April 2012 "Fashionable Green"

ISSN 2159-9939

Green Energy Kimmi Designs Dandelions Never Roar It’s Not Easy Being Green Paper Lanterns Green Food of Gods The Call by Ankolie Pagan Eye Candy Book Reviews

“Fashionable Green” April 2012 Volume 3 • Issue 4 ™• April 2012 • Volume 3

This page is blue.

Do you like the color blue? Lots of things in the world are blue. The sky.

This page. Your sister’s eyes. Here’s a fun game. Let’s see how many blue things we can count around us!

When you talk to your child, you build vocabulary, so everyday moments become learning moments. For more tips, visit bornlearning.org

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™• April 2012 • Volume 3

PUBLISHER EXECUTIVE EDITOR

10"

CONTRIBUTORS

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER LAYOUT WEBSITE ADVERTISING

Eberhardt, Personal Visions jess*ca mae Tootie Marie Faelin Wolf Mya Om Ankolie Amina Racozy S. J. Drew Sister Nariel Zedral Z Nina Pak, www.ninapak.com Refraction Design & Creative Services Personal Visions Eberhardt, Wendy Beth

Our goal at Pagan Edge is to provide readers a high quality, timely magazine with content relevant to modern pagans’ lifestyle and passions.

Our publication is a lifestyle magazine so while we may publish spells, rituals, and some magick how-to; we aim to focus on ways that pagans, wiccans, earth-based-spiritualists, and those of like mind can incorporate their values and beliefs into their everyday living.

Pagan Edge Magazine & paganedge.com exist solely to offer information to our readers. The publisher, editor, and the entire personnel of Pagan Edge, Pagan Edge Magazine, Personal Visions, Refraction Design and paganedge.com cannot be held responsible for misuse of any information provided. The views expressed in the articles and ads are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Pagan Edge Magazine.

Product descriptions, recipes & any how-to information: While we, and our affiliates, attempt to provide accurate information in the magazine and on the site, we do not warrant that the content on this site will be accurate, complete, reliable, current, or error-free. It is your sole responsibility for the use of the content of this Magazine or web site. For additional details please see www.paganedge.com ™•

April 2012 • Volume 3 3

N ow o N l i N e !

S.J. Drew’s Newest Title

Available through: Smashwords, Sony, Barnes & Noble, Kobe, Apple, and Diesel

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™• April 2012 • Volume 3

contents 6 Dream Weaving Fashionable Green 8 Keeping the Edge Green Energy 9 Life’s Wit Dandelions Never Roar

10 Divine Mind It’s Not Easy Being On the Cover: Kimmi Designs photo shoot by staff photographer, Nina Pak Inside: feature on Kimmi Designs pages 20-2

Green

11 Craft Corner Paper Lanterns 13 Food of Gods Fresh and Green 14 The Call by Ankolie 17 Finding the Edge Pagan Eye Candy 18 Little Altars In the Green 19 PE Book Review Wyrd Sisters 20 Art & Soul Kimmi Designs 26 Finding the Edge Pagan Eye Candy 27 PE Book Review Seeing Trees

VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 4 • APRIL 2012 “FASHIONABLE GREEN” PAGAN EDGE™ IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY

BY PERSONAL VISIONS ADMIN@PAGANEDGE.COM ™•

April 2012 • Volume 3 5

Dream Weaving April this year has been out shown by March in my part of the world.

Normally we do not see so much warm weather before May. I fear it is something we will have to settle ourselves to as the years of this century progress. Who knows what will happen to the seasons and how far north and south the cold slumber of winter will move? Questions like this is why our annual “Green” issue is both one of my favorites and one of the most important topics we can bring out to all of you as a community.

