Venetia Nevill – Multi-sensory and experiential art work

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"A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orch

"A seed hidden in the heart of an apple is an orchard invisible."
A Welsh proverb I took my precious Hazel stick to the Apple tree, the 10th letter of the Ogham alphabet (Quert, Q and Cc). I thought it might be tricky to tap into its beautiful qualities in the cold of February, but she teaches us to welcome abundance and gratitude throughout the year. The Apple is connected to Venus, representing the unconditional, loving mother aspect of the Goddess and reminds us of the regenerative powers of the cycles of nature. Last week there seemed little happening in the orchard under the snow, but there was a world of treasure with frozen apples, gorgeous lichen and the welcoming energy of the trees. Dead branches needed to be cleared and apple wood used to be burnt at fertility festivals during winter to call for the speedy return of new life. (I will use the ash for art and paeonies love it )The word ‘Lent’ means ‘spring’ and is a time of fasting and spiritual cleansing for Christians and others. Apple wisdom is to cleanse negative thoughts, feelings of unworthiness and any sense of lack. To be open hearted and trust the reciprocal flow of giving and receiving. Giving up something in Lent can open tender space to receive spiritual strengths. Nature is so generous - it teaches us how to be unselfish, and opens our eyes to the magic around and within us, whatever struggles we might be facing. I started a food cleanse, by chance, on Ash Wednesday, to hopefully resolve some digestion issues and am choosing to eat very slowly and mindfully, mostly in silence. It was rather uncomfortable until I closed my eyes and started to really enjoy listening to my body, and taking space to fully savour every mouthful and be completely present. The apple invites us to rest and heal, and intimate rituals are a pathway to become more fully known to ourselves, through self care and appreciation. Gratitude is often best expressed through action. Sadly apples are forbidden fruit for me at the moment! #appletree #ogham #openheart #generosity #ritual #lent #cleansing #silence #regeneration #reciprocity #presence #unconditionallove #goddess #cominghometoourselves

‘For love alone can awaken what is divine within

‘For love alone can awaken what is divine within you. In love, you grow and come home to your self. When you learn to love and let yourself be loved, you come home to the hearth of your own spirit.’ ― John O'Donohue If you were to ask me which ogham tree I love the most, it would probably be whichever one I am currently with. I collected the catkins from the Hazel mandala on the dark Aquarius moon, and offered them as a farewell valentine gift to the magical, ‘Tree of Knowledge’. There is a strange old custom of wrapping catkins in pink cloth or paper, holding it to your heart while saying an incantation and then burning it. Watching the elemental dance of fire and snow was mesmerising! I am so grateful to the Hazel for waking up my hibernating creative spirit and guiding me to be playful - always food for the soul. If you are searching artistic inspiration visit the hazel - It brings ideas to the surface and allows us to share our gifts to inspire others. It called me to be still and awakened my intuition. Spirit communicates through signs and symbols, and Hazel bark has some remarkable markings that remind me of an ancient sacred calligraphy. I love tenderly running my fingers along the bark, getting a sense of its sacred song and making frottage bark rubbings to honour the tree. I am now moving to the Apple tree, the 10th ogham tree which is all about abundance. Today is a good day to celebrate all life’s miracles, big and small. The alchemy of gratitude, love and an open heart can reveal the divine in every moment! #hazel #ogham #valentine #invocation #sacred #lovetrees #speakingfromtheheart #inspiration #creation #devotion #elemental #ritual #love #stillness #miracles

Hazel has an affinity with water and magical thing

Hazel has an affinity with water and magical things seem to happen around the hazel. It can help us to develop intuition, and connect to the underworld and the magnetic energy of ley lines. Forked hazel sticks are often used for divining, to reveal the secrets of the earth and to find the source of water or buried treasure. I was trying to track the footprints of a beautiful white deer and its path led me to a magical gurgling underground spring. - there is something so delicious about the sound of underground water flowing. Molybdomancy is a form of divination, plunging hot metal (mainly lead) into water to look into the future. It dates back to the Roman times and is popular in Scandinavia. Lead relates to the base chakra, and is ruled by Saturn, the taskmaster teaching us boundaries and responsibilities. In spiritual terms, the alchemy of turning lead into gold is about uncovering the truth of the soul, and transmuting our ego driven selfish desires into the gold of selfless action. The second stage of alchemy, Dissolution, engages the element of water to release outgrown habits and beliefs, but is also about allowing and embodying our rejected emotions, which help us to grow and mature spiritually. The bittersweet tears that cleanse us. The Chinese New Year yesterday welcomes the earthly Ox which is valued for its selfless characteristics, of being kind, hardworking and honest. I collected water from the sacred springs, and stirred with a hazel stick I had charged under the lightning oak tree on the Leo full moon. The experiments pouring lead into water from the tap were completely different to the spring water. The springs are on ley lines and these energy paths are known as dragon lines, so it is not surprising that wonderful metal dragon like creatures appeared. I love that the water is creating the art! I left them in discarded hazelnut shells snuggled in moss at the base of the hazel. Apparently the Hazel contains its treasure so well, that is was the inspiration for the phrase "in a nutshell”. #hazel #ogham #magic #leylines #wearewater #alchemy #healing #dragons #molybdomancy #lead #treasure #gold #truth #thegoldisinyou

