Newsletter for members of

The Order of Bards, Ovates and

Druids
Samhuin 2009
in the Southern Hemisphere. 2008

Sunset over the sea.

photograph by Trudy Rich
Story inside…
 Crossword Puzzle
wyverne’s words 1 2 3

9
4 5 6

10
7 8

11 12 13

G’day, Southern Hemisphere OBODies! 14 15 16

Welcome to the Samhuinn 2009 issue of SerpentStar.

17 18 19
This is the time of harvest home, the third
harvest of the traditional Celtic year. The first was the 20 21 22
hay, the second the grain and the third the meat. Of
course conditions in these far-flung lands that our 23 24

ancestors’ explorations and outward urges have brought

us to are not always the same as the ones that existed in
25 26 27 28 29

their cold climate homelands, and times have changed. 30 31

Most people are no longer in close contact with
the primary sources of their food. The preserving of 32 33 34

seasonally available produce is now done for most of us by

the increasingly complicated food industry and food- 35

related industries.
Our prayers, rituals and meditations can help to Clues Across Clues Down
heal and prosper these industries. Hasn’t it been proved 1. Air, water, fire or earth fairy. 2. Kind of citrus fruit.
scientifically that gratitude and love can powerfully 9. Fuss. 3. Long hair on a horse’s neck.
affect the healthfulness of water? So wouldn’t our 10. Isle of Man. 4. Man’s name (abbr.)
attitudes, crafted lovingly for the good of all beings, 11. Egyption God. 5. Not able to be carried.
13. An inert gas. 6. Out of control.
benefit food, farming and the associated industries too?
14. Dry and shrivelled. 7. Solitary.
And isn’t there room for improvement in these industries, 15. Stronghold of a castle. 8. Gaiety.
in their ethics, their logistics, their values and their 17. 1st note of the scale. 11. Study of the Zodiac
healthfulness for humanity and the environment? 19. US soldier. 12. Pitchers.
It’s time to invite and honour the dead as well, 20. Breathing. 16. Sense of self.
especially those who remain near us as ghosts. It’s a fairy 23. Sacred utterence. 18. Animal fodder.
time too, so leave out bread and milk for them on 24. Home for pigs. 21. Big flightless bird.
25. Board game. 17. A God of the Underworld
Samhuinn night. This isn’t just for fun – we need to know
28. Garden tools. 22. Man’s name.
our neighbours and they need to know us. Our gifts let 30. Someone from Arabia. 26. Fruit.
them know that we are fairy-friendly people and they 31. Periods of time. 27. Word-of-mouth.
value us for it. 32. Hindu scripture. 28. Warmth.
I’ve been whinging about the drought for the 33. Voodoo nature spirit. 29. Comfort.
last year or so, and at last it has rained, at least a little 35. Tree of the Ogham Ruis. 34. Alternatively.
bit, so hopefully we’re on the mend.
We’ve got a packed issue for you this time. A
photo story takes us to the beach, there’s a wonderful
study of OZ animal magick, Elkie shows us around the site
for the coming gathering, and we have poetry, articles
WANTED
and items of interest for all. Articles, poems, stories, art, photos, items
Have a BLESSED SAMHUIN!!!!! of interest, long or short, for SS.
wyverne/|\

