Spring Storms Bring The Drama!

This Spring season in Seattle has been slightly bizarre... storms which seem to be more in line with the Fall season - filled with the drama of strong winds and torrential downpours. A few weeks ago, Seattle had a 24 hour wind and rain storm pass through - complete with impressive thunder and lightning and miniature pellets of hail!
My neighborhood was hit hard with the winds and rain, and at times it sounded like a train station outside of my front door. The Big Leaf Maples were swaying and bending their thick trunks to a spectacular degree and dropping branches all around the ravine below my house. I had to force myself to stay inside even though the view up into the canopy was fascinating from below, it was dangerous out there!
That same night I was watching the local news at 11pm when I realized there was a live report going on a few blocks away! The reporter was being held back by yellow police caution tape and exclaiming dramatically about the 100 year old Elm tree that was leaning at a precarious angle towards one of the most beautiful brick mansions on Capitol Hill (Full disclosure: I walk by this house just to walk by it, and dream of living here.). The family who lived here was out of town and unreachable, and crews were trying to figure out how to proceed without input from the homeowner... but they had to act fast or it would surely mean an unpleasant demise to the front facade of the house! I was on the edge of my seat and could see in the screen that the sidewalk curb was buckling upwards from the force of the root ball pulling up and leaning into the house.Somehow, I managed to get to sleep later that night, but the next morning I was up bright and early to go explore the streets and look in on the Elm situation a few blocks away. I walked as far as I could go and was standing behind the yellow caution tape when a man walked up next to me to check on the situation - "Ah, a fellow neighborhood busybody..." I thought to myself. We talked about the tree and the house and then to my surprise, he divulged that he used to be the gardener at this house. I was very happy to meet him and just about to launch into a dozen questions and exclamations when he waved in the direction of the house, ducked under the tape, and shook the hand of a tall handsome man wearing a fancy suit and lawyer rain jacket. I stood around a few minutes, hoping the gardener would remember me and invite me over, then we would all become best friends forever and I could move into the carriage house and spend my seasons living the good life in the house behind my dream house...
... but that didn't happen. I walked around the block to look at the tree from a different angle. These huge trees are a part of some of our oldest neighborhood landscapes in Seattle, and they are going the way of the dinosaur. Elms can have a lifespan of up to 300 years, but Dutch Elm disease has shortened that span, and the ecology of the curbside location doesn't necessarily make for the most hospitable of conditions for this large majestic tree. Our cities have conducted studies and research, they've put together guidelines and been working to see that our urban forest might work in concert with our infrastructure as much as possible. I appreciate these efforts, but am sad to think that someday, these big old 90' Elms will be replaced by trees that top out at 35' - 40'. Thank goodness for our public parks and forests - large trees will always have a place there!

Here is a link to the City of Seattle's street tree recommendation list. My favorites from the list are the Paperbark Maple and the Eastern Redbud.

Felix! (squish!)

Smiling Felix Face

Oh my goodness! My little nephew, Felix is so wonderful! He's growing and smiling and drooling and teething and talking in his very own language. He is also showing a preference for his left hand (like me and Mom!) and learning to fly (picture below). I love this little guy so much and see so much hope and potential in his face - we all started out like this. One thing I have learned is that parents do the best they possibly can with the gifts, talents, tools and understanding that they have. Though I'm not his parent, I am totally committed to being a positive influence in his life. There are other new children I feel this way about - like Theo!

We are never ending works in progress, life is a mystery. The more I learn, the less I know, but it's a beautiful road and there are many friends and allies along the way.

Felix learning to fly from his Daddy!

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise & the haste,
& remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater & lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity & disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune;
but do not distress yourself with dark imaginings,
many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

- Max Ehrmann

On Love & Life

Bleeding Hearts awakening in the garden.

There is no remedy for love but to love more.
- Henry David Thoreau

One word frees us from all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.
- Sophocles (496 - 406 BC)

Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength.
- Hasidic Saying

Anything you could ever want or be, you already have and are.
- David Russell, I Heart Huckabee's

Friends of Spring

I'm so, so, so happy Spring is finally here! Don't get me wrong, I love all the seasons (so much that I have a very hard time deciding which one I like the most), but Winter in Seattle can be brutal once we get into March. Seriously, when it's still snowing in April, I'm kinda over it. And when the temperature soars to 60 or above? Heaven!!!! Winter is the time fore hibernating and dream work. Spring is time to wake up and put action behind those dreams! What have you been dreaming of over the winter?

About a month ago, to my great joy, my White Flowering Currant started blooming! This is the first time I have seen it bloom in the 2 years that I've been nurturing it along. When I bought it at the Washington Park Arboretum fundraising sale, I had no idea if it was going to bloom pink or white. Another sale is coming up soon, I hope to get a pink one this year!