As I write this it is Ostara. I have both the spiritual and the practical in mind. I have heard many people, both in the audience of this publication and in the general community, laud this warm weather and make public wishes that the weather be more like Florida’s or the Western Deserts of North America. It is sometimes hard to speak out for the cold days and the wet days but it is those very days that help make sure we have food to eat, that common insects do not become population driven plagues. Any time we have one element that takes over from the other three we have an imbalance that can grow critical and push all of nature including ourselves to the margins. Let us remember all the desert places of the world and how few people they can truly sustain without artificial life support manufactured from the seas or stolen from some other place that appears to have abundance.

I just re-watched a documentary on the rise and fall of Enron, which in the same breath was one of the most celebrated and criminally run corporations to fall on its own face. The damage 6

™• April 2012 • Volume 3

publisher speaks

to individual lives still goes on today almost 10 years later. What the story taught me was that it is easy to get caught up in what seems at the time to be the easy solution or the quick profit. When in fact the total absence of public discussion, questioning, and the willingness to believe whatever some successful looking man says is the excuse we hang onto to distance ourselves from what is actually going on. Another way to look at it is the radical changes that are happening all over the planet as we humans struggle to harness fresh water for everything from needed consumption, energy production, food production, and as the carrier of our organic wastes. Yet here in the USA we have congresspeople who bemoan the fact they can’t have nice high capacity flush toilets for after they have over indulged at a fundraiser the night before. They never for a second consider even the common consequences of not having enough money to maintain wastewater treatment plants, having to look ever deeper or further to even have the fresh water in the first place and then allow bans in building codes on grey water systems. Let us all toast their commodes and pray for a water based comet to come and put out the fires started by global warming.

I would like to take a moment in this issue to thank Mya Om for being with us from the beginning and for turning out pieces that helped us keep our edge. Please join me in wishing her the best as she moves on to new challenges and adventures.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this April 2012 edition of our Magazine. I think it has a little something for everyone.

Peace, Eberhardt

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April 2012 • Volume 3 7

Green Energy

Keeping the Edge

by Mya Om

A Note From the Author: Dear Readers – it has been a singular pleasure to write for you and for the magazine over the past two years.

Writing these articles every month was something I very much looked forward to and enjoyed. It is with a heavy heart that I write these words, this month’s article will be my last for Pagan Edge Magazine for the time being. I am taking a break to focus on other writing projects, my career, and my family. I hope you understand how much I enjoyed writing for you every month, and I do hope that you will continue to follow and read the magazine in the future, as I know I will. I wish all of you the best.

– Mya Om I have always been more connected to the natural energy of the dry earth—to the hot sun, and arid desert plains of my childhood than I have been to the much more lush greenery of my transplanted home in Michigan. I first moved to the United States of America in the August of my 12th year. After the hills and desert sands of Amman, the sight of western Michigan dressed up in all its summer finery was breath taking. I still remember driving away from the airport in my grandmother’s Taurus and thinking “this is the greenest place on the planet.” I have since learned this is not the case – but to a young dress designer: Anne Larochelle http://www.annelarochelle.com, model and make up artist: Lauren, © Nina Pak 2011 8

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Energy continued on page 24

e v Ne

Dave stared down at his opponent. He’d tried chemical warfare with both a weedand-feed in the spring and several direct sprays. Now it was down to brute force. He got down on his knees with the spade and attacked the deep root of the dandelion.

After a few minutes of effort, he dropped the mangled plant into the garbage.

“Daddy, why don’t you like dandelions?”

He turned to face his six-yearold daughter. “They’re weeds, Jennifer.”

r

elion d n s

by S.J. Drew

D

a

Life’s Wit

ROAR

“What’s a weed?”

“It’s a plant that grows someplace it shouldn’t.”

“Then how did the dandelions get in the yard?” she asked.

“Dandelions grow everywhere.”

“Then don’t they belong here?”

“Well, no, because I want to grow grass. I can’t grow grass if there are dandelions in the way,” he answered.

“Grass is boring. I like dandelions.” The little girl picked up the sad yellow weed. “They’re pretty.

