I write fiction, non-fiction, verbiage for all our websites, and have been publishing my fan fiction on my various sites for many years. https://paulacas.com
I am a Spiritual Medium and use Tarot cards as one my primary tools in doing readings. For 30 plus years have been doing readings in settings from my living room to truck stops. I tell you what Spirit wants you know for your betterment, not what you think you need to know.
I’ve worked on computers since before there was such a creature as Windows.
A Mountain Maryland native, but have spent years spent living in Oklahoma, Colorado, Texas, Oregon, California, Nevada, and Arizona. My husband, Oro Cas, and I spent 10 years driving tractor-trailer across the 48 contiguous states.
Oro Cas and I produced and hosted Internet Radio shows on BlogTalk Radio, video productions on KDCL Media and Oro Expeditions YouTube Channels.
I first heard this statement many years ago. Occasionally, I still hear some version of this claim: Black walnut engages in warfare by releasing a chemical into the soil. This chemical kills or inhibits the growth of plants.
But is this entirely true? Does black walnut actually kill plants?
Some people say yes. Other people say no.
In a brand-new video, I share several key findings from scientific studies and personal observations that shed some light on this controversial topic.
I’m excited to announce that I’ll be leading a Summer Forest Ecology Outing in a few weeks, and I’d love for you to join me!
This outing offers a unique in-person opportunity to learn the fascinating ecology and geology of a remarkable area: McConnells Mill State Park in Pennsylvania.
Designated a National Natural Landmark for its outstanding features, McConnells Mill State Park is a treasure trove for learning. Central to the park’s landscape is the Slippery Rock Gorge — a deep ravine carved by powerful forces, exposing millions of years of ancient bedrock and currently supporting mature forest ecosystems.
During this outing, we will walk through deciduous and coniferous woodlands while discussing forest ecology. We’ll investigate big trees and big rocks. We’ll see historic landmarks, and we’ll discuss important geological influences that have drastically shaped the landscape.
In addition to learning key characteristics of mature forests, participants will learn tree identification techniques, mushroom ecology and identification, the influence of glacial activity on landscape development, ways to interpret forest history, and much more.
This outing is the perfect opportunity to learn, explore, and connect with nature in a truly spectacular setting.
Interested? Here are the details:
When: Saturday, July 12 or Sunday, July 13, 2025 (Choose one date; both programs will cover the same material.) Where: McConnells Mill State Park, Pennsylvania Time: 10:00 am — 4:00 pm
To maximize your learning experience, space is limited and registration with payment in advance is required to secure your spot.
Long before calendars and clocks, before schedules and spreadsheets, there were the sun and the stars and those of us who watched them closely—gardeners, healers, farmers, mothers. The summer solstice, the longest day of the year, was a sacred moment. A time of warmth and waiting, of ripening berries and blooming roses, of hands deep in the soil and hearts lifted to the sun.
For me, this day has always held a special kind of magic.
Green isn’t always good. In fact, green can sometimes be associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
This is especially true when we take a look at golf courses. Golf courses use heavy amounts of pesticides to maintain uniform conditions. These chemicals kill undesirable plants and insects, but they also weaken human health.
Researchers have known for a long time that pesticides pose significant risks to human health, ranging from acute poisoning to chronic issues like cancer and reproductive problems. A brand-new study adds even more evidence to the growing body of research.
Published a few weeks ago, this latest study found an association between living close to a golf course and the odds of developing Parkinson’s Disease. People living within 1 to 3 miles of a golf course were found to be at greatest risk.
What is it about living close to a golf course that’s associated with developing Parkinson’s Disease? Is it breathing in airborne chemicals? Is it groundwater contamination? Does geology have anything to do with it?
In a brand-new video, I answer these important questions. I also address whether or not it’s safe to forage and hunt near golf courses.
Every now and then, I’ll come across a decent-sized American chestnut and wonder: “Just how big did these trees get?”
I’ve always read that American chestnut was a dominant tree throughout eastern North American forests. I’ve heard people describe American chestnut as a tree that towered above all others. I’ve even seen references to American chestnut as “the redwood of the east.”
But how much of this is true? Was American chestnut an exceptionally massive tree?
Unfortunately, it’s difficult for us to know for sure. A fungal disease known as chestnut blight killed nearly every large American chestnut throughout the first half of the 1900s. Today, American chestnut still exists on the landscape, but almost always as a smaller tree.
Ecologists in recent years have been wondering about the size of American chestnut in pre-blight forests. I’ve been wondering about it too, which is why I decided to film a video on the topic. It turns out that we may have some answers after all.
Has the size of American chestnut been exaggerated in recent decades? What do sources from the 1800s tell us?
