Cutting Losses For New Growth

The family tree is dead. A new one is started.

My family is gone. Not totally dead, mind you, just spread out and no longer a part of my world. Bear with me. After some background, I promise to get to the point of this post.

Before you feel badly for me, I will say that I still have my wife and son and am happier today than I have been in years. The loss is not a reason to mourn. It was merely a circumstance of life, one from which I learned an important lesson.

My parents, cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents and beyond are all out of my life. Some died. Others simply ceased communication. It was nothing I did personally to drive anyone away. Like people tend to do, we all somehow drifted apart over time. Everyone got absorbed in their own lives; and we seemingly lost everything we had in common, except blood. And blood, though thicker than water, proved too weak to be the glue needed to keep us together.

Sad? You bet it is. And I have struggled for years to figure out what went wrong and how I could bring these lost family members together again. For my part, I felt deserted and thrown away. It hurt for years. But you know what? Sometimes you cannot fix things, especially when the break was meant to be.

Growing up, we had a big (and, I thought, happy) family. Everyone got together often, not just for special meals and/or holidays. My grandparents home was the epicenter of this close-knit group. I think many families during this period operated in similar fashion. Times change. Much like our neighborhoods, individuals and families started to move apart and communicate less. The more connected we all became electronically, the less we saw each other. "Busy" became a popular excuse.

For my family, the end began with the death of my grandfather. Once he was gone, his children - my father among them - jockeyed for dominance and fought over the estate, which included land that all felt to be worth a small fortune. My grandmother lived for years after her husband's death, but she became a pawn, viewed as a walking checkbook at best, a burden at worst. It made me sad, as she deserved far better.

It's been more than two decades now and the property dispute rages on. Everyone is just waiting to see who gives in or dies first. Over the years, my parents and the aunts and uncles all tried to bring the next generation into the fray. My brother and some of my cousins gladly joined the battle, eager to get their piece of the pie. I moved away and refused to participate, which played no small part in my break from my mother and father. The facade of support quickly crumbled. More on this in a bit.

The family land, a once-cherished plot where happiness reigned, became poisoned by greed, hatred and manipulation. The place was dead to me. I cared not for any monetary potential it held. I missed the magic that lived there and the close bonds it nurtured. And that mature decision by me, to take the high road, not only made me unnecessary to so many people, it exposed how my family really felt about me. I was not as loved as I assumed, nor was I respected. As people began to form their own adult lives and strive for the prize, I became irrelevant.

Even my own parents expressed how disappointed they had been with my every adult choice and the path I have chosen. I was told my career had been all but worthless and that they saw me as an inadequate parent (because I chose to homeschool, of all things). Those who were supposed to love and support me viewed me with disdain because I was my own person and not living according to their vision. So be it.

Families fracture. It happens every day. But that does not have to be the end. As an avid gardener, I found an example I have applied to my home life. When a large tree is cut down or destroyed, very often a piece of that plant can be utilized to start new growth. A cutting or scion is gently coaxed and given time and love, to stimulate a magical process whereas a new tree will sprout from a scrap of the old one.

From the debris of tragedy, a bright new future is grown, with the name, appearance and traits of the old tree. My family tree is dead, after years of decay. But I have created a new family, stronger, closer and growing from the love that still resided in my heart. Never give up. No matter how completely alone you may see yourself, so long as you are alive, you possess the one thing needed to grow a new start.

The Lost Art of Self-Reliance

I'm far too young to be classified as a cranky old man. However, I sometimes sound like it. I wish we could go back to the "good old days" more often than not. Hence, you get the following rant:

I'm not a huge fan of "progress," because I clearly see the issues that such magnificent strides spawn. As I see it, we are getting more lazy and less intelligent as a species. We depend more and more on devices to do our work and tell us what to think. Frankly, we are fast approaching the point, whereas a good solar storm could zap our grid and leave us a human herd of know-nothings, stunned and awaiting instructions from our now-dead phones and pads. Fear not the zombies, for we are the zombies.

