{"id":32803,"date":"2026-04-01T13:40:44","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T17:40:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=32803"},"modified":"2026-04-01T13:40:44","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T17:40:44","slug":"cody-column-spring-forest-walk-into-coherence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2026\/04\/01\/cody-column-spring-forest-walk-into-coherence\/","title":{"rendered":"Cody&#8217; Column: Spring Forest Walk Into Coherence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Cernunnos, Runes, Fungi, and Crocuses&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Long walks in the forest&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Finding medicines&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Research&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Ritual&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Writing&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Observing the birds&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Looking for nettles and trillium&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Tarot, Dragons, Moon Phases, Astrology&#8230;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32825\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32825\" style=\"width: 169px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32825\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tree-Dragon-169x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"169\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tree-Dragon-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tree-Dragon-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tree-Dragon-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tree-Dragon-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tree-Dragon-1140x2027.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Tree-Dragon.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 169px) 100vw, 169px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32825\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A Tree Dragon appears in the forest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Welcome to this month&#8217;s column!\u00a0 This article will be more of a side-by-side journey of a magick wielder to encourage my readers to immerse themselves in their practices and maintain their sovereignty against all odds of confusion and incoherence.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32831\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32831\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32831\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Forest-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Forest-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Forest-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Forest-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Forest-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Forest.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32831\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A forest path through young growth illuminated by Sowilo, the Sun Energy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>We begin with the Fool, or empty mind, the creative and regenerative force that guides any adventure worth traveling on.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32828\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32828\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32828\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jera-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jera-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jera-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jera-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jera-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jera-1140x641.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Jera.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32828\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The rune of cycles, next to a pendant with a pentacle, moon, and raven.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>March was my birth month and as such, prompted me to evaluate my cycle or Jera in the cosmos.\u00a0 \u00a0I have been carrying around my rune stone Jera all last month, contemplating, observing, and listening to cycles.\u00a0 As usual, I sought guidance from my land spirits, dragons, Tarot, and frequent trips to the Underworld with Cernunnos.\u00a0 Each time I emerged from the cave of subconscious, I brought tiny slips of shadow to fill in the contrast of light emerging with the increasing Sun energy.\u00a0 The moon phases of last month brought an increasing awareness to this upcoming set of moon phases in April.\u00a0 Pay close attention to the cycles that mark significant events for you and your practice.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32832\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32832\" style=\"width: 169px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32832\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Eihwaz-169x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"169\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Eihwaz-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Eihwaz-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Eihwaz-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Eihwaz-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Eihwaz-1140x2027.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Eihwaz.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 169px) 100vw, 169px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32832\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This rune bridges between life and death, representing unity in Yggdrasil.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>April is marked by Eihwaz for me, the rune of the Yew Tree, signifying life and death, acceptance, and the tree Yggdrasil a tree of unity.\u00a0 The concept of connecting cycles and unity will be present in this article and Eihwaz is the perfect rune to describe the energy of Spring in the Pacific Northwest.\u00a0 We are cosmically watching the death of old ideas and the birth of new ones.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32829\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32829\" style=\"width: 169px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32829\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Trillium-169x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"169\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Trillium-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Trillium-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Trillium-768x1365.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Trillium-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Trillium-1140x2027.