by EnchantedWolf | May 23, 2011 | Nature Awareness
As part of my nature awareness, I’ve chosen to keep a sketchbook again and keep my eye out for things to be drawing…
Yellow wood-sorrel blooming up the road in the field near to the house.
Right now, it’s late May and Texas is known for its wildflowers. Flowers like Mexican Hat are blooming all over the place right now, including some nice types of daisies and sunflowers, which will become more prominent as the summer wears on. Yellows are big on the cusp of summer. I did a sketch of a yellow that’s in the field by the house just now.
The flowers are bright yellow, with small bright-orange chevron-shaped markings towards the cup of the flower, and a bright, fresh yellowy green towards the inner flower that approaches the stem. The stem itself is a standard yellowish green, and there are lots of flowers and tri-lobbed leaves on the plant.
by EnchantedWolf | May 21, 2011 | Required Reading
Rev. Dangler, in his WotY Document, suggests the following questions be kept in mind as I’m reading through my requirements, and I’m putting this in outline form in my DP Journal to help me stay focused on what is important (I’m big into punch lists):
- Include Bibliography Info, Correctly Sited
- What is the book about?
- Is there a discernable main thesis?
- Can I summarise the main points?
- Why was this book chosen for the requirements?
- Do I think it should be there?
- Does it inform my personal practice? If so, how?
- Does it give me new ideas, open my mind or thoughts, or send me off on a tangent?
- Could I recommed this to others?
- Do I have trouble understanding it, or not?
- Are there things that could make this book better?
by EnchantedWolf | May 19, 2011 | The Nine Virtues
According to Our Own Druidry, the Nine Virtues that are a wonderful guideline for a Druid’s way of life are: Wisdom, Piety, Vision, Courage, Integrity, Perseverance, Hospitality, Moderation, Fertility. Since virtues tend to be an internal force for ethical behavior, are these nine all-encompassing for me? Do I agree with this? Are these my virtues, or are there others that I need to incorporate?
I think there are others that I tend to use or focus on, but, are the virtues that I’m rolling around in my head just variants of the aforementioned nine?
Well, two of my virtues, I don’t think are encompassed within the laundry list above – Silence and Loyalty. Others, like Prudence and Fortitude, can be seen as Moderation, Wisdom, Courage and Perseverance. Interestingly enough, as I child, the bullies who picked on me came up with a hilarious ‘nickname’ for me they thought was utterly delicious – Prudence. The joke was really on them. They thought it meant ‘prudish’. I’m still laughing about that one. Thanks!
To be Prudent is to show sound judgement in practical things.
To have Fortitude is to demonstrate Courage and Perseverance in the face of uncertainty, fear or pain; moral courage is a tough thing, and it’s also part of my Clan motto, Fortiter.
To Know is a combination of Wisdom and Vision; I see knowledge as definitely being encompassed, augmented and even surpassed in the above Virtues.
To Will – Is Will a virtue? Is it really? – It’s more like a deeper building block of some of the virtues above – without the will to hold to task and see things through – Perseverance – you’d never get anything done. I feel this is also included in the above nine.
I still need to examine these in depth – I haven’t quite wrapped my mind around the whole meaning of virtue thing – for me, it’s something you do, actively. You think about things, and it comes out in your course of conduct. It’s not an abstract thinking exercise with no practical application.
There is another element to some of this that I need to think about, as well. It has to do with right use of these virtues. Will, for instance, is morally neutral – it is in the application that shows whether it is a moral, ethical choice – or not.
This is one of my favorite quotes of all time from a movie, and it’s from Ridley Scott’s “Kingdom of Heaven”, from the character played by David Thewlis, the Hospitaller (who says lots of wonderful, pithy things throughout the whole movie), to the young knight, Balian:
“I put no stock in religion. By the word ‘religion’ I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called ‘the Will of God’. I have seen too much ‘religion’ in the eyes of too many murderers. Holiness is in right action, and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves, and goodness. What god desires is here [points to head]. And here [points to heart]. And what you decide to do every day, you will be a good man – or not.”
So, I’ve finally defined, for myself, what the Virtues are: one’s moral compass.
It’s very ingrained in me. I have always said, although I can’t quote the source, unfortunately, ‘Never allow others’ behavior to dictate your character. How other people choose to behave is not an excuse to sink to their level.’ The ends do not justify the means. Prudence, indeed.
by EnchantedWolf | May 15, 2011 | Gàidhlig
First of all, I was thrilled to become a member of the Gael-Kin; I officially became one April 4th of this year. I haven’t posted much, but I was pleased to see the activity and scholarship, and interest in all of the Gaelic, not just Irish, or Welsh – or my own brand, Scot.
I’m thrilled to find a couple of members that also have the Gàidhlig, and I’m hoping that we can add to the website research and works on using and speaking Gaelic of all kinds. Unfortunately, my own Gàidhlig is hideously rusty from disuse, and I need the SMO into course badly; I have zero confidence in my ability for verbal discourse, and I’m looking to gain that. (A case of coca-cola couldn’t get rid of the rust right now, I’m afraid!)
