Happy Autumn Equinox/ Mabon!!!

 Today day and night is basically the same length.

 It is a time of celebration in various ways by many cultures. It is the second harvest, the season of autumn (in the other parts of the world it is the Spring equinox).

Many different peoples have used the seasons as a calendar and a clock both.  So likewise this is seen in their artwork, and symbols.

Mauchu Picchu Peru  has the Intihuatana stone, which  gauges  the equinox’s  and other cosmic events such as the new or full moon.  This is but one of many such sacred places, like Stonehenge and various Native American sites.

Why the leaves fall: A Lakota Legend

Many moons ago when the world was still very young, the plant and animal life was enjoying the beautiful summer weather. But as the days went by, autumn set in, and the weather became colder with each passing day.

The grass and flower folk were in a sad condition, for they had no protection from the sharp cold. Just when it seemed that there was no hope for living, he who looks after the things of His creation came to their aid. He said that the leaves of the trees should fall to the ground, spreading a soft, warm blanket over the tender roots of the grass and flowers. To repay the trees for the loss of their leaves, he allowed them one last bright array of beauty.

That is why, each year, during Indian summer the trees take on their pretty farewell colors of red, gold, and brown. After this final display they turn to their appointed task-covering the Earth with a thick rug of warmth against the chill of winter.

Mabon is a celebration which many honor on this day as the second harvest; a time of giving thanks.  The word Mabon comes from the name of Mabon son of Modron; who was said to be a follower of King Arthur.  In the Druidic traditions the day is called Alban Elfed which means the light of the water. Thus referring to the equal day and night.  One of the days on the wheel of the of year of pagan days of honoring.

One of the symbols of Mabon is the horned God (who is not symbolic of evil or the devil) but is reflective of the divine masculine, strength, virility, loyalty, primalness, and life force, the counterpart to divine feminine; the Goddess.

There are also some very interesting stories in lore about the autumn. One comes from Greek mythology. Demeter has a daughter Persephone who caught the eye of the God of the underworld,   Hades. She would spend 6 months of the year with her mother and this is when it was the warmer seasons of Spring and Summer but as it was time for Persephone to return to her husband Demeter would become sad and it was the time of autumn and winter.

No matter how you chose to welcome in the season be it with bounty of the harvest, or the celebrations and traditions of the old ones. Happiest Autumn!!!

 © Lisa Ann Ulibarri

Of Love and St. Valentine's Day

Valentine's day lore and tradition
Though the stories are many and varied St. Valentine is well accepted as the icon of Valentine's day. He was said to be a Christian martyr whom Claudius the second imprisoned. Before he was, he married many young soldiers secretly. Claudius felt it was best for his soldiers to be single. So this is where Saint Valentine is honored for Valentine's day as a supporter of the loving union of marriage. Before he was executed he healed the jailers blind daughter whom he had grown fond of. Then he left a note for her signed “Your Valentine” which has become a well accepted sentiment of the valentine's day holiday.

In time Valentine's day has become connected to Lupercalia a pagan fertility celebration. Thoughts are that this is where valentine cards came from with men drawing names of women from a jar to be partnered with.

Love birds
For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make
("For this was Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.")
-Geoffery Chaucer

In time many traditions have been adopted into modern day valentine's celebrations. In the form of various sentiments of love: candies, flowers, poetry, cards, special dinners, romantic dates.

Heartbreak
Sadly many have built walls around themselves when it comes to romantic love from heartbreaks of days gone by. I can relate I have done the same before. Yet in time realized someone who really cares would not devastate our heart. Never invalidate another from woeful experience for in this you are wronging another with actions of fear.

The rose is red, the violet's blue,
The honey's sweet, and so are you.
Thou art my love and I am thine;
I drew thee to my Valentine:
The lot was cast and then I drew,
And Fortune said it shou'd be you.

Don't fear the reaper... erhhh the love
Love is the essence of each of us. To defy it is against self. We don't always see eye to eye but how we handle it is what matters. I always like the “kiss and make up” approach. Not good to go to bed with negative in ones heart. Likewise yelling... I do not practice this. Better to talk things out. Always look for the best ways to respond to others to show them and ourselves honor. At times some fear loosing self. Love is about two sharing a life so in turn there are three you,me, and we.

