What are ya'll's plans?!

To prepare for winter!

summer solstice is nearing...woot, woot

(we're below the equator, seasons are opposite here)

Good for you!

I really don't mind winters. But they can be harsh here. I live in the sticks and heat with wood. So the only way to make winters nice and cozy is to work my butt off in the fall preparing firewood for those cold winter nights. So murdering trees to keep warm will be my main Samhain ritual.

No, actually my property has enough trees on it that I'm able to cut enough firewood every winter just from the trees that die naturally. So I don't even need to feel guilty about being a "Tree Murderer".

But it's still a lot of work preparing all these dead trees for their ritual cremation.

Bonfire, methinks. Relaxing and enjoying the warmth of a crisp crackling fire. Remembering those who have passed this past year.

Quiet night.

The bonfire sounds cool. There's no one here to share it with though. Everyone moved away for the winter already.

I will be doing a ritual to honor my ancestors.

I'm starting to write my ritual for this and next weekend I will purchase a few supplies (herbs for incense and oil) I need. I'm really looking forward to this evening alone with my ancestors. I wonder who, if anyone, will show up.

There's going to be a public ritual/potluck on the 31st during the daytime and I'm gonna get to go this year!!!

Apparently it's going to be an Egyptian ritual with a Wiccan twist??? This should be interesting.

Raising of the fire,singing, partaking of bread and wine,remembering dead relatives and friends , then chowing on cheese, fruit and meat followed by me smoking my pipe.

Sounds like a perfect celebration!

Same thing every year..
Eat a fist full of shrooms and spirit walk...
Commune with the universe around a bonfire

Costume party, relaxing with friends, and walking the Paths.

when I lived in the States, I always had my traditional "Come As Your Favorite Dead Person" party...people sometime would show up as departed loved ones..it was very interesting..sometimes the event would be a wild free-for all party, other years it would be a solome tribute to the departed...

what ever you all do, may it bring you joy and peace.

*sigh*

I didn't do anything. I should have....after all, it's the beginning of the new year, and I'm a Celt at heart.

Well, I'm here on Mingle2....Maybe with luck I can set something up for Beltane!

Okay....that seemed a bit shallow. Truth is, I was born during Lughnasad, and I've sat out all night in 20 degree weather keeping the Solstice fire going....by myself.

Been there, done that. Sometimes holidays I want the solitude, and others, some interaction.

The group ritual was absolutely amazing this year. One of the best I've been to. And, then I had my own little thing at home in the evening. All in all, a wonderful way to start the New Year.