Frances Billinghurst's Blog, page 5

Make the Decision to say Yes to the Cosmos

By acknowledging the existence of what’s not working for us,we can begin the process of change.
The hardest thing about saying "yes" to the cosmos is that it means accepting everything life puts in front of us. Most of us have a habit of going through our days saying "no" to the things we do not like and yes to the things we do, and yet, everything we encounter is our life. 
We may be afraid that if we say "yes" to the things we do not like, we will be stuck with them forever, but really, it is only through acknowledging the existence of what is not working for us that we can begin the process of change. So saying "yes" does not mean indiscriminately accepting things that do not work for us. It means conversing with the cosmos, and starting the conversation with a very powerful word — yes.
When we say "yes" to the cosmos, we enter into a state of trust that whatever our situation is, we can work with it. We express confidence in ourselves, and the cosmos, and we also express a willingness to learn from whatever comes our way, rather than running and hiding when we do not like what we see. 
The question we might ask ourselves is what it will take for us to get to the point of saying "yes". For some of us, it takes coming up against something we cannot ignore, escape, or deny, and so we are left no choice but to say "yes". For others, it just seems a natural progression of events that leads us to making the decision to say "yes" to life.
The first step to saying "yes" is realizing that in the end it is so much easier than the alternative. Once we understand this, we can begin examining the moments when we resist what is happening, and experiment with occasionally saying "yes" instead. It might be scary at first, and even painful at times, but if we continue to say "yes" to every moment through the process, we will discover the joy of being in a positive conversation with a force much bigger than ourselves.
Blessings, Frances

Start the New Year off right

A new calendar year is dawning and with it comes the opportunity to create a new start with the 21-day Journey into Freedom with Kali  sadhana (spiritual journey) commencing on Sunday, 8 January 2023.  

Every day for the following 21 days, you will receive emails that will assist you in exploring this rather complex Dark Goddess of the Hindu pantheon.  You are invited to study at your own pace as you will receive devotional practices that will enable you to connect with this powerful goddess on a deep soul level in order to bring about ultimate change. 

“The earth quakes under Your leaps and bounds.
You are frightful with that sword in Your hand .”
(Kamalakanta)

Further information as to how you can register for Journey into Freedom with Kali can be found here. 

If you cannot wait until the new year to establish a connection with this rather complex Hindu goddess, then I have made available a 26 course on the online teaching platform, Udemy.  Dancing with the Hindu Goddess Kali Ma: Gaining Spiritual Liberation and Personal Empowerment covers not only Kali's alleged origins and how she emerged into the goddess we are familiar with today, but also covers breathwork (pranayama), Sanskrit bija (seed) sounds and bija mantras, meditations and so much more.

Also available through Udemy is my Exploring the Dark Goddess: Using Myth to meet the Shadow Self course which consists of over three hours of video instruction throughout the 14 lectures as well as external resources, all of which are aimed at increasing your knowledge with the aspects of the Dark Goddesses mentioned, not to mention exploring your own shadow.

Consisting of some four and a half hours of video instruction is my third course now available on Udemy, Celtic Goddesses and Warrior Queens: Reclaiming Your Warrior Self that consists of 22 lectures covering background information as to who the Celts were, where they originated from and even looking at what the concept of "warrior" means to you before exploring a number of historical queens and mythological characters.

Having completed a number of Udemy courses myself over the years, I am rather excited about being able to offer these courses to anyone who is interested due to the unlimited access and flexibility structure that is offered.

February will see the commencement of more face-to-face workshops in Adelaide commencing with the House Cleansing and Protection workshop that will be taking place on Saturday, 18 February 2023.  During the day we will be exploring the various techniques of cleansing and protecting the home, as well as providing participants the opportunity to make  a number of items that they can then use in their own house.  As there are limited places available, bookings are essential.

