Though the nights are long and cold,they soon grow imperceptibly shorter as the light Returns
Come Celebrate Yule, the mid-winter Solstice
On Wednesday 12-21-11 gathering at dusk
Giving thanks for the sun, for each other, and the gifts of the season and our community
Heart to heart and hand in hand
Potluck to follow
Our shoveling helped the earth warm enough to melt clear and green. We gathered water from the pool, our sacred well, for indoor plumbing. Dealing with the other that is power outage is a strong reinforcement of this season.
K & ZJ arrived and we talked outage and estimated how long. We all had prepared, having learned the lessons from before and there was plenty of food, plates, water, fire at least for a few days.
Sitting outside, getting ready, go
we are here to honor the Gods
I remember the flaring from our sacrifice, all our dead remembered and standing together for warmth.
our omens rattled out onto the Elder futhark map like worlds in worlds
totally magical randomness- the wyrrdness of alignment, pendulum scrying
forces that are beyond us
a hidden horse ridding on the outer edge
hail and a hidden voice in the inner bowl
A cluster of upside down guys, but right over where there is the torch there is torch-a shaping enlightening burning. And in the next one to pop up in the Gibor zone or the giving field is Perth, luck and gift and Wunjo or joy is in the Wunjo zone
and in the Hagal or need zone- a cluster of ones that are face up: Uruz or ox (strength), Laguz or lake (to draw up from), and Gibor or reciprocity and Fehu or fee
the strength of drawing up the gift and what that costs
Ancestors- Manu or man, self
Sprits – Elwaz, attention
Gods and Goddesses- Kinaz or torch
Season- Wunjo and Perth - Joy & Chance
The Ogham was Quert or Apple which has to do with the afterlife, Avalon, the choice in love and life
We drank our blessings, we gave our thanks, and all our offerings, gathered our baskets and headed inside
WHERE THE POWER HAD JUST COME ON!
we ate hot chili and drank cold beverages and had pie and real coffee.
Renew New Year
I woke in the middle of the night just as the power went off. But the sun of the morning felt good and it was warm and we broke out the camp stove and make coffee outdoors and shoveled the deck.
It was good regardless.
Feeling ok, we prepared.
Power outages puts our family into camping/survival mode. It is a tentative balance of despair and joy, simply existing together. Like dumb suppers for our deceased, we feed each other as best we can given our circumstances.
Clearing the deck for Winter- gathering final garbage , last plants, making space for people and piles of snow. Dealing with large objects and children near the fire. Explaining sacred space without stating as such and gentle guidance away and towards.
Awkward space between the worlds.
People coming together to support each other, to stand as one voice, to occupy that space that we can call ours.
We knew it would snow, we knew it would be cold, we knew we might loose power and we would need a fire. I realized the only way to have that fire for ritual on Sunday would be to start it Saturday. Because of the weather all plans for the day were cancelled and we made food and fire and prepared for Summer’s End.
The fire took flame as the first flakes fell. It quickly flared. We gathered sticks and watched with awe.
We fed that fire all day as the snow grew deeper everywhere but our circle.
The snow was almost 2 feet deep by morning; our fire had burned down but was warm enough to be rekindled again- just like the circle of the year, just like our lives, just like our spirits.
The nights are chilly and come early. Some trees are already bare and the oranges and reds have darkened. Harvests are stored as best we can; the garden should be fully put to bed but there are always a few more things to do.
The Wheel turns, Summer's end and a new year begins.
Interesting times we live in. Let’s gather and offer gratitude to those who have gone before and have lit the way for us.
