Hiking with SIPA

There were only a few of us today, and it was a bit chillier than expected, but it was still a lot of fun to meet up with some friends from SIPA for an afternoon hike.

This area has loads of parks and trails and state reserves - I've been down here for school for three years and I've barely scratched the surface - so both of the places we went were new to me.

Our first stop was a local arboretum.

There were a lot of pine and cypress trees.

We saw some ducks and a turtle out on the pond.

Apparently, there is also a bamboo forest, which was beautiful, but which was rather surreal because of how out-of-place it felt. There were old sandstone blocks strewn about, perhaps from a long-since gone house, and little tunnels running through the thick bamboo grove.

We also went over to a second, smaller hiking trail which featured a creek (mostly dry at the moment), lots of shelf fungus, and birds including cardinals and a red-headed woodpecker.

April 22nd, 2016

The school year is finally winding down, but it seems I have as much to do as ever. This month has been particularly action-packed, as we finally got into the build phase of the project we began back in February. It took us four and a half days spread over a couple of weeks, but we finished it, and it looks great. It'll be a really functional piece of work for the environmental center's programs

When we first arrived for our last build day on Tuesday, we found this dragonfly nymph exoskeleton on the trim of our deck. In the words of our professor, our project has already started breeding life. Personally, I took it as a good omen, and things continued to go well as we finished things up.

Here we are adding some finishing touches...

Our final product; we built a deck, two tables, and a net rack for a macro-invertebrate dipping station. Originally, there was also meant to be a kiosk for signage, but as we discovered, there are a lot of subterranean rocks on our site, which meant that that piece could not be built at this time. However, the center has our drafted plans and materials, so if they later on feel like relocating that component to a different area and building it, they can do so.

Our deck, from a different angle.

We saw this lovely (and large!) snake on Tuesday, plus a water snake I couldn't get a picture of.

Later that day, I found this little guy sitting on a campus sidewalk - they were only an inch or two across!

February 14th, 2016

Happy Valentine's Day, all. Sorry I haven't posted yet this month - I've been so busy with school that I haven't been able to think straight in what little free time I've had.

In spite of all that, I have managed to keep my head mostly above water, and even went hiking last weekend. Here's some pictures of the lake and trail.

My Building Tech: Woods class will be working out here, creating a learning station for participants to dip for macro-invertebrates and learn about aquatic ecosystems. It'll be really nice to go out regularly to such a lovely natural spot.

Ferns and moss growing, even in February.

A fossil of some sort of tree, just lying in the creek bed.

We sat out on this point and just meditated in the sun for a bit. It was so quiet, with only the water lapping against the rocks.

Our tour guide also demonstrated how to make red ochre paint out of local rocks containing iron ore. The thick paste has been used for thousands of years and around the world in cave paintings, dyes, and body paint. In particular, it was used by local indigenous peoples, who also used local deposits of chert for tools. The picture is me, with red ochre smeared on my cheeks. 

SIPA Samhain 2015

Wow. I cannot even begin to describe tonight's Samhain ritual. It was just so cathartic on so many different levels.

The evening started off sharing an organic pomegranate with some new friends.

The site looks so different from how it did at Mabon, with all the leaves changing colors and falling.

We hung a pair of tarps across the front of the shelter to provide some privacy from passing traffic.

There was a potluck dinner, to which someone brought these adorable zombie cupcakes. The meat cleavers were candies.

Jack-o-Lanterns

A better picture of my Harry Potter pumpkin

Sacred fire

More pumpkins

Wolf pumpkin; we actually heard a pack of coyotes barking and howling during the ritual!

Group ancestor altar

(Blurry) image of my part of the ancestor altar.

I was also gifted with an absolutely gorgeous Quartz point, which I will cherish. 

I won't get into the details too much here, because it was an extremely personal ritual, but it was something special, that's for sure.

October 15th, 2015

I meant to post these photos on Monday, but I ended up forgetting. My fall break was lovely, but not really enough of a break. I'm hoping I can relax some this weekend, but as many projects as I have right now, that could be kind of hit-or-miss. 

Anyway, on Monday, I went for a walk with my family through one of the local forest preserves where my brother volunteers. It was absolutely delightful weather, unseasonably warm for October.

The leaves are starting to change color. Most of them were turning yellow, although we also saw a few trees going red.

The view over the prairie.

The lake, shrinking as we head towards winter.

