted an amazing crown of greenery for Tracey to wear; Mel and Starr played an enchanting flute and keyboard duet; Lizzie sang a spellbinding birthing song which stopped everyone in their tracks, even the toddlers; 

we each brought a bead for a birthing necklace and spoke a blessing for Tracey and her birth; we all held hands and wished her well.

As a part of the ceremony we bound our wrists with red yarn, symbolic of our connection to each other and to Tracey. We know that the bonds of friendship formed here will stretch as far as they need to, and that we all remain a circle in our hearts, if not in everyday-ness.

Over the years I have been blessed to have some truly wonderful wombyn touch my life, and until now, almost none of them have been close enough for regular cups of tea and hugs. So I know just how far our heartstrings can stretch ~ and it is forever. 

Go Well Tracey. Go in Peace and Love on your path to birth and other shores, and know that we are cheering you on from chilly old England. 

I would like to say a huge Thank You to all the awesome women who jointly create The Red Thread Mothers Circle, because without you and your open hearts, it would just be a ‘lovely idea’ rather than the vibrant and loving space that it is. I was honoured to share the Blessingway with you all.

In Circle Blessed x

The hyacinths emerging remind me that the land is stirring under the snow and grey skies, and that the days of winter are drawing to a close. The scent of hyacinth is said to ease grief and depression, and the sight of them shooting skyward in January always lifts my spirits and heralds the march towards spring…

This week the Red Thread came together again after a long break for the end of the year and then a snow imposed break at the start of 2010. Rather wonderfully, the sun came out to welcome us all back as it so often does on Red Thread days! Magical. Hyacinths sat on the central table of the circle as the children played all around and we reconnected over herbal teas and delicious home made snacks. Recently a dear friend bade me “Keep good company” and I am happy to say that within the weave of the Red Thread the company is indeed soothing and sweet ~ A breathe of fresh air to gently bear us into 2010.

Everyone brought something delicious to add to the shared snack and I thought it would be nice to share some recipes here. Thank you Mel and Marianne for contributing these recipes along with your glowing smiles, full cake tins and continuous support of the mothers circle.

Flapjacks

150g oat flakes

150g whole wheat flour

150g mixed dried fruit chopped small

30g desiccated coconut

30g chopped nuts (I used pecans but could be hazelnuts etc)

30g sunflower seeds

100g vegetable fat spread

300ml apple juice (I also added a bit of agave and apple juice concentrate)

Mix all the above together, except for apple juice / liquid. Add juice and mix well. Grease non stick oven tray and cover with mixture pressing well down. Bake at 200 degrees until brown (approx 30mins).

Peanut butter cookies

1 cup plain flour (I use wholemeal or spelt, if using spelt use an extra ¼ cup)

1tsp baking powder

½ tsp bicarb

2tbs sugar (I missed this out)

¼ tsp salt

1/3 cup peanut butter

½ cup maple syrup

1tsp vanilla extract

3 tbs canola oil (I’ve never found this so have used rice bran oil instead) (Mel’s note- I’ve used sunflower oil too which has worked)

Preheat oven 175 degrees.  Combine first 5 ingredients and stir. In separate bowl mix peanut butter with maple syrup, oil and vanilla. Add wet to dry and stir.  Pinch into balls and press down on tray with the back of a fork. Bake for 11 mins, until just golden.

Banana muffins

30g veg spread (I think Pure sunflower spread is the best for baking)

2 heaped tablespoons honey (or maple syrup or agave or concentrated apple juice)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 large ripe bananas

150g spelt flour

1 heaped teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven 180 degrees

Melt veg spread and honey together with vanilla, then mash bananas into wet mix. Mix dry ingredients together then combine with the wet mix. Spoon into 10-12 muffin cases and bake for 25 mins.

Tonight as I walk

Past the moon in the dark, I realise I’m walking with you.

With millions of long walking women

With silvery, moon walking women

With willowy lake walking women

With you.

I know as I lose all sight of myself And I smile and I spy on the world,

I am safe in the steps of my infinite walk

As the long line of women unfurls.

I shudder in mists and in dusks at the lake but I’m strong in this line with you,

I wait and I watch and I wish in the dark

But I’m sure that I feel all of you.

As we walk on our own, in our boots and spare time, in our feet and our moods and our need

Remember the line

And how far it winds

Walk in strength

Past the moon

Walk as we.

I thank you for walking with me.

Sioux Patullo, 2001 from we’moon

Mistletoe graced our central table for our last Red Thread Mothers Circle of 2009. Revered for its magical and medicinal uses, its primary symbolism is for love, protection and fertility.

It is with this in mind that I asked for Mistletoe’s blessings today ~ blessings of Love and protection on all the things that really matter as we wend our way through another festive season. Upon our children, our family and our family of friends, our relationship with ourselves and with the Earth, the Mother of us all.

2009 has been a busy year of manifesting and creating for the Red Thread. The group of women who have so far heard and responded to the call are co-creating a colourful and loving circle in their support and commitment.

We made dream pillows for Autumn Equinox, had a guest Homoeopath visit to talk, been given foot massages and Reiki treatments, held a singing, sound and movement circle together and eaten a shared lunch to close the year. But most of all we have spent time just to ‘be’ as we are, ourselves and our children, and it has been peaceful, relaxing and a joy.

My wish, on the turning of the great wheel of the year, is that as the sun returns to warm the land, our circle will grow. May its roots grow strongly down, deep down and its branches reach skywards, calling ever more gentle mamas to weave their threads with ours. I hope that 2010 will be a year of expanding, strengthening and sustaining The Red Thread, and that we all continue to find what we need within its safe space.

Blessed Be x

The Red Thread is that which unites us all as women, weaving through our hearts, breathe, bodies and lives; it is the blood and bone essence of Woman. Whether we bear children in this lifetime or not, we all once grew in the waters of our mothers womb, and were born cradling within us the eggs that will be our future children. Motherhood, although not for everyone this time around, is a powerful and vibrant strand of the red thread.

We are all women, a spark of the divine incarnate, and in motherhood we hold the future of this lovely planet and of the human race in our hands and hearts, as mothers have done since the dawn of time.

In this wonder-ful responsibility, if we choose to grasp it with our eyes and hearts open, is the potential for unlimited personal growth. If we truly listen to our children and let them be our teachers on the path of motherhood, then we may also choose a way of honest and authentic living on the earth.

Personally I have found that by following the red thread within and closely listening, the result is heart centred, attachment parenting which respects both our human nature and the Earth who is the mother of us all.

This is not an easy path though, this is the “road less travelled”. It is not a way of Being that is in step with much of modern society and whilst full of joyful moments, it can also be lonely and hard.

Our society as a whole is not geared towards people like us; we do not make good consumers of either junk food, meaningless possessions or junk culture. As Mothers on our own unique journeys, we aspire to take personal responsibilty, embrace our differences and honour the tides of life as they ebb and flow within and through us. We aim to walk lightly and with respect on the earth in every sense.

Recognising the sacredness of our task, we are humbled yet unafraid. We look inside of ourselves for answers and listen to our instincts instead of following the herd or asking the expert. We question ‘the norm’ and research for ourselves when something doesn’t feel right. We don’t give our power away, recognising that when it comes to our children and our families, we are the experts. We may look to good friends to encourage and support us or to other wise mothers for words of experience but we know that ultimately, that which we seek is always within.

It is through the support of good friends that we are able to access our innate wisdom and begin to trust it. That is where, I believe, a space like the Red Thread Mothers Circle can be so valuable; in providing a safe space for women and their children to come together and share the journey in an authentic honest way, in its colourful highs, lows and all the moments in between.