Sun Wheel Pagan Arts Festival

The Canada Day long weekend we spent at The Sun Wheel Pagan Arts Festival right here in Alberta!
Not only was it in our home province it was only a half hour drive from our house :) This was the second year for the festival but the first year we attended. We will definitely be going again next year!! We had an amazing time! This music festival also feature local handmade crafts and vendors. It is a camping festival and the Minions were excited to be tenting it. We arrived Friday evening and the Minions had the tent set up in record time. They wanted to explore the campsite before dark and see if there were any kids their ages.

Our home for the weekend

The people camping next to us told me they were pretty impressed with how quickly the kids put up the tent and how well they worked together, I was a proud Mommy :)
The evenings activity was something we had talked about alot on the trip to the campsite. A fire walk! I was excited it was something I always wanted to do. As darkness fell we gathered together to hear about the fire walk. First off we were to walk on broken glass....that freaked the hell out of me!!! I am all good with walking on a bed of hot coals but broken glass NO THANK YOU!!

The bed of broken glass

When they asked who wanted to be first Bug was the first one to put up her hand but I was like "maybe we should see first hun, could you wait and few people" She was ok with it but made sure to let me know that she would be doing it either way lol she is so fearless. We watched a couple people go and then Willowtree decided she wanted to take a crack at it.

Willowtree walking on broken glass

Next it was Bugs turn, she was a little nervous but not nearly as much as I was.

She walked it like she had done it before. No fear in this girl!! Then she walked it twice more lol

By this time I had worked up my courage, if my girls could do it so could I, it was quite the experience! The sound of the crunching of the glass under my feet was by far the worst part of it. I walked the glass with no cuts at all :) None of us cut our feet.

Me walking on glass

Getting the bed of coals ready

Then it was time, we made our way over to the fire and people started to drum and cheer everyone on. The intensity of the energy was AWESOME!!

Then the bed of coals was ready

Willowtree went first and threw out the night twice more

Then it was my turn. I found the experience very surreal and much easier on the mind than the broken glass walk. The heat under my feet was almost pleasant and I found myself fighting the urge the pause. I went twice and the second time it was a much deeper experience that I find hard to put into words but I know that I am a true firechild and if ever presented with the opportunity again I will defiantly walk again!

Me walking on hot coals

After the Fire walk we wandered over to the drum circle. The Shaman that facilitated the firewalk did a sacred pipe sharing ceremony another first for me :) it was a very moving way of sharing prayer and I was deeply honored to be able to participate in it. Then we drummed and drummed and the northern lights danced in a spectacular display. We went to bed that night so pumped up with the energies of the evening but sleep came quickly. The next day we were up bright and early and had a hearty campfire breakfast. The Minions went exploring and Willowtree and King Connaher quickly found kids their age to hang out with. Poor Bug tho she had no one her age at all but her siblings being the great Minions they are included her in everything they did. Willowtree and I slipped away for the women's mysteries circle and after I took in a beautiful herb walk. The music was supposed to start in the late afternoon but by early afternoon it was pouring rain and the performers were supposed to be on an open air stage so the music was cancelled for the night or so we thought.....the musicians were not ones to disappoint their fans so they gathered in the big cookshack and had a jam session that lasted well into the night. It was so awesome and had the feeling of a family gathering :) so fun, warm and inviting. It was such an amazing experience to be elbow to elbow with some of your biggest musical idols!! It rained threw the night but the next morning we woke to a blazing sun and WOW was it HOT! I am pretty sure we hit record highs that day and to say it was a scorcher was not even close to describing the heat! The Minions and their newfound friends had an epic water fight to keep cool and the musicians braved the heat and put on a fabulous show. First up was the excellent Chalice and Blade from B.C. I have been a fan for a few years and they did their hit song " I hear you calling " which I love.

