Weretoad and I had a lovely Winter Solstice! I was so excited and in a festive mood. While he was away at work, I finished wrapping gifts, put on some Solstice music, and lit the tree. It's the only night we leave it on and it's a great reminder of what we're celebrating.
I also busied myself preparing the feast you see at left. I made a vegetarian roast with baked scallions, carrots, and potatoes. I also made fresh bread, steamed brussels sprouts, and bread pudding. Mmmm...carbs... Magical, wonderful carbs!
In addition, I brought home cranberries and made popcorn to turn into garlands. We did that after our ritual. After discussing what we should do, Weretoad and I decided to honor the Nature Spirits who have to struggle through the bitter cold. It is a hard time to be wild. Many creatures die. Food is scarce. We forget that in our warm homes with our stocked larders. Our main offering was the garland which we put on the little spruce we keep on our patio. Next year I would like to do more for deities as well but I'm still uncertain as to who I should honor. Should I visit the Norse deities of my Germanic ancestors and honor Odin as he rides through the sky? Should I honor the Cailleach as the crone of winter? Should I give praise to Angus as he is associated with New Grange and thus the Winter Solstice? I lean more towards the latter two... I guess we'll see what next year brings.
We went a bit overboard on gifts this year. In years past we kept a tradition - three large gifts and three stocking stuffers. This year... we kind of forgot and got lost in the joy of giving to each other. We really need to restrain ourselves next year. That said - I got some lovely gifts from my husband! In addition to some shiny and practical items, he also contributed to my growing Pagan library. I got a recycled three ring cardboard binder - something I want to use to make my new Druidic grimoire. I also received The Black Pullet (an old grimoire) and Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants by Claudia Muller-Ebeling, Christian Ratsch, and Wolf-Dieter Storl Ph.D. (For my birthday a week ago, he gave me Toads and Toadstools: The Natural History, Mythology and Cultural Oddities of this Strange Association by Adrian Morgan.) Needless to say, I have a ton of new books to enjoy and learn from! Squee!
Today I am busying myself with last minute gift sewing and wrapping. Yes, I still "celebrate" Christmas with my vaguely Christian family. I love the excuse to see them. They know I consider the gifts I give them to be Solstice gifts just as the ones they give me are for their own holiday of giving and love. We somehow meet on common ground. At the same time, I look forward to having my own large home and throwing wonderful Winter Solstice parties for the whole family... Some day... This year, I enjoyed my quiet Solstice with Weretoad. :)
( For My LJ and FB Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Another chunk of songs for your Solstice enjoyment!
We'll start with something more serious. This one was a suggestion from a reader (onelittlepagan) - a Paganized version of "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Craig Olson. The images of an actual Solstice celebration are beautiful. What a lovely home! Thanks for sharing, onelittlepagan! I had only ever heard the Christian version and this cover, I find, works well.
How about a song about nissers, spirits from Norway and Denmark who are basically gnomes? They've become associated with both Christmas and Solstice. Many families leave porridge with a pat of butter out for them during the holidays. Perhaps nissers are in Santa's spiritual DNA? I wouldn't discount it. I don't know if I have any Norwegian blood in me (if I do, it's from a very, very long time ago...) but my husband does. I wonder if there are nissers around, just waiting for us to befriend them? Anyway, this adorable little song is called "Jeg Tror Der Findes Nisser" ("I Think There are Gnomes") by Thomas Kjellerup.
And while we're dealing with European spirits, what Solstice would be complete without The Krampus Christmas Song? While Nissers can have a malicious streak if crossed, the Krampus is a bit terrifying. Meeting him and his birch whipping rod is way worse than getting coal. Krampus is a huge tradition in parts of Europe (and even some parts of America). On a certain day of the year, several adults will dress up as Krampus and roam the streets to frighten children with old chains. Some even lightly hit people. Sounds fun, to me!
