Working with the Land

Working on the Wild Side Workshop September 2018

Posted by Laetitia on September 9, 2018
Posted in: Community, Events, Working with the Land, Workshops. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Our final workshop for 2018 was the Dark Arts. This one was introduced this year and proved to be popular as both of these workshops were fully booked. In all our workshops the women usually outnumber the men, but on this occasion it was quite the opposite.

Our Friday introduction evening was unique, in the past we had one or two group members who did not partake of alcohol for their own personal reasons. On this occasion the group were all staying at local accommodation so all of the group partook of alcoholic beverages. This lead to an extremely interesting evening of discussions and debate on the subject of the Dark Arts, Christian beliefs and ethics. I was impressed how each individual point of view was listened to by others even though they were not necessarily in agreement.

During Saturday afternoon, Cassandra spoke about the subjects of Curse Breaking, Curses, Spirit Possession, Image Magic, Dark Deities, Haunting, Psychic Vampirism and Psychic/Magical Protection. Cassandra knows her Craft well particularly when it comes to Curse Breaking and Curses. She is indeed an adept and gifted person to learn from.

It is important that people receive the correct information on these subjects particularly if they have reason to utilise these methods. Movies, books and some Occult Practitioners can be trapped in the world of fantasy which can mislead many and provide incorrect information. At least there are practitioners like Cassandra that one can approach who deals with reality and provides insight to others on their level of understanding. There are a multitude of aspects to this subject and it would be easy to spend a whole weekend if not longer discussing them as the hours passed quickly.

We then spoke of mischievous spirits and the need for ‘spirit house’ constructions. Spirits have a fascination for intricate objects which can be a distraction from ‘mischief making’.

At our last Dark Arts workshop group members attempted to construct a framework for their spirit house by using wire, but trying to use wire cutters and dealing with the sharp edges could be hazardous. On this occasion we provided them with a small ready-made framework and various threads,ribbons, beads, stones etc so that they could begin constructing a small spirit house.

I guided the group through their personal constructions, offering suggestions if they had difficulties and checking they had everything required.

Due to the intricacy of the spirit houses group members could only begin their designs in the time available, so they would need to continue their work on them at home.

During the evening we prepared a group spell for crossroads magic. We then visited a haunted location: Carn Kenidjack. You can read the folklore legend of it here.

On our previous visit to the site during our June Dark Arts workshop, it was dusk and we could still see the various paths to it despite the thick mist that appeared on our arrival. This time it was extremely dark and cloudy, plus we were in the dark of the moon phase, as you can see by the following photograph.

It was a cool breezy evening, we stood for a while looking out over the moor and the distant lights upon the horizon over the sea. Each member of the group sensed various spirit presences that accompanied us.

On leaving the Carn, we were seriously ‘Piskie led’ and taken along various paths within the darkness by Cassandra only for them to lead us further away from our destination. We then followed the tracks made by vehicles until we reached a farmhouse gate and discovered we were on the opposite road to where we needed to be and then walked at least 2 miles to return to the North Road. Our group members were in good spirits, joking about the situation as we walked.

The crossroads were also extremely dark (above photo), the group were still eager and full of the energy to complete the spell we prepared earlier. Conjuring a spell at a crossroads especially when the road is busy with traffic, adds to the intensity of the work.

We returned to the cottage for libations while discussing the group’s impressions and thoughts on the Carn and spell work.

It was a most enjoyable workshop with deep minded experienced group members that I hope we will meet again in the future.

Feedback:

“Going on the dark arts course was very interesting. Laetitia and Cassandra have great knowledge. We made a spirit house and learnt how spirits enjoy puzzles. The walk in the evening was amazing and my favourite activity as I love nature. I felt really connected. Overall a fantastic weekend of good people and I left with a better understanding.” P.O.

“I really enjoyed our couple of days and got a lot out of it. It was great to spend time with you and Cassandra and also to meet others and hear their different perspectives on the craft.  In particular, I loved our night-time walk and crossroads spell, working on our spirit houses and learning about the different levels of psychic protection – several of which I have used before. I’ll also keep an eye out for the next series of workshops which I’d like to attend. Look forward to seeing you again soon” A.C.

