Getting There

Blimey what a right going on I'm having getting my Uni application sorted out. I'm having to apply through clearing because I missed the UCAS deadline so this seems to have confused matters. Rang the Uni up and was offered a place and was told I would receive written confirmation within 2 weeks which would prompt me to send in my Clearing Passport. Two weeks plus go by and still no letter so I emailed the department asking what to do. Turns out I should have sent my Clearing Passport in two weeks ago!! Mis-informed or what! So I hastily bung it into an envelope and rush down to the post office before the last post gets collected. Hopefully I have got it in in time. Now I have to sit back and wait. Bloody bloody hell!!

The pleasures of trying to improve oneself.

Going headlong into the great unknown

Wow. What a difference nearly 6 months has made. I'm still pretty fragile and feel vulnerable but the old me is starting to reappear again to some extent. I've been accepted verbally on a degree course at Leeds Met to train as an Environmental Health Practitioner. Hopefully I should get written confirmation soon. I'm feeling confident but nervous. This is a big step for me to take in a completely new direction. The course lasts four years ( 3 in school and 1 in work placement) so at least I'll still be on the 'right' side of 50 when I qualify.

Went to a Friarage Re-Union last night in Northallerton. Its unreal to think that it is 25 years since I started my SRN training. Most of the group were there and everyone looks the same, just a few shades older. The next one will be in 5 years time so I'll be able to talk about my new career and life then as well. It was great to see everyone.

Ivy's Messier Marathon

I have created a new page on my website that will log the progress of my attempts to observe the objects listed in the Messier Marathon named after Charles Messier (1730 - 1817). Obviously these and other deep sky objects have been logged in other catalogues, NGC's for example. So to might things even more interesting I shall be including these as well.

February

February fill dyke

Be it black or be it white

This month derives its name from the word februare, to purify; or from Februa the Roman festival of expiation, which was celebrated through out the latter part of the month.

Herbs: Hyssop, sage

Colours: Light blue and violet.

Flowers: Primrose

Scents: Wisteria and heliotrope

Crystals: Amethyst, jasper, quartz.

Birds: Eagle

Animals: Otter

Deities: Brigit, Juno, Diana, Demeter, Persephone and Aphrodite.

Time to: Work energy towards the surface. Purification, growth and healing. Accept responsibility for past errors, forgive yourself and make future plans.

Ice Moon

So named as this is the deepest part of winter in the northern hemisphere, when the likelihood of snow and ice is much greater than other months of the year. This is a cold, dark month when spring seems a long way off, yet look closely about yourself - see the maids of February growing in your garden or along the hedgerow and woodland bottoms. Hazel catkins also start to appear towards the end of this month.

Hello 2008

January is here, with eyes that keenly glow,
A frost-mailed warrior
striding a shadowy steed of snow.

Christmas has gone and a new year has begun, thank god. Hopefully this year will be a bit less disastrous than last year. One can hope I suppose. Anyway a new year means a fresh start. Time to assess what a balls up you have been making of your life for the past twelve months and do something about it. Usual stuff - improve diet, take more exercise, give up the demon drink and try and use time more effectively.

The name, given to the month of 'January', is derived from the ancient Roman name 'Janus' who presided over the gate to the new year. He was revered as the 'God of Gateways', 'of Doorways' and 'of the Journey', later known as 'St. Januarius'. Janus protected the 'Gate of Heaven', known as the 'Lord of Beginnings', is associated with the 'Goddess Juno-Janus', and often symbolised by an image of a face that looks forwards and backwards at the same time. (Excerpt from Mystical World Wide Web)

Herbs: Marjoram

Colours: Brilliant white, blue-violet, black

Flowers: Snowdrop, crocus

Scents: Musk, mimosa

Crystals: Garnet and jet

Birds: Pheasant

Animals: Fox

Deities: Freya

Time to: Conserve energy. Work protection and reversing spells.

Wolf Moon

This is an old Anglo Saxon name that came about due to this being an extremely lean time of year. Wolves that roamed the British countryside at this time would have been so hungry as to overcome their instinctive fear of man and would enter the outskirts of settlements looking for food.

January Folklore

If a blackbird and thrush sing before February they will cry before May.

It is said that if you look through a silk handkerchief at the new moon, which has never been washed, the number of moons you see will be the number of years which will pass until you're married. But it is unlucky to see the new moon through a window.

Mistletoe was attached to the first cow to give birth in the New Year, so that all cows shared the same luck.

