I love how this particular Growing Green invites me to shift my perspective and attitude toward Aries energy. I've been craving Nettles for weeks and there are finally enough small sprouts scattered here and in my patch to make a batch of Nesto (Nettles Pesto) today. I even have some fresh Basil, Parsley, and Thyme that needs to be pinched back from the potted herbs on the windowsill. I know that vitally green plant will give me the burst of new-beginnings energy that these bogged-down, heavy times are trying to weigh me down with. I could use a bit of unbridled vitality and self-assurance. As always, thank you!
P.S. I'm currently reading An Extraordinary Year of Ordinary Days and I can't fully articulate how encouraging it is, helping process both my anxieties about the future and come to terms with present realities. I'm reading the current date's entry but also going back and reading the past few months. I love this quote from the introduction: "...as my journal records them, my days are very ordinary, filled with family obligations, work, play, and life in general. Like everyone else, I lived each day as it came, met the day's requirements, and then moved on..." That just stops my anxiety in its tracks. Show up, meet the day's needs, let it go, and keep moving forward.🌿💚
Glad you found An Extraordinary Year. I looked at it recently and admired the optimism, especially after that remarkable election. Wish I could recapture that--maybe some Nesto Pesto would help? It really was an extraordinary year: observing, writing it all down, trying to make sense of it. I wish now I'd also chosen to chronicle 2024. Another such year, but with a very different outcome.
Extraordinary Year, and other personal journals from artists and writers, show me how important it is to chronicle our “ordinary” days. I’m drawing lots of strength from that optimism—-if that’s what it is. For me, it’s about the willingness to dare to believe that the choices we make, regardless of the size, matter. Especially right now, that’s a reminder I need. As you struggled with that dawning awareness of peak oil and looked closely and honestly at your personal carbon footprint, that catalogue of experiences rouses me from the flight/fight/freeze mode I find myself in all too often these days. It nudges me to dig deeper, search for answers, and (most importantly) take action. Whether it’s joining local democracy circles or my state’s writer’s association, or supporting others working for equality and justice, or even just going to the garden and having the courage to believe enough in tomorrow to plant seeds, these journals not only have inspired me to record my own “crisis journal” but to actively participate each day in the life I wish to live and allow others to live.
Maybe optimism isn’t about believing in only the best outcomes. Sometimes it might be about not despairing and succumbing to a belief in the worst outcomes. And, hopefully, it can always be about allowing in the possibility of solutions we’ve not yet even imagined. Extraordinary Year was full of unforeseen surprises, eureka moments, and renewed commitments. 2025 can be, too. 🌿💚
Wow, thanks Susan, so interesting, Although I am a Sag, (and at my age I do Sag !!!) I am re learning the old time uses for common foods, Onion, mustard Elderberry to name a few.
We have had endless rain here and it has been hard to follow the moon planting outside, but my seedlings are in, in the house. (I have been using recycled plastic containers with lids to keep the Cat from thinking all that earth is for her}, but the sun is on its way with warmer weather so hope to get started over the weekend. HAPPY Spring everyone.
As I read this post a particular Aries I once knew, has come to mind. Full of independence and wiry strength with enough 'all day energy' for any project. There also was a love of family. Especially the women. A sort of 'These are my people!' caring for each aunt, sister, cousin - in a unique way that I was always charmed to see. A lot of connection to the open waters with many adventures and talent for creation of vessels. A sort of self contained being, able to meet the day with or without other humans. Though also perfectly happy hearing from family and friends and rather gifted at letter writing with whimsical drawings. A real treat to receive! A person who cured himself of things like a head cold by finding some labor that needed to be done and powering through it till the cold was gone! He liked his bit of doing the unexpected. Including doing things that created a LOUD BOOM!
Great description of a mature Aries who had learned (after a few trips around the Sun) how to use his Mars energies wisely & productively! Those of us with lots of fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) know how hard that can be. 😯
What a motivational post for getting the new season's garden started!!! We have planted over half of 100 podacarpus trees around the borders of our yard. I have seminole pumpkins in already. Waiting for my pepper plants to mature to a transplantable size. Also want to plant some fruit trees like apple bananas and I have a volunteer avocado plant that needs to be in the ground.
Love imagining you creating a new garden over there in Hawaii, Charlene. Had to look up podacarpus trees--planting 100 sounds like a the work of a month of long days! What a wonderful Aries adventure you're having, with so much to learn from your new place!
Aggieland. I have been in College Station since June. The Guild irises are really doing well. I enjoyed reading about the A&M court case here this morning. I love it when the courts say that everyone has rights.
