Alchemical Voice – Turning Wheels, Hidden Selves & New Beginnings (Issue 36, JanFeb 2026)

January/February - Issue 36

I N A S S O C I A T I O N W I T H L I K E - M I N D E D B U S I N E S S E S

ALCHEMICAL VOICE

LOVE 2 MEDITATE

SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT | HEALTH & WELLBEING | HOLISTIC CRAFTS

Digital copy FREE

Hard copy £7.50

PUBLISHED EVERY 2 MONTHS

SECRETS OF THE

GRAIL

A legacy that is calling us

Living with the

Wiccan Wheel

Flow with each season

Set Goals with

Crystals

Shape your year intentionally

DA VINCI’S FINAL

TEACHINGS

Wisdom for modern minds

WHERE LIGHT

MEETS DARK

Understanding life’s contrasts

How Memory

Shapes Us

Understanding your past

Stepping into the

New Year

An uplifting fresh start

NATURE HAS THE

ANSWERS

Reconnect to what matters

MEET YOUR HIDDEN

SELVES

Transform from within

Walking with the

Serpent

A journey of awakening

Cover Image: ‘The Word I Couldn’t Find’ by Marius von Brasch

N O U R I S H | S U P P O R T | B A L A N C E

Digital & printed publication - alchemicalvoice.com

T

T

H

E

E

Alchemical Alchemical

Voice Voice

THE

TEAM.

A

M.

Publisher............................................................................................................

Jovi Hoonjan

Chief Editor....................................................................................................

Karam Pentland

Assistant Editor & Marketing....................................................................................

Alisha Hall

Contributing Copy Editor............................................................................

Stacey-Ann Postma

Columnist.............................................................................................................

John Sjovik

Marketing Consultant..........................................................................................

Marshall

Iain

2

we step into a new year, this issue invites you to take a moment to pause, reflect, and realign. The turning of

As

Wheel reminds us that every cycle offers a chance to reset and approach life with clearer intention.

the

these pages, our contributors explore themes of renewal, memory, the balance between light and dark, and

In

practical wisdom we can draw from nature, crystals, and our own inner landscape. You’ll also find fresh

the

into the Grail mysteries, Da Vinci’s final legacy, and the hidden parts of ourselves that shape how we

insights

through the world.

move

hope is that this edition supports you in starting the year with steadiness, simplicity, and a renewed sense of

My

guided by what genuinely matters to you.

direction,

Alchemical Voice - L2M - Issue 36

OUR VOICES

& THEIR STORIES.

Jovi Hoonjan | Publisher

6

38

CHERRIES AND LEMONS

NEW YEAR CRYSTAL GOAL SETTING

John Sjovik

Sue Penney

12

46

THE GRAIL TWINS - A CATHAR LEGACY

LEONARDO DA VINCI - FINAL LEGACY

Julie de Vere Hunt

John Sjovik

20

56

WICCAN’S WHEEL OF THE YEAR

WHAT IS A MEMORY

Sue Penney

The LifePilgrim

24

60

BETWEEN LIGHT AND DARK

SUB-PERSONAILITIES - OUR HIDDEN SELVES

Karolina Nilsson

Martin Lewis

28

64

WELCOME TO THE NEW YEAR

THE SERPENT AND I - PART 1

Carol Coggan

Nina Ossavvy

32

ALL WE NEED EXISTS IN NATURE

Shaeen Svanede

Want to write for us? Get in touch jovi@love2meditate.com

3


A N I M A L P O R T R A I T S B Y

ALISHA HALL

B E S P O K E P E T O R A N I M A L P O R T R A I T S I N O I L P A I N T .

E N Q U I R E A T :

H A L L A L I S H A 4 7 @ Y A H O O . C O . U K

4


Marius von Brasch

The Word I Couldn’t Find - Oil on linen, 80 x 80cm, 2025, courtesy of Jenn Singer Gallery

In a person's psyche, alchemical processes are closely linked with energies and contents that act

as polarities driving change.

While there may be phases of uncertainty and near-stillness, these processes cannot happen

outside of time. They build a network of layers, conscious growth, feelings, and differences in

flux. I couldn't find a word for it.

mariusvonbrasch.co.uk | @mariusvonbrasch

5

5

CHERRIES AND

LEMONS

John Sjovik


When I worked in contract management, a recurring expression was ’cherry picking’. It was quite

common in negotiations that my opponent (and even I, from time to time) wanted to focus on and select

certain sections of the contract proposal and reject the remaining.

Picking your preferred cherries from a cake, document or life itself, is common human behaviour. The

thing is though, how do you know if the cherry is sweet or sour?

There are many fables by the Greek storyteller Aesop, who lived during antiquity. One of them is about

a fox that desired some grapes but was unable to reach them. Instead of continuing his futile attempts,

he decided to ignore them and concluded that they were probably sour anyway. Also, humans have a

tendency to belittle what they realise they are unable to obtain or achieve.

There is often a desire to enjoy the supposed sweetness of life with a wish to avoid anything sour. But

how can you tell if a cherry is the best thing for you? When we navigate through life, we need to pay

attention to obstacles as well as to the allure of sweet temptations. Overcoming an obstacle will often

make you stronger and increase your confidence. A steady flow of cherries risk making you lazy and

presumptuous.

People are often envious of someone’s success. But they are not envious of all the work and effort that

the successful person had to put in to become successful.

What about the moral aspect of looking only for sweet deals and expecting to avoid anything sour? Also

consider the short term and the long term aspects on life and what you want to get out of it.

6


As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is sweetness on the palate of the individual. Life will give you

cherries as well as lemons, or what you perceive as being sweet or sour. What is important is what you

do with what you get. One person can be happy about something when someone else is dissatisfied

with the same thing.

It is like playing a poker game. When you pick up your cards, you arrange them in your hand, and they

are the cards you have been given. Your skill as a player is reliant on what you do with the cards you

have been given, regardless of what those cards are.

Think of the old saying, ‘let’s hope you get what you want and that you want what you get.’ There are

many stories about people asking for things without realising the repercussions or even the price they

may need to pay for acquiring them. Think of the legend of Faust, who makes a deal with

Mephistopheles that he will surrender his eternal soul in exchange for temporary success and pleasure

in earthly life. A momentary cherry can yield eternal lemons.

The allure of quickly achieved success can easily cheat you of long-term happiness. Remember that

there are no shortcuts in life.

The Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen said that ‘Victory awaits him

who has everything in order - luck, people call it’.

Life is not about cherries or lemons, luck or misfortune. It is about

discipline, planning and a good work ethic. It is about proper attitude,

realistic expectations and well founded ethics.

It is very important to carefully manage what you have been given in

life. People come from all sorts of backgrounds. Some of them succeed

in life; some of them are less successful. Most of the time, it has little to

do with cherries or lemons. The main thing is how people manage the

circumstances that life has offered them; how they define ‘success’ and

what makes them happy and content.

7


I remember an interview with a successful and wealthy businessman from Sweden. He mentioned that

he knew many rich people, but none of them entered business to become wealthy. They chose their

careers because they enjoyed the processes and dynamics of the business world. Their own wealth was

really a spin off effect, indeed much welcomed and appreciated, but nevertheless a side effect, and not

the main focus of their career choice.

Most, if not all, famous musicians learned an instrument or how to sing because they enjoyed music, not

because they wanted to become well known. The trick is to immerse yourself in something which makes

you happy, regardless of where it might take you in the future. If life gives you cherries, make a pie. If

life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Now make yourself a nice brew, bring pen and paper and position yourself comfortably in your

favourite chair. Then consider all the things that make you happy, what you enjoy doing, what is

important to you and what you really value in life. Write them down. Then try to translate all of that

into activities, hobbies, education, career moves and more. Try to think about the metaphor of cherries

and lemons and how you view and feel about your private circumstances in life. If you redefine what

you have, how will that change things? Can a change of perspective transmute a disadvantage into an

advantage?

Each life is unique, but a quick look at the stories of other people can help broaden your view on the

various aspects of life. Read a couple of biographies of people you find interesting. How did they deal

with challenges? And also important, how did they handle success?

All things considered, the world is a pretty decent place to live, and most people you meet in life are

quite nice and friendly. And this is regardless of whatever cherries and lemons you might encounter.

