April 19th, 20224/19/2022  Just before Spring, my husband opened up our chickadee bird house to clean it out from last summer We have learned that we need to do this if we want them to return to nest in the new year.
The same family might nest up to three times in one season and then leave for the winter. This year when we opened up the house, this was what we found. 6 unhatched eggs. I hesitate to use the word abandoned, because there is so much human attachment to that word that I do not witness in the wild world of nature. 6 unhatched eggs. The chickadees left no note as to why these eggs were left Just a tidy nest, with signs of the places they had foraged to create a comfy home for them and their little ones. Perhaps the height of our hot summer was too much for them and they needed to go into the mountain forest for cooler weather. Perhaps they ‘over shot’ as it was their third clutch. Perhaps there was too much activity in the back yard. perhaps...perhaps...perhaps We, of course, can speculate and yet, in all our speculation, we will never know what caused the family to leave when they did. What I do know is that what they left behind offered us a precious gift of discovery. It is not everyday that one gets to see these precious tiny eggs so closely, to hold them study the markings feel the strength within the fragility experience the abundance even in the death I keep finding that the precious gifts of this life, are often found in death of some kind It is not easy, but it somehow causes the precious to be even sweeter These Dark Nights of The Soul offer me a place to cherish the precious little offerings that sprinkle the paths that I find myself walking kind words simple connections rays of light sprinkles of rain warmth of the sun lingering morning frost smiles on faces touch stories music good food good company moments breath life connections I don’t know what’s ahead and that’s ok I don’t need to know I don’t want to know I do know, that for now, there is enough light for each step I take as precious gifts sparkle in the sun and illuminate under the moon so here, I remain.
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February 16th, 20222/16/2022  “When winter comes to a woman’s soul, she withdraws into her inner self, her deepest spaces. She refuses all connection, refutes all arguments that she should engage in the world. She may say she is resting, but she is more than resting: She is creating a new universe within herself, examining and breaking old patterns, destroying what should not be revived, feeding in secret what needs to thrive. Winter women are those who bring into the next cycle what should be saved. They are the deep conservators of knowledge and power. Not for nothing did ancient peoples honour the grandmother. In her calm deliberateness, she winters over our truth, she freezes out false-heartedness. Look into her eyes, this winter woman. In their gray spaciousness you can see the future. Look out of your own winter eyes… You too can see the future.” ~ Patricia Monaghan This is where I am. 'Feeding in secret what needs to thrive.' Sitting around the fires of The Ancestors, listening intently to them speak as I stir the cauldron of collateral beauty and kindness. Here, I am quiet and still. As one must be if one wants to listen. I want to listen. I want to hear what has been already experienced. I want to re-member that my challenge and our crisis is not the first to have come to pass. So, I listen. And what I hear is words and stories that bring me to COMMUNITY COMMUNITY as a place of being in listening, learning and healing. COMMUNITY in which diversity is needed, wanted and welcomed. COMMUNITY where reliability is law. COMMUNITY where we are not required to agree but invited to honour. COMMUNITY as the back bone of humanity. So I listen. And as I listen, I tend. And as I tend, I expand. And as I expand, I root in, and I stand firmly in place. The winds blow, the rains fall, the storms rage. And I remain rooted in, sitting around the fires of The Ancestors, listening intently to them speak as I stir the cauldron, as I examine and break down old patterns, as I destroy what should not be revived. as I feed in secret what needs to thrive. Here I remain. Winter Woman. February 03rd, 20222/3/2022  February