Hazel spirit Like a spiral I am emerging from the

Hazel spirit
Like a spiral I am emerging from the darkness, bringing new light and life and revealing the unconscious. I will kiss away your fears while you unravel, and transmute your sorrows into peace and creativity. Sit with the moon and the waters and you will hear my voice. Brush your cheek against my catkins and listen to the whisper of your ancestors. I am the nut, the treasure within your heart. When in doubt remember me there
I am always with you The Celtic festival of Imbolc marks the beginning of Spring, the stirrings of new life and the slow return of the sunlight. Brigid the pagan goddess of fertility and healing, is honoured at this time. She is often associated with the powerful kundalini energy of an awakening hibernating serpent. Earth meets air and the maiden energy is transforming the world around us and within us. As the sap is rising and the gorgeous birdsong calls us to wake up, our natural cycles can align with this gentle regeneration. We are still in the liminal place of not knowing what is to come, and Mercury has just gone retrograde encouraging patience and caution. But we can use those little seeds of hopes and unspoken words to set an intention at Imbolc. And to light a candle or make a mandala to release potential towards creating a world we would like to live in. The hazel is associated with Imbolc because it helps us access inner wisdom, bringing the treasure from the darkness into the light energising creative projects. Hazel also relates to the mother in all forms - Gaia, Mother Earth, as well as aspects of mothering like nurturing and compassion. Hazel supports our emotional life and offers safety and protection to meet the mother wound, where perhaps our needs haven’t been met in the past. The intense Leo full moon allowed us to release past hurts, so it is a good time to bring acceptance, forgiveness and healing to any lost parts of ourselves. And while we learn how to mother ourselves unconditionally, we can let sacred nature nourish us! Go gently! #imbolc #hazel #spirit #ogham #wisdom #compassion #sacred #motherearth #healing #alchemy #mandala #kundalinirising #ritual #presence #awakening

‘I went out to the hazel wood, Because a fire wa

‘I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout....’
William Butler Yeats .
The hazel (Coll) is the 9th ogham tree and represents the letters C and K. I love making new discoveries about these magical trees - A friend told me to look out for the darling little pink flowers on the hazel tree which I had never seen before. And making mandalas for the trees helps me access treasures on my journey I would otherwise overlook. Catkins are such a beacon of hope in these bleak January days, and the hazel invites us to deeply listen within to our true essence, to connect to divine source and trust, and allow that wisdom to guide our intuition. The hazel is connected to Gaia, poetry, creativity, knowledge, abundance and flow. ‘She honours the moon and the waters of our planet ‘. Connecting to the hazel can bring the unconscious to the surface, in the form of dreams, ideas and in my experience, lost parts of ourselves that need nurturing. The unconscious mind needs quiet space and meditation to reveal itself so I am allowing myself the luxury of retreating a bit this month. True healing often comes through keeping an open heart and believing in our capacity to embrace and inspire change. That we are in exactly the place we need to be, however uncomfortable, to take the next conscious step to realize our dreams and visions. Part of the process seems to be to ask for help to overcome creative blocks and limiting beliefs - the hazel suggests studying or seeking the advice of elders and ancestors, to bring clarity to any stuck tender holding. Robins keep joining me when I am sitting under the hazels and these harbingers of spring remind us to sing our own song, let our spirit shine and release any darkness held in the heart and mind. Life loves us....all of us! #hazel #catkins #gaia #inspiration #healing #creativity #intuition #trustyourknowing #ritual #mandala #vision #beaconofhope #meditation #stillness