The first Monday of the year is known as Handsel Monday. On this day it is lucky to receive something: especially money, a new baby or new lamb, calf, foal etc. It is extra lucky to keep for a year any money received.

Fog in January makes a wet Spring

Rain in January - full graveyards.

Jack Frost in Janiveer
Nips the nose of the nascent year.

If Janiveer's calends be summerly gay,

Twill be winterly weather to the calends of May.

The grass that grows in Janiveer

Grows no more all the year.

As the days lengthen,

So does the cold strengthen.

Brass Monkeys

Blimey its a bit chilly today. As dawn was slowly breaking the frost rime shimmering under the tranquil light of a new moon (poetic rhubarb or what eh!) this am here's me chasing around catching hens dressed in pyjamas, tatty poncho and stylish muck boot wellies, cos we're having a load of coal delivered today and he has to go through the hen run to get to the coal bunker and a certain person forgot to shut the hen hut door last night. Anyway managed to catch them all, bar nearly decapitating one of them !! Cheered my self up by delving into the land of Oblivion for a few hours and neatly dispatched a cave full of trolls - my archery skills are pretty awesome thou I say it myself. Wow wouldn't it be great if this fantasy world could be reality !!!! Nice house, couple of horses, servants, magick etc. Well at least its there to dip one's toe in once in a while.

December

The Holly King dies and the Oak King is born.

Decem was the tenth month of the Roman calendar, containing the seven day celebration of Saturnalia dedicated to the very ancient god Saturn that ended on the 25th. To the Saxons it was winter-monat, meaning ‘winter cometh’. For the Celts, this was a time to keep light alive through the darkest period of the year with the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice falling on the 21st day of the month. On this day they celebrated the Celtic Festival of the Stars. Burning fires were kept alight at all times and families joined together around the Winter Solstice as the light of the sun began to return.

Herbs: Holly, ivy, fir and mistletoe

Colours: Red, white, green and black

Flowers: Winter aconite

Scents: Violet, rose geranium, frankincense and myrrh

Crystal: Turquoise, serpentine and peridot

Tree: Pine, fir and holly

Birds: Rook, robin, snowy owl

Animals: Mouse, deer, horse and bear

Deities: Hecate, Minerva

Time to: Endure, die, to be reborn; Earth tides turning. Darkness. Personal alchemy. Spiritual paths. Reach out to friends and family, the lonely and needy.

Cold Moon

During this month the winter cold fastens its grip, and nights are at their longest and darkest.

December Folklore

"Marry on December third
For all the grief you ever heard "

A mild December precedes a cold snap later in the winter:
"A green December fills the graveyard"

"If New Year's Eve night-wind blows south,
It betokeneth warmth and growth;
If west, much milk, and fish in the sea;
If north, cold and storms there will be;
If east, the trees will bear much fruit;
If north-east, flee it, man and brute!"

A sunny December hails a peaceful and prosperous new year.

If there is ice in December then clover can be cut in spring.

A warm December means a cold spring.

November 27th

November 23rd

Orange's and lemon's says the bells of St Clement's

St. Clements, St. Clements comes once in a year
Apples and pears are very good cheer
Got no apples, money will do
Please to give us one of the two
Father's at work and Mother's at play
Please to remember St. Clement's Day

St. Clement's Day ~ the patron saint of blacksmiths. He was martyred by being tied to an anchor and thrown into the sea. He is the Christianised version of the Saxon/Norse god Weyland the Smith who was the smith to the gods. Weyland produced many of the swords of legends: Excalibur, Gram or Balmung (wielded by Sigurd also known as Siegfied in Wagner's Ring Cycle) and also the armour used by Beowulf when he fought Grendel. The site of Weyland's Smithy is said to be a cave/long barrow near the Uffington White Horse in Oxfordshire.

November 25th ~ the time of Ruis (the 13th Celtic tree month) begins.....
St Catherine's Day (Cattern Tide) ~ martyred by being killed on a spiked wheel. Her symbol is therefore a wheel and the catherine wheel fireworks of Bonfire Night are named after her. She is patron of all who use a wheel: wheelwrights, spinners, carters and drivers.

November 22nd

St Cecilia's Day ~ the patron saint of musicians and organ builders. Also the traditional day to plant peas, if you want them to grow well (bit cold I'd have thought ! ~Ivy~)
Rather a cold day today - snow showers are forecast later tonight. Continuing to struggle on with the website - updated the 'diary' page, all the tree months are virtually completed, still need to add astronomical notes on some still. Once they are completed I will concentrate on the 'earth's riches' page and try and get that finished.

