Celebrating Mid Summer

It is the time of action…we are in but the pubescent stage of our growth cycle. Fire’s raging heat beats upon our skin, and focuses our will. Now is a time of great purpose, as air soars overhead, cooling our brows and bringing us the fresh scent of the summer days. Our goals are manifesting beneath us as mother grows steadily forth under our feet, giving us a soft place to lie during the heat of the day, and a warm place to dance at night. As we strive together to reach our personal and community goals, water quenches our thirst for knowledge and blends our efforts into one.

Remember that this is the longest day of the year. Air is aloft, clarifying our purpose and actions as we strive to maintain our goals. Earth stands beneath us as our crops begin to manifest within the fields of our endeavors. Fire blazes forth as the heat of the sun at its zenith beats down upon us, focusing our will and illuminating spirit's vision within us. Water ripples around us, awakening us to our intuitive connections with each other and our surroundings, and bringing us the wisdom to further our paths in the summer heat.

A Blessed Summer Solstice to You All - May the Longest Day Bring You Clarity, Faith and Hope for the Future Harvest Still to Come.

The beginning of a new home

I am beyond excited - we're finally moving forward with our plans to build a home at Pyrth Annwn. I can't describe to you the joy and overwhelming feeling of anticipation for this. It is something we have dreamed about for a very long time, and it's finally happening.

In fitting with our nature, our home won't be the ordinary box or cabin. As shown in the model, we're using the starplate building system as the basis for our home, our greenhouse and our future storage building.

Starplates create five sided structures, so we've created an arrangement that will work for us, including a two story main building that will house the living room on the bottom floor and our bedroom on the top floor, a two story bath house module for an upstairs and downstairs bathroom plus our telescope viewing area on the roof, a one story kitchen module, one story study/guest room module and a laundry/mud room. In the future, we'll be adding on a dining hall so we'll have room when our large chosen family gathers to celebrate.

We already know where the garden is going, and where we'll be fencing in an outside area for the cats to enjoy, plus a separate area for the puppies to play. We've got the site for the well picked out, and pretty much figured out the layout of the septic system.

We've picked out an area behind the main house that's partially into the cliff face for a canning cellar/mead brewing room. Next up is figuring out where the chickens and goats are going to go once we get them. Our friend Megan has us hooked on goat milk and cheese, so Cabrito is definitely going to be on the menu, and my friend James has me hooked on fresh eggs, hence the chickens. And yes, we will have many guineas to control the tick population. Cenau will have his work cut out for him keeping the coyotes and foxes at bay.

The best part about all of this - we're doing it ourselves. The magick that will infuse this act of creation will make this home a very sacred place indeed - and anchor my gypsy feet once and for all firmly in the ground.

Continuing the Journey (or how I try to keep ducking the Cosmic 2 x 4)

Ah, the Cosmic 2 x 4 - that gentle hand of the Universe, guiding us along our life lesson path...why as humans do we insist on ignoring the gentle prods and pokes and instead only pay attention when we get smacked on the back of the head? You'd think paying attention to all that poking and prodding would start to look good after a while...

but alas, we are only human aren't we?

No matter how far we think we've come, or how much we feel we've learned, there is always another lesson just waiting around the bend for us.

Mine this week is the lesson of release. And I really thought I had this one down too, but - whack! - apparently not.

And so, Aleve in hand, I find myself once again making meditation time for myself each day so that I can reflect on what I've been missing, or what it is that I refuse to release, and hope I get it right this time.

'Cause even for an Aries, we can only take so many hits to the head.

A Pagan Parable

I was sent this wonderful parable from an anonymous reader - and it's fabulous - a tale to be told to all pagan children (and adults) dealing with bullies in the schoolyard or the workplace.

The Little Boy Who Cried Lawsuit
A Pagan Parable
By
Golden Quill

Once upon a time, in the Pagan land of Ar-Kann, there was a little boy named Davy who, along with his faithful hound, Uninformed lassie (Davy called her Uni for short), had dreams of doing great things. Unfortunately, little Davy, was just a little crazy and had an unhealthy fascination with Christianity, Evangelism and Catholicism. None of the Pagans in Ar-Kann were quite sure why. Perhaps, he didn’t have a father to teach him any better; perhaps he was molested by a priest or a minister; or perhaps, like Reverend Jim Jones, he just wasn’t born right. To this day, it’s still a mystery.

Anyway, one day little Davy starts calling himself, Reverend Davy, and proclaims himself the first Pagan Pope of Ar-Kann. He wandered out to the meadow and called all the creatures together. Once all of the Pagan creatures had gathered he started to tell scary stories. There was a horrible monster roaming the land called the Guvmint that would steal away their children; that wolves roamed all around the meadows; that terrible storms were coming -- torrential rains and droughts, then plagues and all the crops would fail, and they would all starve, but he said, because “I am a Messiah”, he could save them all.

Well, naturally, the little Pagan creatures did not want all of these terrible things to befall themselves and their children, so they pleaded with Davy, “What can we do?” Davy raised his little crooked staff in the air, straining to get it past his very fat belly, and told them, “All you have to do is recognize that I am you sacred leader as proclaimed by the ALMIGHTY GOD. Umm,… I mean the gods of course. Give up your free will, your right to think for yourself; become sheep and recognize me as your Divine Shepherd, and umm, let me sleep with you wives from time to time.“

The little Pagan creatures thought these rules a little strange but, not being sure what it all meant, and being frightful of this terrifying world around them (which, they never even knew existed), they agreed. After all, they must think of their children first.

For awhile, all was good within the flock. The Guvmint monster wasn’t seen, wolves didn’t threaten their homes, the landscape and crops weren’t devastated, and even the Jehovah Witnesses stopped coming around. Then…things changed.

Davy’s faithful hound, Uninformed lassie, started biting at their heels, forcing them to run around in circles. And then, Shepherd Reverend Pope Davy, started rapping them on the head with his little crooked stick, calling them names, threatening them, abusing them and mistreating them in many different ways.

Well, the flock became agitated, chaotic, and began whispering among themselves. And, one day a member of the flock, timidly approached Reverend Shepherd Davy and said, “I don’t like the way you’re treating us. You’re very mean and you lie to us and, another thing, I don’t think I’m a sheep. I’m pretty sure I’m a rabbit”. The flock grew quiet. Uninformed lassie started running around in circles, barking and barking and barking. Little Davy’s face turned red from anger. He raised his crooked little stick and said, “YOU ARE EXCOMMUNICATED”. And, then, pointing his crooked little stick at her, called down the greatest curse he knew, and cried, “LAWSUIT, LAWSUIT, LAWSUIT”. All the flock trembled in fear, and the scared little sheep (or rabbit, depending on who you talk to), fled into the wilderness. And, for awhile… the flock was quiet.

Well, months passed and all seemed right with the world, at least from Shepherd Reverend Pope Davy’s position. Amongst the flock though, it was a different matter. Uninformed lassie continued nipping at the heels of the flock, making them run around in circles, and little Davy’s abuses became even worse.

