Finding the Spark in the Dark Days: late autumn life at The Old Shop

Molly Dancing for Samhain | Little autumn tree revisited | Front garden tour | A new folk song The days are short and there’s a mist in the air. But sparks abound; not only from the cosy wood stove inside the cottage and bonfires along the lane but in the many bright joys of the season. Brilliant autumn colours, the glow of fairy lights and the feeling of tapping into something ancient when you watch the Molly Dancers and musicians conjuring in the rich dark time between Samhain/Hallowtide and Imbolc/Candlemas. Then, Old Glory will hang up their red and white neckerchiefs for another year. After all, they are ‘strict and particular’. For me though, the highlight is the ‘music video’ (humour me) I’ve put together to go with a brand new folk song that I wrote together with my co-adventurer. It celebrates the bravery of the peasants in the last stand of the Peasants’ Revolt. The Battle of North Walsham (1381) happens to have taken place just a few miles from The Old Shop. Three ancient stone crosses once marked the edges of the site, which seems little known locally. Two are now stumps, but one rises to its full height which is very unusual to see. If you stand in those open fields that once were heathland, perhaps you will hear the cries, screams and clanging of pitchfork on sword. Now, while the veil is thin, feels exactly the right time of year to honour the many rebels who died that day. And I like to think that our song itself is a spark that they may relish. If you enjoy the videos it would be wonderful if you felt like buying me a coffee now and again to help me to keep it going. Thank you - you know how much I love coffee! Buy me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/imogenashwt Also if you enjoy the videos, you might like to subscribe to my Substack newsletter Bracken & Wrack, a magazine-style offering for each new and full moon. Landscape, magic, recipes, seasonal musings, the weird and the wonderful: there’s less focus on the cottage and more on the folklore under our feet. It’s delivered straight to your inbox, is free to subscribe, and you can sign up over at https://imogenashwin.substack.com. The upcoming full moon means that another is due soon, and there's a growing archive. There's a paid option too, that has extra content as a thank you for supporting my work. This makes a huge difference to me, giving me time to produce the newsletter and the videos on this channel (which isn’t monetised). On Instagram and Facebook you’ll find me @theoldshopnorfolk if you’d like to come over and say hello there. The story of the Green Children can be found in Green Children, Ancient Magic and an Old Country Cottage    • Green Children, Ancient Magic and an Old C...   and another version features in Old All Hallows’ Eve at The Old Shop    • Old All Hallows’ Eve at The Old Shop | Cos...