Druidry today has both ancient and modern roots. Druids today seek spiritual connection with nature, using nature to guide, inspire, and ground us. Nature has always been a source of everything to humanity, and those of us who pick up the druid tradition work to reconnect with nature in a multitude of ways. The modern Druid tradition has many branches and paths, and I try to be comprehensive in my coverage of this vibrant and growing tradition. The modern druid tradition is inspired by the Ancient Druids, wise sages who kept history and traditions, and guided the spiritual life of their people. The ancient Druids had three branches of study: the bard (a keeper of history, stories, and songs), the ovate (a sage of nature or shaman), and the druid (the keeper of the traditions, leader of spiritual practices, and keeper of the law). Much of what we know about the Ancient Druids today comes through their surviving legends, stories, mythology, and the writings of Roman authors: the druids themselves had a prohibition against writing anything down that was sacred, and so, we have only fragments. The modern druid movement–from which all present druid traditions descend–started in the 1700-1800’s as one response to industrialization. Today, Druidry is a global and vital tradition. I’ve been walking the path of druidry for almost 20 years and currently serve as the head of the Ancient Order of Druids in America (www.aoda.org). As such, I’ve been sharing a great deal about druidry for a long time on this blog. The ecological crisis is a spiritual crisis as much as it is a crisis of culture. Druidry is us finding our way “home”; back into a deep connection with the living earth. Many people today are drawn to the druid tradition, there is “something” missing for them and it is that connection to nature. Continue reading.
“Our relation to the natural world takes place in a place.”
The American poet Gary Snyder wrote those words. I don’t think he’s wrong.
Every time we harvest a wild mushroom, we do so in a place. Every time we add a new bird to our life list, we do so in a place. Every time we gather spring water and admire a wooded valley, we do so in a place.
Alvars, bogs, fens, forests, marshes, prairies, savannas, and swamps are all places where life abounds. When we refer to these places specifically as “ecosystems,” a few interesting things happen: We see important connections, we see intricate relationships, and we see where humans fit into the story.
If you want to strengthen your connection to nature by learning these fascinating ecosystems, consider enrolling in Exploring Wild Ecosystems. This is my newest online course designed to improve your ecological literacy.
First, I want to say thank you to everyone who registered for the upcoming Old-Growth Forest Ecology Outing on May 31 and June 1. Both programs are sold out. Stay tuned for more Learn Your Land events this year!
I also want to mention that Exploring Wild Ecosystems will be open for enrollment on Monday, May 12. Thisis my newest online course intentionally designed to improve your practical knowledge of ecology. If you’re looking to develop ecological literacy and become a better naturalist, consider enrolling on Monday, May 12.
And now on to the newest video…
If you’ve spent enough time in tick-prone areas, you’ve probably seen ticks sucking the blood of deer. Logically, it makes sense that deer would at least be carriers of the Lyme disease spirochete. After all, white-footed mice and other mammalian tick hosts can be reservoirs for the bacteria.
But white-tailed deer are different. Their blood isn’t like the blood of other animals.
Scientists have been studying the relationship between deer and Lyme disease for decades. The newest research is quite fascinating, and in a brand-new video, I address some of the misconceptions surrounding the role of deer in transmitting Lyme bacteria.
Do deer ever get Lyme disease? If they don’t, what is it about deer that makes them immune? If deer are immune, why do ecologists still advocate for a reduction in the deer herd as a way to reduce Lyme disease rates in humans?
I’m really excited to announce that I’ll be leading an Old-Growth Forest Ecology Outing in a few weeks, and I’d love for you to join me.
This outing offers a unique in-person opportunity to learn the rich ecology and distinctive features of older forests.
We’ll begin the day by walking through a mature upland hardwood forest and discussing forest ecology. In the afternoon, we will explore a magnificent old-growth conifer forest and discuss old-growth forest dynamics.
In addition to learning key characteristics of mature and old-growth forests, participants will learn tree identification techniques; mushroom ecology and identification; the influence of geology on forest development; ways to interpret forest history; the role of fire as an ecological agent; old-growth forest misconceptions; and much more.
This event will take place in Cook Forest State Park. Located in northwestern Pennsylvania, Cook Forest is home to one of the last remaining old-growth forests in the entire region, currently hosting 11 old-growth areas totaling over 2,300 acres. One of the areas within the park, the Forest Cathedral, contains arguably the finest concentration of old-growth trees in the northeastern United States. This remarkable area is home to dozens of old-growth eastern white pine and hemlock trees, many over 300 years old and towering above 140 feet in height.
This outing is the perfect opportunity to learn, explore, and connect with nature in a truly spectacular setting.
Interested? Here are the details:
When: Saturday May 31, 2025 or Sunday June 1, 2025 (Choose one date; both programs will cover the same material.) Where: Cook Forest State Park, Pennsylvania Time: 10:00 am — 4:00 pm
To maximize your learning experience, space is limited and registration with payment in advance is required to secure your spot.
Paths I Walk 
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