Tuesday, December 28, 2010

WHEW, GLAD THAT'S OVER ...


Mercury retrograde has been a bitch this time around. Full moon, lunar eclipse and planets lining up all at an already stressful time where so blatantly a pagan holiday has been taken over by a bully. Blah, blah, blah, I'm so glad the pressure is off, near completely off.
I can sleep again, the sleep of darkness, warmth and dreams. The deep sleep of winter. Sinking deep down into the rich dark earth and healing, dreaming. So many past issues regurgitated into December, my head still spins during my wakeful hours.
Today I return to my volunteer work for a local women's shelter that provides free services to women and children of abuse. Haven't volunteered since I was a teen and I'm glad I decided to do community service again. I had ( and still have sometimes) a hard time acclimating to the multiple egos that rear their ugly heads from the many volunteers. It's amazing to me that there are STILL office politics even when no one is collecting a paycheck. I stupidly thought since we were all volunteering our time we'd all be equals, my ridiculous utopian naivete shines again. My lesson is to figure a way to get women to work together. Patriarchy has ruled us for too long.
All in All, things are getting back to manageable again. I shall have a better plan in place for December next year. I had a beautiful Solstice but the "muggle" xmas thing wears me out, on many levels.
Happy hibernation !

Friday, December 10, 2010

TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE YULETIDE



Twas the night before Yuletide and all through the glen
Not a creature was stirring, not a fox, not a hen.
A mantle of snow shone brightly that night
As it lay on the ground, reflecting moonlight.
The faeries were nestled all snug in their trees,
Unmindful of flurries and a chilly north breeze.
The elves and the gnomes were down in their burrows,
Sleeping like babes in their soft earthen furrows.
When low! The earth moved with a thunderous quake,
Causing chairs to fall over and dishes to break.
The Little Folk scrambled to get on their feet
Then raced to the river where they usually meet.
“What happened?” they wondered, they questioned, they probed,
As they shivered in night clothes, some bare-armed, some robed.
“What caused the earth’s shudder? What caused her to shiver?”
They all spoke at once as they stood by the river.
Then what to their wondering eyes should appear
But a shining gold light in the shape of a sphere.
It blinked and it twinkled, it winked like an eye,
Then it flew straight up and was lost in the sky.
Before they could murmur, before they could bustle,
There emerged from the crowd, with a swish and a rustle,
A stately old crone with her hand on a cane,
Resplendent in green with a flowing white mane.
As she passed by them the old crone’s perfume,
Smelling of meadows and flowers abloom,
Made each of the fey folk think of the spring
When the earth wakes from slumber and the birds start to sing.
“My name is Gaia,” the old crone proclaimed
in a voice that at once was both wild and tamed,
“I’ve come to remind you, for you seem to forget,
that Yule is the time of re-birth, and yet…”
“I see no hearth fires, hear no music, no bells,
The air isn’t filled with rich fragrant smells
Of baking and roasting, and simmering stews,
Of cider that’s mulled or other hot brews.”
“There aren’t any children at play in the snow,
Or houses lit up by candles’ glow.
Have you forgotten, my children, the fun
Of celebrating the rebirth of the sun?”
She looked at the fey folk, her eyes going round,
As they shuffled their feet and stared at the ground.
Then she smiled the smile that brings light to the day,
“Come, my children,” she said, “Let’s play.”
They gathered the mistletoe, gathered the holly,
Threw off the drab and drew on the jolly.
They lit a big bonfire, and they danced and they sang.
They brought out the bells and clapped when they rang.
They strung lights on the trees, and bows, oh so merry,
In colors of cranberry, bayberry, cherry.
They built giant snowmen and adorned them with hats,
Then surrounded them with snow birds, and snow cats and bats.
Then just before dawn, at the end of their fest,
Before they went homeward to seek out their rest,
The fey folk they gathered ‘round their favorite oak tree
And welcomed the sun ‘neath the tree’s finery.
They were just reaching home when it suddenly came,
The gold light returned like an arrow-shot flame.
It lit on the tree top where they could see from afar
The golden-like sphere turned into a star.

The old crone just smiled at the beautiful sight,

“Happy Yuletide, my children,” she whispered. “Good night.”

Thursday, December 9, 2010

SING IF YOU FEEL IT !!!


SILENT NIGHT
Ellen Reed

Silent night, Solstice Night
All is calm, all is bright
Nature slumbers in forest and glen
Till in Springtime She wakens again
Sleeping spirits grow strong!
Sleeping spirits grow strong!


Silent night, Solstice night
Silver moon shining bright
Snowfall blankets the slumbering Earth
Yule fires welcome the Sun's rebirth
Hark, the Light is reborn!
Hark, the Light is reborn!


Silent night, Solstice night
Quiet rest till the Light
Turning ever the rolling Wheel
Brings the winter to comfort and heal
Rest your spirit in peace!
Rest your spirit in peace!


 
 
Gods Rest Ye Merry Pagan Folk




Gods rest ye merry Pagan folk,
Let nothing you dismay
Remember that the Sun returns
Upon this Solstice Day!
The growing dark is ended now
And Spring is on its way


O, tidings of comfort and joy!
Comfort and joy!
O, tidings of comfort and joy!


The Winter's worst still lies ahead
Fierce tempest, snow and rain!
Beneath the blanket on the ground
The spark of life remains!
The Sun's warm rays caress the seeds
To raise Life's songs again!


O, tidings of comfort and joy!
Comfort and joy!
O, tidings of comfort and joy!


Within the blessed apple lies
The promise of the Queen!
For from this pentacle shall rise
The orchards fresh and green.
The Earth shall blossom once again
The air be sweet and clean!


O, tidings of comfort and joy!
Comfort and joy!
O, tidings of comfort and joy!