And then they turn into puffballs. They’re fun.”

“Those puffballs just make more dandelions which means more work for me,” he said.

“Is it against the law to have dandelions?”

“Well, of course not.”

“Is it fun trying to dig them all up?” she asked. “There sure Dandelions continued on page 22

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April 2012 • Volume 3 9

Making the Divine Mind, Mine

by Sister Nariel, Fiach Dair Contemplative Order of Anam Cara

It’s Not Easy Being Green…

It’s been many years since we first heard Kermit the Frog sing “It’s Not Easy Being Green”.

As he began, he wished to be something so much more colorful and out of the ordinary. “But green’s the color of Spring. And green can be cool and friendly-like... I am green and it’ll do fine, it’s beautiful!

And I think it’s what I want to be.”

It took some time before Kermit realized that who he was, was just fine. Actually, better than fine, it was beautiful. We could all learn a lesson from Kermit the Frog, no matter if we are 4 or 44.

Learning to accept who we are, right where we are is one of life’s most important lessons.

As pagans, the call to be green is strong. Our connection with the natural world around us is inherent in the spiritual path we have chosen to walk. Yet, I wonder how many of us may feel a bit like Kermit the Frog, wishing that we could be the metro-flash type of people?

How many of us fight the call of nature on a daily basis?

We’ve been industrialized and commercialized just like everyone else and our lives tell the tale — from the moment we push the button on the Keurig coffee maker, to the hour (or more) that we spend dilly-dallying on Facebook. Our money pours into superstores, and we are weary by the time we Not Easy continued on page 23

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Craft Corner Paper Laterns is with us in ever increasing amounts it fills out days and much of our evenings as the season rushes to first to Beltane and then on the summer Solstice. Thinking of ways to honor this march of Gods and Goddesses of the Sun and the ancient spirit of living with the land is what inspires this month’s craft. What better way to honor light, youth, and conservation than with up-cycled used materials for creating whimsical paper “lanterns” to play with the light of day or help carry it into the night.

Light

The Legend of the Lantern “Legend has it that a long time ago, there were many fierce wild beasts and birds that greatly affected local people’s lives and safety. In order to protect themselves, people had to kill those wild animals. One day, a sacred bird in heaven accidentally got lost and fell on the mortal world. However, an ignorant hunter thought the bird was a kind of fierce

animal and killed it. The heaven emperor was very angry and ordered his soldiers to set fire and burn everything on the fifteenth day of the first month.

The daughter of the heaven emperor was very kind and did not want it to happen.

So she secretly c a m e to the mortal world and informed the people.

People were scared and tried to think of a solution. An old man came up with an idea. He told every family should light up lanterns and fireworks on the 14th, 15th and 16th day of the 1st lunar month. Maybe the heaven emperor would think that everything has been burned out.” (From here) Reportedly paper lanterns have their history recorded back to around

230 BCA in China.

The Emperor Hanmingdi (Han dynasty) was an advocate of Buddhism. Based in the celebration of this legend by

Continued on 16 ™•

April 2012 • Volume 3 11

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By Zedral Z

Food of Many terms have been thrown around the media lately.

Terms such as “green” and “locavore” have even made it into the dictionary, but what do they really mean? How can becoming a locavore yourself impact your environment?

Can it impact your spiritual growth and development?

A locavore can be defined as a person interested in eating food that is locally produced, as opposed to being moved long distances from source to market.

Locavores cite reasons from freshness and taste, to energy conservation and regional economic health. (http://www.locavores.com) As with anything, there are cons as well as pros. One con is the fact that, unless you live in an area in which fresh produce is raised year-

Gods

round, you will have to settle for produce that is in season.

This, to me, is not necessarily a con. Nor is it completely true. For example, you can grow an indoor herb garden all year long.

Another con is not being able to get certain things at all. You can compensate by buying frozen in this case. Frozen foods may be trucked in from other locations, but they are frozen on the spot.

