Akin to the Beaver

American Indians called the beaver the "sacred center" of the land because this species creates rich habitats for other mammals, fish, turtles, frogs, birds and ducks. Since beavers prefer to dam streams in shallow valleys, much of the flooded area becomes wetlands. Such wetlands are cradles of life with biodiversity that can rival tropical rain forests. Almost half of endangered and threatened species in North America rely upon wetlands.

Besides being a keystone species, beavers reliably and economically maintain wetlands that can sponge up floodwaters (the several dams built by each colony also slows the flow of floodwaters), prevent erosion, raise the water table and act as the "earth's kidneys" to purify water. The latter occurs because several feet of silt collect upstream of older beaver dams, and toxics, such as pesticides, are broken down in the wetlands that beavers create. Thus, water downstream of dams is cleaner and requires less treatment.

http://www.beaversww.org/beaver.html

From the comfort of the vardo, still wrapped in the quiet of night sleep, I heard the song of birds.  Small voices they did find their way to me inspite of the very manicured and humanly residential nature of the Mill Town.  On my feet I pulled the soft worn flannel curtains away from the windows, inspecting them for the moisture that collects after a night of being sealed against the sulfur of pollens and kiln from the mills.  Almost as a sleep-walker I wiped the moisture from the windows to keep mold from forming on the milk-painted oak frames.  Making up the bed waits for a time later this morning.

With my robe tucked about me and slipped into my boots and down the three short steps from our sleeping loft and onto the sidewalk.  There they were, a family of tiny sparrows looked from the roof ledge.  We talked a bit and I was happy to feel a smile gently taking over my sleepy face.  Inside, Pete had already been at this computer printing out insurance forms for his new business in the making...the legal trappings of becoming a small biz owner.  "I saw the sparrows on the roof...heard them chirping, too."  Busy with his focus, he said, "I don't feel connected to the outside."  Oh, I thought what a price to pay for beavering away.

Once again with the Moon

The lunar nodes are the orbital nodes of the Moon, that is, the points where the orbit of the Moon crosses the ecliptic (which is the apparent path of the Sun across the heavens against the background stars). The ascending node (the north node) is where the moon crosses to the north of the ecliptic. The descending node is where it crosses to the south (south node).

-graphics and definition from Wikipedia

Neptune had been opposing Mars in my chart for two years, and now the opposition is over. I know this doesn't sound very 'astrology right'. I'm not sure when that opposition ended I just know I feel the difference and when I look back at my chart reading(s) the opposition either ended just before Christmas or is ending real soon. Okay, so I have some grace period here maybe. I wrote about that opposition a while back, noting how the opposition began when Pete and I were without a settled home, wanderers bedded in our car, parked 'in Paradise' living a nightmare, poisoned by pesticides, eating plate lunches and feeling desperately out of control.
Where is she going with this? I ask myself that same question, and that's exactly the question Pete and I have been asking since (and before that) the planet of illusions and watery reality/ever shifting (Neptune) began challenging the flow of Mars the planet of action. Throughout the year, as I try to understand my place in the universe, it's been the Moon that offered consolation and comfort when all else failed. With the new year begun, the Blue Moon passed, my kinship with Mahina grows stronger. She offers such accessibility, changing nightly, I feel less vulnerable knowing she goes through phases, too.

NODES OF THE MOON (as in astrology the North Node and South Node) has captured my attention, and I'm discovering new ways to look at the nodes in an astrological chart. The graphic above and the brief explanation from Wikipedia give a scientific view of what the nodes are. I spent hours clicking and reading, reading and chewing on the astrological interpretations of the North and South Nodes. Elizabeth Spring has another treasure chest of moon study and node revelations that can be found here. Donna Cunningham has been visiting and commenting generously on VardoForTwo, sharing awesome bits and gems with me (us!) Lucky us. Donna recommended the work of Dane Rudhyar as a place for me to explore and learn more about la luna. I'm tossing a snip from an article written about Dane Rudhyar, an astrology who has greatly influenced the study and understanding of this earth-school navigational tool. The entire article is readable by clicking here, and it's some fascinating stuff. My mining adventures with astrology continue. This line from the article cinched my love for Mahina (the moon).

The Moon is the intermediary between Earth and Sun, humanity and Spirit. Recognizing that the lunation cycle reflects the soli-lunar relationship as seen from Earth, the Moon through her phases reflects the Sun’s light in a digestible way that won’t blind us.

