Sunday, December 30, 2012

Winter Solstice 2012

Money was tight and December was rushed this year, which paradoxically meant that Solstice was very nice -- just family, quiet, darkness and fire.  We are in our back-woods house with no internet or TV.   I made a big fire in my newly rebuilt firepit.  It is great to be able to have a real, big fire, burning actual logs instead of bits of branches!

The blazing fire of peachwood from our old house and aged oak from our new house was beautiful on the cold night, and drew out Athena and the kids to sit around and talk, and roast marshmallows.  Too much mist and scattered clouds for stargazing, but a gorgeous almost-full moon sporting a huge ring - at least 35 degrees wide, fat and silvery, lasting most of the evening.

Athena sat with me a while, then Aurora came out and talked with me and we shared stories about shamanic journeys.  We played some with the bells and drums, Cercatore and Aurora made smores, and we all sat out for a long time talking and enjoying the fire.

Later, after the others went in, I sat by the fire and beat a steady rhythm with the bells Athena had bought, and drifted into non-ordinary reality.  As I listened to the bells jingle, I started to hear other bells, like harness bells approaching and jingling across the fire.  I could very clearly hear them come close and settle near the fire.  The visitors felt like travelling Sidhe, riding some kind of antlered steeds, attracted by my fire.  I welcomed them to share the fire, and put out some of my snacks and offered them freely to share.  I offered, as my part of the nights tale-telling, for them to watch the spirit journey I was about to undertake.

I  took a journey to find a spirit animal to help me in the coming year.   The seaside was dark and cold, but the sea looked like clear glass and reflected the flames of my fire; as I walked into the woods I could still feel the warmth of the fire.  As I passed the ring of trees and entered the meadow, I could see the sun and moon above bathing everything in light of mingled silver and gold.  Oak and I embraced, and I thanked him for his support and strength.  Spider met me and I thanked her for her gifts and aid in the past year, and I greeted and thanked Barn Swallow.  Then I walked on to the crystalline, tumbling stream and sat beside it, looking across to the edge of the woods beyond, and waited for someone/something to emerge.

After a bit, I could feel something hesitating just beyond sight, unsure if it should appear - apparently because it was not sure I would believe it it.  To try and lure it out, I tried asking it what it was, and tried a number of animals without getting a firm response - some recognition at snake and bird, but still not quite right.  Next I asked about its element; definitely not earth or air, positive response on both water and fire.

It finally crept out from the trees into the stream, and let me see it - it was a water-drake, a small dragon; a creature of fire and water, very snakelike, standing about 3-4 feet on two hind legs.  It said that Water had been a good friend to me and helped me a lot this last year with adaptability and acceptance of change as I moved and started a new job, but that for the challenges in front of me now I will need to add Fire to my gifts.  I thanked it, and admired its beauty; it was sometimes transparent, disappearing into the water, sometimes blue and white, curling its neck.  I could tell it could also breath flame when it needs to!

I look forward to learning more from Water-Drake, and learning to use its gifts.  What a surprising patron!

After returning to my fire, my visitors had moved on.  I doused the fire with many thanks, and left my food as a free gift to any that passed that way, and went inside.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Misty morning


The frost-limned leaves retire
As the mist assumes guardianship of the forest.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Autumn Sunset

The evening sun now wears
The gold and scarlet robes
Cast off by the trees.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Upon Rising

Cold autumn morning,
darkness wrapped.
The moon pauses to greet me
before she retires.

In the Forest

At Athena's suggestion, I took a spirit journey last night outside, after dark, at our place way out in the tree-covered hills.

I settled down beside the herb garden we had planted, facing the forest behind the house.  I started the beat with my rattle, and sang my power song.  At first I was rushing and nervous, so I stopped, centered myself, and started over at a steady, slow pace.

As I sang I started to hear noises around and behind me; acorns falling, leaves rustling, branches creaking.  I got the sense that there was some awareness that was waking and approaching me.  My first thought was to throw up barriers, but I didn't want to close out anything that was coming to help or teach.  So again I calmed myself, and asked the land to aid me and keep out anything that meant me ill, but to welcome anything that meant me well.

I heard sounds like something moving through the leaves, and got worried about wild animals; but then I heard our horse wuffle quietly and I knew that if there was a corporeal threat that she would not be so relaxed.  This was a very good exercise in relaxing and trusting in my protections!