You may not have access to a farmers’ market, especially not one that operates all year, but you can eat as seasonally as possible.

Many of the reasons, such as flavor, cost, and nutrition, are the same as eating locally.

If you have access to a farmers’ market, here are

some of the items available in April: Asparagus, beets, chicory, chives, fava beans, fiddleheads, leeks, lettuce, limes, Morel mushrooms, oranges, papayas, peas, ramps, rhubarb, shallots, spinach, strawberries, sweet onions, turnips, and watercress.

The earth provides us with a bounty in every season. The Mother doesn’t want us to go hungry. Eating seasonally is a way of being in tune with the Earth Mother. The spring brings us new life, fresh, green, and alive.

Continued on Page 25 ™•

April 2012 • Volume 3 13

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April 2012 • Volume 3 15

Step Four: Cut the pattern out as shown.

Step Five: Glue the tab under the opposing end of the pattern. (If using brads

Continued from 11 Buddhist Monks he commanded that all the people should light lanterns on those important nights of the 1st Lunar month.

As time has passed the paper lantern has had many other meanings attached to it. It has been used as a way to communicate with ancestors, and to celebrate birthdays, weddings, among other special occasions. In its darker moments it was used in military communication.

How to Make a Paper Lantern

Of course there are many types, sizes, and colors of paper lanterns in existence today. The lantern featured in this article is just one example. We looked for inspiration to “Home-Made-Gifts-MadeEasy.com” for a wonderful little pattern.

Step One: The supplies

• Paper- Up-cycled or repurposed paper in any color/pattern but not heavier than card stock.

• An inkjet printer (Laser printing is not ideal for later recycling of old lanterns) • Scissors and a paper cutter if you have one (Makes cutting your paper to size quicker and straighter) • Glue • Needle, fine twine or thread (ours were leftovers from other projects) • Alternate: crafting brads (ours were from a “junk swap with friends) • The pattern (ours was borrowed from here*)

save this step until last.)

Step Six: Option One, String Cut twine or thread to about 15 inches (shorter if you printed smaller patterns).

Put a knot in one end, if you know how to do a decorative tassel that is a bonus, but a small knot is fine.

A. Thread the string first through one set of end circles then up through the middle and thread the other set of end circle.

B. Use a pencil to form a loop and tie the string off with

a knot at the base of the loop.

Option Two, Brads After poking pin holes as a guide, push a metal brad through first one set of end circles.

Using the space left by the unglue tab insert another brad the opposite set of end circles. Then glue the tab in place. (This may

Step Two: Print out the pattern in the size you want.

If your paper can be used directly by a

printer make sure to print the pattern on the “back” side, so it does not show.

Step Three: Trace your pattern on your craft paper if needed.

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take a bit of adjustment to keep the lantern even)

Option Three, Mix and Match You can use a brad for the bottom and use string for the top to give different looks or add a bit more weight to the bottom of the lantern. * http://homemade-gifts-made-easy.s3.amazonaws.com/lanterns/round-

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paper-lantern-templates.pdf

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FreeLoader Pro Solar Charger http://www.thinkgeek.com/ $59.99

Solar Powered Mood Jar http://www.gadgetsandgear.com

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April 2012 • Volume 3 17

Little Altars

in the green

Whether you take your Pagan pride outside... or bring the outside indoors, here’s some ideas to keep you green. t An outdoor Beltaine altar includes chalice and blade, moon-blessed spring water in the well, and seeds of magick yet to sprout.

u An arbor serves as a gateway to any special place: a ritual location, meditation station, or your own “secret garden”.

t Statuary can offer an element of sacredness and bring focus to your spiritual practices. Consider incorporating classical inspired statues, planters, or bird baths into your outdoor spaces. Or find a weather-proof representation of your patron and create a new home in your garden for it.

u Create a comfortable

outdoor sitting space. It can be as simple as a bench used for a quiet moment of reflection or as elablorate as a roofed gazebo your whole coven can meet in.