( For My LJ and FB Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
We spent Thanksgiving with our parents this year. Weretoad's mother visited us and we all went down to my parents'. Weretoad and I brought the tofurky. I cooked it in a crock pot surrounded by sweet potatoes and carrots. Oh my Gods, it was delicious! We don't eat many processed faux meats. We tend to stick with straight beans or homemade bean patties. When I'm feeling a bit lazy, or when Thanksgiving rolls around, Tofurky is relatively guilt free. While it's still a processed product, it's not made from genetically modified or non-organic soy. I feel pretty good about eating it.
I've been learning more about Buddhism recently. I don't know why, but my interest in it has increased. There are obvious differences between it and modern Druidism, but there are also similarities. It fascinates me, especially in regards to compassion. There is a story about The Buddha attending a planting festival. Instead of watching the dancers, he focused on the bugs and their eggs. He thought about how the people digging into the soil had to disturb them, possibly kill them, in order to grow their crops. This event is said to have helped inspire his philosophy on compassion. This, in turn, inspired many Buddhists to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. I've been thinking a lot about this recently. No matter how hard I try to be compassionate towards the natural world, I can only do so much without killing myself. Even the most dedicated fruititarian will inevitably harm one creature, if only through the cultivation of vegetable matter to consume. Some may look at this and say, "Well then why give up meat? You cannot escape the circle of life entirely. You might as well embrace it." The thing is, I'm not trying to escape the cycles of nature - I am still a part of them but in a different why than a meat eater. I experience the cycles differently now that I try not to consume the flesh of my fellow brother and sister animals. I do what I can - I seek a balance. There must be a balance of compassion for the Nature Spirits and ourselves. That balance will be different for each of us depending on the lessons we need to learn and the diet our bodies need. We should not punish our bodies. Even The Buddha recognized that killing our bodies for spiritual goals was not healthy. Everything must be balanced.
We have entered to season of death. Our ancestors culled the herds and this tradition continues to this day with hunting season. Since moving to the North Country, I have seen more deer hanging from trees in front of homes. Every time I see one, I think of Odin hanging from the World Tree, starring down at the roots, seeking wisdom. I wonder where the deers' souls have ventured as the blood drains from their bodies. I marvel that the corvid family is not there to taste their flesh. As the nights grow colder and hunters work to stock their freezers, I've seen them peel the flesh from the deer. I've seen the gleaming muscles and tendons revealed. Weretoad looks away. He has his reasons and I respect them. I stare. I find myself fascinated with the process. I feel for the deer, but there is something fundamentally more sacred about the relationship between the hunter and the hunted than the shopper and the package of meat. I think of that as I stare. That is not to say that I don't respect the people buying locally farmed and butchered animals - that is also better than buying factory farmed meat. But one must admit - when it is you hunting/raising, killing, and then skinning the animal... you enter an intimate dance with the forces of life and death. It is more than simply being in touch with the land and the agricultural cycles - you are getting in touch with the real essence of mortality. Some of this may be my romanticized, Paganized, outsider perspective, but have talked to people who hunt or raise their own food - some of whom are very close friends and family - I am not alone in thinking these things.
It seems obvious, but there is a difference between killing a plant and an animal. The only difference is that we can relate more to the animal because of its similarities to us. I stop and stare at the gutted, dripping, shimmering corpses. They are like me. That could be me. I am reminded of Ricky Fitts from "American Beauty" and his facination with dead people and animals. When asked why he films them, he says, "It's like God's looking right at you, just for a second, and if you're careful... you can look right back." He admits to seeing beauty in what is otherwise uncomfortable and grotesque. I still feel uncomfortable, but I look anyway and try to feel what the hunter might have felt (if he was the respectful sort like my soon to be brother-in-law).
I read a blog entry recently about what is arguably the most humane way to kill a turkey. The author described the event, how the animal's brain died before its body. The convulsions made a woman who had never seen this cry and feel for the animal. Even the author admitted to always feeling something of pity for the creature. He explained that being there to witness the death of the animal is the price a human should pay for eating it. To eat the fruit of death, a human must pay the price of being reminded of his or her own mortality. It was a fascinating perspective, and one perfectly in-line with Druidism' belief in a gift calls for a gift or sacrifice.