“This was a great workshop I met some awesome people. Cassandra and Laetitia were amazing hosts. I learnt a lot from the discussion during the first half of the afternoon. Later I learnt how to make a spirit house and how they work. The evening was awesome, we were taken to a breath taking location. On the way back we were ‘piskie led’ and thought it funny. Thanks again ladies you are amazing!” N.W.

“Perhaps it is an understatement to say how wonderful it was to be in the company of Cassandra and Laetitia again on the Friday evening of the workshop; getting to know them again, getting to know new travellers on the path and rekindling acquaintances with some old faces. In the relaxed yet haunted atmosphere of their cottage, we heard each other’s story and began to build the group egregore that would carry us through a weekend of intensive learning and experience.

The Saturday afternoon began with a conversation that centred on the nine levels of psychic self-defence with practical examples provided both from history and from the current practice of the cunning folk. Such material is learned in the hope that one never has to put such knowledge into practice. And yet, as a practitioner, I am glad to have such techniques as part of my “tool kit” of the trade.

This was followed by a demonstration on how to build a spirit house. Like most folk, house spirits get bored, and when they get bored they can get up to mischief. A spirit house provides them with a safe space where they can work out their mischief in a controlled environment. In return they provide safety and protection for the house’s other occupants (human and non-human). Metal frames and other materials were provided and despite my complete lack of crafting ability I was able to come up with the rudiments of a spirit house – a work in progress that will continue to evolve for some time yet!

Dusk gradually made its presence felt. And it was in the gloaming that we began preparations for a crossroads banishing ritual. We gathered our intent and poured it into the materials of the spell in the sacred hearth space before heading out into the night.

We walked into the night, deep into the Penwith moors and began climbing a hill to a dark rocky outcrop of granite boulders. “What can you feel”? “What can you see”? were the questions that ran through the experience? In the darkness of the black moon, I stretched forth my senses and saw flashing lights, here and there; so brief that one could almost doubt their willow-the-wisp existence. I saw moving shapes and running forms; some humanoid in appearance, some not so distinct. And when I touched the granite of the Carn, I felt a power, ancient, wild and free; and I knew that this was his land.

The walk down the hill was less determinative, more meandering, more uncertain; a delicious “being lost” and “abandonment” as we lost our way, being (mis)lead by the mischief of the Piskie Man and ending up miles from the cross roads where we were to complete our rite.

Yet find it we did, and in that most in between of places we raised our energy and called our power and shattered the vessel of our desire; its energies racing forth into the dark night to do our will.

And back by the sacred hearth we learned of the local lore of Carn Kenidjack; of the Man-in-Black who chases the night wanderer until he or she reaches a certain stile, of the Piskie Man who misleads and of the witch who guards a well that is sometimes present and sometimes absent. And it is in this ‘between the worlds’ of space and time; this experience of “the hedge”, the crossroads, that magic is alive and powerful.

And then it was time to say farewell to our two friends and guides. A farewell – yes- but a farewell with a promise to return to this most magical of hearths and its two wise guardians who will always have a place in my journey. T.N”

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Walk with Wise Women to Zennor August 2018

Posted by Laetitia on August 27, 2018
Posted in: Community, Walks with Wise Women, Working with the Land. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Sunday was a day of blustery winds and rain, so we were pleased the August Bank Holiday Monday brought calmer and drier weather for our walk.

Two energetic and enthusiastic young men had travelled to Cornwall from Chicago U.S. to spend a week in Cornwall. They had already been to Glastonbury before continuing their journey here. The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic fascinated them and they enjoyed St Nectan’s Waterfall at Rocky Valley Tintagel.

Jason had previously purchased Cassandra’s book and said he was ‘beyond excited’ to meet her and experience one of our walks.

We usually invite clients to Cassandra’s cottage and discuss the locations they wish to visit. Jason showed particular interest in the Logan Stone and Cassandra then decided that Zennor Hill would be a site they would enjoy. The climb to Zennor Hill is not easy but Jason and Archy were in their 20s and extremely energetic and were prepared for a challenge.

