A Witch's Ramadan

This has been a hell of a year. I'm finally settling into my new locale. It's been a little over a year living here and my first harvest is one of great abundance and meaning. Facing all the new people and activities that are just about to settle into my life along side of me, I am seized by a need to reflect upon and sort things a bit. This month there was a solar and a lunar eclipse (there are 4 per year) and my being is turned to clearing and resetting the table, as it were. I had considered some kind of fast in the time between the equinox and Samhain. So, along comes the timely holiday of Ramadan--September 23-October 24.

I shared Iftar with the Muslim community of Davis last year. It was really special. Much of the night I shared a table with Jordanian immigrants. They were all very friendly... some new to the area like myself. First only women and children, then later progressive younger people who mixed genders at one table. I was polite and respectful and the younger people were eager to share their experiences and impressions of Ramadan and fasting. For total strangers, we had such interesting and warm discussions. The people of the Muslim community took it to heart--that they welcome everyone in town to dinner and share a holy day with them. I had fasted for the day (well, maybe 7 hours), but I remembered thinking that it would have been interesting to fast for a month as everyone else had. There was a sense of something shared--religious, yes--but more importantly... Human. Now, here we are this year and a Muslim co-worker mentions that Ramadan is coming. In fact it begins just after the equinox... isn't that special!

Equinox was grand!! We had a lovely circle of people present--my coven mates and at least as many guests. The food was great and the ritual was special and spontaneous in many respects. I got to break out my new Pakistani frame drum--a ritual virgin that has been played only solitary or set in it's case since I acquired last summer.

So here I am, two days into my Witch's Ramadan. Very interesting indeed. In the interest of my health and well-being, I could not give up water throughout the day--so that is my one allowance so far. I have to slow myself down and pay a particular attention to everything... as well as redirecting my mind throughout the day. It pretty much takes all my attention to function sometimes. Three trips back and forth from the greenhouse to the lab before I actually got my work done. I 'lost' my keys two or three times... often on my person. I think I'm getting used to this, but it's not easy. Though going without is challenging--moderating myself in the evening hours is a significant battle. It's also challenging to have patience with people and situations... or to write well.

San Diego Pagan Pride Day

Another year and this events gets bigger and better!

It was hard to find a time to step away and get a clear picture of what we had set up and the little camp that formed behind the banner. We had consistent traffic to the table throughout the day. I had hoped to catch some good drumming and dance a bit, but the day flew by. Patrick pulled his table over with ours and William showed up with harps and musicians. We enjoyed yummy eats, great conversations, beautiful music and harp lessons for lots of curious children and adults. Thanks William and Mozarab and Yvonne and all the other nice folks who turned out!!!

The event began with an opening ritual which I facilitated. It was simple and spontaneous and pleasant--I showed up and found 4 other volunteers (3 of which I'd never met or worked with before) . The theme was--your community as the harvest that endures and carries one through the dark times to come. We had ourselves a cool little ritual. People did simple circle dances and singing and I became the conch blower for the day (I had called folks to ritual with a conch blowing processional). The mid-day main circle was a drum circle and dance jam session. I was socializing or at the table for that. The final ritual of the day was facilitated by Chalice Well Circle, a local eclectic group which sprung from a small collective of folks working for open rituals in San Diego. They offer open rituals in Balboa Park, the central public park in San Diego. Another community group has public rituals in the North San Diego beaches. It's nice to see Witches out in the open and welcoming to newcomers who are seeking fellowship at moons and Sabbats. The highlight of the closing ritual was a boisterous spiral dance.

According to the organizers, over 400 people passed through. There were many talks and workshops... Wicca 101, transformative breath, belly dance, along with guest speakers such as Tony Mierzwicki, Patrick McColllum and Raven Grimassi. Patrick got rave reviews and sold just about all his books out!

The garden

Paraphrased from a teacher I know and love...
I tried all that stuff this religion and that. Now, everything I need to know--I learn from my garden.

In these late days of summer mantids have moved in. We are happy to have the visitors.