Lughnasah Blessings

Lughnasah is generally the time of thunderstorms
but this year it was drought.
Brown crunching grass drought.
Leaves changing color in August drought.
Grateful to be able to water the plants drought.
Praying our well didn't dry up drought.

This week we finally got rain.
Soaking long delicious rain.
Days of rain and rumbling thunder and flash flood warnings

Cooler temperatures and changing light
and the drought-induced premature rush to seed of nature
brings the seasonal transition quicker and harder and sadder in so many ways.
Not ready yet, not ready yet.
I need another month of Summer, of gardening and planning, of eternal long days and endless time.

But cycles are what they are
and we are here now.
Autumnal Equinox somehow draws nigh. 

Notes and pics from then, which of course never tell the whole story,
lots have been left out as has reminisced commentary,
but suffice to say it was beautiful.
There were 10 incredible humans,
1 fine dog and countless Kindreds.
Small fire, lots of smoke, sweet gentleness, strong emotions, sincere prayers, refreshing waters
and most excellent feasting.

this cool early morning day after
sun rising through the trees
more and more due East.

prep is always long
and event is always so fast.

slowly moving through the heat
cleaning & cooking & prepping
as devotional work.

it seemed like the shortest season
like MidSummer ritual just was
and now ritual again.

it's good to take the time you need
to go slow and to appreciate
we are here now.

bees &butterflies & hummingbirds
cicadas buzzing
many flowers.

thunder and grey clouds but rain passing us by
torrential down the mountain
blessed here only with a breeze.

enough time to talk with each person
enough time for cold beverages
enough time to go slow.

the relationship between the inbreath and exhale
the relationship between us and all things
between our heart and head
between our ancestors and our lives
between our sacred and everyday life.

intertwined

let go of what is holding you back
from your authentic self
there is only this one life
and only you can live it.

fixing, repairing, letting go
shaping our harvest.

already some leaves start to change
this best Summer flies by.

the cool breeze is a blessing
good rain is an incredible blessing
tears are a great blessing.

too hot to start the fire early
all food inside from the heat
so much food and flowers
so much of everything.

the fullness of this season
blessed hugs
memories of times gone by
small children now grown
small gardens now big.

hopefully we learn and grow well.

GiPerElUr

strong roots
strong bones
flexible branches and limbs
full breath.

drought and flood
maybe not opposite but shared parts.

easy flow
enough space
energies transformed.