This went on for many, many, months. And, every so often, one of the little Pagan creatures of the flock would timidly approach little Davy and complain about the abuse, the lies that they were told, express doubts that there were monsters all around, or sometimes just because they didn’t want to be a sheep but, wanted to be a hawk, or a butterfly, or a dragon instead. And, every time Uninformed lassie would run around in circles, barking and barking and barking. Little Davy would grow angry, point his crooked little stick, and call down the curse, “LAWSUIT, LAWSUIT, LAWSUIT,” upon the poor creature. The little creature would run off into the wilderness and the flock would stand there quivering in fear. And, once again, for awhile, things would be quiet.

But, one day, something strange happened. One morning Reverend Pope Shepherd Davy awoke, and he with his faithful dog Uninformed lassie, went to round up his flock. When he got to the meadow though, he realized that something had changed with his flock. Many of his little bitty sheep seemed larger, and had grown these huge, curving, dangerous looking horns. Undaunted, Uninformed lassie went to work, biting at their heels and trying to get the flock to run around in circles. But, this time the flock stood still… unmoving. But, then the flock began to move, as one, and the sheep with horns approached little Davy. Uninformed lassie began running around in circles, barking and barking and barking, and little Davy began to scream and yell at them, and rap them on the head with his little crooked stick. Yet, this time the flock didn’t quiver in fear and the little crooked stick had no effect on their big curved horns.

One of these strange looking sheep stared at little Davy and said, “We don’t want you around anymore. You lie to us, you abuse us, you take advantage of us, and you’re untrustworthy”. This so shocked Uninformed lassie, that she stopped barking, and stared in shock at little Davy, her thin little legs shaking, barely keeping her fat belly off the ground. Little Davy stared back at the sheep, and threatened him saying, “I’ll shall call the curse of LAWSUIT, down upon you all, if you do not obey me, and worship me.” The sheep sighed and replied, “You keep saying that but nothing ever happens, no one is cursed and no magickal lawyer ever appears. It’s time for you to go”. Undaunted, little Davy asked the strange looking sheep, “If I leave who will lead you, who will think for you, who will you follow!!” The sheep, glared at him saying, “Rams don’t follow”. Then the rams lowered their heads and moved menacingly toward little Davy and his dog Uninformed lassie. Little Davy and his dog began to shake with fear, and not knowing what else to do, turned and ran and ran and ran deep into the wilderness.

After that, things were better in the Pagan land of Ar-Kan. They learned that if they weren’t forced to run around in circles, they could get many things done. They realized that they didn’t have to be sheep, if they didn’t want to. They could be a hawk, or a butterfly, or a cat. They realized that they didn’t need an all powerful leader to think for them; they could do that for themselves as well. And, as these things happen, some of the little Pagan creatures became leaders, and others became followers, and some chose to lead at times or follow at other times. But, the most important thing that they learned was that they could work together.

Now, of course I’m sure that you are all wondering, what ever happened to little crazy Davy and his faithful dog Uninformed lassie? Well, it turned out that they were right about one thing. There are wolves in the world, hounds from the otherworld, and a horrible monster called Guvmint. And, they fell upon little Davy and his faithful dog Uninformed lassie, and devoured them, bones and all.
But, don’t worry kiddies, that only happens to the bad Pagans.

And, the moral or morals of this story are:

Lawsuit is not a magickal curse that you can smite your enemies with.
You can only frighten people for so long.
Telling a lie repeatedly doesn’t make it truth.
And, though some people are happy being sheep… well, I’d rather run with the
Wolves.


Copyrighted 2008: I freely give permission to anyone to copy or repeat or share this story, I only require that you maintain the work as it was originally written.

Chosen Family

I'm back - refreshed, revived, renewed ... and tired, tired, tired.

What a wonderful weekend - what amazing energy. I don't know where to begin. From the last minute push to get everything ready to the first welcoming hugs, this WytcheHaven Weekend was awesome! We have composting toilets now in place of those awful smelly port-a-potties we used to have. We have a shower house to get the camp dust and dirt of off us during the weekend. We have easy access to the river now, to go and play and relax in the sand. Speaking of sand, we have a dancer's track around revels of soft sand so the dancers no longer have to sing out the litany of "Stump, Rock, Hole..."

Vendors! Shopping! Wow! Artisans Alley was full of bright shiny baubles from new and old vendors - the didge workshop brought out some hidden didge playing talents (I expect to hear more Didge's at the next Revels!)

The Flight of the Faeries was beautiful as always - so many new faeries this year! And Faery's panty hunt was a wild time - congrats to Rowan for finding the special pair!

More new additions to the Memory Garden this year - it's truly gaining it's own voice in the community...and Wadjet's Wadi had a terrific innaugural event. From the swing to the sandbox to the blue and white fort - what a cool place for kids and adults to play!

I miss the drums, I miss the hugs, I miss the sleepy pagan zombies coming to the Wytche's Brew in the morning for coffee...I miss you all so much already. How long til October?

Family Reunion

I'm getting ready to leave for my family reunion - it's a bi-annual event, held in sacred space in the Ozarks under the beautiful shady trees of Pyrth Annwn.

My chosen family members from 11 different states will be there - gathering in together to share, laugh, learn, grow and reconnect as a loving community with love, respect and trust the foremost tenants.

We'll drum together, dance together, celebrate ritual together, laugh together, talk together, share together and learn from each other.

We'll shop and find amazing gifts hand-crafted by pagan artists; we'll go swimming in the crystal clear Starwberry River; we'll shuffle sleepy-eyed together into the Brew for coffee in the morning and share stories of the previous night's revelry.

Druids, eclectics, hermetics, wiccans, odinists, OTO'ers, agnostics, buddhists and more - all coming together as family.

Why can't mundania be more like this?

Creating Sacred Space

Creating sacred space, I have found, is a lot like any handmade craft - it takes time, skill, and energy. Like weaving the patchwork of a quilt, or adding touches of moss to a birdhouse, or finding the perfect word for a line of poetry, the creation of sacred space is a journey of discoveries.

Last weekend, an incredibly diverse group of Weekenders came together with one unified mission - to continue the creation of sacred space at Pyrth Annwn. Some were focused on a children's area, others on gathering wood for the communal fires, some on erecting a shower house and still others willing to apply their labors as needed. We were adults and children; husbands and wives; students; teachers; druids; hermetics; eclectics -- combining our creative energies into making something for the entire community to share.

We discovered the joys of hammer throwing (don't ask), of digging up rocks and rolling boulders, of sitting in a sand box and laughing with the kids, of relaxing by the fire and just enjoying the conversation.

All of this mixed into the aether, into the creative energies that flowed out and over Pyrth Annwn, renewing and refreshing her soil with peace, love, laughter and joy. And renewing and refreshing us as well.

Happy May Day! Happy Beltane!

To all my friends and chosen family, may this season bring new spiritual growth, an abundance of new colors and an overflowing of joyful emotions. I dance with you on this path, bells jingling, eyes smiling and arms outstretched to you.

