from Beltane thru Solstice- Summertime chapter 1

As always this time from Beltane thru Solstice is beyond busy and has flown by.

Late frosts and early heat then a month plus of no rain. The summer pressed close, temperatures rose high and the garden had been dry, now recent rains have made everything humid.

The flowers have been plentiful and finally the vegetables grow. We are eating local harvests and staying up late with the long days.

Here's some notes from the last rituals, sorry it took a while

Lughnasa Ritual will be here on Sunday 8/1/10.

Enjoy

Beltane
from notes dated 5/2/10

up before the dawn- whirlwind house cleaning - clearing opening to the fresh air.

gathering first flowers, getting rid of dead ones.

all in time.

setting up the maypole: picked up the covering stone to an ant nest filling the hole. Making offerings from the kitchen filling the hole and then filling the hole with the pole. The ribbons were still on it, mostly, and I steadied it while Bryan brought rocks, large rocks from our walls to stabilized it. Took more of them than I thought it should but we got it steady.

Amber arrived when we were finished bringing cookies and her harp. Always lovely to see friends not seen in a while.

Then Elizabeth arrived, tired and transformed carrying coffee and pie and her banjo and wood.

I went to the fire pit and realized that with bright noon light and 90 degree summer heat

we would need to slow down.

We rested in the shade and opened cyser and ate cookies and Middle Eastern sweets.

Getting out napkins we saw a large snake in the pantry. I screamed.

We had been seeing snakes everywhere.

Then the instruments came out.

the jumping electric monkey harp, the magic banjo, the big guitar, the kazoos.
the strings and the sweets, the sadness and the joy, the muse and the music.

then Carrie and her daughter showed up, all the way up here to the boonies blowing dandelions.

the boy was hot and bored in the hammock.

the sounds of the instruments and those from the basket and Carrie gently reading.

Staying on schedule off schedule.

the fires in the heat with small amounts of fuel.

Children and focus.

talking about ritual order and feeding the kids.

do we have sacrifice other than ourselves?

5 minute break.

Braya and Tasha and Dylan arrive. like magic. like clockwork.

on schedule off schedule.

happy birthday on the kazoos and then hats and water and an instrument and begin

on time off time.

The youngest banging the gong 3 times to begin - so soft and gentle

We are here to honor the Gods, Gods that give meaning to life.

the pomp of procession, joyous noise to the circle

finding Elizabeth quietly playing the banjo by the entrance.

We marched around the fire circles to the banjo tune, several times round stopping in the east.

Calling the directions, Elizabeth lights each fire

then as we light the center Michael & his son arrive. Each in its own time.

our meditation stopping at our arms our hands and our hearts and not going into our heads

walking around into and through the directional fires to get rid of winter as Carrie lead us in song.

Honor the inner fire.

the Gates, the Well, the Tree, the Fire

Let all our fires be good fires.

Almost the fires were out, just smoldering

Mama Mama Mama Mama!

The outsiders' cheese moved me around the circle closer to the offerings and sacrifices.

For our Kindred something that burns- a cauldron of sticks and handful of sage

the fire from nothing for our seasonal offerings- flowering dogwood, old herbs and flowers, scrambled grasses for each in time - even the littlest had her turn.

staying hydrated and cool in the headyness of the summer.

the pulling of omens is hard to explain what it really means

4 children, 4 omens to pull even if they didn't understand their role or why.

the 13 year old pulled the rune for the Honored Dead: Nathuz- the need fire, what we need

the 4 year old pulled the rune for the spirits of nature & place, the fairys, our animals: Uruz-

the primordial ox, taurus, here and now

the 9 1/2 year old best friend pulls the rune for the Gods & Godesses:Tir- the spiritual warrior, the direction up, balance & truth

the 9 1/2 year old boy pulls the rune for the season: Ingwaz, active life principle, doing, being, loving

A final omen of the Ogham, Bryan pulls the Furze- the East & Bees & maybe the wheel.

the fumbling of the waters, the blessing and taking in of that blessing- no longer iced or enough but good and refreshing.

Nicci and her family just in time for that blessing, the sharing of the waters.

in time out of time.

thanks and noise and not enough grounding but all is good.

12 minutes or 22 minutes and eating or not but the maypole finally.

We all dance our own way

deep green in the mist

The days reach their longest, trees are full and deep.

Celebrate the Solstice with us on Monday June 21st

after work and before dark.

