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Post by Heron on Nov 12, 2011 17:48:38 GMT -1
How should we think of the festival? From Nos Calan Gaeaf to the Dark of the Moon takes us to late November, So we will be deep in the arms of Winter and may wish to reflect on this as expressed in these words: By Orion's light in the Dark of the Moon The land lies stark and chill
A shadow passes through the veil Of the Other World on a grey mare.
Rigantona, roses wither on your altar But we keep your vigil still. That defines 'Wintersnights' as an event that takes place in the waning phase of the Moon following after 1st November, when the nights are dark and we may wish to reflect on the coming darkness, perhaps think about building hearth fires (actually and/or spiritually) and mark the passing of life from the land and the coming of the domain of Winter. Somewhere around the 19th/20th of Nov would seem a good time to do it this year.
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Post by potia on Nov 13, 2011 20:38:18 GMT -1
Makes sense to me
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Post by Lee on Nov 14, 2011 8:38:58 GMT -1
sounds superb to me. Certainly this is something i still want to mark in some way.
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Post by redraven on Nov 14, 2011 10:07:08 GMT -1
I'm going to be in Inverness for 4 days commencing the 21st so I think I will mark this there with these words.
RR
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Post by Heron on Nov 16, 2011 21:45:31 GMT -1
Do we want to try to co-ordinate this for a particular time/date or do it according to our individual circumstances at some time over the period of the Dark of the Moon?
I'm thinking of the night of the 20th, but not so strongly that I wouldn't change it to co-ordinate.
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Post by nellie on Nov 17, 2011 9:50:54 GMT -1
I'm happy with the night of the 20th.
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Post by potia on Nov 17, 2011 10:02:32 GMT -1
Sunday evenings are usually rather busy for me. For a group something night of the 19th would be much better for me.
Tuesday and yesterday I got time to do a bit of clearing and pruning in my back garden. It felt very much like preparation for the coming winter.
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Post by redraven on Nov 17, 2011 15:11:31 GMT -1
I'd prefer the 19th also, I am still going to do something later in the week as mentioned in my previous post, the location seems appropriate for me at the minute so I'll be doing two observances. RR
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Post by Heron on Nov 17, 2011 19:58:02 GMT -1
OK then let's make it the 19th for the co-ordinated observance, which I'll do at the outside altar in my garden some time late-ish on Saturday night using the words above.
I'll follow this up on Sunday evening/night with something more personal inside to build the hearth. If others feel like doing something similar we might think of some common words, or alternatively just do our own thing(s) in our own time?
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Post by potia on Nov 18, 2011 8:38:39 GMT -1
I'll try for something outside too if I can. Possibly near the Rose beds in Tollcross Park (which I've recently discovered is internationally famed for it's roses).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2011 16:02:46 GMT -1
This appeals to me. I'll join in if it's alright?
I usually go outside to do things anyway.
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Post by Heron on Nov 19, 2011 16:49:02 GMT -1
This appeals to me. I'll join in if it's alright? I usually go outside to do things anyway. Yes it's fine for anyone to join us, in fact it's encouraged!
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Post by Heron on Nov 19, 2011 17:00:02 GMT -1
I went out earlier today to enjoy the late Autumn sunshine but also to prepare for tonight. Although it was a bright and clear day the woods were looking empty as many branches were bare and leaves were thick on the ground.
I sat in my favourite place where the river runs deep in a gorge surrounded by woods. I sat for an hour or so thinking about the onset of Winter. Then there was a brief gust of light wind which brought dry leaves showering down onto me and around me and onto the river. A sign?
Walking back the Sun was low and shone right into my eyes for a while before dipping behind the trees on the ridge. Now the valley is dark and I'm prepared to go out a bit later into the darkness to mark the passing of a shadow through the veils of the Otherworld. The Cailleach walks gently yet through the mildness of the night, but there is much of Winter still before us.
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Post by potia on Nov 20, 2011 21:14:59 GMT -1
In the end we didn't go outside in the evening but we had spent the day out (that's RR and myself btw). We went up to the Perth and Kinross area and visited two stone circles. Neither are marked by signs and although both are relatively near roads they are off single track roads. The first one in particular looked as if it hadn't had any human visitors for a very long time. The day was fine with blue skies and mild temperatures. there was barely a breath of breeze but the quality of light was just amazing. Later in the day visiting a waterfall by Loch Tay. We walked up a track and went through to what is called hermits cave (a man made cave) which has an exit overlooking the waterfall. We got there just before dusk and stood there listening to the sounds of the water and nature around us and watching the light fade as the clouds gathered and dusk fell. Finally we stopped by Loch Tay itself to watch the growing darkness and a patch of lighter sky visible through the clouds reflected in the water.
It was such a magical day that going out to a city park later in the evening didn't seem to fit so reflected on your words Heron inside instead but the whole day was one of reflection on the changing season. Wintersdays and wintersnights.
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Post by Lee on Nov 21, 2011 9:16:22 GMT -1
I woke yesterday, looked ut the window the to graveyard behind and the whole place was shrouded in mists. in fact the whole day it lasted - the dying trees shrouded in it. Like never befor had this seemed to portentous I spent the day at home, doing some bits about pieces about the place and in the garden. then kept warm inside with heating, toasted pitta bread and thermals
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2011 13:00:58 GMT -1
I went out in the dark to the field behind my cottage. I intended to sit under the hedge and try a 'waning moon' meditation like Heron has described on his faery blog. I said the words and could see Orion right there as the sky was so clear. After a bit it got a lot darker, but there was no cloud or anything to make that happen. Spooky:O I didn't do a meditation after all but I did feel 'something'.
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Post by Heron on Nov 21, 2011 22:46:02 GMT -1
I went out in the dark to the field behind my cottage. I intended to sit under the hedge and try a 'waning moon' meditation like Heron has described on his faery blog. I said the words and could see Orion right there as the sky was so clear. After a bit it got a lot darker, but there was no cloud or anything to make that happen. Spooky:O I didn't do a meditation after all but I did feel 'something'. Sounds like you certainly did feel something. I have felt a darkening sensation in similar circumstances but you seem to have had a pretty powerful experience.
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