Category: Wheel of the Year

Wheel of the Year

Slow Rituals & Reflections at the Summer Solstice

Wild Fen

Hello wild soul,

It seems hard to believe that we are approaching the longest day of the year on Thursday. I began writing this post to you as I have all of my wheel of the year posts this year, wrapped in a blanket, looking out onto a cold and rainy day. Today, however, is quite the contrast. I am sat with the sun on my face, surrounded by 5 noisy young swallows, who bravely left their nest yesterday and are out ‘finding their wings’, such a joy to witness!

In today’s post I wanted to share some simple rituals that I’ve been enjoying as we move towards the solstice, some reflections and a few exciting announcements so let’s dive in!

Continue reading “Slow Rituals & Reflections at the Summer Solstice” →
Trees, Wheel of the Year

Beltane Blessings & Spring Wild Pendants

Wild Fen

Hello wild soul,

How are you as we approach Beltane this year?

I am writing this to you as I listen to two swallows chatter away busily outside the window. They returned yesterday from their Winter in west Africa and have reclaimed part of the stables here on the land. If we are lucky, they will raise 1 perhaps even 2 broods here before they head back to Africa in the Autumn. Their arrival is one of the cues that tells me that Beltane is close by. The other is the profusion of beautifully scented blossoms everywhere; Lilacs, Apple, Cherry, Hawthorn and Rowan. I am curious: What are your Spring cues?

Beltane is celebrated around the 30th April and 1st May and marks the peak of Spring’s energy. This is the time of year where the land is fertile, growth is increasing rapidly and flowers are beginning to bloom.

In today’s post, I shall be sharing some of my favourite ways to celebrate Beltane, introducing some of the trees that are calling out to connect with us at this time and have some very special wild pendants to show you so let’s dive in….

Continue reading “Beltane Blessings & Spring Wild Pendants” →
Wheel of the Year

Awakening with Ostara

Wild Fen

My emergence into Spring is feeling rather slow this year. As my dear friend, Theresa put it, ‘it’s like waking up, but I’m not quite ready to jump out of bed yet!’ Some years, I am desperate to jump out of bed, and begin planting seeds and foraging those fresh Spring greens. But this year, as I sit in front of the fire and look out onto yet another wet day, my body whispers, ‘not yet’ and I remain in my late Winter cocoon a little longer.

In today’s post, I wanted to share with you my favourite question to return to at this time of year. I am celebrating a tree with deep associations to the season and sharing our first Wild Jewellery release of the year…

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Plants, Wheel of the Year

Imbolc is Coming

Wild Fen

How are you, on these stormy January days?

As the wheel of the year continues to turn, we head towards Imbolc, celebrated on and around the 1st of February. Imbolc is the mid point between the Winter Solstice (Yule) and the Spring Equinox (Ostara) and can be thought of as the birth of Spring. I love this time of year as I notice a little more light returning to the afternoons. The first flowers are pushing up through the dark earth, catkins are unravelling and there is even some warmth in the Sun on the odd day or two. The energy is beginning to quicken from one of hibernation and slumber to an unfurling, demonstrated wonderfully by the first brave snowdrops and the colourful hazel trees.

In today’s post I shall be sharing my favourite herb and tree to work with at this time of year, along with some simple rituals, so lets dive in!

Continue reading “Imbolc is Coming” →
Wheel of the Year

A Guide to Yule – the Winter Solstice

Wild Fen

The Winter Solstice, also known as Yule or Midwinter falls between 20th & 23rd December each year. At this point, we reach peak darkness, the shortest day of the year where the sun sits at its lowest in the sky.

In the natural world, there is both a deep stillness and busyness that exists simultaneously. As the woodlands rest, many animals are busy searching far and wide for food. We can often feel this contrasting energy reflected in our own lives too. Cosy, quiet evenings snuggled under blankets interspersed with busy preparations and never ending to do lists in the run up to the festive season.

In today’s post, I shall be sharing some of my favourite, very simple ways to embrace the season.