Ah, those little victories in life....

You know the ones - small, somewhat inconsequential, but man - you feel better when they happen don't you? That time you fought with the printer until it FINALLY printed your information onto the specialty paper correctly (after trashing the first 5 sheets), or you did battle with the CD duplicating computer and actually got it to start working again without having to hit it with a sledgehammer...oh yes, these small victories make for those little pick me ups throughout the day that help get us closer to Friday.

I'm excited to get to Friday you see, because we've got so much planned for the work weekend out at our land, Pyrth Annwn - and many of our good friends are coming to join us in the labor and help us create more sacred space amidst the forests of Pyrth Annwn. We're creating a play area for the kids, working on small building projects and clearing out campsites of last fall's leaves. The day we can finally call Pyrth our permanent, never moving again home can't come too soon. (Come on water table, I want to drill a well!)

I could live there now, I really could. We have a little portapotty, with five actual 55 gallon drum composting toilets coming soon. We have solar showers and a river to swim in. We have tents that work for us quite nicely, just not so much for the cats. They might have a thing or two to say about that. The dogs however would be as happy as us I think - they both love it out there, whether they're chasing the errant armadillo or napping in dappled shade near staff camp.

The one thing I'd miss would be electricity - I like my Internet and my TV shows. They're my vice. I could live a really simple existence if it wasn't for them. The idea of planting gardens and orchards, and canning our crops fills me with absolute delight. I have a lot to learn about it, but I'm so excited to get started. And chickens - now that's going to be an adventure, especially with the two dogs to help chicken-wrangle.

Soon, now - soon. Every step forward brings us that much closer....

Making room for chaos

I was talking to a relative the other day, and they expressed great distress at the size of my ever increasing household - in just 8 years Brennan and I have managed to provide a home for not only ourselves, but five cats and now two dogs (there was a fish at one point, but then, remember, we have five cats...).

To them, the word menagerie doesn't even begin to cut it - they feel we're basically starting our own zoo. I was really surprised by their tone, and their concern. To me, each addition has found their niche, brought their share of love into the house, and done their part to really make our place a home. It made me wonder why they are denying themselves the joy of furry ones in their lives.

I can't imagine living without our munchkins - granted, they're messy sometimes, we do have dangerously large dust bunnies that roam the hallways on occasion, and a few tiffs tend to break out in the evenings come feeding time - but so what? How does that compare to the many mornings of hugs and kisses, lap warmings as you drink your coffee, evenings snuggled up with a massaging purr-box on the couch, the afternoons of playing with dingle-balls and using old rope for tug-tug.

The more I think about it, the sadder I feel for them. All they can see is the mess and expense - none of the joy and unconditional love.

The fastest way to your dog's heart....

is apparently to get another dog.

Our newest family member was found by a fellow Weekender, wandering down a busy highway, scared, hurt and alone. He was scooped up, taken to the vet, given his shots and a call went out to find him a home.

Well..we'd been thinking of getting our Akita pup Cenau (pronounced Ken-Eye & welsh for Bear Cub) a buddy to play with, as the cats just don't seem to be that interested in playing tug-tug with him (gee, wonder why?), and so we saw the call and said - sure, why not. Let's meet him and see if Cenau eats him or not.

Thankfully, Cenau didn't eat him - he's instead herded him around, cleaned him every morning from top to bottom, escorted him to the best "potty place" in the yard, shared most of his toys (he occasionally sneaks one away and gives it to Daddy to hide from the baby) and sleeps with him at night.

So....it looks like he's staying, which means he needs a good Cajun/Celtic/Welsh name. Because, all of our other furry family members have really good Cajun/Celtic/Welsh names (Boudreaux, Thibodeaux, Calisto, and Maxie - except for Seymour, but there's a story to that one).

And we watched the baby, and thought of name ideas, and tried to come up with somethig that sounded NOTHING like Cenau, so as not to get everyone confused and we came up with....Remy. Granted it's actually Acadian-y Cajun, but still Cajun enough to count. So little Remy (aka stinker) has found a home, and we've found another lovable love sponge to add to the brood.

Another year has come and gone...

It true, the old saying that time goes REALLY slowly when you're young and just ZOOMS past you like a race car on acid as you get older. Another year of my life has come and gone...and what a year it was.

We've made great strides at Pyrth Annwn, our sanctuary in the Ozarks. We've put in roads, cleared out camping areas, created sacred space and made a home away from home for our Weekenders. This year - hot showers (Yahooie!), a well (finally!), electricity (yeah!) and composting toilets to replace the smelly port-a-johns!

I celebrated my seventh year married to the love of my life - my best friend, my soul mate. This year - happily celebrating the eighth year of our adventure together!

Bren and I have moved (again) one step closer to living on the land itself, and not having to drive just to visit. This year - we'll be living there full time by late summer, and celebrating Yule with friends in our new home.

I found my place at the most incredible job ever - doing my first love of marketing/writing, working in a pagan friendly environment, for pagan-friendly people, in the Ozarks, helping non-profits raise more money for their organizations. And I get to wear sandals and shorts to work. This year - continuing to grow and prosper, along with the company so that we can hire more free-thinkers and grow the FundRaiser family.

I celebrated the next step of the journey on our path with my beloved Sister Ahriana, as she welcomed her first group of students to the Hermetic path in a very long time. To come full circle with her was beyond amazing. This year - to watch as my own students blossom, grow and learn on their journey down this path, and to celebrate with them along the way.

We adopted a beautiful puppy named Cenau who has added warmth, hilarity and quite a bit of mischief to our lives. This year - we're expanding the brood and getting another one so Cenau will have a playmate who, unlike the cats, won't spit and paw at him.

So much to look forward to this year, and so much to celebrate from the last. I am truly blessed in this life, and I stand humble before the God and Goddess, my heart full of love and joy for all those I call Family.

The Lure of New Orleans

Ahh....the smell of jasmine, the sounds of quarter jazz coming out of a window, the flash of neon and the taste of fruity cocktails all combine into that which is the French Quarter, New Orleans.

After a 10 hour drive, my three co-workers and I made it to the Sheraton New Orleans, right on Canal street and just two blocks over from Bourbon Street - we had arrived in the home of jazz, and the music was already playing.

It wasn't lost on us that we had left the devastation of a 500 year flood behind us in Missouri to ride into a town that is still recovering from Katrina. But to see this shining, neon pearl of the gulf in it's springtime glory can truly take your breath away, and make you forget about the world for a while.

Bourbon Street is a wild, mixed up scenery of clubs, bars, restaurants and men's clubs - as you walk along, you're assaulted by T-shirt stores, bead shops, feather masks, scantily clad hookers trying to lure you in to their dens, jazz musicians playing a rollicking creole beat, street kids tapping for money or singing acapella for the hell of it, the smells of creole cooking and spices, and the overwhelming smell of the jasmine and plumeria - beautiful scents that lift your spirit and carry you further along the sidewalk.

