I found the perfect cabin to go in the backwoods behind the house for my little hedgewitch cabin. It will be a wee bit different with maybe a small fireplace, a wood floor possibly, wooden windows and just a lean to style roof. Very small, 10×12 or 12×12. But I LOVE THIS ONE so it will be very similar to this…..

Remembering:

  Find an area where you can sit quietly beneath a tree. Get to know the tree by sight. Notice the bark, the length of the trunk, the limbs that branch off from the tree and their shape, the leaves, their shape and amount. Touch the tree, the leaves, walk around the tree as you look at and feel every detail. If I know what kind of tree it is, or at least know it is not poisonous, I will even taste the tree, the bark, inner bark, twigs or leaves.

  After doing this, sit down with a paper and pencil, turn your back to the tree and draw it from memory. Try to recall every detail you can remember about the tree, give it a name, write words that describe the tree for you.   

  After your picture is complete, turn back to the tree and draw the picture again. Look at the tree and try to capture as many details as possible on the paper. When done, match the two drawings together and see how similar they are. Do this with various trees, shrubs and plants. Eventually you will begin to see the drawings are more and more similar to each other as you learn to pay attention to detail when getting to know this wonderful spirit of Nature.

 

Lying here in the bed, I hear the wild goose on the clock, letting me know what time it is. Did Chris really tell me he was going to his Mother’s, or was it just another one of those dreams? I say his name out loud and my voice seems somewhat unnatural today. There was not answer, it was reality this time.    Today I have battled one of “Those” headaches. Hoping it is not a cluster migraine, trying to ignore it, thinking if I pretend it is not there it will go away. Nausea sets in and I know this is going to be a rough day. Still there were things needing to be done so I divided my time between work and covering my head to avoid all light and sound.    Rain came early today. The gutter was complete and it gave us a chance to discover our mistakes and eventually fix them. The angle was a bit off and a few issues were noticed. The rain came hard and yet the three of us, Chris, Lakota and myself, managed to collect about 150 gallons of water in a short time. 150 gallons! That is enough to last a few weeks, a little to spare for a flea/tick dip for Cletus.  There was a bit of fun in there, working in the pouring rain, moving barrels, funnels and metal buckets. Shortly after, the headache gave me a quick reminder it was still there and not ready to play nice. I laid down for a few minutes, started thinking about how it will hurt whether working or still, so I got back up to tackle laundry and dishes. I took Lakota home and thought maybe if I rest my head a bit, just a short nap, it may go away. The rain had stopped and the Sun was out, much to the dismay of my head as the bright light pierced my eyes like daggers. But still, I slept.    IN my sleep I was preparing for a trip. It must have been a nature/outdoor trip as I have gathered tents, lanterns, backpack, etc. Someone was helping me, but I could not tell who it was. I was anxious for my journey and reached to retrience the backpack from a hook. Somehow the hook jabbed into my upper arm and split my arm open to the wrist. Blood poured and I had only one thought: When I die, who will find the persimmon tree? I know this thought came to mind because I know there is a persimmon tree on this property somewhere and I just have not had the time to look for and locate it yet. The person helping me, who remained faceless and nameless, said, “You will if you want to and where it stands, your cabin stands also.” So I reached up and took a thin twig from a tree and began sewing my arm back together. When done, I walked into a tiny log cabin and put a small piece of wood in a tiny pot belly stove. I sat down in a wooden rocking chair and looked at the wound. The tiny twig was persimmon. 

 I woke up shortly and said Chris’ name in the silence. He was gone and the house was so very quiet. Cletus was asleep on the porch. I hugged my pillow and watched a storm cloud come in from the west. “Please bring more rain” I said silently, “hide my eyes from the bright Sun just a bit longer”.  At the feeders, I watched a Cardinal couple share seed. Once in awhile a chickadee, titmouse and a sparrow would show up. Eventually the hummingbird showed up and seemed delighted that I filled his feeder. This morning he flitted back and forth in front of the bedroom window to let me know it was dry. The doe crossed the driveway in the lower field, her baby hidden safely in the woods, while she gets her nourishment to continue to feed. I noticed movement to my right and watched as a grey fox made its way along the blackberry patch, slowly, quietly and eventually heading through the trees to the branch. Cutie licked my hand and the sky drew darker. I did not have to shade my eyes with my hand anymore. The clouds became thick and dark with a heavy smell of rain in the air. 

