Lughnasah-Trials & Tribulations

this season has been so full,
there is not enough laughter nor enough tears
to describe or understand
it all.

the late season colors
of tawny burnt orange grasses,
goldenrod and asters,
purple thistles gone to seed,
fading green leaves
as they begin to turn
autumnal.

days notably shorter 
and cooler
already where did the summer go?

we are never ready
and yet
somehow
always here.

change is in the air,
breathe deeply 
and slowly.
please and thank you
and 
I am sorry
are powerful spirits,
listen to your heart
and the trees
connect.

Some notes and pics and memories
from our fine Lughnasah ritual 

hummingbirds & woodpecker
Max meowing & meowing
baby mouse
all the flowers in bloom
everything alive
turquoise & greens
all dressed up

 Lughnasa 

 people's passions & life obsessions
let's talk about death
cause we are all going to become
ancestors

 

LUCCP- the original Ancestor

if you're looking for forgiveness
Lugh is not your guy

safe and productive harvest

smudge & our cherries
directionally

cicadas & presence

connections

crying with the mullein

let it go 

 Lughnasadh 

Magical Synchronicities
the frogs & the crickets
& the lightening bugs
are working on the same timing

rhythmic panting dog
putting his whole head
into the waters

to be free

to breathe clean air
to be safe and to have clean water
and proper rain

sharing our food harvests

lots of garlic
last year's heads 
for the Ancestors
stalks for the Spirits
(and flowers & a pluot)
flowerhead seeds for the Gods & Goddesses
nest of stalks for the Season

Protection
Healing
Strength

Lughnasah

tell us the stories of Lugh
dark clouds threaten Lugh and the Lightning 
and honoring Tlaitu

endless stories of Lugh
before getting to Lugh
but what about Lugh?

sitting down ease
settle in
we start now

 people were cancelling
 and it seemed like
it would only be a few of us
but folks did come
11 humans, some older some younger, 
1 very silly medium sized dog
full but gentle & easy
no busy or stressed

 

3 stunned or dead mice
fresh & dried flowers

yummy breads
fruits & sweets/cheeses & salads
& flower chicken & foraged mushroom risotto
not a full table
but a most delicious feast

bring what you can
keep it simple & slow
"all is as it is"
focused balanced
straight back

an untended fire can burn
the house down
strong and gentle
everything is love

ancestors as everyone
that deceased human force
spirits are everything-living and not human
the Gods & Goddesses with their great gifts,
shining ones some of whom
we worship

 

the Well
then the Fire
then the Tree

the assembly
everyone was nice
& dressed up nice
& looked nice
& seemed well

there was a calmness
timelessness
the no space or time 
of being honorific and respectful

short opening and closing 
meditation
in ritual you are not just doing
the actions 
let go

knowing what you need
allowing what you need
doing it.

Humility & Peace
who's the Champ
pushed into contests of our own choosing
Time & Space
are the inbreath and outbreath

putting out there what you mean
what you dream about
what you want and need
creates a quantum wave

dropping the ripe peach
letting go
the release of samsara 
through the fully ripe cucumber

THE FIRE HAD ITS OWN ENERGY
beyond what we were
feeding it

 

our Omens: 

from our Beloved Dead: Daguz- day, high noon, 
vantage point, to be able to see all around,
Awakening

from the Spirits of Nature & Place: Thuriz- thorn, protection, guarding, challenges,
Courage

from the Gods & Goddesses: Ehwaz- the horse (and rider), vehicle, how we get where we are going,
Partnership

for the Season and for Lugh and Tlaitu: Uruz- the Aurochs, the Primordial Ox, primal strength,
Vitality
 

remembering Lughansahs past
not fearing what is
doing what you can
big hugs

there is a force that is beyond time & space
and it is all of us

EARTH ON WHICH EVERYTHING GROWS
QUIET REVERENCE

the kids' table is no table
cause the elders' claimed the table first

family trauma transforming
for good compost
directional
cycle
guided by prayer
supported through breath
without fear

REAP WHAT YOU SOW 

 

Samhain -time of endings, grief and love

This post was written in pieces
over time,
just like our lives. 

Now is the longest dark.
Trusting always 
that the light returns,
we are always 
changed by this season
of endings.

Snow now as our constant landscape,
the endless white blankness
of silence.

Cold winds blow
only the oaks and the willow still have leaves
strong and flexible
seem to be the message

releasing 
what is no longer needed
or wanted
whether we want to or not
it will happen
and we have to let go

 

there are not enough tears for this season
and yet
the beauty 
of the dawn,
the first snows and frozen well,
the gardens bare 
except for some seed pods and golden grasses,
the shriveled pumpkins and dried stalks,
robins feasting on holly berries in the waning sunlight,
the glowing wood stove
fill the silent spirit of Winter.  

deep slow breaths

it was a wonderful ritual 
that neither words nor pictures can capture
but here are some of each from then:

us
Samantha
Elaine, Francis, & Ruby
Carol
Elizabeth & Katrina
Mary Jane
Emmallyea & Catherine
Lily
Cal 
and after everyone left Nicci & Bruce

home & reverent
for days/weeks/months/years
but this past week
these days home
or not traveling
but so filled
like each of the days
layered and tumbled together

offerings each evening
plates for those who travel through
wanderers from the other side
may none go hungry
as they go home

staying rooted and grounded
as we allow
that energy to pass by
akido-style

cat pumpkin
 carve outs
 for the directions

Sun rises no longer due East
but the Moon does
for New Energy & Inspiration
Sun light in the West
for the introspective time
Triskelion carved pumpkin in the South
all the emotions
the flooding & flow
environmental lessons & pain
sorrow & grief
welcome
in the North
place of Healing &Winter Winds
please be gentle with us
the Earthly Plane

Triskelion up & down
Cat figure for the center
the Interdimensional Plane

Many flowers
so many flowers

Summer's end
a good season
a good year
even with so much strife
so good to see
each other
still here

ginger leaf wreath
for the tree
Katrina going around
so hung on a branch
and then it balancing
and bending into the fire
catching onto metal
and then the corn plant
bending down to that

praying for days
ritual as closing the door

bone-fire

how to maintain the sacred
the silence
the stillness 
of balance

not addressing directly 
the global devastation
the sadness and grief and loss
the manufactured tragedy
generating gratitude
but never enough

this life is fragile
but we are strong
staying in community

growing potatoes for the outsiders
greed & lawlessness & ill-health & fear
trouble us not 

transitional sprites passing through

the energy down deep
down below
coming up/drawing up
and mixing with 
the energy from the sky
from above
mixing together in our body
strength

the snoring dog/drone meditation
better than a didgeridoo
better than a shruti box
-good laughter-
om

  

 

parking lot & bathroom
potential 
congestion

making sure everyone feels welcome
and safe
and stays reverently focused

gratitude for all our ancestors
I can only name
as far back
as my grandparents
but there are so many more
 unknown yet acknowledged 

prayers for safety and security
may all who are hungry
be fed

allow us to feel our sorrow & grief
without collapse

 

let us not be destroyed by the disruption
our ancestors were strong
which is why
we are here
let us, too, be strong

full moon now
2 days later
we have passed thru
somewhat

 trying not to be afraid
is a bit easier
when the ancestors
are at your back 

our Omens

From our Beloved Ancestors we receive the gift of Thurisaz- thorn/protection
From the Spirits of Nature & Place we receive the gift of Fehu- fee/what things cost/honest wealth
From the Gods & Goddesses we receive the gift of Ehwaz- the horse and rider/partnership
For the Season we receive the gift of Hagal- hail/disruption/transformation