Storm and Shadow chat

Storm Valkyrie: The full moon last week was called the Worm Moon because it's a March full moon. It's named thus because of the earth worms freely moving in wetter soil during more rainy weather and temperatures warmer and lighter, attracting more worms.

Shadow Girl: I often thought the March full moon was a "wyrm moon" instead of a worm moon. Wyrm and worm are the same sounding. Both means crawling and in the ground. A wyrm is Old English and describes a serpent looking dragon. 

Storm Valkyrie: So you mean March is a dragon moon. I do like the sound of that but it's fantasy.

Shadow Girl: Spiritually, yes. Especially when the March full moon is also a blood moon.

Storm Valkyrie: There's Venus and Saturn in the sky closely viewed together, with House of Pisces nearby. The grandfather, the princess and sea. We've also got the Greek myth of Aphrodite and her son Eros transforming into fish to escape from the monster Typhon. Nearby is Pegasus, the winged horse who represents freedom. All of that can be viewed through a telescope.

Shadow Girl: It doesn't reflect what's going on here on the ground. Earthworms, snakes and dragons don't care about the cosmos. They're not always looking upwards and wondering about all the stars.

Storm Valkyrie: All of it affects us in some way or other. Worms are a sign of spring and snakes are symbolic of transformation. The seasons change. Winter makes way for spring and so on. 

Shadow Girl: There is also dark and light. 

Storm Valkyrie: Night and day. The inner and outer. Subconsciousness and awake. The moon is like that. There is a hidden side we never ever see. The dark side of the moon is like the deep unknown.

Shadow Girl: You mentioned spring, the time when Persephone returns to the ground from the Underworld. 

Storm Valkyrie: The goddess Persephone is both light and dark, she has the side which is springtime, flowers and warmth on the earth when she arrives to be with her mother. The other side of Persephone is a queen of the dead, living in the Underworld. A bit like goddess Hel, ruler of the Norse underworld and the dead. Hel is portrayed as half and half. Modern interpretations have her appearing more hideous than the way ancients perceived her. She used to look half light and half shadow. Now she's half beautiful and half corpse. 

Shadow Girl: Hel doesn't have a husband that is ruler of the Underworld. She wasn't kidnapped and taken there. 

Storm Valkyrie: No but her father was trickster god Loki and Hel was given the dominion of ruling the dead. Much of northern myths and legends was written down during the Middle Ages by monks. We've lost so much of Norse mythological stories because it was shared orally. Besides that we have the season of Ostara coming up, another aspect of the spring goddess. 

Storm Valkyrie and Shadow Girl          

Protection

 The Algiz is a rune for protection against negativity. It can block anything nasty and bad, including harmful energy, evil spirits, danger and curses. To use this rune, it's believed drawing the symbol on the inside of your right wrist. This rune symbolises the elk, and represents the letter Z. It's element is Air and so this means the rune can look like antlers or a branch of a tree. Standing upright, it's a guardian and powerful protector. Reversed though, upside down, it's about war, unprotection and feeling helpless. 

During the end of the month, with the early flowers growing for spring, snowdrops, daffodils, bringing awakened animals out from hibernation, with the feeling of relief and hope. All this was dashed once the  Hagalaz rune appeared. This rune means hail, chaos and destruction, like a violent storm that appears all of a sudden. It's moment is considered necessary to make way for something else. It also is seen as the Jungian shadow, the cold, ice and water, number 9 and goddess Hel. It could be looked upon as transformation. A cleansing and a cycle of turmoil leading to rebirth and transformation of changes. 

While events are uncontrollable, we can reflect on our inner selves, learn how to be calm and use patience to wait for the shift. Use the Algiz rune during this time, the highest rune of protection and a sanctuary, becoming an umbrella for you. Algiz has strong links with the earth and spend time focusing on your surroundings, become one with the ground and open yourself to wildlife. Use ny positive inspiration and creativity to express yourself. Learn to love yourself and feel empathy towards others including animals and even the tiniest creatures. 

(Above is the bind rune of Algiz and Dagaz).

