Confession: I’ve never been into New Year’s as a spiritually potent time, not like I’m into the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarters, because it always seems like an arbitrary date, unconnected to the power of season. Yet it is a social … Continued
Ritual weaves the felt strands of connection between earth, spirit, and us humans at sacred places. Perhaps my favorite rituals on this trip to Ireland involved pilgrimaging to four ancient stone circles (c. 2,500 BC) that are aligned to the … Continued
In southwest Ireland there are many beautiful islands in Roaringwater Bay, the homeland of my O’Driscoll ancestors. We took the small red and white ferry to Sherkin Island to make a little pilgrimage to Cow Strand. I had fallen in … Continued
On the wheel of the year Lughnasa is the cross-quarter point between Summer Solstice and Fall Equinox. Lughnasa began at a time when pre-Celtic peoples were very aware of the cycles of the sun. They had to be because they … Continued
At Beltane we make contact with the Inspirited Earth through rituals that embody such archetypes as circle and center, world tree, the dance of masculine sun and feminine water, and the sacred marriage of the King with the Goddess who … Continued
Another theme of the evening was about the archetypal theme of hibernation and re-emergence as metaphor for the life-death-rebirth initiatory process as symbolized by Snake, Groundhog, and Bear. We saw this Black Bear at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. . … Continued
Ah, the night was perfect for our Samhain Celebration! Clear, cold, and still. It was new moon and the time had just fallen back, so it was very dark. There were a million stars, and the Milky Way, in some … Continued
A big cheer for the many celebrants who braved the light rain to come out to our Beltane Pilgrimage to the Sacred Spring, Maypole Dance, and Fire Ritual. . . Our theme was the Sacred Marriage, the fertility and creativity … Continued
The weather was a perfect combination of wintery enough for this celebration of welcoming the return of the sun, yet warm enough to make the pilgrimage to the pond, with torch fire and drumbeat. . .We made little magnolia leaf … Continued
Happy Halloween/Blessed Samhain and All Soul’s Day! Favorite moments: Burning of the Maypole prayer ribbons. When the still beautifully woven maypole ribbons were laid out encircling the firepit, they looked for all the world like the shed skin of a … Continued