How did we become so dumb and so numb? The seemingly complex issue is really quite simple. We daily give up our rights and much of our freedom of choice. I'm not talking the choice between a $5 footlong (OK, actually 11 inches. Sorry, Subway.) or takeout Chinese food. Your phone will tell you which one you are hungry for, right? It goes so much deeper than this; and here is where the longing for the past comes in.

We are like veal - fattened up by crap food and dosed with drugs to our own detriment. The government - the USDA in particular - dictates our food chain, not based on the needs and health of the populace but for big business. Giant corporations like Monsanto and Smithfield have the majority of our lawmakers on the take (cross-reference their boards if you think I exaggerate). As a result, the family farm is now all but extinct. Everything is a cog in the money machine. The giants profit off the feeds, the seeds and even the weeds. They crush their opposition in the courtrooms and destroy our agricultural heritage.

Small agricultural operations kept heirloom varieties and breeds alive for thousands of years. Many of those plants and animals, grown for their unique traits, are gone now, hybridized out of relevancy and out of existence. The food that our grandparents consumed was far different than the vitamin-deficient and hormone- and antibiotic-laden pseudo-food we are offered today. Meanwhile, in spite the public relations campaigns that promote labelling of foods, the USDA quietly allows exceptions to their own rules, which have us unknowingly consuming chemicals and artificial ingredients.

Smaller producers are frowned upon as "potentially unsafe" by a government that encourages mass production. It boggles the mind to think that hands-on, mindful production could somehow be worse than the filthy, insane animals, doped up and shoved through the system. Genetically-modified food is promoted as better than a grain born of Nature, even though safety testing is a rarity. It's fast. It's cheap. And although we are not told this, it may also wreck us at a cellular level. Oh well.

We are seeing this abomination in Europe as well. The European Union clamped down on artisan cheese makers and growers, telling the people that these lifelong farmers and craftsmen did not have their safety in mind, that the special products and produce these hardworking specialists have devoted generations toward, are unclean. It boils down to control and the ability to extract profit from the producers. It is nothing short of extortion at the expense of your health and mine.

It's all part of the big lie, that we are safer today than we were 100 years ago or more. Fact is, we had diversity back then that kept our immune systems sharp. We had no drug-resistant superbugs back then, because our society did not create any. Yes, our current surgical technology has advanced beautifully. But it matters not, if opening one up leaves them more and more likely to die from infection while in recovery. It is to the point where very soon common procedures may no longer be performed, as the cure may kill quicker than the affliction.

OK, so how did we get to this point, where the World Health Organization warns of a severe shift in how healthcare operates due to our own ignorance and apathy? Blame the money trail. Greed is our pandemic. Much like the incestuous dealings of the food giants, governments and the courts, medicine is sick. It is a toxic dance between the providers, the insurers and the drug companies.

Insurers drive who gets care by approving and denying coverage, based more on ability to pay than who needs treatment. Doctors, clinics and hospitals operate not so much on the premise that they are healers as they do in their role as demigods with a quota. They keep the conveyor belt of profit rolling along, damn the collateral damage (us). Drugs are tossed at everyone, regardless of side effects, because there is surely another costly prescription available to counteract the first one.

And would you like to know why we cannot fight the superbugs? It is again based on finances, not science or compassion. Drug manufacturers don't research how to fight infections, because it is less profitable to create medicines that cure patients in the short-term. They would rather score with formulas that people must take for the rest of their natural, revenue-generating lives. It's guaranteed money, so long as their friends the doctors push the meds and the insurers agree to pay for them.

The point of this rant is you don't have to take it. You don't have to accept this sleepwalk where you give up your rights, your choices, your lives. There are choices outside of the pre-packaged meals, the 2-minute diagnoses and the life as human veal. You don't have to live cradle to grave, not knowing where your food comes from and not involved in your own care.