 Far down the driveway I saw the Buick. Chris was on his way home. “I brought you a yellow popsicle”, he said as he kissed my head. All thing beautiful, in happiness, sadness, success, failure, heartache, pain and total peace…cannot compare to Chris’ smile, as it tops the list of pure beauty.  As fast as he arrived he was gone, in the truck. Off to haul wood from the top of the hill so we can finish the front porch. As he returned, so did the rain. 

 Sometimes, when we think we fix things, they are not so fixed. They look fixed and your intentions are good but a wee bit of turmoil and you discover the “mending” was not as successful as you had hoped for.  As the rain poured harder, huge drops falling from the sky, we discovered two things: 1) the gutter still leaked and 2) one downspout is NOT enough. As I saw the beautiful drops of rain hitting the ground, I saw less water for baths, dishes, laundry and animals. Apparently Chris did as well. I arranged containers to catch as much as I could as my headache begged me to go back to bed. I did and the soft bed felt wonderful. Not long afterwards, Chris opened the door. “Honey, I need you”. In attempts to fix the downspout, the entire thing came loose from the house.  I stripped my clothes off (my body is much easier to dry than soaking wet clothes) and I headed out barefoot. There we were, in pouring rain, Chris on a ladder, me beneath…getting soaked from the leaky gutter. We rigged this and that, hunted more barrels, made several trips in, thinking we were done, only to dry off and end up heading back out again. At one point, with water soaking every inch of skin, dripping everywhere, several wet towels, we walked in the back door and laughed. As we were hugging each other, laughing, we both agreed – yeah – that was kinda fun.

  I ran to the outhouse in the rain, nude, smiling, my feet splashing water as I ran through the puddles. The sound of the door shutting gave me another reminder that my headache was still hanging on. BUT… The outhouse did not leak. Today we collected well over 200 gallons of water! I am glad Chris is home.  I tried to slip out the door and run back to the hours with as little noise as possible. Appeasing the pain, looking forward to a dry bed and a pen and paper to write my thoughts.  As I went by the back of the house, I noticed one leak in the gutter, rain was pouring from it into a barrel. Temptation was too strong.

I grabbed the shampoo, razor, soap and Chris moved the barrel. It was the best shower I think I have ever had. The rain water felt perfect on my body.    There is so much in life to be grateful for!

The Ecstasy of Wilderness

There is a power that the multifaceted splendor of nature can create. David Cumes referred to this as “wilderness rapture”. I call it the ecstasy of wilderness. One can achieve profound shifts in awareness through the exposure to the elements and the diverse polarities that abound in the wild. In my experience, I have found that we need to experience the “whole” – from one extreme to the other to even begin to understand how we can achieve such ecstasy. From freezing to extreme heat, from wet to dry, from numerous days of solitude to experiencing solitude in a forest full of people. We have to find our own way to balance the opposites.

After spending years in the wilderness, from a few hours to over a month at a time, from being alone to going with people, I finally realized it was time for me to find other ways of experiencing wilderness more profoundly. A lot of people feel they have not had a wilderness experience at all if they have not encountered animals in the wild. It was just fine with me to not make physical or eye contact with and animal. It became enough just to be there and KNOW they were there as well.

John Muir said, “Only by going alone in silence can one truly get into the heart of the wilderness. All other travel is mere dust, hotels and baggage and chatter.” There is so much wisdom and experience in that statement.
When alone, you can enter the wilderness at YOUR choosing. You can approach it as if a child or seasoned shaman. The approach itself is in your total control. You may crawl like a baby, dance with the energies that reside there, touch the soul of a stream or become one with a mountain or a single tree. The choice is yours.

I think it was Martin Buber who wrote that “All men have access to God, but each man has a different access.” Sometimes I think my “access” is through a secret veil hidden in particular places in the wilderness. Lost Creek, Bearpen Branch, my dear Santeetlah….if there is not a solid cord reaching from my soup to the Gods in those sacred places, then surely no Gods exist. Some areas we visit can become so sacred to us. When one enters one of these areas, it is wise to honor them, if not for their magickal healing effect, then for one’s own sake in the hope that the Gods, spirits or energies of the place are not disturbed and in turn honor you for the respect you have shown.