Storm Valkyrie  

Magic puzzle for you

Not a story but a puzzle. Can you guess what is it? On the night hills a strong hunter makes his way through the forest. Nearby is a farm and he doesn't want danger coming to the livestock. He waits for predators, and then it comes. A large wolf lingers in the distance watching, but it's aware of the hunter and keeps away. Hunter is very interested in courting one of the beautiful maidens that live close by in the cottage but they always manage to keep away, because they're shy of him. He waits for them in the hope to marry one of them. 

Any guesses? Here's more then. In the farmyard sits an inventor, working on wooden wheels and metal chariots. He keeps animals such as a mother goat, who provides healthy nutritious milk. Also there is a great bull with big horns and a raging temper. That bull would be big enough to keep the wolf away, but the hunter must protect everyone. Further off in the woods is a fox with a bright red coat with a shimmering white tail. It's tail brings frost and the northern lights including a large shining crystal snowflake.

Still not guessed it? There are twin brothers, handsome and strong, that are sons of a swan maiden. Their mother is a type of Valkyrie or magical lady with wings. The boys are adventurous, funny, connected to sailing and voyages. One of their sisters is the most beautiful woman in the world and a man loved her so much that it caused much disaster. Close by is the king, a warrior and a princess in a castle, Not far away is an elderly man, either a wizard or a farmer. 

This is not a story. Let's summarise it. In the upper realm, we've got the muscular and skilled hunter making his usual appearance. Across in the field is an inventor with a nanny goat and a strong powerful bull, hiding the pretty girls from the gaze of the hunter. Lurking nearby in the woods is a large wolf, and not far away is the fox with a shining white tail next to a bright crystal snowflake. We have also twin brothers on their expedition. But closer is the king, with the warrior and a princess, far off is the grandfather.

You may ask, but what, who are where are they all? The answer is: stars.

First of all the skilled hunter is Orion. The inventor is Auriga who made the four-horse chariot. The nanny goat is Capella who flashes colour. The powerful bull is Taurus. The pretty girls are the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. In mythology, they used to hide from Orion. The large wolf is constellation Canis Major and the star Sirius. The fox is Canis Minor and the crystal snowflake is Polaris the North Star. The twin brothers are Gemini and their mother is Leda. Closer to us on the earth is the king, who is Jupiter. The warrior is Mars. The princess is Venus. The castle where they live is the solar system. The grandfather is Saturn. Who is the most beautiful woman, sister of the twin boys? Helen of Troy, the sister of Gemini twins or the Dioscuri brothers. 

Did you find my fairy tale version of the stars cool? This is how it is right now in the northern hemisphere sky.

Storm Valkyrie 

A brief message

 This is a short and cheerful Happy Valentines' Day post. 

May all your wishes and hearts desires come true.

Storm Valkyrie ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Dark night of the soul

Boudica by Matintheworld (delcarmat) on Redbubble

It's been 20 years from learning and practicing in the early stages to get where I am now, a priestess and psychic medium. I've experienced a number of shocking things at the start, all of which I've never talked about before. I will start making posts now and then about my spiritual journey.

First of all I used to admire the historical figure Queen Boudica. Ever since I first read about her in a children's magazine when I was only 10 years old, I was fascinated. She was a leader of the ancient Celtic Iceni tribe who raised an army composed of ancient British tribes, then fought against Romans who invaded Britain. She lost and then died tragically, and her children were also killed. Many years later I found out more details that the kids magazine didn't mention. Boudica was flogged and her daughters were raped. Her daughters were poisoned and then the queen took her own life out of grief. I grieved for this mighty queen. I loved her!

Then I became sensitive and developed psychic abilities. I connected to my deceased father and other loved ones. I helped people connect with their loved ones. I even picked up things about people I never knew until much later on. Then I encountered the spirit of Queen Boudica herself. 

Please don't be mad or angry with me. I will share what happened, and what did happen was quite upsetting. She hated me, and this former queen of the British tribe Iceni would scowl at me, belittle me, called me insults, put me down, make me feel ashamed even. A ghost of a dead person managed to dwindle me to someone depressed as though I were being bullied at school. After weeks of the occasional channelling/reading with this entity, I saw her as this large red haired woman who had chiselled points for teeth and wore matted furs with rough leather. I was actually scared of her. 