 

As we walked towards the hill Cassandra asked them if they would like to visit Zennor Quoit first. The vegetation on the moorland had grown considerably and in some areas it was chest height for smaller women like us. We warned Jason and Archy about the possibility of being ‘Piskie led’ and as the path to the Quoit was complicated due to the overgrowth,  it was no surprise that on this occasion it happened. They were both delighted to have experienced this.

We eventually arrived at Zennor Quoit, Jason and Archy were intrigued by the formation of the stones and how one can climb between them to sit in the centre for meditation and ritual purposes.

Here is some information on the site:

The remains of this hillside Neolithic chambered portal tomb are quite difficult to find, but can be reached via a footpath from the B3306. The capstone which is over 5 metres long and weighs over 10 tons has collapsed and all traces of the mound which would have covered the tomb has disappeared although much surrounding cairn material was recorded by William Borlase the vicar of Zennor in 1769. It is Borlase we have to thank for the continuing existence of Zennor Quoit as he once paid off a local farmer the sum of 5 shillings to stop him dismantling the tomb to build a cow shed. It is unclear whether it was the farmers attempt at remodeling or the ‘excavation’ of the tomb with explosives in the 19th century that caused the capstone to fall. At various times cremated bones, a whetstone, flints and Neolithic pottery have been found within the chamber, while the 5 small upright stones just beyond the tomb are thought to be part of the aborted cowshed.

The site may look to be in a sad state of disrepair, especially on a wet, windy day, but this could be said to add to its beauty and melancholy, and it is still well worth a visit. Like many other sites legend says it was built by a giant, hence its other name of Giants Quoit and also that the stones are unmovable, or if they are moved they will return to the hillside on their own. Nearby, the church at Zennor contains a 15th century bench-end carved into the shape of a mermaid that is claimed to have visited the village and fallen in love with the churchwarden’s son. The two of them are then said to have returned to the sea, where the unfortunate lad can still be heard singing beneath the waves. stone-circles.org

 

Cassandra and I sat with Jason and Archy by the stones and spoke about the history of the site. We also discussed the variety of Fae folk and their roles within Cornish folklore. They were well prepared with notepads and wrote down all the information.

After a while, we continued our walk to Zennor Hill. Jason and Archy were fascinated by the house nearby where some say Alastair Crowley spent some time working there. Zennor HiIl is a powerful place so it would be an ideal venue.

At the top of Zennor Hill we reached the Logan Stone. Cassandra instructed Jason where to place his feet and how to move to rock the stone.

 

Here is some information on the site:

This extraordinary set of stone outcrops holds many unusual features, from rock basins to zoomorphic forms – deep fissures, runnels, voids, chamber-like enclosures and holed stones, that it would be difficult not to believe that it would have held an important place in pre-historic cosmologies. Some rock formations are uncannily like the quoits that occupy the flat land between zennor hill, carn zennor and sperris croft.

Tilley observes in an archaeology of supernatural places. ‘slabs that have toppled from the top of the rock stacks… rest horizontally or vertically against their sides, creating slanting roofed chambers large enough to enter and walk through.’ the proximity of Zennor and Sperris quoits raises the possibility that these dramatic rock formations were deliberately mimicked by the builders of these early monuments.

Tllley again ‘The tors were not only their source of inspiration, but they were constructed in the form of tors. In elevating large stones, these people were emulating the work of a super-ancestral past. Furthermore, the stones from which they were built were taken from the tors. The dolmens, in effect, were the tors dismantled and put back together again to resemble their original form. Once constructed, they could themselves be tors, something emphasized by the landscape setting of some of them on hills that lacked tors.’  Megalithic Sites

After their exploration of the site, we drove down to Zennor village to visit the church and explained to them the legend of the Zennor Mermaid.

Here is some information about the church:

The church of St Senara in the small Cornish village of Zennor is one of the historic delights of the St Ives area. The present church dates to the 12th century, but it is thought to stand on the site of a cell founded by the 6th century saint, Senara, whose name has been altered over the centuries to become ‘Zennor’.  

St Senara
Senara may have been a Breton princess named Asenora, a devout Christian, who was married to a king named Goello. When Senara became pregnant the king’s mother falsely accused here of infidelity, and the king cast into the sea. According to the tale, she was put in a barrel, which was then nailed shut and allowed to drift on the waves. The barrel drifted to Ireland, and she was rescued by an angel. after her son, Budoc, had grown, they both set out to convert the natives to Christianity. 

