To Aaron with love;
To anyone who has ever been a child…
In Spring the Easter Bunny comes
And everything is new.
The flowers bloom just like the love
That grows inside of you.
Oh, you are special! You are light!
Your heart is full of love.
So, let it grow, and let it bloom
Like flowers in the sun.
Have a blessed Easter, because it’s just celebrating the new life we can choose at any time!
I wrote this instrumental on the ukulele, in November, 2010. In December it naturally became a harp piece, as you find it here. It’s called Star, after my favorite shape, something to shine, look up to, and be comforted by.
This month’s full moon is called the Snow Moon, because traditionally the heaviest snows fall in February. Even those of us who live in warmer climates can draw on this moon’s resting energy, in its sign of Virgo.
Goddess Mother Holle is a northern archetype who shakes and shakes her featherbed, creating all the snow!
In both hemispheres we’re preparing for a harvest. Up north where the snow falls, we work with the moon to choose the right time to plant new seeds. In the south where weather is warm, you prepare to reep what you’ve already planted.
In this ritual we honor Mother Holle and Her knowing when to blanket us in quiet and waiting, so that when Spring/Harvest comes, it may be full and prosperous.
Blankets, pillows or cushion (whatever you need to create a comfortable nest)
Darkened room
one candle of any color
Candle-lighting tools (lighter, etc)
Go to a comfortable place where you will not be disturbed. Create a nest for yourself, using pillows, blankets, or whatever feels right to you. If you can see the full moon from a window, so much the better.
Darken the room if possible, placing the unlit candle safely in a holder in front of your nest.
Make yourself comfortable in the nest for meditation.
Silently: ground and center. Cast circle, call quarters, and in your own words ask Mother Holle to be present.
Meditation
After calling Mother Holle, feel Her presence within and around you. She creates the blankets of snow in the North, and makes time for you to be blanketed in quiet and rest.
Thank Mother Holle for Her blanket. Accept Her blanket in your own way. Let your daily responsibilities, obligations and activities fall away for now. Release what others need or want from you, choosing this time to be peaceful and calm within yourself.
Feel the wisdom of nature enfolding you. Know that blankets serve an important purpose, covering and protecting things until they are ready to emerge.
Feel yourself being loved and protected. Know that Mother Holle’s wisdom, Her knowing of when and what to cover in quiet, is within you.
Bring to mind the things you want to manifest, or harvest in your personal life. Ask Mother Holle, who you have summoned from within yourself, to uncover those things in their time. Accept that timing, though it may be slower than what your human senses might like. Know that when you are truly ready, your harvest will appear. You will reep the seeds of desire you’ve sewn, and Mother Holle’s blanket will be thrown back to reveal your beautiful new life She has cradled in this season.
When you feel this truth, leave the nest and light the candle.
Say aloud:
Thank you, Mother Holle, for your blanket soft and white.
Thank you for the dark, that you bring into the light!
Stay with this joyous feeling of renewal for as long as you feel comfortable.
Then, in your own words, thank and release Mother Holle and the quarters, and open the circle.
Put out candle safely.
I celebrate Yule, though not with ritual as some Pagans, Wiccans and others do. My celebration is one of personal meditation and music.
Come this Yuletide, I’ll be adding thoughts. As 12/21/12 approaches, I feel excitement! Since “the end of the world” is not an option for me, I ask, “What is being born now?”
What do I want to see in my personal life? How do I want to feel? You notice I’m not saying what do I want to change? … No. Instead, I’m looking at the positive, from a standpoint of “it’s already done!” as we do in metaphysics.
I’ve said before that I sometimes combine Goddess and metaphysical spirituality. My foundational beliefs are metaphysical. The way I choose to relate to them, in song, ritual when I choose that, and symbols, is sometimes Goddess-centered. I have the form of a woman after all; so that makes sense to me right now.
On 12/21/12 I will sing songs by Ruth Barrett, celebrating Yule, the rebirth of the Sun, and the joyous turning of the wheel.
I’m also attending a virtual retreat by Brenda MacIntyre, Medicine Song Woman, to anchor more sacred feminine energy into my life and business.
I will meditate using the ZPoint process, to release resistance to change. And I intend to write a song or two myself!
I write, read, weave, speak, meditate, sing and celebrate to externalize and at the same time amplify, the spiritual connection I feel. Some of these things may work for you, too! If not, I ask you to enjoy this celebration in whatever way feels best for you!
As Brenda says, we can approach 12/21/12 with fear or with love or with anything in between! I choose love and excitement!
And you?
Instrument: Lady – tenor Flea ukulele
Refrain:
Come! Join our festivals of light and song
Shining through the darkest night and singing all day long!
Join our celebrations of great love
Singing all in unity,
With candles lit for you and me,
We stir up joy and faith and peace
For all that is below, touches above!
