Ostara 2000 Newsletter Editorial

Welcome again to another edition of your state newsletter. I hope many of you have had the opportunity to warm yourselves under the strengthening summer sun. Things have been fairly quiet here in NSW over the winter months, with few gatherings, and few opportunities to meet with others. It has been a time of contemplation, of remaining indoors, and staying warm. Now that spring is in the air, we all tend to regain some of our energy, and feel ready to face the summer. If you follow the cricket or football, your seasons will be in a flutter! The football grandfinal was held at the end of August, and there have been several one dayers - now if that's not a sure sign summer's on it's way... Lazy days here we come...

As you may have noticed, you didn't receive an Imbolc newsletter, but you will find the seasonal information for Imbolc contained within this Ostara newsletter for your files. Many apologies for the delay, I'm still balancing study and editorial duties for the Alliance (getting there slowly).

Don't forget, that John and Chel have taken a well deserved break from running the administration of the Alliance, as well as being editors for Pagan Times. The new editors are: Ambriel, Hiraeth and Julia. If you want to contact them, please send an email to: pagantimeseditor@netscape.net

The editorial team can also be contacted at: PO Box 406, Carlton South Victoria, 3053

Subscriptions to Pagan Times cost $22 (including GST), and can be sent to the above address.

I would also like to extend congratulations to David and Louise from PAN at Seven Hills, who are expecting their third! CONGRATULATIONS!

And congratulations to Karin and Paul who are now the proud parents of Zack. CONGRATULATIONS!

I received the following letter in the mail recently, from one of our rural members:

"An Australian Country Garden - My garden sleeps, nothing dead, everything in potential. Winter is not a time for getting out the lawnmower. Mostly it is not the time for weeding either (although maybe I should, nevertheless, I don't) We plant bulbs, that is the most we do, apart from that we prune and transplant. At the moment we are awaiting old fashioned apple trees, we planted cider apples a few years ago and eagerly await the results. We are also seeking out nut trees and maybe some pomegranite trees/shrubs, in fact anything we can add to our wonderful piece of the otherworld, our pension as it were. I have constructed a circle of 'native' stones and am about to build an outdoor altar, finally, as I usually just 'wing it' or work indoors. It is beautiful in its simplicity, for I had been deciding where? For a couple of years until finally my Lady said get your act together and now it is. I shall plant thyme within as summer rains are normally sparse and kikyu is my nemesis. We planted some Ranunculi, then the chickens joined in so maybe there is some left, as their perfume is divine.

The winter rains are so welcome (and limit the frosts) and sometimes the rain would be more welcome in summer when I struggle to keep things alive, but still I revel in the joy of the rain falling at any times, measuring out the amounts in the rain gauge, noticing the well of the buds on the shrubs and trees. Potential roses, potential buds, potential leaves. What my husband and I have learned from our little 'borrowed' piece of land is that we have so much to learn, I originally, though not quite a city person, one not familiar with county life at the very essence. In this fair land known as Australia, did not come to terms with minor things like baby chickens who grew into excess roosters, which needed to be rehoused, or if not, killed, for in an unnatural situation such as any that is created by humankind. For example in the world of chickendom, maybe, the new rooster should have inherited the earth but the older one had presidence over the rather cocky alternative. So sad to say Gabriel (the elder of the two) won out and Percival the third, has decided to keep his mouth shut and not suffer the fate of the rather cocky brother Elvis, whom we sacrificed, with respect, and an fine feast for my three dogs and four cats. Pandora (our goat) and Bridgit (our sheep since two hours old) munch away on unloved weeds and join the gander, ducks and chickens in their pen each night to secure them from their varying foes. We like to keep them safe.

As I sit, the fire glows warm and welcoming, the radio echoes frustrations of country folk swamped by politicians and empty words. Romeo (our cat) demands the dogs slumber, I type as my husband feeds the fire and makes tea. This is our winter, as yet, the winter has been easy, with more frosts to come, but for now we enjoy the warmth. WE enjoy the nights and the indigo skies bespeckled by stars and misted by milky ways. Offers of far off galaxies. This is our winter at The Rock."

What's happening in your backyard, or on your balcony this season? How are you marking the seasons in your life?

Blessed Be,
Adrianne Harris, NSW co-ordinator.