Imbolc                                                                         Imbolc Moon

“Valentine’s Day began in commemoration of St. Valentine. It seems that in the third century A.D., Emperor Claudius II of Rome issued a ban on marriages and engagements, to encourage young men to join the army instead. But Valentine went ahead and continued marrying couples in secret. When the emperor discovered this, Valentine was condemned to death and beheaded. The year was 278.” Chronicle

Fall                                                                                 Harvest Moon

The gold is mostly gone from the mountains, at least up here. Summer’s heat lit up the aspen leaves, then dispersed into air. Now the nights are cooler, the sun lower on the horizon. We have shifted toward the season of night and cold, away from the urgency of growth and into the relaxation of a fallow season. Now, with Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah, holiseason begins earlier for me, around the time of the fall equinox and lasts until Epiphany on January 6th. It’s my favorite time of the year.

Lughnasa                                                                    Kate’s Moon

ancientrails. sun and moon. totality. on the way to it. ancientrails will be dark until I can find wi-fi in the wilds of Idaho. or until i get back here.

Lughnasa                                                                    Kate’s Moon

Almost edible. The ultimate fruitcake discovered 106 years later in Antarctica. Presumably at least a year or two past its sell-by date. Didn’t we all suspect this strange dessert might last, well, forever? Now we know. At least a century. And we eat it? (I don’t.)

Lughnasa                                                                    Kate’s Moon

Sleeping so much. Gonna get tired of sleeping. It’s the greatest sleep ever. Ever. Aided by Colorado’s marijuana laws and their expression in Bailey, Colorado: The Happy Camper. Are you listening, Jeff Sessions? You bad elf.

Lughnasa                                                                          Kate’s Moon

Sister Mary is here. She and Guru flew in yesterday from Singapore. That’s a really long flight, almost a full day. They were jet lagged so they’re sleeping it off in Evergreen right now. We’re meeting them for breakfast at 9.

Midsommar                                                                      Kate’s Moon

Went to the embodied spirituality shabbat service: pillows on the floor, yoga mats, lots of singing bowls, a chakra wielding psychotherapist and a rabbi in training, also on the sanctuary floor. A long meditation accompanied by Heidi stroking the bowls and Bonnie leading us in chants in Hebrew kept us inward most of the time.

The variety of services at Beth Evergreen, between shabbat and holidays, makes attending fun and challenging, a good combination.

Midsommar                                                                     Most Heat Moon

Ancientrails will be briefly dark as Kate and I travel to Glenwood Springs to meet up with Stefan and Lonnie Helgeson. We’ll be gone tonight, back tomorrow. Jon will be here taking care of the dogs. A mini-vacation. See you either later tomorrow or early Sunday.

Midsommar                                                                          Most Heat Moon

Just to record it. Been in a physical slump the last three/four days. Didn’t feel like exercising, even mental labor feels hard. Don’t feel sick, just weary. But of what? Don’t know.