The Solstice Fire by Peno Hardesty

come---the solstice fire burns---our mother awakens and our relations share the fire---solidarity of life--all life---solidarity of creation---all creation---we let go of our anger and of our fear---we listen to the truths that rise in the smoke and take shape in the embers-----we ask" bless us protect us guide us accept us"----we feel the warmth of the fire and we hear clearly our own heartbeat ---recognizing our own heart for the first time in a very long time----and then in the warmth of the embers---beneath the careful watch of the owl ---we recognize that we are indeed one heartbeat of one creation under one creator

solstice blessings

por favor----come===sit------the fire burns for us all.............................

Intuitive Emapthy by Barbara Carvallo

When one follows the Craft of the Wise one is given the gifts one requests.  I was given the gift of healing the Earth.  I am a master gardener and where I plant new life grows by Goddess’s grace.  Each seedling, stem, leaf, bud and bloom is a healing testament to our Great Mother’s fertility, majesty and enduring beauty. 

I asked for and was given the “sight” of my grandmothers and the gift of the empath. They cannot be given back because I must learn their lessons.  Like it or not, it was my choice.  If I could choose to return one it would the gift of intuitive empathy.  This world is so full of pain and suffering that at times I am overwhelmed with a deep abiding sorrow, chocked with grief and paralyzed with a dreadful lassitude that is not mine.

I believe that Goddess gives us each a light with which to follow our chosen path.  That light appears to embrace the snow when winter’s moon is full; is the candlelight on the altar and the starlight dancing through the trees.  It is the sunrise, the sunset and the rebirth of the sun at Winter Solstice or Pagan Yule.  Instead of Christmas, many who follow the old ways celebrate the old holiday.  After all, it was ours first.

For some reason at this time of year there is an oppressive feeling of great sadness, great longing and regret.  At times like this when I am so wounded and exhausted that I can barely see the path, all I can do is trust in Goddess’s light with faith that it will lead to the end of my path at the end of my days where all lessons are learned and wisdom grows in the fertile soil of understanding.

The Holiday Season by Jackie B. Steele

Warmed Blanket around me I walk into the night. So many memories from deep within the Earth calling. When we all were Matriarchal Tribal people, that remembered. The tides of Earth, Moon, & Sun deeply felt. The circle, the dancing of all the Sphere's resonating, moved us and our relations. Deeply heard with awe, migrations of spirit and physical beings who worked with the tides are still deeply felt & heard. Calling our attention, & intentions. contrary to public belief, these tides, of Sun, Moon, Earth, & stars, are the Reason for the Holiday Season. I wish for all of you however you remember, the most peaceful, compassionate, meaningful Winter Tide. Through love & the heart we all remember.
Manidoo - gizisoons (Small Spirits Moon)
Grandmother Moon waxes to fullness in the long dark in the Constellation of Gemini, she peaks on Tuesday very early 4:28 CST, from now until then, she is Beautiful, reflecting Back the light of the Sun.
In the darkness now peaking.
in the crystal cave of insight,
drifts of spirit and healing these long nights,
sharing Love with all, a humble delight.
Miigwetch

"You will note that everything moves in a Circle......." - Black Elk.

Good Morning by Jackie B. Steele

The hush of a cold Peri - dawn morning. Seven degrees F, & the Earth sparkles with a crystalline shawl. The Crows are cawing thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, for the remains of the "IN house spirit bowl" with my thank you to the life sacrificed to feed us, the day before and refresh daily. No one has touched Dukes Spirit bowl of feed, even though I put some out each dusk in other areas for the Fox. The Eagles were fishing the last open areas on the lake yesterday, that I know are delicately iced over today, they will hunt the fields now or fly to the Rivers for better fishing. The long dark, trusting our inner sight, Owl Medicine, the magical glowing eyes of predator & Prey. The brilliance of Star Nation twinkling in the crisp air. Observing the Nearly Quarter Moon Gracing the West, when i look at her shape, knowing the Sun is now In Sagittarius, and the Moon nearly in a square & waning to New on December 2, recalling the Constellations that square Sag, and realize it is Virgo for Waning, (Pisces if Waxing)and near square, is Leo. So the Moon is in Leo. Both Sun & Moon in Fire element this Sunday Morning. I am Grateful. You are full of Greatness also, I Love you~& the Sparkling long dark.& Hot Coffee this new day Good Morning Good People.

