Vernal Equinox Springing

 

 

this slow Spring interrupted by a very hot week
making everything rush
to bloom

Balance so needed
yet not necessarily accessible
except in the inbreath
and outbreath.

over the last several days
trees have gone from the blush of first bud
to leafing,
bulbs from sprouting to flowering
and the pollinators are busy. 

Trying to catch up to the energy of Nature,
I want to nap.

This Equinox Season
carrying us through Spring 
to the start of Summer,
is an explosion.
Riding that opening
and opening our hearts
to the return of the garden,
early mornings and late slow dusk.

Good faith action,
one day at a time,
being here now.

Notes and Pics from our Ritual:

enthusiastic/
small dog with a giant stick/
spinning in circles

tending the fire for hours
built in the rain
the syncopated rhythm
of the drain pipe
stream rushing

feeding that fire
for hours
all those sticks
a lot of small sticks
built up and layered
endlessly
the cranberries from the ice candles
of Yule
in the wood frame
of Fire

 

noon and lightly raining
when we started the fire
the quality of the air
cold, but not Winter cold

|
cast iron pan oiled paper towel
(no need for the NYT or the last of the fat wood)
to start the fire
an easy fire in the rain
from small sticks and herbs
and attention.

the balancing logs
leftover from Imbolc
gently fell twice to the East
and twice to the West

crushed corn chips & stout 
for our Beloved Earth Mother
the gift of the Druidic Peace Prayer
as invocation and song for the seven directions
peas and PEACE
for the directions
-mind blown-

Long winded acknowledgement
of presence and space
of self and not self
interconnected

extended non-traditional yet centering meditation

 

shell & seed pod
egg & seed
when inspiration meets fertility
pop corn popped
laying out seed
the balancing
burning eye-poker

Roses for our Honored Dead
(Unity Ritual waters condensed and coming down on us!)
Herb stalks for the Nature Spirits
Bouquet of bright dried flowers from the Summer
from our entryway
for the Gods & Godesses

flowers and stalks from the cauldron for all
and many petals
and 2 circles of sweetgrass
as a figure 8
for the Season
 

Folks coming late!
Eric in the West!
Shining Sun!

We've got Joy and Laughter,
Fuck YOU!

We have to be prepared to be shielded

Prayers to release 
what needs to go
prayers for good balance
slow Spring
prayers that the guns stop working
that the bombing stops
prayers for peace
prayers for our safety
and domestic wellness

Our Omens

From our Beloved Dead: Mannaz- Man/Self
From the Spirits of Nature & Place:Nauthiz- Need/Constraint
From the Gods & Goddesses:Uruz- Primordial Ox/Strength
For the Season: Jera- Year/Harvest

MNUY!

a good smelling fire 
a good feeling ritual
a good company feast

Vegan Caesar Salad/Beet Walnut Radish Salad/Cabbage Mango Cilantro Hot Pepper Salad
Potato Dill Egg Salad
Sprouts
Lion's Mane "Crab" Cakes
Deviled Eggs
Purple Sweet Potato Hummus
Salmon & Kale
Gluten-Free Lemon Cookies
Apple Date Babyfood Cake

Yum Yum Yum

 

The Wettness of Beltane

It's been raining for weeks, the whole month it seems.
 Today it rains only a bit and also while the sun shines
but it is cold.
And then there are the few days of endless blue sky
when all else is forgotten.

We may be stumbling in the chill and chaos,
but the Earth manages,
slowing the growth,
continuing,
absorbing and releasing.

And now today, a week and a lifetime later,
this last day of May,
it rains and is cold again.
Summer heat will arrive soon,
may we continue peacefully forward
with fierce strength 
and and the support of our Kindreds
always remembering our connection and interconnection.

Yesterday we released the MayPole,
a day shy of the last day,
but it was not technically raining.
These cycles and rituals of this life
including death
and transformation
are a great gift.

Finding joyful belly laughter,
like the sobbing of deep sorrow
or weeding the garden,
is special magic.

Notes and pics and memories from Ritual:

on the 1st of May we planted the MayPole
crowned with daffodils and flowers from the blooming trees
and using the egg balanced on the hearth at Equinox
and fermented spirits
as offering to the hole.

May we work together well
and may our labor produce good harvests.

since then we have barely had a day of no rain

busyness for days
magic and transformation

the way things bloom
the way things unfurl
a developing nature
the song of the Baltimore oriole
the drum of the rain

pouring rain 

appreciating the effort
that people make
to come and clan
to gather and worship

although a consistent and heavy rain
it hadn't been a gusty
and dangerous storm.

crafting embers from the smallest of tinder
concerted effort
to make fire
outside
as we always do
somehow

 smart to retreat

need-fire in the rain
glowing embers
in the hearth
the next morning

pouring so hard, soaking rain
the land pooling in many places
praying the rain keeps flowing
and not flooding

so much rain
lessening wild fire risk
filling our wells
making everything green
buckets of rain.

 suddenly a flame outside
then a downpour
then flame
then torrential rain
finally putting out the fire 

soaking wet
move inside
build the fire
adjust
whatever works
even a candle
can be a flame
chairs for all,
sitting under the table
or laying on the floor

things need to be the way
things need to be

10 of us

Bryan standing in the directional center
calling the directions
the colors
or the elements
and the up and down
and center.

coins in the well
of the blue glass bowl
given to us from another being
whose birthday was that day.

charged crystal for the bonsai tree.

raffia braid for the fire.
to start the fire
dried greens
and sage
let this fire be a good fire
let all our fires
be good fires

 many dried flowers
many roses
the last flowers from her birthday,
garden sage,
petals,
the straw flowers
dried last summer
from the window,
lemon balm
from the basement,
forgotten flowers
no longer needed
in this blossoming time.

 

 

all the sacrifice consumed

 

I've seen this being in the fire at other rituals

we are prepared to transform
into something that is right

our Omens

from the Ancestors- Os, the Voice - the Wind
listen & hear
-pulled by Hudson-
from the Spirits of Nature & Place- Daguz, Day- High Noon
vantage point & seeing clearly
-pulled by Lily-
from the Gods & Goddesses- Kenaz,the Torch-Shaping & Crafting
cauterize, healing, light
-pulled by Elizabeth-
for the Season- Berkanu, Birch-Beginnings
birth
-pulled by Bryan on his Birthday-

Listen-See-Feel
Begin

Silly Songs
are Love

Gratitude as Prayer

different kind of green things
different kind of egg things 

dancing the Maypole
in the pouring rain
boots and umbrellas
and song and laughter

the sillyness of it all

moving forward
slowly standing still
laughing & feeling joy
lost & found
sleeping & dreaming
connecting & staying active

ungroundedness
is a constant
it's like there is no floor
current civilization
digital speed
the rain and the wet earth
soaking wet
puddling quickly
drenching
the ground
squishy but solid
and real

complete & total greening
rapid growth
flow & strengthen
may these rains
drown those who harm us
may we rise up safely
together
strong
together

Gratitude is Prayer

In Loving Memory