Conjunctions?

[Labrys]

I've had a hectic and stressed summer.  Not only did we have a pretty intense remodel bit going on, but it was abutting a time of much desired guests and a less desired hosting of a wedding!  And then, the topper was various pet issues.  I've buried one little woozle and have two more at risk with age and illness.  

So, it would be fair to say, I have been a bit out of whack with the natural progression of the world, both mundane and magical!

That focus got snapped back last night!  New Moon was the 27th and I did my usual observances, if in a bit of a perfunctory way. But I was wearily looking forward to the dark of the year to de-stress, refresh, study, and such.  Last night the Manchild and I watched some television and he headed off to his house to study as I watched a few minutes of the late news.

A couple minutes into news, my eyes were drawn to the large living room window by a flash of light---I thought a car was headlighting into my neighbor's back drive at first.  But I saw no car, and there was only a single rather dim, dust-mote filled beam of light up the side of the drive---low and against the ground.  As I am puzzled by this, and standing up to squint and look at this, I realize there is movement IN the beam of light.

Animals are walking there...in a straight line heading south!  They seem dim and insubstantial, and very hard to make out but I see cats, and a raccoon and I cross to the window to try to see more clearly.  The entire thing winks out and darkness is all that is left.

I'm pretty sure my reality check is bouncing, so I go out to the Manchild's building to tell him about this.  He gets his dog, Zaya and we walk out with her to the edge of the neighbor's drive.  To our surprise, Zaya SITS down...stops cold.  She looks about the area and begins to whine!  A continuous stream of low, soft short whines and it just keeps coming until both of us are freaked out.  We go back to our selective houses, noting it is a night to stay indoors!

I retreat (of course) to my bookshelves.  I find one book that I use seldom because I regard it as part useful info, part undiluted speculative bulls***; but it lists Sept 29th as a day sacred to the Welsh lord of the dead (and land of faery?) Gwynn ap Nudd.

Gwynn ap Nudd is one of the household deities, tho' he prefers to appear to us as Herne, all antlered up, except when displaying his white hunting hounds to us (which scares the s*** out of us and often presages serious illness).  If, as with many pagan trads, one assumes that the "day" begins on the evening before....then the late hour on the 28th IS the event.  It is said that this day is when he opens the gates of "faery" and/or the dead.

Also, it is Rosh Hoshanna...the Jewish new year and day of judgement and atonement.  Interesting conjunction...a day of my personal deity, the new moon and a Jewish high holy day.  I still feel kind of freaked out by what I saw and the dog's reaction to the area of activity.  Mortals are not supposed to see such processions.

And why would I?  Man, I have been anticipating the winter season for rest.  Why now do I feel like another initiation of some sort is stalking my weary worn out self?

[Schuylar]

Wow. 

Isn't always the case that we get tested when we are least ready for it?  I guess it's how They work, but it would be nice to get a chance to decompress.

I dealt with it by completely shutting down and now I would be able to notice anything even it if walked up and dope-slapped the back of my head. (well maybe I would notice that, but I'm thinking it would take a good bit of energy to get my attention).

[Labrys]

I'd love to kick something and complain about being picked on in my sub-standard condition.

But it has dawned on me that since I am full-battle-grade-armor-clad skeptic in my "normal" condition, that the Powers-the-Be DO take advantage of any reduced capability in order to get through my thick skull at all.

Time on Their side, and my temporary incapacity?  A match made in some heaven or other, I guess.  But yeah, I feel a bit cringe-inclined just at the idea of more coming down that particular pike.

[Lark]

I once asked the HPS who trained me why it was that when the Gods wanted my attention they always used the cosmic clue-by-four.

HPS:  What's your sign

Me:  Taurus

HPS: I rest my case.

Sometimes I think that the Gods know just what it will take to get our attention and to make us heed the messages they are trying to send us.  For those of us who are natural skeptics or who have a hard time "hearing" what the Gods are trying to say, I think they often resort to bludgeoning us over the head just so that we will sit up and become aware that something important is being imparted to us.

[Labrys]

Bludgeoning it is!

 

I am a Scorpio with a Taurus moon and Aries rising.  I imagine they've used a forest worth of clubs by now....you suppose the extra hard whacks explain why I am developing scoliosis at this late date?