The Future Loves Us by Peno Hardesty

music is dialysis for the soul-----the sounds of the city---the ocean---a slight rustle in the brush---symphonies of nature and life ---gifts--the healing of a heartbeat ---the purr of a cat----little granddaughter "ma p===it is my birthday but i have a gift for you"-----i close my eyes---phone pressed to my ear----there is only music---the beautiful sounds of tiny fingers on a piano-----cleansing tears flow freely----"want to hear it again ma p?" oh yes child of child---oh yes...........................................................
.the future loves us--
-come---
we fight for the future-------
close our eyes
hear the music
cleanse
believe
por favor
believe enough to care
care enough to fight

Fight Back by Peno Hardesty

 

perhaps the great flood of biblical lore is upon us----no---nothing to do with angry gods or sailors who build arks---tears mis amigos----tears----persons with disabilities need the community first option of obamacare----persons who are ill deserve medical care---persons who are hungry deserve food---young minds deserve education----families left mourning deserve a country free of senseless gun violence and from the laws that allow killers to walk free---tears---tears from those who are chained-----chained by intolerance and chained by indifference----chained by fear guarded by the fearful----tears flow and begin to fill the valley and the gutter----chains rattle as the chained begin to fight---tears fill the streets ----and the chains rattle against the rising waters of tears----no one dares to resist too hard but there is a sense that resistance is beginning----the haters stand on their balcony--covering their ears to sounds of chains----waters... of tears rising as the chained fear drowning-------there is no moses to part the waters mis amigos----there is only us-----the chains that bind are broken by courage---the courage to face the fearful and step over them ---for it is only their own fear that they guard---------stop reading and pick up the phone---call congress---write your local paper---people are hungry and people are sick----people are dying--

people are scared and people are dying
and
i am on facebook------

like cinderella
fearing midnight

fear
fuck fear
fight back

The Breath of Life by Peno Hardesty

gracias----come--we walk now----si---is dusk and the creations are singing---it is alright---that is only the old bald pig---he does not see well now---speak to him---he follows the voice---come---under the vines---they are fragrant--si?---listen---cicada----there---the owl---soon she will fly---now she shares our walk----is something wrong?---that is just the beating of your own heart---it has been a while since you have heard it---feel the earth beneath you--touch it--feel the bark of the cypress tree and hold the dangling moss close to you----look up--through the canopy as the darkness encircles us---feel the night ---here--put you hand in front of your mouth and feel your breath---become aware as your chest moves---feel it--experience it---life---your life---now give me your hand----close your eyes and concentrate on your own breath--feel it --experience it----warm breath against your hand--only this is the breath of the old bald pig---and my breath----and the breath of the night----life---the breath of life---all life.......................

Mabon 2013 by Barbara Carvallo

 

It is Mabon, the second harvest.  Many of you know this day as the Autumn or Fall Equinox.  This is the time we gather up our new wisdom born of learning and intuition from tiny kernels planted last year.   

The Great Mother, pregnant throughout the summer with the promise of harvest time, gave birth at Lammas to the first crop and the infant essence of a new temporal reality growing toward its childhood at the third and final harvest.  It is at Mabon that we gain the sight with which to recognize the child of the future.  For with some Witches sight is all.     

In the gorgeous glory of Fall, Goddess dons Her gown of russet and gold.  She will dance in mellow sun and creamy moonlight with the toddler whom She calls, Hope.  Her lullabies, sung by starlight, drift on the crisp night air alive with the smell of falling leaves, apples and wood smoke. 

Owl, Her precious familiar, waits at the edge of the veiled forest as Her gown darkens and She transforms into the Crone of Winter in black and royal purple.  Queen of the Witches, She protects the seeds of new life, growth and consciousness below the frozen hem of Her cloak as She and Her companion, the billowing North Wind, clear the way for the new vitality of Tulip Time and the April light of the Maiden Goddess.

As harvest season draws to a close, dressed in Her regal ebony and amethyst gown, She is robed for Samhain the third and greatest harvest. At that time She will begin to inform the new reality in preparation for its meeting with the Virgin Lady of Sunlight at its maturity.  For Her daughters as the Wheel of Life comes full circle at the end of October and the New Year, we will see the spiritual fruits grown from seed planted last Autumn along our path.  We will gather Her gracious bounty, scattering new seed for the next year as we go.  Thus is the Cycle of Life fulfilled in the words of the old ones, As Above So Below. 

