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The Hermit’s Lantern
Contents:
One of our highly popular features is a monthly article written by gerry Beyerl, “Lunar Rituals for the Month.” gerry discusses the astrological features of the month focusing upon the New and Full Moons with helpful information so that the reader can incorporate the natural energies of the planets and of herbal work into personal or group ritual workings.
Each month we feature an Herb of the Month, an article with an illustration of the herb. This material is based upon one of the Grove's published monographs and expanded into prose.
The Lantern includes news of herbal gatherings, health news relevant to our healing work, reviews, news of new resources and catalogs, etc.
Garden Magick — a hermit's lantern excerpt
There is Magick in my gardens. Magick is the unseen energy which surrounds the images we create with our imagination. Magick is the unseen energy which permeates all manifestation of the universal divinity. Our gardens are abundant with Magick and there are few words to express how wonderful it is to live one's life around them. It is healing to work the soil, healthful to rise and retire with the sun, to schedule one's projects around the planting and harvest. We take joy when it rains knowing that the herb spirits need abundant moisture. The reality of nature, of Mother Earth is my primary contact with the divinity of the Universe.
Mother Earth is our source for life. Within the gardens we do our own small part. When my hands are in the soil, when I am working compost back into the dirt, I am on intimate terms with Her, just as a child plays with his mother's hair or traces patterns upon her skin. I speak frequently of our lives here at The Hermit's Grove being a 'religious lifestyle.' Our gardens are our religion. They represent our belief system.
Our days are filled with monastic discipline and are ordered around the needs of those whom we serve through The Hermit's Grove and through The Rowan Tree Church. We work in the office providing education, inspiration, communication and more mundane tasks such as bookkeeping and administration. And we create the gardens, for they are the future of our work.
Most days of the growing season I am blessed with the luxury of being able to go out into the gardens to work. It must be similar to the joy a monk must feel when able to head to the monastery chapel to pray. On many days of labor, my back is bent over the weeds, bent as I lift rocks and cement and lumber and containers of sod and debris until I can no longer take the pain. But my mind is not idle. I spend time in contemplation, in reflection. And my back is just fine the following morning, ready to once again bend beneath the sun.
Life has taught me that there is little value in worrying over the future and, although it took a long time, I abandoned that worry. I do not idle my mind worrying about the future. There are concerns, but they are more immediate. Each year I feel concern over the pollinators, checking the plums, the apples, the berries as they move from bloom to the potential for fruit. And yet the reality is that each year some crops are meager but others are exuberant in their abundance. And there is always enough.
With diligence, I weed, I transplant. I take note that, as the years are passing, we are making headway even though our home-made organic compost (where the old weeds have been placed) is abundant in weed seed. This is my labor. Upon my knees, my hands busy, I reflect upon the past. I do not relive it nor do I seek refuge in it to protect me against the present. I examine my mistakes, I seek the reality of past behavior when I had not the still-inadequate maturity and wisdom with me today in the garden.
I remember so many people who were once important in my life. I wonder where they are, hope that they have found fulfillment and happiness. I remember my ancestors and plant my memories of them into our gardens. We have not only dozens of bells and windchimes hanging throughout our gardens and woodland, ringing in memory of others when the breezes dance and chase each other, we also have the images of memories. I have planted the memories of my past in our gardens.
Over there, by the bleeding hearts is the memory of afternoon naps with my maternal grandmother. Her body often tired from an ailing heart, when I was young she was certain that I needed a daily, afternoon nap. She would sleep, laying across her bed, her barely-audible snore one of the most comforting sounds of my childhood. I rarely slept but remember gazing out her bedroom window at the thick growth of bleeding hearts which grew near their garage.
