Lammas Bread Blessing Bless the earth that grows the grain, Bless the water that gives us rain, Bless the wind that helps seed spread, Bless the fire that bakes our bread. – Words by Diane Baker, music by Anne Hill, Serpentine Music Lughnassadh (pronounced “LOO-nahs-ah”) or the Anglo-Saxon “Lammas,” is one of the Greater Sabbats … Read more
To Autumn by William Blake O Autumn, Laden with fruit, and stain’d With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit Beneath my shady roof; there thou may’st rest, And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe, And all the daughters of the year shall dance! Sing now the lusty song of fruits … Read more
PRAISE SONG by Barbara Crooker from Radiance Praise the light of late November, the thin sunlight that goes deep in the bones. Praise the crows chattering in the oak trees; though they are clothed in night, they do not despair. Praise what little there’s left: the small boats of milkweed pods, husks, hulls, shells, the … Read more
Peace of Sonoma County © Dana HawleyThe Love of OctoberW. S. Merwin A child looking at ruins grows youngerbut coldand wants to wake to a new nameI have been younger in Octoberthan in all the months of springwalnut and may leaves the colorof shoulders at the end of summera month that has been to the … Read more
Late Meadow with Full Moon© Therese DesjardinMeadow TurfJanet Lewis (1899 – 1998) Goldenrod, strawberry leaf, small bristling aster, allLoosestrife, knife-bladed grasses, lacing their roots, lacingThe life of the meadow into a deep embraceFar underground, and all their shoots, wet at the base,With shining dew, dry-crested with sun,Springing out of a mould years old;Leaves, living and … Read more
Once more the liberal year laughs out O’er richer stores than gems or gold: Once more with harvest song and shout Is nature’s boldest triumph told. — John Greenleaf Whittier Today is the Equinox, taken from the Latin for “equal night.” It is the Autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere, and the Spring equinox below … Read more
Virgo © Susan Seddon BouletThe Sun enters the sign of Virgo today! According to some traditions, we now enter into the Month of Isis, and the richest time of the creative and healing power of the Divine Feminine. We now enter in earnest the harvest season. Earthy Virgo is symbolized by the ear of wheat … Read more
Autumn, a Wood Path © Sanford Robinson GiffordAn Autumn Evening by Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874 – 1942)Dark hills against a hollow crocus skyScarfed with its crimson pennons, and belowThe dome of sunset long, hushed valleys lieCradling the twilight, where the lone winds blowAnd wake among the harps of leafless treesFantastic runes and mournful melodies. The … Read more
Autumn Song © Susan Tino SantilloSong for Autumnby Mary Oliver In the deep falldon’t you imagine the leaves think howcomfortable it will be to touchthe earth instead of thenothingness of air and the endlessfreshets of wind? And don’t you thinkthe trees themselves, especially those with mossy,warm caves, begin to think of the birds that will … Read more
In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.— William Blake Euphrosyne is our guide as we celebrate the harvest season and prepare for Winter’s barren time. Now, on the waxing young Moon, is a great time to start batches of magical potpourri to sweeten the closed-in Winter home in the days ahead. The … Read more