On Saturday, 25 February 2023, I will be running my popular  Journey through the Chakras workshop which is an in-depth exploration through the seven major chakras (energy centres) contained within the physical body as well as a number of minor chakras, and their connection between the emotional, physical and spiritual self.  

With the increased interest in energetic healing modalities, this workshop is ideal for anyone interested in energetic healing, either to update their knowledge or further enhance their skills through the use of a variety of techniques.

I should also mention that the annual Yemaya Blessing of the Waters will be taking place a month later than normal, on Monday, 6 February 2023 due to other obligations.  This public event is held at Grange Beach where we seek the blessings of Yemaya, the orisha of the water ways.  More information about this event can be found here.

EXTENSION FOR SUBMISSION

The deadline for the proposed anthology about working with the sabbats and seasonal rites here in the Southern Hemisphere has been extended until the end of March 2023. 

People who are interested in contributing towards this anthology are encouraged to explore the various ways of working the traditional seasonal myths and symbols found within certain spiritual practices, the possible rewriting of additional myths or symbols, the substitution of other seasonal stories, the inclusion of indigenous practices, local flora and fauna, and much more.

Due to the lack of books that are specifically focused on the Southern Hemispheric practitioners, I hope that people will be interested in getting behind this venture.  I would be interested in receiving essays about how people from different spiritual traditions work with the seasonal wheel of the year (or not as the case may be), poetry about connecting to the land, rituals that incorporate elements that are uniquely Southern Hemisphere, and even artwork.

If you are interested in contributing something, then more details can be found here.

Blessings, Frances

November Happenings

With this year almost done, so too are the number of markets that I will be attending, with only two appearances - the first being the Semaphore Community Market that took part on Sunday, 6 November 2022 in St Bede's Hall, located at 200 Military Road, Semaphore.  This market was the last public opportunity of which I was available for tarot and oracle card readings.  If you are after some guidance, clarity or confirmation, then I have only a few times available at the Isian Centre of Metaphysics (Parafield Gardens).

The last market for 2022 that I will be making an appearance at will be the Queen of Wands Psychic Fair at Blackwood that will be happening on Sunday, 13 November 2022 at the Blackwood Memorial Hall, 21 Coromandel Parade, Blackwood.  I will have an assortment of  LunaNoire Creations  products available, and if the weather is fine, I am hoping to have a selection of quality Renaissance-inspired clothing also for sale as I attempt to downsize.

WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS

The new year will commence with the 21-day  Journey into Freedom with Kali  sadhana (spiritual journey) on Sunday, 8 January 2023.  Every day for the following 21 days, you will receive emails that will assist you in exploring this rather complex Dark Goddess of the Hindu pantheon.  You are invited to study at your own pace as you will receive devotional practices that will enable you to connect with this powerful goddess on a deep soul level in order to bring about ultimate change.
Further information as to how you can register for Journey into Freedom with Kali can be  found here.  
Further event being scheduled for the new year include the Yemaya Blessing of the Waters taking place a month later than normal, in February; the House Cleansing and Protection workshop as well as Journey through the Chakras full day workshop that investigates the body's seven main energy centres as well as a number of lesser energycentres.

LAST CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
There is still time to submit your submission for an anthology about working with the sabbats and seasonal rites here in the Southern Hemisphere.  More details can be  found here .

Blessings, Frances

Insight into being Moon Book's Author

 I recently took part in the series on authors that my publisher, Moon Books has been running, and here is the result:

Links to my books published by Moon Books are:Encountering the Dark Goddess from Moon Books (johnhuntpublishing.com)Contemporary Witchcraft from Moon Books (johnhuntpublishing.com)
Due for release in 2023:On Her Silver Rays from Moon Books (johnhuntpublishing.com)

Start the New Year clearing the past with Kali Ma

 

If you are seeking a new start, especially when 2023 rolls around, then the Journey into Freedom with Kali may be what you are looking for. This 21-day sadhana (spiritual practice) invites you to enter into the sacred temple of the Hindu Dark Mother. Here you will explore the sacred myths and practices to aid you on your exploration with the goddess. The sacred devotional practices that will be offered will enable you to connect with this powerful goddess on a deep soul level in order to bring about ultimate change.