RSVP please

Well

Balance has a new feel, having been thrown off balance by the passing of our dear friend Anna. She has attended some rituals and been a really powerful presence. May her spirit shine on as honored dead.
So this equinox started with us going to NYC and Bryan attending the ritual of NYC So druids. Dropping him off on the Upper East Side and him walking cross-town in the Spring of the City wearing his bear claw necklace and with a honey bear to celebrate ritual without leading it. And then him coming to meet us at 5 walking all the way downtown fast paced just after receiving the waters for us to go to Hoboken to witness the 122^nd annual ritual of the swearing in of officers at the secret room of the Elks Lodge with our friend becoming the new Exalted Ruler. Then driving through the night to get home to celebrate our equinox in the morning.

Cleaning and clearing, balancing our egg on the hearth, and setting up snacks and cushions for outside and oh yes making the turkey, an extra from Thanksgiving. Wondering who and how many and (with a fire burn ban) making the fire small but strong.

Thinking back to spring equinoxes past, so much letting go- or acknowledging the release already made. Letting go of winter and of what we move on from.

Sitting around the table with tea and snacks and talking about groves and groups and worship and grounding and how we can come together better. We spoke about Bryan putting out all the energy leading ritual and were there parts that others wanted to take. Everyone agreed how valuable it is for Bryan to lead us but that the pulling of the omen was something each of us could participate in.

Ok let's go, time moves on, some of us need to leave early.

Flowers and sticks and oils, waters and small simple fire: our sacrifice quiet and unencumbered. We are here to honor the Gods, Gods who give meaning to life.
I got to offer welcome to the directions, understated gratitude leaving much unsaid but in my heart. Due east -where the sun rises; and the south- the trust that we lay out, our lessons of heart and environment; the west –place of the setting sun, our neighbors and their barn, the brown bear and that introspective time; and the Great North- place of winter winds and uphill, healing and renewal. The up and down and the center.

And honoring the Earth Mother standing firmly upon her filling the fire circle with old soy flour. It was as if the pale yellow of the flour became our fire so bright and strong and solid it shone.

Our small fire, barely a blaze; our well/cauldron that the cats drink from; and our tree- an old Yule tree not yet burnt through though it has been in the center of many fires. How good to have these gates, and to allow them to be open.

Letting the outsiders offering go, really go, past the house- take it farther.

Jumping right to the Kindreds- coming back to our patron Bridget only later- the Kindreds demanding our offerings first, now- feed me. Each consumed in our small flame.

And the birds, always singing their praise, participating at rituals in turn, listening for their chance to call the spirits.

Standing barefoot on the earth, the new spring green under my toes, rocks cold but welcome. I offered gratitude for Bridget-by the stream in line with my right side, for getting thru the winter, that February, the unsettledness of spirit, hoping to move forward. Susan gave flowers as did Elizabeth.

Women burning flowers.

We each pulled a rune- me, Susan, Elizabeth & Hudson.

From the Ancestors: Jera or Year- a completed growth and harvest cycle

From the Gods & Goddesses: Hagalaz or Hail – a disruption of pattern and reassertion of a new one

From the Spirits: Gibor or Gift- giver of sacrifice and also reciprocity and agreement

For the Season: Tir or Tiwaz, Spiritual Warrior -the whole truth and justice and balance and direction- the Pole Star for sure – and it is Spring it is pointing up we are all on the balance of UP.

We used wine glasses for the waters, our simple grove, Our Whole Grove drinking in the blessings together.

We blessed our seeds and the seeds within us and our tools and the tools to shape and grow and craft.

We said our thanks.

We pulled out our equinox cyser, brewed in the autumn and ready to drink now and decanted a jar to toast ourselves.

Balance the Egg, Feel the Mud

my girlfriend just had a baby this week and the wind has finally eased and the sun was out and my neighbor cut back the raspberries and the earth gives way to my feet as I walk in my slippers to the raging stream. Newness is all around and the cycles of birth and rebirth stretch our bodies, minds, hearts and spirits.
Come break out of your shell, Spring is here and you better get busy. But first take a moment to balance yourself on the Earth Mother, when the day and night are equal and breathe.

We gather for Equinox Ritual and PotLuck Celebration

Sunday 3/21/10 at 1:32 pm

As the Solstices are about the Sun, we tend to look at the Equinox’s as about the Earth

and also in this beginning time to reflect on the East and the Mothers.

It is a time to rejoice in the returning green.
Bring any seeds that you want blessed and some food to share for an early Sunday supper.

Our cyser that we made in the fall is now ready!! We will be decanting it and tasting!

Imbolc which now after February is finally over seems so long ago

So much life has happened, it is a distant memory when the days were still very short

and we had not yet tasted spring.

