Many people know that I love weeds. I admire their resilience and beauty. In complete honesty, there are a few that I resist ~ Bind weed, creeping Charlie.. Nonetheless, I still find them beautiful. Usually, if a weed graces my life, I welcome it, bless where it planted itself and ask, "what lesson do you have for me to learn?"

They seem to know this interest I have in them, or at least, I believe it so, because I will get large groups (hordes?) of a species that spontaneously move into my garden, make themselves at home, intent that I receive their gift. (I wonder what the lesson of that invasive Bindweed could be... I admit, I am slow with that one.)

A few years ago, the guest of the summer was Blue Vervain. Oh my, not one corner of my garden was without that hardy representative. I do make room for any emissary, but I admit I found it very hard to find places to plant the zucchini and onions that really don't love competition.

This summer, the friends that have come in with gusto and en masse with every intention of staying for the long term are some ancient allies, allies of such benefit to me and all of medicine. The ones gracing my garden in bounty this year are ~ Nettles, Dandelion and Mullein. Ahh what medicine they bring~ I revere them. I use them for food, medicine, balms, and teas.

I always leave room for these plants as I love their energy, beauty and medicine. Last year, when I attempted my annual Autumnal search for dandelion roots for the winter storage, I found so few, that I worried that would not have enough for my teas~I had eaten most of them through the summer! I am so grateful that somehow, from some source, they returned this Spring in great quantities.

Then I noticed an interesting phenomenon. They planted themselves in greater quantities everywhere. The community boasts fields of yellow and green. Mmm, a sign for everyone in the community? I wonder. Last year, the most common weed I noted was mullein ~ an herb for the lungs and for grief... Certainly, something that has been beneficial this winter.

So what might Dandelion's intention be this year, for this community? Building our inner strength? Deep roots? I will listen to them with an open heart, to hear their intention. I may not know the answers ever, or for many months to come; Still I do and will love their presence.

Weeds are considered weeds, according to some maxim I've heard, "because they have benefits as of yet unknown." I would add to this maxim that they are considered weeds, because they are strong, resilient, pervasive and unapologetic. Perhaps those are important qualities for me to emulate this year.

Well, for now, I will smile at these friends and their beautiful rising stems, love and admire their graceful happy yellow blooms and wait to take in all they give to me, my teas, and the community this season. I may know more clearly how to express their wisdom come Fall

Happy weeding to all of you

Violets are abloom in my garden. The showy flower emerges above the tops of the green edible leaves. These beautiful blooms are considered "Non productive," as they are not used for seed production. Perhaps the purpose, if that word is needed to be assigned to anything, is to bring beauty to ease our souls after the long winter and cold Spring. I like to think though that it is for Beauty sake alone~ Something of such beauty just for the sake of beauty.

I drank a cup of tea today with a tea bag that quoted E Dickinson~
"Beauty is not caused, it is."

That is how I feel. No need to explain or understand a WHY of love. It just is.

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The Beech tree

That is my topic today, in this writing ~ to give reverence to the majestic Beech Tree
When ever I come upon a Beech in the forest, I have the experience one might have when one meets a Beloved unexpectedly, on a walk or along one's daily path. I feel a rush of recognition that lifts my light. I feel a reaching between me and the tree that is both subtle and physical. The beauty, majesty and elegance of the Beech is the gift I hope to describe here. My reverence for this being persuades me to overcome any shyness or fear.

In the Spring, the Beech is one of the early trees to risk stretching their buds to the sun. In the image above, I am holding the magic of this act. From that golden bundle as many as seven leaflets and a stem may unfurl over the course of a few days or weeks, depending on the temperatures and light.

In the Spring, when this emergence is occurring, their golden tips shimmer like embers in the early Spring. The camera does not capture the way a Beech forest appears to twinkle thousands of fairy lights in the Spring light. It can feel quite ethereal in the ebbing light of twilight, or in the rain, when the water droplets on the buds catch the light and amplify it like a thousand golden crystal gems. A Forest of golden embers.

The buds emerge slowly out of their cocoon. When they do, they have a soft downy fuzz on them to protect them from the cold, or at least that is what I think it is. I love that stage. And can hardly resist trying to photograph it every year. (See photo section.)

