Magic skies

 The year 2024 has been full of interesting natural phenomena and rare events. There was the solar eclipse in April, visible to many countries around the world. There is the Aurora Borealis visible over much of the United Kingdom in this May. This coincides with the celebrations of Spring, and also the season of Beltane and/or Walpurgis Night. We expect more too.

There are going to be visible displays of the Eta Aquariids, noctilucent clouds, Perseid, Orionids, the visiting Seven Sisters or Pleiades, Hessdalen lights, Longdendale lights, Naga Fireballs, a Supermoon and the Geminids meteor shower. They can be observed annually and sometimes these are understood to happen that they're predicted such as the moon and eclipses. Some of them are still a mystery to science even though they're given a decent rational explanation. Attributed to folklore and the paranormal, it's always going to be a wonderful thing to look at. 

Storm Valkyrie  

   

Hawthorn, May flower

 

Hawthorn is also called the May Flower. It's regarded as the birth flower of May born children, along with Lily of the Valley, of which I decided are two very special flowers for May. While Lily of the Valley is often symbolised with innocence, purity, gentleness and even sadness, it's tougher counterpart is the hawthorn, steeped in ancient magic and folklore, with Pagan celebrations of Beltane using hawthorn flowers. According to early Celtic traditions, hawthorns can be used to protect against spirits, help longevity and are used as love herbs. Hawthorn sticks were used by witches to make wands. 

Hawthorn trees are also called Fairy Trees, as these trees are sacred and magical. Leaves are believed to taste like bread and cheese, or "Bara caws" as this is Welsh folklore. The Scottish poet named Thomas the Rhymer said he had encountered the Fairy Queen under a hawthorn tree, where a cuckoo was singing, so he followed and entered another world, briefly visiting a mysterious place, until he returned and was shocked to find out several years had passed!

Hawthorn was used as a natural healing medicine for thousands of years. The ancient Romans used hawthorn to treat heart conditions and inflammations. Hawthorn has been used for blood circulation and relieve pain, stress and help headaches. Hawthorn is edible and made in cooking to create jams and teas. Hawthorn isn't poisonous to dogs and cats either.   

Storm Valkyrie