I was sad to see our loss of Alexei Kondratiev; who died last year; purely selfish on my part of course, as Death is the next great adventure and I’m sure he’s deep in his next adventure now. Although I never bring to the table his richness of scholarship and ability, I am willing to try to build on his work he started on the website. I have to figure out how to volunteer and ask.
by EnchantedWolf | May 14, 2011 | Nature Awareness
Here’s my research to answer these questions, found on Pg 42 of the Dedicant Manual, Our Own Druidry….
What is the source of your drinking water? What rivers make up your watershed?
I live in the Lampasas River watershed region; more specifically, the Lampasas River (segment 1217 in the Brazos River Basin), rises in western Hamilton County 16 miles west of Hamilton and flows southeast for 75 miles, passing through Lampasas, Burnet, and Bell counties. In Bell County the river turns northeast and is dammed five miles southwest of Belton to form Stillhouse Hollow Lake (segment 1216). Below Stillhouse Hollow Lake, the Lampasas River flows to its confluence with Salado Creek and the Leon River to form the Little River. I happen to own land that backs up to Stillhouse Hollow Dam, part of this watershed area.
Additional information: Currently, the Lampasas River is characterized by relatively low water levels most of the time and is situated within a predominantly rural and agricultural landscape. We’re in a drought right now, and this seems to occur more and more frequently each year.
Texas requires that water quality in the Lampasas River be suitable for contact recreation and a healthy aquatic ecosystem. The Lampasas River above Stillhouse Hollow Lake is listed as impaired on the Texas Water Quality Inventory and 303(d) List due to elevated bacteria levels. Surface water quality monitoring also indicates a dissolved oxygen concern on North Fork Rocky Creek. In addition, population growth and rapid urbanization occurring in the lower portion of the watershed further stress the need to protect the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the river.
What are the prevailing winds? What are the major influences on your local clouds, rain and storms?
This is how my sister’s allergist described this area: think of a giant sink, and we’re in the drain area, and all the wind, storms and allergans swirl in from every direction, as far away as Houston in the south, and Amarillo in the north. This 150 square mile area is one big giant allergy sink, with dust, debris, pollen, impurities and gunk from every which away. This year in particular, has been fiercely windy, with gusts normally up to 30-40 mph on a normal day. That doesn’t include actual STORMS, mind you; and they come from every direction.
What is the composition of your soil? Is it acid or alkali? What are the major crops grown in your region?
There’s about 6 types of soil in my county. It is variable, and on my land and in my yard at home are generally a blend of clay, silt and chalk with limestone content. That makes this immediate area fairly alkaline. In my immediate subdivision, the soil is really poor, with lousy drainage, and most of the suburban folks around me water copiously and plant lots of non-natives, which doesn’t make any sense to me at all. The soil in this county is mostly deep, with a base of marl, marly clay and limestone, according to the Soil Survey of Bell County, conducted in 1977 by the Department of Agriculture. Major agricultural interests for this area include beef cattle on range land, in addition to hay, wheat, oats, sorghum, corn, cotton, peanut, and pecan operations.
Identify 5 species of trees in your area. Then, learn 4 more!
The five trees are: Ashe’s Juniper, Green Ash, Live Oak, Pecan and Texas Red Oak
And four more are: Black Walnut, Black Willow, Box Elder (Ash-Leaf Maple) and Red Mulberry
Identify 5 herbs for health in your area. Then, learn 4 more!
Five herbs that grow well here are rosemary, oregano, lavender, thyme, basil; and four more are dill, fennel, marjoram and sage.
Identify 5 species of birds common to your area, and 5 species of wild animal.
Five species of birds common in my immediate area are Blue Jays, Grackles, Crows, Blackbirds and Scissor-Tail Flycatchers, and 5 species of wild animal are armadillos, skunks, grey fox, coyote and rabbits.
Know the three major sources of air and water pollution in your area.
You mean, besides Ft. Hood and the military shelling and other waste??? Two other sources of pollution are the urban growth and unchecked building and strip mall development and other construction, and the agribusinesses that raise both cattle and corn / wheat / other crops that use factory farming techniques and pesticides.
Know how your area deals with trash and garbage. Consider recycling and/or composting.
Right now, my city does offer recycling curbside on plastics, cardboard and aluminum cans; also, newspaper and junk mail. Yard waste is also picked up curbside, materials like tree trimmings and grass clippings. And yes, I already recycle. The transfer station, will, for a fee, take things like AC units, construction debris and other contaminants. I don’t compost, however; I also don’t water or do anything else to the yard. It must fend for itself, except in extreme weather when I have to water my house foundation to prevent cracking. Only the hardiest, most established plants survive. When I plant anything, it is native.
Learn about environmental action groups in your area; consider joining and/or working with one or more.
There is one for kids and teens called the ‘Nicodemus Wilderness Project’, part of the Apprentice Ecologist Initiative, that is active in this area. The Sierra Club has an Austin Regional Group, also, that may encompass this area. Right now, they’re currently combating Texas legislation on the Groundwater Bill, and a rally against the use of coal.
