Our Paths in the Valley

Make Our Hearts Fertile Fields for Your Bounty

In Honor of Frigga 

"Shining Lady of Asgard,
All-seeing, all-knowing,
at Your command worlds are born,
at Your nod and tender smile, life burst into being.
Valiant Goddess, ruthless foe, cunning Queen,
Illuminate your wyrd.
Strengthen our hamyngja.
Make us fruitful in all things, like the barley and flax
   that is your gift.
Nourish our souls, God-Mother,
Pour forth from Your cornucopia of abundance
and in return we will give You our devotion,
   our praise, our industry.
Holy Mother of all life, foremost amongst the Asynjur,
   bestow upon us Your wisdom.
Make our hearts fertile fields for Your bounty, and
   on Your spindle of shimmering starlight,
Weave for us a joyous fate."
-  Galina Krasskova, Exploring the Northern Tradition, 2005, p.44 

Religion and Gardens

One Old Druid's Final Journey

 

Summer Solstice Preparations

Currently, my own preparatory work for the Summmer Solstice Celebration includes:

Cleaning cattails our of the north end of the pond.

Weeding, mowing, and cleaning up around the teahouse by the pond. 

Weeding, cleaning, and painting in the Sacred Circle Garden. 

Cutting and stacking firewood for nighttime fires. 

Daily work with Tarot Magick. 

Preparing updates to the Months webpages on June and July. 

Reading two books by John Matthews and Anna Franklin that I have found useful in preparing for the Summer Solstice Celebration:

Celebrating the Seasons of Life: Beltane to Mabon by Ashleen O'Gaea 

Midsummer: Magical Celebrations of the Summer Solstice by Anna Franklin

Lammas: Celebrating the Fruits of the First Harvest by Anna Franklin

The Summer Solstice: Celebrating the Journey of the Sun from May Day to Harvest by John Matthews

 

Staying Quiet

"The inablility to stay quiet is one of the conspicuous failings of mankind."
-  Walter Bagehot, 1870

We will be on retreat for the next sixteen days, and will not be posting to the blog or adding to, reformatting, or improving any webpages. 

Check out our April webpage for ideas about what we will be reading and doing during the first days of April. 

One Old Druid's Final Journey: Notebooks of the Librarian of Gushen Grove

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

Blessings,

Karen and Mike

 

Green Man Lore

Vernal Equinox Celebration

Lately, I have been studying Neopagan Druid spiritual practices, lore, poetry, and ritual. 

My research and practice notes are kept at:

One Old Druid's Journey: The Notebooks of the Green Wizard  

It is a common practice for Neo-Pagans to celebrate the coming of spring at a Spring Equinox Celebration in late March.  All Neopagan Druid's I am familiar with celebrate the beginning of the Spring Season.  

In preparation of the celebration: 1) Take a long walk outdoors.  2)  Work in your garden.  3)  Clean you house and home altar.  4) Read spiritual literature.  May I suggest:

Walkers Between the Worlds:  The Western Mysteries from Shaman to Magus by Caitlin Matthews  

Heart of Yoga: The Sacred Marriage of Yoga and Mysticism by Karuna Erickson

The Druidry Handbook: Spiritual Practice Rooted in the Living Earth by John Michael Greer

March: Poems, Quotes, Sayings, Celebrations, Lore

via greenway.typepad.com

Seven Ways

Seven Perennial Spiritual Practices:

1. Transform your motivation: reduce craving and find your soul's desire.
2. Cultivate emotional wisdom: heal your heart and learn to love.
3. Live ethically: feel good by doing good.
4. Concentrate and calm your mind.
5. Awaken your spiritual vision: see clearly and recognize the sacred in all things.
6. Cultivate spiritual intelligence: develop wisdom and understand life.
7. Express spirit in action: embrace generosity and the joy of service.

- Roger Walsh, M.D., Ph.D. Essential Spirituality: The 7 Central Practices to Awaken Heart and Mind, 1999

Lifestyle Advice for Wise Persons