For the Love of Nature

One of the tenets of being a good witch (and if you know The Threefold Law, how could you be otherwise?) is a reverent love of Mother Nature and respect for her creations. Everything that groweth or creepeth has a divine connection to all of us on this planet. I might be a little skeeved out by earthworms, but I would never harm one and intellectually I am in awe of how much work the little critters do to make sure the soil is aerated and nourished so that we may reap the benefits. Perhaps you may feel the same way about spiders, knowing that they trap and eat some our peskier pests like mosquitos. Either way, a witch knows that there is a delicate balance at work from the loom of Mother Nature and like children, if we obey simple laws we are less likely to be punished by her fury. Sometimes humans act as if they are the only creatures on the planet who matter, when in fact, if you added up all the living creatures, we are a tiny minority in comparison. The effects of global warming are wreaking havoc with our weather, which in turn causes destruction of our environment. Many good people of tackling the problem on global and national levels, however each one of us can contribute some small act that decreases gas emissions if we just try a little bit. For instance, do you really need to drive your call to the local convenience store when perhaps the 10 or 20 minute walk would probably be more beneficial for you and the environment? Something happens when you begin walking frequently and actually noticing nature. There is a calling, a feeling of being at home, feeling loved, accepted, and safe. It is Mother Nature sending her love as she lavishes you with visuals of remarkable colors and textures wherever you look. I can't speak for most witches, but I suspect I am not alone in this feeling, and I know I am not alone in wanting to take the extra step to help protect our wonderful planet. It should be as easy as taking a walk.

Whisper of the Dragon Fly

It all happened in an instant, a sunny summer's day like today, far from home in an overgrown field near a stream, a path to somewhere leading to woods. There were wildflowers as tall as myself, and no sounds except for the hiss-clapping of locusts in the distance. I was far away and alone... but certainly not lost or afraid. A silver bodied bug with pretty blue wings landed on me and whispered me a dream, a reason, a secret. I understood the gentle voice that hummed, although not a word was spoken. I knew I mattered and was important... and here for a reason. It's many, many years since that first encounter, and yet when I'm alone in Nature without a soul around, I'm still that young child holding on to the secret that was only meant for me... on a path that never turned back.

Lughnasa ... a sigh of relief

Last Saturday me and the hubster planned our little pagan ceremony of the August harvest with a fine meal that included Jersey grown tomatoes, and corn, and fresh tuna steaks... as a reminder of the ocean we both love. I especially looked forward to the bonfire as a traditional part of the ancient celebration. My son showed up in need of some family time and although he is not normally comfortable with my witchy ways, in a change of heart he listened to my story of the god Lugh and his step mother Taltiu for who the celebration was devoted to. She died while helping to clear the land in Ireland so Lugh's people could plant crops and increase their ability to farm the land. We shared a whiskey mead while the flames danced in the warm night air, and exchanged our unique views on being in the world. We talked, my son and me... we found common ground to agree and disagree in our connected but separate world views. When the night came to a subtle ending as the moon rose over the trees in the night sky, my son echoed a sentiment so dear to my heart that I must share it, he simply said, "The greatest evil is a singular truth... we are just.... I never felt so proud to be a mother in... I don't remember when.