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Wisdom from the Stones
with Ben Cookman
October
Eihwaz represents the yew tree. This rune deals with your strength , flexibility, and searching. It is the rune of the hunter, useful for lucid dreaming and overcoming fears.
Next up is Fehu, which represents cattle. Here we are dealing with wealth, resources, and ancestral luck. One’s reputation is their greatest commodity. It’s important to share for the greater good.
Lastly, we have Gebo. This one represents gift. This is about giving or receiving a gift. We are reminded that we must exchange our gifts for a gift. An offering or a sacrifice is necessary.
This month of October will be a time of dealing past relations and drawing on the strengths they taught us. It’s important that we pass on what we have learned from those ancestors. They gave us a gift to provide wealth for ourselves. The last rune, Gebo, gives us guidance to give the gift of that knowledge to someone else. Because the veil is thin this month, it will honor us and our families to do these things, with our ancestral luck bringing us the power we need.
November
Mannaz is the rune of humanity. It deals with collective consciousness, the social order, being a part of the greater whole, maturity, and oneness.
Next up we have Naudhiz, the rune of need. This deals with a need or necessity, resistance or restriction, limitations, and owed debt, patience, or self-reliance.
Last up is Hagalaz the rune of hail. This reveals upcoming challenges, a delay or a cancellation of plans, a temporary change, a disruption or difficulty.
We all know this month starts the family gatherings and with them food, drink, and politics. In this month you may need to refrain or make plans outside of your usual blood relations if you wish to avoid more disappointment by the usual discussions. Perhaps make plans with friends instead. If that isn’t possible, make plans with friends as well as the family plans in order to balance out the bad energy of those ill-fated family discussion. If at all possible, refrain from talk of politics. Choose wisely this month.
December
First up is Ansuz which represents the mouth. This one deals with physical and spiritual communication. We’re talking about wisdom, divine inspiration, and the power of the spoken word.
Next we have Kenaz which represents the torch. Here we see creativity, enlightenment, ideas, and passion. A time of putting creative endeavors and our ingenuity to tangible use.
Lastly we have Perthro, the rune of Mystery. This one has some given meanings but I feel mystery means unknown. I like to keep it that way, because not everything can be seen. Any decent psychic would tell you they just don’t know, and I’m telling you that now.
So let’s deal with the first two runes: We see communication and fire. We know we will be coming into Yule/solstice, which is the darkest of months. In these difficult times of darkness our paths become all but invisible sometimes. We need to communicate with others so we can all stay on the path to our destination. Where that path will lead is unclear at the moment. Stand by each other is the best advice I can offer at this time.
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At Winter Solstice, line drawing by Suzy, 1990
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First Rose of Autumn, October 2022
Mesa, Arizona
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A Halloween Tradition
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Halloween games often had to do with romance and marriage. One practice was for girls and single young women to look into a mirror in the dark in hopes of seeing the face of their future husband. This form of divination is a type of scrying, all in fun, of course!
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Painting, Oil on Canvas; by John Philip Falter; C 1944
Veterans Day
Veterans Day began as Armistice Day when World War I ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month-- November 11, 1918. In 1947, the term "Veterans Day" was first used in Birmingham, Alabama. It wasn't until 1954 that Congress passed a bill to make the day a day to honor all veterans. The WWII soldier who coined the phrase in 1947, Raymond Weeks, was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 1982.
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In previous editions of Brigid's Arrow, we've covered historical accuracy and culturally appropriate views of the Thanksgiving holiday. Please keep learning and seek to understand the various viewpoints around this and other difficult traditions.
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Odin the Wanderer by Georg von Rosen, 1886
The Gift-Bringer
Pre-Christian Yuletide celebrations included tales of supernatural occurrences such as the Wild Hunt, a ghostly group of hunters led by a supernatural being. For a mortal to see the Wild Hunt in action was considered to be a harbinger of trouble to come. The Norse god Odin was said to ride through the midwinter skies on his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, bringing gifts. The story of Odin's giftbringing transformed into Father Christmas and eventually to Santa Claus.
