North Woods

With the warmer than usual wheater this past winter, spring came early. So throughout March we were busy working in the garden getting the beds ready for all the beautiful veggies that will be growing there this summer. Below are a couple photos of the garden from last week, after we added compost and tilled up the dirt. Beds aren't quite ready, but very soon!

And some of the started seeds that I planted a couple weeks ago. Pictured are pole beans, tomatoes and cucumbers...I don't have the dream grow lights, so I have to rotate the flats every day so they get even light.

We were doing some yard work today and were obviously in the way of the local birds that feast at our feeder. As soon as we all went inside for lunch, they lined up on the truck tire to check and see if all was clear! They took turns going to the feeder and heading back to let another go to the feeder. It was the cutest thing I've seen in awhile. Here are a couple of photographs of them.

Pet Burial Rite

by Paradox
from the Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF) site - http://www.adf.org/core/index.html

I once conducted a funeral rite for a friend's pet bird. It was done in simplified ADF style. I had a bird shaped candle holder which I brought as the central light of the ceremony. I told my friend that we would burn part of the candle during the rite and that as long as the candle was lit, the spirit of the bird would be with us. When it came time to bid the bird goodbye, she would say her farewell and blow out the candle. By this, she would release the spirit to go on its own way, unencumbered by the owner's desires. However, every time she lit that candle, the animal's spirit would return for a while. She could enjoy its presence and speak to it while it stayed, until the candle was extinguished. Once the candle was totally burned, then the bird and owner would be completely free of all bonds but love.

Consecration of Time

9 bell rings, in sets of three.

Consecration of Space & Participants

Clensing of the place, smudging the people and asperging both.

Consecration of Intent

We are friends of [owner's name] and here to help,

The spirit of [pet's name] reach Summerland.

Release the grief and soothe the soul,

In memoy of a worthy life.

Outdweller Offering

Three pennies thrown outside to appease restless spirits.

Outsiders, you who will not help us

Take these (throw) and leave us in peace!

Opening the Gates

Singing to Heimdall & Mothgud to open the gates, then explaining to them that we wish for the pet's spirit to return, for as long as the central candle burns. Owner lights the candle.

We invite you Heimdall, opener of fiery gate

We invite you Mothgud, opener of icy gate

You will reach us, you will teach us and reveal our fate

You will reach us you will teach us and reveal our fate

(Note: in Norse beliefs, Heimdall is the guardian of the rainbow bridge to the realm of the gods & goddesses, while Mothgud is a female giant who guards the ice bridge to the underworld realm of the dead)

Sumbel (Minnehorn): Horn of Memory

Using organic apple juice as a ritual drink, we passed the drinking horn around the circle, each one talking, taking a gulp and passing the horn. Each would talk about a a memory they had of the pet ("I remember hearing her laughing cries from the other end of the phone and thinking 'what a cheerful bird'"), make a toast to a quality of the pet or its species ("I drink to the freedom that birds and flying have meant to humans"), make a blessing ("Fly free little one. May your wings carry you to a wonderful place"), or anything else that seems appropriate.

Farewell to the Spirit

The owner is asked to speak directly to the pet's spirit, saying everything s/he feels must be said before a final separation. These goodbyes are very intense. When all has been said, the owner must extinguish the candle so that the spirit is released. And the decision must come from the owner, it cannot be rushed. This can take a while, but it allows emotions to be sorted and released.

Closing the Gates

Thank the gatekeepers and ask them to close the gates, sending the pet's spirit on its way to the proper destination.

Final Blessing & Clearcut Ending

May the ways you walk

Bring you again to those you love

And may the cherished past

Never blind you to new loves.

There is a funeral chant that I shared during that sumbel. It came to me years before when I said goodbye to my cat. She was my companion from age 2 to age 19, a siameese named Moustache. I knew she was dying, and I am grateful I had a chance to sing my love to her while she still lived. I cried as I sang and caressed her. If you want me to teach it to you, email me and we'll arrange for a time whan you can call me. Be warned, it brings out all the sadness. My condoleances on the passage of your friend.

