1.30.17

My Secret Garden

I have a Secret Garden.

If you have read the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, perhaps you will understand. I have read the book several times. As a child, it was one of those stories, along with Alice in Wonderland & Through the Looking Glass, which captured my imagination & made my Spirit quiver with delight. I LOVED that book. I LOVED that garden. I loved that it was a secret & it was special. I read that book again & again so that I might linger there, just a bit longer. 

Before I get to the heart of this, I will digress a wee bit & share a little gem of a film which also has a Secret Garden. Back in 1993 Francis Ford Cuppola produced a version of Burnett's story with a British film company. The rendering, in my opinion, is exceptional. It is a bit dark & many liberties were taken, but I can forgive these transgressions because the total package is very worthwhile. I watched it with Little Lad about a year ago now & was absolutely astounded when we reached a scene where the children performed an ecstatic magickal rite around a bonfire. Imagine Little Lad, eyes as big as saucers, "What are they doing?!?"  Imagine me, goosebumps all over, mouth agape... "This is not in the book...!" 

...But I loved every minute of it.

The folks reviewing the film on Netfilx however, did not. Yes, big objections for the gratuitous "occult" theme in that film (no suprise there). Silly me, I thought it was a brilliant way to render the climax. If you watch this trailer, you can catch a glimpse of that fire scene (in addition to all sorts of lovely footage):

Anyway, I just thought I would share that little gem because it is worth a few extra minutes of my time.

• 
  But back to my Secret Garden.
  
  

  

  From OWG: A Very Earth & Ground Centered Ritual.

  I have been keeping my own personal "Secret Garden" to myself like a greedy thing. I read it every night before bed & I didn't want to share it with anyone except Hubby & only because he sleeps next to me. He kept reading it over my shoulder because he secretly loves it too & besides, someone had to keep me from reading/peeking ahead. 
  
  

  I read it from beginning to end & after a month or two of reading one entry, maybe two a night, I finished it. I was so moved, so stirred by this story, that I had to tell the author(s). Serendipitously, they were reading my story & had written me first. This is my reply. I think I could not express myself any better now, than I did when I wrote it for them (in the throngs of my admiration):
  

  I have been doing my best (children allowing) to read a wee bit of your blog every night. It is the last thing I do before I sleep. The way you describe your rituals, your memories, is the perfect way to enter the dream world. I want to thank you for inviting me into your home, sharing your family & your grove with me. My husband & I (if he can stay awake long enough) lay in bed w/the laptop & read it together -- it is like taking a little trip to upstate New York every night & spending time with the most delightful hosts. Of course, he has to remind me not to read ahead, peek at the pictures, etc.  

  I am wondering what I will do when I have read it all? Do you ever have that concern when reading a marvelous book? Perhaps you take extra time to read it, savouring it, dragging it on & on, because you cannot bear the thought of its conclusion? Luckily, I know your blog will continue, a little at a time. I will just have to find the patience. 

  Thank you for writing to me. As it happens, I have been meaning to write to you, to thank you for writing the best blog I have ever read. Ever. (Not that I am all that versed in the blogosphere, but nothing thus far has resonated so well for me.) Your words & photos are beautiful & I relish them...

  

  "Magic Flame" by OWG

  The letter continues from there. I discuss my possessiveness towards my "secret" (my "precious"?) & later I request permission to share &/or write about my newfound source of bliss.
  
  After this heartwarming exchange, I kept reading. Then, after I finished, I took a baby step & shared my secret with a special friend -- someone I knew would understand. BUT, I made her promise she would read it from beginning to end. No peeking. 

  
  This is a very intimate, deeply spiritual story about a family of Druids honouring the gods. They are also artists, poets, wordsmiths. They have a grove, it changes over time, people move, people die, new folks join them, the Wheel turns. Her voice is sublime, the way she describes their rituals, memories, the sadness & hilarity of life, family & worship. I am not a Druid & I confess (as my friends will tell you) that I have a difficult time wrapping my feral brain around the Druidic cosmology, liturgy, philosophy... all of it. But I loved every single chapter of their Druidic story & I got it. I got it. 

  
  

  

  OWG: Open the Door, Let Bridget Come In

  The joy I received when I shared this story with my friend was so epic that I could not focus during my meditation at the Night Altar & this elation remained with me for days. Just knowing my friend was reveling in the beauty of this precious secret filled me with warm-fuzzies. 
  
