Of Men and Chickens

John and I spent the weekend clearing a large area just to the SE of the MWW office where we are going to build a Chicken yard where we can raise egg layers and possibly broilers.  We are going to get Americana/Araucanian breed layers (also known as Easter Egg chickens because they lay colored eggs) to begin with. The area we have cleared is larger than it appears in the photos below.  Small moves, Sparks. small moves.

Winter Heading to MWW

Haven't posted in a while, not because there hasn't been anything to post, but simply because we've been busy here at MWW building the new deck, clearing the new areas and campsites, and planting planting planting.  We have had some very good (and highly successful) Sabbat celebrations this year. We've added new people to the church and we are still growing.  Our thanks to everyone that performed the rain rituals a couple of months ago - the deluge was exactly what the suffering trees at MWW needed, even though it happened to be the same time that PIAP was scheduled. (Better luck next year, I suppose.)

We also had a very successful Fall Retreat here at MWW - the classes were awesome and everyone had a great time.  We recovered the geode from the area now known as Athena's Caul and a friend of the Church was kind enough to do a cleansing ritual on it for us.  The next day I sat down with my hammer and chisels and extracted the geode heart, which we have now used to provide positive growth energy to the hybrid tulip bed next to the new deck.

The Yule celebration is fast approaching to include our pre-winter retreat as well. I'm sure this next round of classes will be awesome. I will be away welcoming my new Granddaughter into this world, so I will miss everyone.  I will celebrate Yule when I return.

The God and Goddess have blessed the Church and are watching over us - and of course, Karma is delivering, true to form by replacing "othergroup" plans for a malevolent meeting with illness. I hope the Church has learned from recent events that when things are done in arrogance and ill-will, that ill-will is exactly what one will reap, in abundance.  It just reminds me how far we have come, and how fortunate we are to have current members with a higher moral standard and code of ethics than those who have come and gone over the past year. There's nobody in our Church membership that wishes ill fortune on anyone in the Wiccan/Pagan community.  On the other hand, those who are hell bent on causing others grief have only begun to reap the whirlwind of their actions. 2012 will be their undoing.

Spring will bring tremendous growth to MWW. We have nearly 500 bulbs planted in various areas. We have 200 new trees coming in March. I am, as well, currently discussing with contacts from the Seminary the chartering of branch churches in neighboring states. IEFC is on track to expand into a multi-state organization.
Our success and growth is not in the hands of those who would see us fail - they are already failures. If we owe them anything, it's pity - lots and lots of pity.

Here's to a great Yule season and a great gathering at the Yule celebration.  May all be well with you.


Affectionately,

Dr. Doneau and John Probst
CEO/Corporate Board, Tantris Empathicus and Middleworld Woods

Changes at MWW this Summer

     It's been a very long and hot summer at MWW with temperatures spiking above 105 degrees for many days at a time.  Needless to say, it's been difficult to actually get out into the woods to finish some projects.  We are looking forward to cooler temperatures this fall with a lot less humidity and there are two projects that will be finished.

     The first is the completion of the common ritual area and the double-stone circle.

     The other is the cleansing and modification of an established  site. The power stone located at the south end of the circle will be removed, cleansed, rededicated and then placed at the north end of the circle. The geode that was at the center will be added to IEFC collection of stones, crystals, and shells. The site will be renamed "Aphrodite's Caul."

     We are in the process of opening Middleworld Woods to anyone who is seeking a religious retreat, a private place to camp or hike, or meditate and not just limiting it to members of IEFC.  As things progress, we will put more information here on the blog.   

     Plans are already in the works for Samhain as well, so stay tuned.  

New TriForce Circle in Common Area

Taking advantage of the lull in the severe weather, I laid out the TriForce circle in the common worship area this morning. (See photos below.)  The circle is approx. 18 feet across with a double stone border and a large triangle pointing north and a smaller one inside the larger one pointing south.

In antiquity, triangles were conceived by the ancients to explain the secret order of the cosmos. Ancient Pagans believed that triangles symbolically revealed that three spirits were brought down into the geographical or the worldly realm. Note that using a triangle within a triangle produces 5 triangles - the 4 elements and the "Daleth" or door. And no, I don't want to hear about "Zelda."  I found this specific design in a very very old book on Paganism, published a couple of hundred years before "Zelda" was even a bit, a byte, or a computer game.

I also treated the common area, Druid Area, and Oakshade Sanctuary area with Maxide this morning. Once we get a good rain it will bind with the soil and the worship areas will be bug free for the rest of the year.  If anyone wants to come for an hour or so after work or on a weekend to help finish laying the stones for the TriForce circle, the help would be most appreciated. Enjoy the photos.

Overlay of design

This is the design of the Triforce Circle

More Bloomin' Upgrades

Flowers and plants are still coming up at MWW.  We have also put in a fountain and will be laying down a plastic barrier and spreading smooth river stone around the fountain area. We have also made a stone and mortar planter which we will probably be filling with "pinks" of many varieties.  Below are some photos of some of the newbies around MWW.  We have a workday scheduled for this coming Saturday from 10am - 4pm.  Hopefully we can get a lot more done this weekend.

A rare sight on the far right - a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. This particular bird is usually found in Southern Canada and more rarely in the Eastern to Midwest America.  Missouri is on the extreme outer fringe of their natural range. They winter in the West Indies, Mexico and NW South America. This is a male. We have seen several of these already this year.

A standard Pink Dianthus barbatus

A standard White Dianthus barbatus

The Peonies just opened this morning for the first time this year.

This is one of the flowering Ninebark trees that we planted last year. We planted 25 more this year and already one of the new ones has flowers. They grow fairly rapidly and will make an excellent border along the NorthWest fenceline.

Lavender and Purple Iris

Standard Mixed Color Dianthus barbatus

Red Climber Rose

The new shade garden with fountain

Closeup of the new fountain with Sedum, Dusty Miller, and Dianthus plumarius

 

Mixed Dianthus plumarius

Bloomin Fun at MWW

The flowers are in bloom here at MWW.  The Lavender has been planted, but we still have more bulbs to plant, as well as 25 more Eastern White Pine.  Here are some pics of what has come up so far.

A nice red Double Tulip

Purple and White Tiger Tulip

Gorgeous pink Double Tulip

Assorted Dutch Tulips

Snowball Bush getting ready to bloom

25 down, 25 to go...

Just a reminder that there will be a workday here at MWW on Sunday, March 27 from 11am - 4pm. Please bring rakes and gardening tools.

Yesterday I planted 25 Eastern White Pine in the common worship area, and there are still 25 on order yet to arrive. In all, there will be 50 White Pine encircling (270 degrees of it at least)the worship area. The main floor of the area still needs to be cleared of leaves and trimmed up. We will also be spreading Maxide over the worship area, and then planting grass seed. Everyone will need to bring a lawn chair for the service. Hopefully by the end of Spring we will have some benches constructed in the area.

The white pine are planted in such a way that when they are mature they will create a solid wall around the worship area. I chose white pine not only because of the fragrance, but also because of the sound the wind makes when blowing through. Of course, it will take several years for the trees to grow, but then again, we aren't going anywhere anytime soon either.

We will be planting trees, bulbs and seeds during the workday on the 27th, so please feel free to contribute to the botanical pool. Of course, a cookout will follow after the work has been done. We are looking forward to seeing everyone on the 27th.

Common Worship Site for Services

The grass is growing at the gathering hut site

The hut will eventually have a grass floor - grass is just starting to grow inside the hut

White Pines planted at the common worship site

Started clearing the common worship site

The main path leading to the Rivendale Druid site

The Rivendale Druid Circle

Larger view of Rivendale Druid site