A different kind of autumn feel!

I can hardly believe we are now near November, guys! Any reader of mine will know by now that I am a lover of the autumn season. It's an enchanting time..the changing of beautiful, jewelled coloured leaves, cosy knitted jumpers, pumpkin, spices, the chill of the wind in the sunshine.

     However. I haven't craved the cooler weather or darker nights as much. After the grim year that we've had, which is still enduring, I kind've want summer back, please! I don't want cold or dark; I want light, everywhere. I do believe I'd happily welcome said season if I felt less of a gloomy cloud over the world- As previous posts show, I have been open over the happenings of the pandemic. I probably have not divulged my inner most thoughts, as they are varied/ different. I'm not planning on discussing further unless wanted, but it's definitely had an impact on how I feel right now. 

     Or whether you believe or not, it could be mercury retrograde (ends 3rd Nov) It has the ability to make you tense or even moodier. Getting your point across and sharing thoughts and emotions is trickier do to in a constructive, easy-to-understand manner. What I do find cathartic about the fall equinox is that it demands you do some shadow work. It compels you to seek the truth from within and look at who you want to be and what prevents it. 

As most festive holidays are essentially cancelled, in terms of gatherings, I am being optimistic about life. Have a new job to work on, have lovely family and friends (although recent views have definitely differed for sure, but we're all unique!) It's just a shame that celebrations are not fun-filled. Children will likely not be 'trick or treating,' soo I've : -

• made a little pumpkin patch outside my door, so at least kids can see that as the nights draw in- I wish I'd gone bigger but I didn't have time really and..
• I usually bake around this time, but like the grown adult that I am, I'm going to make a gingerbread house. Why not, right !?  

If you were not aware, pumpkins are a symbol of protection and ward off evil. Orange symbolises positivity, along with success, harvest and warmth. It coincides indeed with fire, to which I am gutted that there will be no Bonfire Night. So much elemental magic! Sparklers anyone...

So above is a previous selection of my autumn creations. How do we create a witchy aesthetic this autumn then ? Along with the ideas above, here are a few more...

A lot of people are now working from home, and whilst many of us may feel there isn't a whole lot to look forward to this winter or Christmas, with Covid overshadowing lives & lockdowns taking place, the changing colours of the leaves will add interest and joy. Drink in nature as much as you can. Talk a walk in a park, visit some open gardens, take some pics of our magnificent trees! Exercise is so important right now, along with breathing in fresh air. Organic loveliness. 

If celebrations may feel more solitary for you this year, create autumnal decor in your home. First up, light! Candles and lanterns create a cosy hue, but LED lights are a safe alternative too, esp to add a tealight in pumpkins. Then scent; vanilla, gingerbread, cinnamon. Decorate with conkers, acorns, pine cones, leaves. Garlands & wreaths in rusty red, green, gold, purple all add to the vibe. Don't forget bedding or throws- add hot chocolate/warm cider and you're set!

Give thanks and gratitude. This season is all about transition, hope, remembrance. It's a great time to count your blessings, embrace the unknown and know that surrendering to darkness brings renewal and abundance. Take it to a spookier level and walk around a cemetery. Take that time to reflect, toast the season and speak to ancestors.

Have close family or friends over and make a night of it. Cook with seasonal foods, root veggies. A good, hearty meal with potatoes, onions, squash, carrots. Bake, bake, bake! Apple pie, cookies, devils food cake. Watch a scary movie marathon: Practical Magic, The Craft, Hocus Pocus, The Others, Halloween, The Shining, Casper, The Conjuring, An interview with a vampire, Tim Burton/Guillermo del Toro {You get the gist}

Life Thus Far: an overview

Oh my oh my, sweet friends. I am SO delayed!! If there was an award for procrastination that would definitely go to me; the master {not that I condone procrastinating!}… I have also realised that I haven't posted a LTF series in an exceedingly long time so, without further ado…

The weather here in Britain has been particularly unpredictable which is kind've wreaking havoc with my moods (and head; my shunt reacts to weather!), so I've not felt I've had the chance to really sit and write up about what's been going on lately, so I'm sitting here with my incense on whilst my cat pesters me for attention; it's as best a time as any eh!! 
       Do you ever sense a surge of overwhelment coming your way, like me?? I tell you, I was all guns blazing in January; I really wanted to kick start 2017 with a bang and "let that sh*t go" but by February, things starting going haywire again. Not in a bad way but things starting going wrong. I don't know if it's the fact that I've become a tad more in tune with spirituality or if it's just life being a bitch, ha….Anyway, today I'm focused on the affirmation found in Katie Piper's book Start Your Day With Katie: 365 Affirmations for a Year of Positive Thinking which I've used religiously: - 

'Seek harmony in your soul and kindness in the people close to you; happiness found in material things will not bring you lasting joy.'

I think that is such a comforting statement! When I think of this, what I consider is that I've definitely spent the last few months clearing out what doesn't serve me. I mean, as you may have read, my persona can flip a lot and as much as I can feel overwhelming, there's also so much oomph within me. My father, as I noted in my last post, had been poorly on&off since November; he's been feeling better for a couple of months so that's lifted some heavy clouds that were lingering!!