The five lilacs of our Lilac Crest garden are where I planted the memories of the lilacs of my childhood, originally planted, I believe, by my paternal grandfather. The lilacs of Pine Lawn Farm were so large we children could play underneath their bowed branches. And I planted the memory of how they attracted the beautiful, peacock-blue ruby-throated hummingbirds which flitted about from bush to bush. Speaking of Pine Lawn Farm, I can still see the image of the weeping willow in my mind, where it grew. And when I tend and prune and shape the weeping willows here, thousands of miles and dozens of years removed, I know that they are direct descendants, a gift from my father who sent me cuttings. And I plant those memories as well. And I have planted the entire history of my childhood in the Magick of our gardens.
I have long believed in planting flowers which take people back to their early garden memories. We have hollyhocks in bloom and many other species. We are accustomed to hearing people comment that they have not seen this or that species since visiting their grandparents' garden many years ago. And they are comforted and feel good and leave here with an increased joy. They have been touched by the Magick of our gardens.
But there is more to the Magick than the planting of memories. The Hermit's Grove is not just about my teaching of herbal medicine, it is also the repository for the entire history of my work as an educator, as the founder of a spiritual tradition. When our bodies become compost (and compost is a good thing), these gardens will be in the hands of The Rowan Tree Church. Within the gardens are the images created when I reflect upon my history. Within our gardens is the entire history of the church. I would like to believe (and I do) that future mentors, those who will educate future generations of those who practice The Tradition of Lothloriën, which I founded, must learn to embrace the Universe, to spend time upon their hands and knees in the gardens here at The Hermit's Grove, learning to let the Devas speak to them. The Devas are the spirits of the herbal realm and the history of Lothloriën is being placed in their hands. Those who will carry on our work must learn to commune with the Devas. They are the guardians of these magickal images, for there is much Magick in my gardens.
Paul V. Beyerl
originally published in The Hermit's Lantern in the August, 2000 issue
Excerpts from the "Grove Garden Journal"
May, 2003 issue of The Hermit's Lantern.
April 28th
Following a week of little gardening, it was a terrific weekend! On Friday I managed an hour of gardening before lunch, giving my attention to the bed beneath the fir along Fir Lane. Reaching from holly along the neighbor's fence to the north, we have spreading areas of ajuga (currently in full bloom), woodruff and arnica. At the west end of the bed is Spade Cemetery. What else does one do with old, rusted shovels with broken handles? - we place them handle down and visitors love it! Close by is the patch of American mayapple. They've popped up this past week, opening their leaves like flat umbrellas. I finished the bed after lunch as gerry tended beneath the dwarved apple tree.
With that done, I mowed and gerry continued working on the Sumac Garden. While mowing I realized that we needed to do some cosmetic work in preparation for Sunday, when we were having our fourth annual Garden Blessing Ritual. gerry worked on the Dancing Circle's inner bed and I edged the grass leading to the Dancing Circle.
Saturday morning was cloudy and cool, but it felt good as I continued the edging work. I took a break to teach my Community College students about dividing and transplanting and also showed them how easy it can be do do your own spraying. After the class was over I continued edging and gerry finished the Dancing Circle.
Sunday we tidied up a few spots, weeding the paths that were needy with help from Tony and from Lisa (a Master Herbalist student). Sunday afternoon was our fourth annual Garden Blessing Ritual and the weather was as beautiful as one could want. The bees, warmed by the sun, were busy pollinating, flowers of all colors were in bloom and we had a wonderful time. After the students and guests left, gerry and I did what blesses the gardens most! I worked on the weeds back near the coastal redwood and gerry worked in the Sumac Garden.
May 1st
Although the sun has not yet risen, the gardens are clearly filled with flower. It is a beautiful May Day and the gardens amaze us, even though we have participated in their transformation daily for a decade. It is truly alchemy.
Monday I planted the new, red winter-blooming hazel. I also put in the new herbs, the agrimony and astragalus in singular locations and then the belladonna by its four older kin. Although well tended this spring, the belladonna area of the Plum Thicket garden was in need of weeding. And that led to edging along the south side of the patio grape arbor, weeding among the roses of the 'rose hill bed' which provides a natural property boundary to the south. After lunch gerry weeded the California poppy area next to the belladonna and i continued my work.