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Trillium.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 169px) 100vw, 169px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32829\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">This mystical plant likes to make an appearance during the energy this time of year.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Our days have begun to warm and all over the farm signs of rebirth are present.\u00a0 The nettles have emerged strong this year, just after the crocuses revealed their prized saffron. Robins returned along with the song sparrows gleefully greeting the day as the chorus frogs sing throughout the evening.\u00a0 I watched the Trillium push through the forest soil, unfurl their leaves, and open their fairy like blooms.\u00a0 We received our only snow accumulation for our elevation, watched a lunar eclipse, and became aware just how depraved many leaders have become in their quest for power over transformation.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32830\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32830\" style=\"width: 258px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32830\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Runes-258x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"258\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Runes-258x300.jpg 258w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Runes-879x1024.jpg 879w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Runes-768x895.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Runes-1319x1536.jpg 1319w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Runes-1140x1328.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Runes.jpg 1758w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 258px) 100vw, 258px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32830\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A bindrune looking out from a sacred mountain across a magical river.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Maintaining coherence has become the utmost priority during this phase of transformation.\u00a0 Akin to the formation of galaxies, solar systems, as well as molecules and atoms, transformations often involve extremes in the spectrum of energy.\u00a0 Science took the word energy from the mystics and used it to describe work, then put a price tag on it and demanded the people to pay for it, never considering what would be demanded of them in return.\u00a0 Separation from self, Source, and sensation it seems was their price.\u00a0 Rather than share wealth, they extracted.\u00a0 Instead of finding themselves through connection and letting go, they found themselves wanting more because they lost sensation and began grasping for more.\u00a0 This leads to incoherence.\u00a0 Coherence requires cycles, cycles work because of frequency, and frequency requires observation.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32835\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32835\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32835\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cernunnos-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cernunnos-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cernunnos-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cernunnos-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cernunnos-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Cernunnos.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32835\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cernunnos appears in the forest and a sense of calm and protection enter my consciousness.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Regular practice of letting go is helpful, balancing, and offers us guidance.\u00a0 We don&#8217;t need to let go of just our worries and woes however, but also our riches and boons.\u00a0 Cernunnos has been my psychopomp in letting go, offering to reveal what entraps in exchange for showing what hides in the shadows and ultimately leads to wisdom.\u00a0 In Norse Mythology, after Ragnorok, Gimli will be the new plane of existence.\u00a0 The Gods and Goddesses that survive will reside there along with people who no longer fight for valor or power, but who conduct themselves through coherence.\u00a0 Interestingly, Gimli in Old Norse means &#8220;Place protected from fire&#8221;.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32827\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32827\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32827\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sowilo-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sowilo-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sowilo-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sowilo-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sowilo-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sowilo-1140x855.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Sowilo.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32827\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Sun energy is also feminine. Sunna in Norse Mythology.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As we move into Aries season, I notice some interesting paths appearing.\u00a0 The Greeks had a God Ares, who was all about destruction and war while the Egyptians held Amun-Ra in esteem symbolizing fertility, creativity, and the spark of life.\u00a0 A fusion between the hidden God Amun and the Sun God Ra, the constellation we know as Aries was referred to in Ancient Egyptian writings as the constellation for Amun-Ra because it marked the equinox and return of the Sun&#8217;s energy to Earth.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32834\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32834\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32834\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Alder-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Alder-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Alder-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Alder-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Alder-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Alder-1140x855.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Alder.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32834\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A magical Alder tree that loves water but carries fire medicine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>My own health also seems to follow the path of the stars, revealing a need of cleansing fire to restore my lymphatic system.\u00a0 All the signs were there indicating a system in stress mode, swelling, tightness, indigestion, foggy head, skin irritation.