Significant dates from folklore, lunar and meteorological activities this month in dark turquoise
Selected Events (Harmony Healing and other events as notified) in Violet, Forest Bathing Events in green.
Timings given are UK time (GMT+1), click here to convert to your time zone
October in Britain features the full splendour of autumn colours with an array of brown, red and golden yellow mixed with the remaining green as trees shed their leaves. Nature is truly remarkable; this process eliminates environmental toxins which have collected, and trees do it to protect themselves. In winter sunshine, water would continue to evaporate from the leaves, and should the ground water freeze, the tree's water supply would no longer be guaranteed. Hence the plant produces phytohormones and directs them to its leaf stalks. These hormones cause a corky layer to form, then the leaves fall off. This cork prevents pathogens such as fungi or bacteria from penetrating. Furthermore, should it snow, the tree will not have to bear the additional weight of snow on the leaf surfaces.
This month is the ideal time to harvest chestnuts, conkers and apples and on the allotments we have many seasonal vegetables including broccoli, leeks, turnips, potatoes, kale plus of course squashes including pumpkin. It's easy to see why apple bobbing and pumpkin carving became associated with Halloween, celebrated on the 31st. We also have two separate sets of Meteor Showers, the Draconids (peaks 8th/9th) and the Orionids (peaks 20th/21st).
The month of October was named after 'octo' meaning 8th in Latin, as October was the 8th month when the year started in March. To the Anglo-Saxons, October was called Winterfylleth, or the “winter full moon,” because winter was said to begin on the first Full Moon in October.
During October, we have a plethora of international festivals such as World Vegetarian Day (1st), World Mental Health Day (10th), World Food Day (16th), International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (17th) as well as Thanksgiving in Canada (10th). We can also look forward to the Christian Festival of St Francis of Assisi Day (4th), two annual Egyptian Festivals Going Forth of Isis (6th) & Isia (28th) and Roman October Horse (15th) annual commemorations, plus of course the Pagan Festival of Samhain (better known as Halloween) on 31st. We have our Forest Bathing event in Shere on Saturday 14th October. Aligning with the moon cycle is very therapeutic, our October Full Moon Meditation takes place 7.30-9.30pm (UK time) on Saturday 28th, with the 'Hunter' Moon peaking at 21:29.
It seems there isn't much appetite for online modules at the moment. The Essene angels course and the khemitology courses have been postponed. plesae get in touch if you would like to study any of the Reyad Sekh Em modules.
Saturday 1st October is World Vegetarian Day.
Established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and endorsed by the International Vegetarian Union in 1978, it is a day of celebration "to promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism." It brings awareness to the ethical, environmental, health and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle and hence is a time set aside to raise awareness of the positive effects of a vegetarian lifestyle on “humans, other animals and our shared earth.” See more details on the Awareness.com website.
World Vegetarian Day marks the start of Vegetarian Awareness Month throughout October, which ends with World Vegan Day on 1st November, marking the end of that month of celebration. Apparently, Vegetarian Awareness Month.
Wednesday 4th October is the Feast of Francis of Assisi in the Christian Calendar, so it is appropriate that it is also World Animal Day since St Francis is the Patron Saint of Animals and the Environment. It is a popular date for animals to be blessed.
St Francis, who founded the Catholic Church’s Franciscan order, lived in Italy between approximately 1181 and 1226. He is remembered for his love for animals and nature and his generosity to the poor, as well as well as his willingness to minister to the lepers.
St Francis was cannonised (pronounced a Saint), shortly after his death (in 1228) by Pope Gregory IX. The Pope also laid the foundation stone for the UNESCO World Heritage site, Basilica of St Francis d'Assisi, Italy.
Saturday 7th October, though some sources say 10th October, is Going Forth of Isis (Aset) in Egyptian Tradition. Apparently, her heart is pleased on this day because 'the heritage is granted to her son Horus (Heru)'.
On this special day, a specially selected team of Priests and/or Priestesses would commence a procession to take their most treasured image or statue of Aset (Isis) to another temple, with many planned stops en route. At each stop a sacred rite would be performed by the Priests/Priestesses and often divinations would be offered. When the final temple destination was reached, the image or statue would be placed in an honoured location and a joyful fesival celebration would ensue.
Informative posters of Isis, as per the sample shown here, are by Jacqui Taliesin El Masry from Alkhemi.co.uk. Laminated versions of this and other Egyptian Posters by Jacqui, are available to purchase from the Harmony Shop.