Alternative versions of the story say that she was washed up at Zennor, where she founded a church, before continuing on to Ireland, or that she came ashore in Ireland, and only later visited Cornwall and founded a church here. In either event, her husband heard of her good work and invited her to return to Brittany as his queen, and named her son as his heir.
Alternatively, the church may have been founded by Irish or Breton missionaries and simply dedicated to Senara. The churchyard follows the oval outline of an Iron Age enclosure, which itself is built atop earlier Stone Age and Bronze Age field boundaries. Britain Express

Read about The Mermaid of Zennor

We then called in at the Tinners Arms for a well deserved drink.

It was indeed a pleasure to spend the afternoon with Jason and Archy, their energy, enthusiasm and hunger for knowledge of the Old Ways is heartening to see in younger folk. We are pleased they have enjoyed their time in Cornwall and are sure that our paths will meet again.

Feedback: “Thank you so much! We had a blast!”

Walk with Wise Women August 2018

Posted by Laetitia on August 21, 2018
Posted in: Community, Walks with Wise Women, Working with the Land. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

Today Cassandra and I had the pleasure of escorting a lovely couple and their two dogs on a Wise Woman Walk. They had been Handfasted and are going to have their legal ceremony while they are in Cornwall.

We began by visiting Alsia Well:

This delightful spring is situated on Lower Alsia Farm near St Buryan. It is at the lower end of a field, in a hedge, a short distance south-west of a public right of way from Alsia to Bosfranken – the old church path to St Buryan.
The well is enclosed behind metal railings and consists of a small stone-lined recess in the hedge with a granite capstone, and a copious supply of clear, cool water. Adjacent is a slate slab with the words ‘Alsia Well’ carved on it. Although by no means impressive, this is a charming little well, especially when seen in Spring or early Summer when surrounded by wild flowers.
A cross is supposed to have once stood nearby and the water is reputed to have cured rickets, particularly in children. It has also been used as a divining well by girls, the number of bubbles rising from a pebble or pin when dropped in signifying the number of years before a lover would be found.

Mayze the dog sensed the spirit energy at the well. The air was still and the site had a peaceful ambience.

 

 

Shaun was interested in historical places and archaeology so we thought he would also enjoy visiting Carn Euny:

Among the best-preserved ancient villages in South West England, Carn Euny was occupied from the Iron Age until late Roman times. It includes the foundations of stone houses from the 2nd to 4th centuries AD, with walls up to a metre high in places. At the heart of the village is its most intriguing feature – a stone-walled underground passage known as a fogou. This mysterious type of Iron Age monument is found only in the far west of Cornwall.  The earliest houses on the site were Iron Age ‘round houses’, probably built of timber and turf sometime between 500 and 400 BC. These were replaced with stone houses probably between about 50 BC and AD 100.
The last phase of settlement, between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD, saw several earlier buildings replaced with larger, stone ‘courtyard’ houses. The visible ruins above ground mark the remains of these later houses.
Old field boundaries nearby show that the inhabitants farmed some 40 acres of land around the village. They grew oats, barley and rye and kept animals such as sheep or goats and probably cattle. The villagers are likely to have been traders, perhaps dealing in local tin.
The village appears to have been abandoned in about AD 400, although we do not know why.

Shaun and Dawn were fascinated by the fogou.

They also marvelled at the phosphorescent moss on the stone walls.

We gave them time to explore the site themselves before moving on.

Our final visit was to Boscawenun Stone Circle as Shaun wished to visit a place that has ley lines:

The stone circle at Boscawen-ûn is considered to be one of Cornwall’s most popular prehistoric ceremonial centres as well as one of extreme aesthetic beauty. It lies beneath the southern slopes of Creeg Tol, enclosed by a later raised circular bank which, built-in the 19th century to replace an earlier boundary that went straight through the circle, is an early example of archaeological conservation. The circle appears to have been carefully positioned within the landscape in such a way as to relate with key prehistoric landmarks, both natural and contemporary. The circle is slightly oval in shape and consists of nineteen large upright stones, all of granite except for one of quartz. Just off-centre within the circle lies a tall stone said to resemble an axe cutting into the earth with two axe carvings of low relief on its north-east face. These carvings are the only known examples of stone axe carvings in Britain and the closest parallel for them lies in the Neolithic ritual sites of Brittany which suggests that the central stone at Boscawen-ûn predated the circle and was erected as a monument for axe-related ritual; possibly in conjunction with woodland clearance. The stone leans towards the north-east sector of the circle where an arrangement of stones may represent an earlier, possibly contemporary cairn or cist. That this feature also pre-dates the circle is apparent in the spacing of the circle uprights at this point. When the circle itself was erected, the quartz stone was placed on the south-west side of the circle in alignment with the central stone and the cairn-like structure to the north-east. It is thought by some that the central stone with its axe carvings represents the phallic masculine whilst the quartz stone represents the feminine powers of the ring. The south-west position of the quartz stone also marks the direction of the full moon during mid-summer.

Beside the stone circle stands a magnificent Elder tree. Cassandra advises people to use a chant whenever they take anything from it.

“Lady Elder

Give me of thy wood

And I will give thee of mine

When I too become a tree.”

It was an enjoyable afternoon and hope that the newlywed couple have a wonderful future together.

Feedback: Thankyou very much for a fantastic afternoon spent with you both the dogs enjoyed their walk too. It is difficult to pick a favourite site but I think Alsia well was really special and Mayze found it interesting too!

Working on the Wild Side Workshop August 2018

Posted by Laetitia on August 12, 2018
Posted in: Community, Events, Life Matters, Working with the Land, Workshops. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

This weekend we hosted Workshop 3 – Connecting with Spirits.

Two of our group had attended previous workshops and the other two were with us for the first time.

Friday’s Introductory evening raised some intriguing topics of conversation, particularly as one person had recently experienced a Shamanic overnight grave burial. It was fascinating to listen to them explain how they dug their grave before lying within it while the soil was placed over them and hearing their thoughts and feelings during the experience. Another group member had a close connection with the fae spirits during childhood, while another in the group was born within a different culture. It was intriguing to hear how different life was for this person and how it differed from our own culture and all the things in life we take for granted.

We have had a beautiful warm summer in Cornwall this year, but the weekend forecast was heavy rain, therefore our group’s outdoor experience was a rather damp one.

Cassandra began the afternoon activities by discussing the variety of elemental spirits, their appearance, personalities and their interaction with the land and people.

The group participated in a hedgerow walk on the way to the woodland.

 

 We were about to climb the stile of the last field when we observed two young black muscular bullocks on the other side eyeing us curiously.

As their behaviour could be unpredictable Cassandra decided to take a detour into the next field and enter the woodland through the fence close to the entrance.

She then explained the exercises that were required which would expand their senses and awareness.

We then left them alone and observed from a distance. A huge amount of discipline would be required as there were many things that could distract their focus, the weather, insects and also surrounding sounds of the land. They also had time to explore the area alone to see what impressions they received from the energies there.

We then returned to the cottage to dry out and drink a warm beverage while listening to the group’s experiences and feedback on the afternoons events.

On Saturday evening, I discussed connecting and communicating with spirits of people who have passed over. This also included the subjects of psychic development, mediumship, psychometry, scrying, dowsing rods, pendulums and the use of Ouija boards. These have a bad reputation due to disturbing tales from the media and their portrayal in movies. This has resulted in some who are uncomfortable about using this method.

After setting up a protected space the group tried some of these methods for themselves. They assumed they would not be successful at sensing anything particularly with the psychometry exercise, but then surprised themselves with the amount of correct information they related to us.

It was a pleasure to spend the weekend with friendly warm-hearted people who had worked hard. They left us taking away with them new ideas and methods that may benefit and help them during their journey through life.