Are you ready to finally let go of what has been holding you back and limiting your spiritual growth? To throw these outdated patterns into the pyre once and for all?

Are you willing to offer your head (ego) to the Terrible Mother?

Although her appearance may appear frightening, Kali is referred affectionally as “Ma” (mother) to her devotees. Her love may be tough, but it is true. If you allow her, she will show you a love so deep that it will never leave you.

Journey into Freedom with Kali is a self-paced 21-day sadhana practice. Every day you will receive an email that will contain information of this powerful goddess. Some may contain mythology and personal connections, others suggested prayers and ritualistic practices for you to undertake. You will also receive a guided meditation for you to undertake as frequently as you wish to further enhance your connection and relationship with Kali.

How deeply you wish to venture into Kali’s sacred creative cycle of birth, death and rebirth is entirely up to you and how much you wish to personally commit to your spiritual evolution.

Are you ready to awaken to the gift of true freedom that Kali offers? What you will need for this sadhana:

:: A journal/notebook to record your discoveries and journey with Kali in.
:: An image or statue of Kali - this can simply be a picture downloaded from the internet or even one you have drawn yourself,
:: You may also like to obtain a set of mala beads to assist you with the reciting of mantras.

More about the use and where you can purchase these beads will be provided within the course, however I do make traditional length crystal malas as well as an assortment of devotional beads (including those dedicated to Kali), oils, incense and other products through my Etsy store, LunaNoire Creations.

Journey into Freedom with Kali sadhana will be commence on Sunday, 8 January 2023 and will run until Saturday, 28 January 2023.

Investment: $99.99 AUD

More information about this 21-day on-line sadhana can be found here including how you can register.

October Happenings

October has arrived and so has spring. It has been a long, and somewhat cold and wet winter this year. The upcoming sabbat (seasonal observation) is Bealtaine, one of the four "lesser sabbats" that mark the gateway to the season, and in this case, it is summer here in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it is not uncommon to find some people celebrating Halloween at this time of the year, something that always seems out of place to me. If you would like to know more about Bealtaine, in this video I share some information from my book, Dancing the Sacred Wheel :

This month is shaping up to be a month of markets commencing with Sunday, 2 October 2022 where you will find me back at the  Semaphore Community Market .  Here I will be available for tarot and oracle card readings as well as having an assortment of  LunaNoire Creations  products available.  The  Semaphore Community Market  will be held in St Bede's Hall, located at 200 Military Road, Semaphore, and will be open from 10am until 3pm. 
The following weekend, Sunday, 9 October 2022 I will be offering readings, as well as having an assortment of  LunaNoire Creations  products available, at the  Adelaide Wellness Fair  which is being held at the John McVeity Centre, 182 Peachey Road, Smithfield Plains.  This market will be open from 10am until 4pm.
Later that evening on Sunday, there will be a Full Moon Meditation and Ceremony held at Semaphore beach to honour the full moon, which will enter the astrological sign of Aries at 7:24am the following morning, on 10 October 2022.  
If you would like to join likeminded people in a lunar meditate and ceremony, you can purchase your ticket through  Eventbrite .
On Saturday, 22 October 2022, I will be heading over to the Yorke Peninsular to take place in the  Copper Coast Body, Mind and Soul Expo 2022  that will be held at the Copper Coast Sports & Leisure Centre, 1 Doswell Centre, Kadina.  In the afternoon I will be offering a talk about working with the Dark Goddess entitled "Gifts from the Shadows".
The following weekend, on Saturday, 29 October 2022, I will be available for tarot and oracle card readings at the  Kapunda Show  while on Sunday, 30 October 2022 you will find me at the Happy Halloween Family Fun Day Market  which will be taking place at the corner of Main Street and Mawson Lakes Boulevard at Mawson Lakes, from 10am.

