Vernal Equinox-the Greening

 Blessed rain.
Nourishing the Earth.
Daffodils start to bloom.
Trees bud.
Bulbs sprout.
Birds sing.
Days are long.
Still cold at night.
We gratefully remain here.

 The time of equal light and dark
only three weeks ago
was a grounded balance
and then a catapult forward
as always.

Each day there is newness bursting forth.
From the Earth and Spirit-an energized Joy.
From the World and Governing Bodies-a manipulated Chaos.
From the Universe and Ether- a focused Observance.
keep going, keep going.

Breathe.

Allow your artistry.
Organize and care for others.
Garden when the time is right.

Deeply ground with the Earth
though your feet
and heart
and lungs.

There was a Full Moon
Spring Snowstorm.
Giant snowflakes
"larger than silver dollars"
settled over the landscape
accumulating a bunch of inches of depth
heavy and melting.

It will be gone soon,
like the slowness of Winter.

Let our good energy rise to the task of the season.
Let our love be enough.
Let our voices stay strong, fierce and free.
Let us be able to be generous
in every aspect of our being
with our selves and each other.

Notes and pics from our marvelous ritual day
not in any order

So much and all at once
is the Balance.
Sunlight rising due East
and lasting well past dinner.

2 Susans/2 Rachels/2 Leahs
3 very good dogs
4 sets of 5 or 5 sets of 4

altogether 19 humans and 3 canines and the birds all around

circles and circles
and cycles
connections and interconnections
we all breath the same air
we all are the same breath
rooted in the Earth
like the trees, our Kindreds,
with the same sun
over all.

Remembering that the Omens are gifts

the gift of Ice from our Ancestors

the gift of Beginnings from the Spirits

the gift of the Sun from the Gods and Goddesses
the gift of Protection for the Season

Ice Beginning
Sun Attention

be still and silent,
balance on the ice
chill out/be cool
protection through awareness

be deliberate
stasis as opposed to action
jellyfish stingers
wrapping their arms around us
protective awareness

be solid and together
and calm
and clear
and shine with that sun
prayer posture protection

Grounding literally
into the Earth

photo by Katrina

LOVE

Elizabeth reading from "Molta Brigde: Praises of Brigid" by Rev. D. Rowen Grove
published in Oak Leaves Quarterly Journal Spring 2025 -Issue #108

open from the heart
aspect
selfless respect

everybody put in sacrifice
and everyone put in sacrifice all the time
-every offering-
many folks participating throughout
unprompted and from the heart

Fire starter magic

crazy good fire
powerful flames
perfect weather
magnificent interweaving of people

burning baskets
garlic/chaga/flowers
roses and cookies
and matzah
prayers for memories,
prayers for peace,
gentle transitions

Acknowledging the protection of
our full and open spirit

caution and not action
focus on the awareness and protection

not one of attack or retreat
but one of hold your ground

PEACE

circles
mirrors
true mirror
yin/yang
stay slow
and sprout

barefeet 

it's all shared resource

GROUNDED

tea & coffee by special request

snow covering this grey morning
melted by now
and sheathed in fog
in the woods
tree limbs alive
with faint color.

sleep of gatherings
after gatherings.

what is a dream
or a memory?

grateful for the rain
but also for the outsiders,
the ticks and the fear
and fascism and greed and hate,
as we gather together
in gratitude
and transform all of that.
"We true mirror it."

Filled with the loving energy
of all of us
and our Kindred.

Mesmerizing Alive Fire 

We are all conduits/connectors

Today was a day out of Time
just wanting to hug everyone
again

so much food there was no room
on the table

"I dig the natural Earth
especially in this time of unnatural
media world"

the sound of the stream
brightness of the sunlight
no leaves for cover
winter in the dark/shade
summer in the light/sun

truth in simple repetition

The Earth got all the things,
even the gross and ugly ones,
even ticks.

peace
even for the ticks
peace
even for the spongy moths
and mold
and grief and sorrow
peace

Imbolc Time -The Quickening

 Icing and breaking open.
This time of fear and defiance and truth
shattering the foundation
believing in our strength
and coming back to life.

 The birds now sing in the morning
and the evening.
Green appears from the landscape of winter white.
Willows cast yellow and the maples red.
Sap flows.