With the loss of our loved Tazz, anothers life is saved. With the need to have another Pitt Bull after loosing Tazz, we located King. A beautiful 13 month old red brindle, with hazel colored eyes. Kings owner was desperate to find him a good home before having to resort to turning him over to the shelter. The shelters in the Detroit area don't give Pitt Bulls a second chance or at least not enough time to get a second chance. Usually after 4 days in their care they are euthinized. We found King online via the RescueMe.org site. After calling his owner, we decided to go visit him last night and see if he would fit into our family.

We fell in love with him. We see so much of Tazz in him. He's happy, bouncy and full of energy. He has a healthy respect for our cat Norton and won't even go into Nortons "room". He even got our 13 year old Lab/Golden mix Hunny to actually play and run! Something she hasn't done in a couple of years. He loves everyone and has made himself at home at being a lap dog.

Tazz will never be forgotten and I know he would be very approving of King to help keep his family safe and in line.

King

I give you this one thought to keep-

I am with you still,

I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on the snow,

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken

in the morning’s hush,

I am the swift, uplifting rush

of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars

that shine at night.

Do not think of me as gone-

I am with you still,

in each new dawn.

-Native American Prayer-

TAZZ -RIP 11-18-2011 we LOVE you!!

On 11-18-2011 we had to put our gallant friend Tazz down.  After a battle with extreme arthritis in the hind legs and back, sickness from the med's, he just couldn't go on. He spent the afternoon laying on his afgahn in the sunshine in his favorite spot while we waited for John to come home from up north. The hardest thing we've ever had to do was when we took him to the vet for that last ride. We stayed with him until his last breath. May he rest in peace. He will be very much missed!

I offer a wide variety of hand-crafted items made by myself right here in Michigan. From jewelry to leather purses and pouches, vintage items as well as needle felt. The above banner is linked to my shop and you will also find a link in the nav. bar above as well as in the side bar to your right. So come on in, sit a spell and take a look at what I have to offer. There's always a big comfy chair to sit in and a pot of coffee brewing! New items are always being created and added to the store.

Above web graphic and my Etsy web  graphics were made by fellow Etsy shop owner Accentuate.

Well, we bit the big one and bought a 1996 Ford Ranger to replace our 1993 Ford Ranger which we have certainly out grown. It's not fun fitting myself and two (still growing) teenagers in a standard cab Ranger with a 5-speed stick, everyone was always sitting on each others laps anymore.

So we found an extended cab Ranger with a 5-speed tranny and 4.0 6 cylinder, only 124,000+ miles on it and it also has AC! I've never owned a vehicle with AC before, so what a treat. And to top it off it's a 4x4 with 32"x11.50" AT's...woot!

Here are a few photos of her.

We had a gorgeous day today, it actually got to about 83* and sunny. It couldn't have been any better. The kids and I worked outside in the yard and garden, getting beds ready for seedlings. I even planted four raspberry bushes yesterday...I can already tatste them! All the grass clumps we pulled out of the garden went right to the hens. They loved them, they couldn't make up their minds which clumps to pick at. lol. The other hens ALWAYS had the better grass clump and they would flip them through the air chasing them around...it was quite intertaining.

This evening after dinner, right at dusk, my daughter and I sat outside and watched the sky...and there they were! Bats! I love bats, watching them dance across the nearly dark sky, weaving in and out of the trees and over the house. They are such a joy. I hope to get a bat house or two put up this year to help encourage them to stay in the neighborhood.

Today I saw for the first time, Canvas-Back Ducks. There were between 40 and 50 of them! It was amazing. There were also around 25 or so Trumpeter Swans on the lake as well. I enjoy looking for the beautiful white birds. The other day there were three Bufflehead Duck pairs on White Lake. I also got the chance to see a pair of Wood Ducks landing in the trees the other day on the way to work. It always amazes me that a duck can actually land and nest in a tree! It is such a treat to be able to experiance this.  I enjoy seeing the vast variety of waterfowl that graces this beautiful state.

by OneCrow on December 2, 2010 on Enchanted Forest

WOLF- "TEACHER"

Wolf is the pathfinder, the forerunner of new ideas who returns to the

clan to teach and share medicine. Wolf takes one mate for live and is

loyal. They have an enormous sense fo family, as well as a strong

individualistic urge. In Native American beliefs the people who carry

Wolf medicine are the great teachers. The Wolfs ally is the Moon. the

Moon is the symbol for psychic energy, or the unconsious that holds the

secrets of knowledge and wisdom. Wolf medicine empowers the teacher

within us all to come forty and aid the children of Earth in

understanding the Great Mystery and life. If you pulled the Wolf card,

you may be able to share your personal medicine with others. Your

intuitive side may also have an answer or teaching for your personal use

at this time. As you feel Wolf coming alive within you you may wish to

share your knowledge by writing or talking with information that will

help others better understand their uniqueness or path in life. It is

in the sharing of great truths that the consciousness of humanity will

attain new heights. Wolf could also be telling you to seek out lonely

places that will allow you to see your teacher within. In the aloneness

of a power place, devoid of other humans, you may find the true you.

