Moon Feather Hollow

How is it another full moon and almost September already? So grateful for summer road trip memories as a focal point to steady me as time speeds by at a dizzying pace! I savor the sunny memories in images as my window view shows falling leaves & drizzle here in the Pacific Northwest, where autumn in afoot! I hop you enjoy this little photo gallery of Mt. Shasta – said to be earth’s root chakra, and the mighty redwoods of northern California.

First, I wish to welcome our newest readers to the Musings blog where we get personal. If you have interest in Owls from the Hollow, our newsletter, that focuses on all of the happenings with Moon Feather Hollow, the enchanted imaginal landscape, online community, courses, books and kits! We just published the 2024 Dreamoire of Moonlit Alchemy and have the 2024 Moon Dates art prints available too! If we already have your mailing address, you can expect your 2024 Moon Dates card in September. If we do not have your mailing address, you can create or update your information here. When we have your mailing address, we sent you magic mail during your birthday month too!

We enjoyed so many amazing farmer’s markets but the view at Mt. Shasta’s was of course, the best! While in California, we also visited the redwoods, such majestic trees! I wish I’d been taught history with the rings of a tree. Somehow this context made the events (click middle image for dates!) so much more engaging to me.

From our southernmost location of Klamath, CA up the coast back to Seattle is about 600 miles. This was 600 miles of family bonding, beautiful coastal views, teen driving experience, and me not cooking or doing laundry. It was time-blurred days of savoring feet in the sand, splashing in the ocean, sea-scented air, and sunkissed skin.

I’ll be back with another savoring of sea stacks, ocean views, sea lions and more in coming weeks! In the meantime, may this moon in Pisces spark your imagination!

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It’s first harvest under a supermoon! I’m still harvesting all of the magical moments from my road trip that began two weeks ago when this moon was new. We drove the freeway from Seattle to Mt. Shasta, then over to Klamath, CA and back up the coast. I’ve so many stories to share that I’m going to fully harvest them slowly… savoring the memories as I convey them and decide which are the best photos to share. Eyefulls of scenic delights fed my soul!

First a funny story: The morning we left, as we were getting organized my husband and I were working out some logistics and as the discussion unfolded, he said, “You’re right.”

I responded, “I don’t care about being right, I just…” and before I could finish the sentence our teen said, “That’s the difference between you two…”

One of us likes to be right and the other just likes to impress people with being clever. 😄 Haha… kids know us better than we realize!

So….hours later…not regular hours, mind you, ROAD TRIP hours, I said to my husband, “You know, after 27 years of marriage we can still get better at really knowing and supporting each other, so I will tell you more often when you are right and make it a point to say so.”

To which he responded, “And I’ll tell you more often how impressive you are because you really are.”

Me: “You’re right!” 🤣😂😆🤣😂

I share this story because I think it set the tone for the whole trip and it is so fitting for a a full moon in Aquarius followed by a new moon in Leo! Our little family unit really “saw” each other. We shared such sweet moments and so many belly laughs!

Now for some scenery… Pictured at the top of the page is a little creek in Ashland, OR. We always end up at the river no matter where we go!

I also find fae wherever I go. This little faerie door is also in Ashland, which we decided was the friendliest place on the whole trip and so very charming! We enjoyed their lovely park pictured below, so many wonderful little shops, and music! There were buskers in the street and violin lessons taking place in the park.

Another stop that first day was Vancouver, Oregon which was having their farmer’s market. I had a couple of amazing conversations with vendors. One lady was telling me about her jewelry and explained that the piece I was looking at (as I heard it ) was “piratized” so I asked about the process. As she went on, I realized she must have said “pyritized” … of course! Doh! Pyrite, not pirate! So I told her what I thought she said. Her puzzled expression showed she did not yet grasp the difference in words … so I covered my eye and said, “Eye, matey!” Oh she laughed and laughed and thanked me. She said she will never be able to say “pyrite” again without thinking of me and having a chuckle!