John Sjovik | Shaman Healer | shamaqi-word-art.com

8


ONLINE SHAMANIC RITUALS

LOVE 2 MEDITATE

LOVE2MEDITATE.COM/STORE/C26/SHAMANIC-RITUALS 9


Angel Guided

Transformation

Carol Coggan is an Angel Therapist

and Transformational Life Coach who

helps you work with the Angels to

bring clarity, guidance and positive

change into your life. Her Angel card

readings offer gentle yet powerful

insight, especially when you are

facing decisions, challenges or simply

seeking direction.

As a life coach, Carol supports those

who feel stuck to create a clear vision

for their future and take empowering

steps towards it. Together, you will

explore key areas of life such as

relationships, health, purpose and

freedom to shift from limitation to

possibility.

Carol also offers workshop style

sessions on connecting with Angels,

understanding chakras, using spiritual

laws and strengthening relationships.

Carol provides a free consultation so

you can choose the support you need

as you grow, heal and move towards

your life purpose.

hello@carolcoggan.co.uk

Facebook: Carol Coggan - Angel

Therapist/Dream Builder Life Coach

Instagram: angeltherapist_carolcoggan

+44 (0)781 806 5514

10


Where Have All

The Fish Gone?

This story blends adventure

with a powerful message about

climate change and teamwork.

It is a wonderful way to inspire

young readers to care about

the environment and take

action in their own

communities!

Lumia, a person with wispy blue hair and

silvery skin, watches the Earth from the

moon. She has seen the planet change, its

colours fading, its oceans shrinking and

icebergs melting.

Jack, a young boy, discovers a magic

fishing rod and unknowingly brings Lumia

to Earth. Jack and Lumia both embark on

an adventure and realise that positive

actions must be taken now to protect the

planet.

They learn by working together that

anyone, no matter how small, can have a

big impact.

AGE ‏:GROUP BABY - 10 YEARS

A M A Z O N . C O . U K / D P / 1 0 6 8 1 9 5 6 0 6

11

THE GRAIL TWINS – A

CATHAR LEGACY

Julie de Vere Hunt


Excerpt 5 from ‘The Grail Twins – A Cathar Legacy’

In this scene, fifteen-year-old twins Anna and Dewi are taken by the bard Taliesin from the sacred isle of

Ynys Môn to the stars of Regulus. Guided through the copper Gate into the lost realm of Atlantis, they

encounter the great Merlin and glimpse the mysteries that will shape their destiny.

Regulus B, 47

Later that morning, Anna heard the familiar tap-tap-tap at her window - a rhythm she knew as well as her

own heartbeat. Cariad. She glanced over her shoulder, but the room was empty except for her

quickening breath.

When she turned back to the glass, Cariad was gone.

In her place stood an unearthly figure carved

from myth and starlight.

He was impossibly handsome - the air itself

seemed to shimmer around him. Dark curls fell

to broad shoulders, framing high cheekbones

and olive skin. Draped about him was a cloak of

crow feathers - black, violet, and green,

catching the light like oil on water. A lyre hung

across his back. But it was his eyes that made

Anna’s breath catch - bright blue-green, alive

with mischief and memories she could not

name.

She spluttered, “Excuse me… do I know you?

You look… strange, but somehow familiar.”

The man smiled and dipped into a flamboyant

bow, one hand to his midriff, the other

sweeping behind him like a courtier in some

forgotten king’s hall.

“It’s me, Cariad. Though now, you may call me

by my true name: Taliesin.”

12


Anna, half-dreaming, half-laughing, bent into a deep curtsey, her skirts brushing the worn stone floor.

“How do you do, sir.”

Taliesin smiled, finger to his chin, eyes glinting.

“Tell me this,” he said.

“What cannot be seen yet holds the sky,

What has no voice yet sings through leaves,

What burns with no fire and yet transforms all it touches?”

He cocked his head, waiting.

Anna shrugged.

“A breath of Awen,” he said with a smile. “The spark of inspiration.”

“I see you prefer to converse in riddles,” Anna replied, annoyed with herself for not guessing.

The bard straightened, his feathered cloak brushing the doorway.

“Time to find Dewi and speak your goodbyes, bach. Remember - in the world we’re bound for, goodbyes

are only pauses. Where we go, time is a river we may swim both ways.”

Though her mind raced with questions, Anna found she trusted him utterly - for she had known him for

years; in feather, in shadow, and now in this shape of laughter and song.

13


The Farewell

Saying goodbye to Mother Mary was agony.

Nain held them so tightly, Anna thought she might never breathe again. Chief

Druid Owain and his wife Morag stood beside her, faces drawn, fighting tears.

“I have something for you both,” Mary said softly, her voice trembling. “To

remember me - and our life here on Ynys Môn. This white pebble is for you, Anna,

and this black one for you, Dewi. They come from the shore at Penmon, blessed

with holy water from the well. When you feel anxious or afraid, hold them close.

They carry my spirit - and our memories - so that wherever you are, you’ll feel me

near.”

Anna took her hand. “We’ll never forget, Nain.”

Dewi nodded, eyes shining. “We’ll keep them safe - both the pebbles and your

love.”

Mary managed a trembling smile, and for a heartbeat they simply stood - hands

entwined, hearts joined, the moment too sacred for words.

The Gate of Copper

Soon after, Anna rode behind Taliesin on Branoc while Dewi perched with Owain

on Eira. The moorland swept beneath them, cold air sharp and clean, the horses

eager to run.

At the mouth of the copper mine the wind fell silent. Owain dismounted and drew

them both into a fierce embrace. “There will always be a home for you here,” he

said, voice thick with emotion.

Taliesin led them to the entrance - a jagged maw in the hillside framed by

weathered carvings: a spiral, a star, a dragon’s eye.

“This is one of the oldest gates,” he said, “forged when the Earth still remembered

her stars.”

Dewi brushed his fingers over the stone. “It’s alive,” he whispered.

Anna stepped closer. “It feels like it’s watching us.”

“The gate tests all who approach,” Taliesin said. “Only those carrying Sun and

Moon may pass. That is why you are ready.”

With a sweep of his staff - copper-tipped and inscribed with runes - Taliesin

tapped a stone embedded above the arch. It glowed blue. Then another rune

awakened… and another… until the entire arch shimmered with light.

The mine beyond shifted - no longer a dark shaft but a corridor of gleaming copper

walls, pulsing with quiet energy as if lit from within by starlight.

14


They stepped inside. The tunnel narrowed, then opened into a vast chamber - the true heart of the

mine. At its centre stood a great copper disc inscribed with Atlantean glyphs and celestial alignments.

“By the Flame of Amenti, by the Key of the Stars, I call the Path to open,” Taliesin intoned.

The Gate spun - slowly at first, then faster - a whirl of light and energy. A wind rose, not from this world

but from the void between. Dewi and Anna clutched each other’s hands.

“You’re not stepping into death,” Taliesin said gently, “but into your beginning.”

They stepped forward - falling and flying at once, stardust rushing past their skin, time unravelling.

Colours swirled, then stillness.

Atlantis

Taliesin exhaled, eyes soft with memory.

“Welcome home,” he said. “Regulus B - the home of Atlantis… or what’s left of it.”

He swept his arm across the horizon. “Much of it was lost in the intergalactic war with the

Andromedeans. The Council forbade us to rebuild - to prevent further invasion.”

15


Before them rose a temple of black, white, and red stone veined with shimmering orichalcum. The air

itself thrummed with unseen power.

“This,” said Taliesin, “is the Temple of Unal on the Island of Undal - the oldest of our sacred temples and

the gateway to the Halls of Amenti, where the Dweller lives. It was the only temple to survive the war.”

Anna’s eyes widened. “Who is the Dweller and who were the Andromedeans?”

“So many questions… The Dweller is an ancient, immortal being,” Taliesin replied. “He lives deep below

the temple. You will learn more about the Andromedeans later.”

He pointed toward distant peaks. “And there, in the mountains, the dragons reign.”

“Ooh! Are they friendly?” Dewi asked.

“Some are, some aren’t. Many were created through science and magic - guardians at first, until certain

experiments went awry.”

Anna looked up at him, her thoughts spinning with all she had seen and heard.

16


Dweller

17


The Arrival of Merlin

“Before we go inside,” Taliesin said, “I think it’s time you met your tutor.”

As if on cue, a hiss, a crackle, and a gust of wind materialised into a dishevelled man, hastily

readjusting his bright blue robes.

“What now, Taliesin? I was having my afternoon nap!” he grumbled.

Before them stood a bearded man in a radiant sapphire robe, its fabric alive with symbols - silver

stars, runes, and ancient sigils. A brilliant blue pointed hat, slightly askew, crowned his head, and on

his shoulder perched a great white owl whose amber eyes missed nothing.