I think that is why I stare. I don't experience that exchange as vividly in my garden. If I kill anything as I till or dig, I do not see it. I move anything large enough to see. I experience the death of flesh distantly, but I still feel I must somehow experience it and whisper soft prayers for the departed. I must be reminded of my own mortality - not through animal activist videos - but through the vivid dance of the hunter and the deer.
In some ways, I suppose I stare for the same reason I stare in awe at the multitudes of stars at night. I like to be reminded of how small I really am. For some reason, that feeling is like a hug.
Gods bless the deer and other game who have fed the multitudes this season. May you run wild in the Other World!
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
In anticipation of an upcoming craft/art show, I've been sewing like a mad woman. Some of my creations aren't done yet, so I've not bothered to photograph them. I have three large dolls in the works. One is nearly done. She just needs shoes. I felted some grapes for the second. They need leaves and vines. Then she needs hair, clothing, and wings. The third doll is, as I like to say, gestating. Her body parts are in various stages of development. She's currently in a bag. I hope to work on her while visiting my family this week.
I have made several little things. Check 'em out!
Meet the mushroom spirit! The tree spirits were feeling lonely and wanted some fun guys to play with! (Yuck yuck yuck!) Like most people, I have this aesthetic attraction to amanita muscaria - fly agaric. They are full of whimsy and magic. Many people still use them for hedgecrossing and other trance work. What magically inclined person wouldn't want one of these little guys hanging around?
Here's the amanita formosa variety of fly agaric. I'm quite fond of them because they're in my back yard!
A brown mushroom. I'm sure there is a mushroom that looks like this. I need a name for it...
A wide-eyed fly agaric.
A darker fly agaric.
Some "psychedelic mushrooms." I need to attach string to some of them... I think they make cute ornaments.
A tiny Santa.
Finally, a wee fairy. I also plan to add a string to her. She would look lovely on a Yule tree!
They're kind of hard to see, but here are her wings.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
In the forest today, I noticed a single thread of spider silk stretched loosely between two pine branches. It undulated slowly in the wind, occasionally catching the sun and giving itself away. I stared at it for a time, watching the world inhale and exhale. I marveled at how delicate it was. I thought of the Japanese and their love of cherry blossoms; how they celebrate their fleeting beauty. The spider silk reminded me of that. I thought of myself as the silk, shining in the sun until the wind and rain break me and the Earth takes me back into herself. I thought about how that is all life is, and we must do our best to be the most wonderful piece of spider silk clinging to a tree.
Sometimes I get caught up in the academic side of Paganism. Don't misunderstand me - I love history, mythology, anthropology, and language. Discussing the nature of deity can be an engaging exercise for the brain. But sometimes... sometimes you need to step back and admit your cluelessness. Many of us feel that we are doing what is right for us, but even then we can never fully know. Sometimes, we need to go to the source of our spiritual fire - be that a hobby, a temple, or the land - and just exist in it. Take note of the life around you and feel the divine - whatever it ultimately is - move in and around you. We divide ourselves with tradition and culture. I don't find anything inherently wrong with that because we cannot all be the same. I just think we can become so blinded by it that we lose sight of the essence - even if it's only for a moment while we're engaged in a heated theological debate.
Taking a moment to lean against a birch tree in the woods and just be... It is good for the body, mind, and soul.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
I took a short walk in the woods yesterday, just as the sun was beginning to set. I visited the birch tree for a time and then made my usual circuit. I will sometimes deviate and wander from my path - up the hills, over the craggy heights, around the clearing beyond. Deer season keeps me closer to home, and that is okay because there is always something new to see in the forest.
I love to look at the little things: vine-like moss creeping over the dead leaves; the last of the ferns; the color of rotting wood; a moth crouching against the chill; the every shifting population of fungi... Mushrooms continue to fascinate me. I really should look into finding a mycology class. I would love to learn more about them and which ones are safe to eat. I don't often find fly agaric mushrooms in the woods. This year's record is three. Something about their iconic connection to magic and myth has clutched at me since finding my first early summer. I find myself more observant of all mushrooms. I've never paid them so much attention before this year.
