Fireflies are MAGIC! While researching simultaneously on my work of historical fiction and a natural science article I was writing on fireflies a few years ago, I discovered that Fireflies exist in Great Britain as well as my home in New England. In fact, Fireflies are found on almost every continent. They love warm, humid…
Category Archives: Natural Science
A tantalizing, if not low-hanging, wild edible “What is that intoxicating scent?” I look around but I’m not seeing a flower at nose level as I walk the back road this early June day. I close my eyes and slowly move my head around, taking in the all the scents I can. Ah, up. I…
Lesson of the Crocus Does the crocus study? Investigating springtime history, computing sunlight minus darkness times mean March temperature? Calculating root depth by height needed to clear the snowfall? Or does the crocus just say, “ready or not, here I come,” and have faith in its ability to survive the cold, the weight of snow,…
“Love is in the air, everywhere I look around. Love is in the air, in every sight and every sound. ~ Tom Jones Humans are not the only creatures who are pulled by sensations of love during the coldest time of year. Many a wild creature is waking up to the sensation of… “Wow! It’s…
Happy New Year, everyone! This has been a curious beginning to our New England winter. Very little snow and warm temperatures. In fact, my fiancé was able to plant spring bulbs on December 25th because it reached 57 degrees! We didn’t get out first light snow (mainly ice) cover until December 29th. Yes, quite curious winter…
Must be the season of the Witch… Witch-hazel that is. I was walking through the woods, watching the leaves raining down in a cascade of yellow and red, when I noticed what my mom would call a “punky” flower, not unlike a long-haired punk rocker. She normally would be referring to the garden and roadside…
Though I have other rituals and spells in Hearken to Avalon, the following is not one of them as Milkweed is native to the Eastern United States and not to England. Still, I thought it would be healthy to include on this page as both Morgaine and Evelyn work medicinally and magically with herbs. Tonight,…
Hearken back to your roots, back to a time when you remembered how to read the signs of the changing seasons. Listen. Watch. Smell. Taste. Hearken, Spring approaches! Spring Approaches Spring is just around the corner, around the bend, around the bush, Right? All full of vim and vigor; of bravery and brazenness, like the…
Do you enjoy wandering in the woods, hunting for signs of what your wild neighbors are up to? These days, it is not so much about survival, though in the 1190’s, when Hearken to Avalon takes place, one would need to know how to track wildlife; one’s survival, and that of one’s people, may depend…
Oh sweet, gentle Lord of the Forest Come, be here now. I have followed your trail and found your tracks in the woods; You leave hearts where ever your step and I want to walk the path of compassion too. Let me walk by your side, caress your strong back, your soft fur. Let me…
Hearken to Avalon 