“This is Merlin, in case you hadn’t guessed,” Taliesin said, patting his owl-free shoulder. “He

mastered the laws of alchemy and magic through his training on Sirius. He now teaches

manifestation, levitation, and the arts of breath and balance. But he thinks very highly of your

mother, Mary Magdalene, and agreed to tutor you during your stay in Atlantis.”

“You know our mother?” Anna asked, wide-eyed.

“Oh yes,” Merlin answered lightly. “We’ve served together on the Intergalactic Council. And this,” he

added, nodding to his companion, “is Celeste - her name means ‘heavenly.’”

Celeste turned her head a perfect 180 degrees in the opposite direction.

“She’s a little shy - she’s had unfavourable experiences with children.”

18


“Oh, are there other children here?” Dewi asked hopefully.

“No,” Merlin said flatly. “After the war, the beasts from the mountains became unruly. Few Atlanteans

remain, and we’ve had to retreat inside for safety.”

He clapped his hands. “Now then, are you ready? There’s so much to see.”

Dewi shielded his eyes, peering toward the mountains. Anna hurried after Merlin - there was no way

she was lingering in case any rogue, out-of-control beasts appeared.

“More than a

story – a

living

initiation into

the Grail

Mysteries.”

Julie de Vere Hunt

marymagdaleneslegacy.com

19


WICCAN’S WHEEL OF

THE YEAR

Sue Penney

As the wheel turns once more and the air sharpens with the hush of January’s breath, the Wiccan

heart turns inward before it casts outward. While the world hurries into goals and resolutions like a

brash spell cast in haste, we know better. We are the candle-lighters, the herb-brewers, the cauldronstirrers

of time. We do not set goals, we seed them, like snowdrops breaking through the cold, dark

earth.

The veil of Yule may have thinned and passed, but the wisdom lingers in its smoke. The Sun has been

reborn: delicate, yawning, rising. Now is not the time to charge like Aries; now is the time to sit at the

hearth of your own knowing. Planning, for a Wiccan soul, begins not with a to-do list but with

intention drawn down like moonlight into water.

The Wheel Ritual of Intention

On the first full moon after Yule, gather a wheel, real or symbolic (a circle of twigs, a drawn circle, a

round of bread). This is your year. Place candles at eight points marking the sabbats. At each one,

pause. Reflect. What energies are strongest for you at Imbolc? What is ripening at Litha? What is

ready for release at Samhain?

Speak aloud one word or phrase for each spoke on the wheel. These become your guiding compass,

more sacred than SMART goals. You are not here to achieve, you are here to become.

The Jar of Becoming

Forget resolutions. They often reek of punishment. Instead, take a jar and fill it with affirmations of

your becoming. “I am learning to rest without guilt.” “My creativity blooms at my own pace.” “I am a

magnet for sacred opportunities.”

Add a bay leaf or two, a sprinkle of rosemary for clarity, and seal it with wax. Keep it on your altar,

open it when you waver, and let your future self whisper back through time.

20


Daily Enchantments: Self-Care as Spellcraft

Wiccans understand that magic is in the mundane. Your daily rituals are rituals. Your cup of tea is a

potion. Your morning walk, a pilgrimage.

Lunar Journaling

Begin each week with a moon-phase check-in. What phase is the moon in? How does your energy echo

it? Let your planning move with the moon, wax with creativity, wane with discernment.

Sacred Scheduling

Plan your week with colour-coded magic. Blue for rest, red for action, green for abundance. Even your

calendar can become a grimoire of power when imbued with intention.

Altar of Now

Create a mini altar near your desk or planner, a candle, a crystal, a photo of someone you admire. Light

it before you plan. Invite your spirit guides in. Your ancestors walked before you for this moment, do

not forget to call them in.

21


The Wiccan Planner’s Creed

You are not late.

You are not behind.

You are exactly in rhythm with the tides of your becoming.

Planning the year ahead is not about control. It is about co-creation. You walk beside the Goddess,

hand in hand with the Horned God, eyes wide to the North Star of your soul’s purpose.

There will be detours. There will be lessons hidden as delays. But you are a wise one. You will know

the difference between distraction and divine redirection.

So, cast your circle. Light your candle. Whisper to the new year:

“I do not plan to do more. I plan to become more of who I already am.”

Sue Penney

Soul Verse

soulverse.co.uk

May your plans be soulful, your

goals be sacred, and your year

be an incantation of truth.

Blessed be.

22


This book is a sacred collection

of channelled symbols that

weave together animal spirit,

shamanic wisdom and

alchemical transformation.

Each sigil is a living design

received through deep

meditation and intuitive

connection. These are not

drawings of the animals

themselves but energetic keys

that carry the essence of their

medicine, ready to awaken

within you when you choose to

work with them.

Rhinoceros Gifts / Transformation

Rhinoceros Sigil

love2meditate/store/p124/The-Alchemy-of-Animal-Sigils.html

23


BETWEEN LIGHT

AND DARK

Karolina Nilsson

In the northern part of the globe, which is my place on earth, we are currently entering the darker

season at the same time as the southern part is moving towards a brighter period. These shifts affect all

living things, which can be seen in the vegetation, but it also gives us humans an opportunity to help

change, development and manifestation if you are prepared to reach your full potential.

Light and darkness affect your senses and emotions that enhance the results of your journey. It is

natural to feel fear and uncertainty at first about an unknown future, but if you allow your feelings and

thoughts to take place, the inspiration and curiosity that contribute to development and growth grows.

How do you react?

The trees, vegetation and all living things interact with light, darkness, heat and cold. In our modern

society, science has given us the privilege of getting more out of the days of the dark periods by, for

example, turning on the lamp. The benefits are many of turning on the lamp, but what does it mean for

your health as we move away from the basic instincts of natural pauses and expansion?

As usual, there is no solution, but it is individual and perhaps depending on the existing situation, how

much help you have from the interaction with nature.

The importance of light is individual, but it provides nourishment, power and energy through the ups

and downs of life. Anyone who tries to go against nature's advantage and for example, obtains extra

nutrition when you need to rest or tries to expand when the reflection of darkness is significant, you will

be affected. I believe that everyone owns their development, and when we stop fighting and follow the

processes of nature, you are allowed to rest when necessary and have strength when you have to act.

Then you reach your power and potential in balance.

24


The ability to get power from light and darkness is a fundamental natural part. It is a lifestyle that

humans have followed for millennia, but which in modern society has been forgotten, perhaps as a

consequence of the possibility of controlling heat, cold, darkness and light. In the short term, it gives

power to be in charge of when the lamp is lit or not, but in the long term, it risks creating ill health. It's a

normal reaction to keep moving when you achieve success, whether your goals are big or small. It is a

result of your increased capacity for energy, giving birth to energy and power, creating more power.

The dynamics between light and dark is an ongoing process across the Earth with its different seasons

and time differences simultaneously. The most important thing you can prioritise is listening to your

inner voice and following your heart because while you are powerful, someone else needs rest. Only

you know what is right or wrong at the moment.

The importance of darkness is similar to rest at night. For your development, stillness is important after

an active period, although there may be resistance. You are amazing and complete just the way you are,

but there is always something to understand, something you can do differently or something you should

stop doing. The darkness with its stillness increases the possibility for clarity, your deepest feelings and

your thoughts. This is a wisdom that is overlooked when you are in power. Growth becomes complete

with self-healing. You are strengthened by past memories regardless of whether they are positive or

negative. You may also discover unconscious memories that become conscious. The stillness and

reflection are central at each end because it is the beginning of something new; without an end, you

cannot start anything new. If you try to start something new without finishing, you will not develop, but

you will be burdened with new and old memories. The result is usually exhaustion or depression.

25


If you want to learn the art and find your way back to your knowledge, follow the patterns of nature,

such as day and night, as well as light and dark seasons. It will give you both success and the answers

you seek. The needs that give satisfaction are balanced in the mind and in your emotions on your soul

journey. When you face your fears, guided by nature and your heart, reflection will lead you to

freedom.

Balance between your inner and outer. The only thing you need to prioritise is your will, your feelings

and your thoughts based on the voice of the heart. Balancing your inner desires gives an outer result.

While I write this, the world is full of good and nice people who have desires that do not come true or

who live in unfair conditions. How can such a situation bring anything other than pressure or a guilty

conscience? I think if you have experienced the night, you appreciate the light during the day and if you

experience the day, you will be aware of the darkness of the night. Perhaps opposites are needed for

the truth to grow? It's all about the moment because light and humility can turn to fear very quickly if

we forget the balance with darkness.

