Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Spring Equinox

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/333/cache/vernal-equinox-spring-2011_33398_600x450.jpg 

The Spring Equinox as seen from the Canary Islands




The Vernal Equinox happened today at 3:45pm PDT. 

  
 



Here is your soundtrack:




 The Sun enters Aries and the wheel of the Zodiac begins again. This means that our intrepid traveler, the Sun, who was reborn on Winter Solstice, has grown enough that now he, as Day, is equal to his dance partner; Night. This balance is reflected in light and dark, intuition and rational thought, 
conscious and unconscious, male and female. 
This brings fertility and manifestation on all levels.


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneWvtWDky-m6u5HTOXVUGpLUWkF0_70NINRQznO1xyQBALc-_HVdImIa7_nutw1cFCh0nCzUUcTJ4inSGfs67Q2RIIwic-pJ1NZEF2gY9wL5xjo-qrcpbyG3JChlMHf4Ar_SITNe8qTA/s1600/Ostara.jpg



The egg is a potent symbol here, full of potential and new life. 



http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq164/sunshine4clown/Spiritual/Ostara.jpg




Everything in nature is coming alive. The Sun is gaining strength and the days are increasingly warmer and longer.  It is time to throw off the Winter and reach for what we want. 
Make plans, take journeys, take risks. 



http://theturningyear.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/spring-lamb.jpg




Hey... who are those guys??

http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/045/cache/druid-blowing-horn_4593_600x450.jpg


Ancient Order of Druids Member

Photograph by John Franks

A member of the Ancient Order of Druids society marks the vernal equinox with a horn blast near the Tower of London 
on March 2, 1961.

The Tower Hill ceremony is perhaps eclipsed in the public mind by the Druidic summer solstice ritual at Stonehenge. But spring also has an important role in Druidic tradition:  
Alban Eilir, the equinox celebration shown above, is one of several Druidic spring festivals.

In addition to horn-blowing, the Alban Eilir 
ceremony also features 
whiskey, olive oil, a hazelnut, and fire.



http://blogs.delawareonline.com/secondhelpings/files/2010/04/morels.jpg 

Spring is the time of the year to hunt for morel mushrooms



http://whatdigitalcamera.media.ipcdigital.co.uk/11133|000002b54|2246_bluebells2.jpg

The truest bluest harbingers of northwestern European Springtime....Bluebells!!


 

Happy Spring! 

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Early Spring...

...Arrives on tender footprints. Even in a year with less than desired rainfall, spring finds its way into the softest and sweetest parts of us all. Plum blossoms... narcissus and hellebores,
http://rushcreekglass.com/wp-content/uploads/ps-hellebore-golden-lotus-b.jpg
violets and calendula
http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/Violets01.jpg 
 My bees were having a whirlwind of themselves in the sunshine today. 
http://beespotter.mste.illinois.edu/topics/stings/Bees%20at%20Entrance%20Nick.bmp
Life renews itself. The snake bites her own tail, and we begin again.

There is both more trust and less attachment every wheel that spins under us. 


http://a1gaurav.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/its-raining2.jpg
 Let's call in some more rain, shall we?
 Come on Water Dragon, do your thing.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Imbolc / Water Dragon

http://api.ning.com/files/ipjYab84HsfaXngpmSKltaUutey9knJ9xzFNilEGFkhJ8EkWPbgeyZ3*RgLF446mPGTwnMeJSQrgYXB*TGURTEue41NJpKdX/imbolc3.jpg Imbolc or Candlemas falls on February 1st and is a cross quarter day of the Celtic Tradition. It is considered the 'quickening' of the new year, the moment it begins to stir. The door has cracked open
here comes Spring! It is a celebration of the life force. Persephone returns from the underworld (the inner world) as herself made new. The triple goddess has become her virgin self again,  
Brigid the Maiden. 
http://www.brighidsfire.com/well/brigid3.jpg
This is a time of awakenings and new beginnings, charged with the potency of rising energy.
This festival is sacred to love (hence its proximity to Valentine's Day). Here we can celebrate the 
 reemergence of the serpent, kundalini, the life-force, the double helix, DNA.
 Candlemas or Imbolc is the expiration of our underworld visa. We began our descent into the underworld with the Autumnal Equinox and don't reemerge until now. It is a time of re dedication, a time to pause and ask one's self,
"To what am I devoted or dedicated?"
Our acceptance of Winter is giving way to an urge to move forward into Springtime energy. We can use this time to activate our new cycle. Plant your visions and ideas, leave them to germinate.
Give thanks to and for the underworld journey. Your new life awaits.
  http://toolchurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Kundalini-small.gif


2012 
 Year of the Yang Water Dragon
   http://www.chinapage.com/dragon9c.gif 
Kwan Yin rides a Dragon. 
Fierce Compassion is our guide.

What kind of year will 2012 be?   
Many expect 2012 to bring about the end of the world,
perhaps because they mistakenly think of Mayan
or Hindu cosmologies as linear rather than cyclical. 

2012 brings many possibilities for good fortune.

  Associated with thunder, lightning and arousal,
the Water Dragon personifies creativity at its best.
Whatever gets set in motion now 
is going to have major impact on every one of us, personally, socially and collectively. 
That said, 2012 is going to be one of the most significant years that any of us have ever lived through. There will be a powerful driving forces towards progress, sweeping changes in culture, geopolitics, environmental policies and and profound changes in the lives of individuals. The time is here to decide what matters the most and take action. There is also spiritual theme in 2012 leading to renewal, healing, growth and recovery. 


http://www.chinesedragon.org.uk/chinese_dragon_pics/chinese_dragon_16.jpg
http://www.draconika.com/img/chinese-dragon-mosaic.jpg

   



  Lil Drac
(click above)
http://www.skyblue-pink.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/LilDrac_Bat.jpg 
This sweet little guy got abandoned by his mom and needed to be hand fed by humans. Just try and resist the cute powers of Lil Drac! 



Love Sweet Love
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lji0raDnjr1qhml55o1_500.jpg 
And for a most charming display of affection... click above the image.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

The 'Garden' part of the Garden Blog

The heart of the garden


The tall golden plant is quinoa and there are hops against the barn
The Garden Gate (that I made! my first gate!)

Loki cruising stealthily by the dahlia, basil, kale zone.


A Very Fancy kale.

Artichoke flowers. This is what happens if you don't harvest them to eat; they bloom! And the bees absolutely love them.
Rhubarb emerging.

Hermetron amongst the ripening apples.

This sunflower is ready for a rest! How about on top of the bee hive?

Hermes and the Cinderella Pumpkins. (Should be a rock band!)

A great reading spot in the garden.

The entrance-way, as seen through the medieval look-out portal in the gate.
Hermes dashing by the cacti and succulents garden.


Blooming succulent


Elderberries

Scarlett Runner Bean flowers

Purple Peruvian Corn

Scarlett Runner Beans..aka a map of the Galaxy!

Bug streaking along the upper path.