Summer Solstice 2017

Summer Solstice. The longest day and shortest night. The days all get imperceptibly shorter after this,

“Our ancestors built huge bonfires on this day to celebrate their tangible connection to the vital power of the immense burning star that keeps our planet bright, warm and alive. It’s a good time to remember that we, like the sun, contain the power to nurture and sustain, and that we have a responsibility to burn as brightly as we can.

“(It) is the time to invite fire into our lives fire to burn away all that we have outgrown and all that no longer serves us; fire that makes the wild things grow in us, for which our inner selves have longed.

“We are all connected people, planet, and sun. If we align ourselves with the power in others and in the natural forces around us, what we are unable to do with our own puny ego elves can be made to happen if it is attuned to the needs of the inner self and those upon which we are connected.”

~ Cait Johnson and Maura D. Shaw from Celebrating the Great Mother

We're burning bright, all right. In fact, each year gets hotter and hotter. This year, everything is growing faster and starting too early, and it's throwing everything off. I can't give myself any more excuses why there are no bees in my yard. "It's too early in the morning.late at night," "It's too chilly/too hot now," "It's only June."

We are not connected anymore. We are not connected to each other or to the planet and Nature. We have forgotten. And it will kill us. There are more of us than ever and we are less connected than ever. We never are without communication devices in front of us or in our hands, and we know less than ever, talk less than ever, care less than ever.

We've gotten to the point where even thinking about building a bonfire causes me to fret about the pollution it would cause, because there are oh so many of us, and if we all burned celebratory solstice fires, what bad air it would cause. That's where we are. That's the head-space I live in. That's why I don't write here anymore. All the things I used to talk about, they don't matter. We're past the tipping point. So what if I throw a plastic pen away? Use the K-cups, what does it matter?

(No, don't use the K-cups. They are ridiculous and you are a horrible person if you still use them.)

Celebrate Solstice? I'm not sure why anymore.

Happy December...Let's DO This, #1

Ahhh Winter. Holidays. Fireplaces and sweaters and snuggling. December brings a lot of good feelings. It's the last month of the year and it might seem like it's a better time to wind down, but I believe it is a great time to START some things.

The First Day of Winter, the Winter Solstice, is the shortest day of the year, and while there is a whole lotta winter to go after December 21st, this day marks a time of rebirth. So I say, let's start some great new practices and traditions this holiday season to take into the new year!

A wonderful way to start is right along the vein of the holiday: give gifts. But this year, give GREEN gifts. In the spirit of the 12 Days of (insert holiday here), I'll be giving 12 examples of great green gifts. I'm starting early because, well, you'll need time to shop!

Think not that this is some way to be pushy about green, and forcing your ideals on to your gift recipients. No, no. Instead, think of it as an extra special gift. After all, a green gift means you really put some thought into it. It means you care enough about that person to help them help the Earth! (Rationalize it however you want.) Really, though, what's better: a tie or some knick-knack, or something that can be used again and again? A practical object IS a good gift. And, when you think about it, you realize that the receiver of the gift will think of you every time they use what you have given them. Isn't that the point of a gift? Would you like to be remembered as the person who gave them that really cool and useful thing, or the idiot who gave them that stupid useless thing that either sat around gathering dust or got re-gifted the next year?

So. Where to begin? Let's start with the best and most obvious: water bottles. We all know someone (or lots of someones) who are still in the SUPpy (Single-Use Plastic) habit. Why are they still using those? Maybe they just haven't stopped to get one of their own. There are so many styles and varieties out there that you can find the perfect one for everyone on your list. Personalize them. Get enough for the whole family. Get them for co-workers. Get insulated ones for those who love their hot tea. (My fave even has a little strainer in it and can hold hot or cold.)

It's early enough to order them from some great sites (see below). If you think a bottle is not enough of a gift, then get them a filter for their faucet too. Again, if these seem far too practical to be "cool" gifts, then just remember that you are helping your friends and family be greener, and that is an ULTIMATE gift!

Here's a wonderful site that sells bottles and all kinds of cool things, including a filter that goes IN the water bottle, so they can be filled from the garden hose if need be! Look around the entire site; it's pretty cool. And tell Mark the Good Green Witch sent you! http://www.bottless.org/

This site has wonderful green gifts, including a GREAT bottle: http://revengeis.com/products/reusables Marilyn is the best!

Here's a site I can mention again and again in the gift department, a one-stop shop online: http://www.ecosumo.com/ Ricky and Steven, you guys rule!

Those are a few of the people I really really like. You can also check out local green stores and other green companies. Heck, for last minute, you can find these things in your local Starbucks or grocery store! Just DO IT!

Be ahead of the curve. Be the person who start4ed it in your family. BE the change. Green gifts are the way to go. And don't worry, I'll have plenty more suggestions in the upcoming days!