As I walked in the woods, I realized that. I also realized that I spent more time getting to know the forest this past summer than I had before. I finally feel (mostly) safe there. I feel (mostly) welcomed. To me, the mushrooms symbolize my growing relationship with this new forest. As the winter rolls in with it's uncomfortable bite, I've found myself bringing the spirit of the mushrooms inside with me. Now my tree spirits have mushroom spirit friends. I cannot wait to post a photo. They've quickly become one of my favorite things to make!
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
I recently posted about moving my altar into the bedroom. This made space in the art room for Weretoad's new workbench. We're still moving things around, but the important aspects of my altar are set up in the bedroom nook. It's actually a perfect spot for my altar in terms of size.
The photo is a bit tilted, but you can see how lovely everything looks, if a bit cramped. I like the symbolism of the three walls. The wall on the left is dedicated to the nature spirits, while the wall on the right is for the ancestors (as featured in a previous post). The middle wall is the focal point with the sacred tree taking center stage. On either side of the tree are representations of my patron deities - Brighid and An Dagda. Above the tapestry is the shining sun. Below that I intend to put some other divine representations, including something having to do with Manannan.
The ancestor wall is coming along nicely. I would like to add further photos and representations, but it will require more frames and shelves. The nature spirit wall will undoubtedly grow with time as well. Here's a better shot of it. So far I have a shelf that belongs to my main spirit guide, the lynx. Above him is a representation of the catsidhe, and a bodhrán with a green buck on it.
The main altar is made of an old vanity. I removed the mirror and have been using it as a sacred space for nearly my entire Pagan career*. I believe that it is already infused with a lot of energy, but I wanted to consecrate the new ritual space. For my most recent magical working, I took advantage of the close walls and put my hands against them while pushing my feet into the floor. I chanted, calling the land, sea, sky, fire, well, and tree to be present in my altar. I invited the Kindreds to my personal sacred space and charged the whole lot of it. It was a rush, and the empowerment will only continue through use.
For me, this wasn't as much about creating a safe place to practice magic as it was about creating a personal, welcoming place for the Kindreds I am closest to. At the moment, I am not calling on any truly chaotic or infernal beings. If there is a dangerous nature spirit, ancestor, or lower God lurking about, I would like to believe that the very powerful Dagda, Brighid, and Manannan will help to keep me safe. At the moment, I am content making a peace offering to the chaotic spirits and asking for the elements not to destroy me. Should I ever seek wisdom from Bres, the Cailleach, or Balor, then I would most certainly consider more protection. For now, I will work to form closer ties with the beings who bless me.
* When I was experimenting with Wicca my altar was on a shelf behind my bed and then on a little book stand. They tended to gather dust. What an adorable neophyte I was! ( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Although I'm not finished with my Magic 1 essays, I have started to read books on ogham for Divination 1. I'm not merely looking at the course as a way to learn about divination. I see learning ogham as a next step in my magical practices. Not only can it be used as a way to commune with the spirits, but the symbols can be used in magical acts. I also want to take this opportunity to grow closer to the trees.
I was having a conversation with a friend yesterday about crystals. She was telling me about her sister and how she has a spiritual connection to amethyst. I shared a story about friends of mine who are equally enamored with the crystal. During this exchange, I admitted that I've never been very drawn to crystals in a spiritual way. I find some stones more interesting than others, and I enjoy learning the correspondences and symbolism, but I've never felt a pull to learn crystal healing or such. I thought about it later and realized that what I am drawn to are trees and other plants. I am interested in their properties, healing potential, symbolism, and history. I don't discount the divine significance of crystals, but my talents do not reside within that realm.
After work, before delving into anything else, I put my green galoshes on, trudged through the muddy hedges, and went into the forest. It was cold. The deciduous trees were practically bare. The setting sun sent an orange, misty light through the woods. There weren't any mosquitos or flies. There was a stillness broken only by a crow flying north and my own footsteps and whispers to the kindreds. I found myself near a birch tree and I spoke to it, touched, it, hugged it and just sat for a time. I felt the stillness and firmness of the tree. I felt the sleep of winter. I heard the rustle of wind through pine needles. I saw the still waters of the marshland slowly reclaiming territory amidst the other birch and younger trees.