Getting ready with many eggs and cheese and milk for quiches to honor this time when the sap begins to flow, when traditionally the ewes would lactate and the ice breaks and we would know that the Earth Mother would be renewed.

Figuring out roles so that all works. Who will make and tend the fire, which must be big enough for a group of people and strong enough to keep them warm? Who will prepare the offerings of sacrifice? Who will talk and what shall be said?

So Adhi would make the fire, hauling standing dead trees from the woods and making a loud constant whirr of chain saw while he worked the embers. But it was Bryan that tended the fire and I swept around it, a path in the snow that later would show the earth, mud and grass.
The sweeping of snow, sweeping the land; a never ending job that you feel in your whole body- arms, legs, gut, lungs.

Salad and quiche (even the bad crusted one) and sweets and peaches from the summer and coffee and cyser.
Who all was here- Eizabeth, Ron & Linda, and Judith and Anna and Jasper and us and Ahdi. Missing was Amber and Susan & Gwen and Katrina & family and Unca Magoo and Aunt Lisa. But we had a full table and a lot of laughing and lots more talk.

I had put together offerings and Bryan had too, each brought to the fire circle waiting.

Grains and chips and herbs - spring cleaning of the cupboards.

Bryan offered his rant for the season- stories of Bridget, her lineage, her gifts,

and how we honor her and the order of ritual.

The kids were- as always- restless and sometimes us too. It is hard with groups of people to interact, prepare for ritual, learn what to do, eat and focus on a time. But we do always seem to focus well on the spirits.
Bryan brought Bridget from the shrine and donned his wicker headdress and we processed to the circle; boys stomping and dancing across the threshold; each person finding their place around the fire. There was a bird that flew overhead while we walked and they always seem to speak as we gather, when we settle down or when we listen.

Nice hot flame and warm sun and rushing stream and bright snow. The directions of the sun and the gates of our spring, willow and fire. Let this fire be a good fire.
Glowing embers like the sun and my eyes. Standing centered on the earth- men and women and boys. Crystalline the sun blinded me so that I could only see the fire and smoke.
Blazing greens letting go of the past and of the winter.
Our offerings, our omens, our blessing.

From the Ancestors: Sowelo or the sun
From the Spirits of Nature & Place: Kinaz or the torch
From the Gods & Goddesses: Wunjo or joy
From Bridget and the Season: Jera – year or harvest
(All lovely and appropriate for good fortune, perhaps it is what has kept us as together as we have been through this transition time.)

The waters always so refreshing and enough for all.

Each of us helping each other through Bridget's girdle, ever expanding for all of our sizes. Even for the cat next door. So much light and orange and personalities.

Each of us chose a shimmering crystal, as a remembrance of this frozen time of almost spring.

We quieted down, back in our places around the fire to offer thanks and grounding. We gathered up our things- our empty bowls, cups and leftover offerings and took each other home.
We invited Bridget onto our hearth, in our kitchen overflowing with people and food and glasses and light.

So the after effects were immediate, with more eating and conversations, intense at times, and time flying and groups of people coming and going. Sometimes it is all like a dream, blurred like the smoke.

At the end of the day, with the vast darkness lit by a candle at Bridget’s shrine, I went outside alone to put out the light.

IMBOLC

Sunday January 31st , 2010 – Gathering for Brunch & Ritual
In honor of the GODDESS BRIDGET

11am
greeting & gathering & pre-ritual briefing & first brunch & toasting
NOON
Ritual preparation (get ready for ritual, layer up, do what you’ve got to do)

Ritual begins
Process to Bridget's Well
Lustration of our Hands or face
Then Cozy up back at the fire

Sacred space & time
Offerings to the Earth Mother
A Guided Meditation
Directions
Center
Offerings to Manannan/fire–well-tree/Opening of the Gates
Offering to outsiders
Offering for insider Bridget
Sacrifice for our Kindred Spirits
Our Honored dead
Our spirit Allies
Our Gods & Goddesses
Special Praise offerings for Bridget as the Herald of the Coming Spring-Bring on the Beat
Prayer of sacrifice
Seeking and reading omens
Hallowing and sharing of The Waters
Special Magicwerking –Blessing of our Tools and Passing through Bridget’s Belt
Oh Yay Bridget! Thanks
Thank you Gods! Thanks Spirits! Thank you Honored Dead!
Give Thanks again Bridget
Thanks Manannan/Close the Gates
Thank you Earth Mother
Invite and Welcome Bridget into the hearth & home

The ritual is over and 2nd Brunch begins!

