We are delighted to welcome back the fabulous Barbara Meiklejohn-Free 'The Highland Seer' to The WHG Online. Barbara will be sharing her wisdom with you each month in her 'Ask Barbara' column.

Dear Barbara
My partner has just been made redundant and I am very worried about the stress this is causing us both, how can I combat this shamanically?
Judith - Brough, Yorkshire.

Hello Judith, having been in this situation myself I do feel for your sense of anxiety. Though you both may see this as a great loss, not just financially but from a ‘self-worth’ perspective, I feel it could be a very positive opportunity. I sense your husband may have become complacent in his job, perhaps taking much for granted including how he sees his family. If he can now take this as a chance to do the ‘thing’ he has always wanted to do re work, a successful business of his own could be forged. Do not be afraid to share your current concerns with other family members, gather them around you, they will only too happy to offer help both financially and to give you the time to look at your core values and beliefs. If you can communicated openly and honestly and all pull together an even better life lies ahead that will be based on more solid foundations than just ‘good money’.

Dear Barbara
Any advice on how to celebrate Samhain authentically? I have just re-discovered my ‘pagan’ roots and would like to do it right.
Wanda – Fife, Scotland.

Samhain (pronounced ‘sow-en’) is the most important, though least understood, of our ancient Celtic festivals the start of the Celtic New Year. Fires were kindled on sacred hilltops for the protection of the people and the land. The original purpose of the fire was to destroy anything harmful or negative from the previous year and to light the path to the good things of the future. Names of things from the old year that one wanted to get rid of, or release, were written on paper and thrown in the fire to burn. This was called the ‘papers of regret’, releasing what was no longer needed. Samhain was also a time of family reunions, and the bonfires were lit to guide relatives home. Ghoulishly carved turnip or swede lanterns, (transferred to pumpkins in the U.S.) were hung on fence posts to keep anything harmful away from the house and also to provide light for returning relatives. Candles were also lit and placed in the windows for the same purpose. A special feast was prepared and a place left empty for the unseen visitor. In some pagan traditions this place was set for the Great Mother, the original ancestor of the family or clan. So in short to celebrate I suggest three basic steps:
1)    Light a fire (or candle). Write down the names of things that no longer serve you and then burn the list.
2)    Place a candle in the window, shine a light in the darkness.
3)     Organise a family gathering, a simple meal, a chance to wish people well for the coming winter and remind them how much they mean to you. Set an ‘honourary’ place aside for ‘The Great Mother’.

Barbara was born in Inverness the capital of the highlands. She grew up in nature learning from the elements, the trees, the animals, when she was twelve years old she met Swain MacDonald the highland seer, who became her spiritual father, and under Swains guidance he help her to discover the Druid, Pagan, and ancient ways of the old Craft of the picts .
Today she interweaves all her knowledge together into one large cauldron of life, combining all the gifts she has been given so that she can share them with everyone she meets and bring the wisdom of the ancients and wise ones into the 21st century.

If you have a question you would like Barbara to help you with then you can This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it it to us or you can contact Barbara directly through her website.