The other great converstation was with a maker of interlocking rings. He said they come in 3, 7 or the most he had done was 21. He said his favorite were the group of 7 interlocking rings because there was something really satisfying about the artistic balance of it, and went on to share how 7 is a magical number. After he listed the 7 colors, continents and days of the week, I jumped in to say the days were named after the original 7 planets, and continue with more groups of 7. We went on and on back and forth… 7 seas, petals on a lotus, 7 deadly sins, seals, the constellation called 7 sisters… siting magical groups of 7 for a long time as customers gathered around… it was a wonderful magical moment!

I’ll be back with another dose of road trip revelry soon. Today, may you feel a celebratory vibe of the full moon and the Aquarius vibe of eccentricity.

There’s a paradox in Aquarius and its theme of authenticity to self and alignment with others. We have to manage the tension between belonging to self and belonging to something bigger than ourselves. In expressing your most unique self and thus realizing everyone’s special so then is anyone special? Aquarius is both the sign of the occasionally eccentric individualist AND the community-focused humanitarian. There’s an almost transcendent experience of “Aquarius” when you’re gathering with a truly diverse and multi-dimensional friendship group and/or community and you’re cultivating a meaningful connection. That’s Aquarius.

~Colin Bedell, Astrologer

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Can you tell I’m exited?

Goodbye, Seattle! So long, Mt. Rainier!

You can expect better photos as the road trip progresses, I promise. 🤣

My 15 year old kiddo is at the wheel, hubby navigating, and I am enjoying the sun roof from the back seat where I will be blogging our west coast adventure.

This week I am focused on my heart, and sharing from my heart. The sun is in watery cancer, so emotional themes and nurturing are present. As July continues to unfold and the sun moves into firey Leo, it’s a natural time to focus on our hearts.

Vacation technically began Friday night. We went to a concert at a venue called “El Corazon” which is Spanish for “the heart.”

It has an eclectic vibe…

The band that drew us here is called Weathers. The lead singer has such great stage presence and charisma. I was so happy to witness him give my kiddo (who was front stage) a high five!! I sang along and danced to favorite songs and felt like a teen myself.

The venue was small and the crowd so participatory, we really had a collective effervescence. It was the perfect way to shift into vacation vibe.

May this find you feeling nurtured, embracing your favorite summer experiences, and listening to your heart.

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Did you catch fireflies as a kid? Anyone who has knows just how magical it can be. Back in 2021 we asked this question to Wonder Weavers in the Hollow, and had a huge response. Re-reading the comments today inspired me to share them as a blog. I removed the names, but each is a different comment.

I have never stopped! 😉 Though my methods are much more humane now. I still feel like a kid when I see them!

They are so magical! I miss them. I grew up in the midwest where we had tons every summer, but live in the Pacific Northwest now, no fireflies.

I didn’t know that! I assumed they were all over the US. I’m sure you have access to other magical creatures though! 🤞

It is also magical to not have mosquitoes after 40 years of living in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota!

I am waiting patiently for them to arrive. There is just something about sitting around the fire and watching the fireflies light up the trees and bushes. So magical!

Oh My Yes! Still do upon occasion. First sighting of the summer this past week and what a truly magical sight it is! Always a sign that summer is truly here.

Yes first sighting here in Virginia!!

I don’t think I did before moving to Arkansas, one of the magical things about the South. Definitely collected some in a jar a few times to watch for a bit. Now I just like to watch them outside and still feel surprised every time one lights up.

YES and I saw a few last week and did a little happy dance!!

Yes! I would gather them in a jar and then let them all go.

There’s weren’t any fireflies where I grew up but I saw them once on a trip to upstate New York a few years ago. I was soooo happy 😊

I’m lucky to live in upstate NY and see them often

As a kid. As an adult. Yesterday! ✨

Wonderful!!!

