The Magical World of Tylluan Penry

As I am so fond of saying, life with Mr Penry is never dull. He just doesn't see the world through the same spectacles as the rest of us. In return I never, ever, take him shopping for clothes with me. He doesn't even go shopping for clothes for himself... I have to buy them, take them home and then beg him to try them on.

So you could say that when it comes to buying a birthday present, he doesn't really know all that much about my tastes in material goods. He knows about my taste in poetry, films, music and probably food. He is not entirely sure about the rest of it. He knows I like books, of course, but leaves it up to me to buy the ones I want. He would not have a clue about buying me clothes, shoes or underwear, and I would never expect it of him.

He does, however, like buying presents. I regard this with a certain amount of trepidation, since what constitutes a brilliant present in his eyes might be less than brilliant in mine. However, I try to be understanding in this - it is, after all, the thought that counts.

Fast forward to yesterday, when Mr Penry wandered off, a big smile on his face, announcing he had found what he wanted to buy me for my birthday. I cajoled, I wheedled (and I'm a good wheedler ) but no, he wasn't going to tell. It was, he said mysteriously, a suprise.

I began to get alarmed when I saw him staggering back through our gate, a few hours later. Had he been hurt by a wandering coal truck or something?

No. It was my present. Words failed me. (And that doesn't happen very often, I can tell you!) Here it is:

Yes, folks, a genuined ball and chain. 'You don't see too many of those,' he grinned. Bless him, he was so pleased with himself, I didn't have the heart to say anything.

Do you think he's trying to tell me something?

No, this is not an attempt to boost my stats by having a suggestive title for this post. Nor is it a reference to some great Witch Party I'm going to attend.

No... this is a piece of history. Years ago, people believed that Witch Balls helped avert curses and the 'evil eye.' It's difficult to get a sense of scale with these photos, but these glass balls easily average nine inches in diameter. They remind me of gigantic Christmas decorations.

Mr Penry and I have collected them for years. And the red Witches Ball is particular rare - the only one we've ever seen!

Each is easily c.1850 or before. A little glimpse of witchy history!

I was offline yesterday and part of the day before because of computer problems... so I caught up with sorting out some of my photographs. I've mentioned before that Mr Penry makes some great magic wands and thought that maybe you would like to see a few...

Aren't they lovely?

Within the last two minutes I have just seen a UFO that appears to be flying over the mountains near here. It was pure white and flying at quite a speed, which we could just because also in the sky was a plane and it's speed was nowhere near the speed of this white light.

The sky was clear but dark and visibility was good. Wish I'd had my camera with me, but by the time I got back into the house it had gone.

Whether it had little green men in it of course I can't say - only that it really was an unidentified flying object. I shall do my best to see what it might have been over the coming days.

Phew!!

UPDATE:
I've just checked out the weather satellites on NASA's site and whatever I saw tonight, it wasn't that....

I'm off to the Artemis Gathering in the north Cotswolds on the Weekend of August 8th and will be doing two talks there, one on Saturday, one on Sunday. It should be fun and I'm looking forward to it. I just hope the weather stays fine!

But what to talk about this time? No idea at the moment, so shall go and look at my notes and magical journal to see if anything takes my fancy. Oh - and I'll have to do some pictures for the raffle, too!

Over on the Raving Loon's blog last night, Martin did an interesting post about the power (or otherwise) of mantras to raise one's self esteem.

Basically some research had come up with the opinion that such statements can do more harm than good in some individuals. And this set me thinking - why do they work for some and not for others?

Magically speaking, in order for any thought to take form, certain things need to be in place. One of them is a lack of outside distractions. Another is confidence that you can actually do it.

This latter point is very important. I call it the 'Toothpaste Factor.' When I go to clean what remain of my teeth in the morning, I am confidence that I can do it, that my toothbrush will not snap, that there is enough toothpaste and basically that I am up to the job of brushing my own gnashers. In other words, I don't give it a second thought. I say to myself 'Time to clean the old teeth' and I go and do it.

It's the same with repeating mantras. If you can say to yourself 'Today I am going to be slimmer/more interesting/sexy/ or whatever' without any doubt in your mind that this is possible then the chances are that you will succeed.

Oh, and if you want to visit Martin's blog (he's actually a Featured Blog on the BCUK page today), here's a link to the relevant post:
http://sevenminutestomidnight.blog.co.uk/2009/07/04/self-esteem-6447095/

It all began with a knife. Or rather, a missing knife. Which I insisted must be found. I'm not normally all that stroppy, but this was part of a set that stands in a wooden block in my kitchen.
'Leave it,' said Mr Penry. 'It'll turn up.'

Well, I searched everywhere I could think of. I found all sorts of things I had forgotten about, together with evidence of my dire housekeeping abilities (crusts under the kitchen unit, an empty tea light wedged behind the fridge) and still there was no sign of it.

And I went on and on. In the end, Mr Penry said he would search through the bin bags. Two of them. Hot and ripe in the summer sunshine.

Oh, it was awful. But he ploughed on, refused all help, and did his best not to retch or vomit. And still.... nothing.

We decided to leave it to the House Brownie who always seems to find the things I've we've lost. But it was still niggling away at me. Every time I looked at my depleted knife block, I worried about it. How was it getting on, I wondered? Was it lonely? Frightened?

And then I was searching for something else I'd lost in the drawer of my dresser and there it was. Just sitting there. I can't remember putting it there, but it was probably me.

I felt really, really awful. Shamefaced, I went and told my beloved I'd found it, half expecting him to be at least a bit miffed after me getting him to go all through the bin bags.

But instead all he did was nod, shrug and say 'Good job it's turned up then.'

I swear, that man really is a saint.

No, not the friends we make in school. What I mean is the 'imaginary' friends, the ones that nobody else can see. Of course, they seem real to us when we are children, and some are more friendly than others.

One thing that surprises me when I start talking about things like this is how many people seem to share experiences. For example, I've come across many people who as children, were often 'followed' either by a creature (dog, horse, psychedelic rabbit etc) or fairies.

As we grow older, we tend to forget these things or 'grow out of them' but one thing's for sure, we hardly ever forget them. Sometimes people report still being 'followed' by certain animals even when they're well into adulthood.

I had an imaginary friend, a young boy who seemed as real to me as my other friends around the neighbourhood. He didn't stay around all that long, but he was there for a while. And I also seemed to be followed by birds which is interesting as I've never really considered myself a 'bird' person (apart from my name, obviously )

So I'm curious - does anyone here have a similar tale to tell, either about themselves or someone they know? I'd love to hear it!