OU studies are progressing OK. Doing a short 10 pointer at the moment - Volcanoes, Earthquakes and Tsunamis - should finish in January and then be ready to get on with S279 (Our Dynamic Planet), which I got nearly half way through early on this year but had to pull out of. Anyway looking forward to completing it this year and then I can get on with my level three courses and get this degree completed !!!!!!!!!!!! Not sure what I'm going to do then - no doubt I will be gripped by inspiration when the time is right.

November 17th ~ St Aignan's Day

Apparently today was the day when people in Brittany who were suffering from scalp ringworm went to Grandlieu Lake at Saint-Aigan, Loire Inferieure to soak their heads and hope for a cure. Mmmm bet that worked.
The days are getting shorter and shorter now. I enjoy it. Must be because I'm a bit of a night owl. Its colder too, thankfully we have a blazing fire on the go most of the day - great for toasting the old toes. I was hoping to set the telescope up tonight, but it is too overcast. The forecast for tomorrow is pretty dire so I'll have to hope we get some still, frosty nights again next week. Mars is really bright at the moment, looking on 'Starry Night' though shows that the poles are not currently visible.
Are there any 'Oblivion - Elder Scrolls' fans out there. I must be honest I'm pretty addicted to the latest version, can't decide what the best race is though - I tend to stick to being a Breton, although I've tried creating a Wood Elf character. Anyway where would I be without all those brilliant modders out there - blimey you're a clever lot - I wouldn't know where to start, although I'd love to have a go at creating my own house.

November 16th ~ Hecate Night

'Tonight is dedicated to the witch deity Hecate. It is not the only night of the year sacred to her. She claims dominance over all the dark moon nights as well as the final day of each month (October 31st especially). However it is tonight that recalls that Hecate was once a great goddess complete with temples and shrines, venerated by many, not only her spiritual daughters, witches. It begins at nightfall. Animal sacrifices were once performed. Thankfully today, only gifts that are votive images of dogs, wolves, pigs and horses are given. This is the night to be initiated into Hecate's Mysteries. Hecate Suppers were once held. Celebrants share a feast in Hecate's honour: a full plate for the goddess is left at a crossroads. Appropriate foods include: cheese, honey, garlic, eggs, mushrooms, fish and honey cakes for dessert. Leave the offering for Hecate and do not look back. If someone else picks it up, whether human or animal, this is wholly appropriate and Hecate's desire. Should you hear a dog bark it is highly auspicious. Allegedly Hecate roams the Earth on this night with her pack of hounds and wolves, accompanied by a host of ghosts, blessing those who left offerings for her.'
(Extract taken from The Element Encyclopaedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes)

NOVEMBER

November, though her fields are drear and cold

Still holds for searching eyes some glints of brightness;

A faded thread from autumn’s cloth of gold

Is gemmed with foreflakes of the winter’s whiteness

It was the ninth month in the ancient Roman calendar, when the year began in March. The old Dutch name was Slaghtmaand (slaughter-month, the time when the beasts were killed and salted down for winter use; the name might also have referred to human sacrifice); the old Saxon Wind-monath (wind-month, when the fishermen took their boats ashore, and put aside fishing till the next spring); it was also called Blot-monath – the same as Slaghtmaand Wilson's Almanac The Celtic year ended on the eve before Samhain and began again on the day after. They considered 'November' as a Moon-month of beginnings and endings.

Herbs: Verbena, betony, borage and cinquefoil.
Colours: Gray and sea-green.
Flowers: Chrysanthemum
Scents: Peppermint, rosemary and lemon.
Crystal: Topaz
Tree: Broom
Birds: Owl, goose and sparrow.
Deities: Hecate, Nicnevin, Bastet.
Time to: take root and prepare. Transform. Strengthen communication with the god/goddess who seems closest to you.

Snow Moon
Bringing light into darkness, seeking inner as well as outer illumination and inspiration. A time to honour the cold cycle of the Earth; a time to provide warmth and safety.

November Folklore
If the wind is in the south-west on St Martins Day (11th), it will stay there right through to Candlemas in February, thus ensuring a mild and snow-free winter.
"Wind north-west at Martinmas, severe winter to come."
"If ducks do slide at MartinmasAt Christmas they will swim;If ducks do swim at MartinmasAt Christmas they will slide"
"Thunder in November means winter will be late in coming and going"
"If the geese at Martin’s Day stand on ice, they will walk in mud at Christmas."
Ice before Martinmas,Enough to bear a duck.The rest of winter,Is sure to be but muck!"
"Frost in November to hold a duck The rest of the winter is slush and muck.""If the leaves of the trees and grape vines do not fall before Martin’s Day, a cold winter may be expected. "
"A warm November is the sign of a bad Winter."
"Flowers bloomin' in late Autumn,A sure sign of a bad Winter comin'."
"As high as the weeds grow,So will the bank of snow."
November 1st - All Hallows' Day
Light a fire and lay out food and drink upon your table to welcome returning souls.