I pulled some cards for the season and for our ritual and what really came across was honoring and being at peace with the fullness of who we are. There is only one of each of us and, like our ancestors who are remembered for who they are and what they did, it is essential for us to be who we are. To quote again from Martha Graham to Agnes B. DeMille “THERE IS A VITALITY,A LIFE FORCE, THAT IS TRANSLATED THROUGH YOU INTO ACTION. AND BECAUSE THERE IS ONLY ONE OF YOU IN ALL TIME, THIS EXPRESSION IS UNIQUE. AND IF YOU BLOCK IT,IT WILL NEVER EXIST THROUGH ANY OTHER MEDIUM AND WILL BE LOST.THE WORLD WILL NOT HAVE IT.”
As the veil between the worlds thins, it is important to let go of fear and be whole.
We spoke about this season, the Dead, and Gods or Spirits of the passing- those who act as psychopomps and those who transform. There is often the desire to pair things up- the god and goddess of the season, the king and queen, creating a balance. Maybe sometimes that is a bit forced or unnecessary, maybe we leave someone out that way. I thought about the honoring of each, side by side or individual yet related. Our actual ancestors probably did not know each other, but they are all welcome here, none more honored than the next, with no disrespect to any. My grandparents and Bryan's- so different from each other and yet they all are ancestors to our son.
We talked about the Morrighan, and the Norns, the Fates and Valkiries. The Dagda and Cernunos and Mananan and Odin. We will honor them all as best we can in this world.
We are setting out dumb suppers for those spirits already restless and passing thru like the wind. Our fire on Sunday will burn long after ritual. Bring something to honor and remember your dead kindred and your living self- a name, a song, sweet smelling sacrifice, a tasty morsel.
Come by around 4:30pm, ritual by 5, potluck to follow.
Please RSVP, and if you can't be here be with us in person, please join us in your heart.
While we usually host grove rituals for the Solar holidays (solstices and equinoxes) on the day of the actual event, we were unable to this autumn equinox. And then trying to accommodate people and schedules it seemed like no one would be able to make it anyway. Thinking about personal needs and the Grove’s need for better scheduling, it, as always, works out perfectly.
From many to none to just a few. We spent the early part of the day at a small memorial service for a dear friend who passed exactly a year ago. Before our last autumn equinox was the last time I had seen her alive in this world and an interesting circle of closure that we meditated with her picture and spirit before this ritual.
Too hot weather, finally summer heat- unwanted if you are encased in a foam sling- we pass time until the end of the school day and pick up the boy and his friend. Going home we try to explain about the holiday and offer the option for either or both to join us or not. We always feel it is important for our son to honor the Kindred, but he had participated fully in our family ritual and we are not here to force relationship.
Making baked ziti one-armed as Katrina and ZJ arrive. Everything is new, even the bearable weather and we chat and catch up- trading flood and school stories. Gathering ourselves we discuss balance and adjustment- to new environments, friends, work, boundaries and abilities. How things and people change apparently or literally overnight and how to maintain self and space.
Boys ensconced in their game the rest of us each take a basket or pitcher and process to the 5-circle fire pit. We are here to honor the Gods, Gods who give meaning to life. Geese fly in the distance.
All the stalks and branches and wood are wet from the soaking rains we had for days; Bryan lights sage and kindles the fire.
Our directions seemed so clear and distinct- the stream loud and in the east, the birds and milkweed in the south, the setting sun defining the west, the changing leaves and winds of the north portending winter.
The smell of the grapes, the red of the flowers, the black of punk/goth style. Offering sacrifice to each of the gates, quiet prayers for healing bodies and hearts.
Our omens:
from the ancestors: Isa or ice, standing still, frozen solid, slippery or clear
from the spirits of nature & place: Uruz- the Ox, strength & growth, force
from the Gods & Goddesses: Fehu- fee, what things cost, wealth, liquid assets
for the season: Daguz or day, the vantage point of high noon, almost the whole cycle
Ogham- Idad or Yew 
our fire burns warm like comfort and blesses our waters.
drinking the endless water, friends helping friends, offering thanks.
We picked everything up and headed to the house, boys just done with their game, fabulous feast comes together like magic.
we laugh and eat and share school stories.