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Brigid's Arrow was once a print newsletter, put together by a small coven of which I was High Priestess. The coven consisted of three single mothers and their children. In the first issue of that iteration of Brigid's Arrow, which came out in September, 2002, I shared the following rite of banishing and blessing. We are now in a liminal time, both in the cosmological reality of the wheel of the year and in the transitions that are occurring for Brigid in the Desert. These times between are the perfect times to banish negativity and invite blessings. In light of this time, I have decided to share this rite with you. May it be a blessing to you.
***
BANISHING AND BLESSING
When you do these things, be sure you have bathed and feel strong. Dress comfortably. I like to do them in candlelight at night. If you are more comfortable, you can do them in the full light of the sun.
Banishing (First)
Best done as the moon wanes (getting darker after full) but in an emergency do it anytime. Use either bundle of herbs, a blessing oil, or ammonia. Go room to room and say something to the effect of:
“Any spirit or power left from before
Leave by the window, the roof or the door
I release you from Earth
Move on as you should
Take with you all evil and leave only good”
If you use an herb bundle, wave it around room, make shapes of any symbols that are strong for you (pentacle, stars, etc.). If you use the oil or ammonia, rub a bit around every door and window (outside). When you are all done, make a prayer that it be done, such as:
"I have cleansed this home so pure
My love is true, my dream is sure
May God release the souls who stray
And keep my family safe, I pray
As it is, so shall it be"
You can repeat this once a month until you feel comfortable with it.
BLESSING: (Second):
Best done at full moon, but you can do them both at the same time. Using the bundle of herbs, oil or ammonia, you basically do the same thing as above, only the words are different. You say a prayer in every room, asking for guardians at each window and door. Some people ask for Angels to protect the door; some ask for faeries or some other special entity. Say something like:
"I appoint you Angel (or faerie)
(You can name them if it comes into your head to do so - it could be a message)
To protect this door (window): this place of entry to my home
Watch over my family and myself
As we go about our lives
Keep out all who mean harm
As it is, so shall it be"
Again, you can repeat every month if you wish.
***
I shall say farewell for this turning of the wheel, with hopes that I will bring together a new issue for the beginning of 2023. By then I should know more about what's coming next for the UAIC, for Brigid in the Desert, and for this newsletter.
Until then, go forth and "be excellent to each other!" Have a wonderful month!
Bright Blessings,
Rev. Suzy Cherry, Parish Priest/ess
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Brigid's Hearth is an outreach project of Brigid in the Desert. We seek to meet the needs of the poor and working poor who receive assistance from food banks and crisis organizations. While food banks are able to provide food staples to those who struggle to make ends meet, there are a number of items that are often forgotten. At Brigid's Hearth, we collect these items and provide them to local non-profit organizations for distribution. If you live far from the Phoenix area, please donate to organizations in your area. we do not seek any special recognition from the organizations; however, we would like to keep track of donations on behalf of Brigid. Please send a list of items donated to Pastor Suzy at the email below. To see what we collect and how to donate, click on the picture to the right.
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Statement of Ministry
Brigid in the Desert has its roots in progressive, inclusive Christianity. Into that, we bring complementary teachings and practices from other traditions. In this way, we seek to learn the teachings that bring us together across traditions while continuing to honor the rights of others to practice and believe in their own way.
We acknowledge the value of respectful and compassionate ecumenical, interspiritual, interfaith, and multicultural dialogue, and seek to live our lives according to the spark of the Divine within ourselves.
As a resource for Life Event Celebrations, Brigid in the Desert offers services to those who are spiritual as well as those who are not, because in our own spirituality, we recognize the value of each and every person on this earth. We value the lives of all sentient beings, and honor them as they are in this world. This includes the LGBTQIA, Autistic, and other Neuro-Divergent communities.
We invite you to join us in our online discussion on Facebook. If you prefer, you are welcome to simply follow along at one of the links below.
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