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 

 

 

 

 

 

The Wettness of Beltane

It's been raining for weeks, the whole month it seems.
 Today it rains only a bit and also while the sun shines
but it is cold.
And then there are the few days of endless blue sky
when all else is forgotten.

We may be stumbling in the chill and chaos,
but the Earth manages,
slowing the growth,
continuing,
absorbing and releasing.

And now today, a week and a lifetime later,
this last day of May,
it rains and is cold again.
Summer heat will arrive soon,
may we continue peacefully forward
with fierce strength 
and and the support of our Kindreds
always remembering our connection and interconnection.

Yesterday we released the MayPole,
a day shy of the last day,
but it was not technically raining.
These cycles and rituals of this life
including death
and transformation
are a great gift.

Finding joyful belly laughter,
like the sobbing of deep sorrow
or weeding the garden,
is special magic.

Notes and pics and memories from Ritual:

on the 1st of May we planted the MayPole
crowned with daffodils and flowers from the blooming trees
and using the egg balanced on the hearth at Equinox
and fermented spirits
as offering to the hole.

May we work together well
and may our labor produce good harvests.

since then we have barely had a day of no rain

busyness for days
magic and transformation

the way things bloom
the way things unfurl
a developing nature
the song of the Baltimore oriole
the drum of the rain

pouring rain 

appreciating the effort
that people make
to come and clan
to gather and worship

although a consistent and heavy rain
it hadn't been a gusty
and dangerous storm.

crafting embers from the smallest of tinder
concerted effort
to make fire
outside
as we always do
somehow

 smart to retreat

need-fire in the rain
glowing embers
in the hearth
the next morning

pouring so hard, soaking rain
the land pooling in many places
praying the rain keeps flowing
and not flooding

so much rain
lessening wild fire risk
filling our wells
making everything green
buckets of rain.

 suddenly a flame outside
then a downpour
then flame
then torrential rain
finally putting out the fire 

soaking wet
move inside
build the fire
adjust
whatever works
even a candle
can be a flame
chairs for all,
sitting under the table
or laying on the floor

things need to be the way
things need to be

10 of us

Bryan standing in the directional center
calling the directions
the colors
or the elements
and the up and down
and center.

coins in the well
of the blue glass bowl
given to us from another being
whose birthday was that day.

charged crystal for the bonsai tree.

raffia braid for the fire.
to start the fire
dried greens
and sage
let this fire be a good fire
let all our fires
be good fires

 many dried flowers
many roses
the last flowers from her birthday,
garden sage,
petals,
the straw flowers
dried last summer
from the window,
lemon balm
from the basement,
forgotten flowers
no longer needed
in this blossoming time.

 

 

all the sacrifice consumed

 

I've seen this being in the fire at other rituals

we are prepared to transform
into something that is right

our Omens

from the Ancestors- Os, the Voice - the Wind
listen & hear
-pulled by Hudson-
from the Spirits of Nature & Place- Daguz, Day- High Noon
vantage point & seeing clearly
-pulled by Lily-
from the Gods & Goddesses- Kenaz,the Torch-Shaping & Crafting
cauterize, healing, light
-pulled by Elizabeth-
for the Season- Berkanu, Birch-Beginnings
birth
-pulled by Bryan on his Birthday-

Listen-See-Feel
Begin

Silly Songs
are Love

Gratitude as Prayer

different kind of green things
different kind of egg things 

dancing the Maypole
in the pouring rain
boots and umbrellas
and song and laughter

the sillyness of it all

moving forward
slowly standing still
laughing & feeling joy
lost & found
sleeping & dreaming
connecting & staying active

ungroundedness
is a constant
it's like there is no floor
current civilization
digital speed
the rain and the wet earth
soaking wet
puddling quickly
drenching
the ground
squishy but solid
and real

complete & total greening
rapid growth
flow & strengthen
may these rains
drown those who harm us
may we rise up safely
together
strong
together

Gratitude is Prayer

In Loving Memory