Go through the Quarter, and you reach Frenchman Street - the true heart of jazz the locals say. Here, away from the neon lights of Bourbon Street, are the small, intimate jazz clubs where the well known musicians come out to play. The Marsalis patriarch was playing one night there, along with his band. And the emphasis was on the music - no distractions from food or lights or scantily dressed women - just the jazz, in it's purest form.

We had time to amble through the Garden District too, with it's amazing old houses and shadows of Anne Rice's vampires lingering in the azaleas...but the spirit here is quiet, laid back, almost dreamy compared to Bourbon Street and the vibrancy of the Quarter.

Between these two famous districts lies the Warehouse District, full of museums and - surprisingly - zydeco, in all its Cajun glory. The self-proclaimed "Home of Zydeco" resides here in a small little bar in the middle of the district, and the most wonderful, toe-tapping music streams forth from the windows and hypnotizes your feet to dance right through the door.

We spent our last day down by the waterfront, ambling through the flea market and seeing the many intriguing ways the local artisans have taken what Katrina left them and made into gold. One man had crafted exquisite pins out of "Katrina-junk" that he found and recycled into art. Many others had heart-breaking prints of what had been, and still others had created beautiful and colorful collages of Katrina aftermath.

These people are amazing, to still have such spunk and spirit - to still love their city and to continue to rebuild bigger and better. They take great pride in their city's comeback, and will gladly share stories and first-hand accounts of the past and the present, while always looking to the future.

On that last day, we met a local woman who lives on the outskirts of the French Quarter. We had stopped to admire her beautifully decorated window, which was graced with colored glass and hanging objects d'art. She came out with her two dogs, intent on walking down to the local grocers and giving "the boys some air."

She was gracious and upbeat, and kind to four travelling Midwesterners who had pretty much camped out on her stoop looking at her window display. It's that friendliness, that upbeat attitude that hooks you - that's what the lure of New Orleans is for me, and I'm anxious to make my way back.

Preparing to plant

The equinox is almost upon us - it's time to take our seeds of potential and prepare them for planting in the mother's soft earth. Have you taken the time to reflect on what you wish to grow this year? Do you know what goals you want to reach come the autumnal equinox? Have you thought of the sacrifices you may need to make along the way?

In our tradition, we choose our seeds at Imbolc/Candlemas, and we keep them safe on our altars or around our necks, so that each day we can instill into them our hopes and dreams for the coming year. And now, as we reach Alban Eilier/Ostara, the time has come to till the soil and plant those seeds. You have to take the time to add nutrients to the soil, remove the weeds, pull out the rocks and be sure your seeds can stretch and breathe and grow.

And I'm not just talking about the potting soil here - you need to look inside yourself - find the weeds of despair and doubt and pull them out now. Root around for any rocks that might cause you to stumble along the way and remove them. Make sure you take the time each day to feel the sun upon your face, and feel its warmth in your heart.

It takes work to accomplish a garden, whether it be a physical one or a spiritual one. Be sure you're ready to be a consummate gardener this turn of the wheel - and watch your seeds sprout into joy.

Countdown to WytcheHaven!

The Strength to Persevere

We drove down to Atkins, Arkansas this weekend, to help friends with clean-up after a devastating tornado hit the area on Super Tuesday, February 5th. Aside from getting a bit lost, and almost running out of gas in the middle of nowhere, we eventually made it down to their house.

Driving in to Atkins as we did, from the northwest, you don't really see much in the way of damage. Twice now we've lived through tornadoes, once when we lived in Vilonia, Arkansas and once when we lived in Morrilton, Arkansas - and both times, it was pretty obvious that a tornado had barrelled through. So, we were a bit surprised at how normal everything looked in town -- until we turned onto our friends' street - and the true extent of the devastation became clear.

Several homes were completely and utterly gone - only concrete foundations remained at one house - twisted vehicles and trailers, and huge oak trees pulled out of the ground and tossed around like pick-up sticks - and every inch of ground covered by the remnants of lives torn apart: pictures, pots, papers, insulations, fencing, pet bowls - all just strewn about.

Utter devastation - it just took your breath away.

Then we pulled into their driveway with our trailer in tow and what do we see? Friends and neighbors, hauling tree limbs, raking up debris, laughing and joking and finding a way to persevere through it all. I don't think I've ever been so proud to call myself a member of community before - to see all of these folks who had driven hours from their homes across the state to come and help out - and bring smiles and hugs, laughter and support. Our friends' house was literally raised off its foundations several times; their bedroom was pretty much obliterated, and their vehicles took a whale of a beating. But they managed to smile and laugh, joke and hug with all of us, even through all of this. Their strength was truly inspirational.

The one tearful part of the afternoon was related to the Grandmother Tree - this beautiful cedar had graced their garden and kept the house safe, and it now lay resting on the ground where it had fallen. We were honored to be asked to take this very special tree and to bring its remains to Pyrth Annwn to become part of the opening revel fire for our next Weekend in May, but as the chainsaws began to bring her to a more manageable size, the tears did flow. It was decided that her base would remain as an altar in our memory garden, so that a part of her would always be in sacred space.

I look forward to next weekend when we can place her there, and decorate her appropriately, for she stands not only for our friends, but for all those who stand up to adversity, and she stands for the love and support of community through thick and thin.

Reverend Whitney's Homework for the Day

My darling friend Whitney occasionally sends out missives from her higher self as daily exercises for meditation work. Below, is the one she sent today and I felt spirit move me to share it with you.

The druids believe that the soul encompasses the far extents of time and space, unencumbered by temporal dimensions. For the Celtic peoples, the physical world is seen to be made up of three elemental dimensions: the depths of the sea, the breadth of the Earth, and the airy regions of the heavens. Fusing these three dimensions together is the fiery Sun, whose diurnal circuit maintains the life of the apparent world.

Each soul lives within the dispensation of these dimensions; but the soul is regarded as yet greater than these, able not only to move through water, earth, air and fire but also to travel beyond these modes into the wider domain of the unseen world. For the Soul, the passage of ages is but a day in cosmic time; there is no sense of time passing, only an eternal present to soul-travelers who enter the otherworld.

When we begin to pay attention to our soul, rather than ignoring its needs and urgings, we experience a sense of inclusion within the Universe. When we learn to pass beyond the limits of our body as soul-travelers, we discover that the constellations and planets that spin within the soul are qualities, intelligences, and allies we have always longed for.

Look into the depths of your Soul, as into the immensity of inner space.
How is the cosmos reflected within your soul? What constellations and planets are featured therein? Within the Solar System of your Soul, what major features do you recognize?

Coming full circle - in Circle

This weekend, I had the honor to stand with my sister in Circle, as we initiated the new members of her coven into our tradition. My sister taught me, so to stand there with her and bring these neophytes through to the start of their journey on this path, brought the circle to completion for me in so many ways.

We often talk about the turn of the wheel when we refer to the year as a whole, the changing of the seasons and the transition from Sabbat to Sabbat - but this time, it truly hit home with me how much these turns impact our lives.