Feedback:

“This was my second time on the connecting with spirits workshop. The first time was amazing so I decided to do it again. In the afternoon Cassandra explained the types of land spirits their customs and behaviour then Cassandra and Laetitia took us to a special place for meditation, As we walked to the place Cassandra explained the plants and what they are used for. This being my second time I sort of knew what we needed to do. This time the outcome was so much more intense and very spiritual I cannot thank Cassandra and Laetitia enough again”. N.W. xxx

“I just wanted to thank you so much for such an amazing weekend. You were both so warm and welcoming and your cottage so homely! It was so interesting and funny too and I loved all the others on the workshop with me! I think it taught me to stop and listen more closely and to believe that what I am doing is right and effective. I loved your down to earth approach which made it all more ‘real’! I would love to do another workshop if I could be considered again? I know I didn’t contribute as much as the others, but it was quite a step for me to be there on my own anyway. Anyway, if you could let me know dates of next years workshops when you have them it would be much appreciated. Loads of love to you both and thanks again for such an amazing weekend!” C.E xxx

 

Caravanning Celebrities meet Wise Women of West Cornwall

Posted by Laetitia on August 4, 2018
Posted in: Community, Events, Life Matters, Working with the Land. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

In May this year we were invited by Channel 5 to take part in their programme Celebrities go Caravanning. We hoped the selected celebrities would have an open mind and respect the work we do.


Squeezed into Cassandra’s tiny cottage was a camera crew of four with all their equipment and two of the celebrities, Colin Baker and Sherrie Hewson. There was limited room for manoeuvre! My familiar Clutterbuck has become accustomed to many photographers visiting the cottage and no longer makes a hasty retreat via the cat flap. He was indeed the star of the show on this occasion!

Thank you to Chris Neno for the above photographs.

Channel 5’s camera crew portrayed the subject well and showed utmost respect for Cassandra’s property. It was a pleasure to work with them and also Colin Baker and Sherrie Hewson who were fabulous people to converse with. The chants and incantations we used are for public situations and not for our personal working.

I recorded the following footage of this programme from the television:

 

Property Cleansing

Posted by Laetitia on July 6, 2018
Posted in: Community, Life Matters, Working with Spirit, Working with the Land. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Cassandra and I have performed many Property Cleansings and I thought now was the appropriate time to write about it.

 I once lived in a row of terraced houses and in one particular house the couple were unhappy and they divorced after a few years. I noted how the couples who moved into the property after them eventually divorced and  wondered if the energies from other couples had affected their relationships.

We need to understand these negative influences. They are usually categorised into two types: thought energies (or if they have a shape – thought forms) and negative spirit influence. Now, you may instantly think about dead people. We are all “spirits”. Some of us are physically alive and some of us aren’t. We do not become a spirit when we physically die,we are already one.One may also say, “But I cannot see/hear spirits, this is proof they don’t exist”. Well, we cannot see radio, or television waves in a room. You cannot hear a dog whistle, but dogs can! It would be rather foolish to conclude such a whistle made no noise simply on the grounds that you didn’t hear it.

 

Negative thought energies are created by someone (dead or alive) thinking negative thoughts, e.g. anger, hatred, fear etc. If the person is thinking these thoughts about us they are automatically projected in our direction. In addition, as negative spirits are attracted to negative energy these will often accompany the energies,particularly if this is done formally, e,g, by casting a spell.

Fortunately there is defence against these things. Positive energies will dissolve negative and we can arrange for positive spirits to help protect us against negative ones. There is nothing particularly profound about it.

The negative thought content of a spell, or any other form of psychic attack, can be cancelled out by directing a positive thought form of the same, or greater, strength at it. When they meet, the negative thought form will dissolve. This can be achieved by such things as prayer, visualisation, etc.

 

We inhabit certain energies wherever we live. Our homes are a space of unity where many energies meet – our feelings, thoughts and emotions emit a certain type of energy, but also attract other energies. Family members, neighbours or visitors in our homes can bring in negative energies which may affect our mood and well-being.

Once they enter your home, negative energies impact your whole life. They can cause your budget to fluctuate, break the relationships between family members and disrupt the harmony in your home. As a result, you will feel anxious, restless and broken, with no will to live. However, the symptoms may not be noticeable early, which is why it’s important to know how to detect the negative energy in your home.

When moving into a new house, flat, unit or workplace, you will need to cleanse the new property or workplace because buildings absorb the energies of previous occupants. The curtains and carpets also need to be cleaned as they hold the stagnant/negative energies from previous tenants. These stagnant/negative energies can be absorbed by the people living or working within this space, causing arguments, physical and mental illnesses, and relationship troubles.

