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Firepit Update Letters
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August 1, 2004
Dear Friends and Family -
Good Lammas to you all! The wheel has turned yet again. The Sabbats are opportunities for us to pause the busy pace of life and examine our progress. Lammas is a particularly good time for examination, since it marks the beginning of the harvest season. What shall we harvest from our own lives? Have we walked the wheel of the year with directed purpose? Have we moved toward our goals?
The Harvest season always fills me with a deep sense of gratitude for the gift of life that I have been blessed with. This past summer has been busy, but filled with happy memories and experiences. This Lammas finds me with a personal harvest basket that is overflowing with the bounty of the gods. I feel blessed.
I’ve done a lot since Litha, but I haven’t done much writing. My attention has been devoted to other projects, particularly the classes and events I facilitated at Brushwood’s Sirius Rising Festival. Although the weather was very wet for the week of festival, the community spirit prevailed. Festival is always a wonderful opportunity to reach out and connect with like-minded others, and the Sirius Rising festival always excels in offering a safe and supportive atmosphere for creating a uniquely Pagan community.
Since my time and effort has been diverted to other projects, this update is smaller than usual, and yet I trust that the new pages will be worth a visit. In the Philosophy chapter, there is a brief article that explores a definition of Love. Since I use this word so often, I figured it would be helpful to say a few words about how I use this multi-layered word.
I’ve added a few new photos for your viewing pleasure... In the “Inspiration” album I’ve added two photos from my garden, the Stargazer Lily and a Thistle. In the “Fun” album is a photo that plays with sunlight and shadow, called “Persephone’s Shadow”. The Links page has been cleaned up and checked, and I’ve added a link to a wonderful interactive web tutorial on the meaning of Zen that was passed along by a member of the Flame’s Firepit group. Thanks for passing it along, John!
I’ve begun an in-depth study into the Elements, and have been spending an entire lunar cycle doing daily meditations and work with each separate element. In the past three moons, I’ve worked with Fire, Water, and Earth. I’m about to finish the series by spending the next lunar cycle working with Air. In the Sacred Writings Chapter, I’ve added three new pieces that reflect the explorations of these Elements. Fire Meditations, Water Meditations, and Earth Meditations have been placed in the Poetry chapter. Expect the Air Meditations by the next Sabbat.
I hope this Lammas finds you all filled with the abundance of the season, and looking toward great harvests of your own!
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