Autumn Joy!

I come alive in autumn! The oppressive southern summer heat and humidity are gone, sunlight dances on golden and rust leaves, and the squirrels are flitting all around the yard, storing acorns and pecans for the winter.
I was blessed to spend last Sunday walking the beach with my sister and a friend as sandpipers skittered before us on the strand, pelicans soared above us and - miracles! - three pods of dolphin played in the surf beside us! What a gift to watch their joyous migration.
This afternoon I'm honored to bless a friend's new art studio, and then we drum around a fire in celebration of her new adventure and in communion with each other and Mother Earth. What a blessed time to be alive!
While I try so hard to treasure these electric autumn days, to be in the moment, I also live in anticipation - Samhain is coming! For my 23rd year, I read Tarot at a local Halloween event for two weekends, while my amazing Granny Jean (age 83) reads palms. Having this time with her year after year is more of a gift than words can express.
So, everyone take a moment to relish this blessed weather, and give thanks for this blessed moment.
Be blessed,
Deb

Giving Thanks

My Lakota friends say that setting aside one day each year to give thanks is a problem. Every day, they say, should be a day of thankful prayer. Today I am grateful for so much, but particularly for TIME to slow down, reflect, and honor Mother Earth around me. I am grateful to participants in our workshops (email deb.bowen.crone@gmail to be added to my mailing list). I am grateful that, in some small way, the work I do makes a difference in someone's life. I am grateful that my students are my best teachers.

I am grateful to those folks working to stop Titan Cement (see www.stoptitan.org) from destroying this place I love so much. I am grateful to President Obama for working toward health care reform. I am grateful for the work of Lynn Heritage and Grandmothers for Peace (ncpeacegrannie@yahoo.com). There are many, many other organizations making differences in lives, and I offer up gratitude for their work.

In my beliefs, the New Year began on October 31, as we celebrated the last of the harvest, and I am grateful for the new year's approach. I will spend some time in the mountains and on the ocean soon, reconnecting with Mother Earth and Mother Ocean in deep, blissful solitude, and for that gift, there aren't enough words to express my gratitude.
peace and blessings,
deb