It has been oddly warm up here on the mountain. Last Saturday there was a confirmed tornado less than an hour away from me, a never before seen event in February here in Massachusetts. This week we are supposed to careen between record warmth and cold (but not cold enough to snow or have a hard freeze). It hardly feels like New England any more.
As many of you know there was recently a call to do a magical working to stop Trump. As I saw it, this was a spell to protect the people and the Earth from the ravages of his climate change denying and pro-billionaire (not the common folk) administration.
I am not a Biblical scholar. But the night before I kept getting the message to look at Revelation 20. I didn’t know where that came from and I had no idea what it was about so I looked it up. It was eerily appropriate;

“The Thousand Years

20 And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3 He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.”

The spell as it was written called on “demons” but I didn’t call any “demons” because I don’t know what those are, really, and I have no relationship with them whatsoever. And when I called on the ancestors Jefferson, Adams, and Washington showed up which was a surprise. They were, after all, the ones who penned freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly into the Constitution, rights which are currently under threat. When it was done I sent the cleared, clean energy to every corner of the USA, adding in a Sanskrit mantra of peace for good measure.
This past Yule a Druid friend sent me a painting he did of the Morrígan, the ancient Celtic “Great Queen” and battle Goddess. She is depicted in a flowing red dress, holding two spears, and accompanied by three crows (or ravens). The odd thing is I had a dead crow in my driveway this winter, a large beautiful, impossibly black bird over a foot in length from beak to tail. I buried it with reverence near my front door. Ever since I have been privileged to host three huge black crows (or ravens?) at my bird feeder every day.
Is this a coincidence? Or am I being “chosen” by the Morrígan in my later years? I have been a devotee of Brighid, the Patroness of Druids and Bards and Goddess of Poetry, Smithcraft and Healing, for the past thirty years. I admit that I spend a lot of time every day worrying about Trump and thinking of ways to get the word out, to protect the nation, the Earth and her creatures. Perhaps I am destined for a rather feisty old age.
Below you will find the usual collection of archeology, herb, climate and nature news, and of course politics and ethics. And a few announcements about my books and workshops. Please enjoy the read!
*And remember that you can order signed copies of my books from this website!*

BOOK NEWS

Inner Traditions has submitted Secret Medicines from Your Garden for a COVR award.Please share the below entry and voting link with your friends, family, and followers!
SECRET MEDICINES FROM YOUR GARDEN – vote here -> Health and Healing Books
Votes from the general public will count 40 percent toward the total score. Votes from COVR members will count 60 percent.Voting opened Feb 20 and will end March 5, Winners and Finalists will be announced on March 20.For more details visit the COVR website.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Earth day picked as date for science march on Washington
Witches worldwide launch spell to stop Trump. This is a recurring event that will happen every waning Moon.
More details…
This website has a list of companies, including all the Trump businesses, with contact info to call or email with a message that you will boycott their businesses until they stop doing business with Trump. Nordstrom has announced that they will stop selling Ivanka branded products.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

April 15
Edible and medicinal plants of New England, Pelham, MA
June 10
Edible and medicinal plants of New England, Pelham, MA
July 29-30
Advanced Formula Making and Case Taking, Lee, NH
August 5-6
Celtic Tree Magic and Medicine, Freedom, NH
August 25-27
New England Women’s Herbal Conference, Newfound Lake, New Hampshire
October 14, 2017 – April 2018
Intro to Herbalism and Self Care~ A Six Month Intensive, Near Amherst, MA

MORE BOOK NEWS

A mysterious benefactor makes Orwell’s 1984 and Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale available to readers

ARCHAEOLOGY NEWS

HERB NEWS

Foraging for wild violets (and how to use them)
How to save seeds
A Scottish charm for planting seeds
Dandelion root bitters recipe
Nordic paleo bread made from nuts and seeds
Paw Paw a forgotten American fruit
What to forage in winter
Maple mead
Campaign to free Fire Cider from trademark restrictions moves forward
Herbs for Resistance
Six ways mushrooms can save the world
Oats monograph
10 edible weeds
A Pemmican recipe (posting this just because I think it’s interesting)Saskatoon Pemmican Recipe
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1 c Jerky; beef or venison
1 c Dried Saskatoon berries or dried blueberries
1 c Unroasted sunflower seeds or crushed nuts of any kind
2 tsp. Honey
1/4 c Peanut butter
1/2 tsp. Cayenne [optional]This version uses peanut butter rather than melted suet or lard as the binding agent. (Suet is more traditional – Ellen)Grind [or pound] the dried meat to a mealy powder. Add the dried berries and seeds or nuts. Heat the honey, peanut butter and cayenne until softened. Blend. When cooled, store in a plastic bag or sausage casing in a cool dry place. It will keep for months.”
Dorothy in N. FL
Doquoti Tsuganawv
Mvhayv Kvnfvskee