Saturday 8th & Sunday 9th October, is the Draconids Meteor Shower. The radiant point for the Draconid meteor shower almost coincides with the head of the constellation Draco the Dragon in the northern sky. That’s why the Draconids are best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, and, surprisingly in the early evening soon after dusk.
Draco has been known to spew forth many hundreds of meteors in a single hour.
In 2023, the Full Moon (on the 29th September) may slightly hamper viewing. See Earthsky Website or timeandate.com for more.
Monday 9th October is Thanksgiving Day in Canada, sometimes called Canadian Thanksgiving to distinguish it from the American holiday which is the 4th Thursday in November (this year it's Thursday 23rd November).
Canadian Thanksgiving occurs on the second Monday in October, is an annual Canadian holiday, celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year.
Tuesday 10th October is World Mental Health Day.
World Mental Health Day has been observed since 10th October 1992. Initially held by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), it's now officially commemorated annually and this year's theme is 'Mental health is a universal human right’.
Saturday 14th October, 11am-2pm, Forest Bathing in the grounds of Harry Edward's Healing Sanctuary, £37.99. This weekday session is designed to fit around school run drop-offs/pick-ups.
Immerse yourself in the healing elements of nature and connect deeply with all your senses. Spend 3 hours in the woods mindfully connecting to your surroundings and living fully in the present moment, guided by me in simple sensory exercises and a treelaxation. A deeply relaxing and rejuvenating experience, and which, despite the title forest bathing, does not involve any swimming!
Some of the scientifically proven benefits of spending time in woodland include reduced stress levels, stronger immune system response, and a stabilised cortisol cycle.
This is a 3-hour Forest Bathing session which will take place in all weathers except very high winds or electrical storms. Book at Harmony Shop. Please email us on to go on our monthly forest bathing update email list.
Saturday 14th October @ 18:55 is New Moon & annular solar eclipse which will cross North, Central, and South America. It will be visible in parts of the United States, Mexico, and many countries in South and Central America. More information at timeanddate.com
A solar eclipse takes place when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, hence totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth.
The New Moon Abundance Ritual should be carried out within 24 hours after the New Moon. It needs to be after the New Moon because the moon should be waxing (getting bigger again) to carry the manifestation energy.
There are video instructions on my You Tube Page.
Sunday 15th October is the Roman celebration of October Horse being the Ides of October.
The October Ides featured a two-horse chariot race on the Campus Martius.
Monday 16th October is World Food Day; a global event to increase awareness, understanding and year-around action to alleviate hunger.
This day, declared by the UN General Assembly, aims to heighten public awareness of world food problems and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. The theme for World Food Day 2023 is 'Water is life, water is food. Leave no-one behind'.'
The promotional website reminds us that water is essential to life on Earth and, as well as covering the majority of the Earth's surface, it makes up over 50% of our bodies, supports our livelihoods and produces our food.
However, since this precious resource is not infinite, we need to stop taking it for granted. Together, we must take water action for food and be the change.
Each year, on 16th October, Concern Worldwide joins organisations around the world in commemorating World Food Day, marking the day the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) was founded in 1945. Concern Worldwide, whose motto is tackling hunger, transforming lives highlight some incredibly worthy causes on their website.
Tuesday 17th October is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
The observance of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty can be traced back to 17th October 1987, when over a hundred thousand people gathered at the Trocadéro in Paris. This was the location where the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in 1948, to honour the victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger. They proclaimed that poverty is a violation of human rights and affirmed the need to come together to ensure that these rights are respected. These convictions are inscribed in a commemorative stone unveiled on this day.
Since then, every year on 17th October, people of all backgrounds, beliefs and social origins have gathered to renew their commitment and show their solidarity with the poor.
2023 Theme: Decent Work and Social Protection: Putting dignity in practice for all
Thursday 19th October may be the delayed start of our Introduction to Essene Angelology, Harmony Healing Interactive online evening course, 7.30-9.45pm UK time (GMT+1), offering UK & USA friendly hours. Contact me if interested.
Learn how to commune with the Weekday and Planetary Guardian Angels and invite them into your life on a daily basis. Even if you are already familiar with the angelic realm, discover how to strengthen your connection with channellings, affirmations, colours, crystals and planetary symbols. Connect with Melchisadec and Pistis Sophia, the Essene Guardians of our Planet Earth and the Constellations.