A sulphur butterfly sipping some clover nectar.

Purplish aster flowers.

A big toad.

A woolly bear caterpillar.

We also saw a young goldfinch sitting on a flower eating the seeds. The wind was really whipping her around, and finally the plant snapped back and tossed her off. She was just fine, but the rest of us were cracking up because she just went "boing" and flew like three feet. 

All in all, it made a really nice interlude before coming back to class. 

September 16th, 2015

I'm very excited - I'm hoping to go to a group Mabon ritual this weekend with some community members and other students on campus!

The ritual is this Saturday at a nearby state park, and we'll also be enjoying a potluck dinner and maybe camping, although that will depend on site availability. I volunteered to help distribute food for the Cakes and Ale ceremony, and we also were asked to bring a piece of produce to put on the altar besides our potluck dish.

I'm planning to bring this red bell pepper; originally, I had just been going to get an apple or something, but the campus' sustainable garden was selling these today for $0.25 each! 

As for dinner, water signs (I'm a Pisces) are supposed to bring a vegetable/side dish, so I'm going to go to Walmart tomorrow to get some things for a salad. I'll keep you all posted!

July 15th, 2014

I got to go with my family and some family friends to a state park this afternoon, which made for a nice change from our usual schedules (not to mention VBS again this morning). We went to a huge forest/bog area alongside one of our rivers. It was cold for July (in the mid 60's) and we could tell a storm was brewing, but the sun was still out and the air was fresh. It was just really great to relax outside for once and see some wildlife (cranes, swans, egrets, butterflies...). Before we started out walk on the trails, I made a little offering to the local energies and asked that we have a safe, refreshing walk. I guess they must have heard, because the rain held off for something like three hours and then started the instant we were all back and buckled into our cars for the trip home!
If you're going to take a walk through a local park or nature preserve, consider making an offering of your own. It could be something as exquisite as a small gemstone or as simple as a crust of bread from your picnic lunch, a splash of water, or a bit of hair. It's a good way to introduce yourself to regional powers, or to strengthen existing relationships. That being said, you needn't spend your entire afternoon trying to establish contact with the intangible, either. There's plenty of magick to be had just in finding raspberry bushes, watching fat squirrels climb up tree trunks, and seeing little three-year-olds stalk a butterfly.

April 23rd, 2013

Happy belated Earth Day! My family celebrated in a couple of ways - on Saturday, we went to a forest preserve nearby where they were working on restoring the area to its natural Oak Savannah state. We ripped out invasive plants - buckthorn, honeysuckle, and non-native wild rose - to allow native wild flowers and grasses to grow in around the Oak trees. Since Oak Savannah is home to more endangered plants than any other terrestrial biome, this was an especially important project.

Here's what it looked like after a few hours of work. We burned the invasive plants in a giant bonfire - that's why it's so smoky. Then yesterday, my mom and brothers went to another forest preserve to pick up trash. I'd have gone with, but I had a ton of homework to do.
It also occurred to me yesterday that I had several Barnes and Noble gift cards to use, so I ordered Scott Cunningham's Earth, Air, Fire & Water and Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon. I love Scott Cunningham, and I've heard a lot about Alder's work, so I'm extremely happy with my choices. Hopefully they'll arrive this week!

July 2nd, 2012

My mom, Nick, and I took another hike through the forest preserve this morning, and boy, oh boy, it was just in the nick of time, too. It was already hot when we were out, and now it's a blistering 98 degrees. When we were finished with our walk, Nick and I discovered a water pump. Naturally, being both hot, tired, and sweaty, we wanted to cool off. Nick was convinced the pump wouldn't work, but I gave it a go anyway. After several minutes of pumping the lever fruitlessly, I began to think that Nick was right. However, I had a trick up my sleeve that Nick didn't know about - the ability to call the element water. I had called upon water before in just such a circumstance and had found it to be most effective. So, asking a bit of aid from Goddess and the water elementals, I drew the invoking pentagram of water over the pump. Giving the lever another go, I immediately felt some resistance, indicating that there was water there. A few minutes later, and the pump was merrily spewing clear, cold water, even if it did taste vaguely of copper. Once we were a bit cooler, I drew the banishing pentagram. You don't want those elementals to have to sit there all day; I'm sure they have better things to be doing than looking after a pump no-one else is using.
I spent the afternoon volunteering at my school, helping to build a parade float for our community choir, and then got home to do some reading. I've made a new deal with myself, also. I really need to get back in the habit of daily meditation and prayer. I figure that if I write it down on the internet, I may actually feel inspired to keep the promise! ;)

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And finally, about a month after I would have liked, I got a video of my Litha altar made. Check it out!

