Cold rain slows the tumbling race towards MidSummer,
but it happens anyway.
Taking the time to do it right is a good thing.
There are no notes because it was so totally full.
Full of friends, full of hugs, full of food, full of laughter,
full of joys and challenges.
Such is this life,
building up and letting go,
with grace and strength.
Welcome to the May.
Give thanks for finally getting to here.
It has been an eternity.
Budding, blossoming, blooming, becoming.
We no longer see the branches or clearing in the woods,
there is only full verdant leaves.
Bridging Spring and Summer,
the beginning and the fullness,
some of the longest days before we are accustomed
to the languidness of the season,
May is always astounding.
On May Day we decorated the crown
of our new tall and mostly vertical and majestic May Pole
with many daffodils and forsythia
and a branch of each of the flowering fruit trees
and painstakingly redid all 8 ribbons counting them again and again
though one was gone by the time we danced the next day
and the rest were totally entangled with the mullein stalk growing next to the pole site.
Such is this life,
gentle work and prayers put out and plans crafted,
with outcomes unknown.
What does it mean to let the light shine through our crown into our body and entire being
and flow through us deep into the earth?
To let our light shine through crowning our body and being
and flowing from the earth?
A simple complicated dance of breath and balance.
Almost time to take it down for another year.
So much family gathered here then,
family with generations who have come here,
some of the kids grown, some still growing
and finding their way,
some generations not yet born.
We were 10 folks present, spirits of at least 3 younger ones now grown and elsewhere,
and Elizabeth (and Ted) brought to mind and heart.
Beginning to interconnect, inter-reconnect
re-enter and remember.
Such a long Winter.
Give thanks for the Sun.
Some pics from then with commentary from now.
Gathered together and comfortable
the first flowers, the last year's herbs,
spring cleaning clearings and everything else.
We center and meditate, let go and be present,
close our eyes and open our ears and hearts.
We honor the Seven Directions
and Our Earth Mother.
Chiming the Well
-Flow within Us-
that which reaches down and rises up
Sacred Tree
-Grow within Us-
Lighting the Sacred Fire
-Glow within Us-
We honor Mananan and request his kind gatekeeping abilities.
We make offerings to those outside our sphere of support.
We welcome our special insider Bridget
with sweet smelling combustibles and much gratitude.
Circular fire accepting sacrifice for our Kindreds
and our Heartsong.
I love when even the quiet folks or younger people offer prayers,
emptying all my pockets in prayer.
Final sacrifice
Hear and Answer Us
We Pray
Our expressive fires speak volumes.
Our Omens
from Our Honored Dead: Gibor -Giver/Giving/Gift,
the Open Hands, Giving AND Receiving,
the Ancestors know what this is all about
I would say let's remember to use the gifts
those humans no longer here have so generously given to us
*
from the Spirits of Nature and Place: Algiz- the Elksedge,
it is about attention/awareness, it ain't about slack,
be on guard,
BE ALERT THE WORLD NEEDS MORE LERTS
I like the idea of standing tall, shoulders back and ready,
flexible like the trees and strong like the stones
*
from the Gods and Goddesses: Yera-the Harvest,
the only rune broken into two figures,
but it is about balance, a whole year,
the time that it takes for the stuff that it makes
I keep hearing to slow down and allow for natural unfolding
*
for the Season: Ansuz or we say Os -the Voice or the Wind
or Odin,
it has to do with a message heard and received.
Listen UP!
Maybe it is our own voice and maybe we are singing.
GZYO!
We take in those blessings
(at times blazing and at times smoky)
with our refreshing water and giddiness.
We give thanks with we all that we have left.
We gather to feast together,
food in the house,
sharing our plates and flatware,
like old times.
Strange but tentative.
A good start.
The dance of Seven.
Hurdy Gurdy all the time!
