Five Days Of Sylvik

[Hadley Quesnilia]

Greetings All! 

I wanted to share with everyone this most special week! This day starts the Holy Week of Sylvik. 

The Five Days of Sylvik are a series of five days that start off with the Holiday known as Erda Day ending five days later on the holiday known as Herba Day. During these five days people of Sylvik are encouraged to share prayers and nature focused activities with others. For example! I welcome everyone to on a hiking with me up Mushroom Mountain one day this week. I am sure the small view from the over look would be just starting to bloom. 

Erda Day is a day where we also focus on pushing the notion that no one should leave their garbage outside. Not only does it leave an eye sore but it also hurts the plants that may get tangled in it along with some of our scraps are dangerous for animals to eat and could make them sick or even kill them.

Herba Day is the last day of the Holy Week usually coalescing in a party were hunts and gathered crops like nuts and berries are shared along with finish off the winter reserves.  The day ends around five in the evening with the ceremonial planting of fifty five oak trees in the surrounding areas. With each tree you say a prayer hoping that Sylvik allows for these trees to be fully grown in a matter of months rather than years. 

Each day this week I will share with you all a prayer or story that we like to share during these days. 

May The Great Druid Sylvik's blessing stay with you during this holy week keeping you safe and free. 

[Hadley Quesnilia]

A Sylvan Prayer

Oh, Great Druid Sylvik, whose voice I hear in the wind
Whose breath gives life to all nature within The World.
Hear me; I need your strength and wisdom.

Let me walk in beauty and make my eyes ever see
Make my hands respect the things you have made 
And my ears sharp to hear your voice.
Make me wise so that I may understand
The things you have taught my people.

Help me to remain calm and strong 
In the face of all that comes towards me.
Let me learn the lessons 
You have hidden in every leaf and rock.
Help me seek pure thoughts 
And act with the intention of helping nature and others.

Help me find compassion 
Without empathy overwhelming me.
I seek strength, not to be greater than my brother
But to find my greatest self.

[Hadley Quesnilia]

 When I go up through the mowing field,

     The headless aftermath,

Smooth-laid like thatch with the heavy dew,

     Half closes the garden path.

And when I come to the garden ground,

     The whir of sober birds

Up from the tangle of withered weeds

     Is sadder than any words.

A tree beside the wall stands bare,

     But a leaf that lingered brown,

Disturbed, I doubt not, by my thought,

     Comes softly rattling down.

I end not far from my going forth

     By picking the faded blue

Of the last remaining aster flower

     To carry again to you.

[Hadley Quesnilia]

Today is the last day of Sylvik's Holy Week! 

Thank you to those who have participated and enjoyed this week with me! 
Being as today is the day of Herba I will be going around the forest to start 
planting acorns. As the seeds are being planted in the soil a prayer will spoken:

"May this seedling grow into a great big tree

May Sylvik bless this youngling

To be as He

The Great Druid Sylvik

Decides it to be

I bless this acorn in the name of Sylvik

Following the seeding I will also be participating in my first hunt. 
Before the hunt starts I will say a prayer to Sylvik asking for him 
to allow me to complete it. Before the hunt will begin those 
involved will be painted ceremoniously as a prayer spoken by 
Everyone: 

         May you be as strong as the Oak

         As flexible as the Birch

           May you stand as tall as the Redwood

            Be as fatal the Manchaneel 

              May you Live gracefully as the Willow 

              And share this bounty as the forest shares with you.

Thank you all for sharing this week with me!