June 27th, 2012

My youngest brother, Ben, has day camp three days a week, and mom has convinced Nick and I to go for a half-hour walk with her in the mornings while he's gone. We've been going to a local forest preserve, walking the trails for several weeks now. Today we went again. Sometimes, we see a great deal of wildlife (on Monday, mom found a wee baby turtle!), but today was looking pretty quiet. On our way back, however, we spotted a bluebird, which Nick tells me is rather rare around here, as they eat fruit. Therefore, they can be hard to find around suburbia, where fruit-bearing bushes are rare. How wonderful, to see those turquoise feathers!

June 24th, 2012

I lead a busy life, even during the summer, and of course I had to immediately begin preparing for a second trip after our Niagara experience. Nick and I agreed months ago to go with some other teens from my parent's church to Indiana's Shades State Park, a trip which fell on the 21st to the 23rd. Church stuff aside, the yearly trip is actually quite nice, and includes camping and canoeing on the lovely Sugar Creek. This year, Indiana has been very dry, so the Creek was much lower than usual. Therefore, we were all very glad when it rained a bit on the 21st (the rain conveniently held off until we had all our tents set up). Once the rain stopped, we went on a hike through the forest. The trails run near or through the park's many ravines, which can make walking difficult when it is wet. This year, the stream beds were largely dry, so things were less challenging, although given the previous rain, the wooden stairs up and down the ravines were very slick. I fell twice, and would have tobogganed down the stairs if I hadn't grabbed the handrails.
The following day, we went canoeing. Because the Creek was low, we had to drag the canoe in many places, but we still got in plenty of paddling; my shoulders will be sore for several days. The shallow water did have its advantages: we could see all the fish in the Creek. There were thousands of tiny minnows, as well as bigger carp, bass, and some kind of gar or pike. Nick spotted a turtle (not to mention all the frogs and toads), and we spent probably 80% of the trip following a trio of herons, who would fly 50 feet or so, wait for us to catch up, and then fly on again. Nick laughed when I suggested that maybe they were leading us back to camp, but I don't think it was that ridiculous an idea; twice, the Creek split, and we couldn't tell which way to go. Both times, the herons flew the direction we needed to head, and we discovered later that the other fork just led to a blocked area. Perhaps it would have been passable on both sides if the water was higher, but that day, the herons definitely knew what they were doing. And according to Native American tradition, the heron is regarded as having good judgement, as well as being a source of wisdom. I think I was not as far off base as Nick may have believed. Later, we canoed past an entire flock of turkey vultures, saw some kingfishers, and discovered some cool fossils.

When we returned to camp, we roasted hot dog dinners and took another hike. It was strange - I had literally just told Nick that I'd like to see one of the park's white tailed deer when I looked up, and one was picking its way up the side of the hill.
We got back on Saturday. I'd wanted to stay longer, as the park sported a few posters advertising a party that was to be held in honor of the park's 60-year anniversary, complete with Native American music and drum circle. Unfortunately, we had a schedule to keep, so sticking around wasn't possible. Since my return, I've largely been focusing on re-reading some old favorites and doing summer homework. I couldn't be more thankful for this opportunity to see some of the goddess' finest natural beauty. Have you gone on any exciting vacations this summer?

June 6th, 2012

Summer vacation officially began the afternoon of the 4th. Since then, my brothers and I have been kicking back, enjoying the weather. On Sunday, mom thought it would be nice to go out for a while, so we drove to a heritage farm about 20 minutes from our house. We saw their new calves (a few months old, I believe) and a horde of baby piglets that were born on the 29th. They were really tiny, maybe the size of your hand. We hiked through the surrounding nature preserve, and saw wild turtles and frogs, plus several enterprising chipmunks. Indeed, we had just arrived at the preserve's visitor's center when one chipmunk, in search of food, was tackled by a second chipmunk that lept from the trees like a crazed Tarzan. Nick spotted a Baltimore Oriole, a bird species of high interest to him, and I purchased an arrowhead at the visitor's center. I don't believe it was particularly old, but cool nevertheless. In other news, I got my Litha altar set up, and will theoretically be making a video soon.