Sunday, March 10, 2024

Imbolc -Harbinger of Spring

It was a bright sunny day
with only a little snow
ushering in an early Spring,
Bears even in February
and flowers.

 Clearing and clearing
and clearing
preparing for Bridget.

When Winter doesn't come
with the endless snow and cold
of blank landscapes,
it's disorienting.
But our longing
for the return of the light
and of waking to birdsong
is no less.

flowers from all of the flowers
that bloomed here last year
saved with gratitude
and offered to Bridget


 From the photos and our journals
and thinking about this season past,
I remember that ritual was a familial gathering
reconnecting delightfully
in the newly found sunlight,
grateful that we have gotten this far,
and how important is a mindfulness
of the sacred nature and time
of our assembling.
Sacrifice
from the heart
-even from the pantry-
is so much more.
Our intent and focus elevates.

The sound has been the essential thing.

Without fear we welcomed February,
special time to honor and acknowledge
Bridget's blessings,
leap year transition time.

There's been some minor snow events
loads of serious wind
and much discovery
this season.

Now less than two weeks until
Vernal Equinox,
it's been hard not to do
too soon garden work.
Speeding time and climate
belie the need to remain slow.

How do you move through
Bridget's girdle-
dancing, leaping, shimmying,
stepping,
with assistance or not,
with laughter,
with your feet or arms
or mind
or heart?

Words and Pics from then and some other Words from now

fun fun fun
gentle
the time to do

lighting ice lanterns
one placed in each direction
around the circle


be yourself absolutely


Bridget's voice
and touch
in your head and heart

anti-fear
love love love

lighting the fire
lighting the Bridget's candle

 

 just being
you

feel yourself on this earth

 10 plus us
then two more later.
SHASHUKA!

 

following the sun
honoring the sun
loving the warmth
of this great star


may this be one of the last rituals
where we are mourning
unfathomable dead

Angels are here and they're all around
if you give them an ear you will hear their sound
coming through
me and you
and we're in heaven-
Perry Robinson "Angelology"
 

  simple healing of everyday
barefoot in the sun
cloaked in the shade

 

 



water on the well of ice
underneath which is water
Water Ice Oreo.

 just being
home
 
just being

everyone
with so much praise
for Bridget

can we ever be done with
praise offerings
for her

photo by Nicci


being ok
with not doing everything
helping everyone
help yourself


  Omens
from our Honored Dead
the Runes: Uruz- the Auroch, primordial Ox, strength of life force,
the proto-ancient
the sound ur
the Ogham: Iodhadh- the Yew tree, the most ancient, associated with age and Permanence
the letter i

from the Spirits of Nature and Place
the Runes: Raido- communication or journey or circuit
going all the way around
the sound of r
the Ogham: Coll- the Hazel, wisdom and judgement
it also has to do with second sight and inspiration
the letter k

from the Gods and Goddesses
the Runes: Ansuz- the wind and the Voice
(Odin's cape flapping around),
qualities of wind and voice and direction
the sound of Oss
the Ogham: Onn- the Gorse, related to wheel and the sound, gathering abundance and a foundation
vitality and gratitude
the letter o

for the Season
the Runes: Isa- Ice which is not fire,
dense and hard, clear and still
the sound of silence
the Ogham: Fearn- the Alder Tree, protection, emotional shelter and guidance
confidence in times of challenge
the letter f
 
ice
destruction
or anti-destruction
solidity and slick
beautiful stillness
without fear
but wonder
respect & love 

going thrice
thru Bridget's girdle
transformed
Spring's a-coming.

 

keeping humble



Bridget's inspiration/compassion/love
forging our fire

allowing
the embers in our belly
to go to flame

inspire our hearts 
and our spirits
and our joy


 
sometimes we do another fire
after everyone has gone home
or the next day
to make sure all sacrifice is consumed
to make sure we clear energies
to make sure we feel whole.


