Sunday 30 June 2013

Eating humble cake...♥

Oh WOW...what a day yesterday was...I am still riding high on the energy!

Yesterday saw my second book being launched Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch at a party hosted by Chi Coffee.

As you will see from my previous blog post earlier in the week...the confidence jitters had set in a bit beforehand.   Friday night my soul sisters joined me for the Elementals workshop and then stayed over which was a lot of fun...not so much midnight margaritas as cheese on toast and midnight Malibu ;-)

Saturday morning I was incredibly nervous...waaaaay out of my comfort zone and more worried that people wouldn't come to purchase all the cake that Chi had gotten in especially for the day than whether anyone would purchase a book LOL!

I must learn to trust my intuition and that of my friends and sisters...because the book launch was a total and utter success.  I was absolutely overwhelmed at how many people turned out to support me...chuffed, overwhelmed, humbled and all sorts of other 'ed words ♥

At one point there were so many people that we ran out of chairs and people had to stand and even sit on the floor to eat their cake!

I cannot thank everyone enough - Lesley and Tracey for just always being there for me no matter what ridiculous situations I get myself (and them) into, everyone at Chi Coffee - Jane, Megan, Joe, Keeley and the gang for all the support and effort beforehand, on the day and going forward (and Wayne & Sam for messaging support LOL), to Kate Bowman for doing such amazing tarot readings, all the regular Chi Thursday/Friday gang for coming along and sharing knowledge, support and so many laughs (laughed so much at one point I cried...making me look like Alice Cooper...), all the Kitchen Witch School students that arrived ♥, all the Kitchen Witch Coven that came along and everyone else - some familiar faces, some new that came to join in the fun, I appreciate your support more than you could know.  Last but not least to my gorgeous husband who supports me in everything I do even if he doesn't understand half of it!

A huge thank you as well must go to all those that have already read the book and shared such positive reviews for it, bless ya!


Wednesday 26 June 2013

Confidence (wearing high heels) and paranoia...

There is an episode in Red Dwarf where Lister hallucinates and it becomes reality, his confidence and paranoia materialise as actual people and although written as a comedy it speaks volumes about how we as people are and how we can be swayed by those two emotions.

I wonder if perhaps it is actually easier to listen to our own paranoia than our confidence?

This year saw the first of my books published...was I confident that it would do well?  Actually I had no idea so paranoia and confidence had equal footing really.  Thank the Goddess but it has done very well and book two sees its official launch this weekend as well - how do I feel about that?  Well...if I look at all the people that have said they are going to the book launch on the facebook event my confidence would be strutting its funky stuff around the high street wearing nothing but a pair of high heels (expensive sparkly ones) ;-) but there is still that little paranoia figure sitting in the corner saying...but what if it's just you and your mum sitting there?  My intuition, the intuition of my soul sisters and my friends at the venue (Chi Coffee) all tell me it will be busy (actually I think the word used was 'mad') but there is always that little bit of doubt.

What do we do when paranoia stands in front of us saying "you are no good, it will all go wrong, you are such a loser"?  My preference is to clout him up the side of the head and tell him to push off...it can be done but it does need a helping hand from Mrs/Mr Confidence standing beside you (still wearing stilettos) and backing you up.

We all have dreams, we all want life to be good, we all want everything to be OK.  And in the most part it can be but it takes a bit of work, a bit of effort and a bit of forethought.    Did I see myself at a book launch this time last year? Was it all part of my master plan? Nope not on your nelly, but it has happened and that is because I put it out to the universe that 2013 was going to be Year of the Witch, that it was going to be my year to stick my head above the parapet...and the universe decided that book writing and workshops was obviously the way to fulfill my request.  I still had to do the leg work to put it all into motion but the Goddess was guiding me.

And...I am loving every minute of it - no that's not Mrs Confidence strutting her stuff, it is me enjoying being able to share my knowledge and experience with other people, it is rewarding and fulfilling.

The key though is to get the balance because Mrs Confidence can get a bit lary so it is a bit of a juggling act, but then that is part of life itself...seeking the balance in all things.

Having family and friends that keep you grounded or build you up when you need it helps too!

YOU CAN DO IT...(high heels are not mandatory)

Wednesday 12 June 2013

COMPETITION TIME!!

Time for a little competition over on facebook...

1. Go to my facebook page www.facebook.com/rachelpattersonbooks find the competition post it will have a picture like this on it...


2. Like my facebook page, like the competition post and share it to your facebook page - simples!

All names of those that have liked my page and shared the competition post will be put in a hat (a top hat of course) and I will draw one out on 28th June (the official launch date of Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch).

The prize is a beautiful pair of earrings made by The Button Fae


And of course if you just happen to be on Amazon and wanted to pop a review on for one of my books as well that will give you a double shot at winning the prize!



Tuesday 11 June 2013

Smurf rituals...yes I said Smurfs!

As usual life seems to go at 100 miles an hour, but it is all good...keeps me out of mischief ;-)

Last weekend we had our Kitchen Witch ritual at the QE Country Park it was to celebrate the Hawthorn Moon and was held on our new pitch at the top of the hill in amongst the long grass and surrounded by trees it really is a beautiful spot and the weather was extremely kind to us with lovely sunshine.