MOON, MOON, HARVEST MOON Saturday, October 3, 2009

The Full Moon in Aries (Full Harvest Moon) will occur Saturday, October 3rd, at 11:10pm, with the New Moon in Libra arriving Sunday, the 18th, at 1:33am. The full moon closest to the Equinox on September 21st bears the name "Harvest Moon" because it is the brightest full moon of the year. Farmers are able to harvest their crops by the light of the moon and see the fullness of their labors, the fruit on the vine, the efforts of their work.

Today the heavens are emptying the clouds here on the Ledge and much of the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades Mountains. Our first season of growing a garden on the slopes of the ledge have been humble. The three small raised beds filled with our West Seattle compost of 2008 produced a tiny harvest. We have eaten small and delicious broccoli heads, a handful of fingerling potatoes, tender zucchini, Roma tomatoes and resting on the tiles next to our outdoor sink are four mini acorn squash. Perhaps a reflection of our vardo-sized home we have grown a micro harvest.

In the bright light of the Harvest Moon we have harvests to celebrate even as we continue to search for the next, new dreaming place where Kolea Nani rests for the winter. Here are a few of the things that can be celebrated:

• I have applied for Social Security Benefits that will start coming to me in January. I'll turn 62 in November, and it's time for me to harvest the benefits of the working years. Like our garden on the slope of the ledge, my check will be a mini harvest. I will love it, bless it and use it well. It's incoming resource and that is a very, very good thing.

• We have a sweet, safe, comfortable place to be and sleep. Kolea Nani the VardoForTwo is our mini nest. The heart of our two years of planting the seeds of believing it could be done. By the light of the fullest of brightest of moons we will celebrate our work and our home.

• We have learned so much about living with less and appreciating all that is more. MCS has challenged us more than anything we have ever experienced in our combined 120+ years. Not unlike thousands of families in this country, we have paid out of pocket for every service, bit of food, tank of gas, doctor appointment, visit to the NAET practitioner, and stopped paying for health insurance last year when it was a choice between food or insurance. The choice was easy.

• Our savings have supported us to this point, and we are grateful for that. Our economy is truly that of WEE. We have learned to enjoy the best organic and authentic food we can find and put our money there. We maintain that green Subaru for she is our scout and backup when an exposure or source of danger requires a quick get-away. The old 66 Dodge truck will get her first test of road readiness as soon as we know where it is we're headed. She's paid for, licensed and insured. We pray for the gods of travel to make her a safe and stout hauler of the vardo.

• Our physical health operates on faith, good nights of sleep, connection with supportive community through the cyber-nets and blogsphere, organic food, sweet pure water and lots of prayers. All in all the journey is just plain lots of work. Our Harvest Moon will shine on our belief that a safe and sane way of life without chemicals and harmful fragrances and toxic practices is a garden-life worth celebrating.

We celebrate the gift of our talents: resiliency, the ability to make do with little, the knowledge to fix things that are broken, reuse bits and dabs of what already is, the vision to see through the dribble and know what is worthy, the ability to write the truth, and a willingness to see when we are wrong and the courage to know when we are right; the ability to stay open to learning from many sources; and the internal knowing that we are valuable simply because we are.

What will you celebrate on the Harvest Moon?

Here are a few cool links to places where Moon Words, Moon Names and Tips for Planting by the Moon can be found :

http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moonwords/index.htm MOON WORDS

http://home.hiwaay.net/~krcool/Astro/moon/moonnames.htm MOON NAMES FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES

http://auntiemoon.wordpress.com/gardening-by-the-moon/garden-club-presentation-gods-heavenly-clock/colleens-notes/

PLANTING BY THE MOON A CANADIAN GARDENER’S NOTES

'OLE Days of the Hawaiian Moon Calendar: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

Aloha,

(whoops, there was a slip in my brain and I have corrected that ... 'ole days start today, Wednesday and last through Friday ... oh my ... mistakes happen ... :))

The three day and nights of the Hawaiian Moon Calendar begin today. We review, revisit and weed through the doings and thoughts of the past active weeks during these 'ole days. If you are a new visitor this is a practice Pete and I observe to honor our connection to the energy of Mahina (the moon). Click on this if you'd like to read a good bit and commentary on ElsaElsa about the value of the Moon and Culture/Roots.

Here's a snip of what Elsa has to say about Moon Energy:

"I have written before how our culture worships solar energy and devalues the Moon. This is a major mistake. Whether you like it or not you come from a clan and your roots go back and I mean WAAAAY back."

Gods willing and navigational tools intact, we will be on our Oregon coast winter home-scouting trip for a few days ... wish us luck and send prayers for "right space, right place, right people" our way.

If you haven't read Wood Crafting, my eco-fairy tale/kahea for the times go to the sidebar and find the 11 installments of Part I "The Covey" just there ... to the right.

A hui hou,
Mokihana and Pete