To truly listen requires reflection, courage and honesty. You must dare to embrace life’s gifts for the

right reasons, standing in your power, neither inflated nor diminished, but in your full potential. In that

balance, light and darkness meet within you.

26


Four steps

1

First, you need to get in phase with the season by replenishing

your needs or increasing your creation. Whether you need to

rest or create, the best advice is to combine rest and creation in

a smaller dose to find balance.

2

Next, you need to process your disappointments, sorrows and

irritations. Understand how you experienced the situation.

When you see the bigger picture, you discover the strength,

capacity or understanding you have acquired thanks to memory.

Turn your knowledge into a force.

3

Decide how you want to manage your coming year regarding

important relationships, daily livelihood, enjoyment and quality

of life.

4

Make your action plan and bring your dream into balance with

the cycles of nature. Blossom with nature and slumber nature.

Karolina Nilsson

www.soulbal ance.se

info@soulbal ance.se

Coaching, courses, books and education

27


WELCOME TO THE

NEW YEAR!

Carol Coggan

The Angels are delighted that you are here and reading

this. They know that many felt 2025 was a busy,

changing year with lots of different energies. They

want you to be alert to your energy for this New Year.

Archangel Zadkiel has stepped in on the purple ray. He

enables you to remember, but also enables you to

release your emotional baggage, and reframe positively

your memories of 2025, so that you can move forward.

Where are you focusing your energy?

I recently had a situation at work, that could have

resulted in months of confrontation, but I came back to

what the Angels would want me to do. If I carried on

with the confrontation, the emails and thoughts were

taking up much of my time and energy. The Angels

operate from love, so the loving response was to

resolve the issue, and send the person love as well as

act in a loving way to myself. My energy was once

again balanced and I was able to focus specifically on

the direction I wanted to go in.

So as your New Year starts, where are you spending

(wasting) your energy? I am aware of so many people

who have family confrontations, and this may have

increased over Christmas, as many people pass to the

next life, families often ‘fallout’ over the will, and

financial issues, apart from dealing with the emotional

loss of the loved one. There is a phrase, “you are a long

time dead“. This phrase not only relates to the person

who has passed over, but also relates to those we have

cut all contact with in this life over contentious issues.

The Angels want you to enjoy this life and fill it with

love and laughter. If we are using up our energy in

judgment, anger and confrontation, we have no space

for love and laughter.

28


You may also have heard the phrase, “Seeking revenge is like taking poison and expecting the other

person to drop down dead“. The main person who is suffering is yourself.

So have a think about 2026 in your life and relationships.

Is there someone you have not spoken to for years? Did you fall out with close family over Christmas?

Has your partner left you and you are left with the myriad of feelings such as loss, grief or resentment?

I am not going to list anymore here, as noting them gives them energy.

The Angels realise that as humans, we are going to experience these feelings, but the key is not to dwell

on them. You may feel that you cannot forgive the individual, but for now you can at least focus upon

positive energy. Consider what you have learnt from this situation with the help of Archangel Zadkiel,

and how you can heal the emotional pain from the past and move to remembering the beautiful

moments of your life.

29


Archangel Raguel has also stepped in, as he is the specific Archangel for relationships. He enables you

to see things from a positive light, and helps you move from judgement and angst; he enables you to

consider forgiveness, gratitude and calm.

You will find that when you are in gratitude, you cannot be in judgment. Archangel Raguel brings

harmony to all relationships. Sometimes he will heal instantly, but at other times he will send guidance

through thoughts, feelings or signs.

So where are you heading in 2026? Where is the focus of your energy? Where can you create space for

positive energy, fun and laughter?

Work with Archangel Raguel, Archangel Zadkiel, your Guardian Angel and the Universe so that you can

live each day in “love“.

30


If you find you need an instant pick

up listen to the song:

“Love Changes Everything“ by

Michael Ball.

I can hear you singing it already!!

Carol as an Angel therapist will work with you in your

relationships. Having also experienced loss in many ways

herself-divorce; empty nest syndrome; loved ones who have

passed over; loss through dementia; partner who has passed

over. She is very aware that each person’s experience of loss is

unique, and it is from this awareness that she is able to

approach your difficulties in relationships with you, to become

the unique loving being you are.

hello@carolcoggan.co.uk

Facebook: Carol Coggan - Angel

Therapist/Dream Builder Life Coach

Instagram: angeltherapist_carolcoggan

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31


ALL WE NEED EXISTS

IN NATURE

Shaeen Svanede

Being in nature is something many people enjoy - and there

are good reasons for it. It is not only soothing for the soul,

but also beneficial for both body and mind. When we spend

time outdoors and become more active, we receive daylight

that helps produce vitamin D, and our oxygen uptake

improves in fresh air. You surely remember how we learned

in school that when we exhale carbon dioxide, plants absorb

it and convert it via photosynthesis into oxygen. That is why

many cities have created “green lungs” in residential areas.

Yet there’s more - nature offers far greater gifts than we can

imagine.

Of course, we need food - and ultimately, what we eat

comes from nature. But in our modern age, we also carry a

constant burden to stay connected and monitor everything.

The question is: does that really serve us? Do we benefit

from being permanently alert to sensational headlines? Is all

the information we consume helpful, or is it more often

distracting?

Over many years, I have tried a different path. From reading

the morning newspaper and watching the evening news, I

have come to the insight that I really only need to know

what I myself can affect, or what concerns my life directly.

There is no point in worrying about things one cannot

change. One reminder is the Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me

the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to

change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”

A traffic accident became the turning point for me. I no

longer had the energy to maintain everything I had done

before, and was forced to slow down. Today, I read the

newspaper only occasionally, and only the news I deem

important. I have let go of radio and TV news. That has freed

up time and energy for me to do what I genuinely care about,

and thereby still have the strength to spread positivity to

others. The inner harmony I feel today allows me to discern

what is essential and to act with greater clarity and integrity.

32


I also had to relinquish many activities I once loved -

riding, running, ice skating, and similar activities, due

to pain and dizziness. Gradually, I shifted from short,

cautious walks to becoming an ardent hiker. With

each mile and hour spent in nature, I began to

perceive surprising effects: I felt calmer, stronger,

and happier. My sleep improved, and longer hikes

ceased to feel burdensome; instead, they became a

path toward vitality.

My experiences aligned in part with research. But

something unexpected also occurred: I began to

sense that nature was communicating with me. Not in

human words, but through intuition, images, and

feelings. Plants, animals, earth, and air - everything

seemed to carry a kind of consciousness. On a hike,

my friend Peter asked me, “How do you talk to

nature?” I responded: “I send a thought and open

myself to receive a reply.” It may sound strange, but

both of us received similar responses, we saw the

same visions and even felt unwelcome at the same

spot.

One day, walking alone, the spirits of the place began

to show me vivid visions of earthquakes, floods, and

social unrest, signs of escalation to come. It was

alarming but not implausible; the world around us

was already showing signs. It became clear that we

humans must increase our empathy toward nature,

toward one another, toward the future. I even heard

a direct message of upheaval in Aleppo in Sudan (I

later realised I misheard the word “Sudan”), saying

help would be needed. I had no prior knowledge of a

place called Aleppo.

When we returned from our wilderness journey after

a week, we were struck by how uncanny it was that

the evening’s TV news reported unrest in Syria - in

Aleppo, the very city nature’s visions had pointed to.

We had lived entirely without media in the forest, yet

through a kind of natural communication, we had

gained insight into a distant event.

My conclusion is that everything we need really

exists in nature - if only we learn to listen and

reconnect. I believe humanity would fare better by

slowing down, silencing the noise of information, and

living in harmony with all that surrounds us. 33


A few weeks ago, as I pruned my blackberry bush, it struck me: not only did I hear my own thoughts,

the bush “heard” me, and simultaneously she was connected to all around her: trees, shrubs, animals.

We humans are accustomed to speaking only one language, but nature’s beings speak many. What if we

reopened our channel? What if your next best friend were a tree? Imagine what it could teach you.

Because if I can talk to boulders and trees, so can you.

