and into the forest i go, to lose my mind and find my soul

Dear Ranger, As you wake up this morning listen to the sound of the pitter-patter of rain as it hits your tint. Listen to the breeze rush through my canopy as droplets hang from my leaves like crystals. Remember the snow is beginning to melt as the grass starts to peak through. See the mushrooms beginning to spore on my body as the owls rest in my chest. Now, dear Ranger as you pack your watered-down things as you think today may weigh you down. Remember the silence and wonder in the rain. Yes, mud may swallow you as you tread up my hills or water slicks your footing on rocks. But soon you will reach the top as the rain dries there will be a pass as snow slashes at your face like emotions. You see the darkness of the night wondering am I alone? But you are not my dear Ranger you will never be fully alone. The owl is my watcher following you making sure you reach your destination safely. Those impasses mean they will pass. Soon the snow will melt forever and the rain will dry. Just like your tears and emotions, it leaves room for openness in the spring to come. Now My dear Ranger when you reach my meadow at the top my owl will rest in my chest again as the deer come to graze nearby. You may take solace in this, but you stayed determined and reached my valleys and meadows at the end. I am proud of you, dear ranger. Now, as you unpack, do not be frightened. The meadow my child will care for you until you are ready to tread on your next adventure. You may now rest and you may now breathe. 

Here are some deities for any ranger to ask for guidance when lost or for safe passage on a journey I will break down history for each one starting with Greece

Hermes

Hermes has been known as a jack of all trades god but what he is well known for is guidance. If it’s helping souls pass to the other world or just docking a boat. He was the man with a plan. Hermes was prayed to by multiple people ranging from merchants to well theives. Depending on the location to his form of worship was changed some just worshipped his staff and would have buildings with it craved into the door frame, but some would have a statue of him in their town. Most though, would have a temple dedicated to him. Not only was he a god of travelers, but he also was of taxes and tricksters. But overall he was a protector even if a Merchant would pray for safety and a robber would pray for loot. In the end it would come in Merchant gets safety by not getting stabbed and robber gets money.  So it’s a win win. Overall, he is much more powerful than people give him in depiction as well. But judge as you must he is worshiped by many today. So remember on your travels in the Mediterranean that you may pass a man standing at a cross roads resting on a sign don’t forget to wave hello for you don’t know when thieves might be lurking nearby. 

Here is a list of Etsy shops I have recently bought from for working on my casual wear and Ranger fit

Shop 1 Folk of the Wood mainly archery and elven themed they sell cowls and capes: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FolkOfTheWood?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=238720959 

Shop 2 Fell and Fair more on the battlefield compared to high fantasy sells well made not just ranger is sold here but just overall armor and leathers: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FellAndFair?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=470098339

Shop 3 Moyamensing good arm bracers and cowls mostly accessories: https://www.etsy.com/shop/Moyamensing?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=656105307

Shop 4 is Cletic Fusion Design sells great winter clothes that are casual good for snow and water terrain: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CELTICFUSIONDESIGN?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=235956337

Shop 5 Cloak Closet a shop that has summer wear cloaks good for dry seasons for they are unwaxed and unlined: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CloakCloset?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=170628368

Shop 6 The Caped Companion sells mostly mantles and cloaks that are warm: 
https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheCapedCompanion?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1061681161

Shop 7 Valkyrie Custom wear mostly Norse inspired clothes made for SCA quality events: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ValkyrieCustomWear?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=586841745

8 Chicken vicious shop that sells mostly Viking inspired and some ranger wear: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChickenVicious?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=825076868

These are all I have currently, I, will reblog when I update with more thank you for those who read 

California 

• Peruvian apple cactus (late spring-late summer found near hedges)
• Prickly Pear Cactus (late summer-early winter found in higher elevated deserts with dry soil)  
  
• Olives (early fall-late fall Found in semi shaded areas in valleys )

