Tuesday, December 13, 2011

We have come full circle again

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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

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Coming Together Brings Power- Samhain part4

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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.

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Sitting outside, getting ready, go

we are here to honor the Gods

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I remember the flaring from our sacrifice, all our dead remembered and standing together for warmth.

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our omens rattled out onto the Elder futhark map like worlds in worlds

totally magical randomness- the wyrrdness of alignment, pendulum scrying

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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

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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

Friday, December 9, 2011

Skull–Samhain part3

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snow skull comes alive

MIc Check- Samhain part 2

Samhain dawn

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.

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Feeling ok, we prepared.

Samhain fire morn

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.

Samhain fire bone log

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.

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Awkward space between the worlds.

The Power of Human Amplification- Samhain part1

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.

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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.

2 ft deep by morning