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 

 

MidSummer Season

There was the heat and then the smoke.
Rest and Ground.
 Then the much needed rain
intense at times as it was
brought back the cloud
of burnt particulate matter
that had been rasping 
our throats or eyes or heads
or spirit
(if we let it in)
after a day of once again remembering 
blue skies
and clear air.

Then tornado warnings,
then flooding,
though the land is still so dry,
and then cold.

So it goes
with weather now-
dangerously hot
or dry
or hazardous air quality
or other imbalance.
Giving thanks for it all,
love our atmosphere,
even compromised 
as we have made it
ever changing
nonetheless. 

 

MidSummertime
as pinnacle
is always pleasantly over the top
and then we start to descend
to the busy times of harvest
and endings
and transformation.

We drift and linger
in this languorous time,
endless dawn and dusk.

There's been a lot of clearing 
this season,
some good some hard
some tragic some liberating
all healing
in it's own way.
These long days
belie the speed of time
but the garden blooms
anyway.

Some random notes and pics from ritual:

solar prominence 

Wild Powerful Big Hot Fire
 not out of control
just huge
and expressive

Orange flower petals
for our beloved dead
flying up endlessly
on the heat thermals
30 feet or more
all around me
but
I was the only 
person not seeing it

focusing

listening

 the Solstices are an extended 
celebration of light
(or dark)
days set aside to the fullness
of cleaning and hosting
and making prep and food
simple summer slowness
and abundance 

setting up the house
the land
for MidSummer
is good for the soul
wildflowers fill the house
mostly white, some yellow
and the purples and oranges

we are going with ease
through the days
as best we can

 

just as I am done 
prepping before ritual
someone pulls into the parking lot,
it is Elizabeth!
Our Whole Grove!
Solstice toast with her mead. 

the full roundness of the airplane
continuing on and resonating
until Bryan was done
chiming the chimes
three times

 

sitting or laying on the Earth or sitting in chairs
or leaning against a tree
we were
11 humans and one very good dog

the fierceness of the flame
directionally displaying
but not dangerous
flow 

good fire/good smoke
consuming all sacrifice
tired but jubilant
peaceful

old citrus for the tree
coins for the well
duck fat paper towel for the fire

let this fire be a good fire

lots of dried flowers from the Beltaine Season 
as sacrifice for MidSummer's

the portal of presence
may we all find
our place
may we balance
night and day
work and play
grief and joy

feel the energy coming up 
from the Earth
and down from the sky
and moving within you

 

It seems appropriate that our MidSummer fire
was huge and bright and strong. 
May this season strengthen
our hearts, spirits, vision
and resolve.

 

Our Omens:

From Our Honored Dead: Raido- Communication, completed circuit, a ride and safe journey
From the Spirits of Nature & Place: Sowelu- the Sun!
From the Gods & Godesses: Hagalaz - Hail, disruption
For the Season:Eihwaz- the Yew, the spindle, the World Tree, connector of opposites and that which we revolve around

Stay safe, shine on, shit always happens, keep going

  

feast!