SerpentStar comes out four times a year at each of the

REWARD
Fire Festivals, Imbolc, Beltane, Lugnasadh and Samhuinn. The inestimable satisfaction of seeing
Subscriptions: By email, free – just email me at
[email protected]. By post, send $Aus10.00 made out to v your work in print, and of knowing that
o wyverne to PMB2 Angaston SA 5353 Australia.
you’ve done a good deed!
Contributions are eagerly sought by email or post. Please
make sure your contributions do not violate copyright laws. Children’s work especially welcome.
Opinions expressed in SerpentStar by contributors are If not your own work, make sure it’s not under
their own and not necessarily the opinions of the editor or copyright.
of the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids.
1 Deadline for next issue: Sunday, 26th July 2009
 Anthology & CD of Southern Hemisphere
Bardry.
Contributions now being eagerly sought.
O Hear the Voice of the Bard,
Who present past and future sees
Whose ears have heard the holy word
That walked among the ancient trees…
William Blake, Druid.
It’s nearly six years since Southern Echoes, An Anthology of Druid Writing from the
Southern Hemisphere was published by a team of dedicated editors, and it’s an excellent
record of where we Bards, Ovates and Druids are, spiritually and artistically, in the early 21 st
Century. Perhaps it’s an important one: our successors in the distant and not so distant future
will surely treasure our anthologies, in which they’ll be able to trace the evolution of their own
spirituality - a valuable exercise for any time-conscious Bard!
Even six years on, Southern Echoes is a refreshing read. We Southern Hemisphere
Bards have vital, vivid voices, speaking of things never spoken of before in these ancient lands
so new to our own people, in which such a diverse range of cultures meet and marry. We are
profoundly excited by the beauty and power of the lands we find ourselves in, and our voices
and our art are full of the wonder of that, communicating it sensitively and articulately to
future readers. The first anthology was a resounding success because of the enthusiasm of all
who contributed. There are more of us now, and our talents are developing, so let’s give them
an airing in a new Southern Hemisphere anthology. Meanwhile, technological advances have
made eBook and Print on Demand (POD) publishing so easy anyone can do it – even me !
This is also a call to singers, song-writers and musicians, story-tellers and actors: all
that hidden and not so hidden talent out there: YOU ALL KNOW WHO YOU ARE! Send me a
selection of your best mp3s, cassettes, CDs or whatever you’ve got to send, and we’ll see
about getting up a CD to showcase our best talent.
So get Bardic, get creative and email the best you’ve got to [email protected] or
send it on snail-back to SerpentStar C/- Wyeuro, PMB2, Angaston, SA 5353, Australia. Send me
a good handful, and we’ll select the ones we think best express the OBOD Druidry spirit. Let
me know if you’ve written material you’d like someone else to perform for you, or if you’d be
willing to perform other people’s material for them.

wyverne

e has any suggestions for this new Anthology, or any comments to make about it, or
especially, if anyone would like to participate, eg, in selecting, proof-reading and editing, 2
 to think about a possible date of issue. My plan, which is open to suggestion, is to publish it
(this part is free) and sell it as an e-book or (a bit dearer) as a professionally printed paperback
through www.lulu.com, with the proceeds going to a charity to be nominated. What do others
think?
The Blessings of Samhuin are upon us all now, our hearts full of gratitude and
pleasure for the gifts of nature and the fruits of our toils. Now the veil between
the worlds grows thin, and we can share of our abundance with the beings of the
invisible worlds, as we honour them in our thoughts, with gifts and in ritual.

Samhuin, Samhain, Savin, Oíche

Shamhna, Hallowe'en, All
Hallows, Hallowtide, Shadow
Fest, Allantide, Third Harvest,
Harvest Home, Day of the Dead
(Feile na Marbh), Feast of the
Dead, Spirit Night, Candle Night,
November Eve, Nutcrack Night,
Ancestor Night and Apple Fest, All
Hallow's Eve, Hallontide, Old
Hallomas, Hallowmass,
Martinmas, Martinmass,
Shadowfest, Nos Calan Gaeaf, and
All Soul's Day

BEWARE, the FAIRIES and WITCHES are out in full

force this night. Shut the house up nice and tight after
sunset, and keep a BRANCH OF BLACKTHORN at
the doorway to banish GHOST AND GOBLIN. It’s
considered wise to spend this night SAFE AT HOME.
If you travel abroad, who knows WHO OR WHAT you
might meet. NYA HA HA! KICKLE CACKLE,
KICKLE! Alternatively, if YOU want to FLY WITH
THE WITCHES, or GO SCARING WITH THE
SPOOKS or GAMBOL WITH GOBLINS, get your
3
GHOULIEST GEAR on –
 TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT!
The Samhuinn feast which we
We are Alban Hervin