Cost is £66 including a personal chart detailing three of your personal Essene Guardian Angels (based on your date of birth) plus 4½ hours of mentoring. Book at the Harmony Shop. This is a stand alone unit but also comprises ½ unit towards Egyptian Alchemy Healing RSE Level 1. Held remotely on Zoom, recordings are made of the sessions, so it is possible to join after the course has commenced, or even after it has competed. See Harmony Shop Events for details of the individual modiules and the entire RSE 1 package, which is a cnsiderable saving on studying all four modules individually.
Friday 20th - Saturday 21st October is the peak of the Orionids which is the most prolific meteor shower associated with Halley's Comet and lasts from 15th until 29th October.
The Orionids are so-called because they appear to come from, the constellation Orion. In some years, meteors may occur at rates of 50-70 per hour.
This year, close to the New Moon on the 25th, it's likely to be reasonable viewing. In 2023, the annual Orionid meteor shower is expected to rain down the greatest number of meteors before dawn on October 21st, perhaps as many as 20 meteors per hour.
The hours between midnight and dawn on the mornings of October 20th and 21st may offer a decent sprinkling of meteors as well, and you might see some anytime in October or early November (overall duration is 26th September - 22nd November) if you have a dark sky for viewing. See also EarthSky website where you will also find more details about the event.
Saturday 28th October is the Egyptian celebration of Isia, marking the 7 days that Aset (Isis) spent searching for the body parts of Asar (Osiris) following his death and dismemberment by his brother Set.
This culminates on 3rd November with Hilaria when she resurrected him by re-membering him; no doubt contributing to the definition of our word remember meaning to recall someone from memory.
Informative laminated posters of Isis by Jacqui Taliesin El Masry (from Alkhemi.co.uk) and other Egyptian Posters by Jacqui, are available to purchase from the Harmony Shop.
Saturday 28th October is also the Hunter Full Moon @ 21:29 and a partial lunar eclipse.
The eclipse will be visble or partly visible in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, Much of South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic, Antarctica. See timeanddate.com for details.
Between this date and the next New Moon is considered as a good time energetically for detoxing the body.
This is also the night of ourFull Moon Halloween Meditation, 19.30-21.30 UK time (GMT).
Saturday 28th October is also the end of the Summer Daylight Saving Time in 2023, so the UK clocks go back an hour at 01.00 hrs (Saturday night/early Sunday morning).
During this session, we connect with other like-minded people and together we work through a mindful chakra balancing process using colours and etheric crystals, with the aim that all participants will experience a degree of unity consciousness. Participants all receive a deeply healing experience. Cost to participate is £20 by online BACS payment (small admin fee added for PayPal). This activity serves as a good taster of Joanna's work in general. For more details and to book, see Harmony Shop.
Tuesday 31st October traditionally marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of the Celtic and Pagan New Year. Samhain is Irish-Gaelic for 'the Summer's end', and is pronounced 'sow-in'. Samhain represents the death of the summer sun god, Lugh. This festival celebrates Nature's cycle of death and renewal. This is traditionally known as Halloween. Samhain is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals; along with Lughnasadh, Imbolc and Beltane.
In the Northern Hemisphere, Samhain heralds the beginning of Winter, when the world starts to darken and the days are getting shorter; the 'dark half' of the year and the demise of the sun's uplifting influence. The crone, personified as Cailleach - the Queen of the Winter - was reborn on every All Hallow's Eve, returning to bring the Winter and protect animals through the coldest months. She turned to stone on Beltane Eve, Beltane being 1st May.
Harmony Healing Blog updates can be emailed to you
The Harmony Healing regular Blog update can be emailed out with more information as the events above happen (updates are headed with a title detailing the occasion so you can choose whether to open it or not), featuring New and Full Moon, meteor showers, eclipses and other meteorological events, interesting anniversaries, ancient festival dates plus notification of dates of numerological significance. See https://harmonyhealing.co.uk/blog for typical Blog entries. Sometimes Blogs will appear on successive days and at other times there will be no messages for a while. The sender e-mail address is j (and the sender will show as Joanna Bristow-Watkins @ Harmony Healing). You may need add this email to your safe list and check your junk filter initially.
Acknowledgments
Celestial Forecast is compiled by Joanna Bristow-Watkins of Harmony Healing, the original is published at Joanna's Monthly Celestial Forecasts. It is created using many sources but notably the Moonwise Calendar and Lia Leendertz's annual Almanac. Whilst considerable effort is made to ensure accuracy, this is not an exact science and sources are sometimes contradictory!