WORKSHOPS AND EVENTS
I will be hosting a number of workshops throughout October, starting with the  Poppet Making  workshop on Saturday, 15 October September 2022, that will commence at 10.30am.  In this workshop you will be crafting you own personal poppet for whatever purpose you desire.  Choose from health and healing, protection, success with study, to gain employment, fertility, establishing positive relationships, removing negative influences, and more.  Limited places are available so make sure you get your tickets.

Sunday, 16 October 2022 will see the final  Gathering Around the Cauldron  for the year where we will be discussing the potential conflict between Bealtaine and Halloween at this time of the year.
On Tuesday, 18 October 2022 I will be running a Healing Your Inner Soul mini workshop which will focus on identify past life traumas that we may have carried over into this life as well as healing Inner Child issues.
As we are all energetic beings, we can carry energetic imprints from previous lives into our current life.  These imprints can manifest as personal triggers that end up preventing us from living our best lives.  We can also be the result of imprints that have been passed down our ancestral line, generation after generations.

ONLINE PRESENTATION
At the end of the month, on Thursday, 27 October 2022, I will be offering a presentation entitled "Joining Kali's Cosmic Dance" as part of the Magickal Women Conference.  This presentation will be aired live at 7pm (British time) which will equate to an early morning for me here in Australia, and will also be recorded.  If you are interested in getting your ticket to this on-line event, you can do it here.
What a busy month.
And do not forget that I am still after submissions for an anthology about working with the sabbats and seasonal rites here in the Southern Hemisphere.  More details can be found here.

Blessings, Frances

September Happenings

September has arrived and the promise of spring is still being held as a tease as winter does not appear to be ready to loosen its grip.  The upcoming sabbat (seasonal observation) is the spring equinox, the time of the year when the hours of darkness and light appear to be equal, if only for a brief moment.  If you would like to know more about the spring equinox, in this video I share some information from my book, Dancing the Sacred Wheel:

On Sunday, 4 September 2022 I was invited to speak to the Indian Pagan Group  about some of the challenges of following a more traditional style of paganism in the Southern Hemisphere.     Due to the time zone differences, this meant I had to stay up until 11pm to join the online call. 
I am delighted that my presentation was well received and I had been invited to present again at some time in the night so distant future.  
One of the attendees had noticed the 21 day online sadhana,  Journey into Freedom with Kali , that I had run recently and commented that they has also undertaken a devotional journey with Kali that had brought many (mostly positive) changes into their life.
With it being September, this means that the  Australian Wiccan Conference  is only a week or so away, being held from Friday, 16 to Sunday, 18 September 2022, in rural Victoria, located close to the Great Ocean Road and adjacent to a  number of national parks including the Great Otway National Park  and Port Campbell National Park.
My workshop will be a practical one of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram - the foundational ritual that is found within high or ceremonial magick traditions.  It forms the basis of a magical system for invoking angelic forces, banishing negative influences, and also connecting to the divine.  This ritual has profoundly influenced the entire Western Mystery Tradition, including contemporary witchcraft, due to the invaluable skills contained within.
More information about this year's Australian Wiccan Conference , how to secure your tickets can be found here.
I am also delighted to announce that I will be taking part in the Scottish Goddess Conference (from Tuesday, 13 to Sunday, 18 September 2022), where the theme for this year's conference in "The Goddess of the Witches".  My presentation will be on Exploring the Magick of Shadows with Nephthys.  If you are interested in getting your ticket to this on-line event, you can do it here.