Humans for the most part are hesitant to spend time alone. Some feel meditation, worship and contemplation are best done in a group setting. For some there is a fear of being alone, especially in the wilderness. Stories of mauling and attacks from bear, wolf, etc. place a fear among the majority. But if we look, how many more deaths, assaults, attacks occur in general population, in your own community, as compared to those things in the wilderness? Respect the wilderness, but never fear it. Respect solitude and never fear it. Once you reach a different psycho-spiritual space in the wild, it becomes second nature, it becomes you.

When I spent the majority of my time in the wilderness, I developed a storage of inner peace and harmony within myself. As time went by, after re-entering the “civilized, modern, social society”, this harmony would begin to dwindle. It would be time to go back, to make a restorative trip into nature to replenish myself. Only by doing this am I able to function in a healthy manner in “normal” society. It has become a part of me that society feeds on at times, an energy required to survive in this modern world, and this energy must be replenished is I am to survive. I realize all cannot “return” to the wilderness. However, connecting with nature and our more primitive roots in some small way is always a healthy start.

Wilderness to come is something to be conquered, rather than being a sacred space. This thought process can often be a deadly one, to oneself, to the inner soul and to wilderness itself. If you look at wilderness as a reality, as a sacred experience, the feeling and need to “conquer” will subside. Some people allow “ego” to control them, especially when with a group. This is why it is best to enter the wilderness alone at times. One can let go of that “ego”, of “self”, and release the feeling that it must be “conquered”. By doing this, you are free to feel, touch, taste and experience the reverence of wilderness freely. “Ego” dissolves us. IT can be the single most dangerous factor leading to disaster situations in the wilderness. We must become a PART of the wilderness for it to bestow its benefits. You must feel, touch, smell and taste, as well as see and hear it. Wilderness has been used for spiritual growth through the ages.

One cannot fight the difficulties of modern day society without the help of some method of going inward.

Wilderness can provide that method.

“Wilderness hold the answers to the questions we do not yet know how to ask” ~ David Brower

“Signs” are associated with an Element: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. It is thought that the Sun and Moon take on the quality of the sign it is in at the time. The sign is either fertile or barren. This helps us plan planting, pruning, eliminating pests and so forth.

The Earth signs are good for planting root crops or perennials. Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are Earth signs and are cool and dry.

The Air signs are barren. Gemini, Libra, Aquarius. Hot and moist describe the air signs. Although barren, Libra is good for planting flowers. Herbs will do well planted in Gemini. Hybrids do well planted in Aquarius.

The Water signs are the most fertile. Cancer, Pisces and Scorpio are the three water signs and are cool and moist. These are best for planting leafy crops.

The Fire signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are barren. Leo is the most barren of all. The time of these signs are good for weeding and destroying pests. You may also plant crops grown FOR seeds.

Cycles

Solar Cycle: Annuals are like the Sun that passes the Zodiac in one year. These herbs show a character towards the Sun. They are  usually large, yellow or orange and are orbicular shaped, radiating with an aromatic odor. They always turn towards the Sun. Sunflower, marigold and saffron are examples of annuals.

Lunar Cycle: Herbs that show a monthly periodicity and Moon shapes. Large juicy leaves and some are found growing in water such as watercress. The flowers are white or pale yellow. Fruits are large and watery. Examples are watermelons, pumpkin and gourds.

Mercury Cycle: Mercury has a three month cycle through the Zodiac. Its herbs have fine or highly divided leaves or stems. They have an airy nature like grasses, a subtle odor and are high in mineral and vitamin content. Anise and parsley are examples.

Venus Cycle: Venus moves through the Zodiac in 9 months and its herbs have beautiful pink or white flowers. They have a pleasant odor, smooth green leaves and may have fruits. Gardenia is an example of a Venus Plant.

Mars Cycle: Mars passes through the Zodiac every 2 years and this sign was formally used for biennials. Mars plants have thorns, prickles and spines. They grow in harsh dry areas and have a pungent or stimulating odor and usually have a cornical root. Raspberry, red pepper and beets are examples.

Jupiter Cycle: It takes Jupiter 12 years to pass through the Zodiac and this is how long perennials live. These plants are large, edible and nutritous. They have a pleasant odor. Examples are grapes, acorns, figs and olives.

Saturn Cycle: It takes 30 years for Saturn to make its way through the Zodiac. Woody perennials often live 30 years or longer. These plants show and annual ring, are grey or dill colored in foliage or bark and have an unpleasant odor or taste. Some may be poisonous.

Uranus Cycle: Hybrids, plants that can be transplanted.

Neptune Cycle: Plants that grow underwater. Seaweed, water mosses and fungi.

