Spring Brainstorm

This week, at the new moon, I will transition from one focus to another, and a whole new field of opportunity. This next few days I'll take time to write down my goals, dreams, and exciting ideas for the next 30-days, including at least a few crazy, improbable notions. 

-Start with a list of seasonal themes and celebrations, vacations, and other events.

-Write about my biggest priorities this month, how they might fit into my life, and how they connect to my values and principles.

-Write about possible obstacles and factors such as the weather, upcoming schedule changes, or money problems.

Agenda Today:

1. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft"

2. Ongo journal

3. Brainstorm for my priorities

4. Potting Day plans

1. Read "Revolutionary Witchcraft":

I'm reading this sweet little book by Sarah Lyons (2019) that I got from my daughter for Christmas. The subtitle is A Guide to Magical Activism.

Chapter 3 is Dream Big, about cultivating our imagination so we can change the world. "Our ability to dream a different world is the foundation of magic, and quite frankly, it's the only hope we have."

She says we might be able to only take small steps, but we can dream big. We can expand our perspective to include ideas that seem unreasonable.

2. Ongo journal:

I'm going back through this book by Catherine Madden and Jesse Weiss Chu (2022), focussing on the solo practices. I'm finishing week 9, and Day 5 is Empathic Reflection, about how to take a guess at what a person is Needing, and then how to confirm it.

"Sharing our guesses is more than a way to confirm whether or not we are understanding someone. ... Empathetic reflection is ... about the willingness to be with another's truth." We bring a compassionate mirror to their experience and give them a chance to clarify, and feel heard and seen.

The practice: As I go through my day, try to guess what Needs a person's words and body language are expressing - think about celebrations and mournings, then offer a possible Need: Like, "So, this is giving you a feeling of connection? Unity?" or "You are needing some simplicity? Space?"

3. Brainstorm for my priorities:

Today I want to begin a dreaming list for spring, for my priorities of Family, Earthcare, and Creativity. These three overlap so much it's hard to separate them out!

• Pocket calendar for Easter activities
• Maybe get baby ducks to raise.
• Finish the lawn and walkway area, with a new sandbox
• Plan a Quaker Earth Day event?

4. Potting Day plans:

Today I've organized people to pot up some divisions of native plants for our Little Free Plant Library.

 

Needs: Take 2 buckets, screen flats for watering, a watering can, cups for scooping, pots, labels and sharpies.

The plan:

1. Dip plants into buckets of water to get off most of the soil.
2. Look for rootlets; try to include some healthy rootlets on each division you pot.
3. Fill a pot half way with fresh soil, poke a hole, and ease the roots in gently, spreading the roots out.
4. Fill to top. Make sure the roots are covered but the crown is at the surface.
5. Gently firm the soil around the roots and tap the pot on a surface to remove large air pockets.
6. Water thoroughly until water drains from the bottom to ensure the soil settles around the roots.
7. Add a plant label.