Samhain ramblings

Someone commented on my blog last week that caring and nurturing are the same. Personally I don’t think so. I feel that nurturing is something deeper than caring. What are your thoughts on this?

But Samhain is upon us. For me this festival is one where I honour all my ancestors.  If we look back at our immediate ancestors we can see what traits they gave us. It is not just the physical traits although when I look in the mirror I can see that my face shape and structure is getting very like that of my grandmother. We start to act like they did when we get older but we also need to be aware of this as we can take on their bad traits if we are not careful. Having also worked on my family history I can see why my ancestors behaved as they did. Times have changed and we need to change with them.

It is also the start of the winter where I find that I withdraw from the outer world for some of the time at least. Like some animals I want to hibernate but our current world does not allow this so I have to do what I can to rest and replenish my energy. But it is also a time when we can have clear blue skies and crisp clean air which is very energising. So it is a time of alternating energies in a way, good days when I am energised and darker days when I wish to sleep. How do you feel during this time?

I have an interesting photo for you this week. It was taken in my grove of trees by my friend Simon. We have several photos of this tree but this one is a little more special. What do you make of the tree? I know that many of you follow this blog. Please comment as I love to read these as sometimes it helps to clarify my own thoughts and feelings.

Nurturing, caring and sharing

I can hear someone say ‘What has that title got to do with being a druid?’ Read on and see how it connects.

A few weeks ago, my son came to visit and I asked him to repot some indoor plants. This he did and we have been rewarded well. The plants have both produced new leaves. One of them has produced 10 perfect tiny leaves so far. This is what caring and nurturing has done for my plants. The new compost gave them nutrients so they could flourish and grow. I will add a couple of photos here at the end of my writing. But it is a wonderful way that nature has to produce leaves so tiny and perfect. Do you notice how your plants grow and notice when they need a little bit of help in the way of caring and nurturing?

So what about the sharing bit? I was in the supermarket the other day on my mobility scooter. I was later than usual so the supermarket was busy. I had managed to fill my basket and was waiting in the queue by the till. The young lady in front of me offered to empty my basket on to the conveyor belt and I let her do this for me. As I moved forward in the queue I helped the lady behind me. She passed her items to me and I placed them on the belt. She commented about how we were sharing and helping each other and that this was something we had lost in our busy world, where no-one seems to care. Such a simple action gave fulfilment to us all and if only others helped those who needed help then the world would be a better place. Do you notice when someone needs help? It may only be to pass something from a shelf or hold open a door. The simple things that we can all do to make the world a better place. (no apologies for repetition) To me, my druidry is about sharing and caring about everything on the planet. If we don’t look after that which is dear to us, how can we and they, survive when things go wrong?

 

Pocket Parks

When I lived in Kettering, Northamptonshire, I was a Tree Warden and had a lot to do with checking trees for disease and organising tree walks and also checking pocket parks. Northamptonshire has Pocket Parks all over the county and there are several in the town of Kettering. This is taken from their web site –

‘The idea of Pocket Parks originated in Northamptonshire. They are natural areas of countryside which are owned, looked after and cherished by the local community for peaceful enjoyment, the protection of wildlife and to provide access for all.’

I don’t know how many other counties in the UK do this but it is a wonderful idea. Many small pieces of derelict or unused ground can be made into pocket parks. Near the local stream is a small fenced area with an opening where gates used to be. According to local residents this is privately owned but it would make a wonderful pocket park. There is a large apple tree in one corner and various other shrubs but it is very overgrown.

Pocket parks are something we can all think about and try to find land which can be used. Just think how wonderful it would be to sit there and enjoy the wildlife throughout the year. Check out suitable places in your area and write to the council with your suggestions. They may listen or they may not but if you don’t try then nothing will change.

Here is the apple tree.

Sunday ramblings

I was not sure what to write about this morning so it is likely to be a bit of a ramble. I managed to take some photos of the stream mentioned last week so will post one here today. The day I took the photos someone had pushed a supermarket trolley down the bank. Unfortunately there was no way I could retrieve it but it has now gone so someone must have managed to get it out.

This morning it is foggy. What are those words of Keats ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’? Today they had meaning. The dew from the fog showed up all the cobwebs but now is the time when the spiders come inside to find somewhere warmer.  Although I can see the magic of the spider I do not like them in the house as I was bitten once by a spider and ended up in hospital for several days. So I am careful when they are near. They do not like chestnuts though so conkers in the windowsills do deter them.

Their magical webs always amaze me. They are so intricate and much stronger than you think, having had to remove one from across the back door so I could go out. What patience they must have to spin these webs. I shall be on the lookout for one to take photos of. How do you feel about their webs? Nature is amazing and so beautiful.