August 8, 2014 - Partridge Cemetery

Would you be surprised if I told you that when I am flustered and need to feel peace and comfort, I go to a cemetery?  It’s true.  At least, a Maine cemetery.  Here in Maine, your loved ones can be buried in a cemetery or on your own land.  Yes, we still have home burials here and they are completely legal.  You need only designate the area officially and file it with the State.  Many people do it, and I think I’ll do it myself someday.  Where else would I want to rest but in my beautiful Maine?

But back to the idea of feeling peace and comfort at a cemetery.  Cemeteries in Maine are quiet.  They are not overcrowded.  They do not have millions of cars passing by daily.  There is no city noise or pollution.  If you look at this picture, you can see sheep grazing in the background, and I think this is ideal.  This is Partridge Cemetery in Woolwich, Maine, and it is like many of the cemeteries here.

Partridge Cemetery, Woolwich, Maine.

It’s that casual mingling of life and death that creates peace in my mind.  It’s the final resting place of people who helped to shape this State in its early years, and yet the sheep graze comfortably and lazily in the background without a care in the world.  And isn’t that what they should be doing?  Shouldn’t they be cropping the grass, lazily eating, and going about their business? 

I’d like to think that those who are buried here approve of this.  After all, this is an old cemetery with some members who were born in the mid 1750s.  Seeing sheep grazing would have been as commonplace and ordinary to them as seeing cars is for most Americans.  It would have been comforting.  It would have given them a sense of peace and prosperity, a knowledge that food and wool for clothing was available.

To the sheep and those whose final resting place is in Partridge Cemetery, this is what life is about.  We live, we love, we eat, we die.  How wealthy we truly are!  Ask any member of this cemetery what wealth is, and if you could get an answer, it would not be “money.”  It would be “continuity.”  Add me to the list when it’s my time.

Sunset - August 7, 2014

Reach for the sky.

August 7, 2014 - Random Acts

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to practice random acts of kindness, senseless deeds of beauty.  Here in Maine, there are many examples of this.  Today I found this beautiful old dresser full of flowers up against a rock face.  There was nothing else around, but clearly someone did this.  Someone was random and senseless.  Someone was overflowing with love, and because of that, my own heart was filled to the brim with love.  Truly, I am the luckiest woman alive.

August 6, 2014 - The Ugly Caterpillar

A long time ago when Mother Nature was first organizing everything and the details of life hadn’t been completely worked out, she decided to hold a meeting with all the spirits to get their input on how the Earth should look and what their final forms should be.  After all, she was quite fair and she just wanted everyone to be happy.  So she set up a huge tent and decided to have a picnic.  All of the spirits came, of course, because they were very eager to get down to their final form of manifestation.

But, oh, what a mess it all turned out to be!  First, the larger and heavier spirits pushed the smaller and lighter spirits out of the way.  Then the louder spirits drowned out the timid spirits with all their shouting.  And the quicker spirits danced circles around the slower spirits, which made them feel claustrophobic.  There was an awful lot of grumbling, shouting, and general rudeness going on.

Finally, Mother Nature decided she had heard enough of their guff, and she silenced them all with a terrifying bolt of lightning.  At last when they were quiet, she showed them all the many forms of manifestation that she had come up with, but no sooner had she shown them, when the arguments broke out again.  She regretted holding the meeting and wanted it to end, so she told them all to pick their final form and go as quickly as possible before she lost her temper and trashed the whole idea of manifestation.

Caterpillar:  the only shape-shifter left.

Of course, the larger and louder and quicker spirits snatched up many fine forms such as bears and eagles, crocodiles and snakes, elephants and tigers, sharks and whales, scorpions and dragonflies.  Eventually every form she had created had been taken except for one, and that was the caterpillar.  “Are there none of you who wish to be a caterpillar?” she asked.  But all the spirits laughed at this simple and slow form, which they called “ugly.”  So they all left in a huff with Mother Nature sighing relief at their departure.  Then they descended to the Earth in their final and beautiful forms.

All but one small group of spirits, that is.  These spirits were so tiny, so quiet, and so slow that she almost missed them.  In a tiny voice, they asked if they might have the form of the caterpillar.  Mother Nature looked at them with kindness and love and saw how good and sweet they were, and she told them they could have the form of the caterpillar but with one change.  They did not argue with her but instead thanked her profusely for her kindness.  This touched her heart very deeply since they were the only spirits who had thanked her.

So she gave them the form of the caterpillar, and as they took it on and descended to their final place on the Earth, she sprinkled just a little bit of magic dust on them in passing.  Lo and behold, as they grew into their “ugly” selves, they fell into a deep sleep, and when they emerged, they were truly stunning and beautiful.  And with their delicate butterfly wings, they flew amongst their other manifested brethren, who were now comfortable in their final forms as well.  The other manifested spirits just gaped in wonder and awe at their transformation, secretly hoping that they would also transform.