I encourage you to go out and hug a tree, as silly as that sounds. Literally hug it and be silent. Close your eyes for a little, then open them. Watch. If a tree is not for you, find a rock, a flower, a moss-covered hill. Git outside and be still. Open yourself to the aged wisdom and chaos around you. If anything, you will feel more relaxed for it.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
As I recently posted, my stomping grounds are becoming increasingly winter-like. There is the promise of a short Indian Summer this week. I encourage you to make the most of it and enjoy the last bit of Autumn magic!
Admire the leaves. Observe the changes and marvel at the magnificence of nature.
Play in the laves! Rake them into piles and jump into them. Enjoy their earthy scent. Collect a few to press or rub with crayons. Try to identify them and add these to your nature journal.
If you don't have a nature journal - MAKE ONE! It's a wonderful way to observe the magic that is all around you every day!
Keep track of the wildlife around you. What birds are still around? Have the robins left yet? Have you seen any Canada geese flying south?
Pick or buy some locally grown apples and bake them. Inhale their perfume as they cook... Drink their juice and spice it up! Warm cider will fill you with autumn's spirit for sure!
Visit the farmers' market before it ends for the season. Observe what produce is available. Try and make more meals with the food that's in season and really connect with the agricultural cycle. Thank the Earth Mother for her bounty. Thank the Nature Spirits before they nurture you. Envision the alchemy that occurs in your kitchen with each meal.
Build an ancestral altar. Pray to your ancestors and meditate on death and transformation.
Start to dream of the activities you can do during the dark half of the year. Create a mental list of crafts to create, recipes to cook, card or board games to play, and books to read.
Preserve some food. This is something I want to try more of in the future.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
We turned the heat on today. We've been putting it off for as long as possible. We're from northern NY - we have long, cold winters which result in expensive heating bills. Weretoad and I would rather bear the cold for as long as possible than pay more for heat. If we didn't fear damaged pipes or, more importantly, uncomfortable animal companions, we would have put it off longer. Oh well. Today was the day and now our home is toasty warm.
It's very chilly outside. I've been waking up to frost and, apparently, there was a dusting of snow on the ground this morning. The trees look more skeletal every day. I want to visit the forest but hunting season makes me wary. I would like to go up and make an offering tomorrow but stay close to the housing area. Hunters can't legally shoot so close to homes so I should theoretically be safe. All the same, I occasionally see archers walking in and out of the forest. It is that time of year - just as the ancient Celts culled their herds of cow, the modern hunters go into the woods to cull the wild herds. It is not my calling in this life, though, so I simply stay out of the way.
I wrote before that I brought most of my plants inside. Others - mainly the beans - were left on the patio to go back to the Earth Mother. I didn't have much success with them anyway. They slowly wither away around the bright orange pumpkin.
Winter is coming. I can see and feel it in the air.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
I finally got around to watching "The Secret of Kells," the animated feature from Cartoon Saloon. It was recently added to the Netflix Instant Queue and several Druid friends were recommending it on the ADF mailing list.
The story is about Brendan, a young brother in the Abbey of Kells in Ireland. His uncle, the Abbot, forbids Brendan from leaving the abbey and insists that he helps fortify the walls in preparation for the impending Viking raids. When the illuminator, Brother Aidan, arrives with his cat and unfinished manuscript, Brendan is suddenly encouraged to explore his more creative side and pay more attention to the natural world - which Aidan claims can teach more than any book. When asked to fetch an ingredient for ink, Brendan encounters the wolf spirit Aisling who befriends and helps him throughout the story.
