It is dark so much more now,
dark by dinner,
dark when I want to wake up.
Darkness in the world, in humanity
and inhumanity.
Leaves change and fall,
like we change and fall,
rising again
like Spring will come again,
but first, Winter approaches.
The texture of the landscape
colors differently
from beginning to end
in this season of Harvest.
Processing what we can,
sharing what we can,
storing away what we can,
healing what we can.
A season to finish
that which is never finished.
Lots of unexpected rainbows
this season of endings.
Lots of destruction manifested
but also strong heart connections
rewoven
this season of Autumn,
falling towards Summer's End.
Prayers for peace and love
to activate all beings
to lay down weapons of war and intolerance
to care for each other
instead of against each other
to have the courage to extend our hands
and welcome with gratitude.
Our ritual day for Autumnal Equinox
was unusual
and filled with
adjustments
welcomed and otherwise.
Our adaptation
allows our survival.
Some of the many notes and some of the many pics
from then:
disjointed unreckoning breaking open
and beyond
fire tending in the rain
simple readiness
building shelter for the flame
gentle with self
because that's needed
harshness hurts
layers to stay warm
layers to stay dry
balance rebalance
megaphone fire lighting
begun with origami fire starter nest
(gotten at the town fair)
and bound pot stalks
let this fire be
a good fire
so much water
so slippery
balance rebalance
sadness - discomfort - release
recalibration - rebuilding - release
let it go
please forgive
release harm
release fear
release hate and hurt
release pain and illness
release love into every breath
release our inner fire
to illuminate our hearts.
many prayers
humble gratitude
prayers for peace
and freedom
and balance
and caring remembrance
aging/transforming/transitioning
seasons/gardens/families
the intensity of this moment
recalibrating even when things
are unsteady
and slippery
doing what is needed
doing what is right
our roots in the earth
our spirits soaring
honoring interconnectedness
we are one
be nice to yourselves
prep is always a lot
we are feeling it for days
effort even if effortless
weather doesn't always help
the melancholy of darker days
changing seasons and leaves
ending harvests
hauling wood
so soon? another summer is gone again?
it all changed when she fell
broken bones
emergency room visits
helpless to help
rescue remedy
balance imbalance rebalance
everyone arrived
but my head
was in the car
with them
traveling to the doctor
there's food and help yourself
get your own forks
you know where they are
beer or cider or the water is hot
help yourself
feasting while waiting
giving thanks
giving prayers
balance rebalance
such a hot fire
formed in the hard rain
calling for vitality and vibrancy
and health
and wholeness
feeding the fire
feeding the fire
feeding ourselves
so much delicious food
help yourselves
how to repair this life
generation to generation
"I knew you'd be worried"
we tossed lots of praise offerings
for her healing
for all our healing
for remembrance
when it's a smokey fire
your tears are hidden or masked
their cause undetermined
balance rebalance
our stories
shared or scattered
like seeds
the actual Equinox-woke early to break sticks
already still in a transitional state
barely grounded
yet very present
 |
long live the tradition
|
Balance Rebalance
cold and rainy even when it was dry
a sharp fall into fall
disconnected or disjointed
from what it seemed like
it should be
present/not present
unbalanced
by and with
time and space.
gentle discomfort
lingering by choice
Balance Imbalance
sleeping later than dawn
already so much later
the coffee pot
is no longer working
Improvise Balance
Redefine Balance
morning revised
and final cleaning and clearing of spirit
sweeping maple seeds
to simplify grief
to lessen the slippery
even a little bit
there will always be prayers
of forgiveness
for forgiveness
for hurt and sorrow and pain
for the healing of hurt and sorrow and pain
we did not know
what was going to happen
of course
and nor do we ever
 |
photo by Katrina
|
plans and time as ritual
having toast and tea
tending to the fire
building and feeding
the fire in the the rain
constant wood layering
like each day
what is the lesson here?
"be careful"
brown rice for the Earth Mother
Corn Meal for the Directions
what we notice and what notices us
fat and oil and spare change
Elizabeth's peat and flowers
and our mispronounced Irish
flowers and more flowers
zinnias and dahlias
and lisianthus
and rose petals for Dad
Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
cycles and seasons
moons and grief
constantly renewing and decaying
and renewing again
balance rebalance
pine needles and sage
walking around the fire
back and forth
rarely all the way around
honeysuckle blooming again
like summer
prayers for healing
for peaceful completions
for good harvests
Protection
Clear Vision
Good Boundaries
New Beginnings
drumming on the metal bowl
no stingy waters!
corn meal thanks
the bullion of life!
Postscript: No surgery was needed,
good medical care was received,
crazy world order collapsing with so much sorrow,
flowers still bloom even after a frost.
Loving ourselves and each other
and helping our community
(from the micro-biome to the macro-universe)
is still the answer.
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