Look for teachings no matter where you are. Wolf would not come to you

unless you requested the appearance of the tribe's greatest teacher.

You are The Lovers

Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse.

The Lovers represents intuition and inspiration. Very often a choice needs to be made.

Originally, this card was called just LOVE. And that's actually more apt than "Lovers." Love follows in this sequence of growth and maturity. And, coming after the Emperor, who is about control, it is a radical change in perspective. LOVE is a force that makes you choose and decide for reasons you often can't understand; it makes you surrender control to a higher power. And that is what this card is all about. Finding something or someone who is so much a part of yourself, so perfectly attuned to you and you to them, that you cannot, dare not resist. This card indicates that the you have or will come across a person, career, challenge or thing that you will fall in love with. You will know instinctively that you must have this, even if it means diverging from your chosen path. No matter the difficulties, without it you will never be complete.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Mother Earth
She asks for nothing
Yet, she gives EVERYTHING!

Consider this a challenge - Each of you who reads this post, pick up one piece of trash,and then tell the next person you see, be it stranger, family or friend to pick up one piece of trash. And they in turn tell someone else . . . you see, YOU can make a difference with your soul, heart and hands.

Monday April 5, 2011 at 5:30 am 24 horses lost their lives to a tragic barn fire. I've known the farms owner for nearly five years now and am just stunned at what happened. They were able to save 16 horses. I heard about it this morning through my employer who is a friend of theirs. The news of their loss hung in our barn heavy all day. My thought and prayers go out to them and their family and friends who were also affected by the fire.

Epona weeps for the horses . . .

by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven) on Enchanted Forest

Animals tend to have a keener sense of purpose, and instinct. These are valuable traits we can learn from them by asking for their guidance, and observing their behaviours in our dreams and meditations. Meditation is simply a state of conscious dreaming, so you can use the following steps to help in identifying animal totems through both dreams and meditation.

1. Start an animal totem/meditation journal. Have this journal and a pen by your bedside or around the area in which you meditate. This is because you will want to record your experiences upon waking each morning or returning from deep meditation.

2. Go to sleep or meditate around the same time of day/night each day/night. Your subconscious is a creature of habit. As you settle into a routine, it will be easier to relax, and animal symbol identification will come more smoothly.

3. Make sure your environment is conducive to relaxation. Simply put a little order to your sleep/meditation area – it doesn't have to be a big deal. The subconscious loves order, and will be more cooperative if there aren't any distractions or nagging nuisances hanging around in your space.

4. Begin your sleep/meditation session by setting your intention for animal totem identification. You need to set forth a firm directive to both your subconscious mind, your spirit. Silently to yourself, repeat your intention to meet your animal spirit in your dreams.

Example:

"At this moment, I receive animal gifts and sight,

Be it in darkness or in light, (If you wish to use Clairaudience/sentience)

When I see this animal I wish it to show me what I am meant to know,

And with love and light it is welcome to go."



By repeating this or a similar invocation, you will coax your ego and chattering mind to relax, while your intuition and spirit begin to "warm up" to the goal of contacting your animal totem. Eventually, you will find yourself drifting into sleep (or alpha state of meditation). Relax, and roll with it, your animal totem is ready to reveal itself to you!

5. Upon waking up or rousing from meditation, write down your experience in your animal totem journal. This is critical. It's tough to rely on our memories with such delicate experiences. Dreams and meditations can be so elusive, and like the wind, the can disappear on us. It's important to record our experiences so that our minds can further digest the events surrounding our animal symbol.

Writing these events also gives us a point of reference when determining the characteristics of our animal symbol, and helps us interpret the messages our animal is conveying to us.