“A friend is what the heart needs all the time.”
-Henry Van Dyke
Autumn 🍂 is a beautiful time of year in and of itself. Combine the beauty of harvest with a Celtic Wedding, and you have: Breathtaking!
The traditional term for a Celtic wedding is “handfasting.” A handfasting, or to handfast, means “making a contract.” -Wikipedia
Traditionally, a couple would join hands (making “fast” their hands) as a sign of union which was then sealed by a kiss in front of witnesses.
For us, this celebration can be simple, very elaborate, or anything in between! It’s a time when the kilts come out, the bagpipes sing, and the dancing begins! Not to mention the fire dancers!!
Celtic Wedding Blessing
You are the star of each night,
You are the brightness of every morning,
You are the story of each guest,
You are the report of every land.
No evil shall befall you, on hill nor bank,
In field or valley, on mountain or in glen.
Neither above, nor below, neither in sea,
Nor on shore, in skies above,
Nor in the depths.
You are the kernel of my heart,
You are the face of my sun,
You are the harp of my music,
You are the crown of my company.
😊😊😊
“A salad is not just a meal. It’s a style.”
-Lebowitz
Header Photo by Shlag
Footer Photo by Anna Pelzer
Sea Cucumber Photo by Pilgrimage Studio @ The Monterey Bay Aquarium – Monterey, CA
Got Style? 😊 💃
by Beth Haley
Garlic is one of the oldest plants used as medicine. “When the British came to India, leprosy became known as “peelgarlic,” because of the frequent sight of lepers peeling and eating garlic cloves.”
–The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies by C. Norman Shealy MD, PhD
Garlic increases pitta, or fire, and it helps with digestion by increasing digestive juices. It has both a cooling and heating effect on the body. When the fire element is too inflamed in our bodies (agitation, stubbornness) it can help bring balance. On the other hand, if our fire is too low, garlic can get the fire burning again.
Fire Temperament
Fire element plants are not just for the physical body. Destructive forces such as anger can be regulated as well by the principle of “fighting fire with fire.”
“…to put out forest blazes by deliberately setting the undergrowth aflame, can release rage in a dramatic and explosive outburst. Once this willful anger is gone, the sorrow hiding beneath it can be expressed, bringing the system back into balance.”
–Plant Spirit Wisdom by Ross Haven
Some uses of garlic:
Cancers
Colds
Skin disorders
Parasites
Joint issues
Arthritis
Cysts
Fluid retention
Antibiotic
Reduces blood pressure
Reduces cholesterol
Stimulant
Carminative
Expectorant
Disinfectant
It is rejuvenating for the nervous, digestive, respiratory, reproductive and circulatory systems
All this written, if one were to eat the amount of garlic recommended (6-12 cloves a day) to produce these results, I don’t suppose we would smell that great. However, garlic does come in capsules which are odor-free.
–The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Healing Remedies by C. Norman Shealy MD, PhD
Photos by Team Voya & Mike Kenneally
“If a year was tucked inside of a clock, then autumn would be the magic hour.”
-Victoria Erickson
Today’s sunshine was shared with me by Saba! Thank you so much Saba for this Sunshine Award!!
1: Be thankful to the blogger who nominates you.
2: Answer questions you have been asked.
3: Share this shine with others.
4: Must ask them 11 questions.
1: What is sunshine for you? Positivity.
2: In the palace of oblivion how do you seek shine? Meditation and chant.
3: which is stronger; shine within you or the one you see outside? The one inside, because you can shine despite what is going on outside.
4: How do you see pain? Pain can be a launching pad toward growth and healing.
5: Can obscurity be removed that has covered hearts of many? Yes!
6: What is meant by fraternity? A group of like-minded souls.
7: Is fraternity exists in this world of personal interests? We can come together through common interests, yes!
8: Do you still make paper boats in rain? What a fun idea!
9: Are you satisfied with your line of work? Always a work in progress!
10: Who was your favourite teacher and why? M, for all the wonderful adventures we took through books!
11: Do you have any gift back in your school days? Um? I really don’t know! I’d have to go treasure hunting and see. 😊
Anyone who has read this far, and who would like to participate, is nominated! Send me a link, I’d love to see your sunshine page! ☀️
1: How do you like to make your home cozy for the winter months?
2: What are some warming colors that you could incorporate into your home during winter? For example, I like using blues during hot months, as they are cooling.
3: Do you like a different schedule during Winter? For example, I’d rather be up early in the summer, when it’s cooler. And, possibly not up at all when it’s cold 🥶
4: Do you find that rest and quiet are more focal points during winter? For example, I think I’m more outgoing and social in the hot months and spend more time at home doing quiet activities during the winter.
5. What foods have warming qualities that you can use during cold weather?
6: What is one of your favorite Autumn traditions?
7: Do you have a crockpot? I’m thinking crockpot hot cocoa and spiced apple cider!! That’s sunshine with spice!!
8. Do you have a favorite winter soup?
9: What color is your favorite winter sweater?
10: What keeps your inner sunshine bright during winter?
11: Who loves scarves!? 🧣
Sunflower Photos by:
A little San Francisco today from the archives.
Believe you can and you’re halfway there.
-Theodore Roosevelt
Working in meditation today, I was reminded that sometimes healing is uncomfortable. When we are in the midst of the process of healing, we may feel disempowered. Rather than feeling powerful, we only feel and see the wounds. However, this is the process – and to step into healing, we must first spend time tending the wounds.
I don’t normally refer to religious texts. However, two passages (3 actually) came up during this session.
The Fisher King is also associated with The Wounded King, The Hanged Man and The King of Cups.
That the Fisher King (from The Grail Legend) has taken to fishing while he is waiting for help and healing seems symbolic. Fishing is an activity that requires not only patience, but is dependent upon the right fish, at the right time, taking the bait… or in other words, the right element, person, or tool for the healing he seeks.
I suppose that the Fisher King is associated with the “Fisher of Men” because both of these stories were about seeking what was lost. One King was seeking healing for his body, soul, and kingdom. The other King, “The Fisher of Men,” was seeking those that were lost, to save, and bring into his kingdom.
A Dark Night of the Soul?
Before healing – is the process.
Before power, is weakness.
Healing can come in unexpected ways.
I love working with Bibliomancy. I take a book (any book I feel drawn to), pose a question, and then read the first thing I see.
Today’s meditation session felt like a “Lord of the Rings” moment where the dialog goes, “…but something happened then the Ring did not intend.”
Now, I am not a religious person (spiritual, yes), so what happened next, I did not expect. The first thing I saw as I opened the book after working with the messages of The Fisher King, was:
3. Seek and you will find.
What are you seeking today?
Kingfisher Photo by Boris Smokrovic
The route you take depends a good deal upon where you want to go. -Lewis Carroll
Day after day, the father drove to work along the same dreary highway to the same dreary job. Sometimes his daughter went to his office with him. On one of these occasions she noticed a winding road running parallel to the highway. “Oh, Daddy, let’s take that road today,” she suggested. After some grumbling and mumbling, the father agreed and turned off to take the side road.
To their delight, the road was lined with full trees and a rainbow of flowers. They came upon a quaint little village in which there was an office with a sign in the window that said, “Clerk Wanted. Inquire Within.” The job seemed perfect and the man accepted it with excitement he hadn’t felt in many years.
Sometimes we have to risk taking a different path in order to arrive at a different place. How else can we change things in our lives that need to be changed? And how easy to do it, once we’re willing to risk something out of the ordinary.
What can I do that’s out of the ordinary today?
From: Today’s Gift – Daily Meditations for Families
Pilgrimage Studio 