MidSummer to Lughnasah part 2

 There are quite a few butterflies and some bees now, though less than usual. 

The tall flowers bloom.

This season has been glorious and all too full,
but I also look forward to the slide towards late summer and then to autumn.
We have seen intense heat and intensity of energy. 

Shade is welcome. 

It feels almost a lifetime since MidSummer,
it was the first day of true summer heat,
our movements respecting the strong and powerful sun.

Hot hot hot. Hat hat hat.

 Now the time of thunderstorms is here again.

Lugh and Lughnasah are like the fullness,
the ripe tomatoes and corn,
fruits of our labor.

So MidSummer would then be recognition or acceptance
of potential.

Let's set our intent.

Notes and pics from then and musings on that:

finally sun

so much energy and effort in the good work.

this new life. 

Up late clearing old.
Out before awake for strawberries.

Grumbling about nothing and letting go of anger and want. 

Encountering significant friends talking about healing and art.

vacuum and food.

everyone arrives immediately and present.

Me and Bryan and Elizabeth,
Ann, Eric and Katrina, Steve and Rhea, Susan
and the energies of our families and partners and kids
not physically present
but on our minds and in our hearts.

setting intent and positive energy

(even with distraction)

 sun and more sun.

 

 women in hats

laying on the earth
together and individual

we are here to honor the gods and the not gods.

 

that which goes down and is dark and deep
that with roots below and reaching towards the sky
that which is neither

fire begins

  very quickly
the fire became
very hot

 hot hot fire, even the earth was hot from it. 

quiet prayers and sacrifice,

respecting its strength

which consumed before contact.

 

 

 camera so hot it wouldn't take photos.

blind pictures. 

blurred shade.

   

respect the heat.

cool down as needed.

 What is this shared sacrifice?

How to help out and accept help?

 

 smoke in every direction.

birds all around.

 

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 Fragrant fire.

 Hot dry summer.
Grateful for the water.

 

 light streaming down.
heat streaming up.

 Our Omens

from the Ancestors, our Honored Dead: Raido
or communications, traveling like a circuit.
Radio waves and interconnections.

from the Spirits of Nature and Place: Gibor
the giving and the gift and what is given.

Sharing.

from the Gods and Goddesses: Ehwaz
the horse, the relationship between horse and rider, a vehicle.
 That what empowers, that special partnership,
that which gets us to where we want to go.

Care for your ride.

for the Season: Tiwaz
the Spiritual Warrior, Tir or the Pole Star,
balance and guidance and justice.
Directional emphasis on the up and up. 

Focus. 

 

MidSummer to Lughnasah part 1

this season since MidSummer is High Summer.
Long days, hot days, strong sun, intensity.

As we get closer to Lughnasah, 

suddenly there is a potential crispness in the air

and the presence of autumn lurks.

Fawns are halfway grown, but still with spots. 

But it is consistently about the now, the present. 

Wholeness is here always.

And the fractures of spirit and environment all around us,

are still all around us,

yet our focus remains,

grounded in gratitude,

respect and love.  

Finally we have had some rains but the temperature
had to exceed 100 degrees first.

Now that all is hydrated again, the birds sing more fully. 

Everything seems to breathe more deeply. 

And we do not need to hide from the sun.

Respect the heat and the heat index.

Respect the light and its strength.

Respect yourself.