On Merriness,

Inspired by the Spirit of these times,

Seeking companions in remembering how to do it.

ON MERRINESS

BCW - Solstice 2004

  

Great Word, Merry.

Old english.

I'm told it has connections to a kind of magic -

A transformative, dancing deep gladness,

A conviviality that can't help but sing,

A refreshing connection with being as beautiful as you really are,

Among a circle of companions,

all bathed in a glamour,

Confident that unbridled joy in just what is,

just who we are, 

is enough,

At least for this while.

Merry –

Sadly,

A vestigial intention,

Now,  

A word with faint echoes of magic. 

We gather for the ceremony,

not knowing how to enter in,

not knowing how to disrobe and cleanse ourselves,

How to allow ourselves that Holy Day respite.

Wanting so badly the respite,

Recalling that food and drinking are involved,

that gathering has something to do with it.  

Scared to raise a toast,

to laugh uproariously. 

to forgive a slight,

to give grace in the moment,

Waiting for the rememberer of the ceremony to arrive and awake the magic for us

(forgetting that the remeberer was lost,

years ago,

and that with their last breaths

they hoped we now knew that

the ceremony was to be found inside us, among us,

could be sparked by the spirit and the trust the times need)

Knowing the need in these dark times to find beauty,

Even in our peril,

To trust the deepness of the cold nights,

Knowing that the cold fields patiently await the efforts of our springs

(Which are next - but not yet),

and meanwhile,

In these coldest moments,

Even still, Life stirs,

Deep beneath the creeping frost,

(Maybe not knowing that Life is

Strengthened by the sound of song and dancing feet –

Awaits this vital cue, ours to give,

Sometimes forgotten),

Meanwhile,

These days are right

for us to gather at hearths and tables,

Singing,

Telling our stories,

Finding lost love in the leaf litter of past life.

Beloved,

Trust yourself in this season. 

Seize the threads of merriment and

Patiently,

with the grace  YOU are,

Restore the magical fabric of joyous impulsive trust,

Start the singing,

Get up and dance,

Sit down and talk,

Welcome wanderers. 

It's that time.

Enjoy,