First frosts

Frost forms in swirling ferns and birds sing it’s praise,crows call far out across the fields and beyond expanding my hearing and my heart as I follow the sounds into the beyond. The average first frost for many inland areas in the UK and Ireland is within the first ten days of November later along the Read more about First frosts[…]

Late September

Sitings of the crescent moon glowing in the embers of the setting sun reach us on Sundaybut we only catch sight of it on moon day and are awed. with the risingthe little egret orchid blooms, takes flight and fades almost within a day we could so easily have missed it. And it’s presence Leads Read more about Late September[…]

Autumn breakfast

Blue Iris Poems and Essays By Mary OliverA celebration of the bounties and blessings of nature. A Book Excerpt on Wonder How Would You Live Then? What if a hundred rose-breasted grosbeaksflew in circles around your head? What ifthe mockingbird came into the house with you andbecame your advisor? What ifthe bees filled your walls with honey and Read more about Autumn breakfast[…]

Nature’s feast of Early Autumn Fruits

 Jeremy Torrance web producer | 12:06 UK time, Wednesday, 8 September 2010 The word harvest comes from the Anglo-Saxon word haerfest meaning autumn and early autumn really is a time of wild fruits aplenty. So what’s in season now and who’s eating? Blackberries Blackberry jam, blackberry fool, blackberry cordial… blackberry picking is one of the nation’s favourite autumn past-times and this late summer/early Read more about Nature’s feast of Early Autumn Fruits[…]

Lammas – Lughnasa

The Festival Sabbat of Lammas  Lughnassadh, Lugnasad August 1st/2nd It is now high summer and the union of Sun and Earth, of God and Goddess, has produced the First Harvest. Lammas is the celebration of this first, Grain Harvest, a time for gathering in and giving thanks for abundance. Mabon or the Autumn Equinox is the Second Read more about Lammas – Lughnasa[…]

Let the rhythm call you home

Hard rain overnight. 4am Crack of Dawn pulsing energy. Deep, dark new moon journey. Blue throat chakra, black cat.Bigger cats, lions, tigers and jaguars, prowl and roar. Summer solstice wonderland Jasmine scent.Peas pop. Wild cherries with poison at their hearts. Soft breeze, floating clouds, rustling leaves. Father’s Day cider and hops.Sleep so near and so Read more about Let the rhythm call you home[…]

Early Summer

From Beltane 1st May, or shortly after as the heat waves catch up with the increased light waves (14th May), until Lammas 1st August, we move into early summer. ”In the western world, we are familiar with the four seasons – spring, summer, autumn and winter. However, in the Taoist understanding of time and change Read more about Early Summer[…]

jīngzhé – hibernating insects awaken

Earth aerated Jīngzhé, 惊蛰, is the 3rd of the 24 solar terms (節氣) in the traditional Chinese calendars. It begins when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 345° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 360°. More often, it refers to the day when the Sun is exactly at a celestial longitude of 345°. In the Gregorian calendar, it usually Read more about jīngzhé – hibernating insects awaken[…]