Omnium Gatherums

Friday evening brought us a little furry visitor - Miss Lola, my friend's King Charles Spaniel / Mini Poodle mix. We had a two night slumber party while Mom and Dad went to a wedding out of town. The kids had a blast, and we were reaffirmed in our decision to wait another year or two before getting a dog of our own :-)

Saturday was my group's Litha ritual and get together. What an absolutely wonderful, reaffirming, powerful evening it was. Kat's ritual was probably one of the most vital, compelling, spirituall full, spoke-to-my-very-soul rituals I have participated in in a very long time, maybe even ever. I share it below... so lovely, so perfect. I'm growing more and more pleased with the group we have grown to be. So many great people, such strong connections forming. The core three - D, W and myself, are certainly my favourite, but at least a couple of the "newer" participants are getting to be very dear to me as well. I have been so starved for community that it is pure heaven to have this group.

Midsummer (Litha) Ritual 2011

Declamation/Grounding:

Here and now are the Mysteries

Out of no stored and storied past

Of things long lost and long forgotten,

But within the breathing moment of Time.

Magic comes out of no fabled twilight,

But that which falls on the hills this night.

The old trees partake of it

And the voices of the grass

The ghost-white blossomed elders

And the first cloudy glow of the rising moon.

If we can see; if we can hear

Out of no buried past come the mysteries

Out of no fabled time or mist-shrouded land

But from the fields of our own home comes the grain that makes the bread of their feast

From the flowers of every summer flows the honey of their mead

From the rocks of all eternity come the sands of time.

Look! Between the stones is a blade of grass.

And the rites of the high mysteries

And the runes of all witcheries

Are written upon it.

Circle Casting:

[sung]

We are a circle moving one with the other

We are moving together we are one

I am Spirit and I flow in you

You are spirit and you flow in me

May the powers give us strength, and our knowledge keep us safe

May the forces of light and darkness guide over us and keep us from harm

In the holy name of all that is, the circle is cast. So mote it be.

Circle Purifications:

(Done by children – K speaks the words)

With the laughing breath of air do we cleanse this sacred space, that knowledge may be fresh and our own minds clear.

With the warm light of fire do we cleanse this sacred space, that power may flow freely and our own wills be strong.

With the soothing flow of water do we cleanse this sacred space, that love may flow between us and our own hearts be whole.

With the firm body of the earth do I cleanse this sacred space that we might have nourishment and keep unto our law.

Quarter Calls:

[sung]

From every direction the earth is singing – change it change it,

From every direction the earth is singing – change it now. X 2

Open your hearts to the song of the east (south, west, north) X2

Now open your heart to the song of the wind (fire, water, earth) – open your heart to the wind

Deity Welcome:

Reach out now,

To the vastness of the universe, to the depths of your soul

And bid welcome to the ones who are your Gods.

Reach out now,

To the vastness of the universe, to the depths of your soul

And bid welcome to the ones who are your Gods.

We gather to welcome the mystery of light

Of daytime and the shining sun

The wild green growing forests

And the potent force of Man

Reach branches to the sky

To dance in Wind and Flame

Our Green God

We gather to welcome the mystery of shadow

Of night that cradles the silver moon

The seed’s deep inner magic

And sweet Woman’s fertile womb

Roots deep into the soil

To touch the Earth and Rain,

Our Lady Goddess

For all Gods are but one God, and all Goddess one Goddess

As above, so below; As the universe, so the soul

As without, so within

The Infinite Radiance of All that Is

Wine Blessing:

Infinite ones – all life is your own

Everything in the universe, a gift from your sacred body

As above, so below; As the universe, so the soul

As without, so within

The Infinite Radiance of All that is

We share this wine (these cakes) in communion with you

and with each other.

To the Gods!

Body of the Ritual:

Let's play with the Celtic Tree Cards, and read some of the meanings if time permits - at least for the kids. This will give us a tree to focus on during the guided meditation – people can meditate on their card-tree or any tree they feel they have a connection with.

Meditation:

(below)

Quarter Farewells: Improvise

Deity Farewells: Improvise

Circle Opening:

[sung]

From Fire to Water to Earth and to Wind

It's the circle of Life, the dance without end

So merry meet and merry part and merry meet again (X3)

Guided Meditation: The Tree

Take a few even breaths, and allow yourself to be like a tree, planted on the earth...

Bring your awareness to your feet. Your feet are like roots growing into the earth. Imagine your legs reaching down deep into the core of the planet. Feel how your roots anchor you on the earth, making you feel rooted and grounded. With each breath you draw in, feel the energy and nourishment of the earth drawn up through your roots and into you. The earth cradles you, feeds you – your roots spread wide, creating a base and support for you, and the nourishment you need to grow into all that you can be. Your roots are your past, your experiences; they are your eternal connection to the Earth.

Let your awareness move up your legs to your body. Your torso is like a tree-trunk standing tall. Your trunk is your core, your strength. Imagine your trunk growing up and up, upward toward the sun and the sky. Feel how your core is the source of your strength, your will and determination; moving ever upwards, it gives you height, lifts you up from the earth, moves you out of your cradle and up to where you need to go. Trust in your trunk to hold strong, and grow tall. Think of the rings inside your trunk – a new ring each year – pale for drought, dark for rain – each year of your experience, your core, your trunk grows wider, stronger, becomes more stable.

