Pleasure in the Pines

Last updated on: February 8, 2017 at 11:58 am by Annwyn Avalon

Pleasure in the Pines 2017-02-08T11:58:15-08:00 Annwyn Avalon

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I just spent two of the busiest and most amazing weeks in the beautiful pine forest. It was not to consecutive weeks but 2 long weekends in 2 different locations. The first was Wright wood California for the Henna conference and the second was just east of Flagstaff at Mormon lake for the Herbal Resurgence. Before I get into the details of these weekends I want to give some news!

As many of you know I have started on a second bachelors degree at ASU. I am currently perusing a degree in Anthropology. A few weeks ago a list of internships came out. I applied for 2 and was sort of invited and forced into another. (Urban services- more on that later) I got the one I really wanted. It was “The use of ritual plants” Before my interview I did some research on the Professor. I found that he had written a book/manuscript on the Ritual use of Pine. (Remember this it becomes important) I have yet to read it, but I am sure that once I get going on this project I will be able to find it and read it. The internship starts tomorrow at 10:30. I am so excited! So far what I have learned is we will be cataloging, and identifying material from a cave in south America. That was known for being used in ritual. These samples are assumed to be offerings, possible ethnogens, etc. We will be looking at the chard pieces and trying to identify what they are and how they were used. All I can think about is being so close, and able to touch ancient samples from rituals that took place 100’s of years ago. It makes me incredibly happy!

I left for the Henna conference on a Thursday and arrived excited to get started. I had a wonderful time creating art, challenging my brain, and creative skills. I hennaed several lovely ladies and even did a full back piece of a tree. You can see more photos here.The pines were beautiful and my soul sung with the breeze that whispered between their thin needles. I found a large piece of pine resin, but it didn’t feel right to take it so I didn’t. I learned later that these are like bandages to a wound and so I am glad that I didn’t harvest them at this time. The henna conference was wonderful food for my creative side and I came home charged and ready to go. I hennaed on Tuesday night after the conference, worked on homework and geared up for the Herbal Resurgence.

The Herbal Resurgence was really great. I was a bit tired due to school and back to back conferences and the demands of school, but I was grateful for the experience. I took several classes one by Sean Donahue and Jim McDonald which focused on Hawthorn. There will be a wonderful blog soon about this, the crossroads and shadow work. More about that later. The class that was most important (at least in this blog) is the one taught by Kiva on Pine. She enchanted us with information on the pine tree, the different local pines, and several samples of amazing scents in incense, perfumes, etc. I learned that it is a wonderful base in ointment for chest colds, and how to properly harvest the resin to be used in incense, and other herbals. How to use the needles in tea, and many other delightful things that shall be reveled thorough this fall/winter seasons crafting. I then went out with a friend and we harvested the resin how we were taught, taking care not to harm the tree and keep its bandages on. It was a bit sad to see how many trees were so wounded, but they gave wonderful gifts.

PleasureInThePines

When I arrived back home the weather had cooled off, hints of fall are in the air. The temperature had cooled off and it is once again bearable here. I have made it through the two hardest and fulfilling weeks. All while managing somehow to keep a A in all my classes (well except stats, but I never even expected to do well in that class) I came home to a plant and seed delivery, as well as my plants going incredibly insane again. I have, what I at first thought was squash, but have since found that it is actually luffa gourd growing, so stay tuned for some more luffa soap! Those flew off the etsy shelf almost as fast as I could make them, so there will be more as soon as these babies grow and dry! They have a mind of their own and have decided to grow up the tree that was about 20 feet away from where it is planted. Silly luffa gourd.

PleasureInThePines2
As we enter into the cooler months I find that Pine will become my ally through these coming seasons. Her majestic beauty and wisdom has touched my soul in ways that haven’t begun to really unfold yet. The more I work with the fruits and gifts of the Pine the more I will understand. She has whispered words of the evergreen, how there is healing in harshness, and sweet stickiness in injuries, and even though there are seasons and we follow the wheel sometimes staying in one season, or one state all the time can be just as empowering as change. Ahhh evergreen how I await your mysteries this fall and winter.

PleasureInThePines3

Previous Post

July 26, 2013

Sea Monster

Next Post

October 1, 2013 Hawthorn and the Crossroads

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2026 February 2026 November 2025 October 2025 July 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 August 2024 May 2024 March 2024 January 2024 December 2023 September 2023 June 2023 May 2023 December 2022 September 2022 June 2022 March 2022 January 2022 October 2021 September 2021 June 2021 March 2021 February 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 July 2015 April 2015 March 2015 January 2015 December 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 March 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Jeremiah was known as the weeping prophet.

Select your answer to see how you score.

FALSE TRUE