Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Fire is


strength desire cleansing
motivation self motivation
energy dance motion change
transition rebirth

I decided to restudy the elements. When I mulled over where to start I began thinking about the seasons. I'm all for tying things in together. All things must be related in one form or fashion. Which lead me to connect Summer with Fire. Here in Arizona the summer is so hot it feels like fire. A fry an egg on the asphalt kind of hot. A heat wave rising from the street kind of hot. A burn your hand on the steering wheel kind of hot. A stay in the sun too long and your skin will begin to melt kind of hot. All that relates to the heat of fire kind of hot.

However, as I concentrate on bringing Fire into my life, breathing in the energy, studying, discovering and working with it, I realize that their was an underlying reason I picked this particular element at this point in my life.

It is the change that I so desire. The motivation that I need to follow through. The constant movement to keep me focused. Giving me the strength to burn away that which is no longer wanted. To be reborn. Renewed.

Monday, August 11, 2008

This is the Time of Fire

There is a time of Water and a time of Wind.
This is the time of Fire, and Fire eats time.
The sands of the desert are uncountable!
Let go of the reckoning! Let go of time!
Let go of rain! Let go of forgiving!

Fire eats rain and Fire eats trees. Fire eats
The leaves of corn. Fire is the grain and the husk
Of corn. Fire is the raging of Water. Fire is the roar,
the hum, the sting of Wind. Fire is the pepper pulsing
from the flower. Fire is the frenzied volcano dancing.
It is the lightning's blitz, the drumming, the singing,
The beat of tribes, telling their story all night,
Piercing the bottom of dark, birthing the light.

Fire is the Earth exhausted, folding, sleeping
from days and nights of love, 'til there is no counting.
When flowers bleed, when lions sleep, when angels sigh, oh bleed, oh
sleep, oh sigh then! Oh, burn with mountains!
When leaves flame and fall to the ground,
When grass grows brown then gray, grieve not.
Grieve not, but follow the eagle and follow the grass.

Weep not for the Earth. Weep not for the corn.
The Earth is the lover who gives all to love.
The Earth makes a bed of Love and the Sun knows.
The Earth makes a table of Love and the Fire knows.
The Earth feeds Fire. The Earth gives all to Love.
Follow the Earth. Look beyond your eyes as you go!
Follow the Earth to the beat of the Fire!

Elaine Maria Upton



Friday, August 1, 2008

Lammas

Lammas is the first harvest celebration of the year. In the world of agriculture it is the slight leanings towards Autumn. The giving life of the sun is diminishing and darkness is slowly rolling across the skies. What was planted is now in full bloom and the reaping of what was toiled begins. It is the harvest of wheat that is celebrated at this Sabbat. Warm loaves of bread are baked and wheat stalks are entwined for Magickal decorations. A celebration of bountifulness commences and the Gods are thanked for all the blessings that are given.

I have always had a hard time with the harvest festivals. City girls completely removed from the cycles of Mother Earth usually do. Although I know more now of the growing seasons I am still the reaper of plants and prefer to purchase my food instead of grow/kill it. And what makes this years wheat harvest even more horrid to celebrate is the fact that I am now wheat free. So what is left to celebrate?

Most "Urban Witches" fall back on the bounty in their lives. Reaping the blessings of their planted desires from Springs Equinox. Fruitions of desired health, wealth, love and family. I, however, am careful not to plant these seeds in the Spring in fear of what may come of them. A hearts desire may not match that which is written. And what of the sacrifices that will be made for these requests? For even wishes must be paid for.

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Yet here I sit on this barren ground. There are no whispering winds to carry my dreams upon. No deep fertile soil to nourish my roots. No thirst quenching water to nourish my soul. No life giving sun to light my way. Perhaps I have over toiled this plot in my life. Leaving me tired, empty and fruitless.

And then I found this:

"There is a time of beginning, a time
of growth, a time of being, a time of withering or wearing out, and a time
of leaving. This is all part of the perfection of life. I sense it as normal
and natural, and though saddened at times, I accept the cycle and rhythms.
Sometimes there is an abrupt ending in mid-cycle."

............and it brought me back to the reality of life. I then realized that I am stuck here. Have been for awhile. I suppose it is because I haven't yet figured out how to transition into this. In the past it has always been a physical move. Away from people, places and things. Shedding the old life for a new one. Now I need to learn how to transition without the help from the physical realm. Relying completely on the spirit within. And perhaps the change within will change the physical and my life will be fertile and in bloom once again.