Booktip: WyrdWood - The Story of Dusty Miller

I've had the privilege of meeting Dusty Miller the 13th during Walk & Talks in Amsterdam (2006) and Zeist (2007). To say he's an interesting man is a huge understatement... When I heard there was a book about him, I ordered it immediately at Lulu. I received it last week and read it in a few hours. I love it and most importantly, it does Dusty justice. I highly recommend it, as you can read in my 5-star review.

description:

"Dusty Miller 13th is an English Shaman and Folk Magician. He is descended from the aboriginal inhabitants of Britain, the Elfin tribes who dwelt in the primeval forest before the Celtic invasions. He carries the traditions and wisdom of his Elfin ancestors through into the modern day. In this book, written with the consent and active co-operation of Dusty and his family, Dusty's relationship with the Ancient Tree Spirits known as Dryads is explained, along with the manner in which he gathers LiveWood from the Dryads – wood which still contains a living, sentient spirit – and crafts it into magical tools, such as wands, staves, cudgels and pendants. These LiveWood artifacts are items possessed of powerful and ancient Magick, with an emphasis upon healing, protection and becoming successful in life."

Dusty Miller the 14th

A few months ago I heard that Dusty Miller the 13th would come to The Netherlands again, this time with his son Dusty the 14th. He would be doing the talks and his son the walks. I've been to walk & talk meetings with Dusty 13 in 2006 and 2007. I was looking forward to seeing him again, introducing his son to the public. I decided to go to the Walk & Talk at Antropia in Driebergen.

Unfortunately Dusty the 13th couldn't come yesterday, because he is suffering from balance problems after a fall recently. Dusty the 14th and his wife Claudia took charge of the whole day. I must say I did miss the old Dusty, but his son makes a very good successor! Claudia adds her own touch and they work great together.

In the morning a group of people (and a lovely dog) started with a Walk. We did some exercises, feeling leylines and the boundaries of the tree spirits. We learned about lunar and solar trees, and tried to feel the difference. We raised and sent energy around a big tree and sent it to Dusty the 14th. It felt very strong and powerful. We ended the walk with a beautiful tree meditation, in which we met the dryad of the beech we were surrounding. After the meditation we sang a Native American song of thanks to the trees. Just before lunch Dusty had a talk on the phone with his father. The old Dusty asked what we had been doing, because he sparkled from energy and felt very good!

After a yummy elaborate lunch we gathered in a hall for the "Talk". Dusty told about his fascinating family history, about the livewood and lots more! He also answered questions from the public. I had heard some things before (from his father), but that didn't matter. He knows how to captivate an audience very well. He is so much like his father and still is very different!

Around 5.30pm I drove home, tired but very satisfied. I had a fabulous day!

• All my pictures
• Dutch livewood website (most of it in English)
• German Livewood website
• Geronimo (Jeroen Heindijk, who organises the Dusty events in The Netherlands)
• The Dusty Millers Homepage
• MySpace Dusty 13th

TT #76: inspiring people

Thirteen people that inspire(d) / influence(d) me on my path I'm an eclectic witch, which means I don't follow one particular tradition. My path is a blend of ideas from various traditions and sources: the Old Religion, druidry, wicca, shamanism and more. Like in a witch's cauldron I add things to season the brew, spice it up, make it more effective, etc. I like to study other paths and traditions to learn from it. There's always more to know! So many people have inspired and influenced me and/or are still doing so. Here are 13 of them. Phyllis Curott - Of course she's on top of my list. I'm working towards initiation by her in the tradition she founded (Ara tradition) for good reason. It appeals to me and links to my beliefs and ideas on being a witch. Marian Green - I've learned a lot from her in workshops and her many books are very good. I like her approach in teaching, she's very down-to-earth. Michael Harner - Through Phyllis I heard about Michael Harner, an authority on shamanism. Especially his technique of shamanic journeying has enriched my spiritual path. Janet Farrar & Gavin Bone - I've done the Inner Mysteries workshop weekend a few years ago and their books are very interesting. In June I'll attend another workshop with them. Anodea Judith - Inspired me mainly because of her interpretation of the Chakra System for the Western lifestyle. Her books on this topic are the best you can find. I've been to a lecture when she was in The Netherlands. Dusty Miller the 13th - This Tree-Elf and hereditary shaman is the current patriarch of what is believed to be the oldest Elfin Tribe still surviving in the British Isles. He shares and nourishes my love for trees. Walking through the woods with him is a unique experience! Starhawk - Not so much because of her activism or her Reclaiming tradition, but her books are very good to work with. I've been to a workshop by her last year. Philip Carr-Gomm - He combines his role as Chief of the Order of Bards Ovates and Druids (OBOD) with writing, and giving talks and workshops. His Druidcraft Tarot is my favourite deck and I also have the Druid Animal Oracle. Scott Cunningham - His books belong in every witch's library, great reference books, standard works. members of the WhiteshadoW forum - In the beginning of this millenium I discovered the internet. This witchcraft forum was one of the first and the best forums in the Dutch language area. I still know a lot of old forum members, also in real life. Joke & Ko Lankester - A Dutch High Priestess and High Priest in their own wicca coven. I've never met them (yet?), but I use their books a lot. Claudia van der Sluis - This Dutch writer doesn't call herself a witch, but she wrote a few great books on modern witchcraft, that are still very useful. Susan Smit - Another Dutch writer; her book "Heks" (witch) about how she discovered witchcraft was one of the first books I read when I started practising as a witch. Of course there are so much more... Raymond Buckland, Vivianne Crowley, Dion Fortune, etc. etc. Simply not possible to name them all... ~*~*~*~ Links to other Thursday Thirteens! ~*~ Nathalie ~*~ Holly ~*~ Malcolm ~*~ susiej ~*~ Sandee ~*~ Cricket's Hearth ~*~ marcia ~*~ Nicholas ~*~ Anthony North ~*~ Open Grove Claudia ~*~ Chuck ~*~ pussreboots ~*~ Chelle Y. ~*~ Sandy Carlson ~*~ Joely Sue ~*~ Journeywoman ~*~ crazy working mom ~*~ Xakara ~*~ Gattina ~*~ Corina ~*~ Robin ~*~ Darla ~*~ Rian Fike ~*~ Aline de Chevigny ~*~ storyteller ~*~ Nancy J. Bond ~*~ Mama Bear ~*~ Melanie ~*~ Chris ~*~ Lisa ~*~ Julia ~*~ Natalie ~*~ The Bluest Butterfly ~*~ chanpheng ~*~ Julia Smith ~*~ Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Dusty Miller in Zeist