I walked through the woods

speaking without words

as silence replied with a roar

Visions stirred in my mind

echoes rose from my soul

singing the ancient hymn of nature

Trees stood as guardians

boulders as elders

fairies and friends unveiled their grace

And all it takes

is humbleness

and a heart that dares to listen

I still wander the woods

conversing with plants

partaking of the gathered wisdom

Shaeen Svanede

Priestess of the Norse tradition

osterlenhaxan.com

pilgrimen.com

designbyhansdotter.com

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NEW YEAR CRYSTAL

GOAL SETTING

Sue Penney

Opening the Crystal Gateway

The hush between Yule and Imbolc is a sacred hinge, where the last echoes of the old year sigh

through bare branches, and the pulse of new beginnings stirs beneath the frost. For the Wiccan soul,

this is not just resolution season. This is spell craft in motion, intention in crystal form, and soulalchemy

at its finest.

As the Wheel turns, so too must we. And to move forward with clarity and purpose, we lean into the

power of crystal, not just as ornaments of Earth’s deep dreaming, but as allies for focus,

manifestation, and sacred resolve. Whether laid upon your altar or nestled in your palm during

meditation, these crystalline companions hold ancient wisdom that guides us in weaving our goals

into reality.

Let’s dive into six powerful crystals that shine brightest during the threshold of a new year:

38


Clear Quartz: The Master Amplifier

Element: All

Planet: Sun

Chakra: Crown

This stone is your blank page, your cosmic amplifier. Whatever intention you set, be it love, courage,

abundance, or transformation, clear quartz magnifies it like moonlight on still water. It clears mental fog

and creates an energetic beacon, calling your dreams home. Ideal for gridwork, spellcasting, or vision

boards. Program it with your goals and let it hum with purpose.

Ritual Idea: On New Year’s Day at sunrise, sit with a cleansed quartz. Breathe your goal into the stone,

visualising it radiating outward. Place it on your altar or carry it with you through January.

39


Garnet: The Ember of Commitment

Element: Fire

Planet: Mars

Chakra: Root, Heart

If you’ve set intentions before, only to watch them fade with the February rain, garnet is your remedy.

This rich crimson gem ignites your inner fire and keeps it stoked. It's the crystal of follow-through,

anchoring lofty goals in the fertile soil of action. Garnet whispers: “Let’s make it real.”

Ritual Idea: During a waning moon, hold garnet and write down what's been holding you back. Burn the

paper in a fire-safe dish. Then speak aloud the actions you will take and feel garnet’s flame stir your

blood.

40


Casting a Crystal Spell for Your Year Ahead

Labradorite: The Sorcerer’s Stone

Element: Wind

Planet: Uranus

Chakra: Third Eye

This shimmering oracle of the North opens the gate to higher vision. If you’re unclear about your path

or overwhelmed by options, labradorite offers luminous insight. It protects the aura while activating

intuition, making it the perfect stone for magical goal setting.

Ritual Idea: Cast a simple circle. Meditate with labradorite on your third eye and ask your guides: “What

vision wants to unfold through me this year?” Sketch or journal what arises.

41


Citrine: Sunlight for the Soul

Element: Fire

Planet: Mercury

Chakra: Solar Plexus

Citrine is your golden coach, cheering you on with joy, optimism, and money-magic. It's the stone of

self-worth and abundance, helping you claim your desires without apology. No more shrinking. This is

your year to expand.

Ritual Idea: Place a citrine in a bowl of salt and coins on your prosperity altar. Each week, speak aloud a

financial or personal success, no matter how small.

Watch confidence and income grow.

42


Amazonite: The Truth Talisman

Element: Water

Planet: Uranus

Chakra: Throat, Heart

Amazonite brings soothing waves to turbulent minds. It helps Wiccans voice intentions with integrity

and grace. If your goals involve setting boundaries, speaking your truth, or writing that long-awaited

book this turquoise talisman is your go-to.

Ritual Idea: On a waxing moon, write your core goal on parchment. Fold it around an amazonite and

bind it with blue thread. Sleep with it beneath your pillow for 7 nights, then release it to running water.

43


A Ritual of the Turning Year

A Crystal Spell for Witches Who Mean Business

1. Gather your crystals: Clear quartz, garnet, labradorite, citrine, amazonite. Cleanse them with smoke

or moonlight.

2. Cast a circle: Invoke the Elements, call your guides.

3. Place each stone in a pentacle layout on your altar, assigning each a goal or life area.

4. Write your intentions on handmade paper. Read them aloud, as if already achieved.

5. Seal it with breath, fire, or a drop of ritual oil. Place your intentions beneath the centre stone.

6. Sit in stillness. Feel the new timeline crystallising in your world.

Remember, goal setting is not about force. It’s about alignment. These stones, born of Earth’s patient

womb, remind us that great things take time, devotion, and rhythm. This year, may you speak your

desires with courage, dance with your doubts, and cast spells from a heart that knows it is worthy.

So mote it be.

Sue Penney

Soul Whisperer

Soul Verse

soulverse.co.uk

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45


LEONARDO DA VINCI -

FINAL LEGACY

John Sjovik

In this third and final article in my series on Leonardo da Vinci, I

want to go a bit deeper and take a closer look at Leonardo the

man.

As I have stressed in my previous articles, we are looking at a man

who lived 500 years ago. There are approximately 17 generations

between Leonardo and us.

It is important to try and step outside of our own knowledge and

ideas of the world around us and approach the views and ideas of

Leonardo’s time. By making that effort, it will be easier to

understand why he and others thought a certain way and why

they acted the way they did. It will also make us even more

wondrous at the amazingly fresh and in many ways modern way

Leonardo considered and explored the world around him, be it

nature, the human body or machines.

Leonardo constantly wrote down questions, ideas and thoughts

about a multitude of subjects. He was famously curious about

optics, astronomy, chemistry, geometry, the science of fluids and

mechanics, the movement of wind and water, the human body and

about painting and much more, as would fit a Renaissance man.

In order to learn and educate himself, he conducted experiments,

applied logical analysis and read a lot.

Keep in mind that the art of printing appeared about the same

time as Leonardo was born. By the year 1500, Venice had more

than 150 printing houses, which had already printed 2 million

books.

Leonardo is considered to have written 20,000 pages in a great

number of notebooks. Approximately 6,000 to 7,000 pages still

exist today.

He called himself ‘disscepolo della sperienzia’ = the apprentice of

experiences.

46


Leonardo da Vinci as philosopher

‘Observe the stains on the wall’

This was a piece of advice that Leonardo da Vinci often gave young, aspiring artists who struggled with

creativity and to find inspiration when they began working on a new painting. This was a simple but

effective act of unrestrained randomness, free from the stifling constraints of logic and the rational

mind.

My teacher in Shamanism also had recurring advice for his students. He often said “Stop and drop”.

What he meant was to highlight the importance of getting out of your head and into your heart.

Whether it is about stains on the wall or stopping & dropping, the idea is to stop the mind chatter, to

arrest logic and allow room for imagination and for feelings residing in your heart and stomach.

It was said that Leonardo’s contemporary Sandro Botticelli (famous for his painting ‘Birth of Venus’,

with Venus standing in a giant seashell) would take a sponge and soak it in paint of various colours. He

would then throw it forcefully onto a wall. The impact would create a multicoloured stain, which

Botticelli would study, contemplate on and visualise as a beautiful landscape. From this inspiration, he

would then put his brush onto a canvas.

Leonardo commented on Botticelli’s method and reminded that it is important to translate the

randomness of the stain into an actual landscape, given the requirements for symmetry and balance to

recreate the beauty and harmony of a real-life landscape.

Leonardo emphasised the importance of close study of the natural world around you. He lived in a time

when young artists were trained to copy the old masters and learn painting from their tradition.

47

43


Leonardo controversially suggested moving

away from tradition and instead equip

yourself with a sketch book and pencil or

charcoal and observe and draw nature and

everything you see around you, including

people and animals. It is important to train

your memory, so that you build a profound

knowledge of the contours of an olive tree,

the shape of a hill or indeed the difference

between the posture of a young person as

opposed to someone old. The sketching

needed to be made quickly, so as to capture

the movement of a stream or the swift smile

of a human face.

Leonardo wrote in his book on painting

(‘Trattato Della Pittura’) that painting is a

spiritual activity. However, he was of the

opinion that the soul needs a body in order to

take action or have experiences.

For him, it was of vital importance to observe

the scenery, buildings, model or whatever he

was painting in order to understand the

balance and harmony in nature and be able to

translate that to the canvas. It seems to me

that he tried to fuse together these two

approaches, the spiritual and the logical, in his

creative process.

Leonardo was familiar with Leon Battista

Alberti (1404 – 1472). Alberti was an

architect, scholar on ‘the science of art’ and

much more. He wrote that each person in a

painting has their own story.

A painting should convey such a ‘thought

content’ and affect the viewer.

