Welcome August 1 2024

 

As the months turn from July into August, the feeling of harvest becomes a reality.  Pickings are available for different berries through to the first beans and peas. In some places, early corn is ready. 

Our Celtic Ancestors celebrated the festival of LAMMAS on August first.  Some call it the festival of the new bread.  This is because in some areas, the first wheat crops are ripe and ready to harvest.  The feasting celebrates the Goddess for her goodness in ensuring a great harvest.  Stalks of wheat and ears of corn are offered as tributes to her generosity.  

In Aboriginal cultures through North America, the Green Corn Ceremony is celebrated.  Dancing and feasting and offerings to Great Spirit are made to ensure the ongoing abundance of corn, beans and squash.  Mature corn that is ready to roast is the signal for the start of this celebration. 

Our Ancestors also believed that with this festival, souls who had not moved on, that is, souls that are stuck on Earth, were given the opportunity, by the generous nature of the Goddess, to move on to the higher dimensions. 

Blessings,

Judy

Garter Snake Tells Us to be Grounded

 

This picture is from www.reptilerange.com, and is not the snake that I saw.

I was walking in Fish Creek park and enjoying the trees and the breeze, when my dog stopped.  His ears went up and he backed up.  Before us on the path was a coiled Garter Snake.  He had not seen one before and was very wary.  Where I grew up, garter snakes were common and did a great job of keeping the mice and rat population under control.  This guy, coiled up on the path, obviously wanted to talk.  Here is the condensed version of the message.

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The Garter Snake (GS) inhabits Fish Creek park and the surrounding park areas that angle off the rivers.  It works to be invisible so that it does not frighten people, and so that Hawk or Crow does not find it, and eat it.

GS lives close to the ground, and that, it says, helps it to stay grounded and in the now moment.  GS is known for its gentleness, and for the affection and attachment it may form with some people or some animals.

GS recommends following these guidelines for grounding.

• Pick a warm spot to ground in.  Cold makes you slow down and makes grounding more difficult.
• Make sure that the spot you pick is safe.  Perhaps travel around the area that you will be using and sprinkle musk, like we do, and keep out other animals.  Or, you may  create sacred space in your own way.
• Get comfortable in your space.  Close your eyes.  Coil inward.  Let your energy drop down into the ground. 
• Plan to bask for at least fifteen minutes in the warmth and grounding.  You will feel so refreshed!

May you be grounded each day!

Blessings,

Judy

It Is About Singing Your Song

 

The other day, while shopping, I heard a three year old singing the most delightful little song.  Her mother quietened her by saying, “No one wants to hear you sing!”  The little girl was crushed!  Then, the two were lost in the crowd.

Years ago when I had a consulting business, I had an unconscious habit of humming while I worked.  The consultants and staff would ask me to stop because they could not concentrate.  Fair enough!  I stopped humming.  Now, I only hum and sing if I am completely by myself. 

I wonder how many of us have lost our voice along our journey because others hushed us.  The strange thing is that music and song are made to be shared. 

I hope that you sing and hum, and add a little dance to your music!  I will listen.

Many blessings,

Judy