WORKSHOP - ENERGETIC AND EMOTIONAL CORD CUTTING
On Saturday, 24 September 2022 I will be running the first of three practical witchcrafting workshops, commencing with  Energetic and Emotional Cord Cutting .  
As energetic beings, we become connected to people and in some cased even circumstances, throughout our lives.  Cord cutting is a powerful healing technique that will enable you to reclaim parts of your soul and regain freedom.
In this workshop, you will learn how to:: Identify what energetic or emotional cords are attached to your energetic bodies,:: Various techniques that will assist in the removal of any unwanted cords,:: Engage self-soul protection to prevent the re-attachment of any energetic or emotional cords once they are removed,
Through learning how to release unwanted emotional and energetic cords, you are ale to reclaim parts of your soul that may have been suppressed.
Cord cutting is a practice to untether your soul from the lower frequency that holds you back from living your best life.  With awareness comes release, with release comes healing.
As there are limited places available, you will need to ensure that you book your place prior to 21 September 2022 through Eventbrite .

Freeing Yourself from Restrictive Energetic Cords

As energetic beings, it is natural for us to become connected to people, and in some cases, even circumstances, with "cords" made of energy throughout our lives. Whilst, in a lot of cases, these energetic cords tend do dissolve themselves once the connection has ended, if we have invested (and continue to invest) a lot of personal energy into these connections, then it is not uncommon for such attachments to linger and even remain. This is evident when a relationship has ended, yet one person refuses to accept the ending, or when a person finds that they attract similar people or situations into their lives.
Energetic cord cutting is a powerful healing technique that enables people to reclaim parts of their soul and be able to regain that much needed freedom.
There are numerous techniques when it comes to undertaking energetic cord cutting - the biggest downfall however is that many of these techniques tend to offer short-term results where the severing does not seem to last the distance.  Sooner or later the energetic attachment (the person) is back in your life again.  One of the more common reasons why this happens is that the cord is severed at the connection point to the energetic or physical body and not actually at its "root", or "hook" end.  Another reason is that the detachee possibly does not actually does not want the attachment to be severed.
If you find that you are experiencing any of the following on a regular basis then it is a good indication that you should consider removing some, if not all, of the energetic cords attached to you::: Your energy levels are always depleted.:: You regularly experience feelings of general leathery, depression, or unexplained sadness.:: You find it difficult to make decisions because you tend to feel "stuck".:: You have obsessive thoughts about another person.:: You speak often about another person in a rather judgmental or deprecating way.:: Your immune system seems to be extremely low in that you tend to get sick often.:: You develop unhealthy habits and addictive behaviours that often lead to you seeking comfort in excess, such as smoking, binge eating, drinking, drugs, or even exercising to the extreme,

Further, it is important to keep in mind that the need to cut energetic cords does not solely apply to past relationships or where a relationship leaves you feeling energetically or emotionally drained.  Severing cords can be done to enhance current relationships, even those which are very positive, as it is a way of continually cleaning the energy between participants and creating space for the new to enter.
Energetic cord cutting is a practice that will untether your soul from any lower frequencies  that are holding you back from living your best life.  This is because with awareness comes release, and with release comes healing.

I will be holding an Energetic Cord Cutting workshop on Saturday, 24 September 2022.  Bookings are essential as there are limited places available.  If you are interesting in taking part, you can book your place here.

August Events and Happenings

Another month has disappeared and all of a sudden we are greeted with Imbolc, the seasonal festival that marks the gateway to spring, and once again it feels like we are racing through this year.  If you would like to know more about Imbolc, in this video I share some information from my book, Dancing the Sacred Wheel :



The last day of July also marked the commencement of the 21 day online sadhana (spiritual journey), Journey into Freedom with Kali where every day participants will receive an email containing information about this powerful Hindu goddess. I have extended the ability to join the sadhana until Saturday, 6 August 2022, so if you feel like you need assistance in removing blockages in your life, then make sure you register here before Saturday.