A good painting will make the observer cry

with anyone who cries, laugh with anyone

who laughs and feel compassion for anyone

who grieves.

Leonardo owned books by Alberti and was

clearly influenced by him when he developed

his own theory on art.

48


The abstract painter Vasilij Kandinsky

(1866 – 1944) wrote a book on painting,

called ‘Point and Line to Plane’. Preceding

Kandinsky with 400 years, also Leonardo

had thoughts on the parameters of a

painting, but in a different way.

For Leonardo, points and lines had no

substance in themselves and should only

be imagined rather than actually seen.

Points and lines are effectively invisible.

An artist, according to Leonardo, should

not indicate contours by lines. Nothing in

nature has clear lines or mathematically

defined areas. Instead there are shadows

and gradual transitions from light areas to

darker areas. In a painting, this is indicated

by the use of shadows, gradation of colour

tones and variation of colour saturation.

The combination of techniques Leonardo

used were called ‘sfumato’ and

‘chiaroscuro’. ‘Sfumato’ means ‘haze’ or

‘smoke’ and ‘chiaroscuro’ is a combination

of ‘chiaro’, meaning light and ‘scuro’,

meaning shadow. The effect is achieved

by applying a multitude of fine layers of

very diluted paint.

Not long before he died, Leonardo wrote a

comment about portraits in his diary.

He wrote that a woman who sat as a

model when he painted her portrait many

years ago looked at him, the painter, and

he looked at her. That way, also the face

in the finished painting once gazed at the

painter, as he gazed on her.

So when we visit the Louvre Museum to

look at the woman in the ‘Mona Lisa’

painting, we are in a way standing in the

place where Leonardo once stood and La

Gioconda is looking at us, as she once

looked at Leonardo.

49


The present moment, air and curiosity

Leonardo often reflected on life and death in relation to time. I get the impression that he had an almost

mechanical impression of time. The present moment is replaced by a new moment just as water in a

stream is replaced by new water. You can never relive the moment that has passed, just as you cannot

put your hand into the same water of a stream.

He wrote about time as the destroyer of all that man has created. Time passes inexorably by,

completely unstoppable and impossible to negotiate with.

With a combined philosophical and scientific approach, he noted that if you blow too hard on a burning

candle, it will go out. But if you blow gently and carefully on it, it will burn stronger. Too much of a

good thing can kill you, but in moderate measures, you can benefit from it.

From this simple experiment with the burning candle, he demonstrated that there is something

fundamentally important in air, vital for fire and indeed for life. Yet, it took almost three hundred years

until oxygen was discovered. He also demonstrated the philosophical understanding of the importance

of not overdoing anything in life.

Leonardo may not have been a deeply spiritual man. Neither was he more religious than the common

man. However, he seems to have been deeply connected to the world around him and every aspect of it.

His profound interest in learning all the details of the human body, of animals, biology, genealogy,

astronomy and much more was probably not only a scientific pursuit, although that would have been

impressive enough, but also an innate ambition to learn the inner nature of matter. Not only the

mechanics of the world around him, but also the metaphysics of it.

50


Leonardo and friends

Luca Pacioli

One of Leonardo’s friends was the Franciscan friar and mathematician

Luca Pacioli.

Leonardo collaborated with Pacioli and did some of the illustrations for

Pacioli’s book ‘Divina proportione’, which he published in Venice in

1509. The book dealt extensively with proportions, both from a

mathematical perspective and from an artistic one. A notable subject

explored in the book was the Golden Ratio and how it could be applied

to architecture.

Pacioli was familiar with the Greek mathematician and philosopher Euclid

rd

(3 century BC), and his development of geometry and discovery of the

remarkable proportions of ‘The Golden Ratio’. He was also familiar with

st

the Roman architect Vitruvius (1 century BC) and his series of books

known as De Architectura, in which he explored symmetry and

proportions for architecture as based on measurements taken from

nature and the human body.

Leonardo clearly learned a lot from Pacioli about geometry and proportions. He used those insights in

paintings, sketches and in his own writings on the art of painting.

Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino (aka Raphael)

Those of you, who enjoy the paintings by Raphael, should send a thought of thanks to Leonardo.

Raphael admired Leonardo – who was 31 years his senior - and often asked him for advice. He regularly

worked in Leonardo’s studio and most probably owned a lot of his knowledge and skill to the

encouragement and guidance given him by Leonardo.

In his famous painting ‘School of Athens’, Raphael used Leonardo as model for the appearance of Plato.

51


Donato Bramante

Leonardo formed a close

bond with the architect and

painter Donato Bramante

when they collaborated on

the design of a new spire to

be erected on the roof of

the cathedral in Milan, in

1487.

Donato Bramante, Heraclitus and Democritus, Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan. Photo by

Pierre André Leclercq, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

There is a painting that

Bramante did, as I think for

fun. It shows him as the

Greek philosopher

Demokritos (on the right in

the painting) and Leonardo

as Herakleitos (on the left).

...and not a friend

(Michelangelo Buonarroti)

I should add that Leonardo

was not appreciated by

everybody. There was a

famous conflict between

Leonardo and Michelangelo.

They had very different

temperament and style. In

contrast to Leonardo,

Michelangelo was deeply

religious and strictly adhered

to all tenets and teachings of

the Church. He was

somewhat of a bohemian and

did not care much about his

appearance. He was known to

be confrontational and pushy.

Yet, a redeeming feature of

Michelangelo’s was that he

always finished what he set

out to do. An example is the

incredible work he carried out

when painting the Sistine

Chapel in the Vatican.

Michelangelo did not

procrastinate, which Leonardo

regrettably did all too often.

52


Final legacy and ‘the soup is getting cold’

Leonardo da Vinci is mostly known as the artist who painted Mona

Lisa and was a truly multi-talented Renaissance Man, with his

interest in arts, music, science and much more, with a constant

desire to learn and understand. He has certainly been a regular

inspiration for me to educate myself, to encourage my curiosity,

and to explore things I did not know much about. To continue to

inspire people, even after 500 years, is what I consider the most

important legacy any human being could wish to leave behind.

Leonardo notoriously found arithmetic difficult to grasp and

algebra was completely beyond him. However, a never-ending

interest was geometry. I think it must have been the visual

character of geometry that made him understand it. A classical

problem in geometry was to ‘square the circle’. The issue here was

to start with a given circle and then construct a square with equal

area using only a compass and a ruler, a challenge dating back to

antiquity.

Leonardo became obsessed with this problem and worked on it his

whole life. Regrettably, the problem has no solution unless you

use an irrational number and perform a calculation. To use only

geometrical figures is not enough to solve the problem of

‘squaring the circle’.

Towards the very end of his life, Leonardo kept working on

geometry, filling page upon page in his notebooks with triangles,

rectangles, squares and circles. As a matter of fact, the very last

page of his final notebook is filled with geometrical symbols.

As he was working, it seems that his housekeeper called out to

him that supper was ready. And so, the final entry by Leonardo

was that he must take a break from work because ‘the soup is

getting cold’.

John Sjovik | Shaman Healer | shamaqi-word-art.com

53

Hidden in the Mist


“Ambulance.”

“What’s your location, please” the call responder

asked.

“The end of Vine Lane, Stoke D’Abernon, where the

path to the river is.” He looked at Richard as if for

confirmation. Richard nodded, his eyes wide and his

features pinched in concern.

“Please hurry,” Robert added, a sob catching in his

throat.

“I think she might be dying.”

The last was a plea delivered with a sob released from

impotent despair.

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sue@soulverse.co.uk

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55

WHAT IS A

MEMORY?

The LifePilgrim


To keep or not to keep, that is the question

This summer I decided to go through all the old photos, letters and other memorabilia that I´ve

accumulated and acquired through the years. I was looking forward to it, thinking it would be a fun

and fairly easy thing to do – how hard could it be to organise the pictures I wanted to keep in photo

albums and just throw away the rest?

As it turned out, it was – and still is! - a daunting task: boxes upon boxes of old pictures, my personal

ones and all the ones inherited from my parents and my grandparents, some going back to the

beginning of the 20th century, all mixed up. Many times I have thought: Why am I doing this? Who

am I doing it for (I have no children)? Why is this important (to me)? Is it even important?

Here are some of the thoughts I´ve had, working with snapshots from my family's lives. They have

helped me relate to the sensitive work of culling among the footprints of now mostly deceased

relatives, and of my own past. Perhaps these thoughts can be of help to you as well.

What exactly is a memory?