But that did not happen, as everyone knows, and as everyone also knows, it is the caterpillar alone that maintains its spiritual ability to shape-shift, leaving behind temporary mortal form to soar into the heavens.

August 5, 2014 - Staghorn Sumac

But did you know just how primitive-looking the staghorn sumac is?  The “bobs” are quite large and imposing.  In the winter, long after all greenery has disappeared, the plant slices up toward the sky with dark, blood-colored bobs that can reach as high as 16 feet.  They look like huge and dangerous spears that have already met their intended victim and are looking around for a little more fun.  They cause a bizarre repulsion in me that I have never been able to shake, and touching them makes me grow weak in the knees.

It is no surprise, then, that the fairies use this plant extensively.  Where you find sumac, you will find fairies.  You will know you are getting closer to something important to them because you will see more and more dangerous-looking sumac bobs.  They put them there on purpose to frighten off the unsuspecting traveler, and anyone who has seen a large stand of these bobs knows just how frightening they can be.  That, of course, is the idea.  The fairies are masters at visual intimidation.

Staghorn sumac bobs.

So when you find the sumac, you are on the right track, assuming of course that you are even looking for fairies.  And if you ARE looking for them, you had better bring your own spear because I am not entirely certain that all of that blood-red color is due to the plant alone.  Remember that fairies have their own set of rules, which do not always (or often) coincide with ours.

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(The staghorn sumac [Rhus typhina] is beginning to ripen.  This grows everywhere in Maine and is quite invasive.  The ripe fruit, or “bob” as it is called, was traditionally used as a natural dye.  The entire plant contains a considerable amount of tannin and can also be used as a mordant.  It is quite convenient that a plant would supply its own mordant along with a dye.)

August 4, 2014 - Adrift

I am adrift on an ocean that goes on forever.  The large boats and the yachts and the ocean liners have all passed me by.  Most of them did not even see me, and those who did went swiftly on their way because I was too plain for them.  I am inconsequential, a ripple in a pond.  I am exposed to the elements.  I have no cabins below deck and no engine to speed me on my way or bring me to a safe cove.  There is nothing between me and every force of nature that exists.

But I am still here.  I may not have billowing sails, but I have a sturdy anchor that holds me in place.  And that “place” is occupied by me and no one else.  When the thunder rolls and the lightning strikes, I am fearful but unflinching.  I meet it head on.  The wind could snap me in two and the ocean could capsize me, but they have not done so yet.  I meet the waves as they come and I ride them out.  I bail out the torrential rains, and then I lazily dry out in the sun.

I am small but I am me.  And I am here.

Rowboat adrift.

August 3, 2014 - Albert

At 3:00 in the morning today, Albert was born.  He weighed about 75 pounds and was standing on his own within half an hour.  He's the newest citizen of Maine, shown here with his mom, Cocoa.  As a new member of the state, it will be important for him to find his place in the community and to contribute to it.  Fortunately, he has a great family who can teach him all he needs to know.  He lives on a great farm where all the animals are cared for very well.  He slept a lot today and drank a lot of milk, as good little boys will do.  Soon he'll be oot and aboot terrorizing the neighborhood, and he'll give the lambs and the alpacas a run for their money.  But for now, he's content to hang out with mom.

This is what it's all about.  Don't let anyone tell you anything differently.  All the stores, shoes, clothes, cars, boats, and other toys don't mean anything in the end.  In the end, it's birth and death, living a peaceful life while here, and loving whenever possible.  And it is always possible.

Albert, the new calf born today.

August 2, 2014 - Jungle Creatures

It’s a primitive world I live in.  If it weren’t for reporting in here every day on my activities, I’d probably just go native, having lost all sense of civilization.  As it stands, I still may do that very thing someday because, if you hadn’t noticed, I don’t quite fit into the contrived world that humans have built.  The faithful reader of this journal knows that I don’t see many human beings, and as time goes on I seem to see fewer and fewer.  At first I thought it was just a coincidence that no one seems to come to these parts of the woods.  Now I’m not so certain, and there are a number of reasons why.

First, the woods are completely booby trapped.  The fairies set up trip wires everywhere.  The further you go into the deep woods, the more traps you will find because that is the realm of the Unseelie Court.  You will recall my entry on Fairy Traps and what happened to me there.  If you stay to the perimeter of the woods, you will find more creatures of the Seelie Court who are at least friends with the sun, but you must still deal with their odd temperaments and, at times, twisted sense of morality.  They don’t see things the way we do.

