August Blog 2021 – Emerging into the Light!

This past Moonth has been a time of emergence. For starters an open-air Summer Solstice rite with about fifteen other celebrants that was my first live gathering in over a year and a half, and then a fabulous open air Pagan wedding on top of a hill. The ritual itself was performed inside a stone circle and the dining and dancing took place under a huge, open-sided tent.

The joy that everyone felt was deep and genuine. There was laughing, clapping, and wolf-howls of delight. For myself and for many others it was the first time we had danced since before the pandemic. The band (The Pangeans) was fabulous. It was a riotous good time, just as a good Pagan wedding should be.

Not one person was wearing a facemask (I had one in my basket in case we moved inside) which made me a little nervous. Also, the food was buffet style and everyone was handling the serving spoons and forks. I did wash my hands after one person shook my hand. The second time that happened I managed to say “I am not touching hands!” and he was OK with that. But as the evening wore on and the Champagne flowed I more or less gave up. I can now understand what easily happens at family and seasonal gatherings that turn into “super-spreader” events.

Here in Massachusetts, we are about 63% vaccinated, among the highest rates in the nation, but we haven’t yet reached the level of “herd immunity”. It is still possible that there could be consequences for all the shouting, fun and frivolity. But I trust the deep magic of the principals who no doubt set up wards of protection around everyone who attended.

Another noteworthy occurrence is that I found out I am distantly related to one of my closest friends and magical partners-in-crime. Amazing. We both come from a long line of shamanic cultures including the Danubian Celts, the Huichol, Lakota, Creek and Melungeon lines among others. That last one was a new one on me, apparently the Melungeons are and were a tribe of mixed Cherokee, Jewish and European peoples. Elvis Presly was one of them. Who knew?

The geese at the pond down the road managed to have a tribe of goslings after all. Now there are about thirty very fine-looking birds milling about, looking almost ready to migrate. I have taken down the bird feeder, due to a nasty virus that is spreading along the Atlantic states. I did, however, keep the hummingbird feeder up, because I wash it in hot water and soap every two days.

I am dutifully putting out a small handful of nuts and dried fruit for the big possum that lives nearby, but I haven’t seen him in person for a few months. The food disappears every night while I am sleeping.

This week the elderberries will be ripe, based on past years, and I will set out with my bags and baskets to complete the yearly harvest. I like to tincture the berries with echinacea root – a fabulous remedy for all kinds of colds and viruses when taken every two hours in hot water or tea. It’s always a fine line between me and the birds as to who will get there first.

Its the time of Lammas or Lughnasadh as I type this – the festival of the first fruits of the harvest that once featured horse racing, poetry competitions, music contests, fairs and weddings. It was once a three weeks long celebration – from the end of July to mid-August. Given the real possibility that Covid could bring things to halt again this winter, let us celebrate while we can. We can all give thanks for the produce and plenty of our fields and gardens, for our friendships and loves.

SOME BOOK EXCERPTS

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS AND APPEARANCES

August 7, 2021
3:00-4:30 PM Eastern
Dragonfest
A talk on Druid magical techniques from history
Celebrate Samhain!
Sunday October 24, 2021
Nashua, New Hampshire – Doubletree Hotel
A talk on the baneful herbs used for healing and magick
(Stay tuned – more details coming soon!)
October 26, 2021
Wild Ginger Herbal Center
6-8 PM Eastern
A talk on the Sacred Herbs of Samhain – plants to communicate with the Spirits of the dead
A Zoom webinar
November 8 – 14, 2021
Changing Times Changing Worlds
5 weekday evenings of virtual programming
On Saturday and Sunday, offering 2 full days of classes and panels

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Need to get rid of ticks? Try guineafowl. They lay eggs too.

*Below you will find the usual round up of gleanings from the media. And a reminder – you can find all my books, videos and blog here. Get a signed book from the author!* Enjoy!