I love the company of men. I find them as a general rule to be straight forward, outwardly competitive, and less likely to engage in drama. That being said, there are times in which I truly crave the isolated company of my lady friends; the warrior bitches and sacred mamas, who have seen me covered in my own tears and snot.
For years now, I have found myself congregating with my wise-women, during the heat of summer; for powerful, soul-moving work. Work that is not filled with deep planning and bullet point schedules, but is instead more of a wild-rumbus of magic, emotions, and intoxication. We come together to let our hair down, (or plate it into viking braids), have late night conversations by the light of a campfire, and to engage in the wildness of magic…the kind that oozes from one’s soul, when we are truly in sync with the universe and the natural world.
When it comes to magic of manifestation, I am not one for large crowds, and find myself put off by the glut of retreat weekends offered up. Not because I think they have no value, but more because I struggle to let down my guard when the numbers are high, and the people are not intimately connected. As a Psychic I often find myself overwhelmed in large groups, and immediately switch into the role of teacher/facilitator/counselor, making such weekends feel less about myself, and more about others. I feel the people who are holding back, the ones who are trying to hard, and the ones who are just barely holding themselves together, and I step into the role of caretaker. This takes away from my ability to focus on myself, and my personal work.
We must take time to know ourselves, and to cater to the needs of our soul. Lughnasadh for me is such a time.
Lughnasadh is the first of 3 harvest holidays in the Celtic Wheel of the year. (The Celtic Wheel of the Year consist of 8 holidays, equally spread out through the solar year) Celtic Wheel of the Year. Lughnasadh on a personal level is a celebration of the abundance of life, and the hopes and wishes of what is still in store. It is a time to step boldly into ones dreams, and reach for ones desires, while consciously being aware and thankful for all that we have received thus far. It is time of high-magic and potent manifestation.
I want magic to be tangible, titillating, and filled with wild abandon. I want to release myself to the Spirits of Nature, and be ridden by the bliss of an open Kundilini (complete chakra system). I want to know without a shadow of a doubt that the person standing next to me has my back, knows the value of holding secrets that are not theirs, and is also willing to ride the rapids of their dreams. I know it seems like a lot to ask, but it is not impossible.
It begins with intention, with the thoughts and desires to find and create such a community for oneself. The feeling of trust is necessary, for how are we to speak of our desires, goals and dreams while they exist in the vulnerable place of becoming, if we do not trust those we work with. Just like a newborn child, we must be careful who we entrust with the safety of that which we seek to manifest. We do not need know them for years on end, but we must know in our soul that they are worthy of such a duty.
Finding deep friendships, and feeling secure enough to let your wyrd out, is invaluable. In truth it does not require that participants should or shouldn’t be of the same sex as you. It has nothing to do with that at all. I just happen to like the feeling of empowerment that a group of ladies generate, when they come together as their bad-ass selves. Specially since I am a person who prides myself on not-doing manual labor. This is where I make the exception. I put up my own tent, I carry my own shit, I do all the things I prefer to let my husband do, and I do it in style.
When we step outside of our every day self…the self who likes a soft bed, and appreciates cooking in a kitchen with running water, lights, and a nice stove, we invite ourselves to become more. We are ignited by the flame of adventure, and find we are capable of more then we believe possible. The chill of the air, the layers of clothing, the roots poking up lightly under our yoga mat/sleeping bag, are all reminders to not get ‘too comfortable’, to stay aware, and to open our mind to the unseen.
This years weekend was all that I needed, and hoped for. The group has changed over the years, expanding and contracting to accommodate those who can and cannot make it. But the work remains essentially the same. We gather in hopes of fueling our dreams, and expanding our consciousness. We gather to support one another, and to step intentionally further onto our paths.
As a Druid and priestess of the Earth, much of my time was spent hugging trees, melding into rocks, and traveling astrally into holes in the ground & openings in the rock. I go into the forest to meet with the Fae Folk, the Spirits of Nature whom I consider friends and teachers. This weekend gave me ample time to do so, as we explored path ways in the Notch (Crawford Notch) that I had never been on. I found myself preparing for my trip to Northern Ireland, by meeting with stone beings/giants and reacquainting myself with those I had met before.
I know the idea of talking to Fairies, Trolls, and Giants can seem a bit far fetched. But only if you are imagining with Hollywood eyes. These beings exist in different dimensions then we do. They vibrate on different frequencies, and one must be open to experience them. Over the years my ability to do so has expanded, just as my ability to speak to the Dead has done so. The longer I do it, the more places I wonder, the more magic I see present in the world, the more beings I come to know as friends.
I find this to be important, as we are living in changing times. Times when the old ways of magic, and divination are returning. Expansion of consciousness is not just happening to those who seek it, but to those who stumble onto it as well. In truth it is far easier to assimilate to if we believe and accept. Our struggle with the term ‘reality’ can cause many a problems for the masses.
In the light of dusk on the last night of our weekend, we found our way into a cave in the rocks. It is a cave I have visited many times, one that has expanded physically over the years. What once could hold only two people close together, now holds 5 comfortably. Its expansion has been a thing of wonder to me, for it truly has grown both energetically and physically with use. In the darkness, and light of a small fire we spoke that which we meant to manifest into becoming. We connected to the nature beings that surrounded us, and opened ourselves into timelessness…we surrendered to the universe, got out of our way and became co-creators of our reality.
The rock walls around us vibrated, and pulsated with the energy generated by our voices and the solid beat of the drum. We became one with the moment of becoming, and let go…knowing that we had just impregnated something fantastic. We had seeded our dreams. The days leading up to the moment in the cave, were as important as the moment itself. For they were the building blocks, the invitations, and the call to arms necessary to step onto the path of the Spiritual Warrior. It was an exceptional moment of Spirit, and we were ready.
I know that which I have planted, must be tended. I cannot now forget it as it is still in need of tending. But that being said, I have full faith that my work is potent, and that which I seek to create is beautiful, powerful, and filled with integrity. I give thanks for the blessings of Lughnasahd, the first harvest.
LUGHNASAHD actually takes place on August 1st, so you have not missed the deadline. For those of you looking to create something magical yourselves this harvest here is a quick do it yourself idea.
YOU WILL NEED- a small fire (candle, campfire, raging bonfire, etc), a piece of paper and pen, any sacred items you like (crystals, feathers, holy symbols, etc), your voice.
Start by creating fire, as you do so welcome in your ancestors and imagine you are surrounded by a white light of protection. Sit comfortably in front of it and pick up your paper and pen. Make a list of that which you are seeking to become. If you are seeking self empowerment, examples may be…more confidence, find my voice, stand tall, value my intuition, etc.
With the list in hand, begin chanting your own name. You can elongate the vowels and turn your toning into more of a sacred song, or keep it short and sweet, building momentum over time. Hold onto your paper as you do so. Gaze into the fire, and let yourself relax into its light. Keep your vision soft, paying attention to that which appears in your peripheral vision. Continue chanting your name for at least 10 minutes. As you do so, imagine you are charging up the paper which you hold in your hands, charging up the dreams you hold.
When the energy feels full, stop…hold onto the energy and speak the words written on the paper aloud, with the force of fact. Then burn the paper, letting the words and intention go to the universe, where they begin their becoming.
Thank your ancestors, and close your protective circle.
Know that you must continue to tend your dreams, in order to grow them. Your magic is simply fertile ground, it aids in growth, but work is also necessary. We must care for and nurture that which we aspire to. We must believe in our dreams and work toward them, if we want to see them ripen.
I hope you enjoyed the read folks. Now go out and embrace your wild self, and make some magic!
spreading love-salicrow
Salicrow's Stories of Spirit 