July is nearly here, and it promises to be bountiful! I’m grateful for the growth in my garden throughout June.
I love how the cabbages spiral. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018.
The peas seemed to blossom later this year. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018.
Posts Tagged ‘Nature Spirits’
June 2018 Garden Update
Posted in Druidism, tagged 2018, food, gardening, Nature Spirits, Plants on June 30, 2018|
My Summer Plans
Posted in Druidism, tagged ADF, ancestors, Books, gardening, herbalism, initiate study program, Ireland, land, Nature Spirits, Northern Rivers Grove, Plants, Study Programs, Summer Solstice on June 27, 2018|
It’s interesting to look back to last summer. At this time, we were preparing to make an offer on our home. We were heading into new territory and some of the worst stress I remember experiencing. It was a lesson on patience and austerity, that’s for sure, but it was worth it. Here we are, a year later, transforming our yard into beautiful gardens, shrines, and pollinator habitats. (And a few play areas for the little one!) Last summer was all boxes and uncertainty. This summer, as I stand on my porch to gaze at the small batch of abundance I’ve been cultivating, I feel a sense of peace. I feel that I’m rediscovering my niche after a long period of stress and flailing.
My nasturtiums are very happy in their herb spiral garden home. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018.
Having the freedom to garden as I desire has been wonderful. Even when I returned home from work riddled with stress and fatigue, a little time in the garden always restored my connection to the Kindred and my own sense of self. Working to form a lasting relationship with this new land has been rejuvenating. It’s reawakened my love of herbalism, and I’m throwing myself back into my casual studies with gusto! Just a couple months ago, it seemed summer was a distant dream.
I inherited my late grandfather’s map of Ireland and related books. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018.
I’m looking forward to furthering my Druid studies this summer. When I visited my family in the Utica area, these heirlooms from my late grandfather seemed to further point me toward that. He worked tirelessly on my family’s genealogy, something I didn’t appreciate until I was older and started to honor my ancestors. My sister told me she felt my taking these would make him happy, and as I walked around the hallow home where he lived and died, I spoke to him of my intentions, and I got a strong sense of approval.
In addition to the map and books, I also picked up some old artwork for my home, and was given permission to transplant some plants in my garden. I brought some of my grandmother’s lily of the valley for the shade garden, and some comfrey for my herb garden. The lilies seem to be taking well. The comfrey looks a tad wilted with the stress of the move. I’ve not lost hope, though. I’ve read they are quite prolific, and even a little section of root can grow. This particular plant is one of the first that my grandmother, an herbal enthusiast herself, taught me about, so if I can establish a patch from her own garden, it would be very meaningful to me.
Burning grove offerings in my backyard fire pit. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018.
Speaking of Druid studies, my grove is growing strong! My friend and grovie, Cassandra, lead our Summer Solstice ritual. We honored Manannan, and asked him to help us as we reestablished our open doors to communities who need safe places, such as the LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities. It was a moving ceremony, but also one with much joy and laughter. Some of our members identify as part of the former community, including one of our elders who proudly told us about some of the first Gay Pride marches he attended.
It was a rainy day, so we held the ritual indoors. I brought many offerings meant for the fire to my home, and I made sure they got to their intended destination last night under the light of a waxing moon. I poured a libation to Brighd to help me with the work – the work of a Senior Druid. Hearing the way Northern Rivers Grove has positively impacted people gives me so much hope. I’m working to improve my practice so that I can serve my community.
As I reflect on where I was at this time last year, I feel excited for the relative peace this summer promises. I will continue to work with my new plant allies and the land spirits. I will throw myself further into my Initiate Studies with ADF. Right now, I’m working on Trance 1 and Divination 2, but I know I will have to augment some of the previously completed courses as the whole study program is undergoing change. It’s all good, though. It will all help me become a better Druid and a better person in general!
Getting Down and Dirty in My Backyard
Posted in Druidism, tagged ancestors, divination, gardening, herbalism, Nature Spirits, omens, permaculture, Plants on May 23, 2018|
I accomplished quite a bit in the yard today. I came in covered in soil, exhausted, but I feel amazing. There’s still much to be done, but we’re transforming the yard one plant at a time! My husband and I have a vision. It will take years, but it’s part of establishing a relationship with the land, and working with the local spirits to create a magical sanctuary.
I finally started a project I’ve been fantasizing about for years – a spiral herb garden! My dad helped me till the soil, but I spent a bulk of the afternoon and evening hauling rocks, building a mound, and starting a spiral. I need more stones, but the basic outline is there. Hoping to put some herbs in this weekend. This is woo for many people, but I actually used my pendulum to help me figure out where to start the spiral. When I got out my compass to figure out where the starting point was oriented, I confirmed it was exactly west. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018
The pollinator garden is taking shape. The border is temporary (made out of panels from an old planter that bit the dust after moving). Some native plants now have a home here – bee balm, purple and yellow cone flowers, and lavender hyssop. It’s a start! Dad tilled this as well, and we found some really interesting things… Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018.