12 years ago, I found this family of coven brothers and sisters, and set my feet upon the path I now walk to this day - one of teaching, learning, growing and changing. In those twelve years, I've gotten divorced, found my voice, lived in four states, found my soul mate, studied at seminary for a year to become an ordained interfaith minister, began teaching my own students, became a Reiki Master, my partner and I bought 43 acres of land upon which to build a future, we started a non-profit Interfaith Foundation and a Pagan Festival in the Bible Belt, I began a blog, and found my stride as a person on this planet.

I have buried friends, familiars and old habits and welcomed new friends and familiars into my life. I have learned to let go, to just be and to find comfort in a good book and a cup of hot chocolate.

I think back on the woman who was me 12 years ago, and the transformation is startling - the mouse has become a lioness. So mote it be.

The Strength of Belief

As we wander through our daily routines, we don't often think about our belief systems, and our faith. We're focused on driving, on work, on balancing the check book and getting something made for tonight's dinner...but how often during each day do you really focus on the strength of your beliefs?

This is something I have vowed to focus on during this turn of the wheel - as priestess, as teacher, as student, as wife - as sister, as daughter, as friend, as journeyor on this planet.

Each day, I am going to make the time to sit at peace with myself, and truly probe the depths of my beliefs and my faith. How much is purely rote? How much would I willingly die for? What would I kill to protect?

Strong thoughts, but ones we have a need to make time for, especially now as the world we know continues to go through amazing transformation - the solar cycle has begun, global warming continues, the ice sheets are melting at a blazing speed, and the winter solstice of 2012 looms on the near horizon. Are we ready for a changed world? Are we prepared? Can we be?

Learning to Breathe

Sounds like a weird title doesn't it? Supposedly, we've known how to breathe since we took our first breaths in this world upon being born. The breathing I'm speaking of are the breaths we need to learn to take when we find ourselves growing frustrated, angry, stymied or just plain pissed. I finally got it yesterday as to how important it is at these particular times to really, deliberately, BREATHE.

I'm a pretty easy going kind of gal, and I can usually let things wash over me without too much getting ruffled. But at work yesterday, I had reached my limit with a particular situation that's been bubbling around in the pot for weeks now...and I truly got mad. Really mad. One step away from downright fightin mad. And it isn't good to get to that point in the workplace...not if you want to keep your job anyway.

And I made myself go outside (into the lovely freezing Missouri winds) and deliberately BREATHE. Deep breath in, slow exhale. Deep breath in, slow exhale. I did that 9 times. I wanted to quit after 5 but made myself keep going through the 9th breath. Guess what?

I wasn't mad anymore. I wasn't even peeved anymore. I looked out over the blue sky, followed the flight of a bird, shoved my hands into my pockets to keep warm, and realized - it really didn't matter. The world wasn't going to suddenly spin out of control, our company wasn't going to nose dive because of this...it needed to be solved, yes. But was it worth getting nutty over? No.

How magickal is that? I went from wanting to punch someone's lights out to wondering what flowers we should plant up at the land - all in 9 slow breaths. I wonder if it will be that easy at tax time? Better plan on 13 breaths for that, just in case.

Thanks Cheri - this should make Brennan happy...

How will I die? Your Result: You will die while having sex. Your last moments in this life will be enjoyable indeed...hopefully. Do not fear sex. Try not to become celibate as a way of escaping death. You cannot run from destiny.
You will die while saving someone's life.
You will die of boredom.
You will die in your sleep.
You will die from a terminal illness.
You will die in a nuclear holocaust.
You will die in a car accident.
You will be murdered.
How will I die?

Expressing Gratitude

For those of us lucky enough to have found teachers on our path, and who learned and continue to learn from these guiding lights, and who found new ways to think, to perceive and to cope with life thanks to their teachers' instructions - I talk with you now.

So many of our teachers give of their wisdom freely - no fees, no strings attached - just the pure joy of sharing knowledge, and learning right alongside their students. These teachers are a blessed bunch, and I for one treasure them and all they have helped me to learn and perceive about the world around me.

In the mundane world, people like this would expect - if not outright demand - payment for their services - there would be limits, restrictions, things you'd have to buy to go from one level to the next - people you must or must not associate with, depending on their whims.

We are so lucky that on Pagan paths, it isn't like this - not with true teacher spirits.

I speak of this now because I have the honor of participating in the initiation of one of my teacher's first class of students since she taught my class MANY moons ago - I am to stand with her, in circle, and help her students begin their journey along this amazing road...perhaps one day to become like myself, a teacher with students of their own, who teach for the joy of sharing and growing and learning together.

I am so excited to be making this trip to share in this experience - not only to meet her students and share stories of learning with them, but to tell her of my students and the many joys they have brought to my life. Had I not learned so well, I do not believe I could teach so well now. (At least, I believe I teach well - my students would be the best judge of that.)

To see the living history of our path handed down from one group to the next - what an amazing and wonderful feeling this is. Memories of cram sessions with my fellow classmates, late night calls to my teacher for help, support, and sometimes just to rail at the world with an audience. So many important times in my life have occured since I began this path almost 20 years ago. And I look forward to all the important times yet to come...

My New Year's Wishes for You All

May peace break into your house,
and may thieves come to steal your debt.

May the pockets of your jeans
become a magnet for $100 bills.

May love stick to your face like Vaseline!!!
May laughter assault your lips!

May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires.
May happiness slap you across the face.

May your tears be that of Joy!!
Any problems you had..May they forget your home address!

In simple words ...May 2008 be the best!
Many blessing to you all...

Holiday Memories

In an attempt to not be a complete scrooge this holiday season, I picked up a $2.00 Stars of Christmas CD at Walgreen's last week. Yeah, I know...I'm such a big spender. But hey, $2.00 for a CD seemed like a pretty good deal, and it advertised songs by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and more.

Well, that poor CD sat in my car all last week, and I finally put it in yesterday on my way home from work. I was immediately assaulted by the ever plucky Doris Day singing cheerfully about decking the halls with holly - oh boy, I thought - it's Christmas 50's style - great....

It roamed through a swingin Eddie Fisher singing a lounge version of O Come All Ye Faithful, Andy Williams doing his very best to sound pious on Angels We Have Heard On High, Patti Page picking up the beat with a silly yet fun version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and then came the beautiful pipes of Kate Smith singing a round of The First Noel/Silent Night/O Holy Night. Now that was worth the two bucks.

Frank's in there singing O Little Town of Bethlehem his way, and Bing Crosby shows up for a rousing rendition of O'Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Then it got to We Three Kings with Jose Feliciano, and all I could think of was the South Park Christmas Special - and I started laughing so hard I almost ran into a ditch.

I recovered in time to hear - of all people - Englebert Humperdink singing Away in a Manger (yes, I'm old enough to know who Englebert Humperdink is...sad huh?)...and then it happened...