Harvest Celebrations by Jackie B. Steele

 

 

 

Good Morning Good People,
Here in the North, The wild Grape vines & Sumak are starting to turn Bright red,
The Birch, Poplars & Aspen initiate their Autumnal golden glow. We have been in a drought, and the land was kissed by some rain, we were gifted. Earth & Sky join together in such bliss they wept, and the rains gently fell. While the trees & I sang songs of thank you, I wept in gratitude.
... Nearly equal night and day, in the Northern hemisphere we celebrate harvest and conclusions, (& sweatshirt weather!) while the Birds ready themselves to follow the Sun-star South, where they are planting the seeds of Springs renewal.
Embracing all of this,
Enjoy your Harvest celebrations,
I Love you and yours.

The Last Roses

 
This has been an extremely difficult season.  Gardening in Colorado is not for sissies under the best of circumstances, but the last two seasons we have had virtually no spring.  No spring means limited gestation of perennials, limited blooming and slow growth of annuals.  Add to this excessive heat, draught, the wind that follows it, and insects, not to mention rabbits and other burrowing creatures that I have not seen before in my gardens, and you have a disappointing and frustrating season.

Still as the Summer begins to cool, and the Autumn whispers with the chirping of crickets after sunset, Goddess sends a message. "I am here and always will be,"the blooming rose attests. Two of the last beauties of a season that saw so little of the rose: VaVoom – bright orange; Scentimental (so named for her rich, true rose scent) – red and white.

As Mabon, the 2^nd Harvest or Autumn Equinox approaches I hope for a better season next year.  I pray Goddess that the Winter will heal any damage done to Her green world by an brutal season.

This Year's Show

It has been a hard season.  Too little spring, too much heat, virtual no water and insects.  However, the gardener proposes and the Goddess disposes.  She always knows best.

America, I Answered by Peno Hardesty

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

----when one lives in a neighborhood that is predominately white the nice cops feel neglected---there are just not enough persons of colour to find suspicious---so the nice cops check their roster of CI and leave them folk alone and go out in search of those who are not on the "protect" list----there is the "red line" the list of persons who have spoken out against local law enforcement---the list of persons who do not support stand your ground---the list of persons who have equal sign bumper stickers----seems i am on one or more of the lists---my son and his fiance stopped by to bring me a bag of horse feed---i walked out past the gate to the side of the road to talk to them---the cop pulled up right behind----"step away from the car ma'm"---instinctively i put my hands out palms up---"are you alright?"--fine and you?---"what is your name?"---what are the charges?--"what is your name and what are you doing?"--my son came out of the car and offered the nice cop his license and the nice cop said thank you but he wasn't interested in him---i sent my son into the house to get my purse and showed the nice cop my license----it seems the nice cop thought it was a drug deal going down---just by accident he happened to be driving by--just by accident undercover were sent to the dem meeting and to the meeting against stand your ground not to mention my recent article in the paper----just by accident i noticed the bend in his elbow and mentioned it when my son told me to put my hands down and said that the nice cop was not going to draw his weapon---"new york or boston?" asked the nice cop-------america i answered----

Masterpiece

The photo just below is of Mount Sopris.  She is one of the most beautiful and often photographed peaks in the world.  South of Carbondale at the northwestern end of the Elk Mountain Range she is the pride of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, the jewel in the crown of the White Mountain National Forrest.   Majestically looking down upon the confluence of the Crystal and Roaring Fork Rivers she can be hiked or climbed, but no one no matter how rich or foolish will ever go sliding down her slopes on two sticks.

As one can see from looking at Mount Sopris drenched with afternoon light, dressed in ethereal indigo and faded, watercolor silver, the Mighty Rockies have a soul.  It was this soul that we Coloradoans protected years ago when we told the Olympic Committee to go to hell – the sight of children playing games in perpetuity was not justification for inflicting, as John Denver said, “More scars upon the land.”

In the dramatic granite canyons falling away sharply from the peaks one hears the Colorado River roaring through rapids and murmuring in placid meditation as she reflects the ruddy rocks that inspired the Spaniards to give my home the name Colorado or color red.  This is the voice of the High Country; a voice I hear often calling me out of the city to realize a new truth that can only come from the Earth.

The slopes and valleys glowing gold, green and terra cotta, splashed with every blush of wildflower in the light spectrum the human eye can perceive, are the heart of the immense boulder and clay barrier dividing the high planes from the high desert.  Such a heart with the nobility and graciousness that great artists, a Mozart or Monet, can only hope to approximate with note or brush beats inside of every pine and aspen. 

One cannot be in the bosom of the Colorado Mountains, listening to the voice of rivers and touching the soul of great summits without knowing the meaning of masterpiece.  We can appreciate it; under the influence of our darker angels we can destroy it, but for all our wretched arrogance and puerile greed we can never duplicate or achieve the magnificence that is my home – the Rocky Mountains.