Good weather on Tuesday brought me back to the same area. I weeded the evening primrose and determined that they can have both small beds south of the tool shed. They are doing so well and we have plenty of seedlings. I finished weeding the Rose Hill bed and edged as far as the south side of the house. gerry finished the California poppies, weeded in the rose campion patch and then headed to the west side of the Dancing Circle.
Yesterday I mowed, gerry worked more around the roses on the west side of the Dancing Circle and I went after the largest weeds growing in several of the newer paths. I got a late start in the gardens, having morning errands which included purchasing 15 steel fence posts. We're going to put up deer barrier along the property line, and the deer netting is on its way. I also brought home six new torches, these made of black, wrought iron. They're handsome and go well with the new Canterbury arch.
Last evening we gathered with much colorful ribbon in the Dancing Circle to enjoy the gardens for May Eve. There are flowers everywhere, from the Solomon's seal to the bleeding hearts. The alyssum was but one of the richly perfumed flowers which scented the evening air and, despite the late hour, there were still bees flying about doing their Beltane duties among the ajuga and madrona flowers.
May 5th
On Friday Anna came over to work in the Quince Corner Bed during the morning. I began edging along the South Bed, a long and narrow bed which provides a colorful separation between our house and our neighbor to the north. We enjoyed our conversation through the large cedar, calling back and forth when the traffic sounds permitted.
In the afternoon gerry helped me with the South Bed and, when it was done on the south side, we set steel fence posts in place and strung temporary lines which we're hoping will deter the deer until the netting arrives. The deer netting will run from the new wooden fence which runs along the development of new houses, effectively closing off all access from the south.
Saturday morning was the final spring horticulture class here in the gardens. In the afternoon gerry and I set posts in place at the east end of our property, running from the wood fence to the fence which runs the entire length of the property along the north. With that done we did some other work. I weeded beneath one of the weeping willows, a bed which is not yet planted. gerry planted the maize and began preparing the Cairn Bed for seedlings. I started tending the property boundary by the grape arbor which faces Carol's property. Putting up the deer netting will mean removing the sod in front of the trellis and putting in a stone path.
We did not work outside yesterday due to other commitments. There was a light drizzle off and on but in the evening we had heavy rain, bringing us .75" overnight.
May 8th
What a difference a few days can make. On Monday I weeded the east end of the Kiwi Bed around the scabiosa. Today I put down several large containers of composted leaves, the softest and darkest compost one can create, filled with eager worms. I also began tending the Gladiola Bed and the east side of Lilac Crest as gerry worked in the Cairn Bed. I had the advantage of beginning in the morning and he was unable to work until following lunch.
Tuesday I weeded the gravel at the end of the driveway in preparation for the blacktop which would be laid down later in the morning. Wanting to be available for them I worked on the gardens in front of the house, weeded among the flags and edging all the way to the propane tank. The paving crew were impressed with the gardens and wanted to look behind the house. After lunch gerry and I continued working in that area where the weeds were rampant.
With the driveway done on Wednesday I was able to work in back. With the forecast for a light rain (which proved to be barely a mist) we prepared planting space and began taking apart some of the deer-deterrent cages made of heavy wire fencing. I moves steel posts and rearranged some of the fencing and created three wire trellises for the many pots of sweet peas which had been growing eager for real soil. We also planted some of the torch tithonia (Mexican sunflower) and enjoyed the changes. These planting areas are new, created last September when I took out the grass and expanded the beds, now separated only by the stone paths.
Continuing to see to the seedlings, this morning I prepared the small, narrow bed immediately behind the house and planted it with nasturtiums. Wanting to plant a couple of torch in the other end of the bed and near the dwarved apple, I took the bold step of taking down the 'cage' which has penned in the apple, completely surrounded by posts and fencing to keep the deer from the serious damage they've been waging in recent years. We have been so encouraged. Since putting up the posts with the temporary lines alone the south and the full wire fencing at the east end we have not seen a single new deer track, something which was a great relief. I also weeded much of the raised iris bed and Suzanne (a library volunteer) and I watched the bees enjoying the dwarved apple and its restored freedom.