Hummingbird, friend of mine. I love to see you hover, and sip the nectar I put out for you. Thank you for allowing me to see you when you hold still, and when you buzz though the air!

Brunch with Theo & the Ladies.

Maureen, Deirdre with Theo, Caroline, Me!

Last Sunday, I got together with a few of my closest girlfriends for a looooong overdue brunch date to catch up, laugh and play together. As we get older, it gets harder and harder to find time to spend together - but that also makes the moments sweeter! There was a time when I used to spend almost every weekend with these girls - before husbands, babies and major careers. Speaking of which, the first of "our" babies (actually Maureen's ;), Theo joined in on our brunch. He's a complete joy, very handsome and his smile will knock your socks off!

Pouring the first round of Bloody Mary's

I finally got to test out my Bloody Mary Mix that I made and canned last September! It was super yummy and the girls loved it - Yay, sucess! However. I noted that it was not spicy enough, so next time I will add more red pepper and horseradish.

Homemade pickles to go with! Carrots, Cauliflower, and Asparagus.

Oh, I will have to dig around and see where I put the recipe... You'd probably like to make your own mix - Virgin Mary's are great too!

Winter Crafts at The Treehouse

As part of my Winter Update, I thought I would share some of the crafts I've been working on these past few months... You'll notice the continuing nature/shaman theme...

Tomato, Basil and Sage harvest

This is my summer harvest (and technically from early fall) - tomatoes galore (Romas and Cherries), Sage and Basil. I ate and shared the ripe tomatoes, and was planning on pickling the green ones, but instead I just let them sit on the counter and they ripened over time. I was able to enjoy these tart/sweet bursts of summer well into November, and they were lovely! I dried the Sage and Basil by hanging them from strings above my stove which created a really cool "apothecary" effect, and every time I would go into my kitchen to cook or pour a glass of wine or wash the dishes, I would think to myself, "Annie's Apothecary! What a nice ring, I am so capable and productive!" The basil is totally gone and the sage is still around - I've been using it in cleansing rituals. The best advice when it comes to drying herbs is to not bunch them too tight, otherwise they will mold. Better to bundle several small bouquets than one large one.

Sauce Ingredients

Sauce simmering with celery

Someone has to sample the wine before it goes in! Might as well be me!

Mom and Felix watching the sauce simmer

This was probably more late Fall than Winter, but my Mom and I made a big batch of our secret family Italian sauce and canned it. We have been getting into canning and food preservation in a big way! Some other things we canned were peaches. And we pickled carrots, beets, asparagus and cauliflower. I am looking forward to the end of next summer and will be planting pickling cucumbers, green beans, asparagus and beets to use for our next pickling adventure. We also made some Bloody Mary Mix which I haven't even tried yet, but I'm sure all the ingredients are still percolating safe and sound in their air tight environment! Later this month I have a brunch date with some wonderful girlfriends and will be bringing the mix to the table - I'll let ya know how it turned out!

Christmas Wreath next to my front door

I made a wreath this year! Pretty with a sprinkling of snow... which also kept me from being able to get out and bring home a Christmas tree. In the 2 weeks leading up to Christmas this year, Seattle was inundated with almost 2 feet of snow which made the entire city and surrounding areas come to a complete standstill. What was unusual about this snowstorm, was the length of time it stuck around and the amount that just kept coming! It was pretty, but made the roads very dangerous with a layer of ice a few inches thick, so I chose to stay in and hunker down with my kitties Gonzo and Henry.

My painting set-up

On New Years Eve, I chose to stay home and connect with myself spiritually. We call this, having a date with Spirit. Several of my Circle mates had shared their own experiences with me of spending an evening in this way, and I was intrigued enough to try it myself. New Years Eve can be hard for me sometimes, so this year it just seemed right to stay in and focus on myself. My intuition was screaming at me to stay in, so I couldn't very well ignore it!

My finished Owl painting

That evening, I enjoyed wine and a homemade pizza, listened to my favorite music and pulled out my watercolors. I was painting small postcards with messages of militant positivity when, during a smoke break outside, I was blessed with the visitation of my old friend the Barred Owl. Standing on my deck, looking out into the darkness, I was praying for guidance and blessings for the New Year when the Owl swooped down and circled the clearing in between the tall maple trees surrounding my home. I was awestruck! I hadn't seen him since November of 2007, and was so happy that I had decided to stay home to witness his return. He visited me 2 more times that night and this painting is the result of total Owl inspiration!