I stared down into the trees, as they marched down away from me, filled with mist and shadow.  I called into my mind my seashore with the dark woods above, and the two merged so that I could see the dark and mist wreathing my woods with mystery as I entered and began to climb the narrow twisted path.  

As I climbed, the winds rose a bit in the outside world, and there was some lightening in the distance.  I welcomed the energy, and used it to deepen my trance.

I entered the clearing, and Oak was waiting for me just down the path.  The sun and half moon shown together in the sky, bathing the meadow in mingled silver and gold light.

I embraced Oak and communed briefly, and then asked if he had anything to tell me or show me.  I saw him clothe himself in gold and russet, and some old dead branches fell.  He told me that I should not be afraid of letting go of the parts of my past that are dead or useless, and I should not be reluctant to "change my coat" as the weather changes.  That as the oak changes with the seasons, its core stays strong and green.



Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Always Discovering


Seeing the mushrooms appear overnight as if from nothing,
I am always discovering wonder.

Hearing the smile in your voice as we talk together,
I am always discovering joy.

Looking up at night to see the Milky Way gleam,
I am always discovering majesty.

Feeling your head nestle against my shoulder as we lie together,
I am always discovering love.

Watching a tree through the weeks change from green to yellow to flaming gold,
I am always discovering beauty.

Delighted by your strong love and subtle insights,
I am always discovering you.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Cross the threshold

I took a spirit journey tonight, the first real one in several months.  The last time I tried, I could not keep in the 'trance', I kept popping out of shamanic consciousness and couldn't visualize clearly.  This time I took more time, and also got some lovely nature sounds to play to put me in the right state.

I took a long time on the seashore this time.  The sky was dark twilight, clear and cool, and the ocean was crystalline and dark, like blown glass with a heart of night.  I made my way up the past the tide line, through the saw grass, and onto the path between the trees.

The path was sandy and bare, and the trees were dark with just a few new leaves appearing.  There was little undergrowth.  I slowly walk up the path, to the opening of the clearing.  As I stepped out into the clearing, the sun was shining and warm on my skin, and the lush grass was soft on my feet.  A half moon was in the sky with the sun.  I walked down a little way to the Oak tree, and gave it big hug; the slender branches stroked my back and welcomed me, not caring how long I had been away. 

I thanked Oak for all his help, then turned to my right and greeted Spider (who appeared 5 foot high and shining black).  I carefully embraced Spider (not wanting to hurt her legs) and kissed her on the head, thanking her for all the support that she has given me.  Barn Swallow came down and perched on my shoulder and greeted me, and I thanked her for her gifts and inspiration.

I asked my patrons what I should do next, and they suggested that I walk down to the stream.  I did so, and marveled at the clear, sparking water.  I took a sip of it, which felt cool and sparkling.  I asked if I should run some cards for my upcoming move, using the Celtic tree oracle cards, and they said that would be fine; Oak said he would bless them for me.

I thanked all by friends and walked out of the clearing.  As I walked down the path, it was much sunnier and there were pale wildflowers popping up around the trees, and many new green leaves appeared.  At the sea, I took another sip and felt the ocean's vast calmness there for me if I needed it, then woke up.

I got out the Celtic tree cards and laid out cards in the Three Worlds spread.  This is what I got:

Underworld: deep resources, wisdom from ancestors --
Beech
    Cross the threshold that is challenging you

Middleworld: truth at the core of the matter --
Gooseberry
    Draw on the wisdom of those who have walked the path before you

Upperworld: starry wisdom, clear insight --
Alder
    Defend your territory, and clear the way before you

I read this to mean that we should go ahead with the move, but be sure to have everything in writing and make sure everything is in order before we do it!

Wordless













Sunday, March 25, 2012

Go Tell the Stars

A Winter Solstice song, inspired by David Carter's Go Tell the Fox

Go tell the stars,
    Shining in the night;
Go tell the squirrel,
    With his eyes so bright;
Go tell the mice,
    Hiding in the corn;
Go tell the farmer,
    That the Oak Lord's born
    Again!

Go tell the rabbit,
    Creeping through the wild;
Go tell the doe,
    Curled 'round her sleeping child;
Go tell the moth,
    Beating on the lantern;
Go tell the cricket,
    That the wheel has turned
    Again!

Go tell the spring,
    That makes the river flow;
Go tell the trees,
    With their feet beneath the snow;
Go tell the fox,
    Underneath the pine;
Go tell the people,
    That the sun will shine
    Again!