After a number of online conferences last month, during August you will find me back at the Semaphore Community Market this coming Sunday, 7 August 2022, where I will be available for readings as well as having a number of LunaNoire Creations products available.  The Semaphore Community Market will be held at 200 Military Road, Semaphore, and will be open from 10am until 3pm.
The following Sunday, 14 August 2022, I will be taking part in the  Queen of Wands Psychic Fair at Blackwood .  this market will be held from 10am until 4pm at the Blackwood Memorial Hall, located at 21 Coromandel Parade, Blackwood.  You will find me in my marquee outside.
Over the weekend of 20 and 21 August 2022, I will be at the Gawler Psychic Fair which will be held at the Gawler racecourse from 12 noon until 6pm on Saturday, 20 August 2022, and from 10am until 4pm on Sunday, 21 August 2022.  
Also on Sunday, at 10.30am, I will be offering a free workshop on Witchcraft in the Southern Hemisphere .  If this is something that you are interested in, make sure you arrive early.
In between these market appearances I will be available for Reboot Your Life  sessions at the Isian Centre of Metaphysics in Parafield Gardens this coming Saturday, 6 August and the following Saturday, 13 August between 10.30am and 3.30pm only on both days.
September seems to be shaping up to be a rather exciting month as I travel interstate to take part in the Australian Wiccan Conference that will be held from 16 to 18 September 2022.  I will offering a practical workshop on the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram - rather appropriate considering that I am currently taking expressions of interest for a study circle involving ceremonial magick, qabalah, alchemy and ritual that will run until the end of this year.  If this is something that you are interested in then please contact me.

Submission Call for a new Book on the Sabbats

It is hard to believe that it has been ten years since I published my first book -  Dancing the Sacred Wheel  - that focused around my understanding of the eight sabbats that make up the "Wheel of the Year" as it is referred to within modern paganism as well as my own tradition of contemporary witchcraft. Since that time my practice as well as connection with the land upon which I reside has evolved.  While the traditional eight seasonal festivals still form an underlying influence to what I personally do, I have continued to look beyond the standard meanings, evolving and shaping the associated myths, as well as how I observe things.

Therefore, to mark the 10 year anniversary of Dancing the Sacred Wheel, I am interested in putting together an anthology that will include not only my own additional discoveries and explorations since 2012, but the personal ideas, discoveries and even frustrations from other pagans, witches, druids and other earth-centric practitioners as to how they work with the sabbats outside the traditional framework, regardless of what hemisphere they reside in.

Suggestions for possible contributions include, but are not limited to: essays (up to 5,000 words), invocations, poetry, rituals, short fiction, and artwork around working with the Wheel of the Year outside the traditional eight sabbats.

People who are interested in contributing towards this anthology are encouraged to explore the various ways of working the traditional seasonal myths and symbols found within certain spiritual practices, the possible rewriting of additional myths or symbols, the substitution of other seasonal stories, the inclusion of indigenous practices, local flora and fauna, and much more.

All works submitted must be original, not plagiarized or public domain.  Academic articles must provide proper citation for all sources used.  The preferred citation styles for this anthology are MLA (see the Western Sydney University Reference Guide or APA (see Murdoch University Guide).   Please do not use auto-generated footnotes. 

Previously published submissions are acceptable, as long as the author retains all rights.  The author will continue to retain all rights to any submissions accepted for this anthology.  Upon acceptance, the author must complete the permission to publish form, including a brief author biography to be included in the anthology.

The editor reserves the right to make editorial changes to the spelling, grammar, and formatting of submissions where appropriate.  The editor may also ask the contributor to make modifications to the submission/s.  The editor may reject submissions, as necessary.  Contributors will be sent a preview .pdf of the manuscript, and will have one week to send any suggested corrections to the editor.

Please note that no monetary compensation will be provided. Accepted contributors will receive a contributor's copy of the book, with the option to order as many additional copies of the book as they would like at cost during the pre-order period to sell or gift as they wish.

Multiple submissions are welcome.  Please send all submissions in the body of the email or as .doc, docx., .rtf, or .jpg, attachments.

Proposed Release Date: Early 2023

Please send your submissions to francesb.icm@gmail.com by 30 November 2022  with the book title in your subject line .   Please note that late submissions or corrections may not be accepted.