Many people do not realize that when they move into a new place there are energies that might be lingering there from past residents or past incidents. While these energies are usually not going to greatly affect you, there is still a chance that it could affect you or someone in your family if the energy is strong enough. These energies can be particularly powerful in a home where there was a lot of negative energy building up over a long period of time. For example, a home where a bitter divorce took place, a home where a suicide or murder took place, or a home that housed a person who might have gone through major depression (or other disorders that would affect a person’s spirituality and/or mentality) are all spaces that could be rife with leftover negative energy.
So while you want to focus on cleaning your new house physically, you might want to also remember to clean your new house spiritually as well. This also applies to a home in which you have been residing that has never been cleansed spiritually to your knowledge. If you’re looking to lighten up the air and promote a positive energy flow in your home, cleansing the energy of your house is imperative.

Now that you know the importance of energetically cleansing your home, let’s learn about the best and easiest ways to cleanse.
A good ol’ fashioned smudging ritual is a Native American tradition of lighting bundles of herbs and using the smoke in order to spiritually cleanse an area or person from negative energy or spirits. Different herbs are used in order to do a smudging ritual, and so the choice of herb is up to you. Some of the herb bundles that can be used include: white sage, cedar, and sweet grass. If you cannot get your hands on a smudging bundle, you can always make your own. Or you can use herbs that you have in your own kitchen cabinet!
There are many herbs with purification qualities that will work just as well as a white sage bundle will work in cleansing a home. For example, you can use dried rosemary, basil, common sage (the kind that you get from the grocery store), cloves, cumin, garlic, and onion (among many others). Create your own loose incense with one or more of these dried herbs and burn them over a charcoal disk (carefully of course!) Let the smoke fill each room with its purifying and cleansing powers.

Blessing one’s home while moving in is actually quite a common practice among various faiths. That being said, you do not have to be of a particular faith in order to bless your home before or while moving in.
The best things to use are oils or holy water. For the oil, you can use plain ol’ olive oil or whatever kind of oil you have in your cabinet. For the holy water, you can acquire some from a Church or create your own.

Cassandra and I were recently asked to perform a house cleansing for someone moving into our village and on this particular occasion we were given complete access to thoroughly examine the property and we were there  four hours.

It was a pleasure to do this for our new residents and we warmly welcome them into our community.

10 Years in Cornwall

Posted by Laetitia on June 14, 2018
Posted in: Community, Life Matters, Sea Working, Walks with Wise Women, Working with Spirit, Working with the Land, Workshops. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 4 Comments

On the 12th June 2018 it was the 10th anniversary of my move to Cornwall. The life I envisaged here and the one I now have are extremely different.

The Guardian

Living near the sea, the elements of rain, wind and storms intensify. Cornwall may not be as cold as other parts of the UK (although the last winter was a harsh one) and frosts happen less here. The cost of living is rising everywhere, but in tourist areas, prices rise during the holiday season and even though tourists pay these prices for the short time they are here, residents pay higher prices throughout the holiday season. Work opportunities increase during the summer, but lessen in the winter. The cold weather also means an increase in household bills too.

Taking a vacation in Cornwall is easier than surviving here. During a vacation you can take time out to visit beaches and places of interest, but when one is trying to survive and so busy with work, pleasure visits to beaches or sites rarely occur even though one lives in close proximity to them.

On a positive note I have enjoyed my work as a Wise Woman throughout the last 9 years. I have learnt so much from Cassandra Latham Jones, it has been a fascinating and testing journey. Working with the land and sea here and its powerful unpredictable energies has been a challenge. The tests can be severe and obstacles are put in one’s path. It takes strength of character and determination to overcome these and continue………the spirits constantly present challenges as if to say……..”how much do you want this???” Cassandra says herself that she has been tough with me throughout this time but I have persevered.  I have witnessed others who have wanted to learn from her and were unable to withstand the tests and tasks given.

Image -Mandy Raywood

My experience and training in ceremonial magic while in Kent has been useful when conducting Rites of Passage. Cassandra is happy to leave the – as she calls it – ‘arm waving’ to me when setting up the space for ceremonies.

