And so, March slides easily away between the trees, whispering of storm clouds, sudden frost, and sunshine on new bloomed wild plums.She leaves stars of chickweed in the grass and dandelions lifting bright and eager faces to the sky.She holds the door for April, who is nudging her way in, skirts wide and capable, dotted with dogwood blossoms and redbud flowers.There are lilacs in her hair and violets on her shoes and lilies in her hands.We rise to greet her, hands outstretched in welcome, turning briefly to wave to March as she backs away,having done what she could with what she had to bless the land, to remind us of the bond between body and soil,between root and bone, between bloom and blood.Thank you,we wave,blowing a kiss as April sweeps across the threshold and catches us up in her danceof emerging.
Welcome to this week’s Rituals of Returning newsletter! I am so pleased to announce that pre-orders for print copies of my new book, Thunder and Roses, are now open! Orders from the Etsy shop include special bonuses only available directly from us. The book becomes available worldwide in print on May 1 and is also available for pre-order on Kindle.
This week's magic:
14 minute mini ritual video: wisdom in the weeds.
Extra video: what is in my (magic) bag!
My newest essay at Feminism and Religion shares 13 lessons from the spring.
Fiddlehead goddesses! When we were searching for morels this past weekend, I was delighted to discover how well the Shakti I had with me matched the unfurling fiddlehead ferns! So, we made some more!
Where fiddleheads
are tightly furled,
you know there’s magic
in the world.
Stepping into the Cauldron of Creation
Within the bubbling depths,I honor my story and trust my process.I am not behind.I am not too late.I am in process, and my process is sacred.I am a woman unleashed.I am a person unleashed.I am a cauldron of creation.
My special offering for April is a Cauldron of Creation series unfolding via the Goddess Magic Mystery School. A brief overview video is here. This series includes weekly live practices, rituals, and a printable card deck!
Life’s Bits and Pieces:
Today is a ritual of sky and skin, of bare branches and possibility. Today is a ritual of reclamation and recovery. Today is a new opportunity to forgive ourselves, to wrap ourselves in a cloak of graceand to come back home to ourselves with love.
reading:
(to self) The First Witches Club—one of the free Kindle reads for March, I believe, this book is about three very different woman whose marriages abruptly come to an end and they team up, working at a little apothecary shop with a wise Crone who owns it.
(to kids) The Fall, book one in the Seventh Tower series—I have these books for ages and finally decided to read them. This one is about a boy who lives in a tower in a world of darkness except for the light that comes from “Sunstones” that they have to charge with light beyond the “veil” that surrounded their world. He falls off the tower into another land of ice and snow and has to try to get back to the tower. So far, it is pretty interesting, though my daughter doesn’t really like it.
(listening to with Tanner): Hatchet—the survival classic for pre-teen boys, we’ve already listened to this one before and Tanner has read it to himself (and I’ve also read it to myself as a kid). About a boy who gets in a plane crash on his way to Alaska and has to survive with only a hatchet to keep him company.
(listen to self): Warrior Girl Unearthed—I’ve just barely begun this one, it is the second book following Firekeeper’s Daughter and is about the twin nieces of the main character in the first book. It might a little much for me right on the heels of the other one, so I might take a break from listening to it.
Thinking about:
Doing more local events—I’m reading at PoetSpeak in town again next weekend and was invited to come to a local authors event at the library in a neighboring county for this month as well. I’ve joined several Missouri writers organizations this year. I’m also considering submitting to the Missouri Writers’ Guild contest and going to their conference in St. Louis in September. I also joined the Academy of American Poets!
How much I enjoyed going to a sound bath meditation/ritual in town this week!
Making a couple of revisions to Return—I discovered a big error in the final section of it this week (no #3 in my “Extras” section. HOW DID I MISS THIS?!). I had a couple of other small notes of minor changes to make, so I’m trying to make space to fix those all at once. This isn’t a book revision or second edition, just minor corrections.