It is not too late to eat locally; grow your own food, and explore non-Western medicine. I encourage everyone to take a baby step toward the past. Plant a tomato or some herbs. Spend your money with the small, home producers by attending farmers' markets. And make your doctor sit down and actually talk with you. If they refuse, seek assistance elsewhere. Ask questions and do not blindly accept what you are told. It's your life.

While I do not foresee us slaying the giants and society going back in time any day soon, we do have the power to take back our own lives. We can make changes and become role models for others. If enough of us take control and fight the system, perhaps one day, our children can enjoy a better, more self-reliant world where they know what they are eating and are masters of their own destinies.

The Solitary Path

Sometimes, you must walk where others cannot.

Being chosen by the spirits is not easy. It is not glamorous, nor is it particularly enjoyable. It definitely is not boring.

Fact is - and I was told this when I started - your life will never be the same (or even normal) when you consent to follow this path. Not everyone is chosen to have shamanic skills or to be granted access to the unseen. While I certainly would not wish to turn off the voices or stop seeing things, I would not necessarily recommend this life either. Frankly, it is one of loneliness, loss and isolation.

All of the ethnographic materials I have studied confirm that shamans/healers/seers in cultures all over the globe experience the same things that I have so far. They are part of their communities and families, but they exist on the periphery. They are present, but they are not really treated as such. In a way, we become more like the spirits with whom we communicate than those who we help and love.

It is not a lot of fun. People sense I am different. I polarize folks before I even speak. They either hate me immediately or they are totally fascinated by me. There is no grey area. I don't know if I project something more or less on various occasions. Though I do find that those with mental instabilities pull to me like iron filings to a magnet. Lucky me. I think it is because they tend to "see" things as a result of their conditions.

Most people with normal brains are the ones who push me to the fringe. There are days where I feel completely invisible to everyone. My words are not heard. My actions are taken for granted. Make no mistake, I am needed and I do a lot. But I am secondary, tertiary or less to everyone and their needs. It's a life of giving more than you receive.

I've always seen and heard spirits and received messages from deities and other entities. My parents never once believed me. They would scold me for living in fantasy. And like many people who experience the same, I tamped it all down and stopped seeing. It was time to "grow up." But accepting someone else's reality was a mistake and an insult to the spirits.

There are cultures, including some Native American tribes, that believe that one who is chosen can alleviate themselves of the calling. They can have their abilities turned off by a shaman or medicine man. They may also trade or sell their power objects to others who desire that which they hope to be rid of. It is said if one simply ignores the spirits, the chosen will have a hard life, go insane and likely die young.

I don't know if that was a possibility for me or not. All I can say is the spirits and higher powers never left me alone. I had blinders on but they were still there. I may not have recognized all of the signs when delivered, but looking back, I see them now. Just because I decided to not play does not mean the game ever ceased. And I think most of us occasionally need a more strongly-stated message to get it to sink in.

Years later, the cosmic forces thwacked me in a very hard and clear way. My first marriage deteriorated into years of loathsome entrapment. My friends fell away until I had not a single corporeal soul left on my side. My career tanked. I became estranged from my family. I was alone and lost. It was the figurative shamanic death that comes before one is "rebuilt" by the spirits.

After that point in my life, I began to receive the messages much more clearly (again). I put my life back together and tried to reconnect with those whom I cared for previously. While there were moments of hope, none of them ever really came back to me. My family is gone. Those I considered to be my friends moved on. Sure, I am friendly with those with whom I meet and briefly associate, but it is always fleeting. Everyone leaves.

It is much like a quote from the BBC television series "Doctor Who." When asked what becomes of all of his companions, the Doctor states, "They leave. Because they should or because they find someone else. And some of them, some of them ... forget me. ... I suppose in the end, they break my heart."

Alone in a living crowd, yet surrounded by the dead. If you walk this path, know this - you will be a fixed point around which all else flows and disappears. Call it a gift or call it a curse. You will live a life "less normal." And if chosen, you may not have a choice.

