Moonflower Murders, Ukrainian Embroidery, and Mabon

Moonflower Murders

My sister got me hooked on last season's Magpie Murders on PBS, a very clever British series involving two completely different but related storylines with dual roles for all the actors. Now I'm watching the new season, Moonflower Murders, which has just started on PBS. It's equally good so far! Any other fans out there?

Ukrainian Embroidery

I've always loved this beautiful artistic expression of Ukrainian culture. This week I finally made it to a local exhibit on its last day to see some stunning vintage pieces (all handwork, of course). Here's the exhibit poster and a few photos I took of my faves --

Mabon

Yesterday evening, I attended a celebration of the Autumn Equinox (Mabon) at a local Unitarian Universalist church. The gathering's special guests were two indigenous elders who led us in some drumming and singing. I enjoyed the opportunity to use my hoop drum again!

The Autumn Equinox Is Here

In the northern hemisphere,

today marks the first official day of Fall.

Time to get out the warm, comfy sweaters!

Maybe bake an apple pie?

Or enjoy a hot toddy?

Let's go crunching through the fallen leaves!

Even Her Royal Highness the Cat

has her special Fall rituals!

And to those of you who

celebrate the Old Ways and

the Turning of the Wheel --

And to those of you who

love Halloween, just be

patient for a little while longer --

September Full Moon Altar: Corn Mother

This month's full moon altar honours a First Nations representation of the Divine Feminine, Corn Mother. She is one of the Three Sisters -- corn, beans and squash -- which were the historical staples of indigenous agriculture in all the Americas. Corn Mother embodies the Earth which nourishes, feeds and sustains us all.

Now is the time for Fall Harvest Festivals, including the pagan sabbat of Mabon on the Autumn Equinox in a couple of days and Canadian Thanksgiving in a couple of weeks. Therefore, Corn Mother stands among seasonal harvest riches laid out on a Sacred Spiral of Life altar cloth.

I bought this reproduction of a sculpture by Mohawk artist and musician, Thomas B. Maracle, nearly 20 years ago in the Royal Alberta Museum gift shop here in Edmonton. I fell in love with her immediately! I can't remember now where I got the little beaded feather bracelet but I think the perfect place for it is to adorn Corn Mother!

[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, September 2021]

Glorious Fall Is Here!

Well, I missed marking the Autumn Equinox 

on my blog Tuesday because I was 

too busy bitching about New Blogger.

So here's a few belated memes to celebrate!

And speaking of the collapse of civilization,

here's some coronavirus LOLs for you too!

But hey, October is almost here!

That means Halloween, yay!

Autumn Equinox Blessings to You!

Yes, it's the first official day of autumn today.

And you know what that means . . . .

I like pumpkin spice too, but ONLY when it's

in a pumpkin-based food item like pumpkin pie,

pumpkin muffins, pumpkin loaf, etc.

I do NOT care for it in non-pumpkin-based items

like lattes, popular though they may be.

My philosophy regarding non-pumpkin-based items is --

But these days, it almost seems like pumpkin spice is in EVERYTHING!

And for all you Dune fans out there . . . .

People! Just stop and think of the terrible toll

your pumpkin spice addiction is taking!

Consume pumpkin spice responsibly, everyone!

Equal Night and Day

May the first fruits of Mabon's harvest bring you the promised balance of the Autumn Equinox.

Bright blessings to you all!

Mabon Blessings

Today is the Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. And you know what that means!

In this season of harvest and reward when the Goddess distributes Her bountiful blessings, may you find yourself to be the apple of Her eye!

[art by Miumi-U]

Autumn Equinox Fun!

Today is the Autumn Equinox here in the northern hemisphere -- the first official day of autumn. And a good way to welcome the new season is to make yourself a beautiful Crown of Leaves! It's fun for girls . . .

. . . and boys too!

Even teddy bears like to get in on the action.

It's also fun for Moms . . .

. . . and maybe this beau chapeau could persuade Dad to participate?

[All photos from the internet]

And hey, don't forget to enter my 5 + 500 Giveaway if you haven't yet! Click here to do so.

Today is the Autumn Equinox

The Autumn Equinox marks the first day of autumn, of course, which has always been my favourite season. When I was a kid, autumn meant the beginning of a new school year -- and I loved school and then later, university. Today I love the changing leaves, the cooler weather, the lengthening nights and the upcoming special October holidays of Canadian Thanksgiving and Samhain/Halloween.

May all the blessings of this beautiful autumnal season be yours in abundance!

[Arrr, and forget ye not to enter my Piratical Swag Giveaway if ye have not done so already -- click here, me hearties!]

Autumn Equinox: Hail Kukulkan!

Every spring and autumn equinox, the plumed serpent of light named Kukulkan makes an appearance at Chichen Itza, the ancient Mayan site in Mexico. For about half an hour, sunlight strikes the staircase bannister of El Castillo pyramid in such a way as to create an undulating body for the snake deity whose carved head is found at the base of the stairs. Kukulkan appears only twice a year, when day and night, light and dark, are equal and in balance.

My Rare One and I visited Chichen Itza in 2004 (but not on an equinox, alas). I climbed El Castillo's sacred staircase, a difficult task because of its extremely steep and shallow steps. I descended the stairs in the traditional manner -- sitting and bumming my way down each step! It's the safest method because it is so very easy to trip and fall all the way down if you walk upright. That's why an ambulance was tucked away in a nearby grove of trees, as we later noticed. In fact, I read recently that tourists are now no longer allowed to climb the pyramid, precisely because an elderly lady did have a fatal fall on the staircase.

Mabon (Autumn Equinox)

Today is the Autumn Equinox, that magical date when sunlight and darkness are equally balanced. Mabon is a harvest festival, a time to give thanks to the Goddess for the life-sustaining bounty of the earth. And pour a special libation to the Green Man, whose nurturing husbandry has also fostered this abundance. The great lessons of Mabon are gratitude and thanksgiving -- attitudes we would do well to cultivate every day of the year.

Gratitude can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

--Melody Beattie

[The beautiful artwork "Autumnal Equinox" by Edward Aparicio is found here.]