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Sept 22,
2004
...and a
Happy
Thanksgiving
it is!
(Mabon,
second
harvest,
is our
time of
Thanksgiving)
During
this time
in old
agricultural
times, the
first
harvest
from the
tended
fields was
pretty
much
packed
away
(although
more would
continue
to come in
until
Halloween)
and so
sustenance
through
the coming
winter was
assured
and that
was truly
something
for which
to give
thanks.
The
supplemental
harvest of
wild
berries,
nuts and
apples and
knowing
that was
coming
gave
reason for
a joyful
celebration.
Mabon was
a time for
giving
thanks for
what we
have been
given this
harvest
year and
the
wonderful
"unknown"
wild
things
that were
to come.
Second
harvest
continues
on until
Halloween
(Samhain
to us) and
after
that,
anything
remaining
in the
fields and
forests
was
considered
to be
unusable
and
wouldn't
be
touched.
It
belonged
to the
land, not
to us.
November
1st began
the fallow
where we
learn to
let go of
expectations
and
predispositions
and allow
the
Universe
to take
its hand
in things
while we
turn
inward for
the dark
of the
year.
It's an
introspective
and
soul-searching
time that
is to be
valued,
not
feared.
The dark
of the
year is a
scary
prospect
to people
who depend
on
external
distractions
and
busy-ness
to keep us
from
focusing
on the
voices
within and
the dark
corners of
our lives.
If we use
this time
of year to
clean the
closets,
so to
speak, it
allows us
to emerge
cleansed
and bright
into the
upcoming
light of
the year.
I think
that's why
there are
so many
suicides
this time
of year.
I've head
of four in
the past
two weeks.
As we move
into the
dark of
the year,
many
people
move into
the dark
of the
spirit.
Harvest is
also a
time of
intense
evaluation.
What do I
have?
What do I
not have?
What do I
need to
get
through
the coming
(cold)
months (of
winter
when there
is no crop
in the
field) and
can I bear
to go into
the
treacherous
cold
without
it?
Do I have
enough in
the larder
(so to
speak) to
carry me
through?
Some
aren't
ready for
the
introspection
and
internal
dialog
that is
coming in
the darker
months.
Self-evaluation
can be
terrifying
and
forbidding.
We all
have dark
sides that
must be
dealt with
in order
to
continue
on as
healthy
and
balanced
people.
Acceptance
and
understanding
of our
dark self
is an
important
process
that is
amplified
in the
dark of
the year
and that
only comes
with a
detailed,
objective
study of
who and
what we
are in
this
world,
inside and
out.
Even
though our
human
lives are
no longer
set up to
focus
around the
agricultural
year, we
still have
an
internal
clock that
is set by
the ridges
worn into
time by
our
ancestors
so many
years
before we
were ever
conceived.
As humans,
we are
cyclic and
although
our eyes
tell us
that life
is no
longer all
about
working in
the fields
and
hunting in
the
forests
for our
survival,
our
internal
collective
knowledge
keeps us
on that
path.
We "hunt
and
gather"
from the
grocery
store and
forage for
paychecks
in the
wild.
We still
feel a
kinship to
the
security
and
intimacy
of ritual
and
tradition.
We still
seek a
kinship
with the
powers
that are
bigger and
more
complex
than we
are.
No matter
what our
spiritual
path might
be, we
still seek
out a
kinship
and
communication
with the
Divine so
that They
might live
with us in
our hearts
and walk
with us
through
our days.
Whether
it's a
fairy tale
that makes
us feel
less alone
and gives
meaning
and
purpose to
our
existence
or really
is part of
an
intricate
and sacred
plan woven
into
history
and time
and
extending
forward
beyond
what we
can see
from our
human
perspective
is
irrelevant.
The fact
is that it
makes us
feel
better.
It lifts
us up to
our
highest
and best
self and
creates a
joy and
peace that
is
unmatched.
When we
tune into
the flow
of nature
and
encounter
what we
perceive
God to be
and
welcome
that into
our life,
it gives
us a whole
new
perspective
on the
world and
onto
ourselves.
Maintaining
a
hardwired
connection
to that
God-presence
is the
goal and
once that
is
achieved,
no matter
what our
external
situation
might be,
we
experience
a sense of
heaven on
earth.
The
natural
cycles of
things are
one of the
ways to
make that
connection,
particularly
if you
believe
that
nature is
all about
God and
humans
merged
into a
vibrant
dance of
life and
experiences.
