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Leaf and Lizard News
March, 2011 |
Greetings!
Ch-ch-ch-changes... When was the last time you didn't feel like you were living in a time of unprecedented change? I can't even remember. At least we have a great theme song! I don't even mind having it stuck in my head...
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Japan
 | | Carrying thoughts and prayers to Japan. |
Our hearts reach out to the Japanese people as they cope with catastrophe on a grand scale, unimaginable to most of us. Maybe, like me, you were transfixed by the horrifying footage of the tsunami, trying to comprehend buildings, bridges, and lives being so swiftly washed away. If so, you may find that the words of Anne Thomas offer a welcome counterpoint. Thomas, an American living in Sendai, has been posting regularly on the Ode Magazine site:
Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend's home. We share supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful.
It's utterly amazingly that where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes. People keep saying, "Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone helped one another."
Read more at Ode Magazine, a great publication. Thanks, Steve, for sharing this.
How can we be helpful, from so far away? Perhaps the strongest action we can take is to send our loving energy their way. You might find that folding paper cranes, a Japanese tradition, helps you focus your good will and healing wishes on the distant shores of Japan.
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She's Back!
 | | Here Comes Spring! |
Persephone, that is. Up from the underworld, she's been dancing through my yard, leaving violets and daffodils in her wake. If she hasn't visited your neighborhood yet, I'm sure she's on her way!
Remember the story: The maiden of Spring is picking flowers when the earth begins to shake, and a great chasm opens up before her.
She travels to the Underworld, where she loses her innocence, yet gains wisdom and power, becoming the bride of Hades. Her mother grieves for her loss, and the world above is frigid and dismal.
Through love and power she returns to the land of the living. She is not lost, but transformed. And all the world rejoices!
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Faerie Scene
 | | Greenward Turn Mini |
Look at this little faerie book! Just under three inches square when closed, it opens up to reveal a festive gathering of Faeries. The latest in the Greenward Turn line, this handmade miniature panorama is for sale on my Etsy site, You can see more pictures there, too! Take a look.
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Spring Sprouts
 | Plant the seeds of
a new idea. |
Here's my favorite Spring Ritual, reprinted from my
2009 Leaf & Lizard Almanac:
You will need: Wide mouth glass jar Double thickness cheesecloth to cover opening Rubber band Seeds- Alfalfa, clover and radish are good choices Label & marker Sitting in a quiet place, relax and clear your mind and body of tension and distractions. Breathe deeply. Tune in.
What would you like to begin? What would you like to create? What would you like to occur?
Write your wishes on the label, and affix your label to the jar. Reading your wishes aloud, add a spoonful of seeds for each, and take a few moments to visualize the outcome you desire.
Add water to cover the sprouts, cover the mouth of the jar with cheesecloth and fix in place with a rubber band. Let them rest in a dark place overnight. The next day, pour off the soaking water through the cheesecloth, and then rinse with fresh water, draining again. Read your wishes aloud, and visualize the outcome you desire. Lay the jar on its side in a dark place. Repeat the rinsing and draining twice a day for 2-4 days, visualizing your wishes each time. When the seeds sprout, move the jar into a sunnier location, and continue to rinse twice a day until they become green on the ends. Now eat, envisioning the outcome you desire!
Reprinted from the 2009 Leaf & Lizard Almanac.
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May you transform gracefully!
Sincerely,
Mary Lounsbury
Leaf and Lizard Publishing Company |
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