Perhaps my faith was rewarded. I had barely taken down the fence and was weeding in a nearby bed among the orchids and trilliums when I heard the UPS truck. Lo and behold, the new deer netting had arrived. I was very pleased with how sturdy it is and, hoping for an afternoon shower, quickly put up a seventy foot length of it along the south property line, attaching it to the posts with short lengths of wire.
It is exciting restoring the gardens to their openness, taking down posts and wire. So many of the beds and trees had been caged to protect them against the careless hooves and greedy mouths. We think the deer will do better seeking food further from urban traffic.
May 11th
Today is Mother's Day and, in addition to our birth mothers, we will also give honor to Mother Earth, truly the mother of all.
Friday Anna and I worked in the Quince Corner bed. She weeded the path which leads to the bridal veil corner and I began cleaning up the St. John's wort, the ornamental variety which, although it has huge, luscious yellow blooms later in the summer is invasive beyond believe. Short of total eradication, this is the last attempt to see if we can coexist. I cut back over half of what grows in the ditch along the street allowing for more mowing space. As Anna tended the path I began digging out the 'planters' of St. John's wort. Some years back, hoping for a more peaceful coexistence, gerry and I took out the huge mass of the plant and then sunk large tubs (the nursery type that hold good-sized trees, each black container nearly 30" tall) down into the bed. It was beautiful for a few years but last summer sprouts of the wort began popping up in very inappropriate places and this year it became apparent the wort was well overstepping the boundaries of garden courtesy. I got the first three removed and all the spreading roots I could find taken out and Anna, when done with the path, began working at the street side edge of the bed, going after the roots sneaking in from the ditch.
After lunch gerry worked on the west side of the Dancing Circle, taking out rocket so I could get in their on Saturday and remove the rusty steel posts and wire fencing which protected the two rose bushes (favorite deer food). As he worked there I cleaned up around the outside of the Yarrow Bed and weeded along Alan's fence to the north of the black raspberries. Speaking of raspberries, they have also been preferred eating by the deer which means this year we'll not have so many little short stubs eaten down to six inches in height.
Yesterday (Saturday) brought us the first full morning of interns. The morning began early with the four students gathering in the Stone Circle to establish a personal communion with the natural energy of the trees, the gardens and the herbs. Following the class Isaiah worked on the paths in the Memorial Grove, working from the entrance back to the point half way into the Memorial Grove where the two paths join and the woodland garden changes its energy into a realm of ferns and trilliums.
Cathy and Teresa did their first turns in the garden and I showed them the art of tending the stone paths. Cathy enjoyed the discovery of tiny, brightly-colored bits of stone which had been scattered during last month's Garden Blessing Ritual as she worked near the mandrake (the European species) and borage. Cathy loved the hostas. Teresa worked near the east end of the Plum Thicket Garden, enjoying the black-eyed Susans, the ceanothus and the lilacs. She commented that some of the plants sang to her soul and she very much enjoyed her work. Anna continued in Quince Corner, going after the St. John's wort making excellent progress with hard work. As they began I dissembled the fencing around the roses west of the Dancing Circle and then transplanted several dozen 'wild lily-of-the-valley' to a waiting space beneath the five lilacs well to the east. I also took down the wire cage which protected the huge patch of Solomon's seal, now in full-flower, which has grown into a stunning site, and the blue cohosh.
I weeded the Catalpa Bed preparing it for planting, and began working along the north edge of the Gladiola Bed, doing the same. With gerry now home, he began planting, putting the strawberry corn into the Catalpa Bed and the bloody butcher (a deep red) corn into the Cairn Bed, now also free from steel posts and anti-deer wire. With the students gone, I mowed after lunch and gerry planted red sunflowers, salpiglossis and the blue dent corn. We worked in the Magnolia Garden for the giant sunflowers, noting the new shoots of the dahlias and then, at last, called it a day.
