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.

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