Vermicomposting is an indoor composting technique where you keep a worm bin and let the worms do their good work in converting newspapers and kitchen scraps to “worm castings.” This form of finished compost is incredibly high in rich microbial …
Elements
Lessons from the Sacred Element of Water: Seasons, Places, and Spaces
In the past two years, I have done an intensive study with water as an element. My work with water began at Alban Elfed (the Fall Equinox) in 2011, when I met Thea Worthington, OBOD Modron, at the OBOD East …
Four Sacred Trees Brew (Druidic, Magical Tree Tea with Hickory, Pine, Birch, and Maple)
There is nothing like an earthy, warm, sweet cup of tea on a cold winter’s night. This recipe is a magical blend, one of the most sacred drinks I have ever enjoyed. This recipe is derived from an Algonquin recipe …
Cover Crops in the Fall Garden: Winter Rye and Red Clover
One of the practices that has been central to my work in my annual (vegetable) garden is the cover crop. In nature, we very rarely see bare soil–the ground is always green and lush most times of the year (and …
Summer Solstice – Celebrating the Longest Day of the Year
The Summer Solstice, known in the druid tradition as Alban Heriun/Hefin, is one of my favorite holidays (ok, I say that about every holiday). But really, its a wonderful time of year because everything is growing and in full bloom! …
A Guide to Composting with Tumblers, Sheet Mulching, Worms, Chickens, and Piles
Composting is a very easy way to integrate natural processes and nutrients into your garden, flower beds, and life. While various statistics exist, most commonly, I’ve seen statistics that suggest that up to 50% of what we throw away in …
Making Dandelion Wine – Photos and Step by Step Instructions
I’ve decided to learn how to make wine from the dandelions in my yard! Why? When John Michael Greer was here a month ago, he suggested various kinds of reskilling to help us transition to post industrialism. One of his …
Correspondences Painting, Part I – Information on Seasonal / Directional / Animal / Elemental / Magical / Moon Phase / Growth / Astrological Correspondences
About a month ago, I painted piece below hat used the traditional elemental symbols, the four animals in the druidic tradition, the directions, and the astrological symbols of the four elements. I posted this a few places, and people were …
The Magic of Snow and Energizing Sacred Spaces – Farewell to Winter
There is something very magical about snow. I think, for me, its the stillness of the snow and the fact that it is able to cover up so much. As the snow delicately falls, or as you wake up to …
The Process of Tapping Trees and Making Maple Syrup – A Blessing from the Maple Trees
This time of year, something magical happens to the maple trees. When the temperatures drop below freezing at night and then goes above freezing during the day, the maple sap runs. In South-East Michigan, this usually occurs in late February …
Sustainable Ritual Items: Earthen / Cob Candle Holders
In my quest for sustainable items for ritual and mundane purposes, I want to share something that I learned at the Strawbale Studio‘s recent workshop on natural, earth-friendly gifts: cob / earthen candle holders, paperweights, and other useful cob objects. …
The anthropocene and the rights of non-human persons
We have entered a new age, what scientists are calling the “Anthropocene,” otherwise termed the “Human Epoch” by geologists. This means, for the first time in history, rather than having meteorological activity, substantial volcanic activity, or other natural phenomena which …
The Healing Waters of Renewal – An Imbolc Personal and Land Healing Ritual
I’ve written on this blog before about land healing, specifically in relation to healing the land here at my property that we purchased 2 and a half years ago. Yesterday, my grove celebrated Imbolc, and as part of that we …
Wassail – An Ancient Rite of Orchard Blessing
Last weekend, I was honored to be invited to a friend’s orchard for an old-fashioned Wassail ceremony (you can read more about my friend’s orcharding and sustainability work on his blog, The Fruit Nut). Wassail (or Old English waes hael, …
A Journey to the Source of a River – A Metaphor for Sustainable Action
I wanted to spend some time in my blog describing a journey I took last summer to see “the source” of a river. My work with the OBOD Druid grade initiated this journey, and it lead me to important insights …
January Garden Updates
I really love January. The bitter cold, the winds, the snow–there’s something so magical about being out in a snowstorm. Where most people lament for the sun and hot summer months, I welcome all of the cold, the wind, the …
Shifting Worldviews: Three Books to Read on Sustainability & Druidry
I think that druids, and those of similar earth-centered paths, need to get really serious about sustainability. For what good is a spiritual tradition without the physical action that accompanies it? How can we revere the land while we take …
Making Beeswax / Recycled Wax Candles – Dipping and Pouring Instructions with Photos!
As I’ve argued in this blog before, we should take every opportunity, as druids and other earth-centered spiritual people, to create sustainable practices. This should also extend to our use of ritual tools and other everyday objects. Last week, I …
Incense Recipies for Druids and those doing Druidic Studies
Incenses for Druids The following recopies are most appropriate for druidic work, or those engaging in reading, study, grove leading, serious ritual work, or other work. I also have posted an introduction to incense making as well as recipes for …
Incense Recipies for Ovates and those doing Ovate Studies
Incenses for Ovates The following recopies are most appropriate for ovate work, or those engaging in divination, mysteries, and other spiritual pursuits. I also have posted an introduction to incense making as well as recipes for bards and druids. I …
Incense Recipies for Bards and Bardic Studies
About a year ago, I posted some general guidelines for how to make incense. This post describes incense recipes for those studying bardic courses or engaging in bardic activity. I suggest growing and/or wildharvesting as much of your ingredients as …