1. Celebrate the Yuletide,
The returning of the light
Once more days grow longer
The sun’s becoming bright again
Oh
Refrain:
2. Celebrate Hanukah,
The miracle of faith
We don’t think we have much
But blessings make it stay and grow
Oh
Refrain:
3. Celebrate Kwanzaa
The unity of all
One people and one nation
May we spread peace to great and small
Oh
Refrain:
4. Celebrate Christmas
The birth of Christ in you
The symbol of a baby
As love and life in all you choose
Oh
Refrain: (twice)
I created this full moon distance ritual for The Order of the White Moon. I will expand on this soon; for now, realize that I choose to study both metaphysics and Goddess spirituality at the same time. For me they are beautiful companions.
In any case, I share this ritual as a demonstration of openness, acceptance and connection to all people, all beliefs, and all nature. If you resonate with this and wish to participate, perform the ritual yourself on November 28, 2012 – the night of the full moon.
Though OWM is mostly women, like-minded men are welcome in my own practice.
It’s fine if you’re unfamiliar with Pagan, Wiccan or other circle castings and closings! Just intend to create a circle, or create a visible one in your space. When finished, say a blessing and open the circle.
Date: 11/28/2012
Intention: Full moon in Gemini, beaver moon and goddess Ceridwen (Celtic Goddess of rebirth)
Before the ritual, spend some time in nature, ideally at night, in the 3 days preceding the full moon. Even outside on a porch or steps is fine; intention to connect with nature and the moon is the most important here.
As you create this time, think of the Beaver moon. So named because it was traditionally the time to set traps before Winter, it is also a time of incubation. What do you want to gestate or incubate? What is germinating now, to bloom or become tangible or visible in Maiden Springtime?
If you’re in Springtime now, what are you planting and cultivating to harvest/finish in Autumn?
Come to the ritual with these things in mind or written down.
Northern Supplies
warm Autumn drink (apple cider, pumpkin spice-flavored coffee, tea or cocoa, etc, something that tastes like Fall to you)
3 candles (1 orange, 1 black, 1 white)
Southern Supplies
Cool fruit drink, milk, or anything that tastes like Spring to you
Candles as above
Prepare drink before ritual. Place on seasonally decorated altar if you have one, along with the candles in holders.
If you like music for meditation, have some on hand.
The differences in this ritual between the Northern and Southern hemisphere are subtle and not truly necessary. The main idea is that in the Southern hemisphere, you’ve already started planting what you will harvest, and can see it because you’re cultivating it already.
In the Northern hemisphere, we’re letting our desires grow, unseen, within the Earth until Spring when they will burst forth as buds do. Sometimes through the Fall and Winter, we need reminders to “keep the faith.” This ritual is one reminder.
Cast circle in whatever way you choose.
Invoke/call goddess Ceridwen with these words:
Lady of the resting night
Whom each crossroad brings delight
Welcome in this circle clear
As in time desires appear!
Gently relax into a light state of meditation, with music as you prefer.
Light orange candle, saying:
By the fire that you keep
Through all growth that comes in sleep
Warm desire in my heart
As in faith I do my part!
Light black candle, saying:
If the way seems dark and bare
Or overwhelm feels like despair,
May I know deep down the truth
That as the wheel turns, next is youth!
Light white candle, saying:
I will see the things I ask
I believe they come to pass
Until then I know their truth
Placing them within your womb!
I give you (name the things that are germinating in Ceridwen’s womb for you now)
Meditate on releasing any attachment you feel to these desires, knowing that all is well.
When you feel ready, bring yourself out of meditation and continue:
Thank you for your presence here
Banishing all doubt and fear
Bringing in the darkness safe
Meant to cradle me in faith!
Drink with gratitude.
Open circle and put out candles safely.
I wrote this “poem” last week and thought, “Good. Now this is done, I’m ahead,” and moved on to the next thing. But it wasn’t done. 🙂 When I was choosing an accompaniment, it begged to be a song. SO song it is, and I like it better than the written words alone. Imagine that!
Also published in Seasons of the Moon Volume 13 Issue 1 Samhain 2015
Recording updated 2015
Instrument: Brio – Red Cedar Concert Ukulele
1. On wings of Autumn I take flight
Falling into my best life
Knowing that my path is right
On wings of Autumn I take flight!
2. On wings of prayer I soar in faith
Realizing my strength and grace
Right here is my perfect place
On wings of prayer I soar in faith!
3. On wings of love I float with glee
Feeling good, supported and free
So life brings what is best for me
On wings of love I float with glee!
Repeat 1.
Click the SoundCloud link above to download the free mp3.
Featured on
Mother Nature Sings
According to Google and dictionary.com, transition is:
noun /tranˈziSHən/  /-ˈsiSHən/ 
* The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another
* A passage in a piece of writing that smoothly connects two topics or sections to each other
* A change of an atom, nucleus, electron, etc., from one quantum state to another, with emission or absorption of radiation
And just for the record, transition is also a stage of labor – one when mothers are often just about ready to throw in the towel and refuse to take any more… “This baby either comes out, or it stays in, but I’m not having any part in it!” Often accompanied by, uh, shall we say, strong words.