                                        



Monday, January 1, 2024

Yuletide Greetings & Best Wishes of the New Year- part 2


First day of a new year
revolutions
of calendars
stories woven again.

The sun barely shows herself
from the grey clouds
dropping into the horizon incrementally later
but still so quickly
and though there was a dusting of snow this morning
all is green
some trees and shrubs are budding
bulbs coming up
in this not even false spring.

We trust that Winter will come,
though what was real winter
seems now forever changed.
Grateful to remember
and to be here now.

Only two weeks ago,
yet so much life has been since our Grove ritual.
MidWinter Solstice to New Year's,
a gentle return of the light
amid a panoply of sweets
and sparkle.


 Notes and pics from then with some extra comments:

SONIC SOULSTICE


metaphysical elementals
awareness
gratitude
tuning fork on the gong
as the rain became more than mist
holding bowls
full of pink roses
and red peony petals

MAAAAAA

 Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do
 the sound of silence
the sound of the chimes
the sound of your heartbeat
the fire within each of us

what is your highest goal
what is your intention
what is your prayer

 the unexpected slowness of arrival
they arrived first and on-time
with sirens in the distance
and everyone else was later 
with Ellizabeth driving herself in her new car!
let us know you are coming and we will wait for you
of course

Gathered were
eight living humans, 
one living and meat-offering-seeking good dog
countless ancestors, spirits and gods

 

the light you see when you close your eyes
starlight
the sun
Earth First!

Breathe In
Breathe Out

 there was one snowflake
and even though it was raining lightly
everyone stood or sat around the fire
rather that under the cover
of the porch

Corn Meal for the Earth Mother
Apples for the Directions
(and one for the good dog)
jingling change for the Well
slid under the layer of ice
bright orange for the Tree
flaming powder for the Fire
old turkey for the Outsiders
(none for the good dog)
flowers flowers flowers

 

 

built from bonsai cuttings
found in the shed
when the clearing for the windows began,
fed with sage and good sticks
and several armloads
of wood
and prayers
and sweetgrass
and the good poking stick

extra petals
of dried ranunculus
for those recently dead
by natural causes
or otherwise


the many dried layers
of final sacrifice
Garlic and Yarrow and St. Johnswort and Wormwood

PEACE


ice in the Well
orange in the Tree

Prayers for Peace
Justice/Compassion/Healing
Peace

 
sage & more sage
prayers & more prayers

It's not for us to say how long the day will be
but it will be


our homegrown sage harvest for Mananan
a whole gallon of sage
for peace & love
for  care & self-care
for all beings

this earthly plane
Directions
our Easterly inspiration
(our good dog appeasement)
our Southerly lessons
and prayers for the environment
our Westerly endings
setting sun and apple in the hole
our Northerly winter
and deep healing

up and down
and center

tonal place
astral plane/ether/spirit
multi-dimensions

-close your eyes-
breathe in breathe out
in whatever order and rhythm



Our Omens of Runes and Ogham

from our Beloved Dead- Eiwaz - the spindle, the ewe tree, the connection
backwards and in the future
axial function of the cosmic tree

Duir- the Oak, strength, continuity, protection, nobility, endurance
being blessed by a stroke of good luck
connect to it and listen to the divine

the situation is stabilizing,
as long as you stay honest all is good

from the Spirits of Nature and Place- Thurisaz- thorn, protection

Luis-Rowan, protection/enchantment protection/inspiration
psychic activity

Nature protects naturally
acknowledge and use wisely

from the Gods and Goddesses- Sowelu, the Sun,
the great gift of the sun and it's path

Ur-Heather, the moist Earth
enchantingly attractive/the Summer/Bees

the Sun will return
have faith

for the Season of Yule- Gibor, generosity,
the giver and giving, the gifting and receiving

Coll-Hazel, wisdom and judgement

share your gifts freely
participate


 feel your heart beating
see your light behind your eyes
be grounded and centered
and whole