A piece of string?
A royal ribbon?
A hair from the tail
of a horse of Annwn?
A chord from a guitar
or an Annuvian harp?
The slipstream of a comet
or the corpse of a fallen star?
An endless drinking horn?
The horned helmet
of the Bull of Battle?
The horns of the Devil?
Something more sinister?
Yes – indeed – she holds silence.
And, in the silence, she holds a heart –
the heart of the King of Annwn.
I am announcing my decision to re-open my Patreon HERE. I’ve been on and off Patreon a couple of times, partly due to changes in direction and partly due to burnout from struggles with keeping to self-imposed publishing schedules. However, when I have used it, it has worked, I’ve been deeply grateful for patron support and I do believe in patronage as a viable means of support for creatives. This time, I have chosen offerings that are more sustainable.
This is the introduction to my new account along with my tier-based offerings.
Hello and welcome to my Patreon. My name is Lorna Smithers and I am a shamanic practitioner and author based in Penwortham, Lancashire, UK. I offer shamanic services through the Sanctuary of Vindos and write articles on shamanism and the land and lore of Britain. I have a deep passion for helping others to connect with the gods and spirits of this magical landscape and the Otherworld (which was known as Annwn in medieval Wales). I do this in service to Vindos, my patron god, who is a ruler of the Otherworld and a guide of souls.
Here, I’m seeking support for the articles, poems and stories that appear on my website. These include posts about British gods and spirits, animals, trees and plants, and ancestors, and pieces on shamanic practice that can help you develop your relationship with these beings. I also share occasional posts about my spiritual path and practices as a Hermit of the Annwn.
By supporting me you will be helping me to live in alignment with my soul’s calling. You will also receive extras such as a monthly hermit’s prayer, monthly excerpts from my journey book and access to my monthly shamanic circle along with discounts on shamanic guidance and healing.
I look forward to continuing this time-honoured tradition of patronage with you.
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Tier One – Hermit’s Prayer – £3
*Monthly hermit’s prayer known only to me and my gods and you.
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Tier 2 – Journey Book – £7
*Monthly excerpts from my journey book and sharings about my spiritual journey.
*Monthly hermit’s prayer.
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Tier 3 ~ Journey Circle ~ £10
*Access to my monthly shamanic journey circle and 20% off shamanic guidance and healing.
*Monthly excerpts from my journey book.
*Monthly hermit’s prayer.
It’s been unseasonably hot and dry here in the UK. People and nature in the south have really been suffering. It’s been just about bearable here, with the grass yellowing and some trees dropping leaves, seeds and fruit prematurely. Thankfully, over the last few days, we’ve seen some rain.
We’ve got a new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, ‘the King of the North’. It’s looking like there will be some positive changes, with power being devolved away from London, and improvements in social care and education. However, like his predecessor, Keir Starmer, he is committed to economic growth at all costs, including opening the Rosebank and Jackdaw drilling rigs in the North Sea. We need to face the fact no prime minister and government is going to ‘save us’.
On a personal level, shamanic work has been quiet. In the absence of social media use, I have been attempting to network and get my writing into magazines and journals. As you might imagine, I’ve had a mixture of acceptance and rejection and being ignored. I have managed not to take it personally, but as information about where my energy does and doesn’t belong.
I’ve also had the time to face an identity crisis that has been ongoing since the ending of my monastic life as a nun of Annwn by the name of Sister Patience. I emerged from this with the gnosis that I am Hermit of Heart of Annwn, but I wondered whether, like bard, awenydd, nun, this was another role and mask that needed to be surrendered. Whether I needed to accept I’m just Lorna Smithers, here to be a shamanic practitioner and author, which I see as job roles.
It turned out this isn’t the case. On a shamanic journey, I was shown clearly by Vindos / Gwyn, in his guise as a black dragon (when he dragons he really means business!) being a hermit is my soul’s calling. It makes sense in terms of being asked not to sell my soul on social media.
Still, hermits have to earn a living, how? I’ve been tempted, once again, to rush out and get a cleaning job, but been asked to hold back and leave room for what might emerge instead. Not easy in a society where having a role involves working not non-working. I’m trying to have faith that there is value in holding a space of quiet, prayer, meditation, creativity and spiritual service.
In Creiddylad’s garden our bee-friendly troughs of cosmos, calendula, cornflower and poppies have done well. Many herbs are in flower with mint and oregano providing food for pollinators. In the wildflower patch, betony, common agrimony, hedge cranesbill and common knapweed are flowering.
As always, I am open for shamanic guidance and shamanic healing. I currently have special offers on house spirit journeys at £20 for one hour and on shamanic healing at £50 for 1hr 1/2 hours.
For a free informal discussion contact: thesanctuaryofvindos@gmail.com