here!
Beltane
share with the blessed dead
T
and the beings of the invisible
worlds can consistLugnasadh
of whatever
your imagination can come up
with. Our ancestors prepared
special foods for their feasts, Alban Eiler
Alban Elved
utilising the newly harvested
and carefully preserved
produce of farm and Have
countryside. This is a festive
time best celebrated by
Samhuinn
fun! Imbolc Leave food out for the fairies. Even
candle-light – and pumpkin though the veil between our world and
candle-holders are just the theirs is thin at this time, they still need a
thing to celebrate the harvest clear sign that we want to connect with
Alban Arthuan them, and they can use the energy of the
and hail the fairies and witches
and souls of the dead. food we leave them to help them ‘cut
across’ to our dimension. It takes effort
for them to reach our world and even
more to become visible to us! Make sure
When you sit down to your that the food you leave is not accessible
Remember to light a candle normal family dinner at
or two in a window to guide to cats or dogs, because the Fairies take
Samhuinn, set places for only the astral portion and they leave the
the souls venturing abroad unseen guests – your own
tonight to your feast. Your residue super-charged, at a higher
deceased family members, or vibrational level than normal matter, and
kindness will not be any lonely ghosts who might
forgotten and the goodwill eating it can cause headaches, dizziness,
like to join you. swooning, and vomiting.
of the ghosts will be your
reward.

This is the time for divination, and you can expect help from the
ancestors – but be warned, you can also expect mischief from the
fairies. Cast your circle with care, and wear parsley and rue!

No time of the year is better than Samhuinn for a comfy, cosy séance. Use orange candles for lighting, and a large,
preferably circular, mirror. Lay the mirror flat on a table large enough for everyone to sit at but not so large that they
can’t reach the whole of the mirror when it is placed in the centre. Some people like to keep a mirror specially for
ouija, and in that case the mirror should have all the letters of the alphabet painted around the edge and the numbers
one to nine interspersed. Place the words YES and NO directly opposite each other. Some people like to provide a
DON’T KNOW and a CAN’T TELL YOU as well. Place a glass tumbler upside down at the centre of the mirror. To stop it
squealing as it slides over the mirror’s surface, you may lightly oil the rim. Everyone sits around the table. All hold
hands to pray or meditate for attunement and a successful séance. Some may have questions to ask about their
blessed dead, or to ask them about their own lives, but sometimes it’s better just to ask the spirits what they have to
tell us. When the séance is over, hold hands again to reassert the circle so that it can be mindfully released. Always be
courteous, but expect there to be great excitement on the part of the spirits, and therefore mirth and joy.

4
 Photographs and story
by Trudy Rich

"You finally attend a Melbourne Grove

event and you pick the one furthest away!"
said Mickael.
It was the lure of the ocean that tempted
me, and a cave that sealed it. My car had
finally had a rear engine oil leak fixed, so I
was able to make a long trip without worrying
about the motor catching on fire.
It took about two and a half hours to get
to Cape Schank from Kyneton, but I had a
bottle of water and a big bag of lollies...
It was great to meet Amanda and
Mickael, and meet up with Elkie and Felix
again. 

After a steep scramble down the cliff, we hit the sand. I always like to immerse myself
in the salt water when I get to the beach, for a bit of cleansing. This time, however, I had left
my bathers in my car at Amanda and Mickael's place. I was wading about knee deep through a
rock pool to get to the cave, (the tide was still on the way out) and just thinking what a shame,
as the water was lovely, when a wave came in and wet me up to the waist. So I got my swim
after all.

5
 The cave was big and dark and it was good to enter and feel the earth around us.
Rather impressive!
A great picnic tea was enjoyed on the cliff-top overlooking the ocean, and a great day
ended with a magnificent sunset followed by the illuminating rise of the full moon over the
hills.

The ghost brumbies

wyverne

Way up on the slope of the mountain high, Five shots rang out, five mares fell dead,
The stallion neighed his warrior cry, Each with a bullet wound in her head.
No answer came to his challenge clear. Five more died ere the herd could flee
The mares stood quietly, tense with fear. Then the foals and the colts and the stallion, he!

The wind from the east brought odours soft On a Samhuinn eve at the close of the day
And the evening clouds went by aloft. You can find the place if you climb that way,
Yet the stallion pawed the rocky ground For you’ll hear that stallion’s warrior cry
And neighed once more – the awesome sound And you’ll see those mares go galloping by.

