The Sidhe Festival of the Crow

It was a magical evening shared with magical souls across the realms, the planning for which started over a year ago.

Back early in 2014 we visited Long Meg Stone Circle where we journeyed to the Sidhe realm. We were told they were making preparations for one of their four main festivals of the year… the Festival of the Crow which was held on the second day after the second full moon after the Winter Solstice.

Our intention was to join in with the celebrations that year but we turned up a day late, thinking it would be OK. Of course it wasn’t… as just as in this reality, if you turn up a day late for a party don’t expect much to be going on!

So we had to wait a full year for the big day.

Our party preparations were as predicable as usual, with plenty of forward planning but a large chunk left to the last few hours meaning rushing around and wondering if we were going to pull it off. The worry was misplaced, as it went beautifully.

Jason dressed our sacred woodland close to our home in Anglezarke with bunting, in the company of Crow. With the circle set up and the campfire laid he awaited our arrival, smudge stick and our drum Moorland Whisper in hand.

With friends we settled into the evening to a story told by Jason, of a small boy named Tommy who learned to speak with the trees. As dusk drew in to meet us, and the sun was setting in the west, streaks of crimson and yellow above in the sky and below reflected on the lake.

Then as time went on the trees were silhouetted against the purple sky, stars twinkling in the distance ever reminding us of the vast enormity of the universe. We shared the evening drumming, singing, drinking and journeying around the camp fire.

Laying down on the woodland floor for the first time in many months, I felt at such peace, free from worldly cares and stresses. The fire crackling next to me, the sweet smell of the damp earth and leaf litter. As we journeyed to connect in with the faeries, Stag came and joined us, just briefly, in our reality to see what was going on. It always amazes me that animals are drawn to the sound of our drums, rather than frightened away. We are often serenaded with bird song, as we were on this night as Robin came to sing with us as we reinstated a stone circle.

Back at home we were welcomed by a roaring fire and a nourishing, heart warming stew. The crowning glory was the Festival of the Crow celebration cake, my first ever sugar craft cake creation…

… and I took my first Sugarcraft cake commission… a Unicorn 60th birthday cake for my friend, as a new idea was born… earth connected celebration cakes, or shamanicake!!

So, many thanks go out to Crow, the Sidhe and friends 🙂

About the Author

Nicola

Nicola Smalley is an edge-dweller, shamanic practitioner and writer living in Anglezarke on the edge of the West Pennine Moors in Lancashire, England.
Following a career in corporate sustainability, she now runs The Way of the Buzzard with her husband Jason. Her passion is anything connected to nature and the mysteries of the Earth.

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