THE LONGEST NIGHT

The day before we prepared for the blizzard that wasn’t- hauling wood, sticks, clearing the deck- battening down the hatches.
Figuring that maybe the only way we’d have the fire pit in the morning was if we started the fire before the snow came, Bryan gathered dry wood and set to burn through the packed ice. It looked like it might only be us- me, Bryan and Hudson- so formalities and cleaning were dropped for more wood gathering, cooking and dancing.
The late afternoon air was crisp and the quality of light was exquisite but the fire smoldered with little flame. Smoldering pine needles and pine cones. I went inside to get paper to burn and came out to the magic of the fire in full flame. The sun was beginning to go down, shining straight through the house. We waited for snow and worked at staying warm.

Feeding the fires. Cooking in the oven. Feeling family.

After dinner and before bed Bryan rolled a massive Yule log into the cache of hot embers. It caught and smoldered and the wind roared and kept the fire alive. All night I got up and saw the flames. Blown by the fiercest winds but not out of control, the giant Yule log burned steady.

So the next day we had had only a dusting of snow and the fire was still there. The logs ringing the fire were crowned with white circles, 24 in the half ring, 4 more as gates and 4 more that bridge to the rocks that frame the fire.



We gathered more wood and offerings and cleaned and rested. Though we didn’t start at exactly 3:33, we layered up and were outside by 4ish, the sun was still up and the sky was luminous, pinks, golds and whites.

Everything was quiet. The deep quiet of snow, the quiet of just family, the quiet hiss of the fire burning for a whole day- the shortest day, longest night. Things I remember from ritual are circles and sounds. Pouring cider for the Earth Mother half way around the circle and then wine around the other half because she is not our mother for only half the year but always. Our good fire, our well, our very old Yule tree. Dear Mananan and Bridget, whose altars form the edges of a triangle with our fire, were welcomed with gratitude. Each praise accepted with a sizzle and flame burst, and each of us in turn asking for acceptance of our sacrifice. Bryan began to speak about the outsiders and to open our pickle jar offering when suddenly a bird, perhaps a wren, sang its song- loud and clear and long. We laughed; it was easy to feel the presence of our Kindred.

Wine and pine cones and our kitchen cauldron of dried flowers and grasses for consumable sacrifice.

The round orange halves of a tangerine full of seeds, full of juice, full of light. Cold juice for each of us and for the spirits as well, visions of summer shining.

Hudson placed on the fire his gingerbread house as thanks for and wishes for creating spiral flame.

The final seasonal sacrifice of a large basket- long used as detritus storage collecting dust by my bed, now used for renewal. Bryan placed the basket right side up on the fire, which was sort of precarious and sort of balancing. It seemed to momentarily smother the flames until, imperceptibly, the smoke caught to fire and then a vortex of flame roared to life. We all quickly stepped back behind the ring of logs and still the fire grew. We were howling and Hudson yelled that it was the awesomest thing ever and really it was. The flame was alive, rolling and circling and strong. It went on and on and grew and was bright for a long time.

I am still enveloped in the circle of that fire, may its strength keep us strong, warm and safe all winter.

Bryan brought out the runes and Hudson went forward to pick them-

From the Ancestors: Daguz- day or vantage point- like high noon and sometimes it is a paradox -like you see things from a much different vantage point, sometimes like seeing things from both sides

From the Spirits of Nature and Place: Othala or Odul- sacred enclosure or inheritance, kind of like what you protect and treasure and keep safe

From the Gods & Goddesses: Fehu- the fee what things cost- and fe fi fo fum and fa lalala

For the Season:Sowelu or the Sun.

Well done.

We draw these same runes in different combinations often- they seem sometimes like grove runes.

Silently, I had been hoping to draw an omen, though Hudson did a great job and I was satisfied with the blessings. But just as I had stepped one foot over the logs and halfway back into the circle Bryan asked if I would pull an Ogham, it was Gort -generally thought of as ivy, but translated it means a cultivated garden or a plowed field. Ivy is a grass that is suitable for the herd when the grasses fail, in the winter icy can still feed the livestock. Lovely. And then we hallowed and took in those icy waters, crisp, snowy and a bit sooty too. Drinking in crystals and light and spirit and flame, my eyes poured tears from smoke from the fire. It seems that at each ritual these days my eyes cry buckets and in that smoke and water I am taken away and transformed and brought back cleared.

Joyful and refreshed we offered all our thanks. Then with darkness approaching, the snow blue and the first stars coming out we returned to our warm house for dinner. The fire burned well into the night.