Understanding Nature Magic

     Nature Is everywhere and even though it sometimes seems to be sidelined by modern life, its presence is vital to our existence. Nature is always around us and has always been with us. Our ancestors lived much closer to nature, working for thousands of years in the same ways and patterns: Hunting and gathering food, making their own cloths and medicines and toiling the earth to reap a good harvest. They observed nature to enhance their understanding of the world.
     
   The return to nature
Even today in the world's busiest cities, when we look up at the stars and see the same night sky as our ancestors did, we experience the same sense of awe. A walk in the woods still calms the spirit. Modern society prides itself on its "sophistication," a word derived from the Latin "sophisticas," meaning "tampered with." Many people, however, are rediscovering their natural roots and starting to work in harmony with nature rather than conflicting with it.

    Rites and Festivals celebrating nature
Early human societies were dependent on working with nature for their survival, thus rituals and ceremonies arose to help preserve the special link. Hunters would celebrate rites in which they assumed the characteristics of the animal they sought to hunt; this helped them become one with the animal also to feel that they were part of the natural world.
 As humans settled into agricultural communities and developed more complex social structures, they still continued to observe closely the seasonal cycles. Religion, such as Christianity, eventually came to overlay their own festivals on the old rites of nature and gradually changed their meaning and significance to reflect their own belief system. Nowadays, many people are returning to the wisdom and magic of the nature religions, in order to find their own spiritual paths through modern life and its obstacles.

   
  You Key To Nature Magic


 The Moon - The moon's magic works through its cycles of dark, new, waxing, full and waning. By recognizing the link between the moon and their menstrual cycle, women can choose the best time to work magic. Gardeners often sow certain plants on the waxing or waning moon. The moon has always played a key role in humanity's need to commune with nature.

 Trees - Trees span generations while their branches, trunk and roots span heaven and earth. They have particular qualities according to their own habits and these magical associations are harnessed in the runes. Tree magic can be absorbed by hugging or sitting under a tree. Trees live very long lives and as such, play a special role in the world. Make friends with  a tree to get in touch with nature.

 The Elements - Groups of four throughout  nature, there are four seasons, four winds, four main points of the compass. Correlating  with the latter are the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water. In some traditions, these are seen as the foundation of the universe.

 Herbs - Herbs and flowers have been used throughout the world for thousands of years for medicinal and magical purposes, as well as in the kitchen. Nature provides remedies for all ills. Growing your own herbs helps to imbue them with your personal energies and it's a lot of fun too!

 Animals - Animals provide an essential link to the natural world by acting as spirit guides. The quality of a particular animal can reveal to us hidden qualities we possess - and by calling on the power of an animal, we can drawn into ourselves the strength of the creatures essence. This varies from animal to animal. all kinds of animals from wild to domestic, can help us connect with nature




 Metals & minerals - Metals, minerals, crystals and gemstones come out of the ground and have, in many cases, been there as long as the planet itself. They each have own distinctive vibrations which can be matched to those emitted by our own bodies, an idea embraced by crystal healers. Minerals can be single elements or compounds of elements. We can work with crystals or metals to acquire particular vibrations, this helps bring us into balance when our bodies are in some way out of natural sync. This belief has endured for thousands of years. The vibrations emitted by crystals can match sympathetic vibrations in human bodies.

Understanding Nature Magic

     Nature Is everywhere and even though it sometimes seems to be sidelined by modern life, its presence is vital to our existence. Nature is always around us and has always been with us. Our ancestors lived much closer to nature, working for thousands of years in the same ways and patterns: Hunting and gathering food, making their own cloths and medicines and toiling the earth to reap a good harvest. They observed nature to enhance their understanding of the world.
     
   The return to nature
Even today in the world's busiest cities, when we look up at the stars and see the same night sky as our ancestors did, we experience the same sense of awe. A walk in the woods still calms the spirit. Modern society prides itself on its "sophistication," a word derived from the Latin "sophisticas," meaning "tampered with." Many people, however, are rediscovering their natural roots and starting to work in harmony with nature rather than conflicting with it.

    Rites and Festivals celebrating nature
Early human societies were dependent on working with nature for their survival, thus rituals and ceremonies arose to help preserve the special link. Hunters would celebrate rites in which they assumed the characteristics of the animal they sought to hunt; this helped them become one with the animal also to feel that they were part of the natural world.
 As humans settled into agricultural communities and developed more complex social structures, they still continued to observe closely the seasonal cycles. Religion, such as Christianity, eventually came to overlay their own festivals on the old rites of nature and gradually changed their meaning and significance to reflect their own belief system. Nowadays, many people are returning to the wisdom and magic of the nature religions, in order to find their own spiritual paths through modern life and its obstacles.

