MidSummer Solstice-part 3

 

So it was after end of school and Clearwater and our Anniversary and non-stop beginning of summer

vacation-time,

whether days or months long.

Now, almost Lughnasa, seemingly long ago, before everything was ripe and in bloom at once.

At the time there was time for relaxing and errands and cooking and cleaning.

Now, the long days are habit and we have extended our lives accordingly.

The 5-circle firepit or the close-to-the-house one? And how much time?

I read my notes scrawled after all had left and can hardly remember anything except

 the simple joys of family and friendship and food and flowers and music.

She arrived and the chicken was done and the house was all cleaned and we made more coffee and

looked about and got it all done.

Giving ourselves time to set aside to prepare for ritual allows a gentleness to infuse our work.
makes it easier.

They arrive as a family, no extras, and he comes down and we settle on the close to the house fire

we are already here.

And they show up at the final gate offering.

The resettling of folk and spirit,beverage breaks and introductions and regrouping, we continue.

Sacred tree grow within us.

And the hard to light fire and the greasy paper torch-like starter
and the many-strand braided candle, 

like a magical wand of light,
and the small fire never went out.

consuming as it went.

and last season's malted milkballs for the directions
East-but the sun rises more to the north
(and now incrementally later and almost halfway back to due east).

And the South of our environmental lessons of which there is so much,
the South always in the South.

And the West, but where the sun actually sets.
And the North, winter seems so long ago (or ahead) but not really.
And the up and the down (what goes up must come down),

and the center.

Gentle offerings of peony petals and garlic
and mock orange blossoms
and sweet grass 

from both this year and last year's harvest.

Each person quietly sharing theirs with the fire.

And then the season.
her just emptying the whole bag, she reads a poem, her daughter reads another poem,
me completely emptying my pockets of flowers and herbs,
she sprinkles rose petals on each of us and the earth.

More rose petals for the fire
and then the whole basket.
Multicolored woven circle basket
just like us.

Then they arrive

as I knew they would.

Be anywhere

He plays the 3 chimes and Bryan has a penny-whistle and harmonica.

She gets her harmonium and plays
"Summertime"

Relaxed sharing of stories.
What is this sun?

Trying to find a way through.

Our Omens

from the Ancestors: Berkanu or beginning or birch
from the Spirits of Nature & Place: Perthro or luck or chance

from the Gods & Goddesses: Hagal or hail

for the Season: Jera or year or harvest

Summertime

runes story explanations,
more thoughtfulness,
cakes for thanks.

grounding on the earth.
we are of this air.

all waters are connected.

birds sing along.

Summer of much love