My spirit guides sent her away. Ever since then I've stopped liking this character from history. I have since learned more from written sources, that she was antagonist, who slaughtered thousands of innocent people including men, women and children. She killed her own children. Did I really encounter the spirit of this Iceni queen? I don't know but I've stopped admiring her completely and now realise she was a monster when she was alive.  

More of my "Dark night of the soul" will be posted in future. 

Storm Valkyrie 

Finding love

 

This month is a time of changing from Winter to Spring, as it's a period in between seasons. There are flowers like snowdrops appearing. It's getting lighter. It doesn't feel as grim because there's new warmth on the horizon and within because it's when winter softens and ice begins to melt. 

At the start is Venus in Pisces. Deeply this is often the focus. People can feel a sense of cosiness and pick up on the intimate mind, inner self, focusing on ones own dreams and aspirations, learning to heal. There is the idea of self-love and how this makes a person better understand themselves. It's suggested rose quartz crystals can help with finding love and romance. 

To attract ones desires, learn self love. There are ways of this, including a bath, using rose petals and scented pink and flowery soap and bath fizz. Some could light candles or use a different lighting, small and battery operated fake candles. A colour changing LED light, fairy lights or crystal light battery operated and not near water. Also wear red and pink and rose scented perfume. Rosy incense and hearts, the shape associated with goddesses Freyja and Venus. 

Make circles of rose petals, add the name of your hearts desire on paper and place under your pillow, write on a bay leaf that you are loved and this shows the universe how you value self love. You're the Earth's creation. Wrap up the bay leaf and burn carefully. 

For early edible tasty winter leaves, get chickweed, stinging nettles and dandelion. Romantic herbs like basil and rosemary, appear like indoors grown more than outdoors in February. Add them to soup and other dishes like salads, stew or rice. 

Storm Valkyrie     

A winter illness chat

 

Someone close in my friendship circle, who contributes to an affiliate and friend's blog, has been suffering a very nasty load of of pain this January. She has always suffered colds and flus in the past until the past six years she stopped getting it after regularly taking medicines and herbs containing Vitamin C and Zinc. This time round her immune system was down. She's been exposed to a germ that was mild in other people who had  the cold. But with her she became extremely ill, sneezing constantly, and having painful sneezing too. Now she can't walk properly because of this cold. It's got to her, she gets agonising pain and struggles to walk.

Shadow Girl: Her blog doesn't mention being unwell.

Storm Valkyrie: She's been quiet on there. To me it could be Chikungunya, or "Bone Flu". It's where the usually common cold virus attacks the nervous system and gets into the bones. It could also be viral arthritis caused by having a bad cold and low immunity. The best thing to do is take plenty of rest, have a good night sleep, don't stay awake too long, warmth, lots of fluids and keep taking vitamin rich foods. Teas are a good medicine, such as mentholated peppermint, or warm spicy ginger, turmeric, chamomile and elderberry. Also drink and eat with lemon, honey, liquorice, thyme, sage and St John's Wort. 

Shadow Girl: It's been a full moon earlier this month. She wasn't born in January or she would be considered an "ice wolf" and those are very immune to the winter.

Storm Valkyrie: Her illness can be treated. For anyone else with this cold virus, some info for you. Doing an online for herbal medicines result in info about New World plants mentioned. Bare that in mind, because most of these new plants can grow in the Old World as they were introduced. The new world herbs an fruit include eggplants (called Avocado in Europe), cactus pear, papaya, pineapple, sassafras, vanilla, paprika, peppercorn, dill, purple coneflower, goldenrod, sweetgrass, milkweed, yarrow, beebalm and anise hyssop. Anyway it's always a good idea to visit the doctor. 

Shadow Girl: It's better to buy them in shops instead of planting them in your backyard due to certain rules. I once planted an oak tree in my back yard and the roots caused problems with the foundation! 

Storm Valkyrie: Plants from the New World can be invasive such as fairy fern, water primrose, common milkweed, floating pennywort, Natall's waterweed, Canadian mannagrass and garlic mustard.

