The coming of the equinox

And so it begins...from this day forward, the nights begin to gain ground on the days, and our sunlight lessens until the dark of winter embraces us once again. The Fall Equinox is a time of giving thanks - of recognizing the gifts that have been given to us this turn of the wheel, and the sacrifices we have had to make to get to where we are at this point on the wheel.

A lot of times, the sacrifices we have chosen to make are forgotten, but they are an integral part of what brought us to where we are today, and should be remembered. Even the smallest sacrifices have an impact on our journey.

In our tradition, we are asked to make one final sacrifice, in thanksgiving for the gifts the year and harvest have brought to us. A final reminder that nothing comes free, and that all advantages cost a price.

What will you sacrifice, in thanks for all the wheel has brought to you this year? With what material possession could you part, in order to ensure continued growth in the next turn of the wheel?

The Gift of Kindness

"When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people."
Abraham Joshua Heschel

This quote by Herschel touches my heart so deeply. In the past month I have had the priviledge to work with senior citizens on a daily basis - to play with them, laugh with them and cry with them.

They have been my teachers and my friends, my employers and my playmates. From them, I have learned so very much in such a short period of time, but the most important lesson of all has been the simplest - kindness. For when you give kindness, you receive kindness. The giving is a gift as much as the getting.

And it can be so simple a thing, kindness. A gentle hand, an assistance down a hallway, someone to listen as you tell a story, or someone to empathize as you cry over a memory.

Allow the gift of kindness to intrude upon your busy lives - let it come into your heart and bless your spirit. For kindness is an amazing gift of the spirit and of the heart - one that we all possess and can all share, if we choose to do so. Make the choice.

Making Time

As we enter into the time of early harvest, and hard work towards the main harvest at the equinox, we can tend to lose sight of the every day little things. We hustle and bustle to bring in the first fruits of our labors, to make sure we fertilize and water those crops still growing in preparation for the harvest to come in September - eyes always on the work, on what needs to be done, on the preparations for the long winter that is looming, just out of view, but never out of our heart's mind. That long winter when we will only have what we reap now, and what we can manage to accumulate now.

And so we run about, hilly nilly, completely oblivious to the simple pleasures we enjoyed just a scant few weeks ago, when our pace was slower, our minds more still, and our playful side more active. Now we are the parents, seeing to our responsibilities, making sure all is in line.

Is it right to deprive ourselves some small joys - to not step back, not even for a moment, and breathe in the smell of wet grass after a dewey morning, to relish the redness of a ripe tomato on the vine, to scamper with the animals through the forest and into the cooling of the river?

So many times, we compartmentalize our feelings, our desires, our needs. Now calls for this, later will call for that - don't act up now, there's too much to be done or we won't make it later. The dreaded chant of "Act your age."

Yes, our work now is crucial to our survival through the dark times - of that there is no doubt. But if we allow joy into our work, if we let the giggles and laughter of the summer permeate the skin of our labors now, won't the harvest be all the more sweeter for it in the end?

I for one am making time for a scamper or two - how about you?

Blessings

Ever had one of those days when you realized all of the blessings you have in your life? Your partner, your pets, your friends, your co-workers, your community...so many colors of the kaleidoscope that is our circle of blessings.

I am having one of those days today - and I am overjoyed at the abundance of blessings that exist in my life - and I am humbled and truly grateful for each and every one of them, and I pray that I too may be a blessing in the lives of others. I can think of no greater accomplishment in a life than that.

Magical Child Books is Having a Birthday!

Magical Child Books has turned two, and they are in the mood to celebrate. Last month Lyon's first book `An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child,' received the prestigious honor as a 2009 COVR Visionary Awards Finalist. As you can see, they have more than one reason to have a party!

You and all your friends are invited.

Usually when someone has a birthday, the people coming to the party bring the gifts. They're turning the tables and flipping this custom on its head. They will give the gifts. You heard right. They are giving each of four lucky winners one of their four titles. That's one `An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child,' one `Aidan's First Full Moon Circle,' one `Watchers,' and even one of our newest title, `Rabbit's Song.'

You want a FREE book, don't you? Well, yeah! Of course you do.

To celebrate Magical Child Book's second birthday, they are holding a book give-away contest. It is easy to enter.