Despite the presence of Christianity, the Pagan world is still alive in "The Secret of Kells." The Vikings are referred to as Pagans (which they were at this time). On some levels, the portrayal of the Vikings was unfortunate as they were shown as dark, almost infernal monsters. As they invade, one of them slashes through a cross - a scene that even made me sit up. One must remember, though, that the Irish probably saw the invaders as monstrous. Cromm Crúaich, a dubious Irish deity, is also in the film. There is mention of him in Irish lore - mostly in association with St. Patrick. Cromm is known for demanding the sacrifice of children for a good harvest. He is a very negative, demonic being in "The Secret of Kells." He's portrayed as a snake who, once dealt with, is drawn as an ouroboros - one of many spiraling symbols in the movie. What could be a negative portrayal of Paganism is balanced by the sidhe Aisling. She is the protector of the forest, a shape-shifter who, while friendly with Brendan, is also a hunter and a killer as a wolf. Aisling, to me, represents one of the best portrayals of a Pagan deity in modern culture. She is mischievous, powerful, and ageless yet benevolent to the deserving, and possessing of her own faults and weaknesses.
The animation was stunning. You will see triquetras and spirals in the forest that will make you gasp. The Celtic knots are just amazing. The cat, Pangur Bán, is transformed into a spirit that looks like a feline Celtic knot. The Book of Kells is brought to life at the end with exquisite detail and love.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone who loves Ireland, mythology, or a good story. There are possibly some frightening scenes for children, so I recommend that parents watch it first if you're uncertain. If your child wasn't bothered by Disney's "The Princess and the Frog," he or she will probably love "The Secret of Kells." If you're concerned that your son or daughter will come away from the film with a poor impression of the Vikings, make sure to expose them to "How to Train Your Dragon" for a more positive representation.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Reading predictions about the future scares me. Anything about peak oil, the collapse of society as we know it, and/or the dystopian reality we're supposedly headed to depresses me. It also fascinates me and inspires me to continue to develop my gardening and other DIY skills. Signs point to their necessity in the future.
But even if the proverbial shit hits the fan, I still won't feel ready. Perhaps that's why a lot of people tune out environmentalism. There's so much doom and gloom. People don't want to think about changing their routines, perspectives, and diets because it's hard. People don't like hard.
Not all of us let the difficulty stop us from attempting to change. We care about the health of our Earth Mother and brother and sister Nature Spirits. We accept the responsibility. We stop eating so much garbage and start eating more local/organic/veggie. We start to make our own cosmetics and cleaning products out of more natural and less harmful materials. We slowly phase out our use of plastic bags and paper towels in favor of cloth bags and rags. We refuse to buy new furniture from Walmart and Target in favor of antiques. We try to drive less/walk more/bike more/purchase more fuel efficient vehicles.
And yet despite all of those very important baby steps, many of us sometimes feel like we're floundering.
I once got into an argument with a complete stranger. She argued that the government isn't responsible for changing the way people behave. Individuals need to make better and more informed choices and the smallest changes are the most important. I agreed with her that making small changes is, indeed, a very important part of moving our society towards sustainability, but I disagreed vehemently about the place of government. The government's arguably miniscule changes in environmental policy this past decade are what gets me so depressed. I can make all the little changes I can stand but, in the end, the government needs to make big changes.
My biggest pet peeve in Northern NY is the lack of mass transit. There are buses but they are the least convenient things in the world. Our ability to utilize them is severely limited, rendering them practically useless. As I wrote yesterday, I want to walk to work more. We finally have a local farmers' market but they are still very small. We were able to go once and walked there, which was wonderful. We can walk or bike to the post office or the library. Otherwise, we cannot walk to our local organic/local markets, to the hospital, to the vet, the pharmacy, art supply shops... We are left dependent on cars. While I'm very excited about my new car, I lament my continued financial support of the status quo. I sometimes feel stuck, even while taking control of so many other changes in my life. My desire for a higher education meant I needed loans which now need paying off. The economic environment meant I had to move away from a more pedestrian-friendly environment to a rural area because that's the best I could do. Stuck stuck stuck.
At least I live in an agricultural wonderland full of many local, organic farmers. At least I get to breath in fresh country air. At least my house is powered by the local river. There. I'm being optimistic. :)
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
I'm very much a novice at herbalism, foraging, and wildcrafting. I take my time learning and experimenting because I understand that it can be dangerous if you don't do your homework. But even if you do a lot of research, you still have to be careful. You never know what you'll be allergic to, for example. You have to try a small sample first. That way, if you are allergic or if your resources left out an important detail - you're more likely to be okay. Hopefully.