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The PaganEdge

Book Review

by Faelin Wolf

Granny Weatherwax, the leader that isn’t really a leader of a coven that isn’t really a coven, is set in her ways and knows her magic. She is joined by Nanny Ogg, who shares Granny’s view on magic, but not on how to live a witch’s life.

Magrat is the youngest and has some different (read modern) ideas of what being a witch means. They become involved in the politics of the kingdom of Lancre against their wishes— even though witches don’t get involved. It’s a matter of an heir that needs to disappear, a rotten duke who aims for being king, and a duchess that hates witches. How do they correct the wrongs that have been committed and satisfy the kingdom?

Because April contains April Fool’s Day…

Wyrd Sisters

by Terry Pratchett, 1980, ISBN: 9780061020667

I love Terry Pratchett. The Discworld series is hilarious. If you have never picked up one of his books, I highly recommend them. I chose Wyrd Sisters because it tells a story that involves three of Discworld’s witches—and it made me laugh.

One of my favorite things about Pratchett’s books is the social commentary. In Wyrd Sisters, we’re presented with many different stereotypes of witches, all hilariously portrayed. My favorite is Magrat, who is described as a traditional “New Age” witch. She has elaborate requirements for her rituals and wears a lot of jewelry with arcane symbols on them. She thinks that magic works through the right phrases and with the right instruments. I think I know some people like that.

Enjoy a laugh to start your April right.

Book Review continued on page 27 ™•

April 2012 • Volume 3 19

Kimmi Designs

~Seattle

Designers: Clothing: Kimmi Designs Hats: Boring Sidney Hats Kim McCormick specializes in designing and creating one of a kind dresses using reclaimed materials. Her garments are creatively constructed from fabrics she has collected over the years, materials such as antique laces table clothes and curtains. Every item she uses has a history. Almost all the fabrics are repurposed making her creations Eco-Friendly, and 20

™• April 2012 • Volume 3

Art & Soul

featured artist shared by Nina Pak

known for recycling fabrics into new wonderful garments

Eco-Conscious.

She makes both day wear and wedding gowns. Her custom made designs range from $250 to $1,000.

You can find her on Etsy: http://www. etsy.com/shop/ Kimmi Ms McCormick often pairs her designs with Milliner Belle McCluskey of Boring Sidney Hats, Belle also often uses found objects for her creations. http://www.etsy.com/shop/BoringSidney Models: Annika Parkinson-Dow (Brunette) Elizabeth Rhoades (Redhead) Stylists: Images 1-5 hair: Katie Webster Image 6 hair and make up: NigthtShade Beauty ™•

April 2012 • Volume 3 21

Dandelions continued from page 9

are a lot.”

“Well, no. But they’re weeds.”

“Only because you say so, Daddy. I think they’re nice.”

She dropped the dead plant back into the garbage bag.

“I want the whole yard to be nothing but dandelions. Then it would be the best yard ever.”

They heard the girl’s mother calling to her. “Maybe you should be nicer to the dandelions, Daddy,” Jennifer said, and went into the house.

Dave slowly stood up, feeling his knees pop as he did so.

There were a lot of dandelions to get rid of. He considered his daughter’s words and wondered how much time he’d spent that summer trying to get rid of the dandelions.

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He’d been outside nearly every weekend. He usually enjoyed being outside, but his war on the weeds had only frustrated him.

He’d spent a lot of money on weed killers that were so dangerous he had to keep them in the garage so there was no chance of Jennifer or his three-year-old son getting into them.

“Why am I trying to kill these things?” he thought. “It’s not against city ordances or any housing association rules. I don’t like buying weed killers and worry the kids will get into them. It’s so hard on my knees to try to dig them up. I could have tried to grow a garden with all the time I spent trying to get rid of the dandelions.” He put up his spade and went into the house.

