Morning at Bealtaine, infused with tasks and rituals as the hands on the clock move towards midday on this last Thursday of September.
There was a full moon last night.
This was the true Mabon or Equinox moon, casting light through the trees that surround the cottage, illuminating the landscape, lighting the way.
The air remains still and warm, much the same as when I walked through the woodland gardens at twilight last night, making a video as I went.
The cottage is immersed in quiet contemplation as I write…yes, these walls are alive and incubate the vibrations of life within, so reflecting my mood.
No radio, no music, just the occasional brush of wings from birds flitting to and fro as they feed on the wing or in the trees that surround these thick stone walls.
There is a consciousness in all life, something my ancestors held to be true.
In recent years we have rediscovered that truth as Quantum Physics has advanced in understanding our relationship with our world and universe.
(Home-grown Micro-greens)
Noise interferes with our vibrations, often to the point of our feeling nauseous, confused, even panic-stricken.
Be still and know thyself…a saying so true!
Many of us seek endlessly for a meaning in life, a spiritual awakening.
A ‘Vibrational Shift’ occurs when our consciousness raises from lower to a higher vibration.
This usually happens during a spiritual awakening.
During these next few days as I close my Juice Fast, I feel the need to immerse myself in stillness.
Peace, solitude, quietness, stillness…all sadly lacking in our lives.
Making time to indulge in these is more important now than ever.
Blessings to you all
Colette
coletteoneill2010@hotmail.com
Thank you Fireheart Tavern.
Thank you Sumathy…did you receive what you asked for?
Thank you Simon.
Driving home through the landscape of this beautiful part of Ireland was a holiday in itself. The road from Clifden to Westport is the stuff made of legends, with mountains that rear up in front of one and water reflecting the ever-changing sky.
…flit into my head as I walk the woodland sanctuary, for it is here that I feel able to simply be, unaware of even myself!
I imagine this is the same for most people, for it is in this state of unawareness that the creative mind begins to flow evenly, unstoppable.
It was in walking among the trees yesterday that thoughts began to emerge about writing and where it all began for me in earnest.
It was of course here at Bealtaine Cottage where I found “a room of ones own,” as Virginia Woolf referred to the creative space.
However it’s not just about space, but time also.
My brother Hugh understands the importance of creative space.
Although Hugh had never seen any of the images unearthed by Professor Marija Gimbutas, as she carried out her archaeological work in Old Europe, he was moved by the forces around his little cottage to carve this strikingly similar Bird Goddess image into an Ash walking stick for me. 
Much of the creativity I am immersed in is governed and directed on a deeply magical level by Mother Earth too.
I use the word “magical,” for what I cannot rationally explain.
The evening has drawn in without my noticing, a sure sign of Autumn quickening towards Samhain.
I have walked the woodland gardens this evening and made a video.
It’s so much easier to upload videos with my new laptop now that both phone and laptop are compatible.
I have missed the regular writing I do here on the website and was pondering on what to do in order to make the time for this?
This website was my very first and enduring foray into the world outside of Bealtaine Cottage.
I have decided to make this website a priority above FaceBook and Twitter…those who want to will find and subscribe here.
I may even get back to a daily journal of sorts…we shall see!
There are stories to be told and pictures to share…
For all of my life before I have dieted, lost weight and then, in the space of a month or two, put it all back on again!
This time, after losing a massive amount of weight over the course of 100 days, something amazing has happened…I have not gained a single pound back over the past 52 days of eating!
And a reminder of my weight problem and ensuing health problems from last year…
Now that I’m here, I’m never going back!
The year is tipping towards an end as Samhain marks the beginning of the new year… 
There has been much change here at Bealtaine Cottage as the canopy of trees has merged to form what is now truly a woodland.
This evolution has happened at just the right moment in time as we have witnessed a terrifyingly hot summer and drought…the woodland gardens have come through the worst unscathed…no loss on anything!
Beauty now lies between the stones of the great circle. I have flowers to plant here and many, many happy memories of this visiting soul who decided to spend time with us here at Bealtaine.
And so the wheel turns…
Much of my holiday was spent walking, something I love about being in the city!
Rain had fallen in my absence and the Spring Well was refreshed enough to send water to the cottage down the hill…the tank in the loft is now full and filling!
I expected to see much more leaf drop, but as you can see for yourself here in these photos, the trees have come through unscathed!
The forecast for Autumn seems very much as it should be and may prove to be quite a spectacular colour show!
This website is now approaching two million views…wonderful to imagine all those who have stopped by and perhaps taken a little inspiration into their lives, shaking off the old paradigm of what a garden should be…
The gardens at Bealtaine are all dedicated to the Great Mother and thus are charged with her energy.
The energy of earth is healing, both of herself and all her life upon.
As I walked with Jack around the cottage I was stopped in my tracks by this image…that of a woodland cottage, for this year has seen the manifestation of my heart’s desire from fourteen years ago, that of a cottage in the woods.
Butterflies were out in force today, in time for the sweet flowers of the Buddleia!
I uploaded a video shot this morning showing some of the Butterflies feasting on the flowers!
I want to say a special “Thanks and Blessings,” to all of you who sent condolences for Beauty…such kindness and compassion, Bless you XXX
There is the beautiful month of Lughnasadh to enjoy and appreciate the changes as summer merges into Autumn.
This continual onslaught of extreme weather is fast establishing itself as the new normal!
From the normally mild summers of Ireland and the UK, numerous locations in the Northern Hemisphere have witnessed their hottest weather ever recorded over the past two weeks!
Only three months ago the country ground to a halt with severe snow storms and massive fall of snow in 48 hours!
Now we are experiencing a heatwave and severe drought which we haven’t had since 1976!
There was a hurricane here in Ireland last year and a massive six hour thunderstorm that did incredible damage.
The Irish Meteorological service, Met Éireann says there will be ‘practically nothing’ in terms of rainfall for the next ten days!
And so it continues unabated!
There has been less than 20mm of rain since May 1st with twelve days of sweltering heat and temps approaching 32c (90F) with no end in sight.
This is the third major record breaking weather story in just nine months – from autumn hurricanes to winter snow storms and now a summer drought!
Have you noticed the effect of this heatwave and drought here at Bealtaine Cottage? Many of you are familiar with the Bealtaine Project motto:
There has been some leaf drop, but overall the land is in good condition and is surviving the extreme conditions well!
As I write this I am aware of extreme rainfall and flooding in Japan.
It appears that the entire world is experiencing extreme weather.
However, what is happening is a taste of what lies ahead, for whatever we do there are consequences.
Did we not all learn that simple rule as children?
If we fail to look after, respect and maintain our home, then it will fall down around us. 
The earth is our home.
We have treated Mother Earth with disdainful arrogance!
I have completed a 100 Day Juice Fast as a way of restoring health and am now following this lifestyle… It is working very well so far, as I feel content and balanced with all the benefits I felt on the Juice Fast!
I eat all this in one meal with 2 toasted wholemeal pitta breads with masses of salad including lettuce and chopped herbs.
I am also continuing to juice each day…usually in the morning. This much spinach to 3 green apples and half a lemon.
Watermelon is my preferred snack in this hot weather!
Yummy and heart healthy!
I have a further 18lbs to lose in order to reach the OUTER limits of the healthy BMI chart! The wonderful thing is…this does not feel like a diet and really is a lifestyle.