Beech trees grow in community. When one enters a Beech enclave, the color of the light changes, adding to the sense of ethereal dimensional shifting. It feels like moving through watery light. Uplifting my spirit with the subtlety of this light and energy, bringing wordless wisdom and peace.

The branches are unique in the way they weave and intertwine as they grow, creating magical sacred geometry. Their flowing branches seem to follow paths of unseen energy waves. Awe at the design and unknowing sense of meaning sweeps over me. I often wonder to myself, "have you been singing your creation song, right here, all along? and only now, I have ears to hear?"

Before I end this reverie, I will also try to describe the way their leaves sound like the ocean waves when the wind moves through them. Indeed, the same waves of motion moving through the forest gives the appearance of ocean tides, swelling the waters of leaves to and fro, as the branches respond and play in the wind. The waves of motion sounds like the wind singing to the sea. Surely, few other trees are as likely to pull the wind to them as the Beech to communicate something to its neighbor as it joyfully passes the energy along from one branch to the next.

In Autumn, the leaves often choose to fall in one golden opportunity of splendor. When the winds and sun are just right, millions of golden leaves fly in the air and swirl to the currents that had played with them all summer. Free to float, they dance in these currents until they gracefully and slowly land creating a carpet of gold on the forest floor.

I could say more of their mysteries, but this post is already long and I wish to honor them by keeping my reverence as elegant as they.
I hope I came close to that goal~
Today, I toss restraint to the winds,
To the very winds that dance and play with the Beloved
To the tree and wind that create the song of creation together,
I ask, teach me also to dance with the song of creation, so free of care, so I too can toss to and fro in the delight of it all.

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Every year, I discover an area in my garden where the wild thrives.
I leave these areas to tend to themselves, leaving them to manage and flourish in their own wisdom and design

Wherever, and whenever the wild appears, I do not wish to tame it. nor change it. Instead, I seek it, adore and revere it. In the moment of meeting, I feel the thrill of glimpsing into the mysterious wonders of our Dear Mother Earth. I witness at that moment how seemingly random synchronistic events can come together to make beautiful designs, geometry, and sacredness, just as it is, full of passion, ecstasy, and unfolding wonder.

Indeed, in my garden, the wonder unfolds through the seasons with ever changing color and beauty. In the image above, first a nettle green appears, new and cleansing, then a narcissus bliss bright and heady, later the promise of a daisy, and a bold dock, and at last a spread for Queen Ann's Lace, supported by the balm of bee. All this emerges from one wondrous, 12 inch square serendipitous patch of wild.

Grow, grow Dear Earth, in your direction and joy. Thank you dear Mother for allowing me entrance to this beauty; I revel in your freedom and beauty. And am deeply grateful.

What a splendid time to be writing about trees.

"The Chartruese is Starting!"
The mystery of Spring begins the magnificent display of life force budding up and out in flower and leaf.
Coming in Cascading waves of splendor and motion.
Little soft tufts appear on the very tips of these great beings, (and every where in between!)
Aspens, Striped Maples, and Beech begin the chorus, followed quickly by the birches and others.

Today, while driving south, I barely could keep my eyes on the road, out of reverence and admiration for the splendor and beauty.
Each tree bursting with clarity and purpose, singing with vitality yet softness; each with its own unique song, each in harmony with the whole. Each one magnificent in its beauty.

All of this Splendor and joy, can only happen, and only arrives after the deep dive of winter into one's roots and root systems. It is only after the descent can the reemergence of Spring's life force arrive. And oh how it does arrive with clarity, purpose and vitality.
The same is true for we humans~ First, there is the downward descent to one's very core Self, to one's source and center. Downward and inward we spiral like the sap in a tree renewing our souls and hearts. That inner spiral "grounds," cleanses and allows us to hear our own truth and our own Song. It is like a clearing of the throat before singing the song; a renewal of the soul for the upward climb

Then, when the waters of heaven fall gently down and meets the waters of earth, when the waters of our root systems push upward, ready to express our being, only then can our hearts once more rise up to sing their songs. Only then can our hearts Spring to life once again.