Jennifer was sitting at the table drinking some juice as his wife made lunch. “Are you done already?” his wife asked.

“You know what, Tracy?

Dandelions are pretty.

Grass is boring,” Dave

said, pitching in with lunch preparations.

“You aren’t going to get rid of the weeds?” she asked, surprised.

“They’re only weeds because I say so. So I say they aren’t weeds anymore.”

“Yay, Daddy,” Jennifer said.

“Dandelions win.”

He smiled. “So, Jennifer, how would you like to help Daddy plant some herbs this afteroon?”

“Ok, Daddy.”

✪

Not Easy continued Home from page 1010 continued from page reach the McWindow, grabbing With paper that onecovered action, he ingested our meal that all of the wisdom that had infused we’ll eat in front of the TV at the in it. The cauldron cracked, spilling end of our day. Yes, our vibrant out the rest of the contents and green is fading... fast.

Cerridwen, in anger, set upon a chaseCo-Founder of Gwion Bach The of that the would Fiach take them through every season Dair COAC recently left behind until such as aand cityelement life to move to thetime plains she consumed him.

Having been of Oklahoma. A family of 10, quickened this seed, they havebysought to Cerridwen get back would then give birthkind to thisof“new to a homesteading life. child” and would choose to spare I say homesteading, because his life byiscasting him out“simple” upon the there nothing waves in a coracle.

Gwion no in the “simple life”.Bach They more, hard Taliesin Chief of work — the every day.Bard Their the Britains born — growing a tale of crops are was primarily destiny conceived at the hearth. in a hydroponic system that is yielding summer vegetables Perhaps “central even in thetoday winter. Aour fruit orchard heating” is a bit but is growing anddifferent, producing the hearth and the cauldron berries for the springtime.

Their remain the central symbols of sheep are happily grazing on our receipt of inward wisdom their land. Their children are and outward journey.

From the excelling at homeschooling. hearth, we learn farm the value that Their handmade products the Great MotherThey’ve places on our are of quality. “gone lives and the lengths that she green”, with a lot of hurdles will gochallenges to in order to to ensure that and overcome. our destiny unfolds unfettered.

They’ve transitioned to a new We learn that we even our in more life, with what outinhere the ungainly West call...states, grit. we have value and promise. Most importantly, we not learn due diligence It’s easy being green, to butthe Sr. tasks and people who are Brynn and her family would tell placed ourit’s lives.

No, — these you thatin while not easy it’s are not always fun. Mainly, they are a lot of work without the gratification of an immediate payout. Yet without these, we cannot rise to the height of our abilities. Without the lessons, we cannot fathom the pathway as it wanders, and may lose

worth it. The character grows our way. Without these very stronger, the attachments lessons, we cannot fathom and the to one another deepen, sacredness theland, gifts animals that are respect forofthe our relationships with others. and environment increase day by day. There’s no cable Thein“dowry” we shelter our TV their home, but theyinhave hope chest, be toit see physical or the opportunity the stars spiritual, yields the necessary shine in brilliance under a quiet tools for of themidnight planting we willThe do blanket blue. in the next half of the cycle.may As nearest doughnut shop we journey upwards the be miles and milestowards away, but light half learned of the year, forward they’ve to and make the in thehomemade journey ofcinnamon a lifetime,rolls we best dothe notworld, do so or ill in andunarmed to enjoy them equipped. in Thethe fragrant comforts together embrace of emerging thisofplace allow family.

Thefrom sound interstate us tocsee the astounding traffi is nowhere to be beauty found, of others givebleat us theand courage but the and sheep the to engage andscream, be present to kids laugh and running them in every way. The around the yard.

Theysorrows don’t and in joysa that are woven live McMansion, butinto in the intricate delicate laces close quartersand that sometimes of life grace us inover adversity, as involves tripping children’s well asand bountiful times.missing These toys wrangling are the lessons of the socks from a bored dog.hearth T hey and ofthe therichest heart.lives No matter how have of anyone away we may be from the Ifar know. age of heroes and legends, we may green’s still seethe their reflections in “But color of Spring. the shimmer of our And green can beown coolsilvery and souls. friendly-like...

