Yuletide Pivot through the Darkness with Apricity (the warmth of the sun in Winter)

 Snow has fallen again blanketing the frozen Earth.
This Winter's weather so far has been closer to what is good for our land,
cold with some precipitation,
though we are still technically in drought conditions.

Winter with cold temperatures makes sense.
Biting winds,
chilly fingers and toes,
soups and teas,
sweaters and fuzzy socks and blankets.

Winter sunrises and sunsets,
like the brisk night skies brilliant with stars,
awaken the senses
and the heart
with the magical joy
of light in the darkness
and color contrasting the greys.

Prayers for good rain and lessening winds for California.
Prayers for an early and easy Springtime for Appalachia.
Prayers for a safe Winter for us.

Prayers for friends in the hospital,
and prayers for the hospitals and health care systems.
Prayers for our continued good health,
easily adjusting as necessary to our needs.
Prayers for peaceful transitions
for those whose time on this Earth has come.

Prayers for an end to all these wars, for the killing to stop,
for greed and anger and fear to cease
being functional and motivational tools
and for the people to rise up as one
as we do for each other
in times of crisis.

Prayers for strength and support for all.

January
like July on the other side
feels like the deepest of the season
even with the subtle changes
the Earth shares.
Willows are now pale yellow cast.
Maples and Peach trees have new crimson branches.
Dusk lengthens.
Though it is hard to dispel
the cold and dark,
I can remember the intense heat
and can imagine the sun on my back.
It may not be enough to dream,
but it will have to do.

 Notes and pictures and remembrances
from MidWinter Solstice time: 

Mother's Night 
and then middle of the night
stick breaking
setting alarms to wake up
to continue the tradition

Solstice Day 
filled with folks,
chopping wood help,
celebrating down the road with library art people,
dinner with a dear friend.
Great food all day,
gifting all day,
gathering together
joyfully
all day into the night.
Lighting candles
in the darkness.

 fear not
let it go
release the fear
the hard feelings
the exhaustion
the excess
into the Earth
let it go

sounds of cold
glow of light on ice
lighting the fire
with special dried gatherings
from last Summer

 

S/light of hand

cold & snow
lost & found
a good fire
a great ritual

Daily reminder

completely complementary
food
something of everything
the perfect pie
with one slice removed

let it be easy
to forgive
ourselves
for our not knowing or being

the wild rumpus of joy
and the boundaries
of collaboration

 how to stay sacred in the silly dance

holiday marathon of giving and receiving
being silent in the silence
listening to the sounds of the wind
of our heartsong
of peace

let there be peace
in our comings and goings
in our spirit and lives
in the East, South, West and North

honoring the darkness
honoring the Mothers
who came before everything
the Norns, the Fates,
she who brought us here

the Well as Us before we are born
primordial
thirst
for Knowledge
thirsting for meaning
quenching our thirsts
from deep within

holiday hubbub
running around our being
like chocolate

the frozen everything
a good fire

marigolds for the directions
seeds planted in the North

divinatory icicle of mucus
joyful noise
resonating boundaries

8 humans in multiple layers
many layers of wool and wilderness gear and blankets

allowing the energy to pass by
to dissipate away
deflected
take in what you need
what you would like
your wishes and prayers

    let the distractions be
and make good prayers

let your sound
not be babble
but thoughtful
like song

 allow space
allow time
allow breath

 

Stay fierce and proud.
Stand tall and always with a good heart.
We are all here now together.
That is what is.

Merry Magic Making

the darkest night has passed
and though the deepest Winter
is yet to come,
so will Springtime

 

gnomes and knights
blankets all around
jolly old elf

I will hold and shake
you pick
omens sliding on ice
omens from the frozen well

our Honored Dead- Raido
or the completed circuit & communication
given and received
those Beings & Spirits Not Human- Tir
or the Spiritual Warrior directionaly pointing
the way forward
the Gods & Goddesses- Berkanu
or Beginnings or Birth
the newness of being and becoming
the Yuletide Season- Uruz
or the Primordial Ox
our inner limitless strength

"we're just going to Aurochs our way through it"

blessed that the Waters of Life
did not
stick to the rock
freezing and breaking
but released gently
before blessing us

blessed to be here
blessed to give thanks

real and whole
includes being selfish
and cold

 how to balance
the frantic
energies of others
and the season

the bursting of the gourd
the chatter of the birds
listen to Nature

staying grounded
connected
to the cold and hard
Earth

our Earth Mother
not forgotten

super twinkly stars

balancing the wild card
the darkness
boundaries
slowing down
easing harm
pay attention in silence

unconscious release
conscious breath
and all the unconscious breaths

synchronicity