Wow. David Byrne’s Blog…

Here is an incredible travel-logue of a trip he took to Portugal. Love that he has a blog.  Love this article.  http://journal.davidbyrne.com/2009/11/111009-sintra-a-mystical-home-in-the-clouds.html

Faery Rings & Forensics

The knowledge of science and the value of imagination. An article from the Houston Chronicle that illustrates the value of appreciating imagination, make-believe and wonder, as we wouldn’t have science if we didn’t believe we could adventure the edges of the ocean, travel to outer space and beyond, or   eliminate disease.

Click on the Photo for another great modern day faery ring story.

Fairy Rings, by the Plantwoman

“These mysterious circles of fungi are variously known as fairy rings, fairy circles, sorcerers’ rings or circles, elf circles, and pixie rings.  There is a long tradition of folklore that marks them as magical places, usually as gateways to another world.  Other traditions say that they are places where fairies and/or elves gather to dance.

The bacchanalian revels of these other-worldly creatures are especially associated with moonlit nights, with the rings only becoming visible to mortals in the morning.

Inevitably, this fairy ring folklore has nourished superstitions about the dire consequences for mortals violating the perimeter of the fairy ring.  Any mortal who stepped inside the ring would become invisible to other mortals and may find it impossible to leave the circle.  The fairies, as punishment for his transgression, could force him to dance to the point of exhaustion, death, or madness.

And if a mortal dared to destroy a fairy ring, the consequences for him would be just too horrible to contemplate.  (I’m afraid the guys in my lawn service are in big, big trouble!)

Of course, some people with no poetry or mysticism in their souls pour cold water on these traditions.  They will tell you that fairy rings are natural phenomena that are begun by a spore from a sporocarpus which grows outward creating a connected circle of mushrooms… ”  more.

http://www.chron.com/commons/persona.html?newspaperUserId=plantwoman&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aplantwomanPost%3aa99979cb-d9ec-46fd-997b-3ca300b23e14