Three notes came out of the stereo that instantly transported me back over 30 years to Christmas Eve service at St. Margaret Mary's Church, dressed in my satin Christmas finest, hair all done up with a bow (they were big back then), standing next to my grandfather, who was singing his very favorite Christmas song - in Latin - and he knew all the words. He taught me once, and as the first graceful notes of Ave Maria issued forth from the CD, damn if I don't still remember every single one. It's probably the only Latin I know, and I couldn't even tell you what I'm singing...

But there I am, singing with my Grandpa in church, 8 years old, eyes taking in the heavily candled main altar, the huge nativity scene to the right of the main altar, the stained glass windows, the stations of the cross along the walls, and the beautiful notes of Ave Maria, as sung by Perry Como...and me...and my Grandpa Joe.

What a moment in time to be transported to, and what a blessing - I hadn't thought of my Grandpa Joe in a while, and to be there in that moment with him, it reminded me of all the wonderful musical things he brought to my life, including Opera, the Great Caruso and the beautiful song, Ave Maria.

Here are the Latin words, and below them, the translation in English, so I'll finally know what the heck it is I've been singing all these years...and you will too.

Ave Maria

Gratia plena Maria,

gratia plena Maria,

gratia plena Ave,

ave dominus

Dominus tecum

Benedicta tu in mulieribus

Et benedictus

Et benedictus fructus ventris

Ventris tuae, Jesus.

Ave Maria

Ave Maria

Mater Dei

Ora pro nobis peccatoribus

Ora pro nobis

Ora, ora pro nobis peccatoribus

Nunc et in hora mortis

Et in hora mortis nostrae

Et in hora mortis nostrae

Et in hora mortis nostrae

Ave Maria

Listen to Andrea Bocelli here:

http://andrea-bocelli-ave-maria-mp3-download.kohit.net/_/422023

and for those of us who slept through Latin class, the English version (without all the repeated stanzas):

Hail Mary

Full of grace

The Lord is with thee

Blessed art thou among women

And blessed is Jesus

The fruit of thy womb

Holy Mary

Mother of God

Pray for us sinners

Now and in the hour of our death

Amen.

A Story from My Sister - My Solstice Gift to You

My sister, Ahriana, is an amazing woman - always has been, and as we move through life she continues to bring these "a-ha" moments into focus for me. Ahri runs the Colorado Eco-Spirituality Center in Colorado Springs and the center puts out a monthly newsletter. In this month's letter, she included a story about Santa that I just had to share. I highly recommend you check out their site (ahriana.com) and sign up for their newsletter (http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101545032115). It's full of great information, and stories like the one I've copied in below that have great meaning, even for those of us who live several states away. To the right is a picture of Ahri, her husband Mark, and their two little ones, Rhannon and Ryan.

********

My life, from day to day, is full of interesting conversations. Today was no exception. Across from me, in my office, sat a dear young Heart who timidly asked "Why do we lie to our children about all of this? Why teach them to expect something that just isn't going to be true when they grow up!"

Hmmm - Good question. As our conversation progressed, we explored the whole story. You know the one - big, jolly, rosy-cheeked Bringer-of-gifts who works (with help from Elvin friends) all year to create wonderful things just for us. Initially, I thought; " this sounds like a great way to teach our kids about Spirit - big,loving, Bringer-of-abundance - working (with lots of angelic cohorts) to create for us a beautiful world to share. Sounds very similar, doesn't it?!

Unfortunately, Santa comes with a catch - you must "be good." If you don't, Santa will bring you coal - a black lump of yuck that has very little value unless you own an old fashioned bar-b-que grill! When we consider this, the Santa myth becomes little more than a tool for emotional blackmail. "Better stop pouting - Santa might be watching!" (Though I hate to admit it, I've said it myself!)

And then, if the blackmail were not enough - at about 10 years old or so, our trusting little Ones are confronted with a very harsh reality - "There is no Santa, Sweetie - it's mommy and daddy who buy the presents - but don't tell your brother!" Good Grief! And we perpetuate this every year?! What are we gonna do about this?

Obviously, Santa is a permanent fixture. He's been around for eons and I doubt we can do much to change that. In fact, I am not sure I would want to take away the magic of Santa, even if I could. However, I suggest we rewrite the story a bit. How About this:

Who is Santa, Mommy? "He's one of Spirit's helpers and his whole job is to teach us how to receive in a joy-full way! Now some people think you have to be especially good to get a gift from Santa- but the truth is, Santa loves to give to everybody, and the only thing that stops him from giving is when someones heart is afraid to receive So, your job is to love yourself and to open your heart to all the gifts that are coming your way!"

Can I have everything I want? "In time, you can. Just like Spirit, Santa gives what you are really ready to receive - and receiving takes time. You'll want to have time to play with each gift you've been given, to try it out and see what it will do- and you'll want to make time to be thankful - and when you're thankful, you'll start feeling a big warm glow around your heart. That's called JOY! Joy is something you'll want to give plenty of time to! The best thing is, that big, warm feeling helps to open your heart to even more receiving on another day! That way Spirit can bring good things to you for your whole lifetime!"

And at 10: Mommy - You're Santa, aren't you?! "Remember when I told you that Santa is one of Spirit's helpers? That's true - and yes, it's me. Spirit has been working through me all these years to teach you about the magic of life! If I had told you in the beginning that it was me, you would have missed out on the magic of trusting in someone you don't really know. This way, you had a chance to learn how it works when someone you don't even see every day wants your life to be wonderful! That's what Spirit wants for you, so the story of Santa is one way we teach children to open their hearts to receiving from Spirit.You are so special to me and I want you to have lots of practice at opening your heart to all the wonderful gifts that Spirit has in store for you. We can practice being joy-full together too!

And, did you know that, because you've opened your heart so wide to receive, you are ready to be a helper of Spirit too? This year, you can help me choose the gifts for your little brother - and when its time to share the secret of Spirit with him in a few years - we can do it together!"

Can you imagine how this new story might change the way our children open to the gifts of the Divine? And what about you? What do you believe? What if you don't have to "be good" to live an abundantly blessed existence? What if, every day, all that you need is available to you and all you have to do is open your heart and let it in! What if Spirit is Love - and Spiritual Love has no conditions?

From my family to yours, we send you wishes for a blessed Holy-day season and an amazingly abundant New Year!

Blessed be,

Ahriana

A life remembered

The loving partner of a dear friend of mine is dying from cancer. There are doubts that she will make it to Christmas, or to their 20th anniversary on Christmas Eve. Sasha and Mau have been the type of friends we all have on the edges of our lives - good people, loving people, who either live far away or lead busy lives, and thus we don't get to see each other very often. But when we're together, the smiles and the laughter always ring true.

On Monday, Sasha asked that I work on the Memorial program for Mau, so that it could be in place when the time came. I've been asked to speak at memorials before, as a friend and as a minister, and have even conducted the funeral services of man and beast. But to be given the responsibility of creating a remembrance for someone who has touched so many lives so deeply...this was an honor indeed, and a frightening one at that.

I searched through books and online, and read through my past services for such occasions, and I called on those who knew Mau to contribute what they felt was meaningful to her legacy. I would like to post some of those items here, as I found them to be profound and moving, and hope in some ways, they are inspiring.