These monthly Celestial Forecasts (CF) are generally uploaded to the Harmony Healing website a fortnight ahead and can be accessed via the drop-down box on the right. They are sent out to the main mailing list and CF subscribers a few days before the month starts.
Extracts from the Celestial Forecast are reproduced in Glyden Magick, an online magazine offered via Gylden Fellowship which is a fabulous resource for Neo-Pagans (particularly in the South of England when physical meet-ups can resume).
Through Harmony Healing, Joanna utilises the philosophies of the Ancient Egyptians, in the form of Reyad Sekh Em® (RSE) Level 1Egyptian Alchemy Healing. Featuring four online modules of Khemitology (Ancient Egyptology according to the indigenous oral traditions), Violet Flame of Amenti, Mindful Chakra Balancing & Essene Angelology.Missed sessions are fully recorded so that late registrations or are possible. Reyad Sekh Em (RSE) Level 1 costs £266 and run about three times a year. the individual modules are stand-alone and cost either £88 or £66, hence the RSE 1 package offers a cost saving.
She is also an intuitive healer offering 1-2-1 distant healings and readings, plus MP3 recordings. She is a fully qualified Fotrest Bathing guide, offering Forest Bathing sessions in the Surrey Hills of England. Joanna acts as the retailer for her sister, Angela Mcgerr's, best selling angelogy books and angel card sets. The are mostly now out-of-print, but Joanna still has some unused copies as well as pre-used versions of many of the card sets, see the Harnony Shop for the full details.
Significant dates from folklore, lunar and meteorological activities this month in green
Selected Events (Harmony Healing and other events as notified) in black
Timings given are UK time (GMT+1), click here to convert to your time zone
August in Britain is school summer holidays. Time for summer camping and outdoor festivals and, our Summer Bank Holiday, this year on Monday 28th August, with typically lots of rain. As someone with a late August birthday I can testify to rain being very common indeed.
The month of August was renamed by Augustus Caesar, after himself. Under Roman rule it was previous called Sextillia, meaning the 6th month in Latin. When the Gregorian calendar was established by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582, January became the opening month of the calendar year. To the Anglo-Saxons, August was called Ƿēodmōnaþ meaning ‘weed (or grass) month’.
During August, we have Khemitian (Ancient Egyptian) New Year on 1st - which is also Pagan Lunasa/Lammas (and this year it's Full Moon and a Supermoon too), Lion’s Gate (8th) and the Perseid Meteors (9th - 17th August, peaking 11th/12th). We can also look forward to three other annual Egyptian Festivals plus a selection of Chinese, Buddhist and Hindu Festivals as well as a Roman annual commemoration.
We have two Full Moons and therefore two Full Moon Guided Healing Meditations taking place on 7.30-9.30pm on Tuesday 1st August (Sturgeon Supermoon, Lunasa and Egyptian New Year) and again on Wednesday 30th August (Blue Supermoon). I am also offering an 8:8 Lion's Gate Meditation at 7.30-9.30pm (UK time) on the 8th. This session will be specially themed on the energy portal between Egypt and the UK, angelic connections, plus of course, being the Lion's Gate, it will have a feline twist to it too. Book at the Harmony Shop
As August is holiday season for most people, we have just two Harmony in Nature taster sessions - a 1-hr one and a 2-hr one - on Wednesday 2nd August at Dapdune Wharf, walking distance from Guildford mainline station and town centre.
Tuesday 1st August is the Ancient Egyptian New year, traditionally marking the start of the Nile flood, started by the tears of Aset (Isis) over the death of Asar (Osirus).
The exact correlation of the Egyptian New year to the modern calendar is disputed, but I favour the linking with the heliacal rising of Sirius (dawn visibility of Sirius) as this star, known to the Egyptians as Sopdet (pronounced Soppday) was closely associated with Aset.
In the Northern Hemisphere, this is also the Pagan Celebration of Lunasa (also known as Lammas), the start of the harvest, season of pregnancy, ripening, transformation and peace.
This marks the height of the northern summer, when the Earth is most alive.
Tuesday 1st August, 7.30-9.30pm UK Time (GMT+1 = UT+1) is our Full Moon Guided Meditationn.