Utah

• Golden currant (late summer found in road side ditches WARNING DO NOT EAT THESE ONES EAT THE ONES FOUND IN THICKETS OR MEADOWS CAR EMISSIONS CAN AFFECT THE PLANT)
• Dwarf smooth sumac (Late summer WARNING DO NOT EAT THE LEAVES THEY ARE HARMFUL AND TOXIC found in woodlands or fields)
• Nanking Cherry (early summer in colder zones throughout Utah spread via birds)

Continuing my foraging log I will talk about Idaho and Montana 

Idaho

1. Wild Ginger (spring found in cool and moist areas )
   
2. Wild Strawberry( Late spring- Early summer found in meadows and on the side of streams) 
3. Saskatoon berry (season is July only a month found in timberline areas)
4. Thimbleberry (I live coast side so I have never seen these in person but the photos online look adorable they are found in wooded and wet areas they are best foraged for in early-Mid summer)
5. Chokecherry (Early-Late summer found where there is sunlight)
   
6. Elderberry( Late summer found in moist areas)

Montana

1. Bearberry (Early spring found in foothills)
2. Wild Bergamot ( Early-Late summer found in prairies )
3. Wild Licorice (Early-Mid summer found in low ground nearby streams)
4. Cow-Parsnip (Mid-Late spring found near streams WARNING BE CAREFUL WHEN PICKING AN PREPARING THESE CAN AND WILL LEAVE NASTY BURNS WITHOUT PROPER PREPARATION)
5. White Bog Orchid (Mid-Late summer found in wet bog areas WARNING DO NOT EAT THE LEAVES THEY ARE POISONOUS )

Spring/summer is right around the corner so I am going to make a list of edible plants you can forage for in the Pacific Northwest and make seperate posts for different Parts of the country as well and a few countries outside of mine 

 Oregon:

1. Hawthorn berries (side effects are the seeds do not eat)
2. Blackberries (late spring-early fall)
   
3. Fairy Bell Berries(Summer berry plant found in wet forest)
   
4. Juneberry (June-July found in foothills and lowland do not eat raw the pits are dangerous raw as they contain CYANIDE)
5. False strawberry (late spring-early fall open woods and edges of forest)
6. Oregon Grape ( Summer DO NOT EAT IN LARGE AMOUNTS THEY ARE DANGEROUS THEY CAN ALSO DESTROY GOOD BACTERIA WHEN EATEN BE CAREFUL )
7. Jerusalem Artichoke (March)
   
8. Siberian Miner’s Lettuce (Late winter-early spring found in wetlands)
9. Sea Asparagus ( Early spring - Early fall found in Marshes near ocean)
   
10. Brookelime (Spring-Fall do not eat near polluted water)

Washington

1. Blue Elderberry(Late Spring-Early summer found in damp places)
2. Serviceberry (Late spring-Summer found in hills and rocky areas)
3. Bullwhip kelp (Early Summer-Late summer ocean)
4. Onion Grass (All year in meadows and grassland WARNING THEY HAVE A TWIN CALLED STAR OF BETHLEHEM TO CHECK IF IT'S NOT THAT CRUSH IT ON A ROCK YOU WILL KNOW IF IT’S NOT THE TWIN IF THEY LEAVE A STRONG SCENT THE TWIN IS POISONOUS)
5. Chickweed (Early spring found in damp soils underneath treelines)
6. Fireweed(Late spring-Early fall)
7. Japanese knotweeds(Early Spring-early Summer)

1. Do not just enjoy wildlife enjoy the locals they know about the area and can teach you

2. Respect the land and return rocks do not take without giving the earth is made on trades

3. Leave small tokens sometimes not everything has to be a trade but can be an offering the woods are peaceful and safe when taken care of

4. Do not disrespect those who reside in the woods they can be befriended if careful but do not give your name 

5. Before entering a wooded area make sure of buddy systems and take someone with you especially in winter it’s dangerous

6. When resting make sure to clean up after yourself 

7. Remember to pack water and to leave creatures alone if they do not wish to be handled friendship with animals is built as if with a person

black furred wolf who loves the water stimboard requested by anon

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