I will not live an unlived life.
I will not live in fear
of falling or catching fire.
I chose to inhabit my days,
To allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.
I choose to risk my significance,
to live so that which came to me as seed
goes to the next blossom,
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on to fruit.

If we measure a life by
the love that flowed through it,
the inspiration that found expression in it,
the joy that took root in it, and
the friends who felt at home in it,
then we can see that Mau's life
was generous and fully lived.


This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,
Who violently sweep your house
Empty of its furniture,
Still,
Treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
For some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
Meet them at the door laughing,
And invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
Because each has been sent
As a guide from beyond.

Death is not the end. Death can never be the end.
Death is the road. Life is the traveller. The Soul is the Guide
Our mind thinks of death. Our heart thinks of life. Our soul thinks of Immortality.

I won’t say don’t cry, because we need to cry.
I won’t say don’t be sad, because we are sad.
I can’t say it’s ok, because it isn’t ok,
And I can’t say it’s better now, for her, because how can we know that?

This I do know:
She was a student first.
And what a student she must have been,
To have gathered so much wisdom; to have become, for us,
Our teacher, our mentor, our healer, our counselor, and partner.

A thousand babies were born into her warm, waiting hands,
And still more to them.
A thousand wounds were healed, and
A thousand souls have been mended
by her strong spirit and great wisdom.
So much energy flows from her to us,
And from us to the world.

And so, as she leaves behind the thousands of us
Whom she touched, and we ask ourselves
“What can I do?”
The answer seems to be: share the light and energy she touched us all with.
Her time here with us was not in vain and does not end now.
It has only just begun,
In this moment.

Say What You Need To Say

Lyrics to "Say" by John Mayer

Take out of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all of your so called problems
Better put them in quotations

Say what you need to say

Walkin like a one man army
Fightin with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you’d be better off instead

If you could only
Say what you need to say

Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for getting older
You better know that in the end

Its better to say too much
Than never to say what you need to say again

Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open
Why?

Say what you need to say

The Leaf and the Wind - A Fable for the Dark Times

This is one of my favorite stories/fables...it is from the book "Tell Me Another Story," by Lisa Suhay published by Paraclete Press on Sept 1, 2001

The Leaf & The Wind

Leaf looked out across the broad, dawn-pink sky and down over the beautiful Spring garden. The dewy breeze grazed it and left it shimmering, fluttering. As it moved, Leaf saw all the corners of the garden with its flowers, bushes, trees and animals. Leaf stretched to catch every sight and sound. It was a new leaf at the top of a very old tree.

Leaf adored all the elements - wind, sun and rain. But it was in love with the wind. Wind gave it the freedom of motion. Without the breeze it would never have seen the world below or from side to side. Wind rocked Leaf to sleep and shook it awake. Wind made Leaf dance.

Wind whistled haunting tunes through the branches, it whispered and sometimes it even sang. On many days, Wind told Leaf of the places it had been. "All across the Rivers and down to the sea have I been," whispered Wind. On that day, Leaf could even smell the scent of the water and salty places of which Wind spoke.

"High up the mountain to the very door of Heaven today," Wind told, as the fresh clean smells settled down upon Leaf. "I have seen where the Blue-sky ends and birds cease to wing. I have heard the voice of Life itself and it is so beautiful."

Leaf shuddered with the thought of having Life speak to it as it did to Wind. "When will life speak to me?" Leaf asked Wind. The breeze warmed as it blew over Leaf and Wind said softly,
"You can Hear Life's voice in me."

Whenever it blew past, be it a breeze or gale, the little green leaf waved a joyful greeting to Wind - like the hand of a happy child to a loved one. "I will love you for all time," Leaf whispered to the moving air around it. "I could not be happier."

Hearing this promise Tree itself shook and emitted a deep chuckle. "I am glad you are happy now," the tree said. "Enjoy your youth and beauty while you can, for soon enough you will be withered and brown, dry as dust and blown away by the same breeze that stirs your heart today."

Leaf stiffened at these words. The other leaves said nothing. One or two fell like tears before their time, so stricken were they by the sadness. "That is not so!" Leaf cried.

Tree shook again and said, "Oh but it is true. I have seen many, many leaves from many trees - fall and crumble. Your time will come to curse the wind and the way of things. Wind is old and you are young. Ask Wind sometime."

The tree said no more. Leaf tried not to think about what Tree had said. Of course it had heard the stories of how leaves grow old and die, but still it would never be hateful.

That very day, Leaf made a decision. It shouted to the world, "I will Never hate Wind. I will not give in to fear or unhappiness."

Still, the next time Wind came to call, Leaf could not help but ask. "When I become old, dry and brittle will you destroy me as Tree says," Leaf asked. Wind was silent for a long moment. "I will not destroy you my dear one," Wind said. "All Earthly things grow old and dry. That is not my doing."

Leaf was shaking and Wind could see the fear beginning to overtake Leaf. Wind added, "Keep your promise not to give in to hate and sorrow and when the time comes for you to fall, I will be there to catch you. It will be a beginning and not and end for you."

Again Leaf felt strong. "Tell me of your travels," Leaf said. Wind spoke well into the night.

Time passed. Leaf grew and changed. At first it became very big and strong. Then, as the air grew chill, Leaf began to take on the most magnificent colors. First a yellow cast and then little patches of red and gold began to creep across it.

"You are most beautiful today," whispered Wind. "I do not think that of all the leaves in the world there is one to match you." Leaf shook a bit, knowing full well that many of the others had also begun to change and take on different hues. Still, the words brought joy.

"It is the beginning of the end for you and all your kind," Tree said. "Soon now, oh so soon, you will be nothing but a speck in the dirt." All the other leaves began to droop and some even tumbled from their homes early as the weight of that unhappy thought dragged them down to Earth.

Not Leaf. "Words, words, words," Leaf laughed. "You cannot harm me with words. I choose to be happy with my fate. Others choose to be sad. The only one who will be sad when I am gone is you old tree for then who will you talk to?" Tree shook with frustration and anger. "You will see," Tree bellowed. "You will be dirt!"

As days passed Leaf began to feel thin and tired. The bright colors that covered Leaf darkened to brown and Leaf knew its time grew short. Still it would not be sad because each day now Wind told Leaf of the wonderful adventures that were to come.

Just seeing Leaf cling to happiness while all those around it fell made Tree angry. One day it could stand it no more and when Wind came to call, Tree shook for all it was worth and Leaf snapped away from its branch and began to fall.

Tree watched and waited for Leaf to scream and cry, to realize what horror had just befallen it. Instead Tree heard the sound of laughter. One moment Leaf was held fast to Tree and the next it was falling, flipping end over end. "I am flying!" Leaf laughed in pure joy.

"You are falling! Plunging," shouted Tree. "I am soaring like a little bird," Leaf sang out. "See how I go!"