I am green and it’ll do fine, it’s beautiful! And I think Deep within it’s what I wantustoall be.is ” a destiny to be fulfilled. May we foster the seeking of that destiny in Kermit was right all along. all of the people that we love so that we might gift to our own families, as well as the rest of the world, another era of heroes and legends. May the cauldron of inspiration and wisdom, ever be warming upon our hearths.

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April 2012 • Volume 3 23

Energy continued from page 13

...open my energy up and allow it to expand outwards and connect with the energy of the place around me. girl, the first sight of the seemingly gigantic trees enrobed with bright green leaves is something that she will never really forget.

Since the time my family relocated across the Atlantic, I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit and live in many different places. The one thing that has resonated with me continuously is how different the energy of the earth feels from one place to another. The energy in Grand Rapids, Michigan is very different from the energy in Detroit (a city a mere two hours away), and is vastly different from the energy in the Negev some five thousand miles away in Israel, and it is a totally different flavor than the energy in Sienna, Italy. Every place I have lived seems to resonate with the energy of the earth a little differently. In Amman, for example, the energy of the earth sings of a warm sun, of heated rocks, and goatcut foot paths. In the Negev, the song is of blowing sands, hot dryness, and a thirst that stretches out to infinity. In Sienna, I hear a song of fertility, of ripening fruit, of wheat browned gently under the warmth of a benevolent sun. The energy of Alexandria in Egypt sings of salt water, palm trees, and the heat of an unforgiving sun tempered by the cooling breezes of the Mediterranean.

One of the first things that I do when moving to a new location is to go for a walk. As I walk, I consciously open my energy up and allow it to expand outwards and connect with the energy of the place around me. I normally will walk for a good twenty or thirty minutes until I have established a good connection and then I find a quiet place to sit.

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™• April 2012 • Volume 3

There, I close my eyes and enter a light meditative state. In my meditative state I begin to see images associated with the place I am in. I do not give the images any conscious direction. I simply relax and allow myself to drift, soaking in the place that I am in and the energy that constantly surrounds me.

What has come to really amaze me is even after I move away or go back home I can call up the energy and feelings associated with that place by simply closing my eyes and visualizing myself back at those places. In a quick moment, I am no longer sitting in my office at work, instead I am lying on a beach in Tel Aviv, the hot sand beneath me cushioning my body as the breezes off the water cool me. Making these connections allow me to preserve in my memory the places I have been and the things I have experienced.

I urge you to take a few moments and close your eyes, picture a place that you visited in childhood – this can be any place at all that you have been – and try to remember how it felt. What energies do you or did you connect with? For example, if you walked in a meadow behind your grandparents’ house, do you feel the grass under your bare feet, hear the hum of bees, see birds flying through the sky, and feel the warmth of the sun on your face? You will be amazed at how much your body recalls that your mind may have consciously forgotten. The next time you visit a new place, go out and take a walk – open yourself up completely—and experience this new place.

Then take some time and meditate on that feeling and energy. In this way you will really begin to form a connection with where you are as well as where you have been.

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Try this recipe for April:

Strawberry-Spinach Salad 1 16 oz bag baby spinach, washed 1 pint of strawberries, stemmed, hulled, and quartered ½ sweet onion, thinly sliced ½ cup toasted pecans or pine nuts 8 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (hold back an ounce for garnish) Combine the five ingredients in a mixing bowl.

Toss with about 8 tablespoons of Honey Mustard Poppy Seed Dressing, directions listed below. Place on chilled salad plates and garnish with the rest of the crumbled goat cheese.

