Dandelion

It always surprises me to find dandelions in Autumn! Click on image to enlarge it.

Last night a fairy strayed our way
And played upon the lawn.
She danced and skipped from end to end –
Then suddenly was gone.
What frightened her, I do not know,
She dropped her purse and ran,
Leaving a wealth of golden coins
To shine when day began!

~Hazel Cedarborg~

Image is from here.

Circle game

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on the carousel of time
We can't return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round In the circle game

~Circle Game lyrics by Joni Mitchell~

Moonstruck

Image is from here.

Better this picture than this one.

The Horse Boy - part 2

Siberian Shaman image is from here.

So, I finished The Horse Boy yesterday. I simply sat down and read it until I was finished. Nothing got done around the house, poor Kylie was bored beyond belief, I was hardly online, but I was sure happy to just read.

I liked the book a lot. The trip the family went on was incredible. The descriptions of Rowan's autism were heartbreaking - I cannot image a child going through this, not to mention the parents' grief at watching their child suffer through the bouts of tantrums or disappearing inside themselves. The after effects of the Shamanic healings were quite remarkable and I hope that they continue for both Rowan and his parents.

All in all, I would recommend this book for anyone interested in autism, Shamanic healing and the bond between some autistic children and animals.

The Horse Boy

Mrs. B posted this on Face Book. I had not heard about the book or the documentary, but after reading the synopsis of the story and watching the trailer of the movie, it's on my list. I cannot even imagine what it would be like to have a normal child who then develops autism. I'm in that camp that thinks that vaccines play a role in autism. I'm also in that camp that believes that animals and all of Nature have the ability to heal humans, if we just let them.

Shamanism is something I am very interested in - not your "I did a weekend in Shamanic training and now I'm a Shaman" Shamanism, but the real stuff - the stuff we as humans used to know and practice before entering these forgetful times. Being so removed from Nature and her creations is a sickness from which we need healing. I think Shamans hold one of the keys to our healing as a species.

The move trailer can be found here.

Minty fresh...

The last of the mint flowers. I love mint and plant quite a bit of it - chocolate mint, peppermint, orange mint, spearmint (although it gives me a headache) to name a few. I let it go crazy in the garden and do what it wants to do - the Bees enjoy it and so do the Butterflies. I like the square stems of the mint plants, too.

Here are a few tidbits about mint.

From Gardens Ablaze:

Peppermint is much more effective as a medicinal herb than Spearmint, which is mostly a culinary herb. However, use Spearmint in place of Peppermint in cases of digestive problems or colic in very small children, as Peppermint may be a bit too strong.

For a refreshing and cleansing facial wash, place a handful of bruised Mint leaves (any kind) in a quart-sized pan of cool water. Let sit for an hour or so, then chill in the refrigerator and use as desired. Mint combined with Rosemary in a vinegar is reported to help control dandruff (place the sprigs in a bottle that can be tightly sealed, and let sit for at least a week out of direct sunlight).

New research indicates that mint oil used externally in a cold compress or rubbed directly into the skin can significantly reduce pain in cases of arthritis and chronic joint pain, with few if any side effects.

The magickal stuff:

Mint is bound to Venus and air. It is a premier healing herb magically, and can be used in healing incenses, healing charms, and healing baths. Don't burn mint independently, but rather throw the leaves into an existing fire for the effects. For a bath, place leaves in a mesh bag and hang under the tap water.

Make a mint Tea to sprinkle around the house for peace after an argument, and drink it for its healing and calming properties before meditation or rituals. Use the essential Oil in spells to tap into positive life changes. Place mint leaves in a pillowcase or under the pillow for prophetic dreams.

Carry a few mint leaves in your wallet to attract money and prosperity.

And, of course, a recipe; this one is from Tasty Planner.

Pesto:

1/2 cup lightly packed arugula

1/2 cup lightly packed mint

1/2 cup lightly packed basil

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp. pine nuts, toasted

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 oz. shredded pecorino cheese (1/4 cup)
(I don't use cheese in any of my pesto recipes, preferring to serve it separately)

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper

In blender or food processor combine arugula, mint, basil, olive oil, pine nuts, lemon juice, and garlic. Cover; blend or process until smooth, scraping down sides as needed. Add the cheese and red pepper. Cover; blend or process until just combined. Season with salt and pepper.

Wasting time....

It's just past 3 pm and I can't believe I haven't posted anything all day! Probably because I feel like that picture today - not quite sure who I am or what I'm doing. Plus, I wasted way too much time over at JibJab creating this, which I can't embed because of their weird coding. Click on the link to my little creation which ate up most of the afternoon - when I should have been out grocery shopping.

Oh, well, as Miss Scarlet says, "Fiddle dee dee - I'll just think about it tomorrow."