Working the Three Realms: journaling

Friday, March 2, 2012

Naturalist Journal for the Pacific Northwest

I've started a naturalist journal as a way of exploring and connecting more deeply to the Seattle area and the ecosystem(s) of the Pacific Northwest. I'm hoping it'll also come in handy as a way of taking notes and studying as part of my training as a volunteer/amateur naturalist for the Seattle Parks services.

In addition to my physical journal, I'm planning to use Pinterest as a kind of digital naturalist journal where I can share not only my own field notes, sketches and photography, but also images and notes that I find from online resources as supplemental material. The board that I'll be using is here (for now, I may reorganize later).

I'm drawing initially on three main books about how to go about keeping a nature journal and doing drawings and sketches outdoors in the field.

Source: amazon.com via Alison on Pinterest

And here are a few samples from the first few pages of my journal:

Source: flickr.com via Alison on Pinterest

I'll be sharing more here somewhat regularly, hopefully.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Saturn Return: A Schedule

Saturn will come full circle and cross the place it occupied in the sky at the time of my birth three times within the next two years:

December 25, 2011
March 24, 2012 (Saturn in retrograde)
September 16, 2012

A Schedule of Saturn Return Work

Meditation Rites when the Moon conjuncts Saturn.
Roughly once or twice a month for the next two years, I will hold meditation rites when the moon comes into conjunction with Saturn as it circles the zodiac. For most of this time, it will come into conjunction with Saturn itself, and the placement of Saturn in my natal chart, on different days or at different times within the same day. As Saturn approaches the point when it has come full circle within my own chart, these times will grow closer together. Because my moon is in my twelfth house, the house of mysticism, union, creativity and vision, my emotions may often be mysterious and unfathomable to me yet also provide me with insight and intuition that I do well to listen to and follow. For this reason, the moon may be an appropriate guide to connecting with the energies of my Saturn Return in an intuitive, creative way that will lead to healthy, helpful growth and integration.
Weekly Journaling on Saturn Return Topics.
Starting in mid-October, for a year I will spend time each week (on Saturday) to journal about topics specifically relating to my Saturn Return and its energies and influences. I will continue this weekly journaling for a year, taking me just a month beyond my third and final Saturn Return.
Miscellaneous and Spontaneous Work.
As time passes over the next two years, I will be attending carefully to the themes and messages I receive through my meditative and journaling work. I may decide to include other ritual work or other forms of creative work inspired by these practices, as well as incorporating Saturn Return work into seasonal holy days and other significant occasions.

Questions and Themes for Journaling

Do you feel like your life is on track?
Where do you feel pressured, disciplined, restrained?
Are there authority figures that you distrust, or who restrain you more than is healthy?
Where do you desire more freedom? Who or what is holding you back?
Are you making a bad bargain, paying too high a price for something you don't really need?
What does it mean to have Saturn in Libra?
What does it mean to have Saturn in the First House?
What does it mean to have Saturn conjunct Pluto?

Moon Conjunct Saturn: Calendar

Febuary 21, 2011
March 20, 2011
April 16, 2011
May 14 and 15, 2011
June 10 and 11, 2011
July 7 and 8, 2011
August 4 (morning and evening), 2011
September 28 (early morning and afternoon), 2011
October 24 (evening and night), 2011
November 23, 2011
December 19, 2011

SATURN RETURN December 25, 2011

January 16, 2012
February 12, 2012
March 11, 2012

SATURN RETURN, retrograde March 24, 2012

April 7, 2012
May 5, 2012
June 1, 2012
June 28, 2012
July 26, 2012
August 22, 2012

SATURN RETURN, September 16, 2012

September 18, 2012
October 15, 2012
November 12, 2012
December 9, 2012