Looking forward to: Simple and Sacred Open Mic night tonight! We have a live circle every month. For notices, make sure you are on the #30DaysofGoddess email list.
Sharing:
Karen Tate’s new book, The Divine Feminine! I’ve always loved Karen’s articulation of Goddess as “deity, archetype, and ideal” (which leaves space for everyone to connect with her in some way) and I was pleased to endorse her new book!
Daily goddess texts! From Caryn at the Divine Feminine App, you can sign up for daily Goddess 101 texts simply by texting ‘Join’ to 256-815-0760 to get your free daily dose of inspiration. (*text Stop to stop at any time. Note: US only at this time.)
Resource Reminders:
Intro audio about the Goddess Magic Mystery School
I’ve started to add our monthly activation replay videos for this year’s #30DaysofGoddess practice to the homepage! Scroll past the “2026 Practice Updates” section to access the videos. Note: Live monthly activations are available to any member of the Goddess Magic Mystery School Patreon community free and paid both!
Free Everyday Magic series!
6. Awe and Ecstasy
5. Freedom
4. Innerstanding
3. Sacred Yes and Holy No
2. Storied Realities, Magical Awareness, and Goddess Creation
1. Awakening Beauty
Past Resources:
Womanrunes Immersion series
Journeying with Inanna
FREE class:
forty week Intro to Goddess Studies class!
Gift a Goddess Magic membership to a friend!
Wisdom in the Weeds: Dandelion
Double click to interact with video
Happy April!
Reminder: I do create monthly handbooks for members of our Goddess Magic Mystery School community and April’s handbook is available here.
Dandelion is our herbal ally for April—bright, persistent, resilient.
They offer us this invitation: Keep turning your bright little face and your bright little hopes, to the sun, despite what comes.
Hope is a practice. Persistence is a practice. Faith is a practice.
This month, may we draw courage and inspiration from dandelions, resilient and radiant, even in challenging conditions and rocky, rough terrain What helps you keep turning toward the light? How are you navigating the rocky landscape of living?
You will also enjoy the free booklet “Recipes and Rituals of The Herb Crafter’s Tarot” by Joanna Powell Colbert and Letisha Guthrie, which inspired some of the dandelion practices mentioned in this video. Joanna’s nourishing Substack may also be found here: Messages from Sea & Cedar with Joanna Powell Colbert.
Remember: You already know the kind of nourishment you need—trust yourself, let your environment nourish you, and seek the wisdom in the weeds and overlooked places of your life as you step into the Cauldron of Creation.
Questions to consider:
Where are the “weeds” in your life that might actually be medicine or teachers?
What overlooked or ordinary thing in your environment might be quietly supporting you?
What “dream seeds” have you been holding in the dark that might be ready for light and warmth?
If you stepped forward like The Fool, what new path or project would you begin—even if you don’t feel ready?
What old stories or baggage are weighing you down that you’re ready to set aside?
Where in your life are you willing to be a beginner again?
What ideas, projects, or desires are currently bubbling and brewing in your inner cauldron?
What small daily practice helps you realign with the sacred and restore yourself to wholeness?
Affirmations to consider:
I follow my dream seeds.
I am audacious in my adventuring.
I seek the wisdom in weeds.
I keep my mind open.
I am willing to experience life as a beginner.
I give myself time and space to bubble and brew, to let new ideas and possibilities emerge.
I know the kind of nourishment I need.
I am a wildly complex human, perfect in my imperfection (from Amanda at The Phoenix Soul, Messy Affirmations)
May you be well nourished this month.May you trust that you know the kind of nourishment you need.May you honor your wild complexity and seek the wisdom in the weeds.
Today…
We have felt the yearning stirring beneath the surface, beckoning us to stretch, to reach, to root, to rise.Now, we sense sunlight above the surface, feel the urge to crack open, to emerge into the wonder of day.It is now when we leap together in the direction of our dreams, leaving worry and fear behind us as we rememberwe can fly.
Sending love to all of you.
Keep living your magic,
Molly, Mark, + Family
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