Witchvox Article

Author: CatDancing
Posted: July 25th. 2010
Times Viewed: 1,474

As you think of the month of August, what images come to mind? Depending on the part of the world that you live in the answers to that question may be quite different, but for many the first thought of this month is HEAT! Folks in my area often refer to these days as the dog days of summer - a phrase that reminds me of a quote from author Sam Keen who said, “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability”.

As one who has never been very tolerant of hot weather, I have to confess that July and August and their accompanying sweltering temperatures and humidity are not my favorite times of the year! I always feel much more at home with the autumn season when I can enjoy being outdoors without being bombarded by mosquitoes and doing a slow melt! However, that little complaint being put forth, I must admit that there is much to be said for the eighth month of the calendar and even when I'm sweating it out under the blistering rays of the sun to do garden chores, feeling the weight of ripened tomatoes in my hands -- freshly picked and warm from the sun -- makes it all worthwhile.

“Joy is simple and often cheap: Leap in fields; then picnic and sleep; Chase fireflies and dance with moonbeams Summer reveries more than dreams”. Those lines from Andrea Dietrich's poem 'Sweet Summer Sonnet' give a good description of the simple pleasures of summer!

When I opened our front door this morning three beautiful doves were perched on the front porch railing. The sun had not yet come over the mountain to burn off the dense early mist that gathers in this hollow and their soft gray silhouettes almost seemed one with the hazy background. We have many types of wild birds that frequent our feeders and so we try to keep them supplied with an assortment of seeds and other treats to please the various palates! A favorite with the doves though, is always the cracked corn that is part of one of the seed mixes.

A couple of rambunctious squirrels that visit daily make a messy habit of scattering anything on the feeding table that gets in the way of their gorging on sunflower seeds! However, since the doves are basically ground feeders, they are only too happy to do clean-up duty on the floor of the porch for any corn that gets scattered. As I watched them drop down and begin enjoying their breakfast, my thoughts turned to the corn and its connection to the coming harvest season.

I always think of August as one of the most transitional months of the year. Many annual flowers are still in full bloom, but now the bright azure blue of cornflowers and the frilly umbels of Queen Anne's lace border roadsides and country paths, accented here and there by black-eyed Susan's bending in the late summer breezes. Already the first graceful stems of goldenrod are showing color, and careful observance of Nature reveals many signs of the not-so-distant approach of autumn. Thunderstorms appear suddenly in the heat of afternoon and can just as quickly be replaced by the sun, leaving us to feel as if we're caught in an invisible sauna!

August evenings are lit with the twinkling of fireflies and bring choruses of frogs and insects joining together in a veritable symphony, while on clear nights a golden moon as it passes through its many phases shines overhead. As you are reading this we have just celebrated Lammas, the first of the three harvest festivals (sometimes referred to as the festival of first fruits) actually not just a special day in the Pagan calendar, but the beginning of a season in which we, along with the Earth, begin to slow down; a time for both a physical and spiritual gathering of all that has grown and come to fruition in the year thus far. Much still remains to be done, but we can look forward to the cooler days of autumn as all of life drifts slowly toward the resting period to come. The Sun passes midway between Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox, and as always, Nature finds a balance, light and dark, sowing and reaping, Summer and Winter.

The Lammas season is one of ripeness and fullness; a time for sharing and coming together in a spirit of joy and appreciation, and for celebrating the fruits of our labors. The sharing of cakes and wine during the sabbat and esbat rituals of this month is a reminder of the Sun's energy entering back into the Earth. Bread baked from the first grain harvests and wine (or fruit juices) from the harvest are symbolic of the gifts of the God given through the Goddess - gifts which will continue to nourish and sustain life as we witness the ongoing cycle of birth, growth, harvest and rebirth.

Now is the perfect time to think in terms of what nourishes not only our bodies, but also our spirits. Perhaps you may want to make it a point to adjust your diet and work toward healthier eating habits or toward getting more exercise. Try out new recipes (such as those in the spirit of Lammas at the end of this article) , that make use of fresh fruits and vegetables, add more whole grain breads to your meals, etc., and look for ways to get the entire family involved in more outdoor activities.

