Midsummer PBP Week 26

Pagan Blog Project Week 26

Midsummer

Rather than try to catch up from behind, I'm going to carry on from current and then just back post as I can until I'm caught up on the several weeks of posting I've missed. I've decided not to beat myself up about it, I'm just going to hike up my proverbial britches and carry on.

So. Week 26 it is.

June 21^st is considered the first day of summer in this part of the world. To me it is the middle. To each their own of course, but I shake my head (mentally) when I hear people going on about it being summer's beginning. I think of it as the top of the climb up and out of winter. The apex and summit of the roller coaster of the seasons. The longest day of light and the beginning of the slow slide back into darkness. I like the longest day and appreciate it, but I get a little sad too. I'm weird that way, I guess.

As I've written before I love fall, but I really don't care for winter. I live in an odd state to feel that way too. Colorado may boast 320 days of sunshine a year or some such, but winter is long here.

I lit candles on Midsummer and relished the light and warmth. I will light them again come mid-winter at Yule and miss the light and warmth.

One belief set holds that the twin kings, Oak and Holly share the year, with one ruling from mid-winter to mid-summer and the other ruling from mid-summer to mid-winter. Most of the stories I've read on it have them battling for dominance in an eternal struggle. I don't really prefer those. I like to think of it as their job, their task. One rules and the other rests. My opinion only. Every one's mileage varies.

I recently saw an article/blog post that stated that the Oak King and the Holly King were both different faces of Cernnunos. I'm not sure how that sits with me. I tend to dislike mixing my deities and making their names and faces interchangeable.

edited to add missing word

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween

Samhain Blessings

Ah the start of the holiday season.  Also the Pagan New Year to some of us.  I follow the typical calendar everyone else does for day-to-day living, but today is the spiritual year-end for me.  I haven't quite figured out if it's also the beginning of the next cycle or if there is an in between period of rest and reflection between here and Yule on December 21^st.  I don't really have anyone to ask either; I think it is something I will have to work out on my own.   I am leaning heavily toward a limbo of rest and reflection, though.

Since I am feeling my way down this spiritual path alone (and happily so), I don't do much outwardly.  I'm dressed like a punked-out Goth version of myself as I type this (*grins*) but that’s just dress up and playtime for Halloween at work.  

Tonight when I get home I will light a fire in my wood stove with more ceremony than usual.  I will light my candles and put them near the windows to light the way for those that need it and then I will venture out into the dark and bury apples for the dead.  I put one at the front  door and one at the back as an offering.  I say a quiet prayer of my own making and wish all who are able a smooth transition through the veil. 

I think of my loved ones who have passed on and remember them with love and light. That’s my Samhain.

Halloween in fun and candy and silliness, Samhain is for the soul. 

Blessings to you and yours,

~Jenn

(Clipart taken from the word program I wrote this in)

Thinking of Fall

Fall is my favorite time of year and Halloween is my favorite holiday, although I do love Thanksgiving too.  It isn't even August yet and I would swear that I can already feel Fall coming.  It's still hot during the day and everything is about as lush and green as Colorado can manage at this altitude, but I feel it.  Just the first faint tendrils around my ankles and against the back of my neck.  It makes me happy.

There is a woman whose blog I have followed for some time now and to her October is a holy month.  I agree with her on that, whole-heartedly, but September and November glow a little for me too. 

I follow the Wheel of the Year (in heart always, if  not always outwardly) and to me October 31st is the end of the year and the start of that in between dark, restful time until Yule.  I have more Halloween/Harvest decorations than Christmas/Yule ones and I keep them up as long as I absolutely can--some years I actually have to dust them before I pack them away again.

So right now it looks like this....

which is lovely, don't misunderstand me on that.

But soon it will look like this....

and the tang of wood smoke will fill the air and I'll get that sense of anticipation that always shows up in the Fall.  I hope that one day I'll understand what it is I'm anticipating.  It always feels like something is just around the corner and if I crane my neck just so I'll be able to see it.

Every year bright Fall fades into chill Winter and I get a sense of loss and let down like I missed it or was forgotten.  I am ever hopeful that this will be the year I figure out what it means. It doesn't mean I enjoy Fall any less though. 

Even if it is only the end of July and August lays ready to pounce.