"The Owl is a symbol of the feminine, the moon, and the night... The Owl is the bird of magic and darkness, of prophecy and wisdom. The yellow coloring of the eyes is very symbolic...The sun lives through the Owl at night. One who works with Owl medicine will be able to see and hear what others try to hide. Owl people have a unique ability to see into the darkness of others' souls and life. This vision and hearing capabilities has metaphysical links to the gifts of clairvoyance and clairaudience as well... The Owl, like Hawks and other birds of prey, has a third eyelid... this symbolizes so much about new vision opening to you. It often reflects that you were born very perceptive - with a vision of others that you may or may not have recognized or acknowledged. Often those with Owl as a power totem have a unique ability for seeing into the eyes and souls of others. Often these perceptions are discarded as wild imaginings or with such phrases as "Why in the world would I think that about this person?" These kinds of imaginings, positive and negative, should be trusted."
- Andrews, Ted Animal Speak, Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1993

Tiny little dove feather sage fan

Last summer, I spent many a day walking around my neighborhood, Volunteer Park, Seward Park, Discovery Park... always scanning the ground for feathers and the sky and trees for birds. For awhile I was picking up every single feather I would find, but after a time started to become more selective. If they'd been out in the elements too long and looked scraggly, I would leave them alone. My wanderings gave me access to certain prime feather shedding grounds which I keep secret. So now I have this big old cigar box filled with all kinds of feathers just waiting to serve a purpose.

Fan at the altar

One day, I decided to make a fan out of some dove feathers that I had collected up at Volunteer Park. I used my trusty hot glue gun to seal the feathers together in a perfect fan shape, then wrapped the quills with a scrap of velvet to make the end pretty and easy to hold onto. I use it as a sage fan on myself and my apartment when I feel an energy cleansing is needed. Sage is a purifying herb used to clear out negativity from inside or outside ourselves, and emits negative ions - just like a waterfall or rushing river. When you burn sage and use the smoke to purify, you're actually neutralizing the positive ions that have collected around the space like dust particles.

The mounted squirrel on Douglas Fir bark with lichen and mushrooms

Months ago, I went on a spending spree when I realized that I could find taxidermy at a good price on a certain auction web-site. Don't get me wrong, it can take days to sift though expensive, beautifully crafted specimens, but I was able to find a few that, while nicely preserved, left something to be desired in the mounting department. So I found this squirrel and fell in love with it, but it was mounted on a plain piece of construction wood. I knew I could do something better with it and was just intrigued with the idea of working with taxidermy, and felt comforted by the fact that I wouldn't have to deal with all the blood and guts.

Mounted squirrel at the altar space

On a trip to Leavenworth in the Cascade mountain range, I went on a hike along some quiet logging roads and came across piles and piles of discarded pieces of Douglas Fir bark. They had this beautiful chartreuse lichen clinging to them and I was drawn to them immediately with this project in mind. I sifted through several pieces until I felt I'd found just the right one - the right size, the right amount of lichen, the right coloring of the bark... And in January I decided to finally work on the project. Before starting however, I'd gone on a walk in Volunteer park, and collected some pretty looking mushrooms just because I liked them, and wanted to meditate with them at home. I set them on a table and left them there, where over the course of a few days they dried up really nicely, and I decided they would be a perfect addition to the mounting project! So, you can see in the finished project, that the squirrel is clinging to this bark with lichens and little dried mushrooms. I think it adds a little magic and makes me think of a fairy forest with happy little animals living in harmony with each other.

Pigeon wing prepared for preservation in cornmeal.

Finally, this last project was one that came to me unexpectedly and is very personal. I was on a walk at the Washington Park Arboretum, with my dear friend Joel, when we came across this bird wing just sitting there next to the path. We both stopped and looked at it, musing over the mystery of a lone bird wing. I told Joel that as part of my shamanic training, we are to treat the body parts of animals as medicine, and to be on the lookout for any we come across as a sign of personal medicine that we should be using for ourselves and our spiritual healing work. He was very understanding and was nice enough to give me one of his special blue doggy bags to use in collecting it and bringing it home.

I put it in a container on top of a layer a couple inches thick of cornmeal which is used in the preservation process, then covered it with another thick layer. Then over the next few nights, I slept with it next to my bed where the spirit of the bird, a pigeon, came to me and told me about it's death, it's specific medicine and how it wished to be used. I prayed over it and asked for it to be healed of any trauma caused by me or any other humans or animals, and for it's spirit to be released. I am so grateful for the lessons I've learned, and the path that I have chosen to take, and that it might all help me to do good in the world. I love it when art and spirit collide!

End of Winter: A Look Back

Looking down at the wild, snowy winter wonderland...

I can't believe I haven't written all winter long... The truth is, my Lakota Shamanism class has been kicking my ass. I've always been curious about the mystical side of life; witches, fairies, dragons, unicorns, sprites, ghosts, flying carpets - everything!

My Love, Gonzo navigating the frozen tundra!

