I’ve always been a very active dreamer. Every night, without fail, my mind conjures up strange and sometimes terrifying images as I sleep. Vivid and in full color, they may bring me great joy and wonder and let me come to consciousness on a good note, or they embody my anxiety and fear until I startle myself awake in a panic. Not surprisingly, the natural world plays a strong part in my dreams. Animals, plants, and other beings join me... Read more
One of my favorite documentaries is The Queen of Trees. It follows the interconnection between particular species of fig tree, wasp, and nematode that have become so specialized that if one were to go to extinct, the others would almost certainly quickly follow. How many people, gazing casually at the sycamore fig, would recognize the crucial importance of the tiny wasps in its branches, or the even tinier nematodes within its fruit? We’re well aware of the interdependence between predators... Read more
An overview of global seasons and resulting celebrations during a midpoint between the solstice & equinox. Read more
Soil. The source of all our nutrition requires it, making it immensely valuable. But our agricultural and gardening practices are not treating it that way. In fact we are killing our soils on a grand scale. How did it become this way? Is there a solution? We'll get into that and the solutions that are not what you'd think... Read more
Earlier this year, I wrote about three of my favorite eco-friendly items on my shopping list. However, as I pointed out last month, “reduce” is a better option than “reuse” or “recycle”. So today I’d like to help you knock three things off your shopping list that you probably don’t need anyway, saving you money and cutting down on your use of resources. Fabric Softeners Fabric softeners are one of the biggest wastes of money out there. Static cling is... Read more
A while back on Tumblr, I reblogged a picture of a mountain forest with the words “No humans. No chaos.” on it. The implication seemed to be that humans are the sole source of chaos and disorder and other bad things. I criticized this in my reblog, pointing out that there’s plenty of chaos in nature. Volcanoes, earthquakes, tectonic uplift, forest fires, floods, plagues of locusts, roaming packs of wolves—these and many more forces of nature can wreak varying degrees... Read more
Over on my personal blog, Therioshamanism, the concept of giving things has been on my mind quite a bit as of late. Early in the month I talked about the concept of “giving” plants and animals (usually in the form of food) as offerings, and wondered what we would give the spirits or totems of those species in recompense. Then, for the Pagan Values Blog Project, I wrote about service, particularly service to this physical realm we inhabit. All this... Read more
A global overview of what the environment and resulting customs are like during the Solstice Read more
A poem about our home and how that came to be. Read more
When Emma-Jayne Saanen talked last month about her relationship with water, it got me to thinking about my own connection to it. I grew up near creeks and streams, and fishing in ponds, and although I didn’t go to any ocean until I was in my late twenties, the Pacific has inspired child-like joy and wonder in me every time I visit it. I’m even happy splashing around a swimming pool or soaking in a hot tub, and my daily... Read more
Paths Through The Forests
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