But if you simply cannot bear it, if you truly do not want it, I guess you could attempt seeking one who might have the ability to perform the spiritual surgery necessary to remove that which makes you special. You could turn off and tune out.

You have to ask yourself: What is worse - being numb and loved or being aware and alone?

The Other Shoe Drops ... Literally

I think the majority of folks believe in ghosts and the continuance of life in another form after death.

Studies and polls pop up in the media every so often, especially around Halloween, to corroborate this thought. However, if you were to bring it up in everyday conversation, few would enthusiastically confirm your expressed beliefs. Why? The most likely reason is that people fear the thought of being ridiculed, for it is far easier to scoff and belittle the paranormal than it is to admit your beliefs. They would rather make the uncomfortable, non-mainstream topic go away than risk being labelled as a crackpot. It's sad.

As someone who has seen, heard and dealt with his share of spirits, I am a true believer. Spirits are everywhere. And if you are open to them and/or sensitive, they will flock to you. Think about it. How awful would it be to speak and never be heard? I'm not talking about some nice quiet time, which we all need at some point. I am talking the endless sound of crickets to your every effort to express yourself. It would be maddening. Of course, the dead are going to want to communicate, if the lines are open. You would, too.

At any rate, I like it when we get some real confirmation of the other side. One such incident occurred the other night in our home. My wife and I were watching TV after a long day, just relaxing. Across the room, her pink Crocs were sitting near a doorway. There were no drafts and no cats to brush against them. From out of nowhere, one of the shoes lifted up on its side and then tipped back and forth heal to toe. It was fairly quick and then it was done.

After witnessing this, I blinked a moment and then turned to my wife, who immediately asked, "You just saw that, right?" I responded yes; and we just kind of both went "Hmmm" as we sat in thought.

You see, spirits are nothing new to our family. Everywhere we go, everywhere we live, we experience this contact. They know we can see and hear them, and they do their best to make their presence known. It really isn't scary, but it can become annoying at times. I occasionally have to tell them to shut up and give us a break, especially if they freak out our son in the middle of the night.

However, for the most part, these spirits are part of the family. We leave offerings of food and drink on the holidays or whenever we feel they would like it. Our house spirit, commonly known as a Tomten in Scandinavia, helps us find lost objects and teases our cats. As a shamanic practitioner, I call upon my spirit family to assist me in workings or to learn new knowledge. They are my friends, my teachers, my allies.

The key fact that most people totally forget is that spirits are just like us. Most of them used to be us - human. As such, they possess many of the same unique personalities, needs, desires, faults. Spirits will generally behave themselves if granted common courtesy, acknowledgment and respect.

Sure, there are certainly those entities who behave badly or represent a darker inclination. In general, these spirits were either rotten humans in life or were never human to begin with. If you experience these spirits, tread lightly and get rid of them as quickly as you can. Like bad humans, you don't need them as friends.

The next time you meet a spirit, treat it as you would when meeting a new person. It will appreciate it; and you may make a new friend. And you can then feel more confident in your beliefs with the firsthand evidence of the continued spark.

Apocalypse Not?

Well, as we all know by now, the dire predictions about the end of the Mayan Long-Count Calendar did not spell the end of us all. I don't blame the Mayans. They didn't say we were all dead. We don't actually know what they meant, as Christian Spaniards destroyed almost all of their cultural records. Thanks for that, conquistadors.

Blame the media, not for the lack of cataclysm but for the lathering up of humanity over a non-event. The Mayans did not say we were all going to die; rather, some authors did, in an effort to sell books. In turn, news outlets promoted the sexy agenda of chaos, because that is what they do.

I work in journalism, off and on, so I am familiar with the popular newsroom motto: "If it bleeds, it leads." I've personally never been a fan of this viewpoint or approach to the "truth." And for the record, I tend to write about soft topics like local history and entertainment. The Mayan end of days became big business for a lot of people, selling books, survival rations, elaborate vaults to ride out the storm, etc., etc. I lay no claim to that circus of sensationalism.

