Autumnal Equinox Balancing Act

  Winter will be coming but first the winds.
Surprised to still have leaves after these storms,
this season lingers deliciously,
gratefully.

 Harvestide almost done,
to begin again
from the beginning
soon enough.

I can already see the joy of this coming Spring.

 sky and the light
now much more golden,
moving from the richness
of time of equal daylight and dark,
towards the oncoming
monochromatic winter
through which we will transform
again.

 

This whole season we have been processing-
peaches and pawpaws,

mushrooms for some,
flowers and herbs and grasses,
emotions, lives, spaces.

The heart not wavering,
even if unbalanced,
out of control,
or afraid.

Do it now.
The time is now.
There is only now.

We have reached the time of endings
and new beginnings.
Seemingly so soon after equal day and night.
Equinox is the springboard,
find that quick balance,
before plunging forward.
Perhaps that moment of equality,
standing still for a moment,
is energy in itself.

On the precipice.
Leaping freely forward.
Holding on and letting go.

This was a season of resolutions,
getting it done successfully,
keeping the faith,
staying true.

Climate is more challenged,
we are older,
the cycles turn again.

Notes and pics from then with commentary from now:

The POP of color

Its as if our appreciation of what is
is heightened in the balance of endings.

 adjusting to the desires of the gathered folk
how much do we change what we do
to accommodate.
Flexibility of the Random.
Change in plans like seasonal change.

 working the fire
a reminder of the sacred

sometimes you have to use
all your sacrifice just as tinder
all in gratitude

the perception of balance
between our mind and heart
between dreams and fears
between past and future
the here and now

a great gathering of companions and comrades in camaraderie
still comfortably outside in the strong sun,
hot but no longer summer
the beginning of the peach harvest
but the last of the season's harvests
the last flowers-still brilliant and giving

we cannot promise a better tomorrow
but we can take joy today

 Forgiveness/Resilience/Tolerance
Gratitude

There is much sorrow on the edges
but it seems
our gathered light
helps

3 guys ready to gather a tree

is it because we are isolated
that times together are never enough?
we could talk all day
stopped only by the darkness
now earlier, each day earlier

moved to the 5 circle fire pit
each of us helped to kindle the fire
sun rises due East and sets directly West
taking the Middle Way,
slipping not slipping,
balancing on the rocks towards
the center.

bird calls at the nature spirits
3 dimes for the well
hot sauce for the tree
everything for the fire

sliding down gently
sparkling flame

he gently placed each flower
on the standing branch
finally falling under the weight
of the fire
tended by many hands
many breaths
many hearts

 gentle gathering of kindreds
 always goes so fast
we could take all day offering prayers and gratitude
and it would barely be enough

The OMENS
from Our Honored Dead: Perthro the Lottery up, Chance, Luck

from the Spirits of Nature and Place: Isa, Ice, Solid, Transparent, Very Cold, Still

from the Gods and Goddesses:Yera, a Whole Year, Harvest, Complete Cycle

for this Season of Autumnal Equinox:Ehwaz, the Horse, the Main Power Superhuman Ability to Get There, Getting Where You Want to Go, Horsepower baby!

Iridescent chocolates
filling our mouths and bellies with light

fleeting season
snake in the kitchen 

vacuuming cobwebs everywhere 

the more you look 

the more you see

full moon rising as last folks leave

Lughnasah Harvestide - Mind the Detour/Going for the Gold

There should have been a draft of this post,
a sketch of this record of remembrance of ritual.
But within the absence of solidity,
we begin again.

Lughnasah with it's languorous heat and endless August,
marks times of change,
spiraling towards Autumn,
imperceptibly.

A small group,
each delayed by the detour,
which had impacted our behavior
up here on the mountain
for so long
that it became forgotten.
Closed roads mandating exploration and navigational self-trust.

A new person,
connected through the Organization,
sharing stories and experiences
as we shared many kinds of chips and dips and cheeses.
Cake later. 

Maintaining safety and protocol,
looking out for self and others,
grateful to be together.

The storms of this season have necessitated a reckoning
and assessment of strength and love.
Leaves begin to change, most flowers gone to seed,
the peaches ripen.
Sunrise is much later and Sunset earlier.
Cycles upon cycles upon cycles.

Listening and Hearing
Looking and Seeing
Doing and Being
DoBeDoBeDo.

Not much notes not in order and some pics from then
it's not the same as being here

hot hot hot
thick muggy hot

iced water and more iced water
and our iced waters

self-care
letting it go
too hot to hassle

gathering flowers
magnificent sweets

Sacred Space
slowing down to get there
being there then
and moving on
(through the woods to the Nemeton
and around and through again
noticing and remembering
honoring and recognizing
and back home)

at Specialtimes we try to reach out
and touch and communicate
back and forth
with these great friends

go a bit deeper into the posture
(let it be 100%)

the thistle
(then in full flower and full of flying beings
now with flying seeds and those who eat those)

here's to found family
to what and who we foster
to shine in ourselves
and harvest our highest
abilities

 

 

Our Omens

from our Beloved Dead: Jera or Harvest

from the Spirits of Nature and Place: Berkanu or Birch or Beginning

from the Gods and Goddesses: Gibor or Gift and Giving

for the Season: Ansuz or Os or the Voice or the Wind

A MidSummer Season

 August is now here and ready for forward movement.
MidSummer was all about stretching out and languishing timelessness.

As always from then to now comes from what we visioned, what we conjured,
but who but the butterflies really knew
that we would come to such fullness.

The light was brighter and we were tasting the first of summer.
Now it is as if the green and the eternal day was forever.
Especially as it begins to fade.

Cycles upon cycles upon cycles.
Woven with gratitude and wonder and breath.

Notes and pics from then:

Easylike
lovingly gathered from here
with special intention.


it's just about being welcoming.

reeds harvested from last year
was the tinder

a certain amount of prudence
an awareness/boundary

be a bit more scrappy and resilient

barefoot/swimming/being naked
Summer

the birdsong, the song of the cricket,
the rushing water
Summer

offering up and not sure
but you are willing

we can't be sure who is listening
Summer

gathering in humanity
gathering as humans
waiting for each other
in great celebration

the heat of the sun
the cool of the shade

the magic of the moment

sun and heat and midday
as natural trance inducers

honing our spirit to align with
our whole self

drinking "real" champagne together
with juice or fruit or straight
brunch-style
Summer

LIFE!

it's amazing how fire finds a breeze
when there is none

feed what feeds you

Our Omens
each picked by a different person for the blessing of all

from our Beloved Dead: Hagal or Hail
(or disruption)
from the Spirits of Nature and Place: Thuriz or Thorn
(or protection/defense/that which pricks ya)
from the Gods and Goddesses: Mannaz or Self
(of, by and for)
for the Season of MidSummer: Nathuz or Need
(what do you really need)

Bryan got the bug in his waters of melted ice.
Is Kevin a Magical Sprite? Aren't we all?

no longer wanting to be fractured or compartmentalized
the need to tamp down the fire
the act of giving it breath

love love love
Summer