   
  You Key To Nature Magic


 The Moon - The moon's magic works through its cycles of dark, new, waxing, full and waning. By recognizing the link between the moon and their menstrual cycle, women can choose the best time to work magic. Gardeners often sow certain plants on the waxing or waning moon. The moon has always played a key role in humanity's need to commune with nature.

 Trees - Trees span generations while their branches, trunk and roots span heaven and earth. They have particular qualities according to their own habits and these magical associations are harnessed in the runes. Tree magic can be absorbed by hugging or sitting under a tree. Trees live very long lives and as such, play a special role in the world. Make friends with  a tree to get in touch with nature.

 The Elements - Groups of four throughout  nature, there are four seasons, four winds, four main points of the compass. Correlating  with the latter are the four elements: Earth, Air, Fire, Water. In some traditions, these are seen as the foundation of the universe.

 Herbs - Herbs and flowers have been used throughout the world for thousands of years for medicinal and magical purposes, as well as in the kitchen. Nature provides remedies for all ills. Growing your own herbs helps to imbue them with your personal energies and it's a lot of fun too!

 Animals - Animals provide an essential link to the natural world by acting as spirit guides. The quality of a particular animal can reveal to us hidden qualities we possess - and by calling on the power of an animal, we can drawn into ourselves the strength of the creatures essence. This varies from animal to animal. all kinds of animals from wild to domestic, can help us connect with nature




 Metals & minerals - Metals, minerals, crystals and gemstones come out of the ground and have, in many cases, been there as long as the planet itself. They each have own distinctive vibrations which can be matched to those emitted by our own bodies, an idea embraced by crystal healers. Minerals can be single elements or compounds of elements. We can work with crystals or metals to acquire particular vibrations, this helps bring us into balance when our bodies are in some way out of natural sync. This belief has endured for thousands of years. The vibrations emitted by crystals can match sympathetic vibrations in human bodies.

Frogs

Well I can honestly say there is one thing I miss about Florida and it's the frogs. It was pretty cool to wake up and see frogs every morning in the back yard or in the evening and hearing them croak.

"Frogs have an ancient mythology about them. Being amphibians with links to both water and land they are often associated with both water and earth elements. This also links them to lore of Fairies and elves. Many shamanic societies, especially north and south american tribes, Link the frog to rain and control of weather. It's voice is said to call forth rains. Because of its connection with water, its also associated with lunar energy, magic and the goddesses associated with them.


Frogs have been known to be heralds of abundance and fertility, especially
since in their polliwog stage they resemble the male spermatozoa. This is also due
to the fact that after rains, a greater number of frogs come up to dry land and feed
on insects and worms who have come out of the rain-soaked land. It is also associated
with fertility, for rain makes things grow.


Even as adults, frogs remain semi-aquatic. They live in damp areas. They
need water and all that is associated with it symbolically or otherwise. If frog has
hopped into your life, you may need to get in touch with the water element. It
may reflect that there are new rains coming or that you need to call some new
rains forth. Maybe the old waters are becoming dirty and stagnant. Frog can teach
you how to clean them up.

Emotions are often associated with water. Individuals with frog totems are
very sensitive to the emotional states of others, and seem to know instinctively
how to act and what to say. They know how to be sincerely sympathetic.
Frog holds the knowledge of weather and how to control it. Frog medicine
can bring rains for every purpose-to cleanse, to heal, to help things grow, to
flood, to stir. Its energies can be used to bring light showers or downpours for
most any purpose.

The call of the frog is the call of the waters. The spring and summer are the
times when frog's voice is strongest. These are its power times. Its call serves a
variety of functions. It calls mates to it. It also serves as a release call for non-receptive
females. It defines its territory and it warns of predators.

The frog is a totem of metamorphosis. It is a symbol of coming into one's
own creative power. It changes from an egg, to a polliwog, to a frog. Even after if
becomes a frog, it lives close to and spends much time in the water. It always has
contact with the creative force out of which it came, Usually frog people have
strong ties to their own mothers.

This connection to water should also serve as a reminder to those with this
totem. Are you becoming too mundane? Are you becoming mired in the mud of
your day-to-day life? Are you needing to dive into some fresh creative water? Are
those around you? Are you feeling waterlogged, becoming bogged down, or
drowning in emotions?

Frogs are tuned keenly to sound. Over each ear canal is a round membrane,
a tympanic organ-which enables them to recognize and respond to certain
sounds and their locations. Science has known for a long time that water is one of
the best conductors of sound. This sensitivity to sound should be developed by
frog people. Their taste in music will probably not run mainstream, but they can
learn to use their voice to stir the emotions and to call for the rains or change the
climatic conditions of their own lives."

This was an excerpt From Animal Speak by Ted Andrews absolutely wonderful book. I highly recommend it. Anyway in light of my frog fetish, :P i'm posting a project as well.