Although, part of the furor over the proposed doomsday, I think, was a good thing. It inspired some folks to be better prepared for the more likely scenarios of hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters. Being prepared saves lives. And while I am glad that a comet or polar shift did not erase humanity as a whole, I would have been OK with a thinning of our largely ignorant herd. A strong thwack to the collective forehead may have made people look up from their iPhones and see the real issues facing us.

My greatest fear about the apocalypse that never happened is that it will further bolster the feelings of false security of those among us who abuse the Earth, its resources and each other. Certainly, the headlines did nothing to dissuade this, as media outlets thumbed their noses at the Mayans, the Hopi and any other ancient group who hinted at us creating our own Hell on Earth. Face it, we are our own worst enemies. And while the Mayan baktun rolled over with little fanfare, there are still a great number of ways that we may still go the way of the Dodo.

We, as a species, are not out of the woods by any means. Here are some random thoughts on this matter:


* Climate change - OK, it's a hot button topic. Believe it or not and lay blame wherever you will, we are seeing more dramatic weather patterns. Ask anyone squashed by Superstorm Sandy or the victims of the Joplin, MO, tornadoes. Currently, 60 percent of the United States is in a drought state, leading many to fear a new Dust Bowl era is pending. And as the glaciers melt away, salinity of the oceans is lowering. If it gets low enough, the cyclical flow of water in the oceans slow or cease. That, my friends, is how the last Ice Age occurred.

For the most part, we treat our planet like a giant combination vending machine/toilet. We take and take, seldom giving back. As humans, we abhor parasitic entities; the very mention of a parasite brings strong adverse actions and opinions. But taken from a broader perspective, anyone looking at us on our host (the Earth) would see us as just that - rapidly multiplying, voracious creatures bent on sucking the host dry. I, for one, do believe that we are to blame, at least partially, for the climate changes. Our consumption of resources and output of wastes do make an impact here and now. And they set the stage for more hurt later on if not abated.

* Running behind schedule - We are behind schedule for several bad things. According to scientists, we are lucky we have yet to see a super-volcano blow its lid. We are also off the expected schedule for the shift of the planet's poles. Add to this Hollywood disaster movie-like list are the asteroids, known and unknown, coming at us and the increasing intensity of solar storms. All of these things are natural and beyond our control. All we can do, as a population, is to work together to do our best to endure any potentiality. Think we will do it though? To date, we cannot even manage to get along long enough to help stem issues like hunger and homelessness. Survival takes a global village that currently does not exist.

* Evil still walks - Events like the Sandy Hook massacre, senseless murders and general bad behavior are the norm in the news. Quite frankly, it gets me down. I know that stories of good are occurring, but they seldom get the attention they deserve. This news generates negative feelings among us all, which becomes a cloud of poor energy that permeates our society. Have you ever suddenly felt sad for no reason? You are experiencing this energy. It is a domino effect that could be similarly uplifting, if we exchanged positive energy for the negative.

* Reality bites - Think we averted the Anti-Christ? That remains to be seen. After all, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are expecting a baby. That, in itself, spells the continuation of that train wreck reality series that brings the obnoxious and opportunistic family fame and fortune for nothing more than acting like bad human beings. And it not just the K clan reaping the benefits.

Television is chock full of programs that elevate our society's worst to star status. But don't blame the "celebs for no reason." If someone offered you money to be yourself, you'd take it. Blame us. If people did not cling to these deviants and make them household names, they would just be unknown assholes. Like the trees in the forest, if we are not present to witness, they would just fall.

* WMDs - Not "weapons of mass destruction", I am talking WalMart, McDonald's and Disney, the true threats to our free living. We are allowing these three (and other corporations like Monsanto and R.J. Reynolds) to homogenize our world and dictate our spending, our viewing, our thinking and our health.

