Beltane Growth--Mysteries of Life

Seeds really are a mystery of life! I wonder if people take for granted how amazing it is that a tiny seed when planted in the ground and given water just knows how to grow. I wish I knew more about the science of it. How does this tiny little seed know when to start growing and how does it even start to move? Why doesn't it start growing the in package? What triggers its movements? It's these simple miracles that excite me as a Wiccan.

I've posted some pictures here of the sunflowers and chives that I planted in my apartment as part of a Beltane ritual. It's only been a week and I'm amazed at the growth. When I moved to downtown Toronto after my separation I gave up a huge balcony where I did a lot of container gardening. I grew all kinds of plants and vegetables; in many ways it was a lot like having an outdoor garden. I'm currently trying to find new ways to bring that back into my life. I feel a need to foster that positive plant energy!

I recently downloaded a series of Wiccan podcasts and I was listening to Ellen Dugan being interviewed. She specializes in plants and herbs and has written many books. I was motivated by her attentiveness to the small details of living in nature. She really encourages people and particularly pagans to pay attention to what is growing around them. There was a funny little story she told of being outdoors at a Pagan ritual during a very hot day. She said that some people were complaining about being outdoors and she wanted to say, "HELLO!?! This is an Earth-based religion!" She wants people to commune with nature and figure out what kind of trees are around them, what the bark feels like, what to the leaves smell like, etc. . . . don't walk past nature, delve in and become a part of it! We truly are animals of nature, even if it sometimes hard to believe living in the city!

I've bought Ellen's book "Natural Witchery" which I would like to review soon.