These Male Trees Turn Female Even If It Kills Them
What goes on in a forest might be none of our business. Curious minds, however, always want to know.
In the lower canopy layers of Appalachian forests, a particular tree known as striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum) does something that very few trees do.
It changes sex.
Males become females. Females become males.
In academic circles, this phenomenon is known as sequential hermaphroditism. Some plants do it when stakes are high. In the case of striped maple, males become females even if it kills them.
Why does this happen, and what else is known about sex changes in plants? In a brand new video, I introduce some important questions and wonder about them aloud.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out the brand new video!
This animal does not change sex but it does change the way people maneuver through the woods. I recently spotted a few timber rattlesnakes in a Pennsylvania forest. To see photographs and to read more about my encounters, check out the latest Instagram post!Click to view post
Thanks for reading and watching, and thanks for your continued support!
-Adam Haritan
Cayenne Pepper – Herb of the Month
By Maryann Readal
Hot! Hot! HOT! – but not the hottest! Cayenne pepper, Capsicum annuum, is hot, but it reaches only 30,000 – 50,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) on the Scoville Heat Scale. For comparison, the ‘Carolina Reaper’ pepper reaches 1.4M – 2.2M SHU, and the jalapeño pepper just a meager 2,500-8,000 SHU. The Scoville Scale was developed by pharmacist Wilbur Scoville in 1912 to determine heat levels based on subjective sensitivity to capsaicinoids in peppers. Although modern lab methods are used today to determine the heat level of peppers, the Scoville Scale is still the common way to classify pepper heat intensity (Mountain Rose Herbs, 2021).
Cayenne pepper, a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, is native to tropical North and South America. The term “cayenne pepper” can generically refer to any of a number of peppers within the Capsicum annuum Cayenne Group, which is characterized by being…
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Embracing the Wilds at Lughnasadh
Wildlife
When you think of the term “wild”, what comes to mind? Perhaps wild can be defined by that which is its opposite: civilized, tame, domesticated, and controlled. Wild, on the other hand, is free, unrestricted, unbounded, and sovereign. And while I resist binaries, there does seem to be some truth in the difference between that which is wild and that which is tame–a manicured city street vs. an old-growth forest has a world of difference: in the smell, in the biodiversity present, and in the energy of the space. A wild place is hugely biodiverse and serves the needs of a wide variety of species. A wild space is in a place of ecological balance, where all resources are cycled and used. The human-tamed spaces are most frequently designed for human needs exclusively, and in the modern age, are also prime producers of pollution and waste. There’s, of course…
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Corn Moon Full Moon Ritual | Creating an Abundance Bowl
Happy Full Corn Moon!
The Corn Moon represents a time of abundance and prosperity. It often falls around the first harvest of the summer season.
This full moon can create some tensions in relationships and partnerships due to the moon Quincunx Venus and Venus Opposite Jupiter. This can bring up some challenges between you and your partnerships if there is an imbalance of support.
The moon opposite Jupiter can cause overindulgence or escapism to take place. So use caution and awareness in your behavior right now.
The moon in Aquarius can increase your desire for freedom, improvement and progress. You might feel open to new ways of reaching your goals or intentions while keeping your eye on the future. It might be hard to stick to a schedule right now, but don’t let that stop you.
Go with the flow and celebrate your personal freedom by trying new things and celebrating where you are at. If you don’t take time to celebrate the small things, the small things can’t turn into bigger things!
For this full moon, we wanted to put together a spell to help open you up to abundance in your life. This is a passive spell, meaning you do it one night and then leave it on your altar until the intention manifests.
Read full article at: Spirit de la Lune ~ Corn Moon Full Moon Ritual | Creating An Abundance Bowl
CREATING SPACE FOR SPIRIT TO ENTER: CRYSTALS + INTERMITTENT SILENCE
I recently read an article in a health magazine about intermittent silence: a practice you can do in as little as 10 minutes per day to allow your mind to pause and rest.
You close your mouth and your eyes, and simply listen to the sounds around you while silently watching your thoughts.
This gives your brain a break from processing, thereby reducing the effects of overstimulation (including stress or feelings of overwhelm).
Researchers are now saying that this practice can play a significant role in improving our health, well-being, and spirituality.
This practice appealed to me for two reasons: One, it’s simple, no meditation skills required, and two, the stones have taught me that silence creates a space where Spirit can enter.
One of the core teachings shared by the stones in my recent Light Walker course was that, when we enter into a place of inner silence, we become grounded in the light of our soul and we open gateways to Spirit.
Spirit comes from the Latin spiritus, which means breath/spirit. In silence, we breathe, and Spirit enters us on the breath.
Energies and consciousness can move into a space of silence, within which we can then experience transformation, healing, or enlightenment.
It is an exceptionally powerful practice, one that helps bring us back into alignment with our true selves, and opens us up to the Universe and the Divine.
It also brings us into our sovereignty – in other words, back into our power.
So with intermittent silence, even if you just take 10 minutes to shut your brain down and breathe, you’re allowing Spirit to enter and you’re grounding in the light of your soul.
Read full article at: Krista Mitchell ~ Creating Space for Spirit to Enter: Crystals & Intermittent Silence
New moon in Cancer | Welcoming in the Corn Moon Cycle
This new moon brings us into the Corn Moon Cycle. Summer is in full swing in the Northern Hemisphere and with that comes growth and expansion. All through this new moonth cycle you will feel the potential for positive change.
This cycle holds many opportunities to strengthen the stability in your partnerships, offer new ideas and perspectives and help you get going on any goals that might have been put to the side for some time.
Each new moon, using our planners, decks and astrology, we create the Moonthly Lunar Report.
On the 8th of this month, Venus squares Uranus which can make relationships feel restricted, you might be longing for a sense of personal freedom. If your relationship has been stuck in a rut, this aspect can help you get out of it!
The new moon in Cancer takes place on the 10th of July will help bring in a sense of belonging once again. The moon is most at home in the sign of Cancer and your focus may turn towards tending to your home and family as well.
Read full article at: Spirit de la Lune ~ New Moon In Cancer | Welcoming The Corn Moon Cycle
Paths I Walk 
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