Second, I ate the red fly agaric fairy mushroom that was disguised as a painted bolete.  If you’re thinking I should have known better, you’re right.  From there I was led down to the pond and experienced my First Contact, about which I have written.  But ever since then, the strange things I’ve been seeing have multiplied.  I think since it was a mushroom of the fairy realm, it gave me a bit of “the sight,” and as I said in a previous journal entry, I’m not sure if that was purposely done or if it was accidental on their part.  In any event, I can sense them even more and yet humans seem to notice me even less.

Ent tipping.

Third, this picture you see is pretty typical of what they do.  Here they have begun picking trees up and throwing them down, sort of like cow tipping, but in this case they’re Ent tipping.  Of course, this infuriates the Ents, and I don’t blame them one bit for being outraged.  Do you?  After all, how are they going to get up?  But you’ll recall in my article on Bold Ents that the fairies and Ents do not get along at all.  I try to stay out of it because I have enough problems as it is, but I have to say in this case, I side with the Ents.  I’d appreciate it, though, if you not tell anyone I said that because it’ll just start the next war.  That, and I don’t like getting pelted with acorns when I’m out on my daily walk.  You’d think siding with the Ents would make them kinder, but magical creatures don’t work that way.  The fact that they are mentioned at all will piss them off to no end because they love hiding behind the “myth” curtain, and they rely on humans not believing in their existence.

And these are just a few of the problems.  Add the dragons to it (as I described in my article on Here Be Dragons), and it’s no wonder that people keep away from here.  No one wants to get eaten for not being able to guess a dragon riddle.  And plus, they always cheat, don’t you think?  In any event, anyone who has been reading this journal knows that the aforementioned is just the tip of the iceberg.  Then, too, there are dimensional shifts . . . which have occurred on this Earth and will occur again, but that is for another story.  For now, I must go and tend my domestic animals and pray that the fairies have not soured the milk again.

August 1, 2014 - Magic House

People have asked me why the fairies come to me and not them.  That’s simple.  It’s because I create an atmosphere for them.  I make it inviting, comfortable, different.  Of course, for the longest time I didn’t realize I was doing this.  It was a natural thing for me to do.  So you say you want them to come and visit you, too?  Well, be careful what you ask for as it may be given to you. Now with that disclaimer out of the way, I will tell you what you need to do.

There are two “worlds” you need to think about:  the elements and the senses, and these two must be blended nicely.  In terms of the elements, you want things that reflect earth, air, fire, and water.  In terms of the senses, you want things that reflect sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, with sight being necessary but the least important.  (Remember it is with sight that the fairies fool us most often as they are masters of illusion.  They are not as good at tricking us with the other senses, and therefore, they are more attracted by the other senses.)

Chimes hanging in a tree.

Here is your recipe to draw the Good Folk to you.  Decorate your property (renters can do this with a few adjustments) with things that incorporate both of these “worlds.”  A fire pit or votive candles placed in pretty locations is inviting.  Tiny tea lights in small stone circles put together by you are delightful.  A small fountain or birdbath is welcoming.  Incense lit now and then and hidden to just perfume an area is alluring.  Plant some of their favorite flowers, such as cowbell, lobelia, foxglove, tulips, primrose, ferns, and forget-me-nots.  Some of their favorite trees are oak, apple, ash, and hawthorn.  Elderberry bushes are beloved to them!  Hide many sets of chimes in bushes and trees to give off a mysterious and seemingly faraway sound.  Place crystals or pretty rocks you find in piles everywhere.  Shells are a good idea, too.  If you can get driftwood, by all means do so as they love the texture.  But for all of these things, you want them to look as “natural” as possible--no straight lines or manmade items. 

Piles of quartz crystals.

Lastly, but certainly not least, give them some treats.  They love milk, butter, and honey cakes.  Junk food does not appeal to them, and in fact, they’d be insulted if you left it for them and just might cause you some mischief.  Red wine is also a favorite, but many of them like beer as well.  Leave small treats in a special dish for them on your back porch or in a designated (and decorated!) area of your yard.  Do this especially on some of their favorite days, such as May Day and Hallowe’en, and you’ll be sure to attract them. 

Driftwood placed against my house.

How do you know they’ve come?  You’ll know.  You’ll “feel” them watching you at certain times.  The hair on the back of your neck will stand up sometimes.  You’ll find items moved from one area to another.  You’ll find a ring of mushrooms in your lawn or a circle of lighter-colored grass inside a larger area of darker-colored grass.  You’ll find lots of acorns everywhere.  And maybe--just maybe--they’ll begin leaving gifts for you as well, which they have done for me.

The real question is, how do you get rid of them once they’ve come?  Some are sweet and kind, but others are a real nuisance.  For me, they’re a natural part of life.  Will they be the same for you?