But today, when our morning Sunday Circle is complete, we will enjoy Mother Earth and, as we work, send blessings to our birth mothers.
XIX—The Sun
Sun
As we near the end of our journey through the Major Arcana, the Sun Card depicts the successful completion of one's Quest. the sun radiates brightly overhead, reflected in the row of sunflowers. The overall energy of this card is that of things having gone so well that all of life radiates joy. The obstacles of the past have been surmounted. The challenges have been transcended and the seeker returns from the journey. The light comes not only from the sun above but from within the seeker as well.
The central figure represents childlike pride, a being who does not yet wear the fabrication of an adult ego. The exuberance is that of youthful joy, of a sense of rebirth born of one who has learned much about one's self. There is no need for clothing. At this time life is so wonderful it cannot be contained. One is so happy it cannot be held within and the ability to allow this happiness to glow flows freely. Even the horse is free, without bridle or saddle. With both horse and child unencumbered, we can see that success is more easily attained when we are not weighed down by the motives of one's ego or the distraction of the reward.
When we last saw the white horse, it was being ridden by Death in the thirteenth card. Although life may have felt like death, the horse has long represented strength and vigor and in Death's distance the sun was rising, signifying that this period of darkness was leading to rebirth. Now, in The Sun card, the transformation is complete. Everything has been brought into balance and the seeker's faith has grown in her abilities.
The presence of a wall built by the hands of a skilled mason indicates that the seeker has returned to family and friends. The wall shows the presence of one's social environment. Your success and your happiness is to be shared and witnessed by those who know and love you. The sunflowers are ripening beneath the sun, a further indication that the harvest awaits.
The mind must be lighted from within in order to radiate outward. This card shows us the value of freely expressed intuition. The Sun is a card of joy and happiness. It represents blessings and the attainment of one's goals. The seeker is not celebrating her own skill. The seeker isn't bragging about himself. There's simply a pure elation found in having learned the lessons, having moved forward and found success. Once the seeker has reached this point she has it all and fully deserves to ride high and be recognized as having done well.
The Sun is also a card of Perfect Trust. it represents the external expressions of reality and, when done well, the seeker will feel the world to be as great as you feel. Not only will your joy be perceived by others but it will affect them and uplift them. When this card appears, the Tarot is communicating that the future is there before you. It is time to set yourself free.
Typically this card will not appear until the seeker has created a successful circle in life, having labored hard, recognizing that the process of working toward the goal rather than struggling toward a self-serving reward, was important. It is the internal change which is heralded by The Sun card. The child upon the horse shows that she feels exuberant and set free. The sacrifices were worth it. The process of learning and expanding is ongoing. Because one chose goals of growth and wisdom, the ensuing freedom leaves us renewed and youthful.
The Sun is one of the best cards to receive, one which indicates a job well done both spiritually and in the real world.
The Reversed Sun
When The Sun is reversed, the light of one's inspiration has grown shadowed, quite possibly by the dark shade created by the desires of one's own ego. One's nature and one's relationship with the natural environment has grown disharmonious. The sound of cheering is now only a memory and, when recalled, leaves one only more dissatisfied with the present.
Did you become too attracted to the rewards? Did you claim too much the attention of others? Have you fallen off the wonderful steed, no longer moving in forward progress? Despite your disappointment, it is time to move forward again. The horse may have stopped but you can trust this steed for, if you restore your source of inspiration (it has not slipped away, only your ability to perceive it is astray) your horse will be eager to carry you toward new goals.
When The Sun appears reversed, the Tarot is encouraging the seeker to reclaim the light, to turn within and once again take up the staff of life, that joy found in life when it is lived with honor, shedding the constraints of one's ego, for one's ego is the encumbrance of heavy, musty clothing.
