Passages in Summer

"Everything changes but change itself. Everything flows and nothing remains the same... You cannot step twice into the same river, for other waters and yet others go flowing ever on."
~ Heraclitus

The Summer turns. Moving forward from the Solstice, I have seen changes occurring in my life. The most wondrous has come to pass, and subtler revelations have become known. With the latter, one was after I attended a Pagan festival in July. Though it was enjoyable, it occurred to me that there has been no real evolution within the Pagan community over the past, I don't know, decade. Having been "out of the loop" for a number of years, I felt getting back to that area of my roots would be a positive experience, and it was, albeit strictly in a nostalgic sense. I found myself comparing present to past experiences a little too much, but I think that was because I was basically in the same scenarios. For example, partying around a bonfire can only lend expansion to one's self only so much. Anyways, I feel I have gone full circle with the Pagan fest scene (as it is) in Ontario.

I still walk the Wheel everyday, and I celebrated a quaint Lughnasadh ritual in amongst the cedar, pine and birch trees down in the Nemeton. I adorned the stone shrine with large turkey feathers I had found and, as the main part of the ritual, I made a corn dolly from the freshly-cut hay and wild flowers. Offerings were also made, and I was quite pleased that I managed to cut an apple in half perfectly to reveal the star inside. The sacred space was beautiful and, in hindsight, I wished I had had a camera. But the ritual was not for me so the image will have to live in my memory.

Fire and Light

It is truly midwinter now.

The blessed festival of Brighid has past and the fires of new life and inspiration have been lit. Honour was given the Mother and wishes made to the Source, and already there is evidence of the turning of the Wheel. I meandered through the mud and melting snow down to the Nemeton yesterday and took in the change that has come upon the valley and the forest. Animal tracks were numerous and I followed them in and amongst the swaying trees. Rain fell from the cold sky and the wind began to howl around me, but I still managed to smile whilst relishing the smell and feel of the world around me.

savour the time spent in darkness
for there is muted solace
in candle flame and divine wisdom ...

Samhain Turning

I just came in from an evening walk. The air was cool, which is fine since the weather we have been having has been unseasonably warm. The ground was crisp with dry leaves and the half moon shone overhead. The coyotes were howling down in the valley and as I walked back towards the house, I happened upon a family of deer grazing in the field. As I strolled along, I mused upon the turning of the year. Samhain came and we celebrated at the dying of the Sun in the forest-shroud Nemeton. Spirits walked amongst us as we chanted, made offerings to Ancestors and journeyed to the Otherworld and back again. We feasted, divined with Goddess amulets and made "blind collage"; our yearly tradition. The flames of the previous year were extinguished and new ones kindled. Samhain came and the Wheel turned.

I now look ahead to what is to come along my path. There are some things I am moving towards and some things I am sure to stumble upon and over, but I trust in the Source of All Things that all will come to pass and I shall flourish and grow.

Autumn Harvest Ritual

I celebrated the Equinox today under a brilliant blue sky, warm sunshine and amongst the gentle spirits of the forest. As I was writing out the framework, I found myself getting quite excited to honour the turn of the wheel with a ritual ritual done completely in my own tradition. After working with a group for so long, it took awhile for me to get back to the solitary practice. But I feel that with the rit today, I've comfortably broken away from the need for "group life" and got back to "me".



It was a good ritual, celebrated in the Nemeton I had built back in the early Spring. A gentle breeze blended with my drumming, the birds echoed my calls to Awen and my heart beated in-time with pulse of the Divine Source all around me. The ritual core was the making and blessing of the Harvest King. I meant to create only a small token-size effigy, but it turned into something much larger. Ah, behold the will of the Gods. The Harvest King will be kept in a place of honour until Samhain, when He shall journey to the Otherworld. The omen received during the oracle portion was the rune Othel; focusing my thoughts to attract the right energies. Interesting and appropriate.


Autumn has always been a time for change with me, and I feel that this ritual had a feeling of welcoming to it. So I look forward to positive change(s) in my life. /|\