During this session, participants all receive a deeply healing experience. Cost to participate is £20 by online BACS payment (£1 admin fee added for PayPal, concessions to RSE/VFoA graduates), book at the Harmony Shop.
This activity serves as a good taster of Joanna's work in general and the virtual format of our Zoom based programme. And, most importantly, it's a step towards making a difference to the global predicament. To find out how working on your own spiritual consciousness can help humanity and the planet by raising the overall human consciousness levels, see Joanna's You Tube explanation.
Please email or contact me via Facebook Messenger/What's App to let me know you've booked to make sure I send you the link.
Tuesday 1st August @ 19:31 is Sturgeon Supermoon. This year it's also Lammas (Lunasa) and Egyptian New Year - see separate entry above. The monthly Full Moon meditation is also tonight, 7.30-9.30pm (UK time). Book in at the Harmony Shop. If you would like a video guided meditation, but can't make this time, you can purchase our 'any month' pre-recorded Full Moon meditation at this section of the Harmony Shop.
Between this date and the next New Moon is considered as a good time energetically for detoxing the body.
Angela McGerr's self-guided instructions for a Full Moon Angelic Meditation with Gabriel from her A Harmony of Angels Book. Angela's books have been long out of print, but we do have collectible and signed editions at the Harmony Shop.
Wednesday 2nd August, 11.30 - 12.30, 1-hr taster session (£15) and 2-4pm, 2-hr taster session (£25) at Dapdune Wharf, Guildford. the venue has its own National trust carpark, but is also walking distance from Guildford mainline station and the Centre of Guildford. There are special double ticket prices if you have a friend who would like to attend with you.
Immerse yourself in the healing elements of nature and connect deeply with all your senses.
We will take you on a mini taster session (either for 1 hour in the morning or 2 hours in the afternoon) around the little island linked to Dapdune Wharf itself. Through a selection of simple sensory activities, you will learn how to enhance your perceptions and slow down to focus on what could easily be missed. We end with a treelaxation. A deeply relaxing and rejuvenating experience, and which, despite the title forest bathing, does not involve any swimming!
Some of the scientifically proven benefits of spending time in woodland include reduced stress levels, stronger immune system response, and a stabilised cortisol cycle.
This session which will take place in all weathers except very high winds and/or electrical storms.
Book at Harmony Shop. Please email katieandjo@harmonyinnature.uk to go on our Harmony in Nature monthly update mailing list.
Tuesday 8th August is The Lion's Gate. I'm offering an 8:8 Lion's Gate Meditation at 7.30-9.30pm (UK time) on the 8th. This session will be specially themed on the energy portal between Egypt and the UK, angelic connections, plus of course, being the Lion's Gate, it will have a feline twist to it too. Book at the Harmony Shop
August 8th (8:8 in numerology) has always been experienced as the Lions Gate doorway opening up a time portal to ancient Egyptian encodings situated between the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza.
It is said to be an energy doorway, which activates through the Solar Lion into the etheric and the Hall of Records (Akasha) and is said to be associated with the marriage of matter and antimatter, where polarities meet and merge.
Encrypted at sacred sites all over the world, but headquartered at Giza Egypt, these long-established data programmes, communicate with our own inner crystalline codes held in our DNA. By tuning in and connecting with these codings we may be able to access a portal ancient truths and wisdoms resulting in an accelerated spiritual awakening. Book at the Harmony Shop
Wednesday 9th August – Thursday 17th August may be able to see some Perseid meteors. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at their peak.
The shower's peak usually occurs on August 13th (predawn), this year, with Full Moon 1st August and New Moon 16th August (actually a Micromoon so even better), light pollution is likely to hamper viewings less towards the end of this peak window. However, you may be able to see some meteors any time between 17th July and 24th August. The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Perseus. Look to the northeast after midnight. For more, see diagram left and earthsky.org website, from where the image has been taken.
Saturday 12th August/Sunday 13th August (see entry under 9th August).
The radiant point for this shower will be in the constellation Perseus.
Look to the northeast after midnight; with a New Moon which is a Micromoon (so smaller than usual), viewing could be good weather permitting.
See earthsky.org website for more.
Saturday 12th August is also the Day of the Light of Aset (Isis). On this day Aset (Isis) is celebrated with all forms of light including sun worship, during the day and candles at night.
Interesting that it is very close to the date of the Roman Festival of Diana (varies 11th-13th August though mostly shown as the 13th), which no doubt was a development from the Egyptian Festival.