I was always too nervous to catch bugs in my hands. My daughters do not have the same reluctance.

yes and last night they were out

Fireflies welcomed us home last night.

We didn’t have fireflies around when I was a kid. But I love seeing them on the side of the road now, if I’m driving at night.

They are so magical! I miss them. I used to love catching them and seeing my cupped hands light up until it flew away.

There was one on my front door earlier today before dark but I didn’t have camera and it flew off

Oh my yes…. there were so many in my city backyard in RI in the 50’s and 60’s… now I live in a very rural area and there are so few.. it’s very sad

Wow usually they are rural here

Yes I especially remember them in one part of the lawn. In the van we have been sleeping with the doors open and I’ve been falling asleep to them.

Even if you have never personally caught a firefly, you can experience the magic with this 2 minute video. Immerse yourself in the wonder and beauty of Radim Schreiber’s video. He suggests, “For optimal viewing, watch this video at night, with all the lights turned off, full screen with sound turned on.”

I am super excited to begin a new adventure on the upcoming new moon. We’re catching magical moments just like we caught fireflies as kids. Even though I helped to create the course calle Magical Moments with Fireflies & Fae, I’m a participant just like anyone else, and I can’t wait to begin! As summer seems to fly by, this will help me slow down and be in the moment. I’m also heading out on a road trip over the new moon so my 15 year old can get more driving experience. I hope to share some amazing photos and stories from the Oregon coast!

May your summer adventures be magical!

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How do you make value from a beach full of washed up flip flops? How do you stay afloat amidst the strong currents of doom and gloom? I’m musing on finding gold again. This time inspired by a few specific people I talk about in this video. One is a member of Moon Feather Hollow, and the other is the guy who was inspired by flip flops to innovate them. 😆

I’m also reading David Pearl’s book: Wanderful. He donates proceeds to his movement called Street Wisdom. It values imagination, innovation, and wandering and reinforces the belief that we are part of a quantum fabric, that the cosmos has messages for us everywhere when we listen as a practice.

Street Wisdom is an everyday creative practice you use as you walk. A smart fusion of mindfulness, neuroscience, wellness and imagination, it unlocks our minds and unblocks our creativity with every step.

Wanderful shows us how to fire up our innate internal guidance system, get off the straight & narrow and find wonder in the everyday. Every-day. 

https://www.streetwisdom.org/

I’ve never listened to podcasts until I found his. Perhaps I will try a few more since this one is giving me such a wonderful experience. He ends each podcast with an activity to engage in while we wander. If you are curious, you can listen to the podcast HERE or on podbean.

Ben Morison is the guest on the Feb 22, 2022 episode and you can learn more about the FlipFlopi project HERE.

What are the flip flops in our lives that we can innovate? Ponder, wander, and wonder…

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Moonlit mysteries enchant me, especially at the beach! Can you guess what this mysterious flying entity could be?

I photographed this in a small beach town that sat nestled by the sea, where the sound of the waves reminded me to slow down, to wonder, to be open to magic. As the moon rose high in the sky, this strange and wonderful thing appeared. Then my imagination whispered a story to my heart…

The ghostly white bird-like creature emerged from the waves, spreading its wings wide and taking flight when the moon came out. The creature soared up into the sky, its body shimmering and glowing in the moonlight like a beacon of magic and wonder. The townsfolk called the creature the “Moonbird,” and they whispered tales of its powers and its mystery. Some said that it was a spirit of the sea, come to watch over the town and its people. Others believed that it was a messenger from the gods, sent to bring news of great events yet to come.

That night, as I was walking along the beach, toes digging into the sand as I gazed out at the waves, I watched Moonbird in awe as it flew closer and closer to me. I let it remind me that that there is a world of wonder and magic beyond the horizon, waiting to be discovered. A mysterious Moonbird is a symbol of the unknown and the endless possibilities that lay ahead.

What do you think of Moonbird?