Walking down the path to the meeting area, I was pleasantly surprised at how cool it was down there. Usually Lughnasadh is one of my least favorite high days because it is so hot but this year it was very pleasant. Standing in the meeting area and looking around at our new home it dawns on me how much this place is growing on me. I love being surrounded by the tall trees and listening to the birds singing above us. The sun shone down through the trees while a pleasant breeze stirred the leaves. The ground is mainly covered in a mix of moss and grass with a tall plant poking up here and there. This place we are now calling home is very peaceful and has a calming effect on the soul.
Ritual started kinda late this time, but that was okay because there was a lot of socializing going on. We had a very large turnout this year, it was really nice to see new faces and friends from other groves come and join us on this beautiful day. We even had an old friend come back and celebrate with us. The meeting area was filled with people talking and laughing, occasionally a loud pop would happen when the balloon Gen was blowing up and filling with rose-petals would explode. The whole atmosphere was very festive.
This ritual we were honoring Lugh and Ana. At Lughnasadh we tell the story of the battle between Lugh and his grandfather, Balor. Part of the ritual is a brag/boost round. Everyone tells about the best thing that happened to them in the past year or an accomplishment that they are particularly proud of doing. The proud winner is then crowned and will be Lugh in the re-enactment of the battle. There were many boosts this year. In my opinion every one of them was very good and I applaud them. But this year our winner was our Senior druid Rob H. Rob had a rough time this past year. He's struggled a lot and through it all he is winning. Diffidently a champion!
After Rob was crowned came the fun part.
With the spearing of Balor's eye and the shower of the rose petals came a loud cheer! Lugh is victorious again!
Afterwards our omen taker reads the runes. This is what we got. Othala - Dagaz - Fehu A good omen indeed!
Today several people started four day ritual honoring the Earth. Today was about getting out there and doing something, be it clean the side of the highway, plant trees, clean a park, get out and enjoy nature. Whatever it was, do it and post about it.
Well, I spent the afternoon cleaning our groves Nemeton. We raked leaves off the pathway and out of the meeting area and the Nemeton. Several small trees where cut down or the tops lopped off to make poles for the tarp we are using as a canopy. We expanded the meeting area, pulled up stumps and cut firewood. It was a very busy, exhausting afternoon.
I will be truthful, at first I wasn't looking forward to it. Nope, not at all. But once we were there and really digging in (yes, pun intended) I found I was enjoying myself. It felt good reconnecting with the nature spirits in that area. Feeling the energy that flows through there was a pleasant surprise. It seems like every time we work on the area it seems to have a little more welcoming feel to it. I don't know why the nature spirits feel more welcoming in the woods then the ones in the field, but there is a diffident difference in the energy in the Nemeton here.
Beltaine is in a couple of weeks, I can't wait to see the reactions of our grove mates when they see it. Also looking forward to "pimping" out the Nemeton for Beltaine. Hey! It's a holiday of fun, color and laughter, why shouldn't the Nemeton reflect that. I'm going to try and get people to help me make it look like a fairy exploded in it. That would be so awsome!