Think of the activities and pursuits that do the most to nourish your spirit and that make you feel alive and energized. Is it gardening, music, creating art, writing poetry, keeping a journal, volunteer work, making your home a creative place, that makes you feel joyful and fulfilled? Whether it's pulling a loaf of homemade bread from the oven, taking a perfect photograph or playing with your kids or grandkids just DO it, and in a deliberate and unhurried way that allows you to be completely present in the moment so that you can fully appreciate the blessings it brings to mind, body and spirit!

Discover, or re-discover the places where you feel most connected to your inner self. Take time for a walk by the ocean, down a country road or through a park, to cast a line in your favorite fishing spot, sit under a tree and read a book, have a long soak in the tub with a favorite essential oil, or a long steamy, relaxing shower. If you feel a sense of enlightenment on top of a mountain, meditating in a cabin in the woods, in an old barn or just on your own front porch watching the sunset go there! Allow the places you love to feed your soul and replenish your spirit.

Look for ways to nourish others. Share the wealth from your garden with someone who doesn't have the space or can't physically manage to grow his or her own fresh vegetables and fruit, or prepare a dish to share with an elderly neighbor or someone who lives alone. Offer to volunteer at a soup kitchen or make a dish to drop off.

Share your skills at sports, cooking, a particular craft, music or whatever, by offering to teach someone who is interested in learning. We have been blessed with abundance in so many ways and even if we may not have money to share, we always have something that will be a blessing to others if we only take the time to discover it!

As we continue to celebrate the First Harvest may you find special joys in the company of those you love, and the deep peace that flows from the abundance of the season.

Blessed be the Harvest,
Blessed be the Corn Mother,
Blessed be the Grain God,
For together they nourish both body and soul.
Many blessings I have been given,
I count them now by this bread.
Guardian of the East, I pray for your indulgence,
Hear me now as I request your aid in the cycle of life.
As your winds blow through fields of ripened grain,
Carry loosened seeds upon your back
That they may fall amidst the soil
That is our Mother Earth.
...from a Lammas Ritual- author unknown to me

Cool and Creamy Harvest Fruit Salad
1 small pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix
1, 20 ounce can pineapple chunks in juice
8-ounce carton sour cream
1, 15 ounce can fruit cocktail, drained
1, 15-ounce can sliced peaches, drained
1, 1 1/2 cups seedless red or green grapes, halved
1, 1 1/2 cups strawberries, sliced or halved
2, 3 kiwis, peeled and cut in chunks
1 small can mandarin oranges, drained
1-cup fresh blueberries (optional)
2 medium size bananas, sliced lengthwise and then sliced
Combine pudding mix and pineapple chunks with juice; mix well. Stir in sour cream. Add fruit cocktail, sliced peaches, grapes, strawberries and kiwis; stir gently together to combine. Gently fold in mandarin oranges.
Add bananas just before serving to avoid browning. If using blueberries stir them in last to avoid turning the dressing blue!
Refrigerate leftovers.
* (My sister shared this recipe and our family and friends really love it. It's a cool and creamy treat as a salad, or serve with cookies for dessert. 'Lite' or 'No Sugar Added' canned fruits and sugar-free pudding will work great in this and you can add other fruits of your choosing!)

Tomato Pie
4 tomatoes, chopped
1 onion, chopped
10 to 12 leaves fresh basil, shopped
9-inch piecrust, pre-baked
1-cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
1-cup mayonnaise
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Layer half of tomato, onion and basil in piecrust; repeat layers. Mix mozzarella and Cheddar cheese with mayonnaise. Spread mixture over top of pie; top with Parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 50-60 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting. Makes 6 servings.

ABOUT...

CatDancing

Location: Mayking, Kentucky

Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MountainWitchsCotage

Bio: CatDancing is a solitary eclectic green/hedge witch practicing in the mountains of eastern Kentucky where she shares a mostly quiet lifestyle with her husband, 5 cats, 4 dogs, 1 ornery goat, and a small flock of hens and noisy roosters! When she is not tending hearth,
home and herb garden she enjoys reading, writing, designing pagan-themed needlework, painting and photography. She is currently the
owner of the 'Mountain Witch's Cottage' group on Yahoo, co-owner of 'The Mother's Magickal Herb Garden' and assistant manager of
'Stormy's Book of Shadows', also on Yahoo. She can be reached at catdancing@fastmail.fm.

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