Autumnal Equinox-Harvest Balance

 autumn is speeding quickly towards winter
the beauty of color gone from the garden
ablaze with the leaves
rapidly now blowing off the trees
 covering the green of the land
for us to crunch through and rake.

cycles of seasons flying by,
nature reminding us to be present
in a world gone mad

distracted by devices

and divisiveness, 
everything returns to the Earth.

we've been maintaining our joyfulness
and compassionate loving
as best we can,
knowing that is truly the antidote,
keeping that alive for the future,
but it often pales 
to the destruction
which is so disheartening.

gathering together to pray,
to mourn and grieve,
to honor and witness,
doesn't feel enough
though it is.

endless tears
like leaves 
fall,
breathing slow and strong
is always good.

some brief disjointed notes and pics from our ritual day:

poop processional
hummingbirds
little dog with the stick and the log
mid-size dog with the bone 
flowers
and bacon fat
and everything

Lily, Eric & Biscuit the dog
Nicci, Katrina & Elizabeth 
Elaine, Francis & Ruby the dog  
Cal
JTM
& us

lots of hummingbirds

the magical volunteer 
corn and pumpkin
claiming the close to the house fire circle

never enough time
to connect deeply enough with each other

but the thread of connections
and interconnections
randomness
being whole
and together
laughing
good laughter
blooming honeysuckle


being neutral/balanced

watermelon guts thanks
beer thanks
gum thanks

it's been a good season
we are so grateful

energy shift of collecting people
into ritual

the energy of the Earth
and the energy of the Sky
the equinox energy pivot

so dry
so very dry
leaves fading fast
giving thanks for this good weather
praying for good rain

Earth Mother
before meditation
so we never forget

leftover salami crackers
for the outsiders
consumed after ritual
when no one was looking
by Ruby the dog
a tiny massive goddess of energy

armloads of flowers 
consumed in a small fire

zinnias from Elizabeth for all
heart communication 
between everything
laughter/vertebrae

 

ear of corn 
whistling
in the fire
while we were doing 
the waters

 trying to find balance
right now

obscuring emotional attention
attached to what is now
digital content

this whole weekend
dark moon to new moon

connections & interconnecting
a strong web of love
flexibility is essential

release and let go
to be stronger

peaches and more peaches
no deer interrupting us

silence when rune casting 

Our Omens:

from our Honored Dead: Perthro, the Lottery Cup, Chance
from the Nature Spirits: Ingwaz, Expanding Seed Concept, Growing/Being/Doing
from the Gods & Goddesses: Sowelu, the Sun, Illumination
for the Season:Tir, the Spiritual Warrior, Directionality

PINGST

joyously fragmented
spur of the moment is always
when it comes true from the heart
thoughtful and specific
is also important
especially
when it comes true from the heart

energetics
energies
yogic balance
tolerance/intolerance
releasing into the equilibrium of silence
stillness within
and the whole
feel your form

3 beautiful women with grey hair
looking at each other's
spiral earrings
before heading home

 

Through the Lughnasah Season

 As light changes and daytime lessens 
and the trajectory of the sun
moves to due
East West;
this season of changes
is strong
as are we.

never forget 
and 
never again
are phrases
not of nature
but of circumstance
and human tragedy
always forgotten;
but in the ever-present 
now
we love.

Lughnasah is powerful
and bright;
a time to honor the harvests
and the efforts 
and the heart
of fostering and nurturing
to fruition. 

Grief and Joy
exist side by side,
like the ripening and rotting peaches
on so many bent or broken branches. 

I breathe in, I am alive.
I breathe out, I am alive.

meager notes and pictures from then
 in not much order 
with some thoughts from now:

 gathering of beloveds 
for days

so many things
constant steady motion
neverending

gardens and blossoms
just let go. 

  Bill & our Spear
Processional & Recessional
such a beautiful day
relaxed accomplished day

 the path of the sun
renewal
start amassing good harvests
whatever they may be
relax
nothing is ever in control

popcorn seed sacrifice from MidSummer
growing gloriously
moving our ritual to the five-circle fire

a significant number
of regulars 
and others 
could not show up

so there were only six of us humans + a small dog
including someone who had been brought here years ago 
  randomly reconnected with recently 
at the library
and someone who was with Bryan in his first Grove
in Jersey City
35 (or more) years ago.

Circles upon circles upon circles

release
and hit the target

 ground wasp sting-stung in the East
my middle finger
swollen
aceto cholene cascade
rising defiance

2 different delicious
lemon themed desserts

long and detailed
pre-ritual

the process of repeating the practice
the Birch Spirits of Life

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Omens

a physician's charm
the healing charm
a poetry charm
the healer and the wound
bone marrow
or specific poultices

the Reed, the tool for the physician

NgETAL REED

the Primordial Wound
it's strength lies underground
under the water
it bends with the wind

keyword-healing

 frog in the South
leaping away

rolling the wheel of cheese
(afterwards left out all night and partially nibbled on)

there will be gifts of vision to use and to share 
remember our Ancestors' work
there will be tools of wisdom to craft and shape
cauterize and clear the way with Nature
there will be destruction or disturbance to awaken our piety
the Gods demand we focus
there will be light to encourage and give us courage
this Season will allow us to shine 

stand tall and firm
hold onto what is good and true
heal through love
walk through fear
joyfully gather and embody
strength