Part of our ritual was a memorial and a 'sending off' for one of our lovely coven members, Papasmurf (his nickname obviously).  To our huge surprise, tears of laughter and huge pride two of our lovely group turned up as ....SMURFS!!  Papasmurf would have laughed his motorbike books off.   I have been to some weird and interesting rituals before but never one with smurfs...

I also submitted the final manuscript of Pagan Portals Moon Magic this week so it is now with the publishers for edit...phew!  It was really interesting to research and write but it's also nice to know that it is done.  Also this week I got my first royalty information from the sale of Pagan Portals Kitchen Witchcraft - VERY exciting, OK it wasn't nearly as much as JK Rowling gets in her royalties but it's a start!

This Friday sees me co-host a Witchcraft Within workshop with psychic medium Paul Cissell on Plant & Tree Magic, part of a set of three workshops over three Fridays, the other two are on Hoodoo and Elementals - should be interesting.

Also coming up...online Summer Solstice ritual and study circle with the Kitchen Witch School and celebration of the summer solstice itself (have the opportunity of three separate rituals to go to over three days!).  I can't believe the solstice is nearly upon us, the weather sure doesn't feel like it!

And I can't forget  regular visits to my favourite cafe Chi Coffee, if anyone local is around on a Friday we have a lovely gang meet up to talk spiritual stuff and play with tarot/oracle cards...oh and eat delicious cake of course...

Not to mention my Grimoire of a Kitchen Witch book launch party on 29th June! (Everyone is welcome to come along to Chi Coffee just for a chat, a coffee and a cake - although everyone that purchases a book on the day, at a discounted price will get a free mini tarot reading from Kate Bowman).

And now to finish writing the booklet to go with our Kitchen Witch workshop in July - Way of the Witch...

A huge thank you to my lovely hubby for supporting me with all this and to my lovely soul sisters who are very special to me and to the new group of friends I have made recently - I am very blessed with my family and friends ♥

Thursday 6 June 2013

Do not judge...

On occasion I am met with laughter when someone finds out I am a witch (shock horror didn't you know?) ;-) and that is usually followed by the jokes about green skin, warts and poisoned apples ... Disney/Hollywood you have an awful lot to answer for!

I am also occasionally met with comments suggesting that I spend my entire time sitting over a bubbling cauldron sending out curses and hexes that people have paid me to do...seriously if I had time to do that I wouldn't waste it cursing!

Yes I am a Witch, no I am not Wiccan, I am a Witch (yep it can be a bit confusing, there are numerous witchcraft pathways), I am a Kitchen Witch, a Hedge Witch, a Green Witch, I follow the path of the wise and ancient ones...but the pathway is my own, it is individual to me, what I do in my own practices may not be what another witch does.  Don't get me wrong,  I do have a sense of humour and I have been known to wear a pointy hat and stripey socks...

However:

I do not eat babies or push them into ovens
I do not sit cursing and hexing (although it's probably best not to push me too far because I will defend myself if necessary... I have been known to banish, bind and cut ties...)
I DO NOT worship the Devil - in fact there is NO devil in witchcraft, he is a Christian entity, nothing whatsoever to do with pagan religions at all.

I do...work with nature, the moon and the elements
I do...work with the seasons
I do...celebrate the turning of the Wheel (sabbats)
I do...meditate
I do...look after the planet and all the animals that live on it to the best of my abilities
I do...try to help my fellow kind in any way I can
I do...try to treat others as I would like to be treated
I do...work with healing and positive energy
I do...try not to judge others or enter into gossip

Yes I do walk the line between light and dark and yes I have worked with my shadow and I do journey to the underworld (no it is not full of screaming souls and fire pits).

You need to have a balance of light and dark, balance is the key.

I have done a lot of shadow work it has been an integral part of my journey, it has helped me understand who I am and what parts of my personality I don't like and how to work with them.  It has been an interesting journey of self discovery and self improvement, a journey that still continues...

Yes I practice the art of Hoodoo, yes it does have a dark side...that doesn't mean that I work with that dark side, what it does mean is that I work with Hoodoo as folk magic for healing and positive work.

Just because I have learnt about the dark side of magic doesn't mean I use it, what it does mean is that I have knowledge and knowledge is power and allows me to protect myself against negative forces and keep myself and my family safe and happy.

Do not judge me on what you have seen in Disney films or hearsay and do not judge Witchcraft on what you have seen in the media - judge me as a person on my words and actions, judge Witchcraft only when you have proper information and knowledge about what it is.

Monday 3 June 2013

France, wild boar and pretty pictures

I have just returned from a lovely holiday in France with my family, a beautiful house in a tiny village (owned by my brother) with a huge garden.  Lots of chat, laughter and silliness (along with quite a bit of wine) a good time was had by all.

The area that the house is in is surrounded by forests that hold local wild boar...which just happens to be my totem animal so I made huge connections whilst out there.  Sadly I didn't get a glimpse of one but I could feel the energy!

The down time also allowed me to crack on with the writing for Pagan Portals Moon Magic, which I am now just finishing up before sending in for the first edit.

Whilst I was away one of my lovely friends Rachel Squires finished a picture I had commissioned of my Goddess The Cailleach - it is amazing, I am so pleased with it and will build an altar around it this week.

And this weekend sees our Kitchen Witch Coven Hawthorn moon ritual at the QE Country park...with more than just a little hint of faerie...should be fun :-)