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's Night's Dream

 Not yet Lughnasah
and already the thunderstorms are intense,
but all the garden
fruits and blooms
and abundant harvests have begun.

This ongoing cycle of seasons,
travels of the sun across the sky,
at Midsummer dawning in the most North East of the woods
and arching across
through the East, South and West
before setting in the most North West of the neighbor's woods,
now only weeks later
sunrise is almost halfway 
to due East
charting a path through the year 
until rising in the South 
at MidWinter
and barely grazing the sky 
descending before noon 
towards the horizon
and back again.

These endless days,
lingering twilight,
early morning
dreams
already fading.

Such is the beauty and fragility
of the MidSummer Solstice,
dazzled with brilliance
we drift and slide
towards the time of darkness
imperceptibly
in that same way that we do not notice the lengthening of the days
until it is undeniable.

 We are in challenging times 
and we are here for many reasons
mainly to connect and share.
 Joy and Laughter
makes us strong.
Feed and nourish
your spirit and your beloveds.
Pray for peace,
pray for support for those in need,
pray for the birds and for the bees,
pray for balance and re-balance,
for good healing
and love.

 Gentle, true, faith.

Finally a breeze blows, the leaves rustle
and the chimes ring.  
Staying focused in the present 
breath.

Very limited notes and some pics from then with random thoughts: 

such a magical ritual space and time,
there were no words to describe

-MidSummer Heat- 
Me&Bryan/Katrina/Elizabeth/Eric/Ann
Nicci & Leah/Rachel + 2 friends and their baby
Johnny TM + 3 friends/Mary Jane
Muji & Biscuit

folks arriving early and late/everyone in time
house dark to stay cool
loads of food
not enough ice cubes
iced mint tea and sparkling water

Bryan wanted to use the five circle fire pit
but comfort and cozy prevailed
using the close to the house fire pit
which was loosely set up
and always ready 
and not used in a while

days of slow prep
our easy Solstice ritual
before stick breaking time
the day after our anniversary
after a few days of Bryan being ill
slow and gentle
were the operative words
for the week
a season of cool and rain
gave way to this new season
of hot hot hot


early morning thunderstorms
that sounded like bombs
prayers for peace
prayers for courage
"I'll see your courage and raise you- Raw Instinct"

Prayers for grounding
prayers for protection
strength, joy
LAUGHTER
the dog laughing making us all laugh
in response 

NorthEast to NorthWest 
arc of the sun

challenge to light the fire
paper, fire stick, more paper, sweetgrass
let this fire be a good fire
even if we struggle
even if it smolders
going inside to grab more dry stuff
the hydrangeas
dried herb harvests
from last year 
finally
Mary Jane's lavender stalks
did the trick
cooperative effort for the win

                                   

despite the green ferns
and freshly cut flowers
that smothered the flames
the fire raged hot and consumed all

gathering with loads of new folks
and waiting to start
explaining and passing snacks

even the folks who came late
but before the fire was lit
just settled down gently and were present

the Imbolc-born baby had a gentle and wise gaze,
the whole afternoon she did not cry,
and she had the most charming feet.

even with the heat
the new heat of full summer
we moved with a slow ease

 

 

staying cool 
in an uncool situation
staying joyful
in times of strife
and especially
manufactured turmoil

 We are blessed with Joy!
We are blessed with Justice and Direction!
We are blessed with the sharp thorn of Protection-
just don't grab me.

for the season the gift of Communication.

may we be able to use these gifts well

LONG DAYS
DAYLIGHT UNTIL WELL PAST NINE
Even when you want to go to bed,
it's still daylight

I'm sure the mulberries will be eaten
before we get to them,
but the birdsong is so nice 

oh we are in challenging times
but we know love

community is a cherished blessing

endless daylight
endless summer

wake early sleep midday outside at dusk 

searing heat
gentle family

five guys and me at the end,
unusual to be so gender mixed and fluid
clearing energy
cooperation
water
the waters of melted ice
fire flies

the week before when he was ill
we slowed down
the whole season rained and was cold
and then the illness
and Solstice
and hot
and then really hot
and more illness
and then healing.