Mind, Body, Spirit – Page 12

Autumnal Equinox

The magical moment arrives today as we roll into the autumnal equinox. The Wheel of the Zodiac brings us to the last day of earthy Virgo. We shift energies as the dawn rises tomorrow with the Sun in Libra. The plants and trees now send their life force down into the earth. The Wheel of the Year begins to paint the trees with colors. The lush green canopy changes to hues of crimson, copper and gold. The chipmunks and squirrels scurry to store acorns. The time has come to gather the crops from the fields. The hay will be cut once more. Wheat and grains are ready to be harvested. The pears and apples are ripe for picking. The splendid aroma of grapes fills the air. The bees have made clover honey this year. Mother Earth reminds us to appreciate the abundance around us. Enjoy the wine but plan ahead for the coming short days and long nights of winter.

Honor the season by making a display of the many gifts from Gaia. Put up a table of abundance with all the treasures from the garden. Set incense on the four corners and one in the sacred center to create a ritual of thanks for what we have grown. Make a few corn husk dolls and include them in the circle. In your own words, remember what has grown in the garden, and what has grown inside of you. It is time to give thanks and praise for our efforts. Remember to clean up the garden and take out what is no longer nourishing to us. The sunflower heads can be cut and dried for feeding the birds during the winter months. If you can keep the squirrels from munching on them, dry the heads out in the sun and store away. Turn over the garden soil and give it one more feeding before the chill sets in. Compost the clippings and celebrate the decay which turns the cuttings into the black gold prized by every gardener.

“Coldly, sadly descends the autumn evening. The field strewn with its dank yellow drifts of withered leaves and the elm fade into dimness apace. Silent, hardly a shout from a few boys late at their play.”

This poem from Matthew Arnold reminds us this is the time of the year when Persephone returns to the underworld to fulfill her bargain with Hades. And so, we go into the gathering darkness once again. Before the cold months come, set about taking care of your own spirits for the change of seasons. The loss of sun can diminish us internally. Before we slide into the doldrums, try out this Self-satisfaction spell from Judika Illes published in her tome the Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells:

For self love, to recognize your own beauty, wash your face with honey blended with rainwater.
Add your favorite perfume to a bath together with fresh flower blossoms (i.e., calendula, mum, and roses) and gently rub your body with flowers.
Gaze into a lunar charged mirror until you see the light shining from within

A little magic can be a fun way to chase away the blues. How often do we take a moment to pamper ourselves in such an intimate way. Magic is a sensual art. It asks us to remember who we are and delight in the beauty all around us.

Howe's Farm & Garden — Howe’s Farm & Garden

Hail the autumn! It is time for spiced apple cider, pumpkin carving and raking leaves. The time has come to gather our energies for the cold months ahead. We pause and release that which no longer fulfills us. Cut the roots that tie us to a way of thinking or being that holds us back. Cut those roots and prepare to grow new ones.

September Harvest Moon

All hail the splendid full harvest moon in Pisces. We reach the high point of the growing season when all the gifts of Mother Earth are ready for harvest. Our crops, flowers, herbs, trees and grasses want to go to seed. The Goddess Pomona feeds the animals, birds, insects and humans with her magical powers of growth. Massachusetts is in a drought and we see the leaves starting to change color already. The earth is dry, streams are long vanished, brooks trickle out and ponds are low. We need the refreshing cool rains to come soon. The fauna needs a deep drink before going into dormancy. Do a rain dance! Pray to the Goddess of Rain to bring gentle relief.

The owl’s hoot at the rivers in the twilight. The geese honk on their journey in the night sky. Birds are flocking together to depart for southern winter grounds. Hummingbirds are no longer about. Animals may be itching out their summer coats making ready for the cold months ahead. The air is fragrant with Concord grape. A surprise to find they made it to fruit this year.

There will be a lunar eclipse with this full moon in Pisces. Expect a dreamy state of mind for the next few days. Pisces are the sensitive souls on the Zodiac wheel. Fuzzy, emotional states will dominate. Now is a pleasant time for love and romance. The instinct to be together, comforted or excited is strong. It is okay to have different sensations of other beings at this time. Spirit guides and other non-corporeal beings are easier to feel now.

Harvest and store for the winter to come. Be in the light. Be a part of it all.

Full Blueberry Moon of August

The wheel of the year turns in sultry August. Native Americans called her the Moon When All Things Ripen. The gardens of Massachusetts are parched this season from a long dry spell. The clouds giving rain only recently have returned to replenish streams, brooks and waterways. The summer growing season is on the wane. Sunflowers start to droop their heads down towards the earth. Birds will flock earlier this year for migration. These seeds will fuel their reserves for the long flight ahead. Wildlife struggles in these times, remember the singing of the spring frogs and notice the crooking is missed as a sound of summer nights. Look for maple trees to throw off an abundance of seeds this fall. When weather conditions are uncertain, this is their way to be sure they will return someday. Nut trees will litter the forest floor as well.

The blueberries are ripe for picking. Squash, bean and melon are ready. Peaches suffered this year with a blossom killing frost in early spring. There is not a one in fruit this season in New England. The Green Corn Moon of August celebrates the corn mother. Be especially thankful for what we have at the table. Recognize the gift of corn by eating it and sharing kernels with wildlife. No small deed goes unnoticed by the Spirit of All Things. Now is a good time to ask the garden to give a little more. Native Americans customarily scattered corn meal around their gardens and homes asking the earth to be kind to them. As we approach Hurricane Season, perhaps this ritual can help manifest the karma that encourages the winds to be kind to the home and all the trees that surround us.

The moon is in the sign of Aquarius. There may be a need to be more informed at this time. Air signs always stimulate thinking. Be careful of the shadow of vanity and all about me thinking. Remember others with whom you share your world. Be grateful for kindness and don’t question the why, accept and be happy for the friends you have. Soften words when expressed and consider how you come across. Listen to what others have to say. Refrain from coldness in thinking and words. It only takes a word to tarnish a well meant moment and sour the wine of friendship.