Serves 4

Honey Mustard Poppy Seed Dressing 1/3 cup honey 1/4 cup Dijon mustard 1/4 cup white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 garlic clove 1 cup vegetable oil or light olive (not extra virgin) oil 4 tablespoons poppy seeds

Continued from Page 13 Eating seasonally makes me feel more in tune with the turning of the wheel. I can connect with the gods of agriculture and the harvest. By eating as locally as possible, we can also get in tune with the spirits in our own back yards.

April is between Ostara and Beltane in the Wheel, right in the middle of spring. The earth is fertile. Enjoy these delicious gifts with a grateful heart and think of the next fertility celebration, Beltane. Fill your bodies with the life-giving energies of spring.

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In a blender, combine all the ingredients except the oil and poppy seeds.

While the blender is running, slowly stream in the oil until you have a nice emulsion.

Pour into a bowl and gently mix in the poppy seeds. Season with salt and pepper.

Makes approximately 14 servings.

Store leftovers in a jar in the refrigerator for a week.

huNGEr roots For thE hoME tEAM, too.

1 IN 6 AMErIcANs Now struGGlEs wIth huNGEr.

toGEthEr wE’rE

hunger is closer than you think. reach out to your local food bank for ways to do your part. Visit FeedingAmerica.org today.

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April 2012 • Volume 3 25

Finding The Edge Outdoors Container Garden in Reclaimed Drawers http://greenupgrader.com

Garden Seed Kits - Kristen Mitchell http://www.etsy.com $85.95

Organic Herb Garden Kit - cubits http://www.etsy.com $10.00

Upcycled Marble Magic 8 ball - Megan Klepp http://www.etsy.com $50.00 26

™• April 2012 • Volume 3

Container Garden in Reclaimed Drawers http://www.bestgreenhometips. com

Book Review continued from page 19 examine trees more closely. Seeing Trees is about observing some of the minute processes that all trees go through—like reproduction through flowering and seeds and such. Instead of focusing on the whole tree, she and Llewellyn direct our attention to individual structures, like leaves (they aren’t all the same!), flowers, seeds, cones, fruit, bark, and twigs. She then examines 10 relatively common and widespread trees in intimate detail: American Beech, American Sycamore, Black Walnut, Eastern Red Cedar, Gingko, Red Maple, Southern Magnolia, Tulip Poplar, White Oak, and White Pine. After discussing each tree, she invites readers to find examples in their environments to examine closely.

In celebration of our earth...

Seeing Trees:

Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees

by Nancy Ross Hugo & Robert Llewellyn, 2011, ISBN: 1604692197 How many of you out there love trees and/or consider yourselves treehuggers or connected to trees? What do you really know about them?

Do you know how they reproduce? What they look like in different seasons? How closely do you observe your favorite tree? After reading this book, I realized I knew next to nothing and I hadn’t really been paying much attention to the trees I love… but I’m totally going to look more closely from now on!

Nancy Ross Hugo recruited Robert Llewellyn to be her photographer in her journey to

This is an amazing book!

Llewellyn’s photographs are exquisite. They include photos of the phenomenon they discuss, very close up and detailed. Hugo is not a botanist, so she takes the time to explain things in simple terms, while also throwing in the scientific terms.

She discusses her journeys and discoveries of different tree parts. Her love of trees and joy of discovery come through clearly in her writing.

She encourages the reader to get out and discover on their own, no matter where they live—near large forests, with trees in your own yard, or even in the middle of a city. A quote from Hugo sums it up: “Bob and I invite you to gather up your curiosity and go forth—into the woods, into the backyards, and even into the waste places, where you can encounter the incredible organisms that are trees” (p. 231).

I certainly learned so much from this book. And on my last hike, I found myself getting up close to not only the trees, but the bushes and cacti as well to examine their various structures. What you can see when you pay attention is quite amazing!

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April 2012 • Volume 3 27

Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing weight are just two of the ways that you can fight osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you lose, that’s four pounds less pressure on each knee.

For information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org.

™• April 2012 • Volume 3