We suspect the corner was an old trash heap. Our home was built in the late 1800s, after all. We’ve found various old things in the back – doll arms, parts of tools, broken jars, and these aged gardening shears. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018.
Around the side of the house, my dad found this old compact with his metal detector. He cleaned it up until it shines. Such a pretty piece! There’s the remains of an old powder puff inside, but it’s mostly decomposed. Not sure why it was buried where it was… I plan to do some spiritual investigating, for sure. I feel like I have the start of a museum. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018
In other fun news, I found wild violets and lily of the valley growing in the shaded part of the yard! I’m thrilled as these are plants I’ve wanted to work with for years! Finding these after doing so much work today felt like a positive omen from the local spirits.
First Bealtaine at Our New Home
Posted in Druidism, tagged 2018, Bealtaine, family, gardening, Maybush, Nature Spirits, offerings, Pagan parenting, shrines, traditions on May 19, 2018| 1 Comment »
Emerging hyacinth. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018.
For the last decade or so, my Bealtaine celebrations have been punctuated by an explosion of green. Every year, I dance the Maypole, all the while taking note of the leaves finally reaching out in praise of sun and rain. This year, I did not dance the Maypole until the weekend after, but I spent the 1st welcoming signs of spring at my new home. This was our first Bealtaine here. My daughter helped me greet the flowers we planted in the autumn. We spent so much of March and April looking at their bed with longing; it was very satisfying to see them emerge and eventually blossom into a colorful display! The bees certainly approved of our efforts.
Giving offerings to Airmed. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018.
When working with my garden and the plants who grow around my home, my mind and heart swing to Airmed, a goddess fraternally connected to our plant allies. We made a space for her. Bee helped put offerings of gratitude in the little bowls we put out on her stone.
Outside shrine for spirit allies. Photo by Grey Catsidhe.
My husband helped me move this half barrel into a corner of our yard. This followed us from our last two apartments. I’ve been placing offerings into it for years, and I even buried my ferrets in it. Renting, I had no other choice! So the little ones follow me, joining our spirit allies. I usually plant foxglove or woodland tobacco in it.
Our May Bush. Photo by Grey Catsidhe, 2018
This is a new tradition for us – it’s something we couldn’t easily do at our apartment – make a May bush! Ours is slightly different from traditional Irish May bushes, mostly that it’s not Hawthorn and isn’t something we paraded around. However, we tied some cloth to the branches of this established bush – mostly ribbons Bee helped me choose. We danced around it, thanked the local spirits, and prayed for good luck upon our home, especially in regards to the productivity of the land we live upon. It was a show of love and gratitude for the patch of land we call our home. The bush has since burst into life. We have decided to treat the ribbons as we do those of our grove’s Maypole – which is based on the tradition of my first grove, Muin Mound – we will remove the ribbons around Samhain and put them into the fire, thus returning the fertility to the land.
Each High Day, I think back to how I spent it as a renter. I looked forward to owning my own home and having space to establish deeper relationships with the land. I did what I could before, with container gardens, a failed attempt at worm bins, and delving deep into the apartment complex’s wooded land to make peace there… but now I can finally live out more of my dreams. We planted seeds in the earth. We planted trees and blueberry bushes in the earth. We have a compost pile. Finally, finally, I can start interacting with the yard I was so excited to work with when we moved in at the end of August last year.
Mysteries
Posted in Druidism, tagged Nature Spirits, spring, trees on March 26, 2018|
It’s officially spring, but we still have snow on the ground here. All the same, signs of spring abound if you look! There are buds on the trees, the chives have sprouted, and several song birds have returned.
Having only lived in this house since the late summer, this is our first spring here. The process of moving in delayed us from getting acquainted with the local nature spirits as thoroughly as I would have liked. I’m excited to work more at that this year.
I already started over the weekend. My daughter and I walked around the backyard to look for signs of spring. The snow is melting, so we could explore some of the plants. I was intrigued to discover that what I thought were bushes last year are actually sprouting tree stumps! My husband and I have been talking about planting trees in the back. There’s one large oak tree on the other side of the fence separating us from the cemetery, but we want more shade and privacy. Turns out, we already had some trees! I’ll be interested to see the leaves after they appear. For now, these are little mysteries. I’ve been reading about how to care for them so they grow as strong as possible. I wonder why they were cut down in the first place?
Cemeteries
Posted in Druidism, tagged ancestors, Nature Spirits on February 20, 2018| 2 Comments »
I took a walk to the cemetery to watch the mist roll over the headstones. I can’t help but imagine spirits migrating over the land when watching it.