Leave behind disappointments. Do not expect your friends and acquaintances to carry that banner for you. Other cards of the Tarot teach you that the harvest will be attained only through your own diligence and hard work. The rewards and the laurel of success will be had when you restore your faith. Remember, the horse cannot carry through the boggy mire of your negative emotions.
The Magickal Sun
This card is clearly associated with the planetary energy of the Sun, but this is the Sun in its vitality. The natural energy of this card is a sensuality which is youthful, a boyishness which has little to do with gender. That could just as well be a young girl riding upon the horse and, indeed, the figure drawn by Smith is undefined regarding gender. In mythology, however, horses are often powerfully sexual as symbols. The sexual energy may be present, but this card depicts the aura of celebration in a social context and, as a consequence, any sexuality would be removed from the activities of these events.
Bay laurel, the well-known herb for creating a wreath with which to celebrate success, is an herb which works with the Magick of this card. Obviously, sunflowers make excellent herbal correspondences as well.
Stones associated with The Sun card are the amber, carnelian and topaz. The precious metal gold is also highly appropriate for this card.
Ritually we endeavor to harness the power of our exuberance, to work with the forward drive of our internal Magick. Whether we choose to work literally with a ritual staff or not, it is present in the nature of the pure Magick of The Sun card.
When using this card as an archetype for ritual, you would do well to shed all self doubts just as the youth has shed all clothing. This card offers you an excellent symbol to represent the goal which your ritual will empower. It may serve as an image upon which to focus throughout your ritual, perhaps even the image which is transmuted when the energy of your work is spiraled upward to the Universe.
Approach your ritual as an act of joy. Engender exuberance. Use this card as an image to focus your energy throughout your work.
Chrysocolla
composition
This is a blue-green member of the silicate family, one which is hydrous copper silicate which also contains small amounts of aluminum. A soft to semi-hard (2.0 to 2.4) mineral, it is translucent with a lustrous finish. When heated, the stone turns black and the flame turns green due to the presence of natural copper. Chrysocolla is often found in or near copper deposits where natural oxidation has occurred. The primary sources of this gem in the western hemisphere are Chile and regions of Arizona and New Mexico. Chrysocolla is also found in Morocco, Rhodesia, Italy and Russia. Although infrequently used for copper, it is not a prime source for the metal.
correspondences
There is inconsistency in the astrological associations with this stone. it is various corresponded with Mercury, Jupiter and Uranus and with Taurus, Gemini and Virgo.
remedial
Modern lore provides us with a number of remedial uses. Lorusso and Glick provide us with an understanding of the natural energy of the stone as does Melody. This is useful information in working with the remedial properties of the stone.
Chrysocolla is considered to be of value in treating ulcers and digestive disorders. Melody writes that the stone affects the pancreas, assisting in the production of insulin. Many consider the stone useful when working with the respiratory system and strengthening or healing the lungs. Tinctures of the stone have been recommended for calcification of the joints (e.g. arthritis) and to bolster a system which is fighting cancer.
There are a number of emotional and psychic disorders for which chrysocolla may prove efficacious. The gem is said to help one deal with internal fears and guilt, said to promote internal calmness. it is healing to disturbed emotions and assists one in decreasing negativity which leads to health disorders. Melody writes that the stone increases one's ability and capacity for love. Although she is the lone author with this view we hope there is basis for the belief. The world would be improved as would the lives of many dear ones.
virtues
The stone promotes inner serenity.
magick
The energy or natural magick of the stone is linked with the processes of meditation and visualization. Recent lore suggests that chrysocolla can be used to purify one's home. It helps banish unwanted energy from one's immediate environment and may assist in establishing a link with the perfect existence of the divinity permeating the Universe.
Whether we accept this new lore as accurate, this is a stone which does have value. You are encouraged to spend time with the stone to see how Chrysocolla might enhance your life.