  If you had any doubts, she loves it too. Her words: " ...holey moley I am in awe."
  
  The words & inspiration continue to reverberate. Hubby has been designing a special circle for us in the pasture (to the East, the home of Breakfast Canyon) using earth, stone & wood. His ideas are much inspired by the designs found at our Secret Garden: Our Whole Grove's Mountaintop Underground. I continue to revel, reflect & await the forthcoming chapters. Now I understand what all those Harry Potter fans felt as they waited for their beloved tale to continue.
  
  Go read it. I'll still be here prattling away to myself when you return. But remember, read it from beginning to end. In that order. No peeking. It is a wonderful journey.
  
  

  "We are here to honor the gods, gods who give meaning to life." 

  -- Our Whole Grove

  
  

  

  OWG: A Mid-Summer Solstice of Sweets & Flowers

  
  
  

Crafty: Lá Fhéile Bhríde/Imbolc Décor

Yarn & twigs. Stuff to make stuff.

Every so often something happens to me & I make stuff.

This time, it was a request for submissions to our quarterly Pagan community rag up in Alaska. Our fearless leader & editor, the Amazon Druid, asked if we could come up with something clever for the "Family Corner." The result was very clever. I am pretty sure we might have been channeling those clever Nidulariales I wrote about yesterday. This undertaking, which ended up much like an entry at Instructables was so epic, that I am going to post it here if for no other reason than to get a bit more mileage out of it than just the Alaskan newsletter readership. (By the way, if you are interested in receiving a pdf. copy of Roots & Wings via email, contact the editor over at Birch Goddess. You don't have to be Alaskan & I am sure she would be happy to hook you up.)

Before I get to the copy & paste ad nauseam, I must give credit where credit is due. We adapted our design from this Etsy Listing. Alaska is not a place to obtain the traditional materials for this project & the alternatives we found around the internet were, um, tacky. Pipe cleaners? Um, no. So when I came across this gal's design I figured it could be very helpful for Alaskans who won't be finding any straw or rushes out there under the ocean of snow. Of course, if you are not of the mind to make your own, perhaps you would like to purchase one from Nicole, the Etsy shop owner. She is part of Etsy's Team for Animals, "a group of 200 independent artists, independent craftspeople, independent vintage suppliers, and independent art and craft suppliers that combine their efforts to provide charitable relief to animals." Good girl.

Whether you wish to honor Brigid the Saint, or Brighid the goddess (or perhaps you see her as one in the same), this is a very satisfying project. So, without further ado, here is our family's Imbolc Décor "instructable." Please enjoy. (If you make some, feel free to send me some photos, I would love to see your results.)


Making Brigid’s Crosses for Household Protection & Family Fun

St. Brigid of Kildare @ Wiki.

A Brigid's Cross (called Cros Bríde, Crosóg Bríde or Bogha Bríde, in Irish Gaelic) is a traditional Irish symbol associated with Brigid of Kildare, one of the a patron saints of Ireland. Though it is generally regarded as a Christian symbol, it is likely a pagan remnant. Its design is reminiscent of a sunwheel while Saint Brighid is regarded by many as representative of the ancient Celtic goddess Brighid/Brìde (both pronounced “breed”) or, in more modern parlance, Brigid.

Brighid is said to walk the earth on the eve of her feast. Thus, Brigid’s Crosses were traditionally made from rushes or straw which were gathered on January 31st, the eve of St. Brigit’s Day (Lá Fhéile Bhríde). The crosses were then assembled on 1 February (sometimes February 2nd, or 12th by the old calendar), the day of her honor. 

Brighid by celticseaturtle @ DeviantArt. 

The significance of this for modern Pagans is obvious. St. Brigit’s Day/Lá Fhéile Bhríde occurs simultaneously with the pagan festival, Imbolc/Imbolg (“in the belly”), a traditional agrarian celebration of the pregnancy & lactation of ewes, observed by many modern Pagans, most notably Celtic reconstructionists, Druids and Wiccans. It has been speculated that ancient Imbolc celebrations were also associated with the goddess Brighid. Historical uncertainty aside, Imbolc has most decidedly become Brighid’s feast and it is this we honor.

