Lughnasah Rainbows

 There's a crispness to the air,
it may rain for days,
gentle sprinkles and also thunderstorms
and the sudden mini cloudburst
in the midday sun.
It seemed overnight literally
that we crossed the threshold to autumn.

May our harvests be fruitful for all.
May clear vision guide us well.
May we share our love and shine our light easily
and generously
and also towards ourselves.
May we stay present and listen and hear
and speak from the heart.
May our connections stay strong.
May healing be in due time,
grief and sorrow allowed to ebb,
and grounded peace prevail.

intertwining layers
of flowers fresh and dry
burning on a hot fire
started with twigs and bark
and wet wood
and good sticks.

  And as the last folks were leaving
the rain
which held off since the morning
lightly started
with our shadows on the earth
and a rainbow
arching from East to the South.

Lughnasah.
Reverence. Gratitude. Love.

photo by Emmallyea

Afterwards
Bryan & I sat together in the evening bluing
him playing his drum and me writing notes
while we talked
and the fire rekindled.
The endless day that is Summer wanes.
Savor and gather
slowly steadily
together.

Some of those rambling notes and some pictures:

Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité

rainbows of gentle rain
company
as in keeping company
in person together.

Wooden squares centered with holes
attached to each other
with black eyed Susans.

armloads of hydrangeas.

leaf bouquet of flowers

the harvest thing
-blooming jasmine-
regeneration
dried flowers burning fresh
like partners

season of sweat
season of fullness

sun*seedling*clarity*beginning

the cure, the heart
peace & love

in fresh rain-cooled air,
eleven humans, a small dog,
some very specific deceased loved ones,
and our Kindred Spirits
gathered.

 Just Being
being as living
being is living
each a unique interconnected part

all our honored dead
known and unknown

community bonding
while reaching out of your safe space

photo by Emmallyea

Dusk & Dawn
letting go of pushing
really being in your earth body
on this earth
together
now

four new energies

what is outside of your boundaries

may all beings be free

Intertwining names
The stories of Lugh
repetitive numbers on successive times
Cherries

Coyote howls Owl hoots
when you are walking the walk
you've got to take it in stride

sharing gratitude & sorrow
-joy-

staying clear
and clearly focused
and open

Olympic Fever
Honoring the Old Gods
Camaraderie
World Peace
End to the Wars
Let our blood flow freely
where and how it should
and stop the needless bloodshed
and waste

deep breaths
deep gratitude
real connections with our recently deceased
feeling comfort in our skins

 cool mornings
doves call
the air has changed
season shifting quietly
the sun's arc moving more South
flowers still bud
as fruit ripens
but this is an ending growth
rather than the
blush of first bloom.

Even as we feel the gathering energy
and prepare for storing up
and closing down
there is an aliveness
renewed.

 

MidSummer Solstice Extravaganza

 Four weeks on
lots transformed
harvests already coming in full
the sun strong
the rains and winds intense
the garden in full bloom. 

And now five weeks on
energy has changed,
the heat a bit less intense,
the sun already on the path
away from dominance
towards balance.

 There was the extreme dripping heat
leading to Solstice ritual
then temperatures lowered to bearable
while we had low fevers.
Then again it became thunderstorm hot,
giant clouds looming each day in the distance.
And now the cooling breezes
renew and remind us.

Summer will end,
dawn's later, the sun's trajectory shifts,
Autumn will come, the time is now.

Weather has forever changed,
instability comes to the fore,
 we must change too
allowing flexibility to guide us. 

Then was full with focused intent and joy
and we move forward
accordingly;
with so much that could be said
about the magical portal in time
that was this MidSummer Solstice
and the magical gatherings we hosted
but allowing that memory to be a fleeting smile.

There are many words to describe
the fullness of love,
and yet none of them seem enough,
there is only flowers and kindness
and laughter.
 

 

Minimal notes and some pictures
from then
though everything is blended
from stick breaking time to the parties to ritual
through sickness to healing and harvest:

Layers of petals
upon flowers and branches
in the smoldering fire

 

smokey spices
making us cough
joy and love

even viruses maybe feel joy
grateful for so much love to share

 

 

 

transformation
through heat and hydration
and clearing and cleaning
and touching and placing
with reverence

our Omens:

fullness of
food and family
many faces and hugs
and flexibility
and sweat

and then fever and body aches
and sleep
and more sleep

and torrential rains cleansing
and cooling
and replenishing
as the garden grows wild