Some years ago I was visiting my mother. She had what I felt was an ugly and cracked old pot in a

window, and I suggested we throw it away. “I can get you a new, nicer one”, I said. She did not want a

new, ‘nicer’ pot, she said, and when I asked why, the answer was: “Because it´s a memory!” I

remember saying something like “maybe there are other ways to remember something or somebody

than by looking at a cracked pot”, but now that I´m working with memories of my own, the ‘pot

incident’ bears worth thinking about. Questions like: What is a memory? Why are they important to

us? What is worth remembering and why? How does it affect us if we don´t have many physical

memories such as photos, letters etc? Why do we choose to save some things and not others? Do our

memories and mementos always add value to our lives, or can they become a burden to us?

56


Memories are connected with time that has passed and past times, and they are almost always very

personal. Ask four people who were at the same party in 1988 what it was like, and you will probably get

four very different answers. The first person had a great time and can remember all the guests who were

there, what music was played, and even the food. The second person had too much to drink, and all his

memories of the event are blurred. The third one was having personal troubles at the time and couldn´t

quite focus on what was going on at the event. The fourth person doesn´t even remember being at the

party at all! The conclusion is that memories make very unreliable sources of knowledge as to what

someone or something was like, what happened at a certain place or time and so on.

The picture in the thrift shop

A few years ago, I stopped for a coffee in a café that also had a section with second-hand items for sale.

There was the usual mix of flowerpots, cookie jars and old books, but among all the second-hand items,

there was also a photograph, a studio portrait of a little girl about 10 years old. The picture was not very

old, perhaps taken in the 1990s. To me, it felt very unpleasant, almost macabre, to find such a new photo

of a little girl among old pots and cuddly toys. How had her picture ended up here? Was she dead?

Perhaps the picture had belonged to someone who had died, and the portrait was part of items from the

estate given to charity. Many questions and no answers.

History and Time

I have always been interested in history. Historical events are connected with time, the same as

memories are. History can – if we pay attention – help us better understand and make sense of our own

lives. We are all a part of unfolding time, and we live in our ´own´ time, whenever that happens to be.

Society and time shape us. The times we live in, but also the ages of previous generations affect how and

what we think and believe, and to an extent, how we turn out as human beings.

Many other things have an influence on us as well, and perhaps most importantly, our family. What was

the family we grew up in like? Did they have strong political and/or religious beliefs? Were they

affectionate or emotionally withdrawn? Was there enough money? Our families´ educational background

and the geographical location or locations where we grew up also play a part. The list can be made long.

We all have dreams and hopes about the future and things we wish for, and probably things we

absolutely do not want, like ‘I do not want to be like my mother’, or ‘I never want to live in the country I

grew up in’.

Whatever our backgrounds and lives, we all have a personal history that is unique to us.

57


The (not so) Good Old Days

I often think about what it was like to live further back in time. Just as we have dreams and hopes, so did

earlier generations, but the further back in time you go, the fewer possibilities and choices people would

have had. Depending on class, gender, social and religious rules, most people would have been tightly

bound by the prevailing system of ‘their’ time and place, and few people would have been able to choose

almost any aspects of their lives freely.

If we go back only a fairly short time in history, most people would have lived much shorter lives,

succumbing to accidents or suffering and dying from diseases which are now easily cured. Many women,

and their babies with them, died in childbirth from blood loss, fevers and poor hygiene. My own greatgrandmother

lost five of her twelve children in infancy in the early 1900s. How might a tragedy like that

affect a person?

The traces we leave behind

The farther back in time we go, the fewer traces we will find of those who have lived before us. For the

most part, people would have had fewer possessions, and personal things such as painted portraits,

letters, photographs and other objects which might give more information or clues about a person,

became fewer and fewer over time. Things disappear, are worn out or are destroyed, and eventually a

gravestone may be the only thing left to remind us that a certain individual has ever existed.

The ´Swiss cheese´ syndrome or the ´Missing links´

It has become very clear to me that to try and recreate any aspect of the lives of departed relatives is

almost impossible. It´s like looking at a photo of a couple on their wedding day and trying to deduce how

they met, if they were in love when they met, if they remained together, if the marriage was a happy one

and so on.

If you only have the photo, it´s like ‘having the holes but no cheese’, and not many ways to find missing

links to fill in the holes. The more material you have, the more you´ve been told - and in some cases, your

own personal memories of a person, persons or events, the more you have to work with. But even then,

much of the past will remain veiled. Most of what we would like to know is probably lost forever.

58


Family photo albums often have pictures of people we´ve met, but maybe we didn´t know all of them.

The ones you haven´t met were perhaps deceased before you had a chance to meet them or get to know

them, which means that it´s only in pictures that you have seen them. What you ‘know’ about them is

what others have told you, i.e. nothing you yourself can verify.

You may have met some of the people in the photos, older relatives and their spouses for instance. But

does that mean that you really knew them if you only met them at family gatherings when you were a

child? The answer must be no. You might know something, perhaps that an old uncle worked as a

policeman. But that doesn´t say anything at all about what he was like as a person.

Family lore often comes from hearsay and borrowed memories. How someone is described and

remembered depends greatly on who tells the story and their relationship to the person involved.

Some final thoughts

In the process of organising all these old ‘memories’, I have sometimes felt like a goddess of creativity

and destruction!

Choosing which photos, letters etc to keep and which to throw away has been cleansing but sometimes

left me feeling that I am in fact doing away with what might be the (last?) remains of a certain event or

happening in a person´s life.

The process has been interesting and educational, but I was not prepared for the emotional rollercoaster

ride that it has been. Much of the work is about honouring and respecting the dead.

Some days have been mentally challenging, even physically, but working through this material has given

me the opportunity to look at my own life and where I am now. And even though we might not be able to

recreate the lives of our ancestors, at least we can consider this:

What do memories mean to me? How do I relate to them?

What do I want to leave behind?

And perhaps most importantly,

How would I like to be remembered?

Lifepilgrim´is a shamanically trained

former librarian. She reflects on life in

general, and spiritual matters in particular

from her home in Sweden where she lives

with her husband and lots of books.

stayingcurious59@gmail.com

59

Martin Lewis


SUB-PERSONALITIES

OUR HIDDEN SELVES

Day-to-day existence

on a physical/mental

level

Conscious Waking

Personality

Subconscious

Self Talk and

Judgments

Unconscious

Personal Unconscious

Karma

Repressed trauma

Past Lives

Spiritual memories

Family Unconscious

Beliefs

Imprinting

Family history

Genetic trauma

Collective Unconscious

Root race memories

60


Sub-personalities are defined as the different parts of ourselves, that have a direct or indirect effect on

our thoughts, behaviours, and our physical and mental health. Many schools of psychotherapy see subpersonalities

as stable and long-lasting psychological structures or entities that influence how a person

feels, perceives, and behaves … which ultimately enables interaction to occur between us and the world

around us. In general, this relates to whether our behaviour is deemed normal or abnormal. How this is

defined is often very subjective, based on our culture, beliefs, and what society we live in regards as

acceptable.

So... to be included within the society and culture that we live in, we generally conform to the rules and

regulations that these entities demand. Otherwise, we can become ostracised within our own ‘tribe’,

which can (and does) cause great stress of its own. Hopefully, you can now understand why we conform

to known rules and conditions, to enable our survival within the cultural conditions that are required by

the race we are born into. This needs to be understood (and hopefully accepted) on a spiritual level as

well. This suggests that deep within our psyche is a known state which our spirit accepts as normal.

However, what happens when a part of us does not accept these conditions?

Potentially then, our sub-personality will ‘pop out’ shouting and screaming that: ‘life is unfair’, cruel,

heartless, miserable or whatever adjective you prefer! This is when our sub-personalities show

themselves. This often occurs when our ‘inner child’ shouts because he/she is not getting what they

want. This often shows after the parent/authority tells the child ‘you can’t have that until...’, which

suggests a condition needs to be met before the reward is given. The ‘inner child’ then shows itself by

exhibiting certain behaviours that others find embarrassing, distasteful, disgusting etc, etc.

As can be seen in this diagram this generally happens between the ages of an infant to student.

However, this does not just happen on a child's level.

61


Robert Gilman (https://substack.com/@robertgilman)

suggests that these sub-personalities develop in the

early stages of life, and they are just a few of our

many sub-personalities.