One of my favorite blogs to read is 66 Square Feet. The author, Marie Viljoen, is passionate about food and plants. She decided to experiment with the May Apple - aka American Mandrake (pictured at left - photo by Ms. Viljoen).
I love her most recent entry. What an adventure! It's very unfortunate that the authors of the books she was consulting didn't include the detail about the seeds being toxic! I'm glad she's okay and lived to tell us the tale!
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
The nights are getting much colder so I brought most of my plants in a week or two ago. They're flourishing in my art and ritual room. It looks a bit like a greenhouse in there!
Unfortunately, they can't exactly take advantage of the copious amounts of rain we've had recently. I moved the watering can outside so it can catch some of is. It's interesting to hear the droplets bounce off the can. I can imagine Mama Nature's fingers tap, tap, tapping on it like a drum. I feel inspiration coming on...
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Yesterday I talked about what the Autumn Equinox means to me. Now I'm going to share with you some of what I've been doing to celebrate it!
I've started to collect twigs from specific trees to create small ogham staves. So far I've started luis/rowan and dair/oak. I'm proud of them so far! Here they are with some festive mini pumpkin gourds.
Some of the last summer flowers cut, bound, and ready to offer at a gathering I attended last night. They turned into the table centerpiece!
My personal altar with an autumn-colored altar cloth and harvest offerings.
Here's a closeup of the cornhusk doll I made. She's probably the third one I've ever finished so... she's not as impressive as some others out there! I'm proud of her all the same. I actually grew the corn that she's made out of! Granted, because only two spouted and were grown in containers, they didn't produce large ears. Still, I was able to grow my own offering and autumn decor (the stalks have been cut and tied to an iron post outside). This dolly is going to be part of the main offering at Muin Mound Grove tomorrow. Everyone was encouraged to make a corn dolly to place in the fire.
More harvest offerings! Everything except the gourds were from my own garden. I included the tiny ears of corn. Behind all the flowers, fruit, and vegetables is a harvest Earth Mother doll I crocheted. She's my planned personal offering for the big ritual tomorrow.
I'm looking forward to seeing my grovies tomorrow and celebrating the harvest. On the actual Equinox I went to Better Farm for a potluck dinner, casual "ritual," and bonfire! What an amazing place! I met so many wonderful people. Everyone was so hospitable. Sharing a meal with local gardeners, artisans, and free-thinkers; listening to a fiddler and guitarist tweak out an acoustic "Knocking on Heaven's Door;" standing in a candlelit barn; and sitting around a smokey fire while crying "I hate rabbits!" every time the smoke hit my eyes - now that was a great way to spend the Equinox!
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Martha Stewart has some lovely pumpkin ideas for Samhain / Halloween. Here are three of my favorites for fellow Druids.
Every year my husband and I make traditional turnip jack-o-lanterns. The Irish really made these, so I feel a special connection to my ancient ancestors when I do this craft. Get some pointers here. These are believed to help scare away some of the more nasty spirits taking advantage of the parted veil. There is also a possibility that they are a carryover from head hunting.
I don't know about you, but I love Celtic knots. This looks challenging but I know I would feel super accomplished after! There are two templates for download here.
Finally, some toadstool pumpkins! How adorable and whimsical are they?! I also love the swirl pattern on the wee pumpkin guard in front of the biggest shroom. More tips for this project can be found here.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Play the drum and meditate on the deer - the doe - the hind. See her in the woods. She runs. Follow through whipping branches and thorns. Follow through ferns. Follow until you trip over a large root and lay facedown in the moss and moist soil. Call out to her and she comes, looking down on you with big brown eyes. She looks into you... She has been waiting. She gives her name and you see her image fade a little. You can almost see the image of a wild woman with long, untamed hair standing in her place. You have seen her before. She gives you a job to do and takes the apple you have brought her. She fades into the woods like a woman backing away and a deer leaping through ferns. You watch her vanish and suddenly wake up knowing what to do.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