I love the Holly King! It opens a space for quiet

I love the Holly King! It opens a space for quiet reflection in the stillness of the winter woodland, lights the inner fire of courage in the heart , and reminds us of the evergreen promise of renewal within the cycles of life. Holly has magical powers, provides shelter from the cold for the faery realm and if you sit quietly with it, reveals wonderful elemental beings. Harry Potter’s wand was made from holly and Druids would often invoke the holly energy for assistance in their rituals. It relates to fire and optimism, and is associated with the subconscious and dreams. The holly leaves and red berries can be associated with suffering but it offers us protection and it’s guidance is to keep trusting and being patient. The Capricorn New Moon tomorrow may stir up more uncertainty so it is important to get grounded. Kiss the earth in any way you can and if you can’t get outside to connect with nature, just breathe into your feet and imagine roots going down to the centre of the Earth. Our greatest fear is that we won’t cope but Holly offers protection, resolve and reminds us to believe in ourselves and connect to our inner strength as we move through these difficult times together. Essentially we contain the magic inside us - we just need to remember it and to nurture those little seeds of hope and potential we sowed in the New Year, and gently allow them to move into the light. The paintings are created with iron from the sacred chalybeate spring and painted with holly leaves. Time to move onto the hazel - All about transforming our dreams into reality. #holly #magic #ogham #spirit #elementals #trust #newmoon #seedsofpotential #innerstrength #courageoftheheart #ritual #interconnection #lloveconquersall #stillness #presence

"Let the waters settle and you will see the moon a

"Let the waters settle and you will see the moon and the stars mirrored in your own being" - Rumi By saying the Ho'oponopono mantra “I'm sorry, I love you, please forgive me, thank you," we can send love and healing to all the waters. Our bodies are mostly water, as is our planet and water has an intelligence and memory that responds to our love and intentions. Water communicates energy and it needs our help - not only is it polluted by our waste physically, but also energetically. We can remove the fears and negative frequencies held in the waters by using this prayer. We are 70% water so when we are harsh on ourselves and judge others we weaken our life force and capacity for compassion. Say this beautiful prayer of forgiveness three times to water, to this sacred land, to anyone we are in conflict with, and of course to ourselves and notice how things change. As we cleanse ourselves and the waters, we bring in the light, and become part of the change in shifting the frequency of our planet. Apparently holly used to be planted over ancient springs and wells to channel the light and ground light energies. I collected holly from some remarkable trees growing over sacred waters, to make a blessing for the New Year at midday. I also sprinkled a water medicine created on the Cancer Full Moon from Chalice Well spring water, crystals, and recycled holly from Christmas wreaths placed on the graves of much missed family members. Holly’s evergreen nature is a reminder of the eternal cycles of life and that this too will pass. The lovely Glennie Kindred associates holly with communication, responsibility, restoring balance and direction. Bach said that ‘holly protects us from anything which is not unconditional love’. I asked the holly to show me a sign from Spirit and came across an incredibly early sprig of pussy willow on my path home (no tree in sight). Apparently it is the tree that tells the rest of the world and all the other flora, and trees that it's time to wake up! Happy New Year! #water #healing #mandala #ritual #hooponopono #blessing #masaruemoto #watermedicine #holly #ogham #sacred #vibration #forgiveness #awaken #consciousness

‘I wish I could show you, When you are lonely or

‘I wish I could show you,
When you are lonely or in darkness,
The astonishing Light
Of your own Being!’
Hafiz I love to take sprigs of the sacred mistletoe to favourite trees and special places, around the winter solstice. Known as ‘Allheal’ because of its powerful medicinal properties, its leaves look like wings, which to the druids were a sign of immortality. It never touches the earth so is pure spirit and like the holly, brings good luck and wards off evil spirits. Traditionally cut just before Christmas mine came from an apple tree, (the apple tree symbolises the bringing of wisdom) and I took it with some spring water to offer blessings to the holly on Christmas Day. In pagan lore the holly king is a symbol of peace and rules through the dark winter months while the oak king, its rival, rules the summer. While the oak seems to attract lighting , holly and mistletoe protect us from it. Mistletoe apparently may remain hanging through the year for this protection but it also has a dark side as it is very toxic. The holly tree has become a symbol for Christmas, its leaves symbolising Christ’s crown of thorns and the berries his blood. Legend has it that holly emerged from the footsteps of Christ. Both the holly and mistletoe are evergreen, a metaphor for eternal life. ‘Holly can help to awaken the Christ energies within and open us up to the angelic and faerie realms.’ #treespiritwisdom Even though things are so difficult for many right now , Christmas time reveals a beautiful underlying open hearted energy and sense of interconnection and support for each other. The holly relates to rebirth, and connection to these ancient beloved plants and rituals awakens the sacred in us, and connects to the eternal light within which is beyond suffering. #bethelight #christconsciousness #mistletoe #holly #ritual #sacred #ogham #essence #christmas #mandala #allheal #evergreen #essence #wearethemedicine

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