Was echoed again through the valley steep They cast no shadows, they seem to glide
Till it died away in the silence deep. No echoes resound from the mountainside
For it wasn’t a sound or a scent or a sight Though their hoof-beats pound in the twilight grey.
But the Sense of Danger that caused their fright. They wheel and they turn and they gallop away!

They did not see in the darkening bush For the brumby spirit is wild and free,
Where, noiselessly should’ring their rifles to push Not vermin, but creatures of dignity,
Their way within firing range five strong men And though they are persecuted still,
Homed in on the sound as he neighed again. They have not gone yet, and they never will!

62
 WELCOMING YOU TO THE ASSEMBLY

In the last edition of Serpentstar I announced that The Melbourne Grove will be hosting an Assembly from
April 23 – 26 in 2010 in Cockatoo, Victoria. Since then I’ve been delighted by the emails that I have received
from treasured friends. In that article I included a photo of some tree ferns in a gully. These are guardians of
a sacred spring in William Rickett’s Sanctuary. We plan on taking you to this amazing sanctuary, which is not
far from Cockatoo.

The main street of Cockatoo

4

Recently named “CU”, Vicki’s place in Cockatoo is just a couple of kilometres from the pictured shopping strip
in the direction that the camera is pointed (i.e. towards all that lush greenery). Cú (pronounced koo) means
hound or wolf, and is an appropriate name for Vicki’s place. Vicki and her husband Peter share a passion for
large dogs and share their home with two magnificent deerhounds. Here’s a photo of Vicki, Eileen, and
Maggie, who will be your hosts at CU.

7
Alban Hervin And here are some notes from Vicki about deerhounds…
 Cost

In 1997, when the first Assembly was held at Wiseman’s Ferry, those present agreed to keep the cost of the Assembly
to $150. Twelve years on, we are still committed to providing such a low-cost option for participants. So it’s $150
per person for a tent-site, caravan-site, or mattress and pillow on the floor. That covers all expenses from Friday to
Monday. Children are free. The following photo shows the site that will be set aside for tents.

Deerhounds
For those who may have some concerns about sharing with
two large dogs who live in the house and often consider been
sent out doors against all things Deerhound (we are not dogs)
here is some information about the breed and more specifically
our two girls Maggie and Eileen (“Puppy” now four).

The breed was first scheduled to be shown at the Birmingham Dog Show in 1860, but had been
well known for many years prior as they were bred to course Red deer in Scotland. Particularly over the
past 130 years the Deerhound has changed little, photo’s and artwork from earlier times show an easily
recognizable dog to those seen today. The breed today is still well able to perform what it was originally
bred to do, hunt Red deer.
The breed was nearly lost during the 1st and 2nd world wars due to food shortages and in the
1700's due to the invention of guns which often took the role of the Deerhound. The fact that only
chieftains were able to own the hounds, and the collapse of the clan system, exacerbated the situation. In
1825 Archibald and Duncan McNeill successfully restored the breed and since then a band of small but
avid owners and breeders have maintained the breed world wide and generally of high quality.
If we go back into history there are Scottish carvings representing hounds, the Deerhound and Irish
Wolfdog may have been one in the same and there are those who claim they are descendant of the
hounds the Picts ran with. In 1576 a book of English dogs speaks of Greyhounds some smaller, some
larger,
Thesome with smooth
backgarden at CU coats some with rough. The Deerhound looks like an oversized rough coated
Greyhound by today’s standards. In the Middle Ages there are reports of the charms of these hounds:
courage in the hunt and gentleness in the home.
We had a Deerhound X for 16 years who was the best, and after her demise we acquired Maggie
fromAlternatively,
a local breeder who has
for those who become a great
need or want a bitfriend. Maggie is
more comfort, we8are
years old and
booking nothouse
a large quite called
your average
Cockatoo Springs,
hound.
whichShe is social to the
is conveniently extreme.
situated Maggie
between likesand
the shops to lick,
CU. sit on,seven
It has eat off, aidincluding
beds, in toileting anddoubles,
three showering, and
and so it can
if you displease
house herpeople.
up to ten she willAburp on you.
bed here It’s you
will cost just $50
thatper
shenight
loves everyone
(i.e. $150 for so
themuch! If required,
three nights she
– Friday, will
Saturday, and
lay gently beside you all day, every day! 8
Sunday). To be sure of a place and also to help us raise the cash, please send your $150 asap. Later we will work out
your food and ancillary costs, which will of course be additional to the accommodation.
 Cockatoo Springs Retreat