\u00a0 As I walked down to the river open to suggestions from my plant friends.\u00a0 Alder, a tree of powerful fire energy, alerted me to its beauty and elegance.\u00a0 I was drawn to the East side of the magnificent tree and there the buds and twigs spoke to my sluggish lymphatic system and offered a solution.\u00a0 I made an offering in thanks and began pruning the side of the tree it indicated until my basket was full.\u00a0 In haste I almost began making the twigs into a decoction, but something nudged my consciousness.\u00a0 A little research of my herbalism notes reminded me to dry the twigs first to avoid vomiting and diarrhea.\u00a0 Wow, fire energy can be explosive!\u00a0 Glad that I remembered to dry the twigs I patiently dried them and as I was doing so, I asked my Druid Craft Tarot cards in a Cernunnos reading for any more guidance.\u00a0 There, my companion at my desk, Dandelion who bloomed on my birthday, chimed in saying they would assist alder in making medicine for my body.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32833\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32833\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32833\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dandelion-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dandelion-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dandelion-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dandelion-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dandelion-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Dandelion.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32833\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A constant companion who whispers resilience, healing, and courage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>This whole time I had been avoiding the Fool&#8217;s path, the medicine of letting go of old paths, patterns and limiting beliefs.\u00a0 Now the medicines will ask me to radically accept what they reveal.\u00a0 The method of delivery, a tea each morning, a decoction once a week, and several drops of tincture after that to provide maintenance.\u00a0 Pair with lymphatic shaking in the forest, belly breathing, and lymphatic massage.\u00a0 Realizing this, my journaling also suggested consulting my Fungi spirits who ask me to identify what feeds me spiritually, what I need to let decay, and next steps for growth from decay.\u00a0 These cyclical reminders to draw my awareness into Eihwaz, accept the Fool&#8217;s path, and grow again are what continue to refine my consciousness, not through war and greed, but through a gentle warrior&#8217;s-like resilience to never give up and seek to have something to show for my struggles.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_32826\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-32826\" style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32826\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Fungi-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Fungi-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Fungi-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Fungi-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Fungi-1140x1520.jpg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Fungi.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-32826\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">These fungi show up readily in our forest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As I walk with these medicines, guides, and connection I begin to see Dragons all around.\u00a0 Clearing paths, providing safe places to rest, connecting to source, breathing coherence, demanding accountability.\u00a0 My generation is building community amidst technological revolution, looking for elders to support who hold a connection to the Earth, and raising a family using communication as a navigation tool for the first time in generations.\u00a0 We listen to bird songs, interpret our dreams, watch the moon through its phases, and yes, we know how to use fire appropriately.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-31878 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/headshot-225x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/headshot-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/headshot-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/headshot-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/headshot-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/headshot-1140x1520.jpeg 1140w, https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/headshot-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I am a husband, father, farmer, and friend. I live on the banks of the Magic Skagit River, ancestral lands of the Upper Skagit people. I practice rune reading, tarot, land magic, and work with many spirit guides. My life began Pagan, but I veered off into the Christian church in college. I found my way back to my Pagan and ancestral roots in 2005 and have journeyed along this path since then.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cernunnos, Runes, Fungi, and Crocuses&#8230; Long walks in the forest&#8230; Finding medicines&#8230; Research&#8230; Ritual&#8230; Writing&#8230; Observing the birds&#8230; Looking for nettles and trillium&#8230; Tarot, Dragons, Moon Phases, Astrology&#8230; Welcome to this month&#8217;s column!\u00a0 This article will be more of a side-by-side journey of a magick wielder to encourage my readers to immerse themselves in their practices and maintain their sovereignty against all odds of confusion and incoherence. We begin with the Fool, or empty mind, the creative and regenerative force that guides any adventure worth traveling on. March was my birth month and as such, prompted me to evaluate my cycle or Jera in the cosmos.\u00a0 \u00a0I have been carrying around my rune stone Jera all last month, contemplating, observing, and listening to cycles.\u00a0 As usual, I sought guidance from my land spirits, dragons, Tarot, and frequent trips to the Underworld with Cernunnos.\u00a0 Each time I emerged from the cave of subconscious, I brought tiny slips of shadow to fill in the contrast of light emerging with the increasing Sun energy.\u00a0 The moon phases of last month brought an increasing awareness to this upcoming set of moon phases in April.\u00a0 Pay close attention to the cycles that mark significant events for you and your practice. April is marked by Eihwaz for me, the rune of the Yew Tree, signifying life and death, acceptance, and the tree Yggdrasil a tree of unity.\u00a0 The concept of connecting cycles and unity will be present in this article and Eihwaz is the perfect rune to describe the energy of Spring in the Pacific Northwest.\u00a0 We are cosmically watching the death of old ideas and the birth of new ones. Our days have begun to warm and all over the farm signs of rebirth are present.