Informative Egyptian laminated posters by Jacqui Taliesin El Masry (Alkhemi) are available from this site - see Harmony Shop.
Sunday 13th August, in Roman tradition, is the Festival of Diana, being the date upon which King Servius Tullius dedicated her shrine on the Aventine Hill in Rome in the mid-sixth century BCE.
Diana was the hunting goddess, associated with wild animals and woodlands. She later became a moon goddess, supplanting Luna; and the moon was an emblem of chastity.
Oak groves were especially sacred to her. She was praised in poetry for her strength, athletic grace, purity, distinct beauty, and hunting skill.
Despite her virginal status, Diana was also a Goddess of Fertility.
Sunday 13th - Tuesday 15th August is Obon (also known as Bon); a Buddhist festival to honour dead loved ones. This custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday, during which people return to ancestral family locations and visit and tidy their ancestors' graves.
On this day, the spirits of ancestors are believed to revisit the household altars. Celebrated through the lighting of bonfires, sacred meals, paper lanterns and dancing.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Interestingly, there are some parallels between the Ancient Egyptian Day of the Light and the modern communities in Japan celebrating Obon through lanterns and bonfires thereby bringing balance and wellbeing into their lives.⠀
Wednesday 16th August @ 10:38 is New Moon and it's a Micromoon.
The New Moon Abundance Ritual should be carried out within 24 hours after the New Moon. It needs to be after the New Moon because the moon should be waxing (getting bigger again) to carry the manifestation energy. There are video instructions on my Facebook Page or You Tube Page.
New Moon is a good time to work on your Vision Board for the rest of 2023.
Friday 18th August is the Egyptian Feast of Wagy.
Taking place seventeen days after the Egyptian celebrations of New Year's Day, there was the more sombre feast of Wagy, when families paid respect to their ancestors.
They came to the tombs of the deceased, with offerings, performing rituals, specifically "fumigations" - producing fumes - smoke. The ceremonies were often followed by a funerary meal.
Saturday 19th August is the Festival of Tehuti (Thoth) marking the occasion on which Tehuti (Thoth) ordered the healing of the eye of Heru (Horus).
An MP3 Meditation to visit the Akashic Records with Tehuti is available from the MP3 Downloads & CDs section of the Harmony Shop.
This is a meditation to visit your personal Akashic record (which the Egyptians believed were housed in the Halls of Amenti) to see if hidden blockages to your spiritual growth and wellbeing may be revealed at this time.
The totality of the Akashic records are said to contain and describe all knowledge of human experience as well as the history of the cosmos; so they could be described as the DNA of the Universe. This meditation was devised for 19th August or 19th September (both being Festivals of Tehuti) would add emphasis, but can be used anytime.
Monday 21st August is the Roman Festival of Consualia, to honour Consus, the god of counsel, and the one who protects the harvest, which was in storage at the time of the festival.
Mars, as a protector of the harvest, was also honoured on this day, as were the Lares, the household Gods that individual families held sacred.
During the celebration horses, mules, and assess were exempted from all labour, and were led through the streets adorned with garlands and flowers. Chariot races were held this day in the Circus Maximus, which included an odd race in which chariots were pulled by mules.
Monday 28th August is the Summer Bank Holiday in the UK. In the United Kingdom, most workers have a day off work or school and the banks are closed. In Scotland, however, the Bank Holiday is actually on Monday 7th August.
The Bank Holidays Act of 1871 introduced the August Bank Holiday to give bank clerks and shop people a day of relaxation not connected to holy days such as Christmas.
This has morphed into a three-day weekend before the school summer holidays finish.
If you have children, weather permitting (avoid woodland locations in heavy winds), it's a great day to take them out on a nature trail at a local park, beauty spot, National Trust or woodland location.
Wednesday 30th August is Raksha Bandhan, the Hindu festival honouring the bond between brothers and sisters, celebrated on the day of the Full Moon in August.
Brothers take a vow to protect their sisters, whilst sisters pray for a long long life for their brothers, sealed by tying a thread around their right wrist..
Wednesday 30th August is also the Chinese Hungry Ghost Festival.
This is the Buddhist Festival of All Souls or the Festival of Hungry Ghosts, when offerings are made until before the next New Moon (Friday 15th September) to spirits who have not yet found rest.
The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as the Zhongyuan Festival, takes place on the 15th day of the Ghost Month (which starts at a New moon), so it naturally co-incides with a Full Moon.