Brigid Crosses are solar symbols: a woven square with four equal radials extending to the four directions. There are many traditions associated with the making and keeping of the crosses. Most people agree that they act as a talisman for the home, bringing protection to the house and its inhabitants. Many feel they are particularly effective against fire & evil. In Ireland, they are usually hung in the kitchen specifically for their fireproofing prowess. Others prefer to hang them above the inside of the front door or near the hearth. In some traditions, Crosses from the previous year are burned and replaced to affirm the saying: “Out with the old, and in with the new.”

Because traditional materials are unavailable in Alaska during the Imbolc season, we will be working with twigs. We have selected apple twigs since Brigid (allegedly, see interesting debate/discussion here) possessed an apple orchard in the Otherworld, but Birch, Rowan, Alder or other native Alaskan woods will also work nicely. Make sure to trim terminal twigs if possible: they look better and are more pliable. Each cross will require 12 relatively straight cuttings, approximately 4 to 7 inches long. Collect more than you think you will need in case of breakage. Make sure to keep your garden snips handy after you have collected the twigs. They will be needed for trimming at the end of the project.

You will also need scissors & yarn, sisal, raffia, embroidery floss or hemp of your choice to bind the twigs. A needle is very helpful, but not necessary.

• Assemble your best twigs into four bundles of three & wrap one end with yarn. You can use one color, or many. You might want to use the colors of the Celtic quarters; black, red, yellow, grey, or the colors of the directions according to Ceremonial/Wiccan traditions; green, yellow, red, blue. 

• Lay out your bundles in the order you will want for the finished design. Cut a very generous length of yarn, twice as long as you think you will need. Fold it in half. If you are using a thick yarn, or multiple colors/strands, you will need extra length. Have your needle nearby if you will be using one. 

• Take up your first two radials: left vertical and lower horizontal, holding them at right angles with the bottom/horizontal radial overlapping the left/vertical. Pick up your yarn holding the radials with one hand and lace the loop end of your yarn around the center twig near the free end of the horizontal radial bundle. Bring the two ends of the yarn through the loop to create a kind of slipknot. Tighten it down on the center twig and pull the loose strings to the back:

• If you are using a needle, thread it with your loose ends now.  Begin lacing the yarn through the three twigs in the pattern shown below. We have learned from experience that it is more important to make sure your lacing is tight and symmetrical than in what order you sew the sections. Find the sequence that works best for you and for the material you are using:

• Add the next radial using the method above, insuring that you create right angles. Check the images to be sure you have it layered properly: each successive radial should overlap the previous. As you move along, you may need to adjust your radial alignment to make sure that your cross will be symmetrical. To do this, simply measure the distance from the angle to the end of the radial. Remember, you will be trimming the unbound ends of the twigs at the end, so make your adjustments by assessing the symmetry of the bound ends. Also, be sure to keep your stitches tight and even, especially as you move from one section to the next.

 

• Repeat the process with the last radial, measuring for symmetry and making adjustments. The unbound end of the last radial will need to be place under and at right angles to the left vertical radial. 

• The last set of stitches should be pulled tight and ended with a knot on the backside. If you have extra yarn length afterwards, you can trim it, or you may choose to use it to hang your Brigid’s Cross.

• Finally, square your angles, make any final adjustments to your radial alignment and symmetry trim the excess off the unbound ends to complete your Brigid’s Cross. Remember, once the radials are trimmed it will be difficult to make any more adjustments.

Final Notes:

The backside will not be perfect and does not need to be. As long as there are no dangling strings or bulging tangles, your cross is fine. 

Little hands will need some extra help.

Children can participate in most of this project with proper supervision and a little assistance. Take them on a hike and talk to them about the tress you find. You may want to take this time to talk about Imbolc or the Feast of St. Brigid, what it means to you and how you will celebrate it. When you get home, let them select their own twigs, perhaps even making a counting game out of it. Let them make their own color choices and have them wrap their bundles themselves. If they do not yet know how to tie a knot, this is a great opportunity to learn and practice! Depending on your child and your comfort level, you may want to help them do some of the sewing. Your hands will be of great help to them if they are smaller. The final product is a great prize and will give them a great sense of achievement. You can honor them by using their cross as your house protection talisman, or you might suggest that they deliver it to a friend or family member on Imbolc. This project was a wonderful way for us to spend time together as a family. We hope you will enjoy and share it with your loved ones too!

Crafty! Brigid's Crosses. A joyful creation.