You know the big names, but they own and operate many smaller companies as subsidiaries. Indeed, they are crafting your world for you and telling you who to be. They obliterate freedom of choice and make our populace fat and stupid. If you are happy as cattle, carry on and enjoy that McRib (which is processed pork spleen and stomach, by the way). If not, consider the remaining alternatives. Question what you are told and think for yourself. Revenue is what drives these juggernauts; a lack thereof is what hurts them to the bone.

* Perpetual victims - Every person alive today has a tragedy somewhere, sometime in their family history. Fact is we have been pretty shitty to each other since we evolved. Slavery. Domination. Destruction. Genocide. Every culture has seen it in one form or another. It happens. And either you get over it and move forward or you have what we have today - a culture of victimhood. I see people, generations removed from atrocity, who still wallow in self-pity and substance abuse, sitting around with their self-entitled hands out.

It crosses all races and creeds, with the moaning of a fraction leading to unfair stereotypes for all. Native Americans drink and abuse drugs, waiting for someone to give them money and land. Descendants of black slaves cry for reparations and further promote the racial divide. Jews still carry on the martyrdom of the Holocaust. It goes on and on. Everyone cries out that they (not personally but within their bloodline) were somehow wronged and are, therefore, entitled to cash, land or some other consolation prize. Never mind that the people actually hurt are mostly dead and gone, often having expired of old age, not oppression.

You know what I say to all of these beggars and wannabe victims? - "Fucking suck it up and quit being so damn whiny." I would never deny the pain or anguish of anyone who was hurt. Certainly, events throughout history were horrific. But the perpetuation of old issues for decades or even centuries is ridiculous. Did the unemployed guy who is an alcoholic get raped by the Seventh Cavalry? Nope. Suck it up. Has the lady on food stamps ever literally been in shackles? Doubt it. Suck it up. When was the last time you were herded up into a concentration camp? My guess is never. Suck it the fuck up.

You don't hear the descendants of the Etruscans or Aztecs or Visigoths bitching. Cultures and empires brighten and fade. Things happen, good and bad. If those alive today would live for today, we would all be better off. We would be a much sunnier society, if we all just celebrated the good things from our heritage and allowed the bad to slide away into obscurity. Mind you, I do not advise forgetting. Rather, I advocate growing up and learning from the mistakes of our ancestors, so that the errors of humanity never be repeated. This learning, however, does not come with a big check.

Too "busy" for others - We live in a fast-paced, technologically-littered society. For all of this "progress," we seem to have taken a step backward as far as our fellow man. Case in point, communication. People have gotten worse and worse as we became more "connected' via email, computers and other devices. Ironic, huh?

I will occasionally write an email to a family member or co-worker, nothing urgent but still with the expectation of a response in a timely manner. It's common courtesy, right? All I get is crickets (silence). The folks I contact often fail to respond that they even received a message.

If I ever challenge them on this point, I get "I am soooo busy. I just didn't have time." Really? No time? I am to believe that these people (and anyone who does this to you) has zero available minutes to type a quick response. Now, most people these days live and breathe on their smart phones. The device is on their person everywhere but the shower. And yet, the thirty seconds it takes to thumb out "Got your email. I'll be in touch" escapes them.

To me, this lack of care in this one simple act of acknowledgment speaks volumes for our society. If someone cannot care enough to acknowledge another human being, taking a mere moment to touch a few keys, how can they possibly be expected to care beyond that. Thank goodness, none of my notes were about choking or being under attack. "OMG, sorry, it took me two weeks to respond. LOL"


Like I said earlier, we are our own worst enemies. Humanity does not need Planet X to slam into our home. We do not need an ancient prophecy to foretell our demise. Unless we make fundamental changes to our everyday existence, our end will indeed come about. And you know what? We will deserve it.

Thanks Is Not Just For Holidays

As we celebrate another Thanksgiving, I propose we not give thanks. Say what?!!! Bear with me.

Yes, the bounty before us, regardless of scope and contents, is a blessing. And the people gathered are, for the most part, special in our lives. However, I don't believe in cramming in my thanks, in between football games and meat-drunk bliss. We can (and should) do better than that.

