I'm hanging out on my screenporch this morning as I type. It is overcast, and we desperately need rain (I observed earlier when I noticed my astilbes' leaves are shriveled and dry). Sounds around me include the very first fall of hickory nuts from the trees, and lots of chatter from red and gray squirrels (namely because predatory animals and birds abound around here in the morning, such as fox, and Cooper's and Red-tail hawks). Their chatter is matched only by the ruckus of grackles as they fatten up at the feeders in time for their fall migration. A small flock of Canada geese, perhaps fleeing from gunshot out on the bay, flew directly over the roof of our house in their classic V formation. Maybe they're heading for safety elsewhere. Hopefully. A Pileated woodpecker just announced it's presence with a loud, sudden call, and there's a Blue jay boisterously moving around and about.
Fall. It's just about here, for me. The fire pit stands poised and ready to go at a moment's notice. (Well, almost at a moment's notice. I'd need time to dismantle the teepee of wood in the middle of it to make sure no little toadies or wolf spiders were nestled deep inside it.) We made this pit when we built the house 10 years ago. A little lift from a professional landscaper a few years ago helped make it a bit less basic when four blocks of granite were added, not to mention a circle of pea stone that really defines the space. Last year two friends joined me for a fire and celebrating Samhain (pronounced sow-inn); a beautiful, spiritual night was had by all. We each burned papers on which we had written habits or restrictions that we no longer wanted in our lives. We took turns giving thanks to all and everything we could think of (we took all night, let me tell you!). We embraced the powers of the night sky. We laughed. We gazed.
We began the evening's "ceremony" with a cleansing of white sage. Actually, we really began the evening with dinner and wine, but who's counting! Each block of granite, positioned in one of the four primary compass points (also known as four of the seven Sacred Directions), was decorated accordingly. Being a Leo (fire), I took the south rock and adorned it with deep scarlet reds and golds; trinkets included a little red and gold Queen's crown given to me from a friend who had visited England, toy snakes, cloves and rosemary. My friend, Marie, a Pisces (water), was at the west-facing rock and decorated it with blues and sea greens, shells, sea glass and herbs from her garden. Friend Liz, a Virgo (earth), had the north-facing rock, which she covered with a gorgeous shawl and adorned with small stones, acorns and a bell. Lacking a fourth friend (for this occasion, that is!), we each contributed to the east-facing rock, and honored its element, air, with feathers and incense. We also set candles out.
I love autumn, and particularly October, and I got the idea for this little ceremonial pagan fire from various sources, all of which I have collected over the years, but the Circle Sanctuary site was the most influential. I also own a couple of interesting books on the subject of honoring the earth, the Divine, and pagan celebrations. A few titles include:
'Celebrating the Great Mother' by Cait Johnson and Maura D. Shaw
'The Witches' Sabbats' by Mike Nichols
'Moon Magic' by Lori Reid
'The Mythic Tarot' by Juliet Sharman-Burke and Liz Greene (given to me 24 years ago by a boyfriend for my 21st birthday!)
'The Celtic Lunar Zodiac' by Helena Paterson
'Pagan Homeschooling' by Kristin Madden
'Sharing the Joy of Nature' by Joseph Cornell
'The Education of Little Tree' by Forrest Carter (one of my all-time favorite stories).
One other book that comes to mind is John Steinbeck's 'To a God Unknown.' I think I got that from my father. Or might have come from a yard sale, not sure. :~/
So why all this spiritual splatter on the pages of my cooking blog? Well, we are fast approaching that time of year when the oven comes into play a lot more frequently; when apple trees are abundant with fruit and farm poultry are being nourished for slaughter; when the colors of our root vegetables match the leaves of the trees outside; and, well, when family and friends come together for good harvest meals and juicy red wines. This stuff is all on my mind, so why not write about fall and the upcoming celebrations that we'll soon be enjoying? Our nights have been pretty darn cool (which I also love), my tomato plants have finished producing fruit, and while today has turned out to be a pretty warm, if not a hot, late summer day (a few minor distractions have led me to taking more than 5 hours to write this post), I feel like it's time to embrace the change in the seasons. Besides, food, fall, food...what's the diff? :~)
Gotta love freestyle writing! And crafty photoshopping...
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| The most use my firepit had seen in months was by these crazy turkeys last year. Just fyi, they are not a photoshopped addition! :~) |