Continue reading “A Guide to Yule – the Winter Solstice” →
Wheel of the Year

A Samhain Offering & Spontaneous Rituals

Wild Fen

Some of my favourite rituals are the unplanned, spontaneous ones that seem to arise from within.

This morning, as I looked out onto a grey and drizzly day, I felt called to have a little look at my herb garden. It is changing now, many of the plants have finished flowering and remind me that I didn’t keep up with pruning this year. Others, like Calendula, are still flowering, intertwined with a mass of seed heads from earlier blooms. Rosemary stands strong and vibrant in the middle.

I began to gather some, Feverfew ‘for peace’ arose a feeling inside. Yarrow ‘for healing’. I realised I was picking them as an offering to my ancestors. I waited to see what I was drawn to next. Lavender ‘for self acceptance’ a feeling inside seemed to know. Rosemary ‘for vitality’.

I carried on feeling my way to certain plants. not worrying too much about what the ‘official meanings’ of them were but instead listening to my own inner guidance.

This little ritual found its way to me today and was a reminder that we do not need to force rituals if we do not feel connected to them. Some seasons, we may feel more aligned with than others, but I always urge you to listen to those sometimes small whispers that draw you to your own spontaneous rituals.

With Samhain blessings,

Nic x

An offering to my ancestors

Wheel of the Year

A Guide to Samhain

Wild Fen

Hello lovely Soul,

Samhain (pronounced sow-in) marks Summer’s end and the birth of Winter as the hours of darkness now outweigh the hours of daylight. This Celtic festival is celebrated over October 31st/Nov 1st in the Northern Hemisphere and is the origin of Halloween. If you are new to the Wheel of the Year (an ancient way of marking the passing seasons) you can read more about it here.

In today’s post, I shall be sharing a little more about the energy of the season and sharing some simple seasonal rituals.

Continue reading “A Guide to Samhain” →
Life, Wheel of the Year

September updates

Wild Fen

Hello lovely soul,

It has been an interesting September so far in the UK with some of our hottest temperatures of the year occurring this month! And yet, despite the heat, signs of Autumn’s approach are weaving their way into daily life. The misty mornings and dew decorated spider webs. The hedgerows heavy with purple and red jewels and the return of the Robin to our garden who has been serenading us each morning. I wonder, what changes you may have been noticing where you are?

This time of year, is a wonderful time to pause and acknowledge the transition of the year from Summer into Autumn. As the light is noticeably retreating now, we may find ourselves craving more rest, earlier nights, hearty foods and cosiness. One of my favourite practices for this time of year is to create or tend to a space so that it feels cosy and welcoming for self care practices for the darker months to come.

In today’s post I wanted to share with you a little of what we have been up to lately, some ideas for connecting with the season and let you know what we have coming up over the next few months…

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Wheel of the Year

Lammas is coming

Wild Fen

Hello lovely soul,

As we move towards Lammas in the Northern Hemisphere, the countryside is turning golden as the season of harvest is upon us. This is a time of abundance, ripening, and of things coming to fruition. Gardens are blooming yet the active period of growth is waning. Most plants are now ripening the fruits and seeds that hold the wisdom of next years growth within them.

In today’s post I shall be introducing the plants I have felt pulled to connect with lately, sharing some of my favourite ways to connect with the season and revealing our brand new offerings too!

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Wheel of the Year

Lessons from the Longest Day

Wild Fen

I have been honouring the Wheel of the Year and the passing of the seasons for many years now. I find that by connecting with the changing energy in the natural world, I am more accepting of the ebbs and flows within my own life as I journey through the year.

As we reach the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, I wanted to share some of the lessons I have been working with this season.

A theme that has become prominent this year is that of polarity, and how becoming aware of opposites can allow us to create more balance as the sun reaches its peak.

In today’s post I shall be sharing my favourite ways to embrace the sun’s energy along with my favourite practices for cultivating balance when it feels a bit too much!

Continue reading “Lessons from the Longest Day” →