I want to put forth a suggestion that we not focus all of our thanks onto one designated day. Yes, I enjoy the food and time with my loved ones. But I think giving thanks on a set event each year is rather lame. Like that of the Christians who attend church only on Easter and Christmas, such expressions of thanks are a half-assed token effort.

Look at your life. Surely, you have good things to acknowledge every day. More than likely, your life does not suck nearly as badly as you whine about. We all have ups and downs. And if you are down right now, look up. Things always change in time. Believe me, been there more than once and likely will be again.

Personally, I pray every day; and I am not talking prayer in a born-again, Jesus-ey way, all doe-eyed and full of faux wonder. I know who I am addressing and keep a running list in my head of what's what. My prayers are more like chats with good friends, those who support me. And I don't just ask for stuff. No one - deities and spirits included - cares to hear you blah-blah about give me this and give me that, especially when you have a lot already. Sure, it may not be an Xbox or money, but intangibles like health and clarity are not to be discounted. Breathing is great; bask in it.

I begin every such conversation with a listing of what and who I am appreciative of. I give thanks for everything, good and bad. And I express my ultimate trust that I know it will all work out. If I have had a crazy, stressful, agonizing day, I give thanks for it, because bad things are usually lessons, catalysts for change and/or messages that I was just too damn dim to pick up when delivered in a subtle manner. I find that a good thwack is often what is necessary to reset one's path.

Sure, you can ask for help. You can put forth what you might like to have in your life. That never hurts. But don't be annoying about it and don't force that agenda before you acknowledge what you already are lucky enough to have. In the end, you will get what you need, not necessarily what you placed on your cosmic wishlist.

Consider your blessings and say thanks every day. If you have mashed potatoes, enjoy them and be thankful, rather than bitching about having no gravy. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Tree of Life

Much like this tree, religion is something to be cultivated. And every fruit is not sweet for each individual. We find what we prefer and grow from there.

I'm an avid gardener, a plant geek really. Ever since I can remember, I have loved all things green. And while enjoying this pastime, a thought came to me.

I trade cuttings and plants with fellow enthusiasts, especially fig trees. In a short amount of time, I have acquired close to 50 different varieties. Though many folks just assume that there is only the generic-termed "Brown Turkey," there are so many more out there. Some figs are black. Some are green. Some are red or purple or even striped. And like wine grapes, each has its own unique flavor profile, tasting of berries or maple or citrus, on and on.

At any rate, these figs are cultivated via cuttings from a mother tree. Each new plant is a clone of that previous tree, going back further and further until you reach the original specimen, which could have first been enjoyed hundreds, if not thousands, of years ago.

Two thousand years ago, Pliny the Elder wrote of a certain fig that he found to be delicious. The Greek writer Homer surely enjoyed the figs of his home island of Chios, as he penned "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." Today, I have both of those varieties of fig, growing in North Carolina.

Who in history may have enjoyed the fruit that grow in my pots today? What have these trees seen and survived? The cuttings brought to America were literally "family trees," pieces of home for many immigrants. That is why we have such diversity available here. Trees from Italy, Turkey, Syria, France, Greece, China, North Africa, Croatia and so many other points on the globe are now cultured and cared for by myself and other gardeners.

We are preserving food history, a shared human heritage, sans politics or religion. We are keeping alive things that brought enjoyment and nourishment to our ancestors. And really, this is exactly what we do on a different level as Pagans. We preserve the past. We refuse to let something special die and fade away.

Sure, how we worship and how we honor the deities and the dead are likely different than how they did it before Christianity took over. But the core ideal - the cutting from the mother tree if you will - is still green and growing. And we have taken the finest fruits from all over the globe, basking in the similarities and differences, finding what appeals to each individual's taste. No dogma. No one size fits all in the sacred. We have grown our own trees with a nod to the past and an eye to the future. And that is a very nice thought, indeed.