Article

Long before organised religion, before churches, temples, or written scripture, people sat beside fires beneath open skies and listened to the rhythms of the natural world. The movement of animals, the turning of the seasons, dreams, storms, illness, and intuition were all understood as part of a living conversation between humanity and spirit. Within many ancient cultures, the role of the shaman emerged from this relationship. Shamanism is often described as one of the worl

Shamanism and animism are closely connected, but they are not the same thing. Animism is the ancient understanding that the world is alive with spirit - that animals, trees, rivers, mountains, stones, ancestors and places all carry presence, consciousness or sacred energy. Shamanism is the practice of working with that unseen world. In many traditional cultures, the shaman acts as a bridge between the human and spirit realms, entering altered states through ritual, rhythm, t

The small stones you pass along a beach, the river-smoothed fragments you rest against by a flowing stream, the hills you look toward, or the vast mountain ranges stretching beyond the horizon—they carry a quiet, enduring wisdom. Towering peaks rising beyond them hold their own silent majesty, a reminder of scale and perspective. You may not notice it at first. But being among these formations, feeling their presence beneath your hands or feet, makes it easier to breathe, to

As April draws to a close, Samhain marks a quiet turning point in the Southern Hemisphere. Observed on 30 April, it is a time traditionally associated with honouring the dead, acknowledging ancestry, and recognising the thinning of the veil between worlds. While often linked with Northern Hemisphere autumn festivals, Samhain in Aotearoa arrives as the land deepens into its own seasonal shift. The days shorten, the air cools, and there is a natural drawing inward. It is with

In the quiet margins of woodland and hedgerow, where light softens and the air feels gently altered, the elder tree stands as both sentinel and doorway. Long regarded as a plant of mystery, elder has occupied a place in myth that is as potent as its role in traditional herbalism. Its dark, glistening berries carry not only nourishment and medicine, but also the weight of story, symbol and unseen realms. Across European folklore, elder is known as a tree of thresholds. It is

Unicorn Day - 9 April This month explores a range of mythical creatures, but the unicorn is worth pausing on. Unicorn Day on 9 April gives a good reason to single it out and look a little more closely at what it has meant over time. In early stories, the unicorn was not soft or decorative. It appears in ancient writings and medieval bestiaries as a strong, elusive animal, often described as horse-like or deer-like, with a single horn on its forehead. This horn, known as the

When I began doing a little research on mythical creatures, I was amazed at just how many have been spoken about across cultures and generations. Many of us have heard of unicorns, mermaids and mermen, Bigfoot, fairies, gnomes, leprechauns, the Loch Ness Monster, dragons, the phoenix, vampires, werewolves, and so many more. But the stories that stay with me most are the ones I grew up hearing. My mother often told a story from her own childhood. My Irish grandfather had a la

An interview-inspired feature with Eunice Stott, Specialist and Teacher of Psychic Arts NZ School of Psychic Arts (SoPA) What if the creatures we’ve been taught to call “mythical” were never myths at all - only misunderstood? Unicorns. Dragons. Pegasus. Fairies. Angels. Giants. Across cultures and centuries, they appear again and again - woven into stories, scriptures, and folklore. But for Eunice Stott, specialist in all things mystical, these beings are not relics of imagin

For thousands of years, earth-honouring cultures have followed the turning of the seasons through what is known as the Wheel of the Year , eight sacred festivals that reflect the dance between light and darkness, growth and rest, life and renewal. This way of marking the seasons is often described as Living the Wheel . Below is a guide to the Wheel of the Year as it unfolds in the Southern Hemisphere. Following these seasonal turning points allows us to pause and appreci

Plant of the Sun. Of magic and fire. Working with confidence, courage, creativity, positive self-worth, and the valuing of self. A plant whose flowers go from yellow to turning miraculously red when soaked. Literally a sunshine plant , St John’s wort brings smiles where there were none, eases burns and sunburn, and releases the fiery pain that can be held in the nervous system.Some say Joan had more to do with fire than John ever did, and call the plant St Joan’s wort. A