The consultations we do together work well, the moment just before a reading when Cassandra holds a client’s hands to connect with their energies, I tune in to any spirit presences that may be around them. While Cassandra shuffles the Tarot cards I provide the client with a description of the spirit presence and also any messages they wish to pass on. Cassandra then lays out the Tarot spread and there have been many occasions where the same messages have appeared within the cards giving double confirmation for the client. I have witnessed many readings by Cassandra over the years and am familiar with her cards. I purchased an identical Tarot pack and I am able to provide readings using them.

Property cleansing needs a huge amount of work, particularly if they have been inhabited by a variety of residents over time,(more-so with period properties). The energies from traumatic events are contained within the foundations of these buildings which can have a profound effect on any future residents. In hotels and public houses/inns the energies can intensify and can affect the smooth running of businesses. We have had many successful outcomes from this work.

Image – John Isaac

Curse breakings are another area of intense work. Many clients consult us concerning this matter and Cassandra has a unique and powerful method for dealing with these energies.

Wart charming was a service that at first I was sceptical of as it was difficult to understand how this could possibly work. Even now I could not explain exactly how it works but have witnessed the success of the process with our clients.

I have constructed many charms over the years and have had a high success rate with them, fertility charms in particular. It delights me to think that I have assisted in creating new life and brought much happiness to others.

I still provide Holistic Services and have taught Reiki courses here too which benefit clients greatly, particularly because the Reiki practice is more about the spiritual and emotional development of the person rather than a complementary therapy.  I have also helped a wide range of clients from the terminally ill to pet owners who now are able to calm their stressed animals.

My counselling services have also come to the fore as often clients are affected by childhood abuse and do not realize how much this can affect their everyday lives as adults even though these events happened long ago.

Walks with Wise Women is an enjoyable aspect of our work as it enables us to visit and enjoy the sites with our clients. I have learnt a lot about the folklore associated with them by listening to Cassandra repeating the information on each visit. We also discover more about our clients as we have time to converse with them as we walk to and from the sites.

Our Working on the Wild Side workshops have been successful during the last few years. I suggested trying them to Cassandra who was not keen at first, but due to many enquirers asking if we provided them, she agreed to try. The workshops have gone from strength to strength with a new subject introduced each year. We have met some fabulous people who have experienced some extraordinary occurrences during them. The preparation and the workshops themselves are hard work but also energizing and satisfying on a deeper level.

I have learnt many things since being here and the main lesson is that life is indeed unpredictable. One can plan the future to a certain extent but circumstances that create a sudden change can have an incredible impact on one’s life with positive or negative results.

I have also learnt that being successful in work and in a community brings with it rivalries, competitiveness and jealousies from some who will then project the dissatisfaction with themselves and their lives onto another. When a person experiences this level of pettiness it is vital to remember these people, by their treatment of you are validating that you are exceptionally good at what you do. If you were not successful or talented, the negative people would not bother with you.

When a person moves into a new community, they are on ‘foreign territory’ and therefore vulnerable to predators and bullies. Genuine good-hearted people in the community will do what they can to assist especially if they were once in the same position themselves.

Image – John Isaac

Cassandra Latham Jones falls into this category and has assisted me in so many ways.

I have also integrated myself socially by attending festivals and utilising my talents as a musician and dancer. By doing this I have met some kind, thoughtful and talented individuals.

The residents of St Buryan village have been particularly welcoming and now consider me part of their community.

My time here has been creative too as Cassandra and I along with my son Rhys formed our Guise team Boekka with Penkevyll the Lands End ‘Oss. Our team has performed for 8 years now and we also have introduced Morvargh my new Sea ‘Oss as a recent addition. To top it all, little did I realize that my idea of Cassandra, myself and Penkevyll the ‘Oss meeting Phil, Vivien and their Mari Lwyd at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic on Samhain in 2014, would develop into an event as fantastic as The All Hallows Gathering!

I have lived in Cornwall 10 years now and am no longer a ‘newbie’. The local and Pagan community has witnessed how much I have been through and the obstacles placed in my path. I know that some individuals could not have withstood or endured a fraction of what has been directed my way, but that is par for the course.  The positives far outweigh the negatives and I am still here…….