Autumnal Equinox-part 2: it was there and then gone- the wyrd arrives

rapidly the winds come

and take the leaves
finally in full color
down.

the land is no longer green but yellow and brown and red
the sky is dramatic always
 either with the intensity of the blue or the light of the clouds

We gather sticks for winter.

  We weren't together at the actual time of the equinox but we each broke sticks then.

 A long week becoming free of pain
balancing re-balancing
coming home, letting go
chilling out. setting up.

She came first, with a much needed cooling sprinkling of a rainbow shower
 and then the clearing of the sky.

               
               

 Then she who has returned arrived which is always such a joy 

and then he did, a surprise gift of missed emails,
and then we snacked and drank and toasted and talked, 

women in the kitchen guys in the dining room,

while I assembled and gathered
back and forth.

Our meager harvest becomes enough.

Gently building the fire as conversational/ritual act.
the simplicity of breaking sticks
in the disappearing light of equinox evening.

                                       
                                        

 starting the fire with cedar

meditation silence
sound of fire

strong silence and inner fire
barefoot on the earth
letting/allowing/giving space for each
feel the space in between the crickets
the space in your spine
the fire in your belly

 naturally occurring

deeply moving
flash of fire like a sprite
our hazel nuts for the 3 gates
allowing our sacrifice to be enough

the strength within
the strong breath of fire
sweet smells of roasting garlic and honey
both local, both harvested with love.

prayers to the waters,
 to the clean waters that run free
to the clean waters that nourish all
to the balanced rainfall, to the snows to come
may there be enough and not too much or too fierce
may it always be so.

   ravens caw

 

our omens were five that Bryan later painted into bind runes:

from our Honored Dead: Tir -our sense of the people and justice and direction

from the Spirits of Nature and Place: Elhaz- our attention, our protection, our awareness

from the Gods & Goddesses: Eihwaz, theYew-the axial pull of apparent opposites
and what brings them together

for the Season: Nauthiz or Need and Mannaz or the Self (they came out together as one)

             

Our waters were clear and cold and refreshing and minty.

Our gratitude was everything.

Our feast was enough.