| Autumn Magic Autumn magic marks the time That grapes are cut from twisted vines, Grains are stored to harvest songs and Horns of Plenty beg us come... Shedding leaves of gold appear Spirits of the West draw near Mountains merge with sunset lines as elders whisper ancient rhymes Sweet-grass smokes on cooling nights Cauldrons burn in banishing rites the Labyrinth swirls with healing hums as prayers flow to trancing drums Skies grow dark with mystery as magic spells start flying free Crackling sparks from fires blow as sisters dance in moonlight glow Dream-time brings a soulful sleep as stars reflect on oceans deep Mystic shadows cloak the Earth Old ones yearn for new rebirth When all is still and quiet begins We stop to rest and go within And on her lap we'll rock awhile Letting go with grateful smiles... Many Blessings in the Fall Season... Love...Granny Silverwitch |
Autumn Equinox Autumn Equinox is sometimes called the Feast of Thanksgiving. It is marked when the Sun enters the cardinal air sign of Libra. Now the waning light of day hangs in balance with the dark of night, bringing the forces of day and night, light & dark, into equal balance... This Holy Day has been called Mabon, Festival of the Final Harvest, or the Witches' Thanksgiving. It was celebrated when our ancestors harvested grapes to make wine or when they cut, milled or stored nuts corn, wheat & other grains to sustain life through the upcoming wiuter. Just as the Spring Equinox brings forces of dark & light into balance before the incoming light prevails & spurs us into action... the Fall Equinox brings forces into balance once again before incoming darkness prevails... taking us into a quieter time of relaxation, introspection, reflection, release, a time to give thanks as we prepare for darker days of winter ahead. In ancient myths... the Goddess & God are now being separated, for he sails over western seas to finally descend to the underworld while she goes on without his warmth & becomes Crone of winter. In some myths, the seed from the harvest containing energy from Sun now enters the womb/tomb of the Earth Goddess for gestation, marking his descent into the shadows and eventual rebirth at Yule. In other myths, the sacrifice of the sun god prevails, then he sinks into the living sea-womb of our Ancient Mother only to resurrect again at Spring Equinox when his light overcomes darkness again. There are similar myths of descent & transition in Dianic Tradition. One is when Persephone, daughter of Demeter, descends to the under- world, gains deeper wisdom, resurrects as Kore and returns to her grieving goddess mother at the Spring Equinox. Another is when the Sumerian queen of heaven, Inanna, journeys to the underworld to meet her sister Ereskigal, embracing her "shadow" in the process, & returning to the light with deeper acceptance of her divine nature. Of course, all anciet myths carry greater significance... but each mirrors the Autumn season & our descent into the dark shadows, for it is not only a time of cutting or reaping crops for storage but for reaping & thanking what we have sown in our lives as well. In Women's Traditions, Fall mirrors the mystery of menopause, or moon-pause, when our blood stays within to empower us as we age & to strengthen us in our third destiny of life. On the sacred wheel... it mirrors the time of the Wisewomen... the Crone who laughs aloud & speaks her truth without fear, the Old One who snips away all that no longer needed or useful, the Grandmother who passes her wisdom to future generations, the Hag, keeper of sacred knowledge and deeper mysteries, the Gatekeeper who holds open the door to all magical ways, the Witch with power to bend or shape consciousness as alchemist who magically transforms ordinary reality... the Healer with gifts of herbal potions & medicinal remedies... the Seer with magical gifts of insight and prophesy.... the Visionary who holds a higher vision for Humanity. Autumn Equinox honors the Earth Goddess as destroyer, for all must be cleared away to make room for the new; all must fall away to rise up again; all must die to be reborn. Our Fall Rituals include Croning Ceremonies to honor Sisters in our Circle who are entering the third destiny of life. Our rituals also focus on going deep within... healing, banishing, releasing, reflecting & cutting away all that no longer serves our lives. Autumn is magical time... for it brings us into a restful season, a season of reflection, introspection, gratitude and thanksgiving, along with the serenity of accepting the things we can't change. This is also a time to relax, to enter the caves of our inner world, to spiral in and out of the sacred Labyrinth for contemplation... or trance journey to the dream time realms for deeper insight... to give thanks for the wisdom gained from life's experience. It is a time to retire, enjoy, appreciate and reminisce. Please join us in the Circle for our Fall Celebrations! All Women are Welcome! Blessed Be |
| * Some Artwork is from The Goddess Oracle by Amy Sophia Marashinsky and Hrana Janto |
What Shall I Be? What shall I be, when I shall be old? Shall I be withered shear like a falling leaf brown and wrinkled, fragile. Careful now, a sudden step might create a barely visible pile of dust. Shall I instead be fresh & green, born of spring rain and gusty winds, a moment of promise? I shall be something in between, neither new nor old, neither brown nor new born green... I shall be scarlet orange & gold, Still passionate, Yearning to live and learn, with knowledge to impart if there be one to listen I shall not know when I shall be old, only that one day, I shall no longer be... Esther Sundel |