\u00a0 The nettles have emerged strong this year, just after the crocuses revealed their prized saffron. Robins returned along with the song sparrows gleefully greeting the day as the chorus frogs sing throughout the evening.\u00a0 I watched the Trillium push through the forest soil, unfurl their leaves, and open their fairy like blooms.\u00a0 We received our only snow accumulation for our elevation, watched a lunar eclipse, and became aware just how depraved many leaders have become in their quest for power over transformation. Maintaining coherence has become the utmost priority during this phase of transformation.\u00a0 Akin to the formation of galaxies, solar systems, as well as molecules and atoms, transformations often involve extremes in the spectrum of energy.\u00a0 Science took the word energy from the mystics and used it to describe work, then put a price tag on it and demanded the people to pay for it, never considering what would be demanded of them in return.\u00a0 Separation from self, Source, and sensation it seems was their price.\u00a0 Rather than share wealth, they extracted.\u00a0 Instead of finding themselves through connection and letting go, they found themselves wanting more because they lost sensation and began grasping for more.\u00a0 This leads to incoherence.\u00a0 Coherence requires cycles, cycles work because of frequency, and frequency requires observation. Regular practice of letting go is helpful, balancing, and offers us guidance.\u00a0 We don&#8217;t need to let go of just our worries and woes however, but also our riches and boons.\u00a0 Cernunnos has been my psychopomp in letting go, offering to reveal what entraps in exchange for showing what hides in the shadows and ultimately leads to wisdom.\u00a0 In Norse Mythology, after Ragnorok, Gimli will be the new plane of existence.\u00a0 The Gods and Goddesses that survive will reside there along with people who no longer fight for valor or power, but who conduct themselves through coherence.\u00a0 Interestingly, Gimli in Old Norse means &#8220;Place protected from fire&#8221;. As we move into Aries season, I notice some interesting paths appearing.\u00a0 The Greeks had a God Ares, who was all about destruction and war while the Egyptians held Amun-Ra in esteem symbolizing fertility, creativity, and the spark of life.\u00a0 A fusion between the hidden God Amun and the Sun God Ra, the constellation we know as Aries was referred to in Ancient Egyptian writings as the constellation for Amun-Ra because it marked the equinox and return of the Sun&#8217;s energy to Earth. My own health also seems to follow the path of the stars, revealing a need of cleansing fire to restore my lymphatic system.\u00a0 All the signs were there indicating a system in stress mode, swelling, tightness, indigestion, foggy head, skin irritation.\u00a0 As I walked down to the river open to suggestions from my plant friends.\u00a0 Alder, a tree of powerful fire energy, alerted me to its beauty and elegance.\u00a0 I was drawn to the East side of the magnificent tree and there the buds and twigs spoke to my sluggish lymphatic system and offered a solution.\u00a0 I made an offering in thanks and began pruning the side of the tree it indicated until my basket was full.\u00a0 In haste I almost began making the twigs into a decoction, but something nudged my consciousness.\u00a0 A little research of my herbalism notes reminded me to dry the twigs first to avoid vomiting and diarrhea.\u00a0 Wow, fire energy can be explosive!\u00a0 Glad that I remembered to dry the twigs I patiently dried them and as I was doing so, I asked my Druid Craft Tarot cards in a Cernunnos reading for any more guidance.\u00a0 There, my companion at my desk, Dandelion who bloomed on my birthday, chimed in saying they would assist alder in making medicine for my body. This whole time I had been avoiding the Fool&#8217;s path, the medicine of letting go of old paths, patterns and limiting beliefs.\u00a0 Now the medicines will ask me to radically accept what they reveal.\u00a0 The method of delivery, a tea each morning, a decoction once a week, and several drops of tincture after that to provide maintenance.\u00a0 Pair with lymphatic shaking in the forest, belly breathing, and lymphatic massage.\u00a0 Realizing this, my journaling also suggested consulting my Fungi spirits who ask me to identify what feeds me spiritually, what I need to let decay, and next steps for growth from decay.\u00a0 These cyclical reminders to draw my awareness into Eihwaz, accept the Fool&#8217;s path, and grow again are what continue to refine my consciousness, not through war and greed, but through a gentle warrior&#8217;s-like resilience to never give up and seek to have something to show for my struggles. As I walk with these medicines, guides, and connection I begin to see Dragons all around.\u00a0 Clearing paths, providing safe places to rest, connecting to source, breathing coherence, demanding accountability.\u00a0 My generation is building community amidst technological revolution, looking for elders to support who hold a connection to the Earth, and raising a family using communication as a navigation tool for the first time in generations.\u00a0 We listen to bird songs, interpret our dreams, watch the moon through its phases, and yes, we know how to use fire appropriately. I am a husband, father, farmer, and friend. I live on the banks of the Magic Skagit River, ancestral lands of the Upper Skagit people. I practice rune reading, tarot, land magic, and work with many spirit guides. My life began Pagan, but I veered off into the Christian church in college. I found my way back to my Pagan and ancestral roots in 2005 and have journeyed along this path since then. &nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":295,"featured_media":32832,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":2,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15148,10007,15155,10004,15149,10008,10009],"tags":[10365,11178,15506,13417,14259,15505,10204],"class_list":["post-32803","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-astrology","category-divination-articles","category-gods-goddesses","category-monthly-columns","category-paranormal-folklore-mythology","category-spells-rituals","category-this-months-holiday","tag-astrology","tag-cernunnos","tag-crocuses","tag-dragons","tag-fungi","tag-land-spirits","tag-tarot"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32803","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/295"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32803"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32836,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32803\/revisions\/32836"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}