Gaian Tarot Artist's Journal

Just Past the Peak of Summer . . .

My island herb garden, last night at sunset.  This is the essence of Lammas to me:  the best fresh produce of the year, to be sure;  but also, the herbs and flowers peaking then beginning to wither and brown.  Here we see Lady Lavender just past her prime and ready to be cut and bundled.  Sister Thyme is ready to bloom and likewise Elder Mugwort, with flower heads so heavy the stalks are falling every which way.  Sister Echinacea is proudly purple but beginning to fade; only Queen Goldenrod stands in her prime. 

Not seen in this photo, but there nonetheless, is a thriving patch of Lover Sweetgrass.  And last night, by full moonlight, my island sisters and I braided the hair of the Goddess, then cut and corded her tresses to take home to hang and dry.  In the deep midwinter, when days are short and cold, we will burn the blessing herbs of Summer.

Celebrating Lammas, the First Harvest

(Photo:  the head and hair of the Bread Goddess)

I'm home from the third annual Northwest Lammas Festival, a homegrown affair started and sustained by some of my mermaid sisters and brothers. (We thank you deeply for your hard work throughout the year!)  My mind and heart are filled with images and sensations of heat and cold, mist and sweat, intricate drum rhythms and laughing babies. The first fruits of the harvest:  the gathering of the tribe and the sharing of the fruits of our hands, hearts and minds.  Waverly said it so much more eloquently than I can on her blog this morning.

But I have photos to share!  (Last year's photos are here.)

Last Night's Full Moonrise

We sat on the beach for three hours or more, watching in awe as the huge orange orb rose in the southeastern sky.   She shimmered and danced for us as the tide went out in ripples and waves.  Her reflection on the water sometimes looked like an undulating snake and sometimes like a bellydancer,   We sang to Her, and in response Sister Heron came flying out of the darkness to circle round between Her in the sky and us on the beach.  Later we were graced by the presence of Owl and Bat and Mouse.  We lifted our stones nestled in a clamshell up to Her and asked for boons to be granted.  We thanked Her for the blessings of our lives.  We giggled and laughed and played in the warm water.   We left before midnight with our hearts very full.

The Bounty of Summer

The morning's stash from the Farmers Market — who could resist?  An island friend was selling his produce and said he'd be stir-frying up new potatoes, sugar snap peas and garlic tops for dinner — we moaned and bought his peas and garlic to go with the potatoes and salmon we have at home.  Radishes for Craig's tacos and Rainier cherries from the other side of the mountains at $10 a pound — ouch.  But oh, so sweet. With every bite we remember we're supporting an organic farm family who've had a rough spring.

And this has nothing to do with summer or good food but I just want to thank Arwen for such a lovely review of this blog.  It's really something, sometimes, to "see ourselves as others see us" (a nod to Robbie Burns).  Thank you Arwen!

Prayer Flags in the Rain

 . . . as seen from my studio deck just now.

You know it's Midsummer when . . .

. . . there are blossoms and falling leaves at the same time.

Offering to the Queen of Summer

Moments of Grace: Summer Solstice Sunrise

Moment of Grace: First Wild Roses of Summer

Summer's Here!

It's a glorious morning . . . 70 degrees now and going up to 82, they say.  Can you believe how thrilled we are? Remember, it was snowing here less than a month ago.

I'm having a grand time getting to know my new "secret spot", aka my new back yard.  I know my herbs and my native plants pretty well, but I don't know most of the ornamentals that are planted here.  So it is great fun to watch things bud and bloom, and try to figure out what they might be.   

Instead of herons, we have quite a neighborhood of Steller's jays, and we've watched Deer and Raccoon roam through our yard.   Lots of LBB's too (the ubiquitous Little Brown Birds).

I'm going to take my art supplies outside and spend the day there.

Cleo and I are very excited!