So the options are:

A. $150 at CU to cover everything, including accommodation and food or

B. $150 at Cockatoo Springs for accommodation only; food extra

Please send your cheque or money order to Elkie White, PO Box 404 Ferntree Gully, 3156.

This Assembly is less than a year away now, and I am already looking forward to catching up with old friends and
beginning new friendships.
9

Elkie

[email protected]
10
 CELTIC GATHERING IN CANADA 2009
Friends, Celts and Pagans,
We invite you to join us for the Celtic Gathering 2009. Located at the Mansfield
Outdoor Centre, just an hour's drive north of Toronto, the Celtic Gathering offers seminars,
workshops, rituals, and a chance to meet like-minded pagans. Speakers and workshop
presenters are travelling from England, Wales, US, and Canada.
Running from July 31st to August 3rd, organizers are hoping for warm, bright days and
cool, clear nights. Situated on three hundred acres of beautifully wooded hills and valleys,
the site offers nature trails, river banks, and fire pits.
Camping and all meals, showers, talks and workshops are included in the admission
cost of $C 165.00 for the entire weekend. For those that prefer indoor accommodations,
shared rooms are available for an additional $C 10.00 (for the weekend).

Scheduled speakers include:

Brian Walsh Lughnasadh: The Feast of Lugh
Ceallaigh S. MacCath-Moran Introduction to Celtic languages
Marija Kuncaitis Eastern European Paganism
Caryl Dailey Self Made by Celtic Magic
Scheduled workshops include:
Brian Walsh Into the Valley
Seba Interactive Celtic Mythology Theater
Donata Ahern Working With the Medicine Wheel,Shamanic Working
Ceallaigh S. MacCath-Moran Bodhran Drumming

Mark this on your calendar and plan to join us!

Register online at www.druidicdawn.org/node/1381

As a side note, we will be supporting Elkie at the Obod Assembly in 2010, so if you are
there it would be great to meet up and network!

Cheers
Nigel

NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS
THE BAD NEWS: Due to the bungling incompetence of your beleaguered editor, during a technological crisis a few
email subscribers’ email addresses were lost from my records. Some have contacted me and are now back on. Only
one or two are still missing. Oh if only I could contact you!

THE GOOD NEWS: Due to the same bungling incompetence of said editor, all records of due dates for paper
subscriptions were lost. This is good news, because, there being enough spare cash in the kitty, you all get a few free
issues, since subscriptions will all be due for renewal NEXT ISSUE. This issue will be free, and a subs.renewal slip will
be sent with the next issue (Imbolc).

SOME SAD NEWS: Rates for overseas subscribers must rise to meet rising postal costs.

New rates p.a (4 issues)

Within Australia: Still $Aus10-00
To NZ: An astronomical $Aus12-50
Everywhere else: An out and out rip-off at $15.00