"Brothers and Sisters, Here is what I know, here is what I know and it goes like this~
"In your love my Salvation lies, In your love, My Salvation lies."

Orange Sky by Alexi Murdoch

The path of Venus is The path of the heart

A few days before Venus started this particular journey, she brushed up with the Pleiades, the seven sister star cluster. In the evening in the western sky I got to see Venus just below the little cluster of stars. I have always loved this group of stars~ a magical cluster associated with a magical number.

I also have always loved that the best way to see this star community is by averting one's eyes, by seeking their home just off the actual location. I like to think perhaps, like the heart, one best sees the Pleiades when not using the glare of rational perspective or preconceived notion of place, time and form. Instead, when softening the vision, one can really See!! And humorously, when practicing this skill at night, my mind almost always jumps in and flicks my eyes back to the actual physical spot saying, "really, all that is in that cluster??", only to be rewarded with the dimmed-down version of a smudge.

I like knowing that when I widen my gaze with reverence, or indeed sidle up to any being, with honor, humility and hope that I see More beauty than is in my dreams. It feels when this happens that I see a spark of the Divine in that eternal moment ~ Will I See you if I Look from a new different angle, a different spot? What if I look here? Or here? Then will I See You??

Regarding the magic of this month's passing~Much has been written about the Pleiades, saying that they carry unconditional Love for all the earth and her inhabitants. Here is what I know, that when I lie down on this precious earth and avert my eyes to gaze under the sky's mystery, a gentleness enters my Spirit, a gentleness that does not reflect my mental chatter. It is the peace of a warm smile. I leave the moment feeling refreshed, a renewed hope and awe.

Venus passed this warm smile prior to entering her retrograde shadow this year, like a graduate being given the blessing of her kin prior to starting a new petal path; prior to her descent into the underworld. It brings scope to this journey. That even the stars are not alone. That even the stars have their kin sharing encouragement and support. ("Go team GO...")

I celebrate her, and our star kin. And Thank you for being in my life.

Love to all of you

A quick note for subscribers. I will not "post" my daily Venus writing so that your inboxes are not unduly inundated. I shall simply add them to the Venus page that you can find at the top of the blog. Instead will start with the goal of posting weekly. Also if you find you are receiving this email and do not want it, I believe there is a way that you can unsubscribe at the bottom of your email. And as much has changed in my writing, and the world, I understand the need to have less rather than more emails. ~Namaste ~

April 11, 2020

Further musing on the present path of Venus through the sky~

Some call the planet Venus the planet associated with the heart; I am calling this path of the heart 'The path of many petals.' The path of one's heart unfurling and blooming on the path of love. As with any path, it is one step at a time

I take it slowly (with all the extra time I have in this global pause,) noticing what is here now. What feeds my joy now? What feeds my laughter and delight? I trust that what reveals itself to me is my next step. (even if that step, as it was today, is cleaning certain arcs within my home. An interesting focus before the descent to the underworld)

I remind myself when the steps feel hard, as it can with the ground in these Northern woods still thawing, that I can focus on the challenges before me, those that separate and divide, or I can look at the source that I love~ the face of the Beloved before me. When posed in this way, the choice seems obvious; the path feels clear even when the end destination remains unknown. I choose a path of joy

We are in a pause before the descent, I trust in trust. I trust my Spirit who has brought me to this exquisite specific moment in creation to experience this specific step as a part of the making and unfurling of the eventual flower. Every step, when seen as integral to this path becomes that of walking on hallowed ground

Happy path to your heart's center.

~Happy Easter, Passover and Ramadan soon to be~

Namaste

The guidance I received this morning seemed such a nice gift to share on this Leo New moon~ Blessings, and in the words of Kaypacha~ Injoy 🙂

Relax into the now,
stillness

See with eyes of wonder and potential

Recognize the synchronistic events, the everyday gifts of spirit
Follow the call into the unknown, to co-create with Spirit
Dream, intend, and yes, watch for the signs for next action

Release, as water through your fingers, old pain, old wounds
Still the mind and listen to the soft gentle voice urging you to test your new wings

"Identifying strongly with destiny’s design… while remembering our basic roots in ordinary soil"
Elias Lonsdale

New moon 11:11 EDT

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