Some Random Thoughts

September 4^th, 2006                                                                                         Labor Day

Today is such a beautiful day.  The sun is shining, except for the brief moments of hiding behind the gorgeous cumulus clouds in the bright blue sky.  I have been thinning my yard; since I don’t own a working lawnmower, I have to thin by hand.  I don’t mind; I like the look of my wild lawn and it’s less than an acre.  Earlier in the summer there was a beautiful Columbine flower.  She has since faded back but there are other beauties to admire.  Around the perimeter there are a few golden Goldenrods, many Rose of Sharon bushes (which are spreading like wildfire), Peonies and wild Black Raspberries.  Throughout my lawn are millions of Common Blue Violets.  In the back the Burdock was so out of control I had to thin them; a small herd of deer could have hid among them!  Silver Maples, Mulberries, a single Catalpa and Ash are the few trees around my property.  I also have many large Pokeweed bushes along the back side of my house and guarding it all is lots and lots of Poison Ivy.  I also have many rather large Spiders spinning their webs around my house and property, adding their protection to my little haven.  The Poke berries are big and ripe and I found myself harvesting them a little while ago.  I have them on a white sheet to start drying.  I was blessed to get quite a few berries and still leave some behind to reseed.  I put some of the seeds along the back of my property, where there are no plants shielding my property from the neighbors.  It is my goal to have a natural fence around my property, hiding me from the small town I live in. 

I feel the Wheel of the Year slowly turn to Autumn, my favorite season.  Feeling Summer slowly fading away always leaves me feeling nostalgic.  Life is winding down, as all push to get the final preparations done before Winter closes in.  I’ve seen many fat groundhogs attesting to this fact.  After the first frost I will probably harvest some Burdock root.  I firmly believe that the plants that grow around a person are growing there for a reason.  Namely, the plant has something to offer that the person needs.  And, since I have historically taxed my liver, I figure I need to get some in.

For the most part, Summer was uneventful.  I did notice a baby Nuthatcher trying to hide in the Japanese Yew earlier in the season.  The poor little thing had fallen out of its nest and could not make it back up the big Silver Maple, where its anxious parents were fretting about.  I coaxed the little bird onto my finger, cradled it to my chest, and put it as high up in the tree as I could.  With the help of its grateful parents it scampered up the tree to safety.  A couple of months later as I was working on the computer, a Nuthatcher landed on the screen in my window and looked at me briefly before flying away.  And about a week ago my shoulder acted as a ‘rest stop’ to a little butterfly.  Those moments I cherish. 

Quite often I feel that no one in my life understands me.  I am called ‘weird’ and ‘strange.’  No one understands why I love and admire Spiders, Snakes, and Poison Ivy.  They don’t understand the lessons they have to offer.  People just don’t understand that the Universe communicates with me through Nature.  About a year ago a Catholic Priest drenched me with Holy Water to “see if I would sizzle.”  No joke.  He was only a bit relieved when I didn’t; he was obviously still quite concerned for my soul.  Luckily that doesn’t happen too much but it really emphasizes how off the beaten path I am to society, at least where I live. 

Sometimes a person has to make painful decisions and sacrifices to live their authentic life.  It isn’t always easy being true to yourself.  But the alternative, living a lie to fit in with how society/family says you should be, will slowly erode at your soul, leaving you empty on the inside.  So I will continue standing up for all the underdogs of nature, regardless of all the strange comments I get from people.  And I will continue to live my life authentically because living a lie, living my life according to other people’s standards, is too great a sacrifice.   

So what do YOU think? 

Comments

[White Horse Woman]

Autumn is called, "The Back End" up here on the Orkney Islands. This is short for The Back End of the Year. At the beginning of August we bring in the grass silage harvest. And in mid-September we brought in our lovely golden barley harvest. The cattle are still out in the fields fattening up for their six months of winter in the barns birthing calves. The greenery is beginning to turn all shades of burnt reds and golden browns. The barn cats are putting on their winter coats and the gale-force winds are starting to arrive. I have to wear my panteletts because my skirts keep blowing up to the sky! I love "The Back End" and I look forward to spending this, my first autumn, in Orkney. And yes, I feel as weird as you - as if I'm considered "strange" for believing that everything is so very sacred.

[Jennifer]

As nature intended! I thank our green mother there are others as 'strange' as I out there. All goddesses/sisters are not alone and in this concrete jungle there are those still caring for our green jungles and all our family within. Don't you just love your own home, covered with spider webs in those outofthe way places that only the sterile see, where our friends are helping us and we all live together, us bringing in the mozzies, the food with our smells and lights.......
Wise woman in training....in Australia

[Marigold]

Living true to myself has been a lifelong challenge for me. Since childhood I have struggled to find a path which let me walk alongside others, but which at the same time allowed me to walk my own way. Some years I manage that balance better than others, but I'm gradually finding, as I begin to grow older, that my way is one that others are more and more willing to walk with me.

I'm still aware of treading a path between the old and the new, but I tread it as softly as I can, and the more I move with the weather, the seasons and the moon, the more life seems to bring me what I need, including some real Blessings.

I've certainly been regarded as a little weird by some, and perhaps not quite weird enough by others, but it's funny how, as time goes on, both kinds of people gradually start to come to you to ask for advice.

[Carol Loguisto]

Wow! Thanks for the reminder that all of us need to be true to ourselves, whatever that means, and no matter who is turned off to us.
So many times in the past (I guess this is my confessional), I have given in to the pressures of others--husband, boyfriends, friends, family, co-workers, etc., and have been unhappy with what I did. While sometimes you really need to compromise with others, sometimes you just cannot compromise and be true to yourself. And, come to think of it, a real compromise is the giving in of both/all parties, where as Dr. Phil likes to say, "...then everyone is excited about it."
That did not usually happen with me but it's OK!
Now, in the sixth decade of my life (guess I was a slow learner but no more), I have learned that I no longer choose to compromise myself. I choose to empower and celebrate myself as well as others.
While I have never really liked snakes and some spiders have given me the heebie-geebies, I do recognize that we are all part of the web of life. I am grateful to you and others who welcome these creatures and hope some day to welcome all lifeforms.
God bless you for your candor, beauty, and reminding us all of the third chakra truth, honor yourself, and may She continue to bless you with the strength to continue on.

[Angelwitch]

I enjoyed reading your first post very much! It reminded me of my own house and all the "green" that is around it now! While I'm posting this comment it is just the end of March and April starts tommorrow. I can already see the grass growing and as I was having dinner looking out my kitchen window I just loved seeing the scenery of green and the tree branches and it reminded me that spring is so, so close!

I have even already started my garden! Small steps at a time but that is what a garden is for - to enjoy all year round!

Thank you for reminding me about the beauty of nature!

I'm also reading a book about finding one's authentic self and realize that everyone is truly unique!