You'll need a wooden box or round planter that you can screw in eyelets to.
9 eyelets to screw in several places.
Green paint
black paint or permanent marker.
some other scrap wood pieces to make feet and a head from
about 4 1/3 feet of thin chain, doesn't need to be really thick but thick enough to be able to hold the weight of potting soil, plant and water.

This is an example and your reference for this project but this one is metal and bought from a store...

Paint the body of the frog green, cut out feet and head shapes from scrap pieces and paint them and make embellishments with mark or if your more artistically inclined  decorate it more:P

Make three pieces of chain all the same length and another two a shorter but equal length to each other.

screw in an eyelet at the bottom of the head of the frog them three more around the top of the planter. attach chains.

Attach eyelets to the bottom of planter and to top of feet and attach the chains. 

Finally attach and eyelet to the top of the frogs head and an O ring to hang it from.

Add your plant and hang up somewhere to enjoy. Will have pictures posted soon with mine:P

Blessed Be
       *Spiritrunner*

Frogs

Well I can honestly say there is one thing I miss about Florida and it's the frogs. It was pretty cool to wake up and see frogs every morning in the back yard or in the evening and hearing them croak.

"Frogs have an ancient mythology about them. Being amphibians with links to both water and land they are often associated with both water and earth elements. This also links them to lore of Fairies and elves. Many shamanic societies, especially north and south american tribes, Link the frog to rain and control of weather. It's voice is said to call forth rains. Because of its connection with water, its also associated with lunar energy, magic and the goddesses associated with them.


Frogs have been known to be heralds of abundance and fertility, especially
since in their polliwog stage they resemble the male spermatozoa. This is also due
to the fact that after rains, a greater number of frogs come up to dry land and feed
on insects and worms who have come out of the rain-soaked land. It is also associated
with fertility, for rain makes things grow.


Even as adults, frogs remain semi-aquatic. They live in damp areas. They
need water and all that is associated with it symbolically or otherwise. If frog has
hopped into your life, you may need to get in touch with the water element. It
may reflect that there are new rains coming or that you need to call some new
rains forth. Maybe the old waters are becoming dirty and stagnant. Frog can teach
you how to clean them up.

Emotions are often associated with water. Individuals with frog totems are
very sensitive to the emotional states of others, and seem to know instinctively
how to act and what to say. They know how to be sincerely sympathetic.
Frog holds the knowledge of weather and how to control it. Frog medicine
can bring rains for every purpose-to cleanse, to heal, to help things grow, to
flood, to stir. Its energies can be used to bring light showers or downpours for
most any purpose.

The call of the frog is the call of the waters. The spring and summer are the
times when frog's voice is strongest. These are its power times. Its call serves a
variety of functions. It calls mates to it. It also serves as a release call for non-receptive
females. It defines its territory and it warns of predators.

The frog is a totem of metamorphosis. It is a symbol of coming into one's
own creative power. It changes from an egg, to a polliwog, to a frog. Even after if
becomes a frog, it lives close to and spends much time in the water. It always has
contact with the creative force out of which it came, Usually frog people have
strong ties to their own mothers.

This connection to water should also serve as a reminder to those with this
totem. Are you becoming too mundane? Are you becoming mired in the mud of
your day-to-day life? Are you needing to dive into some fresh creative water? Are
those around you? Are you feeling waterlogged, becoming bogged down, or
drowning in emotions?

Frogs are tuned keenly to sound. Over each ear canal is a round membrane,
a tympanic organ-which enables them to recognize and respond to certain
sounds and their locations. Science has known for a long time that water is one of
the best conductors of sound. This sensitivity to sound should be developed by
frog people. Their taste in music will probably not run mainstream, but they can
learn to use their voice to stir the emotions and to call for the rains or change the
climatic conditions of their own lives."

This was an excerpt From Animal Speak by Ted Andrews absolutely wonderful book. I highly recommend it. Anyway in light of my frog fetish, :P i'm posting a project as well.

You'll need a wooden box or round planter that you can screw in eyelets to.
9 eyelets to screw in several places.
Green paint
black paint or permanent marker.
some other scrap wood pieces to make feet and a head from
about 4 1/3 feet of thin chain, doesn't need to be really thick but thick enough to be able to hold the weight of potting soil, plant and water.

This is an example and your reference for this project but this one is metal and bought from a store...

Paint the body of the frog green, cut out feet and head shapes from scrap pieces and paint them and make embellishments with mark or if your more artistically inclined  decorate it more:P

Make three pieces of chain all the same length and another two a shorter but equal length to each other.

screw in an eyelet at the bottom of the head of the frog them three more around the top of the planter. attach chains.

Attach eyelets to the bottom of planter and to top of feet and attach the chains. 

Finally attach and eyelet to the top of the frogs head and an O ring to hang it from.

Add your plant and hang up somewhere to enjoy. Will have pictures posted soon with mine:P

Blessed Be
       *Spiritrunner*