Welcome to March, and we are heading into the Autum Equinox, which is on March 21st, where the balance of the Light / Dark are equal. Autumn focuses on gratitude for the harvest and releasing what is no longer serving you. There is a Wheel of the Year, and for those who may not be familiar with it - even I wasn’t fully aware of all its layers - this article focuses on the Southern Hemisphere, specifically the Winter and Summer Solstices, and the Spring and Autumn Equinox

For one moment, instead of looking at a calendar to check the date for the next seasonal festival or solstice, meditate and go within. Can you “hear” guidance? Do you have a “knowing” of what is being asked of you in relation to the Earth and Mother Nature? If your answer is yes, you are being called to assist the Earth Mother. Your necessary role in creating or participating in seasonal festivals, equinoxes and solstices is crucial because your life-force enhances the in

When I look at the plants and what energies they indicate for our year ahead, they show a lot of letting go, particularly of all types of resistance. I will go into more detail below. The wild privet plant has much wisdom and healing around release and embracing love. The medicine of PRIVET is good to understand right now! The plant is very much supportive of this year’s energy cycle, our learning and healing for us as human beings. The teachings and energy of wild Priv

Many will celebrate Valentines Day on February 14th in some way shape or form. Love is set to take on new meaning in 2026, with the stars pointing toward deeper emotional honesty, stronger connections, and relationships that are built to last. Astrologers suggest this year will be less about fleeting romance and more about transformation — healing old patterns, opening up to vulnerability, and redefining what partnership really means. Whether you’re single, dating, or in

Archangels connected to your astrological birth sign influence and support you throughout each solar year through the movement and positions of the sun, moon, planets and stars. Magical Bach Flower Essences balance, unblock and harmonise the subtle, fine energy systems of your body-mind-spirit. With the help of your astrological Archangel, the magical healing of Bach Flowers and the influence of the Chinese Fire Horse, you can look forward to using the energy of courage

Thank you — a special message for the New Year and New Beginnings. It is time to let go of the past — release and let go of all the things that are no longer serving you. Many are experiencing emotions which fluctuate between despair, sadness, despondency, fear, unhappiness, feeling alone, and unloved. These emotions are surfacing to be released. To move forward into the New Year — New Beginnings — it is important to let go of old emotions and feelings. They are no longer

Ngaio is a plant, a small tree that grows by the ocean in New Zealand Aotearoa . The tree began flowering in many parts of the country a couple of months ago. She comes to life during the summer months. Ngaio is very connected with the Goddesses of the ocean, having a deep love for the sea and most often growing in coastal areas.Ngaio is also deeply connected to the Bird Goddesses (manu wahine atua) and all that they symbolise, remind us of, and how they instruct us to live a

Whilst the soul and higher self are not the same, they are distinct and interconnected parts of you. Your Soul is the cumulative record of your existence, encompassing all the experiences and lessons learned across lifetimes. Your Higher Self is the guiding consciousness that holds your ultimate potential, providing a larger perspective and wisdom beyond daily life. Your Higher Self at the behest of your Soul communicates guidance to you. These messages are designed to pro

The ancients of Heliopolis – the fabled City of the Sun – understood the healing power of light long before modern science named photons or spoke of electromagnetic fields. In their radiant temples, sunlight was refracted into the colours of the rainbow, each hue carefully applied to soothe the sick, uplift the weary, and restore harmony to the body and soul. Though centuries have passed since those golden experiments in light therapy, their wisdom endures. Light, in all its

On November 23, people around the world will celebrate Wolfenoot, a day that honours both the spirit of the wolf and the simple power of kindness. It is a time to show compassion for animals, especially dogs, who carry the loyalty and lineage of their wild ancestors. Wolfenoot is an annual “Day’ which you may not have heard of yet. It was created by a seven-year-old boy with a big imagination and an even bigger heart for animals. With the help of his mum, Jax Goss , his idea