Musings About the Land

Praising of the Great Earth

Published July 20, 2011 | By Juniper

In a group, you can have the last line repeated by everyone in unison. This was written assuming it would be recited in Ottawa (Canada), you might have to change a line or two in order to suit where you live.

I sing of the foundations of the Earth,

Mother of all, eldest of all beings

She who sustains all the creatures in the world

All things in the sea, all things that fly

Or live upon the ground divine

All that lives, moves and breathes

Are nourished by Her

Hail the Earth, our Mother!

*

Oh great queen!

We are blessed in our children

And in our harvests

We honour the Earth

Who both gives life

And takes it away

Hail the Earth, our Mother!

*

With your blessing

There is fruit ripe on the trees

The land is laden with corn

The pastures covered with cattle

And our larder is full

Hail the Earth, our Mother!

*

With your blessing

We grow and flourish

We live in a prosperous city

Of garden parks filled with flowers

Where women are equals

In the seat of power for our nation

Hail the Earth, our Mother!

*

For all this… Continue reading →

Posted in Bardic Circle, Book of Shadows, Musings About the Land | Tagged 101, Bardic Circle, deities, Poems, Ritual

Wildcrafting

Published July 14, 2011 | By Juniper

Posted in Book of Shadows, Getting Started, Grimoire, Musings About the Land, Practice & Learning, Reviews & Recommendations, Study | Tagged 101, classes, ethics, inspiring, Nature Witch, video, wildcrafting, Wildwood

To Answer a Question

Published June 21, 2011 | By Juniper

Perform bird-y funeral as best as you can. Blessings, smoke, offerings etc.

Receive permission from the animal’s spirit before you cut.

Cut at the joint. I used a combo of quality wire cutters and good scissors.

You will want to purchase mite/flea spray and use it.

Once dry from the mite spray, you will want to cut open the fleshy parts at the joint. Turn it onto it’s back and make a slit from behind. This makes the flesh dry quicker and better. You might have to do a little trimming

Make sure there is no rot or maggots!

Place in a tupperware in the position you want the wing to stay in.

Gently bury in a mixture of one part sea salt, one part baking soda and two parts borax (just straight cornmeal is also traditional but it takes longer). Have a bit of the mixture at the bottom as well. And place in a safe, dry not too bright or warm place.

Make appropriate offerings to the spirit of the bird while you wait. I like to pop open the container now and then so the air in there doesn’t get stagnate but that might just be my… Continue reading →