Chalice and Blade

Next up was someone I have known for a few years now, Sable. She is a singer from B.C. as well and she and her husband have made the trip out here for our communities Beltane celebrations for years and we always look forward to seeing them. They brought with them another local B.C. talent Chad Mcleary who is relatively unknown but very good and I am sure we will be hearing more about him.

Sable and Chad

Dragon flight by Sable

Next up was a group I had not heard before a local from Calgary Alberta Vanessa Cardui she is a bardic champion and a wonderful singer. Her song "The Dragon Slayer" was a big favorite of the Minions and is hilarious.

The Dragon Slayer

With her she brought the most pleasant surprise, one of the ladies accompanying her (the one on the right holding the violin) did a solo of one of her own original songs that brought me to tears. Her name is Sora and I bought both of her Cd's, her song was called Sulis Minerva and has not been recorded yet but as soon as it is I will be buying that CD as well. It was breathtaking! I have included the link to the whole set but Sulis Minerva is at 21:11 and is so worth it!!

Sulis Minerva at 21:11

Our homegrown local talent was next with the Edmonton Pagan choir. I wish we lived closer cause I would love to join this group.

Sharon Knight from California was another musician I had not heard before. She was very popular with everyone and I really liked her style. She's fiery!

They saved the best for last and one of my most favorite artists ever the Amazing Heather Dale. I Love her music and she has been my favorite since I first heard her a few years ago and best of all she is Canadian!! I will link her whole Sunwheel set and you will see why I love her. Her energy is amazing and she is the ultimate storyteller.  Heather Dales SunWheel set   Some of my favorites by her are Tristan and Isolde, The Maiden and the Selkie, Sedna, Joan, Culhwch and Olwen and Skeleton woman plus so many more. She is the reason I got the tickets to SunWheel and I was so happy with the whole experience we will definitely be going back next year. Maybe I will see some of you there!!

June in pictures

Our beginning garden spot. It will be expanded next year.

We have been spending the majority of our time outside. The Minions and I took a forty hour long lecture course on permaculture awhile back and we have been using it! The acreage we bought is over half wild and this pleases us to no end. What is developed we have been converting from mainly lawn to something more useful. Our goal for this year is to be about 50 % sustainable. This is a tall order with no tractor to break ground and pull out stumps etc. We could not find anyone to come and rototill a garden spot for us so we tackled it with shovels and turned it all by hand. Then the Universe provided us with a tiller lol It was hard going by hand and with the garden tractor, the guy really appreciated the fact that it was all broke up and turned already. He tilled it up really fine and we were all very excited to see how rich and healthy the soil is! He will be back in the fall to do our tilling for us and until we have a tractor of our own (it is on the wish board). Then we got to work picking out all of the grass and thistle roots. We planted about 75% of the garden that night. Putting in two types of peas, green beans, beets, spinach, swiss chard, carrots, lettuce and kale.

Zed planting Cherry trees

The next day we planted the rest of the garden and started our orchard. Mom brought up two Evans cherry trees from the place back home. We planted them on the south side of the garden were we have planned the orchard. In the rest of the garden we have zucchini, potatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, dill, onion (three kinds), garlic, pole beans and ground cherries.

New flower bed and my faithful helpers Zoe and Zeddicus

We created some new flower beds around the house and ripped apart the disaster of a bed out the front and made it into a pretty new spiral bed!

The flower bed out the front BEFORE

The new Spiral bed out the front AFTER

The spiral bed is filled with Monkshood, Maltese cross and Toadflax perfect for the bees and I am going to add some Bees balm to this bed as soon as I can. Next year I will be expanding it again it will be my Witches herb bed with the additions of Datura and Nightshade.

The new flower bed by the front walk way

We planted Tiger lilies, marigolds, calendula, plantain, violets and clover in this bed.

One of the front beds

We have two flower beds that run almost the full length of the front of the house, one of them is three quarters shaded by a very large Spruce tree in it we have some Columbine, a climbing rose and Bees balm. The other gets full sun and is south facing in this we have Tomatoes, marigolds, oregano and rosemary and in front of Moms window a nice Autumn Sedum.

