Greetings, and welcome to this week’s edition of Brothers and Sisters.
I’d like to take a brief moment to thank Dkos for giving us this space to share a few things spiritual every week, and to thank PastorDan for starting this weekly tradition. This is the third time I (RonV) have had the honor of hosting Brothers and Sisters. And I encourage everyone to consider taking a turn. It’s sometimes a challenge, but always a blessing.
This week will mark this year’s Autumnal Equinox. For those of us who are of the Pagan persuasion, we are likely to refer to this Sabbath (one of the four lesser ones...) as Mabon. The Autumnal Equinox is a holy day for Pagans, paleo-pagans, neo- pagans, Wiccans, neo-Wiccans, Druids, Reformed Druids, Orthodox Druids, etc.
Mabon is also known as the Second Harvest (The first being Lammas which occurs around the beginning of August.). Therefore, foods associated with Mabon include those things that get ripe later in the season, like apples, root vegetables, seeds, and grains.
This is also a time for harvest festivals. And who doesn’t like a festival? Colors associated with Mabon are just what you would expect for fall... Reds, Orange, Russet, Brown, Gold... you get the idea.
This is a good time to take a walk, preferably in the woods, and reflect on the year that has gone by.
And that brings me to the real theme of this post. Mabon is the ideal time to reflect on the never-ending cycles that we experience throughout our lives. The Gods and Goddesses have blessed us all with the promise that, no matter what happens, in our individual lives, as a species, or as a planet, the cycles will continue. Life will go on.
This year has been one of major transitions for me. But I know that, in spite of whatever challenges that are put in front of me, I will continue to be blessed by beauty and love. And that’s really all any of us need to keep us going. Whether we are poor, sick, worried, confused... we can be nourished and renewed, if we can just take the time to reflect and remember that every day we are blessed and surrounded love and beauty. We have only to open our eyes.
So, please use this space tonight in any way that you wish. Reflections on the past. Perhaps sharing some thoughts about one who has passed during the previous year. Prayer requests, of course. AND BLESSINGS ALL AROUND!
Now, to sing us out, is the late great Harry Chapin, accompanied by his brothers Tom And Stephen
Circle
"All my life's a circle;
Sunrise and sundown;
Moon rolls thru the nighttime;
Till the daybreak comes around.
All my life's a circle;
But I can't tell you why;
Season's spinning round again;
The years keep rollin' by."