Pluto Cycle: Evergreen Trees, weeds, drug yielding plants and poisonous plants. Mosses, Cedar Trees, Palm Trees and marsh plants are examples.

A planet rules each sign of the Zodiac and they are:

Aries: Mars

Taurus: Venus

Gemini: Mercury

Cancer: Moon

Leo: Sun

Virgo: Mercury

Libra: Venus

Scorpio: Pluto

Sagittarius: Jupiter

Capricorn: Saturn

Aquarius: Uranus

Pisces: Neptune

Each of the 12 signs are represented in the human anatomy:

Aries: Head and Face

Taurus: Neck, Larynx and Throat

Gemini: Arms, Lungs, Shoulders and Nervous System

Cancer: Stomach and Chest

Leo: Spine, Back and Heart

Virgo: Bowels and Fingers

Libra: Loins, Kidneys, Lumbar  and Skin

Scorpio: Genitals, Lower Bowels and Urinary Organs

Sagittarius: Thighs, Buttocks and Hips

Capricorn: Knees and Bones

Aquarius: Legs and Ankles

Pisces: Feet, Lymphatic and Fluids

Jimmy had his Doc appointment yesterday and he has to go for another scan in Knoxville next week to see just how far the bone cancer has spread and if chemo is even an option at this point. It is a shame when all you can base an opinion on is from past experience. Mam-maw did not have chemo, she did not live as long, but the quality of her life was not so bad those last two months. Mother opted for the radiation and chemo, her quality of life was horrible, there were no opportunities to form any fond memories, just day after day of relentless pain, puking, diarrhea and death….horrible death. Each person is different. Jimmy is getting to the point of crying pain. That is when it is bad. But he can still sit on the porch and even laugh at my stupid stories, he can eat and function and think and share and love…and receive love. The chemo may change all of that. His entire life may turn to shit and then he will just die anyway. OR, it could help. Who really knows? And he has to make this decision. And….I have to support him in it, even if it scares the hell out of me.

We had a quiet evening at home. I needed that after work yesterday. It seems like there is something in the air that is making everyone rip each other’s throats out lately. I have no clue what it is but it is just everywhere and it is sad. I think I broke up 3 fights here at work yesterday, one between staff that should have NEVER escalated to the point it reached. I myself even wanted to choke one of the other social workers for screwing up nutrition assessments for 3 of my clients (that will ultimately cause me at LEAST 3 days work to fix!) Maybe it is the heat, the atmosphere, the world itself. Things are getting so bad for people with the economy, jobs closing down, people having to change jobs or trying to change to a healthier job, the stress of bills and frustrations of trying to make it through this crazy life to begin with…it just is all building up and starting to explode around the world right now. I don’t recall a time when people’s tempers were so short and people were so quick to tell another person “goodbye”. It is all sad and although I don’t know where it is all heading, it is certainly not a good feeling and can just destroy people emotionally. Already this morning I have discovered one place that has employed 3 of my clients can no longer afford to pay them and they are all losing their job. One of those clients cannot comprehend the entire process so he just exploded and beat the hell out of his roommate for no reason. Another came in upset because his family cannot make their summer trip as they have for 40 years, they cannot afford it this year, so his only way of coping was beating the hell out of his face until he busted his nose and lip and bruised his entire face before I could stop him. Life is changing for everyone and people handle it differently I guess.     And how do I cope? Beat myself? Beat others? Say “goodbye”? I have no clue yet. I want to pull away more. I can tell that. I want to take myself deep into my own little hermit world. I almost feel like the secluded home we built is not secluded enough and I have thoughts of a tiny 10×12 log cabin deep in the backwoods of the property with just my books, a wood heater, a chair. Dare I do it? I could…but I have to make myself NOT. Because I know if I did, I would just pull away more and go deeper until the path closes in behind me and I cannot find my way back out. So no, I will stay. I will work and live and do what life needs me to do right now. I will post these ramblings here that will eventually drive you all insane, frantically grab any knowledge I have in my head and post it on the Hedgewitch site, try to take care of Occult Corpus and let it continue to thrive, make my quilts and paint and prepare for death. Not mine yet, but that of others that I always seem to be forced to face and prepare them for. All I ask is that I not have to hold that garbage can this time. Maybe Jimmy will get hospice soon and I won’t have to be the one to suction and clean up the blood. One can hope I guess. Damn love…..   Sometimes love can produce just pure torture. Where would we be without it though? If not the love of another human, the love of a pet, be it dog, cat or rat. Without it we just become that lonely hermit…but then again….there is love in that as well. Love of a life that will some day be gone…regardless.    Aside from all of that, a coyote woke us up before daylight, howling like mad at the edge of the property. Thank goodness the chickens were safe. Life is life at home….and always will be. Always things to do, too many things, and always things to make you so tired mentally that you do not feel like doing the things that need to be done. But regrets? Not yet. I cannot speak for the future, who can? But as of today, I have no regrets in this decision. I just hope my strength holds and Mason’s voice calling to me from the backwoods holds off a bit longer. Sometimes when we give in and go all the way…. We become too stubborn to come back. Another sad part of human nature I suppose.