We may not use strong words to describe our transitions, so we think that’s good. The thing is, we still have strong thoughts. When something is changing, we can feel unsettled, uncomfortable, disconnected. We may feel like we’re floundering, or in limbo. All these feelings are fine, worthy of acknowledgment, and – here it comes – normal.
As nature transitions from Autumn to Winter in the northern hemisphere where I live, I’m realizing how I, and you, can use this transitional time to our advantage.
Transition is “The process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.” That means it will pass. If you feel unsettled or uncomfortable, like you don’t know what’s coming next, remember that it’s just a phase.
This could comfort you, or bring up anger. If transition makes you angry, that’s ok. Anger is not wrong; it’s a valid feeling and should never be suppressed. Acknowledge to yourself, “I feel angry!” And let yourself feel that way. You may consider using ZPoint or another meditation or breathing technique to help you find a better feeling when you’re ready.
The key is to feel better when you’re truly ready: not when you think you should, and especially not when anyone else thinks you should! This is your time.
Transition is “A passage in a piece of writing that smoothly connects two topics or sections to each other.” Do you feel smoothly connected? Probably not – but you can.
Think of how nature moves in cycles. The wheel turns through each season, each year. The moon goes from new to full and back again. The sun rises and sets.
Yet, no matter what we see, there’s always another side. When we see the dark moon, someone else sees the light face. When the sun has set for you, it’s rising for someone else. When it’s Winter in your environment, somewhere else it is Summer.
Consider that we are all connected, as much as all nature is connected. If you’re looking for the smooth connection that transition claims in writing, try to look on the smooth side. Even if you can’t see smoothness in your own life right now, entertaining the possibility that smoothness exists will help. Somewhere, someone feels smoothly connected through a transition. If you can believe that, you can more easily accept that smoothness for yourself.
The third definition is the most interesting. Transition is “* A change of an atom, nucleus, electron, etc., from one quantum state to another, with emission or absorption of radiation.” I won’t speak to the radiation aspect, but there is spiritual truth here.
Let’s say transition is the change of something from one quantum state to another. Quantum particles are tiny and can’t be seen by human eyes alone. So maybe the result of a transition in your life can’t be seen either. It could be an emotional transition, where you become stronger, more confident, more ready to receive love, etc. It could be spiritual, as you realize your inner power. Transitions can be mental as well. Though eventually they reep physical results, initially the change is within, on a seemingly quantum or tiny level.
Quantum particles must change in order to change the big picture. In order to see a different color chair, quantum particles must be in different orders than they were when we saw a blue chair, for instance. In the same way, as we change inwardly, as our spiritual particles re-align, the outward picture changes.
Transition is natural; change is inevitable. To ride the wave of transition smoothly, it’s important to consciously re-connect with our roots. Connect with nature; spend time in meditation or prayer. Talk and listen to God, or God-within. Everything you need to navigate this transition is already there. Ask for it, even if you don’t know what exactly you need.
Use affirmations: I ask for and receive all I need for a smooth transition. I ride the wave of transition, knowing the tide of life works for my good.
Instrument: Lady – tenor Flea ukulele
Chirp chirp chirp
Sounding cheerful in your gentle way
Chirp chirp chirp
Coming in the house as if to stay…
Chirp chirp chirp
Would you rather be in nature’s green?
Chirp chirp chirp
Heard you are, but hardly ever seen…
Chirp chirp chirp
Evening is your favorite time of day
Chirp chirp chirp
Turning on the lights puts you away…
Chirp chirp chirp
Thank you for your bright-in-darkness sound
Chirp chirp chirp
Music in creation does abound!
Singing this song on Sunday was lots of fun! I put the refrain in the bulletin, and the congregation sang along. We ran through it once and by the next time, they were pros! It’s a great feeling to hear a group singing my songs… After all, songs are meant to be shared and enjoyed!
Unfortunately, I didn’t get a good recording of us, so here’s the solo version.
Instrument: Lady – tenor Flea ukulele
1. Even in the seed you find the pumpkin
All that grows is good and all good grows
Even in the seed you find the pumpkin
God is everywhere, giving pumpkins care
Showing that where God is more good flows.
Refrain:
Be the pumpkin, shareing with your patch
Be the pumpkin, what you put out you’re gonna get back
Be the pumpkin, God within a seed
Be the pumpkin, love is all you need
2. Pumpkins are complete in their perfection
The holy spirit lives in big and small
Pumpkins are complete in their perfection
In God’s image great, every one is made
Goodness is the stuff that makes them all
Refrain:
3. Pumpkins work together with their nature
They shape the life they want and call it fine
Pumpkins work together with their nature
When somethin they don’t like comes up in their lives
They let it rot and choose a new design
Refrain:
4. Pumpkins live and flow within the present
Like a prayer they see that good is now
Pumpkins live and flow within the present
Maybe meditate on all they create
Feeling God inside them shows them how
Refrain:
5. Pumpkins live the principles of spirit
Knowing them is not enough you see
Pumpkins live the principles of spirit
And when they’re on display, in a tiny way
Pumpkins share the gifts of Unity
Refrain: (Twice)
Be the pumpkin, love is all you need!
Mystical Strings 
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