Mabon

The turning of the wheel

Yes there's definately a seasonal change. The signs are everywhere in nature and even though we have had some sunshine lately, theres that Autumnal nip in the air that I find so comforting and reassuring. Its a good time of year for me. I like September. I love to go for long walks in the countryside and feel the crunch of brown crispy leaves below my feet, the swallows preparing to fly and the sight of my breath in the air. Well that's not if its peeing down with rain!

I feel its time to start something new. Not only will it fill in my time once my own fledgling has taken flight but it seems so long that I learnt or did something new for myself. Spending so much time at home is lovely but with the winter drawing near and dark nights ahead it looks like a daunting prospect. I need something to get me out of this house. And with Samhain coming closer too I have realised that I have neglected my spiritual practise as well. Ill health put pay to all that but I feel that the time is now right. I feel well enough and gradually I'd like to start integrating spirituality into my life again, not that it ever went totally, it never does... it's just that I became overwhelmed with other things for a while.

as one door closes

...another one opens. It's coming up to that transitional time of the year again, September, Autumn, Equinox. It's a time of balance between the seasons and life in general. With daughter off to college things looked gloomy for a long while...a sense of a loss. Losing the child that was and gaining an adult, a fully rounded independent being. So perhaps I did my job as a parent ok. I could even afford myself a little pat on the back, not that I did it all on my own. But not a bad job even if I say so myself.

And what will I do now that one fledgling has flown the nest. It's a time for great opportunity to see where life takes me, both in the physical and the spiritual sense. It's time for me to open my eyes and see clearly all that is around me.

Hwre!

Well it came at last, the sun that is and phew what a scorcher or so the headlines would say. It really does feel like Lughnasadh now. Beautiful clear blue skies and the sun belting down makes all the difference and makes everything seem possible.

Today I head for the ancient capital of Wales, Machynlleth.There's a wonderful little market there on Wednesdays and a great vibe in the little town. It's a place where old and young meet and share.There's the Centre for Alternative Technology nearby so theres lots of green and ecofriendly stuff about. I hope to do a bit of shopping, get my hair cut and catchup with friends and family.

Summertime fun with veg

Just as a distraction and I certainly need one, here's a favourite recipe to lift the spirits and the greyness...

Needed-

3tbsp olive oil
9oz halloumi sliced
2 medium onions, wedged
3 courgettes sliced
8 tomatoes halved
420g can butter beans drained

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a roasting tin, bung in some halloumi slices and fry until golden brown on both sides. remove and quarter them.add onions to the tin for 5 minutes and fry until golden

Toss in the courgettes and fry until golden.remove onions and courgettes from the tin and set aside.heat remaining oil in the tin and fry tomatoes until soft and juicy.

Return everything to the tin with the beans, just chuck it all in. warm it through, stirring it all together as you go and trying not to look out of the window at the weather.

Bask in the warm glow and self satisfaction at making a wonderful meal for the family and admire your sun kissed veg without whingeing

Summertime Blues

OK enough is enough.I've said it once and I'll say it again. Just where is the sun? Not a good scene here, three weeks into the holidays and no sign of anything remotely scorchio only thick grey cloud, drizzle and the occasional sighting of something bright. I'm fed up of cloudbathing and expensive trips to the cinema to amuse and entertain. It's a total bummer! but then again its nothing new.

Time to rethink the strategy for coping with the next three weeks before we all go stir crazy.

Normal service will be resumed after this brief, self indulgent rant!

Walking at Lughnasadh

With the weather being as it is, dull, grey and cloudy etc, it was difficult to know how to mark Lughnasadh. No, it didn't seem right to go for a high magic, big ceremonial approach . It just didn't seem right. This year a simpler, quieter and more gentle approach was required. Three of us returned to Cantre'r Gwaelod.

Instead of driving to the beach where the submerged forest can be seen at a very low spring tide, we decided instead to take the inland public footpath. Now when I say public, this footpath has been fought over as a public right of way. In the past landowners have tried to keep the path out of reach from the walkers, ramblers and tourists that walk along the coast and to this special place with a hidden beach. The path has been overgrown to jungle proportions and the occasional ferocious sheepdog let out to challenge and thwart the hardiest walker. These days things are different. 1-0 to the ramblers! The way is now clear after much campaigning and hard work.

After a pleasant if not muddy trudge to Wallog beach we were pleasantly rewarded with an almost deserted beach. Windswept and beautiful, the glacial morainne visible and forming the legendary road to Cantre'r Gwaelod-Sarn Cynfelin. No need for a ritual, it seemed right to walk along the length of the beach in quiet contemplation with only our thoughts and the swooping gulls for company. Well, not quite, we were rewarded with a gift. Just above the gulls nest a pair of peregrine falcons hovered on the wind. It was quite remarkable. I felt part of the landscape, it was like coming home.

This beach holds many cherished childhood memories for me. Its isolation and sacred landscape unspoilt by man and civilisation. A place to simply just be, and this seemed fitting at Lughnasadh.