Wednesday 30th August, 7.30-9.30pm UK Time (GMT+1 = UT+1) is our Full Moon Unity Consciousness Meditation.
During this session, we connect with other like-minded people and together we work through a mindful chakra balancing process using colours and etheric crystals, with the aim that all participants will experience a degree of unity consciousness. Participants all receive a deeply healing experience. Cost to participate is £20 by online BACS payment (£1 admin fee added for PayPal, concessions to RSE/VFoA graduates), book at the Harmony Shop.
This activity serves as a good taster of Joanna's work in general and the virtual format of our Zoom based programme. And, most importantly, it's a step towards making a difference to the global predicament. To find out how working on your own spiritual consciousness can help humanity and the planet by raising the overall human consciousness levels, see Joanna's You Tube explanation.
Please email or contact me via Facebook Messenger/What's App to let me know you've booked to make sure I send you the link.
Thursday 31st August @ 02:35 (Wednesday night, Thursday morning) is another Supermoon, and being the 2nd Full Moon in August, it is a Blue Moon according to the current definition. The monthly Full Moon meditation is on Wednesday night, 7.30-9.30pm (UK time). Book in at the Harmony Shop. If you would like a video guided meditation, but can't make this time, you can purchase our 'any month' pre-recorded Full Moon meditation at this section of the Harmony Shop.
Between this date and the next New Moon is considered a good time energetically for detoxing the body.
Angela McGerr's self-guided instructions for a Full Moon Angelic Meditation with Gabriel from her A Harmony of Angels Book. Angela's books have been long out of print, but we do have collectible and signed editions at the Harmony Shop..
Harmony Healing Blog updates can be emailed to you - You can sign up here
The Harmony Healing regular Blog update can be emailed out with more information as the events above happen (updates are headed with a title detailing the occasion so you can choose whether to open it or not), featuring New and Full Moon, meteor showers, eclipses and other meteorological events, interesting anniversaries, ancient festival dates plus notification of dates of numerological significance.
Sometimes Blogs will appear on successive days and at other times there will be no messages for a while. The sender e-mail address is j (and the sender will show as Joanna Bristow-Watkins @ Harmony Healing). You may need add this email to your safe list and check your junk filter initially. See https://harmonyhealing.co.uk/blog for typical Blog entries.
Acknowledgments
Celestial Forecast is compiled by Joanna Bristow-Watkins of Harmony Healing, the original is published at Joanna's Monthly Celestial Forecasts. It is created using many sources but notably the Moonwise Calendar and Lia Leendertz's annual Almanac. Whilst considerable effort is made to ensure accuracy, this is not an exact science and sources are sometimes contradictory!
These monthly Celestial Forecasts (CF) are generally uploaded to the Harmony Healing website a fortnight ahead and can be accessed via the drop-down box on the right. They are sent out to the main mailing list and CF subscribers a few days before the month starts.
Extracts from the Celestial Forecast are reproduced in Glyden Magick, an online magazine offered via Gylden Fellowship which is a fabulous resource for Neo-Pagans (particularly in the South of England when physical meet-ups can resume).
Through Harmony Healing, Joanna utilises the philosophies of the Ancient Egyptians, in the form of Reyad Sekh Em® (RSE) Level 1 Egyptian Alchemy Healing. Featuring four online modules of Khemitology (Ancient Egyptology according to the indigenous oral traditions), Violet Flame of Amenti, Mindful Chakra Balancing & Essene Angelology. Missed sessions are fully recorded so that late registrations or are possible. Reyad Sekh Em (RSE) Level 1 costs £266 and run about three times a year. the individual modules are stand-alone and cost either £88 or £66, hence the RSE 1 package offers a cost saving.
She is also an intuitive healer offering 1-2-1 distant healings and readings, plus MP3 recordings. She is a fully qualified Fotrest Bathing guide, offering Forest Bathing sessions in the Surrey Hills of England. Joanna acts as the retailer for her sister, Angela Mcgerr's, best selling angelogy books and angel card sets. The are mostly now out-of-print, but Joanna still has some unused copies as well as pre-used versions of many of the card sets, see the Harnony Shop for the full details.
December in Britain is the month with the least hours of daylight, but sunlight hours increase from 21st onwards, after the Winter Solstice. The increased daylight - promising optimism - is celebrated as Yule, and here in the UK, Christmas Day on the 25th, which pre-Christianity, in Roman times, was celebrated as the birth date of Sol Invictus (Roman Solar Deity).
