Beth Hymn of the Forests (excerpt)by Fiona McLeod (William Sharpe)We are the harps which the winds play,A myriad tones in one vast soundThat the earth hearkens night and day —A ceaseless music swaying roundThe whole wide world, each voiceful treeEchoing the wave-chants of the sea. For even as inland waves that moanBut break not ‘midst the … Read more
The Golden Tarot © Kat Black and US Games Systems Too many have dispensed with generosityin order to practice charity.— Albert Camus There are many opinions about how best to offer kindness to others. Should the giver remain anonymous? Or should the recipient be given a chance to honor the giver by knowing who it … Read more
Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice.Better than knowledge is meditation.But better still is surrender of attachment to results,because there follows immediate peace.— Bhagavad Gita (thanks to Greg for this reminder!)Last night, I watched the new reality show on Fox TV called, “The Secret Millionaire.” I have to admit that I am old enough to … Read more
The most exciting breakthroughs of the 21st century will occur, not because of technology, but because of an expanding concept of what it means to be human. — John Naisbitt, Megatrends 2000 Winter Solstice is three weeks away and, as in past years, my response to the holiday craziness is to shift the focus here … Read more
See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.— Helen KellerWinter Solstice is three weeks away and by now, we are all feeling the enormous pressure of the commercial juggernaut that surrounds us. But many of us are hurting from the economic crisis. And of course, the daily news is … Read more
Darkness is only driven out with light, not more darkness.— Martin Luther King, Jr.Tonight is the second night of our Solstice prayer-spell. Tonight, preferably around sunset, take a moment to create sacred space and a peaceful spirit for yourself and your family. When you are ready, light the first candle that you lit last week … Read more
Inversnaid— Gerard Manley HopkinsThis darksome burn, horseback brown,His rollrock highroad roaring down,In coop and in comb the fleece of his foamFlutes and low to the lake falls home. A windpuff-bonnet of fawn-frothTurns and twindles over the brothOf a pool so pitchblack, fell-frowning,It rounds and rounds Despair to drowning. Degged with dew, dappled with dew,Are the … Read more
There isn’t enough darkness in all the worldto snuff out the light of one little candle. — Siddhartha Gautama BuddhaIn case you’ve been traveling or overlooked it, this Sunday will be the second night of our Solstice Sun Wheel ritual. Even if you missed last Sunday’s first part, it is perfectly fine to start it … Read more
Dark of the MoonNew beginningsDark of the MoonPlant a seed tonightDark of the MoonWhat we envisionWill come to be by the Full Moon’s light. Today is Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. and a powerful New Moon in Sagittarius. As Caitlin Matthews points out in her beautiful The Celtic Spirit: Daily Meditations for the Turning Year, … Read more
Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go. — Brooks AtkinsonTomorrow is the New Moon, occurring just before noon, Eastern Standard Time. The lunation period that surrounds Samhain can be thought of as the Samhain season, during which … Read more