I love how this particular Growing Green invites me to shift my perspective and attitude toward Aries energy. I've been craving Nettles for weeks and there are finally enough small sprouts scattered here and in my patch to make a batch of Nesto (Nettles Pesto) today. I even have some fresh Basil, Parsley, and Thyme that needs to be pinched back from the potted herbs on the windowsill. I know that vitally green plant will give me the burst of new-beginnings energy that these bogged-down, heavy times are trying to weigh me down with. I could use a bit of unbridled vitality and self-assurance. As always, thank you!
P.S. I'm currently reading An Extraordinary Year of Ordinary Days and I can't fully articulate how encouraging it is, helping process both my anxieties about the future and come to terms with present realities. I'm reading the current date's entry but also going back and reading the past few months. I love this quote from the introduction: "...as my journal records them, my days are very ordinary, filled with family obligations, work, play, and life in general. Like everyone else, I lived each day as it came, met the day's requirements, and then moved on..." That just stops my anxiety in its tracks. Show up, meet the day's needs, let it go, and keep moving forward.🌿💚
Leenie, you might want to put Be Nice to Nettles Week on your calendar: https://nationaltoday.com/be-nice-to-nettles-week/ 😊 And I think we could all use a big helping of your Nesto Pesto!
Glad you found An Extraordinary Year. I looked at it recently and admired the optimism, especially after that remarkable election. Wish I could recapture that--maybe some Nesto Pesto would help? It really was an extraordinary year: observing, writing it all down, trying to make sense of it. I wish now I'd also chosen to chronicle 2024. Another such year, but with a very different outcome.
Extraordinary Year, and other personal journals from artists and writers, show me how important it is to chronicle our “ordinary” days. I’m drawing lots of strength from that optimism—-if that’s what it is. For me, it’s about the willingness to dare to believe that the choices we make, regardless of the size, matter. Especially right now, that’s a reminder I need. As you struggled with that dawning awareness of peak oil and looked closely and honestly at your personal carbon footprint, that catalogue of experiences rouses me from the flight/fight/freeze mode I find myself in all too often these days. It nudges me to dig deeper, search for answers, and (most importantly) take action. Whether it’s joining local democracy circles or my state’s writer’s association, or supporting others working for equality and justice, or even just going to the garden and having the courage to believe enough in tomorrow to plant seeds, these journals not only have inspired me to record my own “crisis journal” but to actively participate each day in the life I wish to live and allow others to live.
Maybe optimism isn’t about believing in only the best outcomes. Sometimes it might be about not despairing and succumbing to a belief in the worst outcomes. And, hopefully, it can always be about allowing in the possibility of solutions we’ve not yet even imagined. Extraordinary Year was full of unforeseen surprises, eureka moments, and renewed commitments. 2025 can be, too. 🌿💚
Wow, thanks Susan, so interesting, Although I am a Sag, (and at my age I do Sag !!!) I am re learning the old time uses for common foods, Onion, mustard Elderberry to name a few.
We have had endless rain here and it has been hard to follow the moon planting outside, but my seedlings are in, in the house. (I have been using recycled plastic containers with lids to keep the Cat from thinking all that earth is for her}, but the sun is on its way with warmer weather so hope to get started over the weekend. HAPPY Spring everyone.
As I read this post a particular Aries I once knew, has come to mind. Full of independence and wiry strength with enough 'all day energy' for any project. There also was a love of family. Especially the women. A sort of 'These are my people!' caring for each aunt, sister, cousin - in a unique way that I was always charmed to see. A lot of connection to the open waters with many adventures and talent for creation of vessels. A sort of self contained being, able to meet the day with or without other humans. Though also perfectly happy hearing from family and friends and rather gifted at letter writing with whimsical drawings. A real treat to receive! A person who cured himself of things like a head cold by finding some labor that needed to be done and powering through it till the cold was gone! He liked his bit of doing the unexpected. Including doing things that created a LOUD BOOM!
Great description of a mature Aries who had learned (after a few trips around the Sun) how to use his Mars energies wisely & productively! Those of us with lots of fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) know how hard that can be. 😯
What a motivational post for getting the new season's garden started!!! We have planted over half of 100 podacarpus trees around the borders of our yard. I have seminole pumpkins in already. Waiting for my pepper plants to mature to a transplantable size. Also want to plant some fruit trees like apple bananas and I have a volunteer avocado plant that needs to be in the ground.
Love imagining you creating a new garden over there in Hawaii, Charlene. Had to look up podacarpus trees--planting 100 sounds like a the work of a month of long days! What a wonderful Aries adventure you're having, with so much to learn from your new place!
Three of my Guild irises are blooming !!
Fran
Three of ours are blooming, too, Fran--just this morning! Remind me of where you are living now? Not San Antonio, I think?
Aggieland. I have been in College Station since June. The Guild irises are really doing well. I enjoyed reading about the A&M court case here this morning. I love it when the courts say that everyone has rights.
Hope you're getting more rain over there than we are. Yes to the A&M case. And that the ruling holds up under appeal!