 “Apache wedding blessing
Now you will feel no rain,
For each of you will be shelter to the other.
Now you will feel no cold,
For each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there is no more loneliness,
For each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two bodies,
But there is one life before you.
Go now to your dwelling place,
To enter into the days of your togetherness.
And may your days be good and long upon the earth.
Treat yourselves and each other with respect,
and remind yourselves often of what brought you together.
Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness and
kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration,
difficulties and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten
all relationships at one time or another, remember to focus on what
is right between you, not only the part which seems wrong. In this
way, you can ride out the storms when clouds hide the face of the
sun in your lives -- remembering that even if you lose sight of
it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if each of you takes
responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will be
marked by abundance and delight.""Treat yourselves and each other
with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you
together. Give the highest priority to the tenderness, gentleness
and kindness that your connection deserves. When frustration,
difficulties and fear assail your relationship, as they
threaten all relationships at one time or another, remember
to focus on what is right between you, not only the part which
seems wrong. In this way, you can ride out the storms when clouds
hide the face of the sun in your lives -- remembering that even if
you lose sight of it for a moment, the sun is still there. And if
each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together,
it will be marked by abundance and delight."

The sensual part of life
Sensuality is a broad thing from our appreciation of all the awesomeness in our world to stir of passion in love. The Kama (sensual or sexual pleasure) sutra (thread or link that holds together) though seen as a major sex guide the intent of this text is to be a guide of virtuous and gracious manner with reguard to love, family life, and pleasure. The ancient hindu texts were compiled for 400 BCE – 200 CE. Nandi the bull was said to have heard the passions of the god and his wife and prompted to sacred utterance to share with mankind.

In kind tant** (stretch libiration) Is a inter religious spiritual movement out of India. An expression of devine conciousness. In some modes it is approached as sacred sex; a way of entering the universe.
Let not the world dirty a pure expression of love.

Whoever you are let the love that is you shine on the fears of life. You don't need a special day, just a heart open to giving and receiving. The best things in life may not always be visible, yet felt. No need for commercialism inspired affections time shared with one; one cares for, sharing laughs, and tenderness... bliss.

© Lisa Ann Ulibarri

Happy Beltane!!!

 This celebration is called by many names and honored by many peoples and many faiths. It is a day to celebrate fertility it is Spring time!!! All is fresh and new.

  Some honor this day as May Day. Ribbons are woven around a May pole, May baskets and other festivities take place.

 An ancient tradition was  called may boughing or may birching; it is where men would hang garlands of greens and flowers to the windows and doors of the home of their lady love.  The may basket originally was a basket filled with flowers and left on the door of the ill unable to enjoy the festivities. 

 

This is a time that the veils between the spirit world and this one are thin. So feel the connection!

affirmations:

 I celebrate life!!!

The sacred union is a blessing

Lisa Ann Ulibarri ©

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!!!

Today is a day reflective of so many paths and heritages it’s very groovy. The name itself comes from the Spring Goddess Eostre.

For some it is a day celebrated to honor when Jesus rose from the dead 3 days after he died.  Some who loved him dearly noticed the rock from the tomb he was buried in was removed. And he appeared to many before ascending.This was a monumental expression of pure love.

Easter Lilies it is said that lilies grew in the garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested.

The Easter bunny is one of the symbols of Easter that has a rather vast history. German immigrants celebrated “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws,” which is a day to celebrate this egg laying rabbit.  The rabbit is a very fertile animal and seen as a symbol of fertility in Paganism.

Colored eggs in Christianity the egg is symbolic of Jesus emerging from the tomb. In Pagan beliefs the egg is symbolic of Spring and part of fertility celebrations. It was also forbidden to eat eggs during lent so they were seen as a special treat. Some also painted hollowed out eggs with pictures of Jesus. In Poland and The Ukraine they do the most amazing colored eggs with a max process the wax being used to maintain certain colors and they go through cycles of coloring them. 

Whether you are honoring the day as Jesus resurrection, or a time when Mother Earth is full of life or just for fun Happy Easter!!!

© Lisa Ann Ulibarri

Fact: over 90million chocolate bunnies are made each year.