The season of Harvest is upon us and I am greeting this new time with the giddiness and enthusiasm of most witches.  Fall is our time… I have yet to meet a witch who did not simply adore fall.  Dried leaves, black cats and carved pumpkins are all but here.  The air is filled with spicy anticipation…  I can almost sense that the humid summer air desires to become a cool autumn breeze once more.

First Harvest is a time of preparing for the end of summer.  Sure, there is still plenty of work to be done in the gardens and fields before it is all over when our gardens will sleep once again.  But this is a perfect time for stepping back to admire the wonders of our hard work and for a heartfelt giving of thanks for bounty.  As we flit around on our broomsticks, we see that our gardens are absolutely full to bursting with life.  We gather the fruits of our labors into baskets, we dry our fresh herbs for use during the cold, barren winter months and we even begin plotting and planning next year’s Magickal gardens.  

It really is such a wonderful time of the year to be a witch.

There are so many traditional ways of celebrating this fantastic time of the year.  Corn dollies, braided wheat blades, fresh baked breads, apple picking, bon fires and lots of feasting.  It is still plenty early in the Harvest Season, but it is never ever too soon to begin giving thanks. As I began to celebrate the earthly gifts of fruits, vegetables and herbs a thought occurred to me. 

When we tend our gardens throughout the summer growing season, we nurture, water, fertilize and love until everything bursts with all we will ever need.  When the growing season ends, we humbly give thanks for all that we have been given, bless the garden spaces and let them sleep until the spring returns to us promising new life.  When friendships are new, we nurture with conversations, gifts, patience and love.  There almost always comes a time when that friendship is leaned upon for strength and a time of thanksgiving is in order.  But what happens after that?  Do we let the friendship sleep until we need it again?  Friends are not so much like the earth.  They do not hibernate until the thaw and rejuvenate only when needed.  Friendships require constant nurturing, love and attention.  And the friendship gardener is proud and more than thrilled to tend.

I would like to add to the list of harvest traditions.  I have been gifted with so many friendships since officially becoming a witch and I plan to count each and every one of those beautiful witches as a blessing this Harvest Season.  What I have harvested from these wonderful friends is love, caring, strength and knowledge.  And rather than let those friendships sleep through the winter, I plan to show gratitude daily.  This harvest season, why not give more than just thanks for the friends we have?  Why not give of ourselves?  Each of us is a beautiful garden filled with talents, knowledge, healing energy, strength, courage, love and caring.  Rather than harvesting these attributes and keeping them secret, reach out and share these with our beloved friends.  We will all have the most beautiful Harvest Season of our witchy lives.

...Merle

About Merle: I am a solitary simplistic, down-to-earth Cottagewitch practicing the Healing Magick used by the Olde ones. I am particularly drawn to Colonial American Cunning Craft of the 1600's and Romany Gypsy Magick. I nurture a very serious relationship with the earth & every living thing. I am guided by a familiar relationship with the Crow.

I love cats and they love me back, but I'm allergic so my feline familiar is "invisible". I am a mom thymes three beautiful daughters. I am a free-lance photographer & an author/illustrator of children's & witchcraft books. I grew up in Indiana, but the gypsy in me took hold & I now live in the Northeast.  

Merle can be contacted at: myspace.com/yeoldecottagewitch or via email at: merlesmusings@yahoo.com!

Copyright Merle 2008 - Do not post or publish elsewhere without the author's explicit consent!

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