Leaf felt something lift it up. It was Wind come to keep its promise. "I cannot take you far right now, just to rest on the ground. No matter what happens, do not be afraid. I will return for you."
Wind carried Leaf ever so gently to the ground and allowed it to rest there. Leaf could feel the rumble of the roots from Tree as it laughed and said," You see? Now you are ready to become like all the others. It is all just as I said. Just give up now."

Leaf was not stirred to sadness by Tree's words. It did not answer, but lay quietly looking up at the world. It all looked so different now. After a time, Leaf nodded off to sleep and a long time passed before it woke.

Instead of feeling old, stiff and papery, Leaf felt suddenly free to move about. It could hear wind singing softly through the trees and felt itself being lifted and spun higher and higher.

"Did I not promise all would be well," crooned Wind. "You have become the dust of the Earth, so light and so fine that I can carry you anywhere with me."

And so Wind did carry the dust of Leaf and scattered it over fields, onto the backs of birds that flew to mountains and into streams that led to oceans. Finally Wind seeded the clouds with the last few tiny grains that were once Leaf and Leaf came back to Earth with rains and snows.

Everywhere it fell the remains of Leaf brought a grain of pure joy, a drop Of hope and touch of love for wind and life.

One day in springtime Wind rustled past Tree and heard Tree telling all the young leaves about the Leaf that had loved the Wind and perished in the dirt.

Wind came back through Tree singing a breezy tune, "Listen my children, but not to those who tell you that your fate is in the dirt. Listen to me instead. I will tell the tale of how you will become Heaven's Dust. Believe and you will never dread."

If ever you wonder which leaves listen to Wind and not Tree, look up on a stormy day and see which ones wave a joyous greeting and which fall down in sorrow.

Respecting the fact that we're in the dark times

Ah, the holidaze - when we find ourselves rushing around like chickens without our heads...trying to get work wrapped up before the end of the year, making plans to meet with family, figuring out travel arrangements, making time to find a christmas tree and get decorations up, finding that last minute gift...

It's a frantic frenzy of frenetic energy and it goes against the entire meaning of this time of year. At Samhain, we honored those who have passed and we rid ourselves of the dross from the past year. As we approach the Winter Solstice, we're SUPPOSED to be gearing down, not gearing up. Now is a time of reflection - of rest and of decay. The dark times are a chance for us to let go of past events, emotions and unneeded baggage and allow ourselves to truly open up to the divine source as we begin to form our seeds for the coming year.

This is a time when we lose many of those we love to the arms of death and rebirth. It is normal for this to be a time of passing over - for those spirits who are ready to begin anew to leave this earthly plane of existence, in preparation for their reincarnation into the next lessons of a lifetime. They choose to leave us now, at a time of year when we are SUPPOSED to have the time to reflect on what they meant to us, on how they impacted our lives, and how we can best honor them in our own lives moving forward.

We must personally choose to slow down, and to honor the internal wheel within us all - honor ourselves enough to take time for ourselves now. We can choose instead to go running around willy-nilly and completely give up our right to reflection and release, but is that truly how you want to enter the next turn of the wheel?

Sharing Traditions

The holiday season is about to whirl into full-on frenzy with the arrival of Turkey Day. Most folks see this as the advent of stress, bickering, too much food and too much football. But I see it as a wonderful time of Tradition sharing - from favorite recipes for that special feast, to secretly hoarded cookie recipes, even nostalgic trips that occur only at this time of the year, and just because they've just always been done. I've been enjoying the traditions shared by readers on CNN.com today, and it made me think of my own family traditions...

Like the walk through the woods on Thanksgiving Day - for me, growing up in New York, this actually started as a walk through the urban woods of our neighborhood, smelling the crispness of the air, and watching the chickadees and cardinals fight for the best spot on the telephone lines, next to a forgotten pair of sneakers wrapped by their laces around the wire.

It's evolved over the years, as we've moved from state to state and changed from urban areas to country areas. Now we have our own 43 acres to walk through, with our puppy by our side - we get to continue the tradition in our own fashion, and enjoy the wild turkeys, armadillos, hawks and squirrels as we wander through the forests of Pyrth Annwn.

We're starting a new tradition this year - having a feast with friends on our land the Saturday after Turkey Day. A way to kick back and enjoy good food and good company with people we only get to see a few times a year. This is one tradition I truly hope will linger on. What traditions are you celebrating or starting this year?

Keeping perspective

Ever had one of those days when Life decided to clear a few things up for you?

Soft of like when the old Cosmic 2x4 smacks you upside the head and makes you look at the BIG picture, and you immediately stop sweating the small stuff?

It's too easy to get completely wrapped up in the day to day drama, and forget to focus on what really matters - family, friendship, hearth & home. I've found myself slicing through the cellophane wrap of drama recently with my teeth in order to regain that feeling of centeredness and balance, and it's my family and friends who have helped me get there - and I bet they don't even know it.

Isn't that amazing? How a friendly voice on the end of the phone, or a quick hug and smile as you walk through the door, or an e-mail that reminds you how important you are to someone - all these little things have such a big impact on your heart, and your soul. They just make the crazy tornadic stuff dissipate like a puff of smoke.

An e-mail from my sister highlighting the lasting happenings at her center in Colorado brought a huge smile to my face - she's making her dreams a reality, living the path she always strived for. E-mails and phone calls from my students, asking for advice and trusting me with difficult issues reminds me that I have a responsibility of the heart that outweighs any mundane brickabrack that might be impinging from the work world.

How about you? Anything happen in your world lately to bring your perspective into focus?

Dia de Los Muertos

Ah...dia de los muertos - the day of the dead. All hail La Calaca as he sashays through the streets, arm in arm with Santa Muerte and Baron Samedi. On this day, we celebrate the great unknown, the crossing over from life to death, and the rebirth to life again.

Families gather at the graves of loved ones, and share feasts and stories. Children eat sugar skulls and dancers sway to the drumbeats of painted drummers. The guardian spirits of the departed are honored with their favorite foods and libations - homes are decorated and altars are lit with pictures and candles and offerings.

And yet, Dia de Los Muertos is actually three days of celebrations, beginning on the 31st of October and ending today, on the 2nd of November. Those who join the lines of revelers clutch marigolds to their chests, symbols of those whom they remember.

The dead are regarded as protectors of the living, and so their counsel is sought in all family matters. These dead demand good behavior of the living, and they have within their power the ability to reward or punish. So death itself is merely one phase in the life-cycle, a transcendent mutation.

At the cemetery, the people quietly disperse among the cluttered tombstones. Bright garlands of marigolds ornament the graves. A trail of their golden petals leads back on the path to the local village. It is strewn as a beacon, a pathway, especially for the souls of los ninos, the children, the littlest angels.

An ancient race that dwelt in Mexico once wrote, "We only come to dream. we only come to sleep; It is not true that we come to live on Earth." Dia de los Muertos translates that prophecy into a mortal manifestation. And, although we all ultimately travel this adventure of life alone, there are times when you may hear La Calaca, the skeleton of death, laughing quietly behind your back.