All you have to do to enter is post an announcement like this one on your blog. Include the youtube.com book trailer for `An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child' in your post. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6phdTMIsxQ) Once you have posted the news on your blog, send them an email with the URL link and your real name. That's it. You're entered!

On August 11, 2009, they will announce the winner for each book. Winners will have 48 hours to claim their free book by emailing with their mailing address. If a book goes unclaimed, they'll draw another name from all the entries.

Help Lyon spread the word. Post in your blog an announcement like this. Be sure to EMAIL contest (at) magicalchildbooks (dot) com your link and real name so we can put your name in the drawing. You can link to this post so everyone knows how to make sure they are entered for a FREE BOOK!

And because they are in such a good mood, if you hurry and you have your blog post up by next Saturday, July 11, 2009, they'll put you in for an extra entry. Just for posting by Saturday.

Spread the word! Win a FREE book!

Halfway Round the Wheel

The Summer Solstice is upon us - the high time of the sun, the longest day and shortest night. From this moment forward, the days will slowly get shorter, and the hours of the moon will lengthen.

In olden times times, summer was a joyous time of the year. The snow had disappeared; the ground had thawed out; warm temperatures had returned; flowers were blooming; leaves had returned to the trees. Some herbs could be harvested, for medicinal and other uses. Food was easier to find. The crops had already been planted and would be harvested in the months to come.

The first (or only) full moon in June is called the Honey Moon. Tradition holds that this is the best time to harvest honey from the hives.

This time of year, between the planting and harvesting of the crops, was the traditional month for weddings. This is because many ancient peoples believed that the "grand union" of the Goddess and God occurred in early May at Beltaine. Since it was unlucky to compete with the deities, many couples delayed their weddings until June. In some traditions, newly wed couples were fed dishes and beverages that featured honey for the first month of their married life to encourage love and fertility. The surviving vestige of this tradition lives on in the name given to the holiday immediately after the ceremony: The Honeymoon.

In my tradition, Alban Hefin is the time for checking in on the progress of the seeds that were blessed and planted at Alban Eilier and were now well on their way to bear fruit in this turn of the wheel, for better or for worse. Those seeds represent our hopes and dreams for this turn of the wheel, and as is often said, be careful what you wish for cause you might just get it.

So now is the time to evaluate, and see where the dreams are going - nourish them if need be - in some cases, trim them a bit and in others, well - sometimes you just have to dig it up and start over. But there's still time - there's still a chance to put the energy right, and guide the dream to fruition come the fall.

So this solstice I'm tending to my spiritual garden, and making time to guide my dreams on their path to fruition. Have you checked on your gardens lately?

Relying on Faith

It's a funny thing - many pagans participate in Sabbats and Esbats, read volumes of books on a variety of subjects and yet, in their everyday lives, they don't seem to put much faith in, well, our faith. I work in an office with many folks who actively participate in their churches, who speak on spiritual matters in the workplace and have even come and prayed for me at times of distress. I marvel at their saturation of faith on a daily basis, and wish I could grasp that saturation point too.

I light candles on our altar daily for those needing energy, I read several Pagan boards each day that discuss pagans in the news, the time of the seasons and more, I read a variety of books on pagan/metaphysical/hermetical/quantum physics type topics, and I give thanks everyday for my chosen family, my furry ones and my soul mate. When friends are in need I reach out and offer comfort, whether it be in the form of hugs or chocolate or both.

Maybe it's because I have to be so deep in the closet here, or that there are no other pagans here at the office to speak with. But I don't feel that deep saturation of connection with our faith that I see so obviously in others. Is this something all pagans struggle with?

The delicate balance of accepting CHANGE

Ah, change. A word that can strike fear into the hearts of many, or release those same people from the confines of a box they didn't even realize they were in.

So...am I fearful, or free - or both? Good question, and so far, no real good answer to go with it.

The job I had seen as my salvation (no pun intended) has dematerialized. The job I'm in has changed into a new role, and one that I'm enjoying, even if it means fewer hours of pay during the week. And, another job has surfaced that fits in harmony with the first job, and will allow us to make the bills.

But at what cost? I'll have a few extra hours during the week to spend at home, but my weekends are now officially lost to us. We'll actually have more money coming in than going out for a change, but less time to spend with each other and our animals and our friends.

What are the costs of change? Monetarily, spiritually, physically, emotionally - how do you strike the right balance without tipping the scales?