Let your mind travel outwards along your arms. Your arms are like branches growing out from your core. Feel your branches moving ever-so-gently in the breeze. Your branches reach out, reach up – they intertwine with the trees around them, they brush against all that surrounds you – they are your spirit reaching out to explore this amazing and glorious world around you. Feel the connection that your branches bring to you.

Your hands, your face, your hair – they are the leaves and the blossoms the twigs of your tree. Your leaves are the gentle receptors that pull the sights, the sounds, the sensations of the world in to you. They absorb the rays of the sun; they rustle with the wind; they soak in all that the world can offer. Feel your face, like a beautiful flower, turning upward basking in the light of the sun. As your blossom opens, it becomes your light, your shine – the smile that is your gift to the universe.

In your blossom – at the core of the blossom – feel a seed germinating. It may be safely wrapped in a pod, it may have a bit of cottony fluff to bear it on the wind, it may keep safe in the armor of a hard nut. This seed is an idea. Your tree may have one idea or many. Let your idea grow, pulling nourishment through your roots, strength and will through your trunk, support and connection through your branches, and light and energy through your leaves. Now let your idea go. Pause Perhaps it will float off into the breeze, beginning a journey into the unknown. Perhaps it will plummet to the ground, where it will put out roots deep into the ground. And let's face it – maybe your seed will be snapped up by a bird, or devoured by an animal – it may have quite the interesting adventure through the digestive juices, before it gets SHAT OUT in a dollop of poo. That is the life of some ideas – it's a hard beginning. But it means it has help cracking its shell, and comes with its own nutrient-rich fertilizer! All sorts of adventures await this seed, this idea. Send it out to the universe, and see what grows from it.

Your tree is so amazing, its roots reaching way down into the earth; its trunk reaching upward and holding strong; the tree's branches flowing outward, and the crown of the tree reaching toward the light of the sun... spreading ideas and light. You are a green growing thing, alive with the wild green energy of the gods.

Feel deeply connected to the earth. Feel strong and stable in your core. Feel the gentle movement and flow of your arms. Feel your crown reaching upward, basking in the light. Enjoy the tree experience as long as you like...

When it is time, lower your head, close your hands, and pull your spirit leaves back into yourself. They are a part of you, all that they bring in from the universe remains with you.

Let your branches lower and become your own limbs – always there to reach out to connect you, always a part of you.

Let your trunk remember what it is to rise and fall as a breathing human – all that core strength is in you, a part of you, always there to hold you stable and strong.

And finally, when you are ready, pull your roots slowly up from the earth, never forgetting that the earth cradles you still, feeds you nourishment, you will never lose that root-deep connection with the earth, it will be there any time you reach for it.

For the tree, time passes in a special, magical way. The tree does not run and rush in a frantic or frazzled way – the tree lives and grows, connects and intertwines, reaches down and out, accepts – the tree simply IS. We can be the tree, our rings expanding slowly and steadily – each year of drought or famine, of nourishment and plenty, expanding and strengthening.

We are the tree.

It's the fifth day now since I've moved into this little gopher hole cubicle... I guess it's not so bad, although I still do miss having a private office and the ability to close the door... All in all, it *is* kind of fun to share the space with S and have a "roomie"...

So... end of gripe about that. Whatever.

On a plus side, we've found a fabulous person to hire to fill the empty space on our team - it's going to be sooooo refreshing to have a positive, energetic, hard-working person helping me out! Night and day compared to the one we terminated last month.

In other news...

Making me laugh lately:

Coconut's obsession with socks. As soon as we get home, and the whole time we're at home, he's taken to wearing a different sock on each hand and each foot. I have to peel them off his protesting little self every night, and again every morning before we leave for daycare/work. This picture makes me laugh... looks like he's wearing jodhpurs (they're actually Daddy's "big" socks on the outside of C's pant legs. LOL)

Currently reading:

Cadfael! Specifically, The Pilgrim of Hate. I just love these books. I scour the used book stores for them every time I'm there, and am usually lucky enough to find at least one that I haven't read yet.

Getting ready for:

My group's Summer Solstice gathering on Saturday. *Hopefully* the weather will cooperate and be summer-like and not spring-rain-like, so that we can gather as planned at the Arboretum for an outdoor ritual and picnic. If, however, Mother Nature feels the need to drench the soil, we'll likely change venues and gather at D&R's house. Looking forward to hugs and laughter and soul time.

Thoroughly excited about:

My best friend and her wee lad arriving on the weekend for a couple weeks' visit. Squeee! More hugs and laughter!!

Happy times!

Thursday, July 7, 2011

I really have two of the cutest kids on the planet...

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

What a lovely, magical weekend...

Friday, June 24, 2011

Oh the cuteness!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Day 5

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Change

Monday, June 13, 2011

Little plug for my sister...

Friday, June 10, 2011

On my being MIA