Saturday 2nd December, 11.00am - 1.30pm, 2½-hours Forest Therapy session with Joanna in the beautiful private grounds of the Harry Edwards Healing Sanctuary (Shere, near Guildford, Surrey), £37.77 (+ admin fee by PayPal). This Winter Forest Bathing+ session will take place in all weathers except 30+mph winds. 
Sunday 3rd December is the Roman Festival of Bona Dea, this being a smaller festival than the one celebrated on 1st May but similarly for women only. In Roman mythology, Bona Dea (literally "the good goddess") was the goddess of fertility, healing, virginity, and women. 
Thursday 7th - Friday 15th is the eight-day Jewish celebration of Hanukkah (or Chanukah).
Tuesday 12th December @ 23:32 is the New Moon.
Wednesday 13th - Thursday 14th December is the peak of the Geminid Meteor Shower. The Geminids are considered by many to be the best annual meteor shower and are known for producing multicoloured meteors 65% being white, 26% yellow, and the remaining 9% blue, red and green. 
Sunday 17th December is the Roman Festival of Saturnalia. This was the popular banquet commemorating the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn. It was marked by tomfoolery and reversal of social roles, in which slaves and masters ostensibly switched places. 
Friday 22nd December is the Pagan Solstice @ 03.27. It's the Winter Solstice here in the UK - the shortest day of the year with just 7 hours and 49 minutes daylight. The solstice itself is the moment the sun is shining farthest to the south, directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, so the time varies every year, between December 20th and 23rd.
Monday 25th December is the Christian Festival of Christmas, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.
Wednesday 27th December is our Full Moon Unity Consciousness Meditation, 7.30-9.30pm UK time (GMT/UT). This is the night before Full Moon takes place at 04:09 on the 8th.
The Protestant Reformation led to the Presbyterian outlook, branding Christmas as a Popish or Catholic feast which was therefore prohibited. As a result, their winter solstice celebrations took place at New Year when family and friends gathered for a party and exchange presents, especially for the children, which came to be called Hogmanay. Historians believe that the Vikings who, coming from even further north than the UK, paid strong attention to the passing of the shortest day and hence may have initiated the post-Solstice celebrations. Image of fireworks over Edinburgh Castle by Chris Flexen.
Monday 1st January is New Year’s Day and is a Bank Holiday in the UK and time for New Year’s Resolutions!
Monday 1st – Friday 5th January (peaking on the 3rd, 4th January) is the Quadrantids Meteor Shower; visible from 1st – 5th January after midnight and peaking in the early hours of the 4th. With the appraching Full Moon on 6th January, there could be too much light pollution to see much. Typically, 40 or so bright, blue and fast (25.5 miles per second) meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, some blazing more than halfway across the sky. A small percentage of them leave persistent dust trains. This shower usually has a very sharp peak, usually lasting only about an hour. 
Wednesday 1st November 
Wednesday 1st November
Friday 3rd November
Thursday 5th November 
Sunday 12th November
Sunday 12th November
Thursday 16th & Friday 17th November 
Starting at 6.15pm, there will be a 90 minutes workshop introducing the seven weekday angels: Raphael, Gabriel, Camael, Michael, Zadkiel, Haniel, Cassiel plus the patriarchal angel Melchisadec and the matriarchal angel Pistis Sophia. Each angel will be briefly invoked in turn (but with extra emphasis and time spent on Haniel the Guardian of the Day), introducing their key attributes and how to work with them more closely. A crib sheet for calling on them on a daily basis will be supplied as a handout. We will look at the angel cards and channellings in Angela McGerr's publications (Angela is Joanna's sister) which will also be available for sale (both new and pre-loved editions, making excellent and unusual Christmas gifts) during the course. This will be a deep and cathartic experience to prepare you for the festive season. Full personal guardian angel charts can be ordered for an additional £25. Book workshop and charts via the 
Monday 27th November
Monday 27th November 
Wednesday 29th November 
Thursday 30th November
Thursday 30th November 
September in Britain is back to school after the summer holidays. It's the month of harvest, blackberries abound on the bramble bushes and apples are plentiful on the trees, conkers and chestnuts are starting to ripen.
Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th September,
Monday 11th September
Friday 22nd September, 
Tuesday 26th September & Tuesdays 10th & 24th October
