The Equinox is like a light switch, Samhain approaches

Our Autumn Equinox was a few weeks ago
but literally overnight the environment changed from lingering summer to fall.
And now just a few weeks later we have tasted winter and know the chill of cold mornings and frosty dew.

This season we have been blessed and overwhelmed
by peaches and peach processing.
A single tree that lived in a pot on a terrace in NYC
for 25 years moved up here about 7 years ago.
Each year she produces more and more fruit.
Late season peaches. The sweetest.
This year we possibly got 2000 peaches or close to that. 
When there are so many you just have to stop counting
in order to keep up.

           

So Equinox was still summery and the gardens were still growing or at least still living. But the crispness had touched us, allowed us to sleep, to drag out a few sweaters and socks and layers.
Preparation of sorts, but you can never really be prepared for the seasons, for the on/off of autumn (or spring),
for the sharp color in the light and the brilliance of the skies. Equinox is not about the endless but about the here and now.

walkway in the sun 

we had three kinds of grapes
and always not enough and just enough at the same time.

since quite a few folks were coming and some who had never been here, I thought to start the fire early and keep it smoldering for ease, but Bryan had it so nicely set and it was quite dry, so we just let it be with faith.   

the art of ritual sacrifice,
especially after a day at work, is all about magic and love.

             

So we gathered our goodies, and gathered ourselves,
old old friends, family friends, newer friends
and friends we just met and of course the teenage boy and processed altogether to the 5-circle fire pit
in our sacred tree circle near the remaining woods
and in the shadow of winter to come and surrounded by the summer that was.

sacred well flow within us   
  sacred tree grow within us 

             
                                              sacred fire glow within us
  

our gathered harvests as sacrifice
plus liquors and other combustible liquids

              

sometimes I think about the distraction of the camera during ritual, but I am a photographer and a visualist, as is my son,
and just as I accept that the moment can never be captured
I also accept our joy and delight in attempting to do so.

So as has happened often before, when it is time for our personal sacrifice or prayers or offering or remembrance,
three women inadvertently step forward together
from different parts of the circle towards the fire
in the improv dance of spirit moving.

I love our growing group of humans and Kindred
who come to share the fire and holidays.
Family of the heart and soul, filling us long after we part. 
So incredibly grateful for smiles and hugs.
Many flower petals empty from my pockets in prayer.

We remember you all with a special shout out to you
who could not join us on this day or at this time or any more.

There is the memory of Autumn Equinox
as that time of passings, the season from now to Samhain it seems so much and so many die or move on,
and personally we lost some very dear ones at this season
over the years.
We are cautious in our unbridled joy of this colorful time.

We remember you all with a special shout out to you
who could not join us on this day or at this time or any more.

Sheaves from our corn harvest,
from grasses from years’ past,
from the gardens and woods that was
accept our sacrifice.
Hear and answer us, give us a sign.

We remember you all with a special shout out to you
who could not join us on this day or at this time or any more.

       
            
  

Our Omens
from the Ancestors: Jera- a year, the harvest, completion of a cycle
from the Spirits of Nature & Place:Elhaz- attention, protection 
from the Gods & Goddesses: Fehu or fee, mobile property or capital
for the Season: Wunjo or JOY!
So we drank that in and we gave our thanks, all of it, and felt the earth and our breath and let it go in the cool and present moment of now.

Processing back with the gentle drum beat,
towards the light, with much joy, gratitude and kinship, making a full meal out of many small parts,
all coming together with love
and spontaneous music jams.