Abundance, Moths & Magic

luna wing and spiral stone

Gratitude is flowing through me these days. On Solstice 

afternoon, just a few hours before our gathering, 

I received news that I was awarded the grant I had applied for 

back in April. It is a significant monetary award, granted to me from 

the Forest Viability Program - an incentive program that 

supports forest owners in developing a business to keep forest 

lands forested. I agree to put my land in a long-term conservation 

easement, and they give me money and a 

team of advisors to help develop my plan! What is exciting 

is that one can apply with a traditional forest product such as 

maple syrup, mushrooms, timber, or with a non-traditional 

product such as craft, education, etc. 

My plan falls into the non-traditional category 

(I imagine you're not surprised!) for nature and arts education. 

For many years I have been dreaming a year-round workshop space. 

This winter I became very clear that to fully birth my vision 

for RavenWood and my work, 

I needed to have that space NOW. 

And, as it is with dreaming, when I birthed the dream 

with such clarity of now, there was action 

to be taken... manifest money! So, I did! 

With great excitement I announce the birth of:

RavenWood Forest   

Studio of Mythic and Environmental Arts 

There will be much to do, meetings, a business plan, 

advice from foresters and who knows what else. 

I will build my teaching space and integrate the teaching I have 

been doing in the university with the magic of this forest, the 

mysteries of seasonal cycles, exploration of the natural 

world and with the stories whispered from 

the land and from deep 

within our bones. 

Speaking of magic...... 

RavenWood has been full of luna moths. 

For days nowI have been finding wings 

on garden paths, in the driveway, 

on the front steps. I'mhoping I will see a live one, 

they are so extraordinary. Last year 

I had one visit my front porch for two days. 

Truly amazing. 

 

On the front door this morning, however, 

was another amazing moth, the giant polyphemus. 

I've been seeing many of these, and fortunately they 

are alive. What a pair of antennae! 

Two have stayed the whole day, not 

minding my comings and goings and

luckily well hidden from the blue jays. 

 

Also visiting for the day were three sphynx moths 

attached to various places on the house. 

 sphynx moth

Garden magic abounds as well. 

I've been a busy bee, building arches, 

planting, spreading compost and enjoying 

the colors and structures of flowers. 

Below is the mountain laurel and spirea at peak. 

Today I noticed the last of the little laurel blooms 

drifting to the earth, an extraordinary 

year for laurel it seemed. 

This year's garden arch for the morning glory to 

dance with and to mark the entrance to the garden. 

I walk under this sweet and sublime sun face on 

my way to sip tea amongst the ferns. 

At the end of the day, when he knows its almost time to come in, 

Pasha often sits on the front step pleading with me with 

his love-eyes for one last jaunt down the forest path.... 

and sometimes I can't resist.....

(PS - I've been having formatting issues.. 

so this is the best I can do with the text!)