November 2nd - All Souls' Day

November 3rd
St. Winefride's Day
St. Hubert's Day

November 4th - Mischief Night
As far as I am aware this is mainly a tradition of northern England.. I grew up and still live in North Yorkshire and Mischief Night (or Miggy Night) was part of my childhood; a bit of excitement in the run up to Bonfire Night tomorrow. A time for putting things in the wrong place, turning the numbers on house doors upside down, removing garden gates, putting honey on door handles, knocking on doors and running away etc etc.......

St. Cleers day: a 6th century Cornish hermit

November 5th ~ Bonfire Night
Remember remember
The fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

The day when in 1605, Guy Fawkes et al conspired to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The day was decreed a holiday and until 1859 churches were required to hold a service this day. Bonfires are lit often with an effigy of Guy Fawkes or the Pope on top. In the days running up, children traditionally dress up a mannequin and ask for ' a penny for the Guy'. The aforesaid 'Guy' then being the one burned on top of the bonfire.

My dad was in the police force and on Bonfire Night each 'police' family in the town took it in turns to hold a firework party. All us kids would be rounded up and herded into the back of one of the police vans and transported to the house hosting the 'do'. I have a vivid memory of one of my parents 'turns' when dad decided to burn an old settee and some tyres on the bonfire which resulted in large volumes of black acrid smoke billowing down the street and the neighbours thinking our house was on fire. Mum would make jacket potatoes loaded with butter and trays of parkin (the decidedly superior Yorkshire version of flapjack) and loads of toffee apples - brilliant. Also we had fireworks called 'Jumping Jacks', which when lit used to jump around all over the place: I used to be petrified of them; terrified that one of them would end up inside my wellies and so I always hid in the house when they were lit. (I think they're banned now !!).Nowadays, when I get a whiff of sparkler smoke it brings back brilliant memories of the fun we all had.

November 6th
A lovely bright cold sunny day today. The hens are rather noisy today, I think they're all having a last egg laying blast. As the daylight hours decrease they will soon stop laying all together. A shame really because the eggs are wonderful but then again they deserve a rest from all the work they have put in during the Spring and Summer months.
The veg garden is looking rather depleted now. I've dug out the courgette plants and removed all the bean canes. I grew Borlotti beans for the first time this year and they were fantastic. I'll definitely grow them on mass next year. Best left to mature in the pod and then harvest them and use like broad beans. They are wonderful in soups and stews as they keep their shape and texture whilst absorbing the gravy. Yumm.

November 8th
St. Cybi's Day

November 9th
St. Mathurin's Day

November 10th ~ Martinmas Eve
Today is traditionally a day for divination, especially in Scotland where the unmarried used to do the Trial of the Three Dishes.
If owls hoot this evening it is a bad omen.

November 11th ~ Martinmas
The date of Martinmas is near to that of Old Hallowmas. The killing of an ox (called a mart in Scotland), was part of the devotions to the Celtic god Hu and the Church tried to replace him with St. Martin.

Women in the Western Isles never spun today, no miller would grind corn and indeed no wheel of any kind was turned.

Between Martinmas and Yule
Water becomes wine in every pool.

A downpour is usually expected today.

I was looking out of our bedroom window this morning, which looks down across open countryside and noticed a tidings of magpies numbering seven strong. I've never seen this before, having only viewed single or pairs of magpies. But as my husband pointed out the hedgerows are flowing with haws, elderberries, sloes, brambles and hips and the birds were obviously making the most of the abundance of food and were simply feeding together. I have noticed that a breeding pair always nest in the little copse at the edge of a nearby field, so whether or not the group was parents and offspring I'm not sure. Are magpies territorial ? I know that they, like other Corvids enjoy pestering birds of prey (especially kestrels). I have just looked on the RSPB site and it states that non-breeding magpies gather as flocks/tidings.

November 12th
Old Hollantide Day on the Isle of Man: seen as the beginning of winter.

Whatever the wind direction today, the start of the old Manx year, it would remain so for two-thirds of the year.