© Jane Dahmen – Maine Fall I am rich today with autumn’s gold, All that my covetous hands can hold; Frost-painted leaves and goldenrod, A goldfinch on a milkweed pod, Huge golden pumpkins in the field With heaps of corn from a bounteous yield, Golden apples heavy on the trees Rivaling those of Hesperides, Golden … Read more
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;Conspiring with him how to load and blessWith fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core… — John Keats, To Autumn As the season of Samhain fades with the waning light … Read more
Quoted on Samhain, but presented in its splendid entirety for you today. We Have Come to Be Dancedby Jewel MathiesonWe have come to be danced Not the pretty danceNot the pretty pretty, pick me, pick me danceBut the claw our way back into the bellyOf the sacred, sensual animal danceThe unhinged, unplugged, cat is out … Read more
KING ARTHUR IN AVALON Sara Hammond Palfrey (1823-1914)King Arthur sailed along a sea unknown.Met him the misty Night, and drew him inUnto the cherishing shelter of her breast.He glided onward toward the land of rest.In his parched throat, his burning thirst was drownedBy draughts of coolness, brought by hands unseen. Upon his long-lost mother’s lap, … Read more
The plum tree, dwindling, contains less of the spring;But the garden is wider, and holds more of the moon.— Zen saying Yesterday, I suggested that you consider the wisdom of our Ancestors who observed this as the New Year (instead of at the end of the Saturnalia/Christmas/Hanukkah/Yule revelries). The veil is now at its thinnest, … Read more
The Wheel of Time turns, and we are now in the magical period that ancient Celts and modern Witches call Samhain. Traditionally celebrated on Halloween, the actual cross-quarter day is Nov. 7 this year. During this time, the Veil that lies between the living and the departed, and between what is past, present and future … Read more
©The glorious art of Willow ArleneaWe have come to be dancedNot the pretty danceNot the pretty pretty, pick me, pick me danceBut the claw our way back into the bellyOf the sacred, sensual animal danceThe unhinged, unplugged, cat is out of its box danceThe holding the precious moment in the palmsOf our hands and feet … Read more
Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.— Exodus 22:18 On this day in 1985, the American House and Senate dropped the “Helms amendment,” which would have barred the IRS from granting tax-exempt status to groups that promote Witchcraft. And on this day in 1998, less than ten years ago, the Vatican finally took responsibility … Read more
A Harvest Idylby John Greenleaf Whittier For Susanna Martin I call the old time back: I bring my layin tender memory of the summer dayWhen, where our native river lapsed away, We dreamed it over, while the thrushes madeSongs of their own, and the great pine-trees laidOn warm noonlights the masses of their shade. And … Read more
LATENTby Michaela Sefler Lying latent withinboundless;without limitation,sleep full existence.For debt of the livingwho can surpassfor creation has myriad of layersand adequate living begets a crown. And deep inside creative forces remain;every drop can remindof the life intendedas heat and motion are manifestations. Five, seven then eightaccumulating into tenscomplete entitiesThey survive.Tribal completionslending their willor their kindis … Read more