Last week I was sitting with a group of people at lunch time listening to one of our number explain to the rest how she and her family were planning to move to Australia. "You can't do anything new here," She told us, "People just won't let you. They are all so pessimistic and down on anyone who tries. I think it's because of our weather." I have heard lines like this many times from people in all the places I have traveled. I want to tell them the truth, but I know they won't be able to hear … [Read more...]
Why getting outside matters
April 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
There are a million ways to connect to Place, and most of them involve going 'outside.' Some of the reasons don't necessarily involve the Land, but involve people, groups, events, our own homes, etc. Of course, this makes it sound like those things are separate from the Land, which they are not, as everything is interdependent. There are also many reasons why going outside matters. We can talk about the health reasons for walking and not driving, for the environmental education the outdoors … [Read more...]
Finding place through the eyes of a child
March 20, 2013 By 2 Comments
This month's guest post comes to us from Kira Nuit, who explores the sacredness of the ordinary outdoor spaces around us through a child's vision. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It’s easy to connect with a large, famous sacred Place. The weight of history presses its importance into our thinking mind. The accumulation of energies -- natural or created, intrinsic or fed by human ritual -- is palpable enough that folks of … [Read more...]
Expanded awareness
March 12, 2013 By Leave a Comment
I wrote a while back about sitting in one spot for an hour at a time over the course of a year to meet the wildlife in your garden or a local park. Today I'd like to return to that to speak about finding the expanded awareness that will help you learn more about your wild neighbors. Think of this as a meditative practice that looks outward rather than in. Start by sitting still in your chosen outdoor spot. Get comfortable. Try to sit up as straight as you can, so that you can breathe well and … [Read more...]
Knowing our places, inside and out
March 11, 2013 By Leave a Comment
T. Thorn Coyle's book Make Magic of Your Life might not, at first glance, look like it will have much in it of relevance to Pagans seeking to connect with the land beneath their feet, and the all-species tribe which it supports. The book focuses on desire and making desires into reality, taking the reader on a journey with the four powers of the Sphinx: to know, to will, to dare and to keep silent, and a fifth power, the power to manifest. It is an excellent book, filled with illuminating … [Read more...]
Make Magic of Your Life: wherever you are
March 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment
T. Thorn Coyle's latest book, Make Magic of Your Life, is everything I expected it would be. It's easy to read, thought provoking, deceptively simple, conversational, and full of reminders to breathe. It's also a great place to start for people who want to make changes to their lives, or who want to dip into concepts like magic without having to cast spells. The book focuses on the powers of the Sphinx: to know, to will, to dare and to keep silent. Much of this book resonated for me from … [Read more...]
In love with the Gods of the city
February 20, 2013 By 12 Comments
This month's guest post is from Joshua Graham, and explores a personal perspective on urban Paganism. ---------------------------------------------------------- I hate trees. Ok, so I don’t actually hate them, but most of the time, when I am speaking to other Pagans and Witches (terms which I use interchangeably to describe myself), I find I must make this strong a statement just to get my point across. As a child growing up in Northwest part of the state of Georgia, USA, I was constantly … [Read more...]
The importance of beauty
February 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
I am lucky enough to live in what I consider to be an intensely beautiful landscape. This is especially the case on mornings like this morning, when the sky is blue and the sun shines bright. The hills become honey-coated; the sky is endless. Beauty is a vitally important part of my relationship with place. If a place is ugly, it is hard for me to get past that in order to begin to form a relationship, a connection. I shrink back from such places. They make me uncomfortable and … [Read more...]
The Sit Spot
January 22, 2013 By 1 Comment
If you want to get to know a place, the first thing you have to do is get out of your house and out of your car. Remove the barriers between yourself and the world around you. Take walks and then sit still. No matter how well you think you know a place, you can't really know it until you've spent a long time sitting quietly in one little spot. Every time you move around you send signals to all the creatures around you to run and hide. The sound of your footsteps, your breath, your voice and … [Read more...]
A Place Within A Place: reconsidering what is sacred
January 17, 2013 By 6 Comments
The bees are still. The wild hive in the back garden is quiet. It's cold out. A sliver of moon rides high in the sky: french tip manicure nail of beauty. The air is crisp, with hints of sycamore leaf, tobacco smoke, and steel--the numb metallic smell when too cold air is breathed in through the nostrils. This week, winter weather dances over Austin. As dusk deepens, I walk to one of the neighborhood coffee shops. A faint glow graces the horizon. Porch lights are on. Colored bulbs drip … [Read more...]
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