Tales of Desert Forest Goth

A Nature Goth, what is it? A Nature Goth is just what it sounds like, it is a gothic person who is also deeply involved with nature.  There are many subdivisions/branches of Goth that could be classified under this subheading, from Hippie Goth to Forest Goth, Sea Goth, Desert Goth, Artic Goth, Swamp Goth, and Mountain Goth, to a Rewilder Goth, or an Eco Goth.  There are also hybrids, like Desert Forest Goth, Artic-Sea Goth, Swamp-Forest Goth, Desert-Mountian Goth, etc.   The variations are about as endless as the unique styles and expressions that exist within an ever-growing and shifting subculture and its creative souls. Nature Goths in general tend to spend more time outside than is stereotyped, either in their gardens, exploring the forests, swimming in the sea, etc.  Moon and star gazing, which is a hobby for many Goths, is even more common among nature Goths.  They may hold extensive knowledge of healing plants, nocturnal creatures, and dark-colored p...

Peppermint and I have quite the romance, as he came into my life first among my herbs.  Peppermint as a tea and a respiratory balm were among the first healing I learned on my now 26-year journey towards becoming an herbalist.  A hot cup of peppermint tea before bed on a cold winter's night, or a glass of chilled peppermint tea lounging on the deck watching the grazing deer of a summer's dusk, to me is the picture of relaxing.  Peppermint Profil: Latin Name:  Mentha x piperita Common Names:  Peppermint, Lammint, Brandy Mint Gender: Male (produces both male and female parts, but called He in writings) Medicinal Uses: Cough, Fever, Joint Pain, Indigestion, Diahhrea, Dymennorrhea, Stress Relief, Mental Relaxation Forms: Tea, Salve, Balm, Tincture, Syrup, Lodgen, Compress, Oil, Candy Pest Repelling: Mice and Rats In Umbra Terras,   Lady Morria

Christianity, so often thought to be the very opposite of Goth, is actually where I found my home.  With the rich history and ties between the two, from the first non-Latin or Greek European Bible translation being the Gothic Bible . To the Gothic Architecture of Medieval Europe. To the Victorian Gothic revival period... Roots and ties run deep.  It even strikes me funny that when the historical Gothic tribe converted to Christianity, other Christians of the day questioned them for the bright clothing they wore.  "How could they be Christians and NOT wear dark clothing?"   Fast forward to our times, Gothic subculture folks come to Christ, and people question them... "How can they be Christian and WEAR dark clothing?"  In the views of historical Christianity, dark clothing was considered pious and humble, and bright clothing as vain and worldly... how things have flip-flopped! Beyond the surface though, what does it look like being a Christian Goth? First and fo...

  F irst Harvest is a fun celebration on our wildlands journey here at Nightwatch Refuge!  It comes to us from the celebration known as Bread Mass  (Lam Mass from the Anglo-Saxon word for Bread) , and earlier Celtic First Harvest celebrations.  At first glance, this seems like a later agriculture celebration, but the earliest Celtic stories are about the foraging harvest ( See the  Story of  Tailteann Games and Rendezvou s for a wild shadowlands version ) and is in truth a remembrance of our Foraging Heritage.   Example of a First Harvest Blessing:    "Creator of All, we thank You this First Harvest Celebration.  As we gather here this day, may we always give thanks for the bounty of the land, the roots, the berries, the fruits, and the vegetables that grow in the warm soil and cool rains.  As we eat this feast set out before us and participate in todays festive games, may we never forget those who defended our freedoms to...