Another mountain is being lost near my home–a mountain that has lost already 50 feet or more of elevation and is being just eaten by machines and humans behind those machines.  It’s really hard to frame this any other way–I’m sure there is a coal seam in the bones of the mountain that these humans are desperate to mine.  Two centuries ago, men dug holes in the ground, felled trees and supported their holes with huge logs, and then went in and dug the coal out.  Today with modern technology, they find it easier just to remove the whole mountain, which allows them to then remove t ..read more

Herbalism is the oldest healing modality on the planet.” – Rosemary Gladstar One of the challenges with the modern paradigm is reductionism–breaking things down into small parts and not paying attention the whole: especially the whole person, the whole plant, the whole ecosystem.  One example of a great case of this is in the modern medical system. Due to an ongoing illness in my family, I’ve recently been exposed more than normal to the modern medical system. This includes visits with many specialists, and spending days upon days in sterile waiting rooms awaiting tests, procedures ..read more

Land healing encompasses a wide range of activities: from physical replanting, rewilding, and regenerative approaches directly on the land to metaphysical blessings, healings, and palliative care.  As I’ve just launched the Land Healer’s Network and am releasing the Land Healing book, more questions than ever are coming up from people who are interested in taking part in healing the earth and making that a core part of the work they do.  One of the questions coming up from this work is – what do I do first? How do I work with really damaged lands?  How do I do this work well ove ..read more

In February, news headlines everywhere began describing a new study from the University of Michigan made claims that urban agriculture (which includes urban farms, community gardens, and individual gardens) has a 6x higher carbon footprint than conventional agriculture. The headlines said things like, “Community Gardens have 6x Higher Carbon Footprint than Conventional Agriculture” or even “Community Gardens are Bad for Climate Change” and generally, these headlines got a lot of people who have been cultivating such gardens in an uproar. Here’s one such news article, and here’s another.  ..read more

Ever since I was little, I have always felt connected with the earthworms in the rainstorms. They come out to bask and enjoy the rain, slithering through puddles, and turning their faces into the warm rain. But modern life is not kind to worms: each rainstorm is deadly. Sidewalks and pavement can turn into dry deserts and human feet who pay no attention can trod them underfoot. The worms could use a little care. Here come the rains–and a rainbow of hope! Thus, I have always spent time gently moving the earthworms off the sidewalk during rainstorms. Regardless of where I was, when I was, or who ..read more

To say that most druids and those practicing similar nature-based paths love trees is an understatement. Trees are some of the most magical and friendly of people in our landscape, almost always ready to share wisdom, teach, and provide shelter and nourishment. Trees are also some of the most gentle and accessible of nature’s teachers and when people start the druid path, it is often due to a connection with trees. One of my best friends is an over 400-year-old Eastern Hemlock tree that resides in the Old Growth Hemlock grove at Laurel Hill State Park in Pennsylvania.  When I visit, somet ..read more

One of the things that I’ve realized in doing the work of a land healer is how little support and information is available. When I wrote Land Healing, I decided to create a supportive community in addition to the book to help address this: and today, the Land Healers Network is born! The goal of the Land Healers Network is to create a supportive community to help others take up the path of land healing, work through the material in the Land Healing book, share rituals, and explore our experiences together. I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a while. Land healing is often a really ..read more

I’ve had the blessing of a few really great mentors in my life, people whose teachings and support are valuable to my development as a person, druid, and human being. Few have been as impactful as Sara Greer. Many of you may have already heard by now about the passing of Sara as earlier this week; John Michael Greer wrote a very eloquent and beautiful post on Ecosophia about her and the news is making its rounds. I wanted to take some time today to reflect on Sara, my experiences with her, and her legacy. I will also share a link to my letter about Sara to the AODA community earlier this week ..read more

I’ve been a tarot and oracle artist since I began working on the Tarot of Trees back in 2005.  I released the Tarot of Trees in 2009, and since then, have also created and released the Plant Spirit Oracle and the TreeLore Oracle. I’ve also shared posts on how to create your own tarot and oracle as well as how to self-publish that work. It is so fun to see so many new artists entering the tarot and oracle market and trying their hand at a unique deck.  I’m always supportive of helping others who want to create something magical and beautiful.  In fact, I’m currently working on tw ..read more

I see you, beautiful, layered ridges of the Appalachian mountains: your peaks against the blue winter sky, the mist arises from the snow while the Imbolc sun comes out to warm you just enough.  Below that, your frozen bones await the spring’s return. I look upon you with love in my heart.  You, who have sheltered me since my birth. You who have provided the nutrients that formed my blood, my bones, and my heart. You, who I will return to when I die to once again rejoin the great cycle of life. You are the most beautiful and wise being that I know. You are one of the oldest beings on ..read more