Hubby mows our many acres of lawn the eco friendly way :) He says it is very meditative and looks forward to it. My buddy says he looks like a ninja in this pic lol he just got off work and is still in his uniform.

Coconut water, young nettle, kale, hemp seed, coconut oil, ground flax and frozen mango. YUM! Morning smoothies are awesome and the Minions love them! We love our smoothies and the Minions have them almost every morning it is a great way to get greens and other healthy goodness into your kids.

Willowtree, Bug, Gramma and I went in and spent the day celebrating with the LGBT community for Edmonton Gay Pride 2013. We had a great time! Willowtree was in the parade and it in true Pride fashion was FABULOUS!! By the end of the parade we had so much Bling!! lol Then we walked down to the street party, there were so many people and vendors and entertainment!! We spend the afternoon enjoying the celebrations and the fountain :) that was Bugs favorite part.

Nature walks are a regular thing in our world. The Minions are learning to identify what is edible and what is not on our land. Bug spends most of the daylight hours outside exploring and being in nature, she is truly blessed. The sacred spring in June is a breathtaking sight. Marsh Marigold is the yellow flowering plant you see.

We have some enchanted places on our acreage this is the Fern gully, every time I am down here I have to resist he urge to curl up and have a nap amongst the ferns. The Fae magick is strong here :)

The boys built a bridge over the marshy area so it would be an easier walk it sure didn't take long for the Marsh marigold to claim it.

Stairs back up to the house.

Things are starting to grow. Weeding has begun and Thistle is our greatest foe!!

Remember my Moms huge cat Rambo :) and see the cage behind him....it is protecting the growing catnip. The cats will not let it get big enough if we don't cage it they eat it right out of the ground lol silly kitties.

Zed, his friend and cousin Spencer putting together the chicken coop. We bought this chicken coop that said it was big enough for eight chickens...ya, i don't think so. We took in the Millet small animal fur and feather show and brought home some small animals to add to our homesteading life.

Meet Tank our new pure bred Flemish Giant rabbit. Many many years ago my Mom and Dad raised meat rabbits for the restaurant industry and my Mom always loved bunnies, she wanted to get some so we bought a breeding pair.

This is Ms. Chloe Valentine she is a New Zealand rabbit and Tanks girlfriend. Tank is super friendly and loves to be petted and held and does really well with the Minions but Chloe is the exact opposite.

We bought ten chickens. One rooster and seven laying hens and two baby chicks. The Minions named the rooster Ronald and the hens are Bonnie, Penny, Daisy, Henny, Rose, Chicky

Making rabbit cages

The baby chicks Eggbert and Gravy. These chicks will be raised by the girls then introduced to the flock in the late summer.

 King Connaher exploring sacred geometry. He is fascinated in the subject and has started learning everything he can about it.

We have had many campfire nights of roasting marshmallows, making bannock and sipping hot chocolate while stargazing.

We upcycled and old broken swing set to make more space for our chickens. The coop we bought will be attached and next year a new fancy chicken coop will be built.

Meadow letting Cheesecake have some outside time

Cheesecake loves the grass

Getting the baby chicks used to the outdoors.

 

 Planting a new Rhubarb. One of Moms friends from back home gave her a rhubarb so now we have two.

New Rhubarb

 

Litha altar

For Litha this year we decided to decorate the grove with seed and flower mandalas and designs.

Everyone loved this activity

We held our ritual at high noon and then retreated into the cool of the woods by the sacred spring to share a guided meditation.

Cousin Spencer invoking The God

Spellwork

getting ready for the guided meditation

The Spring at Litha

As always we pay homage to the Ancestors

 

 Later in the afternoon we gathered on the back deck and shared a meal as we watched the Holly King and Oak King battle it out for the supremacy of the next half of the year. Then we hit the hot tub and partied well into the night!! HAIL TO THE SUN!!

Chocolate fondue and Bread with dips

 The epic battle

The defeat