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Monday, April 25, 2022

Coals for Our Hearth Fires



Bedeck the lowing cattle
with yellow flowers,
and trot them round the meadow,
then send them out
to the far summer pastures,
as this soft azure evening
is falling.
All the menfolk are gathering
in the common,
to light the communal fire.
Let us gather round the flames,
faces flickering in its light,
and ask Fire for protection.

Deep peace, deep peace
is all we are asking.
Deep peace of the spring night,
filled with starshine,
and of tomorrow's golden morn,
fresh and new-rising.

I shall take my torch
and light it from the coals,
carry it safely home
to light my own hearth fire,
snuffed out by the last cold winter wind.

But first,we women-of-the-straggly-hair
must hoist our skirts up high
and take long-legged leaps
across the flames.
Set your intention.
If you make it across
the fire without being burned,
you are already blessed.

Deep peace of the first of May to you.
Deep peace of the bee-buzz in the roses.
Deep peace of the skybird's joyous call.
Deep peace.
In your heart of hearts,
may it be always newly spring.


During one of our staff trainings at the treatment centre where I worked for over eight years, we were told about the Celtic spring tradition of putting out the winter fires in all of the houses, and gathering on the common - where each family took home fresh hot coals from the communal fire, to warm their own hearth fires - something we were trying to do in the Centre - send the families home with some living coals to warm their own homes and hearts. This is sort of what we do at earthweal, sharing our words of grief and hope, taking away support, comfort, encouragement, renewed determination to keep striving for that better world humans everywhere want so much yet dont seem to know how to achieve. Putting down all the guns would be a good start, and disabling all the bombs. Removing terrible leaders who are not fit to serve - or lead.

13 comments:

  1. I love that ides of taking communal coal home to light individual fires. We seem to have lost that community spirit, though we remain tribal...a conundrum!

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  2. Yes! There is communal space in the common, shared by human and beast and fire. A place for festival, and leaping. We can't stop the missiles, but by dancing we stamp out their fire.

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  3. Interesting tradition of sharing coals. One spirit one heart.

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  4. Wishing you deep peace, Sherry!

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  5. A wonderful ritual! Thanks for sharing so beautifully in your poem.

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  6. A beautiful ritual beautifully told Sherry. Thanks for sharing it with us,

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  7. This is a wonderful remembrance of the old ways. Wouldn't it be great if we could back to something similar, something that recognises the sacred quality of life and the wonder of seasonal renewal. I agree, putting down our guns would be a good place to start. Suzanne - Mapping Uncertainty

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  8. This is lovely - and I love that idea of lighting fires from that communal flame. How wonderful.

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  9. Wow! The repetition evokes the ritual for me. "Deep peace, deep peace
    is all we are asking." Ah. I hope I am not too old to leap.

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  10. I love the picture of the cow. Nice piece of history

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  11. A wonderful poem Sherry

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