Shadow Girl: Nothing can beat a nice lemon tea with ginger biscuits! 

Storm Valkyrie: Yes that can help feeling warm and better. Healing sent to our friend. Get well soon everyone feeling sick this January.

Storm Valkyrie and Shadow Girl

He was like a Fossegrim

( Based on a true encounter with a man)

 It's not something that happens but it does. A woman finds a man attractive and there is subtle looking, giggling, shyness and nerves. Daydreams centred on that man. Wondering about the outcome of approaching him. Once done, a burst of fear and then anxiety with excitement sends her fleeing. It happens sometimes, but it gets harder than better. She just can't find it within herself to talk to him. Even saying "hello" takes courage she realises she doesn't have. But she goes home and thinks of him, swooning over him and daydreams again. "I will ask him, I will talk to him," she reminds herself.

As days turn into weeks, she still doesn't have it in her to go near him. The moment he looks at her, she runs off like a silly coward. Her thoughts go blank, her legs turn to jelly. Now she's too scared of being close to him. But she still wants him, that handsome strong fellow who can do his job well. She's a customer and he's staff. This is how she discovered his name. But after a few attempts for her caring mother to communicate with him, something goes wrong. Security is called and both women are warned to stop harassing the dude.

The lovestruck girl is in tears, comforted by her mum. "I didn't do anything wrong." "No you didn't, sweetheart." "Why did he call security on me?" "I'm not sure why."

Let us look at what she did, what could've caused him to feel harassed. It started with his long lingering looks and then him following her around, looking at her, watching her every move, appearing to be curious about her and then giving her attention. No words were said. And then her mum observed it, and felt like helping by telling the man "she likes you." He reacted with "Okay." He always looked at her, and he even looked at her mum that way too. Yes he did!

That was like a green light. So she passed him a written message with her number on it. She got a call from the guy's own manager who told her she was banned from ever going in the store. She was heartbroken. Tuning in, I learned that the man and his friends nicknamed the mother and daughter "sirens", "nymphs", "Lilith and Aphrodite". None of that made sense, because they didn't do anything to get given nicknames like that. 

Later I learned that both mother and daughter were simply banned until that man doesn't work there anymore. The manager explained in a recent meeting that mother and daughter obviously didn't mean him any distress and are nice and innocently trying to talk to this man. What was said wasn't said though. I found out through communicating with my guides that this man is quite dangerous towards women and everything made sense. Thinking on it now made mother/daughter remember the details of how this man seemed more creepy and stalkerish towards them in the store. The manager was simply protecting the women from this man working in their store. 

Some things have a lot more meanings.

Storm Valkyrie

January 2026 traits

January is a long and cold month with bleak looking landscapes of bare trees, mud and grey foggy fields. Foliage, such as grass seems grey with the soggy dead blackened old rubbish of whatever wind blew. Very dead leaves that fell off trees long ago are built up and often in ditches, providing warm natural blankets to small hibernating creatures living underground or in hollows. 

The sky is often grey and cloudy overcast that feels heavy and threatens thunderous blizzards and showers. Puffy white clouds are pregnant of snow. Birds are active including swans, geese, redwings, ducks, waxwings, snow bunting, robins and blackbirds, plus so many more. Squirrels are mostly at play in winter, as it's their mating season. Foxes are also active mostly at night. We also will find deer, badgers, mice, voles, otters, seals, stoats and weasels. Up in woodlands and forests in the north and highlands are wildcats out and about, who are usually solitary animals but in winter they become social. In some areas near lodges and wildlife sanctuaries, such as Reading and in Shropshire, do expect to hear wolves howling. In the Forest of Dean, wild boars gather. 

Jupiter will be the biggest and brightest on the 10th January with opposition, which means Earth will be directly between Jupiter and the Sun. We'll also expect to see the Winter Triangle, the bright stars in the corners will be Sirius in Canis Major, Betelgeuse in Orion and Procyon in Canis Minor. There will be a visible bunch of stars called the Beehive Cluster in January.

Storm Valkyrie