Mabon is
our time
to
celebrate
that
connection
and the
harvests
that come
into our
lives to
sustain
and please
us.
(I doubt
it's any
accident
that most
food
tastes
good,
telling me
that we
are meant
to enjoy
our lives
and the
means that
allow that
life to
continue.
The opiate
sensors
and
receptors
in our
brains
that must
be
stimulated
with
pleasurable
experiences
in order
for us to
thrive are
proof
positive
that as
humans,
joy is one
of our
requirements
for life.
We are
actually
programmed
to
constantly
seek out
our
greatest
good, our
finest joy
and our
ultimate
bliss.
We need
hugs and
love and
fun and
excitement
in our
life on a
biological
basis!
How cool
is that!
I have so
much for
which to
give
thanks
this year.
If I
started
listing
things,
even just
the
highlights,
we'd be
here all
day.
I am
joyful.
I am
thankful.
One of
those
wonderful
blessings
in my life
are you
folks who
share this
world with
me.
When I
meet with
my group
on
Saturday
(because
after all,
we have to
forage and
hunt and
gather
through
the week),
we will
have
traditional
thanksgiving
turkey
after a
riverside
ritual
celebrating
the flow
of life
through
all things
and
welcoming
the coming
second
harvest
while
giving
thanks for
the bounty
of the
first
harvest.
Each of
you will
be in my
heart and
I will
give
thanks
that you
are with
me,
sharing
life and
connecting
for a few
minutes
now and
then,
using the
amazing
gift of
technology
to weave a
web of
friendship
that
defies
geography
and
complex
schedules.
Without
technology,
we'd never
know one
another
and our
lives
would only
touch in
the widest
of ripples
that we
might
never
recognize.
Now,
because we
were
blessed to
be born
into this
moment in
time, we
can know
one
another
and be
further
blessed
with the
friendships
we might
not
otherwise
experience.
Yep.
Life is
good.
As Sage
used to
say... "Feelin'
the love."
Yesterday
was a
qualified
success.
I didn't
get the
kids' room
done or
the
clothes
put away,
but I got
validation
on an
inner
urging.
On
Saturday,
I'd been
at Walmart
looking at
their
portable
shampooers,
which are
like
dustbusters
that
shampoo.
I was
going to
have to
lay out
around $40
on one,
when I got
the nudge
(which
almost
shoved me
into the
shelf) to
try my
Hoover
Spinmatic
(or
whatever,
not sure
what it's
called)
shampooer
for the
carpets on
the
upholstery
and
stairs.
("But I
don't have
the
attachment
hose!"
"But it
didn't
work last
time!"
*whine*whine*)
*nudge*
*sigh*
No new toy
today.
Tried
yesterday
and very
quickly
found the
hose and
brush
attachment
in the
closet
under the
stairs.
Tried to
set it up
and again,
nothing.
Decided to
just clean
the
shampooer
and do the
carpets
when WHAT
to my
WONDERING
eyes
should
appear but
a set of
instructions
on the
inside of
the
reservoir.
That
showed me
the
connection
I was
missing, I
set it up
and the
thing
worked
like a
pro.
It was
better on
the
upholstery
than on
the
carpets!
(thank
God).
It took me
an hour
and a half
to do the
couch and
although
it didn't
get
everything,
the couch
is now
ivory
again
instead of
taupe.
;o)
It looks
so much
better.
I also got
the stairs
done with
the same
attachment
and went
on to the
carpets.
Today, I
have to
move on to
the things
I didn't
get done
yesterday,
plus get
Dylan
started on
his new
week of
school
work.
Our bean
plant
died, so I
don't have
to have
him draw
it and
chart its
progress
any more.
Silly
school
should
know not
to have
kids plant
during
harvest.
Pfft.
Have to
give
Delena's
room
another
once over
and once
the kids'
room and
clothes
are
finished,
I'll have
a clean
house!
WHOOOO
HOOOO!
Of course,
that will
last for a
solid ten
minutes or
so, but
hey!
It's
something
at least.
Sadly,
there
won't be
any
witnesses
(who are
over 18
and who
therefore,
give a
shit at
all).
I'd take
pictures,
but Eric
would
accuse me
of
doctoring
them.
If I don't
get
started
now, I
won't even
make the
10 minute
margin!
:)
Take care,
all,
Katrina
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