Category Archives: Nature Wise

It’s Groundhog’s Day! – Groundhog Medicine

Groundhog MedicineGroundhog’s day is coming! No, not the Bill Murray movie AGAIN (the movie seems to return almost as much as Groundhog’s Day does in it). February 2 is the celebration of Imbolc, Candlemas and Groundhog’s Day. The underlying theme of each of these festivals in the beginning of February is the coming of spring, renewal and hope.

Groundhog Day is derived from earlier celebrations held on February 2, dates variously known as Brigid’s Night in Ireland (festival of the Celtic goddess of poetry, birth, weddings, smithcraft, and healing), Oimelc/Imbolc/Imbolg in Scotland, and Candlemas in England. Ancient celebration were often associated with divination. Continue reading →

Finding Faces in the Trees

face_of_the_beechWe just returned home from our Arizona visit and are happy to be back at Shaman’s Grove. It’s nice to go away, but GREAT to get home. It makes us really appreciate the peace and gentle energy of our forest home.

About a month ago, I ran across this blog from The Druid’s Garden. I was waiting for permission to re-post this for you as it’s a great post. The permission arrived today and just in time for a weekly posting (we were both out of town). I will re-post more of Dana’s blogs later – her tree series is wonderful! Continue reading →

Stones for the Solar Plexus Chakra

In today’s blog we are following up on our Shaman’s Blog post Chakras 101 – The Third or Solar Plexus Chakra describing some of the stones for healing and balancing the solar plexus chakra. Some gemstones often associated with the Solar Plexus Chakra are Amber, Citrine, Sunstone, Topaz, Yellow Calcite and Yellow Carnelian

Stones for the Solar Plexus Chakra

Amber – Amber is technically not a gemstone or mineral, but fossilized sap fromamber prehistoric trees that has aged over the course of millions Continue reading →

Navel Chakra Stones

I’ve finally managed to get this blog posted. Between the holidays and other projects, I’ve been a VERY busy girl. The new mobile-friendly website for Shaman’s Marketplace is finally launched. Then, we went to fix a heat vent in the bathroom and wound up gutting it and are in the process of renovating it. NOT on the to do list!

So, as promised, better late than never …

We referenced a variety of stones for the navel/sacral chakra in the blog Chakras 101 – The Second or Navel Chakra. Some gemstones often associated with the Navel Chakra are Carnelian, Coral, Agate, Orange Calcite, Amber and Moonstone.

Stones for the Navel/Sacral Chakra

carnelianOrange Carnelian – Carnelian is found in nearly all parts Continue reading →

Root Chakra Stones

For the next few blog posts, we are going to be coordinating with our shamanism blog, Shaman’s Blog. We are covering the individual chakras in that series.

The Stone People are very helpful in balancing our chakras and providing us specific energies that support our individual chakras, we will be covering some of the stones relevant to the major chakras.

We referenced a variety of stones for the root chakra in the blog Chakras 101 – The First or Root Chakra. Some gemstones often associated with this chakra are Garnet, Smoky Quartz, Obsidian, Black Tourmaline, Ruby, Bloodstone and Red Jasper.

As discussed in that blog post, the Root Chakra, is largely about survival and security issues. Therefore, most protection stones are related in some way to the root chakra.  Most red and black stones, as well as many brown and gray stones, are also related to the Root Chakra.

Stones for the Root Chakra

Continue reading →

Pacific Northwest Madrone – Depth & Integrity

Madrone Tree

Courtesy of Arbutusarts.com

“Magnificent, dramatic, exciting, mystical, inspiring, magical, sensual … these are some of the words people use to describe the Madrone Tree, a favorite of the hardwood trees of the Pacific Northwest.”

This introduction to the Madrone Tree from Arbutusarts.com gives a perfect segway to the magnificent Madrone. We are blessed here at Shaman’s Grove with many madrone trees among the Oak, Firs and Pines. While I love all the trees here at The Grove, I am always awestruck by the shiny and peeling bark and twists and turns of the madrones. Continue reading →

Hummingbird – Open Your Heart

hummingbirdI can always tell when Spring is truly here by the return of the hummingbirds. I keep a feeder on the front deck and delight in the antics of the “hummers”. This Spring, as I sat at my desk working, I was visited at my office window by a lovely green hummingbird. It just hovered in the window and watched. The messages came clear, one being that a feeder in my office window was needed. Our friend who was visiting from The Netherland saw to it that a new feeder was quickly added. So, now I get to work and enjoy their multiple visits. Of course, they torment the cat who sits on the window sill and watches. I have my very own Nature Channel 🙂

The hummingbird is associated with love and joy. In MEDICINE CARDS: THE DISCOVERY OF POWER THROUGH THE WAYS OF ANIMALS, Jamie Sams and David Carson tell us that the hummingbird is the creature that opens the heart. When we connect with hummingbird consciousness, we delight in the sheer joy of living, and of living the bliss of loving. Our life becomes a wonderland of sensuous delights…We live for beauty, delighting in flowers, aromas, fine mist, and delicate tastes…We laugh and enjoy creation…We appreciate the magic of being alive and the of the beauty around us.

Hummingbird feathers open the heart chakra.  Continue reading →

Robin – The Bringer of Change

“The red, red Robin goes bob, bob, bobin’ along…”

Courtesy of Wikipedia

Courtesy of Wikipedia

The trees are blooming, flowers are peeking up from Mother Earth and Spring has arrived. But we know Spring has truly arrived when we spy the robins hopping through our yards and parks.

Robin, like Spring, signifies stimulation of new growth and renewal. Robin teaches us how to “spring forward” and welcome the new growth and experiences, with joy, laughter and a song in the heart. Like robins that get their nourishment from the earth, pulling earthworms out of the soil, we are reminded to ground and pull up life energy from Mother Earth to nourish our physical and spiritual selves. Yes, it is true that the early bird gets the worm (and a healthy does of life force energy)! Continue reading →