Earlier, I told another Druid that cemeteries inspire me. They’ve been part of my life since childhood as I grew up with two down my road. One accompanied an old, abandoned church. The other is strictly for departed pets. I liked walking to them and through them. As a teenager, I took my boyfriends to them to kiss in the shadows. The dead didn’t mind, though the pet cemetery has since cut down the bushes that offered some privacy.
Now I have a large cemetery behind my home. The dad don’t bother me, though I saw some curious spirits peeking at me when we first moved in. I often go up to say hello.
Time takes on a new meaning where the dead repose. Everyday stress melts like ice soaking into Victorian era graves and oaken roots.
Life goes on. Enjoy it. Find joy even amidst the decay.
Sometimes I Just Need to Get Out
Posted in Druidism, tagged 2018, forest, Nature Spirits, nature walk, winter on January 22, 2018|
I felt stressed the last couple of weeks. Work has been a major contributor to that, but I also credit the extreme cold. It meant a lot of time inside, shielded from the sun. When the temperatures rose to the 40s this weekend (yay, heatwave!), I heard the call of the forest and needed to get out. I knew it was time when my family was getting on my last nerve. Thus, I retreated into the woods. I walked down the trail, admiring the mingling deer and snowmobile tracks. I delighted in the songbirds joyfully welcoming the sun through the clouds.
I felt that I could breathe.
True to my Sagittarian sign, I’m frequently beset by wanderlust. I crave exploration and adventure, and simply trudging around the forest on my own can satisfy that. I slipped off the trail and just stood, staring up at the canopy of the arboreal cathedral. I felt so free and rejuvenated.
With the forest fresh in my heart, I’m ready for another week.
Instagram
I’m tagging @jaimemontana_ for my #writingbuddy shoutout! Since attending a creative writing class with her, we’ve shared a few pieces. Finding trusted critique buddies is hard, but when you do, treasure them! She’s currently beta-reading for me, and I feel really honored to have seen some of her big project. I think it’s important for creative people to support one another, and I’m so privileged to have this talented and thoughtful writer friend who gives honest feedback. She’s also a fellow book lover, of course, and she shared this novel with me because she knows I love Irish mythology. (It’s taking me forever to finish though because I mostly read e-books!) #februaryauthorwipchallenge 🌸🌸🌸 For my #writethrufeb “writing confession” prompt... Well, I’m not guilty about it, but I don’t post much about the fan fiction I’ve written! They all feature Sakura and Sasuke from Naruto. Sharing it really boosted my confidence as a writer. #amwriting #amediting #writingcommunity #booksI challenged myself for today’s aesthetic prompt by only using photos that I or my husband took (rather than free stock on Canva). RIVER MAGIC takes place on the St. Lawrence River. My family and I spend a lot of time there, and this setting is an important element over the year of the story. I included photos from my Druid celebrations (solo and with my grove) as several characters practice that religion. Lacey begins to grow into her role as a bard in her grove. The photo on the bottom left is part of a mermaid doll I made a few years ago! I really should make one to look more like the character in my book. #februaryauthorwipchallenge 🧜🏻♀️ For the #writethrufeb challenge, writing peeve, I’d have to say it’s sorting through repetitive words. It’s an important part of editing, but my gods, it’s tedious! #amwriting #amediting #stlawrenceriver #thousandislandsny #druidry #druid #druidsofinstagram #paganauthor #paganwriter #paganliterature #witchlit #mermaidsWIP Three Things Trivia: 1) Most of my novel takes place in a fictional town on the St. Lawrence River in Upstate NY. Many real locations do feature in the story, though. 2) One of Lacey’s visions was inspired by my own intuitive dream that came to pass. 3) Though originally conceived of as a supernatural romance, the story and my purpose shifted after some early chapter drafts. I put it on the back burner for years until I decided that Lacey’s love interest should be human. #februaryauthorwipchallenge For the #writethrufeb prompt, “Feeling snuggly,” I’m currently cozy in bed. I spent most of my last day off revising and editing ch 34. Accomplished that, now it’s time to sleep before returning to my day job tomorrow. I only have one chapter and the epilogue left! I wish I could stay up and work! #amwriting #amediting #stlawrenceriver #1000IslandsExperimenting with tasseomancy/tasseography. I’m a total beginner! I love admiring the tea leaves as they float in the infusion. This is Nilgiri white tea. #tea #divination #tasseomancy #tasseographyEdits and a revision dominated my day. I rewrote the end of a section to better link to an earlier chapter. Here’s a snippet of my efforts. #februaryauthorwipchallenge #writethrufeb #mermaids #paganauthor #paganliterature #witchlit #amwriting #amediting #writingcommunityI was lucky enough to be in Dublin this day nine years ago. It feels like an eternity. I hope to return again soon. I loved this statue of the Children of Lir. #Dublin #Ireland #mythology #IrishmythologyCurrently Reading
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