New Worlds of Body, Mind & Spirit Since 1901
I am a magically minded person who looks at the world with an animist's perspective as I mindfully acknowledge and honor the lives of the others I encounter, from the large elementals to the tiny devic energies underfoot. I talk to my plants and hug the trees. I call out greetings to the geese as they pass overhead and stop to help the earthworm stranded on the sidewalk. There is a message in the visit from tiny hummingbird hanging on the breeze, the crow cawing loudly in the tree, the surprise sighting of a garden snake, and the colorful dragonfly lighting on a grass head. The outdoors holds both magick and mystery, and I immerse myself in its beauty whenever I am able to. Our brains ...
There is a saying in the gardening community: Grow where you're planted. It means to do your best to develop, grow, and yes, even bloom, regardless of your situation or circumstance. I like to use this same philosophy when it comes to my spiritual and magickal work. I use store-bought things, and am very happy to have access to them. However, I want my religious tradition to be more than something I buy online or do on one of the eight Sabbats. I want to see magick in the world around me. So, I often look for supplies right outside my door. "But," you say, "I don’t have a yard or a garden. Where am I supposed to look for herbs?" Right under foot, dearie. I wrote A Witch's Guide ...
In mid-February 2008, I drove through the northeast Iowa countryside and was startled to see dozens of farmers in their fields on tractors, plowing through several feet of snow! I'd lived in the area for most of my long life and had never seen such a thing. They surely can't be planting corn now! I thought. Do they have really bad cases of cabin fever? Later that day, I was relieved to hear on the local ag-news radio report that my rural neighbors were digging trenches. When the spring thaws came, these trenches would collect water melting off from the heavy snows (seventy-six inches) of the winter of 2007 to 2008. The farmers' actions were rational, not mass hysteria brought on by an ...
In the dead of winter, when outdoor gardens have faded, vibrant indoor gardens can still be enjoyed. Sun-loving houseplants benefit from basking in a window, and you'll benefit from having them there. Besides screening you from strong floods of light and conferring extra privacy, plants create leafy, live window trims of branches and foliage—and sometimes bright flowers. You can savor the presence of plants in small quarters and enjoy a year-round growing season, whether space is limited or expansive, when you plant for success by choosing the right species. This article focuses on creating room to grow flowers, herbs, plants, vegetables, trees, and shrubs by maximizing use of ...