We are still here.
The Earth is alive.
Spring rushes in
like the stream even under the solid cover of ice.

What is beneath and hidden and forming?
What can we nurture and grow?
What can be saved among the destruction?
Who are you now?

We've been gathering before the holiday
to focus our hearts and spirit
to be more present at ritual
to remember.

We wanted to really honor and properly invoke
our dear Goddess Bridget,
so many aspects of power and love.

This was what we wrote:
Song
inspiration
protection
grief/sorrow/keening
the flame of joy within
balancing respect
the arts
healing
protection
compassion
Song

 my prayer:

oh dear Bridget,
shine your light
throughout our being
allowing our inner forge
to craft the armor we need,
inspire us to grieve and also to sing
as we hold and heal
each other
through the art and artistry
of our lives
here and now.

This time of frozen transition lingers
cold, empty and dark
though the light subtly returns
almost without notice
drinking in the extra minutes of daylight
like a nice cup of tea
the busyness of the Summer garden almost a forgotten dream.
Now looking back
amazed to have made it to this wakening,

the long Winter releasing.
How to keep the momentum of slow
with the urge to run.

 Notes and pics from then and other musings
in a non-chronological order:

 

Busy morning of cleaning,
clearing,
laying out candles and food.

 

Vortex of Smoke
like the flowers
anti-gravity
neither of which I saw
but was in the middle
or completely outside of.

Procession to the Bridget Shrine
the Spring
and the Fire
feeling solid
on what seems
unstable.

All the flowers
from last year's harvest
gathered one by one
throughout the season
dried on the fireplace mantle
in the spot
where Bridget will rest
after being invited in
and lighting our hearth

I am the ingot
You are the forge.

All the songs
sung twice.

 If I had a hammer.

The Hammer of Justice.
The Bell of Freedom.
The Song about love
between
my brothers and my sisters
all over this land.

 

Everyone separately delayed,
though ritual started only an hour late,
which considering the challenges each day
was just about right.


Fire Starter
in the 5-Circle Fire Pit
we all had the white-hats
we the Good Guys
the Druids
Our Whole Grove.

 

Goddess Bridget keep us safe.
Light our way.
Keep us strong.
Keep our words & hearts true.

Bridget Candle Relighting
again and again

warm beverages and blankets

The great cosmic vagina

Going through Bridget's Girdle
Thrice
The Magic Working
I am now different.


House full of good food
and good food smells.

the well/womb/nest/cave
of the Bridget Fire

Bryan & Elizabeth
bonding at the center,
Me & Ann & Lily
in the kitchen
making the candle
for Bridget work
carving wax, crafting wick
and light.

feel the roots
and the Earth energy
in the frozen hard ground
coming together
to help one another
everyone gently being.

chopping the ice,
singing the songs,
stomping on the ground,

making candles
to fit
the ice candles
and setting them around.



As always Imbolc has ice.
Cracking ice in the Sun,
making safety changes,
honoring the gentle ease
of this past Winter.

The long Pre-Rit
as Sacred Experience
building the new fire
close to the house
close to home
close to our hearts
together
Reverent Walk About
Being Kind
together

Making sure Bridget felt Honored
Good Flames
Good Sacrifice
Everything Working Well

detachment
and
being

Ritual Purification
Smudge Stick
the overflowing outpouring
of love
for and from
our dear Goddess Bridget

Milk overflowing the Well
Beer over the Tree
Fat poured over the Fire

Everyone putting Sacrifice in the Fire

 

Good Boundaries

every body gentle in their being
we are strong
together
in our isolation
from the world

protection
family
protection

not like false promise
the comfort of grounded
wholeness
in Space out of Time

for a moment
for the day
there was no fear
only love

Bridget protect us
help us to weave our own protection
help us to wear our cloak
of nurturing
and to spread it out
for all
help us kindle our fire

I am the Ingot
You are the Forge

 

Our Omens:

D TH S B

What is the Vantage Point?
Don't Grasp the Thorns tightly.
Allow the Sun's light to Penetrate & Cleanse.
Allow for New Beginnings.

 

the Hedgehog and Crystal Foot
arrived today in similar packages
like the morning snow
a surprise gift reminding us
to be open to
the Unexpected Good.

the difference between
Smoked Salmon and Lox