My dear, and long time friend Panayoti Kelaidis and his partner Jan came over to tour the gardens this July. Panayoti is the Senior curator and Director of Outreach at the Denver Botanical Gardens. I’ve known him for 25 years, from way back in my Landmark Education days. I did the Forum https://www.landmarkworldwide.com/ with his then wife, Gwen Moore, in 1993. They were instrumental in guiding me through my early years of gardening at my house in Aurora. Over the years Panayoti has brought me many botanical presents, all of which are growing in my Brighton garden, Wellyssa’s Womb.
Jan, Wellyssa, Panayoti, Brian
OMG! I was soo nervous and desperate to impress! But they both said they thoroughly enjoyed the garden, and being the good friend, and kind man that he is, Panayoti heaped praises on the garden. The garden was very happy.
The Garden is looking beautiful
(sorry for the blurry pictures, I think I finally figured out which setting to use on my camera that isn’t too big for download, and won’t come out blurry for the future.) I’m a gardener, not a photographer! Hearing the voice of Dr. McCoy in the back of my mind . . .
I have soo many wonderful friends. Many people come to work in my garden, some for free, some for pay. Many people come to help divide plants when they spread too far, or pack too tightly. I only have soo much space. 2 acres looked like a lot in 2004; but now I can see the first half of the garden taking shape and I can look out back to the west and envision the garden that will soon find it’s way to the far corners of this 2 acre lot.
Plants have a way of taking over, throwing seed, spreading roots, popping up where they shouldn’t be. So, yes, I have truly wonderful friends who love to come over and help with the work of maintaining this garden, and share in it’s bounty from time to time.
When we purchased the land for our home, we blessed it prior to the first hole being dug. We called upon the spirits of the land to ask permission to build here, and we asked for them to lend their energies and attention so the construction would go gracefully and according to schedule, which it did.
I blessed every inch of the foundation, leaving specific blessings, stones, and mojo bags in each wall, according to the use of the rooms which would be contained within the walls. I did this blessing the day the concrete was poured, while the big trucks were on their way to the site. The contractor was nervous about the timing, but with the help of the foundation crew moving the ladders around for me, I got it done in time. Concrete won’t wait!
Blessing the foundations
The musical score and money poking through the foundation after the concrete hardened
This is the main altar and offering to the house. It was buried in the absolute center of the house, 2 feet down, placed in a waterproof container.
Once the house was built, my friends came to assist Brian and I with the blessing of the house and property. It was a momentous occasion! There were many tears and much laughter, because everyone knew how hard we had worked for this, and that this would be our forever home.
We blessed every inch of the property, and made offerings to the land spirits and elemental energies.
Gathering in the center of the back yard to call in Deity to bless and consecrate this property.
Procession around the property, blessing as we go.
the elemental spirits and guardians were called in at each of the 4 cardinal points of the property. Offerings were buried.
Casting Circle
Recognizing Brian as Master of this property and home.
Installing the Elemental guardians on the outside of the house, east-south-west-north
Eastern Guardian of Air
Southern Guardian of Fire
Western Guardian of Water
Northern guardian of Earth
The house dedication. Buried in the front door foundation
We blessed every room in the house, and set the intention and purpose for that room. We blessed every pipe and electrical source and appliance, we blessed and warded all windows and doors.
Blessing the plumbing
Blessing the furnace
Placing the window wards
A little Scriabin
Everyone insisted that I play something on the piano, as a way to finish the blessing ritual, and bring music into the home. I played a Scriabin Prelude, and then we all celebrated, shared our friendship, ate some good food, and some of us just took a nap!
Our High Priest, Robin Vinehall, thoroughly worn out.Fall of 2005. Google view.
2016-2018 My good friend Jackie Weller is selling her beloved home of over 30 years. She has bought herself a more manageable townhome for her retirement. Summer of 2016 she gifted me this magnificent horned/antler-shaped piece of wood which has stood guard on a stone at the front of her garden for a very long time. It represents the energy of the sun, protection of the home front, and the energy of fertility and virility of the stag, as demonstrated by his tall, erect antlers.
I brought it home and placed it in the wheel barrow. I took it to a spot in the garden where I thought it might look good, and where I thought it’s energies would be harmonious. I left it there for a week, then I came back to ask the stag god if he liked this location – no. OK, so I moved him again, and again, taking him to different locations around the garden to see where he wanted to be placed, to stand guard over the property, and to bring his energy of light and strength. 8 weeks later the decision was made. The stag god will stand guard in the sacred fire circle, at the base of the south berm.
A Gold and Silver braided torq was attached to the antler. the torq was made my my dear friend and local artist, D Garrett. she gifted it to the Stag God during our Yule ritual. The Torq represents power and sovereignty.
As is the case with almost everything that gets built, installed, or created in this garden, a big celebration was necessary to properly honor the new stag god at his installation at the fire circle. For our Yule 2016 celebration, we washed the antlers, cleansed them with incense and spruce oil; wrapped the wheel barrow in blankets and red velvet cloth and set the antlers into the wheelbarrow. We then chanted and drummed as we paraded him to the fire circle.
The Stag God is often seen with his companion, a snake or serpent. the serpent represents the energy of transformation as it sheds it’s skin and is reborn anew.
He was installed atop a large segment of cottonwood tree, taken from a fallen and dried tree near my home. The log is in the shape of the back of a stag and lent itself perfectly to creating the look of the stag. Offerings were made and gifts given to adorn the new Stag God. Ribbons with our blessings and prayers were tied to his antlers.
Stag God, summer 2017
Stag God at the south end of the fire circle, summer 2017Stag God with Iris and newly installed Amanita muscaria mushrooms. (Made of concrete and painted). Spring 2018
The Stag God is honored and recognized at both the Summer and Winter Solstices.
March 12, 2016: Someone posted a beautiful picture of a willow branch sculpture on facebook. I immediately put it into my file cabinet for future must do projects. I saved all the willow branches from last falls pruning and had a ginormous pile behind the storage fence just waiting to start this project.
It’s spring! Time to build the willow woman! My good friends D and Bear were all too happy to help. They love artsy projects, especially D (she’s an artist). Brian and I went outside early and laid out the weed barrier (because I’ll be damned if I end up pulling weeds out of my willow woman’s skirt!) Then we anchored in the basic frame for the structure.
Brian wielding his big hammer
We used tree stakes and rebar to build the shape of what will be her skirt and shoulders. The rear stake will anchor the rear branches so they don’t blow around in the wind.
D and I working on the outside of the skirt. (Bear was being camera shy, I’ll get her next time.)
D and I working on the willow woman
5:30 pm. Filling the center of the skirt. Out of branches, out of energy. Done for now.