the medicine: *Elk – protect the herd, honour eldership/elderhood, teach the young, watch over the compromised, lead with integrity *The North/The time of Winter – finding wisdom in challenge, embracing the earth in our bones, sitting at the fires of the ancestors to listen, learn and heal *Imbolc – The slow, yet promising return of The Light. A time of emergence, birth, intention, celebration. *The Dark Moon – The time to set prayers, ignite intentions, dream *Brigid The Saint/The Goddess – New Beginnings, awaking’s, birth *Chinese New Year – The Year of The Tiger – prosperity, courage, strength Springs Beginnings Winters Thaw And perhaps in this place Love will be invite and will be allowed to Rise Love shown in troubled times is the most precious of all It is easy to love when there isn't tragedy hurt strife challenge Bone Love happens when it is hard Love built with the sturdy, rock solid commitment Flourishes Love when it hurts creates Fortitude Love forged in a time of Challenge lives Forever It takes great courage to stand in this kind of Love May we all have such courage May new life begin May seeds be planted May patience rise May roots be strong May flames burn bright May compassion be our guide May renewal and rebirth come forth May grace be given May we always know the ones who stand with and for us May we know when to let things lie May we know when to unearth the bones May we have courage to live this human life May vulnerability become our trusted companion May it be so May it be so May it be so aho aha amen may it be so image: Teaching the Young * Elk Medicine 2015 collected by me magick11/15/2021  The magick is emerging
It births within the stillness of our Be-ing even when it's hard To Be It has always been there and it now calls to be given it's rightful place The paths have been cleared The battles have been fought The blood has been spilled The tears have been shed In the world of Magick... The World of Spirit there is The Law of Nature... a natural law that moves between life and death honouring both... Here there is always a price that is meant to be paid This is not for punishment or shame This is in order to hold balance To honour the life *death *life cycle It is our call to remember this so that when the price has been paid -we move on- -we evolve- -we transform- We must realize when it is time to stop paying... so we can then enter into ourselves Holy and Wholly encompassing all that we were meant to do here all that we were meant to be in this place of fog and mystery I remain 🍁🖤🦉🍂 📷 Crow in The Fog collected by me 2020 Begin Again11/1/2021  Here I sit, way past my bedtime on the dark night after Samhain and Hallows Eve.
Last night was filled with happy children and relieved parents as the sky was clear and the only thing that filled the night was the banging and lights of the abundant fireworks that rang late into the dark. Today it was All Saints Day, The Celtic or Witches New year and tomorrow is The Day of The Dead. It’s a dark season, but not in a scary kind of way. More in a release, allowing and death-to-what-is-complete kind of way. Today was the perfect day to complete this new website, as I follow the Celtic/Witches New Year in my work. It wasn’t a conscious thing, it just sort of happened and made sense. It seems a good time to begin again after the days of honouring death. I so admire the Southern countries for how they honour their dead on these days. Tonight, a sister-friend of mine shared numerous images from several years ago when her and her family were in Mexico for The Day of The Dead. A sea of photos, tokens and colourful flowers held in painted tin cans, filled every image. These places are not afraid to honour their dead and it resonates with me. Back to this new website. It’s complete. I must be honest and say it did not turn out exactly how I had envisioned, but it will do. I have no time to rebuild it as I started school last week and my world is quite upside down right now. I am in the throws of finding a new rhythm and I don’t mind saying I am feeling a little overwhelmed. And sometimes, most times I have found my expectations to be not what is needed. it is a humbling practice. What am I going to school for? I am going back to obtain an Addictions Counsellor Certification. This will help with the recovery work that I do and enhance my session work. I am already learning so much about the system. I feel like a spy, getting a view from the inside out. Even in the overwhelm of change I know I am exactly where I need to be. So back to the new website! One of the biggest things I am excited about is that there is a sign up, on the bottom of the first page, for my newsletter. I am excited to streamline my audience and perhaps get new followers as well. I would be pleased if you would consider staying with me; but if our time has come to an end I thank you for entertaining my email all these years. I truly appreciate it. Nothing stays the same, and that is good. Things must die so other life can take root. Going back to school is part of that change for me. I am do not all that is ahead of me, and nor should I. In the meantime, I will still hold the circle that I am committed to. As long as the women gather, I will hold the space. That has always been my promise. I feel inspired to write more but my bed is calling, and my eyes are tired. Thank you for reading my words, thank you for being here with me. I look forward to seeing you soon, one way or another. Blessed Be dear lovelies. I pray all good things for you on this dark night. Love Light and Shadow Catherine ReflectionsHere you will find my process in writings. Archives |
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