Autumnal Equinox-the crazy balance of harvests

This season has been a glorious riot of color,
of tying up loose ends,
of hugging and loving,
and gently though decisively moving forward.

Quickly the weather turned chilly
with each warmish or sunny day now a special joy.

Winter is coming,
gather sticks, chop wood, harvest flowers and seeds.
Hummingbirds and Butterflies finally gone,
Each still blooming flower a gift,
each leaf falling like petals.
Putting up what we can, sharing what is left.

This is the time when we feel the transitions deeply;
we've been putting out dumb suppers since it first got cold.
Spirits who pass through here are welcome
to eat and drink and be safe.

The visual intensity of autumn
distracts us from the loss of summer
while tossing us toward the darkness.

Do not be afraid,
there is brightness even in endings.
Cycles of change
from one to the next
endlessly onward
and back again.

 We had been so sick in the last weeks of summer,
the first two weeks of September,
when there was finally rain and then greening
and feeling close to ok
by Equinox.
The heavy exhaustion lingering,
dragging us to re-balance,
slowing us down
like the gardens
into the space
for next year's seeds to grow.

Pics from ritual and any notes (or thoughts)
not necessarily in order

The insistent and present conversations of many different birds.

gentle easy ritual
so much food
lots of pie

all in good time
easy easy easy
gentle balance

mimosas and mead
cheese and not-cheese

 lots of flowers

lots of smoke

lots of big fire

easy letting go
easy new beginnings

group fire effort
transformation
by smoke
tears

grumbling bellies and farts and burps
still lots of monarchs and a few hummingbirds

dragonflies & cicadas & crickets
everything through the lens
of congested tired head and then
the smoke
washing face and lungs
with smoke
and spirit

the(COVID)breath of fire

SO MANY BIRDS

Our Omens

from the Honored Dead: Ehwaz, the horse -the sense of empowerment but partnership with a living thing
from the Spirits of Nature and Place: Fehu, the fee-what things cost and payment
from the Gods and Goddesses:Laguz, the lake-that which we draw up from and refreshing yourself, vitality from the ground water, from what is below
for the Season: Eiwaz, the yew, the spindle around which all life spins, the interconnection between life and death and living, resilient turning

ultra comfortable
not awkward
open and clear

"not to say that everything is supposed to be easy, but it is nice when it is."

light refreshing rain on the day after
easing into life
gently

colder weather is coming
get ready
secure harvests
shine light

Bless the waters
let there be enough without floods
let things be nourished
without being destroyed

we were 10
all family
all regulars
even the new folks
or the ones who hadn't been here in a while

easy catching up
easy gathering
very nice

ready set go

Lughnasah Blessings

Lughnasah is generally the time of thunderstorms
but this year it was drought.
Brown crunching grass drought.
Leaves changing color in August drought.
Grateful to be able to water the plants drought.
Praying our well didn't dry up drought.

This week we finally got rain.
Soaking long delicious rain.
Days of rain and rumbling thunder and flash flood warnings

Cooler temperatures and changing light
and the drought-induced premature rush to seed of nature
brings the seasonal transition quicker and harder and sadder in so many ways.
Not ready yet, not ready yet.
I need another month of Summer, of gardening and planning, of eternal long days and endless time.

But cycles are what they are
and we are here now.
Autumnal Equinox somehow draws nigh. 

Notes and pics from then, which of course never tell the whole story,
lots have been left out as has reminisced commentary,
but suffice to say it was beautiful.
There were 10 incredible humans,
1 fine dog and countless Kindreds.
Small fire, lots of smoke, sweet gentleness, strong emotions, sincere prayers, refreshing waters
and most excellent feasting.

this cool early morning day after
sun rising through the trees
more and more due East.

prep is always long
and event is always so fast.

slowly moving through the heat
cleaning & cooking & prepping
as devotional work.

it seemed like the shortest season
like MidSummer ritual just was
and now ritual again.

it's good to take the time you need
to go slow and to appreciate
we are here now.

bees &butterflies & hummingbirds
cicadas buzzing
many flowers.

thunder and grey clouds but rain passing us by
torrential down the mountain
blessed here only with a breeze.

enough time to talk with each person
enough time for cold beverages
enough time to go slow.

the relationship between the inbreath and exhale
the relationship between us and all things
between our heart and head
between our ancestors and our lives
between our sacred and everyday life.

intertwined

let go of what is holding you back
from your authentic self
there is only this one life
and only you can live it.

fixing, repairing, letting go
shaping our harvest.

already some leaves start to change
this best Summer flies by.

the cool breeze is a blessing
good rain is an incredible blessing
tears are a great blessing.

too hot to start the fire early
all food inside from the heat
so much food and flowers
so much of everything.

the fullness of this season
blessed hugs
memories of times gone by
small children now grown
small gardens now big.

hopefully we learn and grow well.

GiPerElUr

strong roots
strong bones
flexible branches and limbs
full breath.

drought and flood
maybe not opposite but shared parts.

easy flow
enough space
energies transformed.

 

the fullness of MidSummer-part 2

 Back then there was cool breeze and gentle winds.
Tornadoes and severe weather not yet on the horizon.
First harvests just beginning.

Now the air is hot and mostly still.
Crickets entirely fill the night soundscape.
Flowers and tomatoes are abundant.

Such is the season of MidSummer.

Lughnasah approaches and we long for rain.
Gentle sustained rain,
not necessarily these crazy storms,
though whatever is is needed.

Having finally watched the video of our MidSummer ritual,
fixed camera no additional microphone,
I see the gentle organic ceremony of our grove.

It's easy to be here to honor the Kindreds.

Everyone participates to their need and desire.

 Earth Mother
with great abundance and nourishment
 solid foundation

 orientation with the directions
and the actual sun path
and the emotional associations of space

the well and the tree and the fire
powerful portals
tuning forked
"let this fire be a good fire"

Mananan
Walker of the Ways between the Worlds
"let the gates be open"

 unintentionally synchronized women
walking away to give outsider offerings
walking back together.

Dear Goddess Bridget,
patron of our grove,
insider friend,
compassionate healer, shining light,
giving voice and spark
to our hearts

Ancestors- those humans now dead
who know what this life is like,
who have struggled and succeeded and show us how

Spirits of Nature and Place- all the flora and fauna,
animals wild and domestic,
plants wild and domestic,
insects and birds and fish and fungi
and rocks and water
and Sun and Moon

Gods and Goddesses- givers of great gifts,
shining ones
with special powers
existing simultaneously
with us and our honored dead

lots of flowers

 joy and inspiration in the seemingly random
bird calls or airplanes or chimes.

silent prayers
so much to not say

the omens not always easy,
but always clear and a gift

From the Ancestors: Fehu or Fee, what things cost
figure it out, pay attention, think about paying the price
From the Spirits of Nature & Place: Ehwaz or the relationship and partnership between horse and rider
it not necessarily where you are going but how you get there
From the Gods & Goddesses: Hagal or Hail, disruption
prepare for power outages and falling trees, be flexible and aware
For the Season: Othala or Sacred Enclosure
tend your home and gardens, protect what you care about

FEHO!

Sharing the blessings
supporting each other
the Waters of Life

so refreshing

gratitude gratitude gratitude

An amazing feast of many foods all around the table
eating in the full sun
not yet oppressive
though strongest and bright.

And there was champagne and vegan cake.
MidSummer, our Anniversary, Father's Day.

Love