11
 their wild fancies and superstitions. In some versions the
ghost kindly rebukes her and abjures her to ‘make
yourself content, my love, till death calls you away’. But
vyvyan ogma wyverne this one leaves her to bear the pain of her loss
philosophically. I think we can still feel pity for her.
These ballads are very old – no one knows
exactly how old - and they’ve evolved somewhat since
they were first sung. In particular the language is
constantly being up-dated in the oral traditions, and the
religion and institutions of the forgotten past get up- The Unquiet Grave
dated too, to suit their newer audiences. They were
already very old and this slow process of change was Oh bonnie, bonnie sings the bird,
advanced when they became popular again as literature sat on a coil of hay,
during the Celtic Ossianic revival of the 19th century after and dowie dowie was the maid
having been maintained as a folk tradition for that loved the corpse of clay.
generations. The poets, artists and composers of the so-
called Romantic period took their inspiration from them “The wind doth blow today, my love,
and thus greatly advanced European poetry, art and and a small few drops of rain . . .”
opera. They can still give us that kind of inspiration, but I never had but one true love
perhaps for some of us, even more exciting is the glimpse and in green-wood he lies slain.
we get of our ancient ancestors.
In keeping with the spirit of Samhuinn, this I’ll do as much for my true love
ballad deals with the visitation of an earthbound as any young girl may,
mourner by her deceased lover. It’s imagery of the I’ll sit and mourn all at his grave
withering and dying flower, the cold, rainy for a twelve-month and a day.
weather, and the coldness and
deathliness of the clay are all And when twelve months and a day was passed
beautifully evocative of this time a ghost did rise and speak,
of the year. “Oh, who sits weeping on my grave
In this still popular and will not let me sleep?”
ballad, we learn of the custom
of mourning for a “Tis I, my love, sits on thy grave
twelvemonth and a day. This and will not let thee sleep,
period of time is often for I crave one kiss of your lily white lips
specified as being the length and that is all I seek.”
of a period of mourning for
the dead. Long after it was no “My breast is cold as clay, sweetheart,
longer observed, it remained a my breath smells earthy strong.
beloved custom, often specified in If you have one kiss of my clay cold lips
folksong. Our heroine seems to be Your time will not be long!”
accustomed to chatting aimiably with
her beloved, in this instance, about the “Go fetch me water from the desert,
weather. This recalls modern practice, where many and blood from out of a stone,
people visit their loved ones’ graves at least once a year go fetch me milk from a fair maid’s breast,
to commune on quite mundane things, just as if they that a young man never has known.
were alive.
The superstition about the lethal consequences “Tis oft in yonder garden green,
of kissing a corpse is also a common motif, probably love, where we used to walk.
relating to times of plague, when early death may have The finest flower that ever was seen
been the result of the plague and the corpse was likely to is withered to a stalk.
be highly contageous.
There’s a lovely interchange of impossible tasks, “The stalk is withered and dead, sweetheart,
quite the traditional thing, and probably a reworking of a The flower can never return,
much older motif. Normally a marriage might depend on and since I’ve lost my own true love
man’s carrying out a series of impossible sounding tasks, what can I do but yearn?
but these are introduced rhetorically, for the sake of
increasing the poignancy of the lovers’ plight. “When will we meet again sweetheart,
There’s sometimes a moral worked into this when will we meet again?”
song – perhaps it’s an overworking of this popular song “When the autumn leaves that fall from the trees
by concerned older women, who liked to caution girls on are green and spring up again!”
12
 Native Animal Lore Exploring
may also have similarities with other systems as of course,
these are the symbolic nature of the animals themselves.
the Magickal Natures of the Animals of
KOALA: The name ‘koala’ means ‘no water’ as koalas do not
Australia need to drink and get all the moisture they need from
By Julie Mills eucalyptus leaves. As a result they represent
Learning about Druidry is about learning how resourcefulness, adaptability and survival. They spend much
we, as humans can more intimately relate to the world of their time drowsy or asleep, so they represent inner
around us. Through ritual, meditation and our journeys, dreaming and meditation. They are also quite
philosophies we find ourselves ever more in tune with noisy at mating time making them a symbol of passion, but
the cycles and energies of the world around us. Our also of anger and jealousy.
ancestors worked with the changing seasons, and saw
that these could be recognised in the changes of the KANGAROO: The image of the big red kangaroos with their
trees, the animals and the stars. Many people studying muscled chests, fighting for their rank and right to mate
Druidry today also find that they are becoming ever represents the kangaroo’s magickal symbolism in strength,
more connected to the world around them, however power, protection and masculine energy. The pouch of the
today we are located in many corners of the world mothers represents the closeness of mothers to their
where the signs we can see in the trees, animals and children and the process of motherhood generally. They
even the stars are not the same as those in the land of also represent travel, endurance and attentiveness.
our ancestors. Yet there is much to be learned about
our unique places by learning to understand the
messages and signs that nature can give us, wherever
we are in the world.
Learning about native animals is one way that we
can learn to understand more intimately our own place in
the world. By understanding the cycles of the animals of the
land, sea and sky we can learn more about the seasons,
ways to celebrate change in our world, and essentially learn
about ourselves.
There are some resources already available for you
to find a guide to the symbolic meanings of Australian
native animals, such as the Animal Dreaming oracle deck
and book of the same name by Scott Alexander King,
however it can be very helpful and informative for us to
spend time with native mammals, reptiles, birds and fish to
see what symbolism we can find in their nature. By noting
their colours, their habits and habitat, their mating season
or rituals or other features about them we can learn what
they represent on a spiritual level.
You might also come across tarot decks or books WOMBAT: Living in underground burrows and coming out
on Aboriginal myths which can give you more insight into in the night, wombats are a symbol of homely comforts,
the nature of native animals. Aboriginal myths can be used homesickness, and stability. With their thick, stout bodies
to gain further insight into the nature of the land also, and they represent standing your ground, self confidence and
can be a wonderful resource for guided meditation. It is security. The energy of the wombat is of reliability,
important to note, however, that Aboriginal mythology is responsibility, study and family life.
often secret and very sacred. Stories hold power and are
owned by people and places. However, there are myths KOOKABURRA: The cackling call of the kookaburra is a
which we can find in published books and these are familiar sound over much of Australia, sounding much like a
available to everyone and as long as we treat them with hearty laugh they represent humour and looking on the
respect, by acknowledging the author and their country if bright side of life. As they are often heard laughing before
we use them in ritual. If you are lucky enough to be told a storms they represent weather knowledge, storm energies,
story personally, be sure to find out if there are laws insight, divination and prophecy.
concerning its retelling (for example, only for women), as
you may not be able to pass it on to others. PLATYPUS: Women's mysteries, duality, sanding on the
thresh hold of worlds, mysteries of childbirth, mysteries of
Here are some Australian animals and their evolution and progression, adapting to new situations,
magickal meanings which I have discovered myself, but they changing to suit our environment.