Tigger (from Winnie The Pooh) comes out when

I’m feeling enthusiastic and bouncy

Research Hunter likes to research almost anything,

hunting new information

Murphy’s Watchman is vigilant and wary of what

might go wrong

Inner Critic is a classic part of what Freud called

the super ego and can be harsh and judgmental, to

oneself, but often in the case of narcissistic

personality disorder to others as well!

As we get older (and hopefully wiser), different subpersonalities

appear, and infant ones get ‘turned off’.

This does not always happen with everyone, and in my

experience often never!

If trauma occurs during infancy or childhood, the

‘inner child’ sub-personality can continue to cause

havoc well into adulthood. Not only does the subpersonality

show itself, but if it does not get a

satisfactory resolution, then bizarre behaviour, such as

phobias, paranoia, schizophrenia, habits, physical and

mental illness, and disease can get a foothold within

the unfortunate victim.

A classic case of a sub-personality taking control of

the spiritual will is when the inner child suffers

traumatic loss and demands redemption, based on

vindication. This is often driven by moralistic attitudes

and beliefs such as: “I have every right to be greedy

because of the traumatic loss I have suffered”. What

appears is the ‘narcissistic part’ which will not accept

any situation that they are not in control of, and

generally causes the adult part to behave like a spoilt

child who wants their ‘comfort blanket’ back!

In effect, the ‘control’ sub-personality is overwhelmed

by the demands of the child.

In energy terms this can show in ‘driven’

behaviours/thrill seeking/conceptual ‘the end justifies

the means’ thinking etc.

62


Generally, the only remedy then is to become aware,

accept, and act differently, often enhanced by

therapeutic intervention, and the utilisation of other

sub-personalities to help.

YES, we CAN do this within ourselves, without

resorting to therapy.

However, it is often true that the sub-personality is so

traumatised that its ‘shouting’ drowns out the ‘wiser

self ’.

If this continues without resolution, then illness and

disease can develop.

Robert Gilman recommends checking out Voice

Dialogue as a great experiential/therapeutic approach,

or John Rowan’s book on the ‘dialogical self ’, a

psychological concept which describes the mind's

ability to imagine the different positions of

participants in an internal dialogue.

The "dialogical self" is the central concept in the

dialogical self theory (DST), as created and developed

by the Dutch psychologist Hubert Hermans

MARTIN LEWIS

appliedmetaphysics.co.uk | kinesiology@hotmail.co.uk | +44 (0)7968 740550

Newbury, Berkshire

63

Nina Ossavy


THE SERPENT AND I -

PART 1

Part 1

The Serpent and I - A lemniscate essay on

ecofeminism

1

This is my story. It’s not a personal story.It’s her-story.

It’s is his-story. But most of all it´s our-story. A nasty

story of separation. The tale of humans as a separate

self. A narrative of Othering. How do we get out of

this story?

2

On my left arm, I have a tattoo of Ouroboros, the

serpent who is eating its own tail. The serpent is

inscribed on my body. I am a body that is a part of theo

larger body, the Earth. I am nature. I am culture.

I can see myself at the knot of the 8, dancing betwixt

and between nature and culture, where rigid lines are

blurred. The lemniscate offers a biotic rather than a

binary model. I prefer that as there is interconnection

among all things.

My serpent tattoo is made in the shape of an 8, the

symbol of eternity – the lemniscate. Honey bees

dance in a figure 8. The Pythoness, the high priestess

of Delphi, was sometimes referred to as the Delphic

Bee.

Strangely, some days after I got my tattoo, I was gifted

a homemade drum made by a close friend. He had no

knowledge of my tattoo, but he had drawn the same

symbol of Ouroboros on the drum. I call it Sister

Drum.

64


3

The old Nordic rune system has a rune called Gifu, the rune of reciprocity,

gifts, and interconnectedness. The rune has the shape of an X. The runes

were carved in wood or stone; circular shapes were not an option.

In the Gifu rune X, like in the 8, there is a place in the middle to rest and to

connect the dots. The arms extending from the middle reach out to our

fellow beings in this world. If I were to choose a single symbol from the

ancient Nordic animist wisdom for us to understand and implement in our

present day, it would be the X – the rune of interconnectedness.

4

I am a beekeeper, and I had the tattoo done after I had been diving into the

shamanic way called the Path of Pollen* at the Sacred Trust in England for

more than a decade. The serpent has been a symbol of transition and

feminine sexual power for thousands of years, despite the patriarchal

attempt to demonise both the serpent and women after the infamous

incident with the apple in the Garden of Eden.

*The Path of Pollen is not currently being taught at the Sacred Trust following a

disagreement about the origins of the work.

5

I was born into a story of separation. But as a

small child, I didn’t know much about that story.

I spoke with the trees, as so many children do.

And the trees spoke back. Before the story of

separation was told, it didn’t exist. But as I grew

up, I learned to forget my own story of

interconnection, I was taught that humans ruled

the world, and we were not nature. Not animals.

Nature was out there. It was the ’environment’.

It was the Other. Later I learned that woman

was the Other – and animals too –something to

be used and abused.

But in fact, we now know that trees do

communicate. They do feel, and they do have

friends. Science is catching up with the old

wisdom.

I wonder if the story of separation, slowly is

being replaced?

There is no The Other.

Photo by Hans Petter Eliassen

What we have is Each Other.

65


6

Back in 2012 when I started my training at the Sacred

Trust with teachers Naomi Lewis and Kate Shela, it

was structured around the honey bee as the central

symbol. There were only women – or persons

identifying as women – at these workshops. We were

all dressed in skirts. No knickers on. It was liberating

for me to be, for the first time, in a community of

women. A lot of laughter. A lot of tears. The healing of

traumas and the sharing of deep insights.

Outside the workspace there were beehives. We

didn’t attend to the bees as beekeepers, but they were

very present on a spiritual level. Many of my fellow

sisters were also beekeepers or indeed became

beekeepers.

Later, the work was renamed the Lyceum, and Lewis

introduced a new kind of training based on the archaic

mythology of the female serpent Python and the

oracular work of the Pythias in Delphi, also known as

the Oracle of Delphi or the Pythoness. Lewis called

this new spiritual laboratory “The Return of the

Pythoness”.

The honey bees were still present as the Lyceum was

structured around both the honey bee and the serpent

as living glyphs and central motifs, but the focus

shifted to awakening the pythoness – a potentially

radical step.

7

During a lunch break, we discover a swarm of honey

bees in a little cherry tree in the garden. The most

experienced beekeepers shift to bringing the bees to

an empty hive. In their skirts, with their bare hands,

they slowly let the bees crawl onto their naked skin

and carry them gently to the hive, their new home.

Women and bees become one, one hive. All that is

heard is the humming of the honey bees and the wind

in the green leaves. We are silent and move slowly.

Later, in the workspace, a hive of women humming

together, our voices blend into one as we celebrate

the gift we have received, the new swarm.

66


8

In ancient Greece, the serpent was considered a symbol of fertility, life, healing, and transformation. The

connection to honey bees is strong as the Pythia was also known as the Delphic Bee and the Omphalos is

shaped like a beehive and covered in small figures of bees linked in a pattern.

Omphalos means navel in Greek.

In Delphi, the high priestess sat on a three-legged chair close to the Omphalos, where vapours rose up from

the Earth to inform the Pythoness in her oracular work.

Did the oracles of Delphi, through the Omphalos, the umbilical cord, tune in to the voice of the Earth

herself? As if the Earth’s children were connected to Mother Earth through this navel?

9

Apollon decided to kill the female serpent Python. After this, Delphi was transformed from a feminine to a

masculine place. Apollon took over the throne, and patriarchy was established – at least according to the

mythology as understood by spiritual activist Lewis. This story sets up a clear symbolic narrative of how the

feminine began to be oppressed. I like this narrative. The metaphorical value is huge and makes it easy to

understand why the serpent needs to be awakened. It’s a daring move to wake up the serpent within, an

inner process of rewilding and connecting to the more-than-human world.

The story also ties in with the narrative of the Garden of Eden in which the serpent tempted Eve to eat

from the apple of knowledge. The feminine fused with the serpent – what a dangerous alliance. God

responded to this horrible act by making man the ruler over woman and nature.

10

In a beehive, the females decide. The drones are killed when fall comes. It’s a democratic superorganism,

but the decision-makers are female.

NINA OSSAVY

Nina Ossavy is an award-winning performing

artist and writer. Her performances have been

shown in a number of theaters in Norway and

abroad. She has two children and lives in

Porsgrunn.

ninaossavy.wordpress.com

ossavynina@gmail.com

Photo by Hans Petter Eliassen

67


ALCHEMICAL VOICE

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