It is a good idea to patch test before applying anything to your skin. Rub a little on a small area on the inside of the arm. Wait 24 hours to see if there are any signs of irritation. If there is, do not use. Preparation is the most important past of making use of plants and herbs.

Gather herbs and flowers in dry weather of a morning before the sun evaporates the essential oils in them. Exceptions to this would be particular plants or herbs that should be gathered at night on certain moons and used for magickal purposes. If you are storing them, spread the plants out to dry in a well ventilated area. Hang dry bunches of herbs upseide down and then store them in airtight jars away from direct sunlight.

Teas and Infusions

Leaves and flower petals are used. You should never boil herbs unless the recipe specifically calls for it. Just pour two cups of boiling water over the fresh herb and let it steep for 10 or more minutes. The amount of herb to water varies so you can make your own recipe, experiment and strain before drinking. Infusions and washed require about 3 times the amount of herbs as teas and needs to steep for 30 minutes before using.

Decoctions:

 These are made from bark and roots. Grind your recipe amounts into a pan, add water and bring to a boil. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes. Carefully strain while still hot. Sometimes a decoction is what one would soak a rag in to use as a compress or poultice.

Syrup:

Add 1 pound of honey or sugar to a pint of infusion or decoction and heat until the sweetener dissolves. When cool, pour into a clean jar or bottle, seal and store in the refrigerator or Sring House/Root Cellar

Ointments:

Native Americans made creams by cooking plants in animal fat. Today it is a bit easier to use cold pressed olive oil or beeswax. I prefer as often as possible to use animal fat as often as possible. You cna put 1 pint of Olive Oil and 2 ounces of beeswax into a heat prrof dish. Let this melt over a double boiler and then add the fresh herbs to be completely covered by the oil mixture. Continue heating over a double boiler for a few hours. Once cooled, strain the herb through a muslin bag into an easy to handle container. Most people will use gloves so they can squeeze the bag real well to get all of the liquid out. Pour the liquid into small jars and seal. I will sometimes put these ina  hotwater bath to seal them well. They will solidify and then should be stored in a cool place such as a root cellar or basement if the home does not have air conditioning. Once opened, the jar should be refrigerated until all of it is used. Do not use Paraffin wax when making herbal ointments. You can give the small jars as gifts to your friends.

Tinctures:

Grind plant parts with a mortar & pestle (Blender or food processor is OK if you choose, I prefer doing this by hand as it gives one a better feel for the plant.) Add just enough high quality whiskey/vodka/moonshine to cover the herbs. Grain alcohol is OK to use if the above is not available. Let this sit for 21 days and then aff about 2 tablespoons of glycerin and 10% volume of fresh, natural spring water. Strain this and store in anber or smoky colored glass jars. If kept in a cool place, it cna last up to 5 years. A dose is about 20 drops per cup of tea or warm water. The glycerin is optinal but is used as a preservative. Non-alcohol tinctures are made by steeping herb in milk and keep refrigerated.

Poultice:

Soak herbs in boiling water until soft. (Do not boil in the water, just soak IN boiling water.) Wrap in a clean soft cloth and apply to affected area. Cold poultices and compresses are used to draw heat from an inflamed or congested area. Use this hot poutice to relax spasms and for pain.

Pour a large pot of boiling water onto a fire ant hill and this will help control them

Corn Meal can be used as a dust to control cut worms. They eat the corn meal but cannot metabolize it and it eventually kills them. Dust one part salt to two parts flour and it is fatal for cabbage worms as well.

A little olive oil will help reduce hairballs in cats. Add a bit to their food, it is healthy for them and will lubricate the hair in the cat’s stomach so it will pass easier through the digestive system.