When I was a little girl, I always looked closely at the hollows in trees, because I knew the fairies lived there. Old growth forests, mossy with age, invoked a sense of wonder and magic in the little girl that I was - and informed who I was to become, and the path I would eventually take. Nature is the heart of everything to me, and shamanism has given me the tools to understand it all and communicate with all the little spirits out there.

A bird friend of the Treehouse, eating some breakfast in the snowy morning.

Over the course of this Winter, my dreams have become more meaningful, insights more powerful, spirits have become available and ready for assignments. I've learned several methods of dream and handwriting analysis, been continuing to learn to interpret Tarot Cards, to do intuitive readings, to journey. Journeying has been my absolute favorite and very easy for me. Since I have a hard time explaining how Journeying works, I will refer to a quote by Hank Wesselman:

"In most cases, shamans enter non-ordinary reality (NOR) by ingesting a psychotrophic plant, or through the use of a steady drumbeat to alter brain function, and to achieve a Shamanic State of Consciousness (SSC). Other methods of entering the SSC are through fasting, sleep deprivation, physical exhaustion, hyperventilation, or temperature extremes, such as those experienced in a sweat lodge. Most shamanic practioners refer to three levels of NOR - the lower, middle, and upper realms. While a great deal of shamanic work occurs in the Upper and Middle worlds, most soul retrieval and extraction work occurs in the Lower world. It is in this realm that the shamanic practitioner is able to communicate with plants, animals, spirit guides and the non-living" (Wesselman 7).

- Wesselman, Hank, Ph.D. The Journey to the Sacred Garden: A Guide to Traveling in the Spiritual Realms. Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2003

The staircase to the Treehouse seems impassible!

I've learned to journey using the drum technique, and have the easiest time entering the lower realm where I've found access to my power animals and ally animals who have given me messages for myself and for others who've asked for information. Journeying allows me, as a healer & shamanic practitioner, to bring messages to myself and clients that will only serve the highest good in accessing and achieving the dreams that we all have in life. I'm eager to continue my education and learn how to perform more complicated ceremonies like house blessings, soul retrievals, and cord cuttings, but realize I have much work to do in self-healing before I'm ready.

Ilumminated snow on the railing at night.

At the end of January, I participated in a Sweat Lodge initiation. In Lakota language, it's called Inipi which translates to, "we are going to pray." It's an ancient sacred ceremony that's probably as close to going into a church as you can get when it comes to Lakota Shamanism. The lodge represents the womb of Mother Earth, and hot stones which are invoked with the spirits of our ancestors are passed in and placed at the center. The Pourer, or leader of the ceremony, pours water over the stones to create a dense layer of steam and heat. The creation of this extreme condition allows the participants bodies to expel toxins through the sweat, while praying for healing through singing rounds of sacred songs and sharing personal wishes for healing and protection of self, our leaders, family units, whole cultures, and Mother Earth. When participants leave the Lodge, it is said that they become reborn. I was nervous and excited to participate in such an ancient and sacred ceremony. We were also fortunate enough to participate in the sacred White Buffalo Pipe Ceremony where participants blow their prayers out of their bodies and the smoke carries the prayers to the Creator. Afterwards, we had a pot luck feast and were able to sit and share our experiences from inside the lodge - It was a long and exhausting night and didn't end until after midnight.

Looking out my kitchen window...

Since the Sweat Lodge ceremony, I've been blessed to make a Medicine Bag, which holds my personal medicine and represents my spiritual connection to the Great Mystery. My teacher, Char Sundust, journeyed to investigate what materials would best serve me and my fellow classmates in the creation of our medicine bags. The answer came to her in the spirit of Horse Medicine, which represents freedom, power, divination, and clairvoyance. Char was able to procure a horse hide from which I and my classmates were led in ceremony to birth our Medicine Bags. Each of us found the spot on the hide that "spoke" to us, and reverently cut out the pieces that we would use to construct our Bags. Melissa Rosenberger (a TA of Char's, and a talented Shamanic Practitioner) led my group in the construction of our Bags. While stitching them together using natural materials, each stitch became a prayer meant to benefit us in our own healing. Before sealing them, we each placed sacred objects inside representing different things - power animals, allies, plant medicine and elemental medicine such as stones and crystals, representations of fire, air, earth, and water. The Medicine Bag connects us to our spiritual selves and the objects inside are used for healing, guidance and protection.

Looking outside my front door.

I am awed when I look back at this Winter. I look forward to the Spring and witnessing all the plants being reborn, as I feel I have somehow been reborn. Discovering my spiritual self hasn't been easy, but the benefits and lessons have been monumentally important and I'm anxious to see where this road will lead ultimately. One thing you can count on, I will always be looking for those fairies in the hollows of mossy old growth trees...

Me, my Mom, Marie, & my Aunt Doreen during Christmas