13
 Certainly, there are many more native animals with
DINGO: Dingoes often hunt in packs so they emulate many more symbolic meanings, and there are even regional
teamwork, leadership, hunting, cunning, and wit, working and other variations which will give the animals different
smart not hard. The dingo cannot bark but only howl. They meanings in different contexts. What is important, however
are generally silent showing us the virtue of holding our is that we are making a connection with the world around
tongues when we may want to comment too quickly. us, learning more about the natural world and about
Leading by example not by explanation. "Do as I do, not as I ourselves. Each one of us has a responsibility to learn about
say". and connect with the sacred landscape around us, to live in
harmony with the land and all its creatures and to be aware
EMU: Emus have a striking glare and a controlled and of its cycles, signs and symbolism. From the mountains to
threatening step. They are curiosity, but not timid. They the sea, from the tropics to the deserts, from the forests to
represent confidence, persuasion, study, focus, the cities, we all have to find our place and learn about our
discernment, judgement and will power. The nomad, land in our own way.
travelling their journey with confidence and focus on their Possibly the best way that we can learn more
goals. about the native animals of our area is to buy some field
guides of birds, mammals, reptiles and fish, and find out
about the characteristics of the local fauna. Another way of
finding out information is to visit your local council, who
often supply leaflets about conservation or the habitats of
local species. You may even find that they conduct nature
walks where you can be shown some of the local animals.
Then a wonderful exercise for meditation is to think about
the spiritual meanings and symbolisms of the animals of
your area.
This process can be done anywhere in the world
and there are many beautiful species which we can learn so
much about. Indigenous knowledge is a wonderful resource
and a point from which we can learn much about the spirit
of our area, however there is also a wealth of knowledge to
be found in the symbolic natures of the animals themselves
- all we have to do is look.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS

POSSUM: A nocturnal animal they carefully move through
the trees. They are a symbol of caution and the mysteries of
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
the night. Carrying their young clinging tightly to their backs
they symbolise nurturance, agility, holding on, safety and E L E M E N T A L H
9 10
parenting.
I A M N
11 12
D O
13
O A
COCKATOO: White and yellow: Their flashing white and
A U N O
yellow feathers symbolise the rays of the sun, beams of 14
M N E 15
N 16
P
inspiration and life. But their harsh calls remind us that the S P K E
sun and its strength also bring fire and destruction. E R E 17 18
E 19
P
Black and red: They also remind us of the fires symbolising T D O H G I
the red flames and the charred remains. Cleansing and 20 21
N 22
renewing. Both birds are a symbol of the fire season and R E S I
the power of the sun. 23
P I24 R A T O N
E
O S
M T Y G
LYRE BIRD: The lyre bird is a perfect symbol of the Bard. 25 26 27 28 29

With a long repertoire for different songs the lyre bird L D O H E S

U 30
A 31
O
symbolises memory, poetry and song. Their silvery voices
lighten the sound of the bush and their beautiful feathers O A E S
32
R A B
33 34
R A
and dances are a fabulous display. A performer, a dancer,
singer and poet. They represent the poetic inspiration G I L O S
T35 A A
within us all. E
Y E L
D E R T R E

14
Junior Bards: Young Ovates: Budding Druids:
Samhuinn is here. It’s Ovates are keen The ancient Druids were
good fun to dress up. You can be observers of nature, but they magicians. They knew that there
know there are many things in are many forces beyond our ken
a witch or a ghoul or a ghost. which we must learn to understand.
It’s a good idea to keep a big Nature that are not visible to
They knew that all nature is alive
ordinary people. They watch for
box, basket or bag full of old and and that all life is obedient to the
signs of fairies and pixies that Laws of the Universe. It’s good to
interesting clothes, old curtains live in the wild places and in know physics and chemistry,
and rags. Then, when you want gardens and even in towns and because they teach us about some
to dress up, you’ll have lots of cities, and they try to of the Laws of the Universe. And it’s
different things to choose from. communicate with them. good to know the Laws of the
Here’s how to make a groovy If you wish to Universe as they operate through
wizard’s hat communicate with fairies, you the stars in the Zodiac, so the old
have to let them know. Go to a Druids studied astrology, just as
place that feels nice to you, they still do today.
They also studied alchemy,
perhaps a wild place or a
which examines the mysterious
pleasant place in your own forces in substances, just as
house, or out in the garden. You chemistry looks at the physical
might even have a teacher at forces. They called these forces
school who might let you and ‘metaphysical’ forces. Their
your friends build a fairy shrine knowledge of them enabled them to
in the schoolyard or in your perform miraculous acts of magic.
classroom.
First, say in a clear
voice, out loud that you wish to
Take a 40cm square of be a friend to all creatures
paper and fold it diagonally to including the fairies. Then place
make a triangle. Triangles have a beautiful stone, piece of wood
or other nice object in the place
three sides. Now you can cut
you’ve chosen and tell the
across the bottom in a gentle fairies it’s their altar.
curve. The Druids of today are
Glue or tape the longest learning again what the old Druids
two sides together and open out knew, and will be able to prophecy,
your hat. Trim off the bottom read the stars and omens, time
travel, speak to animals, tele-
until it fits your head.You might
transport themselves, shapeshift,
like to paint it black and stick fly, remote view and visit other
stars and half moons and other dimensions and other planets, all
shapes on it. This hat looks very by means of the magic that comes
magic with a long flowing cape from using the metaphysics based
on their knowledge of the Laws of
from your fancy dress collection.
the Universe. We’ve got a long way
It looks even better if you find a Put flowers on it, or to go!!!
good stick for a magic wand to decorate it with anything you Scrying is one of the
wave. Dip the tip into a tin of think the fairies might like. There easiest magical arts to learn. Use
paint – silver or gold or your are all sorts of fairies. Some like any mirror, a bowl of water, or any
milk and honey, some like reflective surface, even the back of
favourite colour. Then you’ll be
crystals, others like trinkets and a spoon. Gaze mildly into the shiny
ready for the fairies and spirit surface and watch what happens.
little toys, or just pretty pieces of
children of Samhuinn! You might see your own reflection
plastic or glass. Whatever you
change, or a strange reflection
give them, they will know you next to your own, or you might see
love them, and they will be your soft images come and go.
friends.