Hazel Pomaderris

Pomaderris apera is the botanical name of Hazel Pomaderris, an erect shrub that’s open and hairy. Its height is typically up to 3m and width 1.5m. Its laves are ovate and prominently veined, with the length of 13cm. As it ages it gives off markings on its bark and is a slender plant. In spring and summer it gives of small greenish flowers.

It is hardy when in shade and well composted soil. It needs little to no pruning and has some tolerance to frost. It has little tolerance for drought, as it takes high preference to moist and wet soils.

Gods And Goddesses: Uke Mochi

Uke Mochi is the Japanese goddess of food and wife of inari. She is also called Uke-Mochi-no-kami, meaning “Goddess Who Possesses Food”.

The moon god Tsukiyomi came uninvited for a meal. Uke Mochi sadly had no food to serve. However, when she faced the ocean fish came from her mouth, when towards a forest game animals came from her body, then upon facing towards a rice paddy, Uke Mochi coughed up a bowl of rice. Disgusted, Tsukiyomi killed Uke Mochi. The corpse of Uke Mochi was still able to create food from the body, which fed the people of Japan.

Totem: Moth

Moths are a generally nocturnal creature and fairly recognizable. They are related to the butterfly and are less colourful then their relatives, being also a great user of camouflage.

Due to their often duller colours compared to butterflies, they teach about the lack of need of boasting and showing off accomplishments.  It may be wished to be done, yet it doesn’t do much to bring on benefits.
A healthy diet is important. The moth teaches that with a diet one doesn’t have to worry about sugars, fats or carbohydrates as long as the diet is a healthy one.
As the moth is a creature typically of the night, it is taught that one should try practicing one’s spiritual path during the night. A different feel is certain and likely different lessons are to be learnt during this time of the day.
Transformation is a part of what the moth is. At certain times in life, transformation is needed and often times to become a better person a transformation, to an extent, is needed.

Yellow Hakea

Yellow Hakea is the common name of a shrub with a botanical name of Hakea nodosa, a plant growing about 3-4m metres in height and width. Its leaves are needle like as long as 50mm while the flowers are clustered and coloured cream to yellow.

The flowers grow in autumn and are scented, but the smell is not always pleasant. Woody seed pods appear after the flowers, containing two seeds each. The seeds are easy to grow.

It is a hardy plant that grows fast. It can grow in a variety of soils and climates, being able to tolerate frost. It however needs part shade or full sun.

Friday The 13th

Another Friday the 13^th has past as of recent, being the second for the year. There is going to be one more in 2012, in July, and I am still waiting for a Friday the 13^th where I have bad luck during the day.

Just as I wait for a Friday the 13^th with bad luck on my behalf, a story I heard of a couple or so years ago about Friday the 13^th keeps coming up in my mind. It likely is happening due to the fact that special day of ill fortune occurred recently.

The story itself is rather short; it is simply a man going onto a plane ride on Friday the 13^th itself, noticing so few people on the plane. Curious as to why this is so, the man asks a woman working on the plane why so few are on the plane. It is explained people avoid flying on Friday the 13^th and with this man poking a little at how it is silly to believe Friday the 13^th is a day of bad luck. This man however has his new glasses fall off his face, breaking due to the fall, right after this and ends up, apparently, believing that Friday the 13^th is a day of bad luck.

This very story has stuck with me since I first heard of it. In a way, has caught my imagination. Despite me not having any bad luck on this famous day that comes occasionally, perhaps I will be caught off guard one day and have something go wrong for me on a Friday the 13^th.

Gods And Goddesses: Futen

Futen is the Japanese wind god. He is also known as Fuuten, Fujin and Fuujin. He is often appears as an elderly person with white hair and beard, red body armour and holding a sceptre in his right hand. He is what is known as of the Guardians of the Eight Directions. He uses a sack to bring winds out of it.

Totem: Red Panda

The red panda, despite their name is not related to the panda, although it is an omnivorous animal which mostly consumes bamboo. A mostly solitary and nocturnal animal, it is also known as the lesser panda.

As an animal mostly alone it teaches that there is nothing wrong with being alone and how to gain nourishment and rejuvenation in loneliness.  Solitude is not a bad thing, where being alone can allow for rest and relaxation.

Gentleness is of the red panda, reminding that being gentle can help. Gentleness can be used to help think ahead, rather use other methods which may create a decrease in choice making.

While red pandas may be gentle, they seem to have a carefree attitude, also giving the teaching to give less worry and to enjoy life more.