Fall leaves

Picture this...Walking by the river on my lunch hour. It was cool, windy and cloudy. A light drizzle is coming down, but I don't mind. I love the fall leaves, deep red, bright yellows, caramel to browns, varying colors. I am walking under a tree with mustard colored leaves and I look up as a strong breeze catches leaves from the tree and they began a dance. Swirling and floating, spiraling out of control around me. It was like being in the middle of a tornado of leaves as they began their decent to earth around me. I felt like I was in a dream. I felt a connection to the earth at that moment. Of life, death and rebirth. I thought about the leaves becoming mother earth's robe to protect the plants laying dormant for the winter only to be awakened again in the spring. How beautiful the earth is.

I want to scoop up a handful of dirt and feel mother earth's heartbeat with mine. I don't do this because I am not alone I am with a co-worker who will say, Don't do that! You don't know who spit there!. LOL. I should have done it. I should have given the respect to the earth it deserves. I will not let an opportunity like that pass me by again. Being connected to earth is a part of what wicca is about.

This year for Samhain (sow-ann) I was to join friends and celebrate. It is Halloween to other people. It is our new year's. It is the time that the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is at its thinnest and we pay respect to those who have passed on. Deceased loved ones are encouraged to join us in our feast. Unfortunately, I am not sure footed enough yet to go traipsing through the woods in the dark. I know I will fall and I can't afford to injure my back. So, it will be a quiet celebration at home with my daughter and the cats.

How I love the woods, fall, celebrations and the smells of autumn. This is when I will start baking and making homemade soups and stews. I love cinnamon and baking with it. My home is cozy and warm with the scent and the heat of the oven. I have not felt much like baking since my divorce. My daughter and I have been alone for three years. This year we have added my boyfriend and his daughter, my daughter's girlfriend and a small handfuls of friends that have found us (or we found them) to our little family circle. I feel blessed to have a unique blend of an extended "family". We are very lucky and I am so happy.

I think it is time to make my apple cake (family recipe). I'll post it when I am on next. My dad requested it for his birthday every year. I think I will make it for Samhain and invite dad to join us (he passed away 7 yrs ago).

Blessed Be.