Last year in April I went to a walk with Dusty Miller the 13th in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. I enjoyed it very much. I always read his weblog and leave a comment now and then. I was pleased to hear he would visit our country the last week of September this year, again organized by Jeroen Heindijk of Geronimo's Gallery . I booked for a walk in the Panbos in Zeist on September 30. Wonder would come with me.

Unfortunately Wonder couldn't come because he was ill. I called Joke and she was happy to go in his place. We picked up Llwella in Nieuwegein. The meeting place wasn't exactly easy to find! the directions weren't specific enough. In the end we found it, but it was good we left early!

The Panbos (woods of Pan) is very beautiful. Jeroen and Dusty told us about the trees and we did some exercises. It was a great experience. Again I learned a lot!
The group wasn't big; I think we were with 15. It was wonderful to be with people that understand and share my love for trees. There also was a cameraman; there's a DVD about Dusty in the making. Great! If it's ready, Jeroen will announce it on his website. The weather was good: dry with some sun. The last days before it had rained a lot, but we were lucky!

After the walk we all drove to Jeroen's place where Dusty took a seat in the living room to answer questions. I love to hear him telling stories about his family, the trees and everything else. It's such fascinating material and he's a very good story teller. Afterwards I introduced myself and he was pleasantly surprised to meet the Tinkerbell he knew from the comments on his blog.

We also had a look in Jeroen's gallery. He sells a lot of interesting stuff. Dusty's Livewood of course, but also woodwork by Houtdraaierij Kramer, herbs, incense and other related products.

You can see the pictures I made in this online album.
Watch Dusty's first YouTube video about a very unusal find of many 4 and 5 leaf clovers.

Happy Yule by Dusty

On The Dusty Millers LiveWood Site I found two wonderful (You Tube) Yule blessings. I thought I'd share them with you by giving the link. Enjoy!
While you're there check out the rest of the website and the blog of Dusty Miller the 13th. His Season's Greeting shows a beautiful and impressive tree, I love it! I've met Dusty when he was in Amsterdam in April this year. He did a walk-and-talk in the Vondelpark, which I enjoyed very much. I'd love to go to "his" wood and visit the ancient trees there.

Dusty Miller

Yesterday I went for a special walk in the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. The walk was organized by Jeroen Heindijk of Geronimo's Natural Gallery. He invited Dusty Miller the 13th to walk with us and tell about his family, the trees and Tree Dryads. Dusty is the current patriarch of what is believed to be the oldest Elfin Tribe still surviving in the British Isles, the world's leading authority on Tree Dryads and internationally famous as a Shaman, LiveWood Sculptor and creator of Elfin Art. Click on the links in the preceding lines to read more about all of this; it's very interesting stuff!

Around 25 people assembled in Het Blauwe Theehuis (The Blue Teahouse, no. 4 on this map). The weather forecast wasn't very good, but fortunately all wrong; we had great weather! Jeroen and Dusty guided the walk. We stopped from time to time near a special tree to listen to Dusty and/or Jeroen. Dusty is a very nice and funny man and he's a natural narrator. He had so many interesting things to tell; trying to reproduce that here wouldn't do him justice. If you ever get the chance to meet and walk with him, be sure you take it! I asked one of the others to take a picture of Dusty and me (I was looking straight into the sun, so my eyes are almost shut). I have made a lot of pictures of all the interesting trees we met on the walk. At the end of the day I was exhausted, but it was well worth it!

(click on the "Dusty Miller"-label under this post to see more posts about my encounter(s) with the Dusty's)