Harvest
It is almost Mabon and the equinox is coming. Time for harvest. I can feel it in the air. I always could feel it, but I didn't have words for it until lately. I was discussing with some friends about it and the difference between how our ancest0rs dealt with harvest and how we do now. We don't, really. We can always go to the store and get our food no matter what season it is. And in CA the seasons have so little change that we can still grow things here...not that we do. Still... There was a debate about how far away we've become and how close our ancestors were to the earth and nature and all of that. Some kept saying that we should go back...that we should find ways to express that need and desperation and closeness with nature and all.
But it occured to me that...I still feel the seasons change. I can feel that it is fall and that things are winding down...I can feel the charge in the air. That hasn't changed.
Our ancestors worked the earth and hunted for necessity. They broke themselves all year long for the sole purpose of surviving. They didn't do it out of an intention to be close to nature or the gods. That was just a side effect. They did it to survive and provide for their families. All their energy went to that.
We don't have to expend all our energy on survival. Thus...we are able to turn our concentration toward other kinds of harvests. We can concentrate and devote ourselves to things that our ancestors never had the opportunity to. And while we may not live a test of our own mettle every moment of every day...we still test ourselves in other ways. We plant the seeds of different crops...mental, emotional, religious, studious...we can expand ourselves and educate ourselves...we know so much more than those hunter-gatherers ever could have comprehended because of our environment...our time...
We have our own harvests and we can feel that it is time to look and see what has come to fruit and what hasn't...what will change us through this dying part of the year and bring us out into spring once more. I've found myself looking almost desperately for these things that should be mature and ready to reap...but I didn't nurture them like I should have. So they are not ready. It's very frustrating at this time of year. Now I can see why. I have resolved to bring them to fruition by next harvest. Hopefully I will.
The main question that I think should be asked of ourselves is...what is it that we have devoted all our energy to? What is it that we concentrate on? Do we walk around looking with open eyes? Or do we only do that when we are in a circle? Do we always have our head in our blackberry or email or job? Do we even think about anything else during our day? Do we take time at least once a day to align ourselves or to draw energy or to just listen to our surroundings?
That is what we should concentrate on. More than whether we are as down to earth as our ancestors. Because I know for a fact that there were plenty of ancestors back in the day who did exactly the same thing. They got caught up in problems, in worries, in thinking about other things. Not every ancestor was in tune with nature. If that was so then our world would never have progressed as it has...into burning times and fear and hostility.
We are all one, yes. But we need to remember that we are different because we so choose it...or because we can't ignore it like non-pagans do. And those same differences have persisted throughout time and history. Nothing is new under the sun and the moon.
As above, so below.
As in the past...so are we now.
It is all the same. Just different.
But it occured to me that...I still feel the seasons change. I can feel that it is fall and that things are winding down...I can feel the charge in the air. That hasn't changed.
Our ancestors worked the earth and hunted for necessity. They broke themselves all year long for the sole purpose of surviving. They didn't do it out of an intention to be close to nature or the gods. That was just a side effect. They did it to survive and provide for their families. All their energy went to that.
We don't have to expend all our energy on survival. Thus...we are able to turn our concentration toward other kinds of harvests. We can concentrate and devote ourselves to things that our ancestors never had the opportunity to. And while we may not live a test of our own mettle every moment of every day...we still test ourselves in other ways. We plant the seeds of different crops...mental, emotional, religious, studious...we can expand ourselves and educate ourselves...we know so much more than those hunter-gatherers ever could have comprehended because of our environment...our time...
We have our own harvests and we can feel that it is time to look and see what has come to fruit and what hasn't...what will change us through this dying part of the year and bring us out into spring once more. I've found myself looking almost desperately for these things that should be mature and ready to reap...but I didn't nurture them like I should have. So they are not ready. It's very frustrating at this time of year. Now I can see why. I have resolved to bring them to fruition by next harvest. Hopefully I will.
The main question that I think should be asked of ourselves is...what is it that we have devoted all our energy to? What is it that we concentrate on? Do we walk around looking with open eyes? Or do we only do that when we are in a circle? Do we always have our head in our blackberry or email or job? Do we even think about anything else during our day? Do we take time at least once a day to align ourselves or to draw energy or to just listen to our surroundings?
That is what we should concentrate on. More than whether we are as down to earth as our ancestors. Because I know for a fact that there were plenty of ancestors back in the day who did exactly the same thing. They got caught up in problems, in worries, in thinking about other things. Not every ancestor was in tune with nature. If that was so then our world would never have progressed as it has...into burning times and fear and hostility.
We are all one, yes. But we need to remember that we are different because we so choose it...or because we can't ignore it like non-pagans do. And those same differences have persisted throughout time and history. Nothing is new under the sun and the moon.
As above, so below.
As in the past...so are we now.
It is all the same. Just different.