The Old Ones When Autumn comes I rest awhile to watch the leaves with wistful smiles the wind blows soft to lift them free while letting go of mother tree They swirl & twirl through wisps of air then drift and dance without a care In flowing sweeps they tease & please then fall to Earth with grace and ease They rest like blankets on the ground or pile on grasses all around but when the snow of winter comes they turn to compost, every one They mime the fate of aging ones That frolic free 'til life is done Enjoying love in truth & grace with silver hair or wrinkled face For things aren't that important now that once showed worry on the brow the hands of time have set them free to bask in cherished memories And when they rock or sit a spell their wisdom pours with tales to tell as bony fingers point the way to places where they laughed & played With swiftness gone & movements slow they take the time to ebb and flow They nap in cushioned garden chairs or drift in dreams without a care The aging ones are precious crones that venture on to lands unknown and like the leaves in Autumn time They're letting go in peace sublime Mama Silverwitch |
Autumn Dreamtime When leaves start falling to the ground it's time to come together to feast with sisters near & dear and welcome cooling weather, With colored hues of rust & gold and Nature's glory to behold we welcome Autumn's sweet repose while celebrating rites of old... We gather for Thanksgiving time to drum & sing with pleasure, as horns of plenty claim the day with Earth's abundant treasures, And like the reaper cutting free, the winds will sweep the old dub brie as fire's burn to set us free to introspect with blessings be... So let's give thanks for all we have and bridge our hearts as one remembering the gifts received as western guardians come, With nectar poured we'll raise a toast to sister Crones we cherish most and with the Dreamtime soon to come we'll celebrate the setting sun Mama J Silverwitch |
Harvest Home Harvest Home, my friends, O bring the harvest in! Gone the summer haze, the frost will soon begin. Harvest Moon will grant a boon and turn the night to day, Harvest Home, my friends, O sing the hours away! Harvest Home, my friends, O reap the stalks of grain, Life lies in the seed, 'til spring shall come again, Golden leaves & golden sheaves do glow by light of moon; Harvest Home, my friends, for winter's coming soon! Harvest Home, my friends, Oh work until we're done; Soon come rest to all who labor 'neath the sun, Fill right up the vintage cup, and toast the new made wine; Harvest Home, my friends, for 'tis the Harvest Time! Chris Carol |
The Banishing In flames of burning rage I banish all that stays to hinder and control and torment other souls preventing those that be to flourish peacefully I banish all the cruel the patriarchal rule violent wars that scream insidious and mean oppression's ruthless reign & suffering in vain I banish all that victimize blame & shame & criticize blind opinions justified violations sanctified, All that tortures life with bigotry and strife I banish all who gain, who thrive on others' pain inflicting ills & death to benefit the rest the selfish profits made while others wail and fade I banish all the crime that righteous & unkind who poison the environment punishing the innocent raping mother earth with greedy stealing curse With purfifying sage I cast a healing haze amending wretched flaws restoring nature's laws to see us dancing free I say so mote it be Silverwitch |
The Spirit of Autumn I am the bell song of the pink and amber skies walking softly on the changing winds, waking you with morning mist & fragrant dew... I am the powers of the air and dawning light, moving you with the cooling breath of the coming season, guiding you into the shadows of conscious insight clearing your path with inspirations and foresight bringing sweet visions and memories of days past... I am the scarlet brush strokes of the orange sunset flashing in the high desert with radiant illumination striking at your core, prompting you with inner urges; I am the powers of fire... the golden sun & silver moon lighting your inner torches to the underworld... where the lust of sweet desire gives way to thanksgiving as vibrancy spirals down with waning energy and courage of past deeds now shine with honor.... I am the ebb and flow of the oceans, rivers and deep abyss, filling your crystal chalice with emotional fulfillment, rocking you into trance with my enchanting lullabies; I am the power of water that soothes you with healing love, the calm lake that cradles you on my watery womb as you glide with flowing dreams to mystical places, guiding you to realms of divination and magic to reveal the rapture of your innermost beauty... I am the great Mother who feeds you from my belly, the humming spirit of the dark woods & majestic forest, returning you to caves of repose and long nights awaiting; I am the powers of earth, of ancient wisdom & inner silence, separating fruit from vine, kernel from husk, leaf from branch as I gather all back to my regenerating tomb of transformation; I bring comfort & relaxation by the hearth to your tired bones and fill you with grace and gratitude for times well lived.... Hear my Song & Give Thanks for Blessings Received Silverwitch |
Becoming a Crone As you pass through the gate From the perfumed garden of youth Linger a moment and look back. See the innocent, laughing children, See the awkward youths struggling, See the heedless, joyful passion, See the hard world done trying to make a mark, See the struggle to keep it all up To satisfy an inner judge. Then look forward to the new garden, The garden of the Crone, Filled with reflecting pools of water that mirror the patterns of life. The cobble path beckons to you to wander and see mature plants Bursting with beauty, then fading, Peacefully, becoming compost to birth a new perfumed garden. Diane Truly |