With a tendency to over-think and rethink, I decided to take advantage of the Spring Equinox & re-align and balance those scales, so to speak…it can be easy for some of us to jump from decision to decision and feel like you're 'all over the place', but that's where Spring can help to ease us into a sense of harmony, renewal & reassess some priorities. 
        So I took the opportunity to look for some volunteer work, on the side. I started some training in Feb/March at a homeless emergency nightshelter so yep, loving my shifts there. I've done plenty of volunteering in my time but working with the homeless is something I've wanted to pursue for a long time! I still feel like my journey is ongoing; my dreams are still there to attain but I'm always off on a tangent! However, you have to trust that the universe will offer you great changes in divine timing :)

The purpose you aspire to is always there so I continue going forward, and if it helps anyone, my advice is to get out in nature if you need help in cleansing and expanding your soul. Nature is breathtaking with its untouched beauty and there really is something so purifying about being around it (even if you bring it indoors- note my precious cactus above). A New Moon is coming up this Wednesday that's heading into the sign of Taurus so that calls for bullish energy that'll keep us grounded and fuel newfound wisdom, so take hold of reliable and earthly feels!

Stowe, National Trust, Buckingham

I adore this capture I snapped; it's as if the heavens are breaking through with our angels. Enchanted. So, lovely folks, I'll leave you with that. I intend to carry on keeping my dreams in sight, continue learning & doing new things and steer clear of negative emotional entanglements - has the year started off how you intended? Or perhaps your desires or intentions have changed? Let me know, I'd love to hear and trade stories…

…and ps. our moon cycles can offer us so much subconscious information, so listen to your intuition always, and if you're a deep thinker who follows the watery fluidity of your many thoughts, just think, you're probably a mermaid ;-) Take care guys!

Autumnal Life for the Single Girl

IT'S AUTUMMMNN and a New Moon! It comes as no surprise as to how much I love this season. Just take a look at this for example haha: The Joy of Animals This season has everything... The crisp, amber, crackling sounds of falling leaves, the ever-changing moods of our landscapes, the purchasing of beautiful boots, the glowing heat of a roaring fire, the soft murmurs of our animals as they snuggle up to our cuddly jumpers! I love it! What I am lacking however, is a {human companion}. Yep, still single. I mean, I adore my feline loves but I couldn't half do with a manly man to hold on to on these chiller, shorter and darker nights….

Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy single life. Always have. But it has been harder this time round, as you can see clearly documented!! The trouble with me last year (as I have now figured out) is that due to sooo many of the negative things that crescendoed around me, I didn't really take the time to enjoy getting to know ME again…to see how much I've grown, how much older and wiser I have become & I'm not going to apologise for now understanding this about myself, and I urge you all to do some soul-searching too :-) 

So, here's my little dating update. Ok, so first off, I can't even remember when my last date was. Seriously. That long ago. To be honest, I think the bloke just put me off. He was a teacher (good start, no names mentioned ha) but I soon realised that it was a wham-bam-thankyou-mam that the little mister was after, so no thanks. A shame, the fella was cute. Anyways, after a year and a bit of the same scenario, different guy, I've come to figure that dating in 2016 is alll about the quick gains. 

       I just can't seem to find anyone that I feel ANYTHING for. It's a totally disconnect…as Miss Carrie Bradshaw would say. Perhaps my heart isn't in it, perhaps I enjoy single me too much, maybe my complexities[?] are a shade too much.

I'm not after a full on relationship; it just would be nice though to find 1 person with whom I can share my life a little- someone who has shared interests. Take this for instance, I was sort've getting to know this guy who was slightly older than me. Anyway, I asked one day whether he'd like to go the Red Bull Air Races. I got a grunt and "What's that then?" To be fair, I thought the name was a dead give away paha. He had zilch interest. After that, I couldn't really see us going very far together. I'm beginning to think my dating processing in 2017 shall have to be a tad more selective and insular. Ar man. Tell me I'm not alone in this??

I don't really foresee me dating anyone in the months leading up Christmas. This is the realist me talking now. I don't even mind this, but what about a handy mini guide eh for what us single gals' can do to ease us nicely into the New Year, whilst relishing in the fact that we have no ties or drama {YAY!?!?}

• Use your time wisely. Most of my friends are domesticated (coupled up, in my language), thus I need to make sure I'm being productive with free time when no-one's available for get-togethers! Cliché but gain a new hobby. You never know, you might meet that special someone with similar interests to you…I'll be taking my own advice here; note to self Luce.
• Get outside!! This is so important even if you're in a relationship, but when single, just go out in the fresh, open air and get exercise on your lonesome. For me, I'm connecting more with my spiritual self & to absorb nature and its goodness, as seen below. It supports in de-clogging your mind. Mine is a chatter brain- so guys, just go and take yourselves out. Be active!

• Revitalise & reevaluate. In every sense of the word! Simply enjoy the fact that you can invest a little more time into figuring out your hopes and dreams. Use this opportunity to take fate into your hands..think hard about which principles are important to you in a person. It would be ideal to share similar interests with a partner indeed, but it's not top priority; it is key though that they don't dismiss your likes (as above for me!) Compromise is good- don't go searching for them though. Revel in this autumnal season but keep your heart and eyes wide open for potential soulmates: new or old!!
• Pamper yourself! This is self-explanatory. You may be single & we all have wants and needs but remember to cherish yourself first. It's vital in keeping yourself positive. You may think "oh forget the shaving and looking good, it's nearly halloween/thanksgiving/christmas, I'll eat my weight in cakes". Sure, do that, but I'll guarantee you'll be more miserable in January! Keep yourself fuzz-free and treat yourself to plenty of relaxing bubble baths with candles, wine & a book…festive candles, hello? That art exhibition you wanted to see- take yourself. Wear that little red number with that sultry perfume ;-)

So please guys, is it just me feeling this!? Or maybe some of you are in relationships where your other half doesn't quite understand you? What other single girl behaviours do you do during this season?? I'd love to hear from you…