Ceres

As the climate changes and the stress of extreme climate events begin to change our world, perhaps we will be pushed, willing or not, into greater reverence for the planet on which we live.

In the mythology of Ceres/Demeter, in her heartbreak over the loss of her daughter to the Underworld she caused the crops to fail, spreading starvation and devastation throughout the world of humans.  I have always felt that the elevation of Ceres to planet status was a wakeup call to alert us to the need for respect for the Earth and the nourishment she provides which sustains us, and without which we become destitute. 

It is not too late, and perhaps this beautiful prayer from Starhawk can help us to embody and share the love of the Earth and the many blessings that she provides. ❤️

art by Charles Frizzell

We give thanks for all those who are moved, in their lives, to heal and protect the earth, in small ways and in large. Blessings on the composters, the gardeners, the breeders of worms and mushrooms, the soil-builders, those who cleanse the waters and purify the air, all those who clean up the messes others have made. Blessings on those who defend trees and who plant trees, who guard the forests and who renew the forests. Blessings on those who learn to heal the grasslands and renew the streams, on those who prevent erosion, who restore the salmon and the fisheries, who guard the healing herbs and who know the lore of the wild plants. Blessings on those who heal the cities and bring them alive again with excitement and creativity and love. Gratitude and blessings to all who stand against greed, […]

To celebrate the opposition from Ceres, representing the abundance of the earth and her ability to nourish us, with Neptune, planet of spirituality and creativity, I offer this beautiful piece from architect Anthony Lawlor.  Photo from this site, and thanks to Beth for the inspiration on Pinterest.

Your kitchen is calling. It’s inviting you to engage the magic of transformation by taking the gifts of the earth and cooking them into meals that nourish the depths of your being. To make a kitchen for your soul, you don’t need an expensive remodel. You don’t need new cabinets or industrial strength appliances. All you need is to open your senses to the act of preparing food and the willingness to appreciate the simple miracle being created in the act.

It only takes a moment to shift your kitchen from a storage room for snacks into a place of soulful alchemy. Instead of unconsciously stumbling into your kitchen and grabbing something from the frig, plopping it on a plate and stuffing it in your mouth, try this. Stop, look at where you are and sense the possibilities. The stove is offering fire. The sink is providing water, the refrigerator and cupboards are filled with earthy bounty from the world’s garden. All that’s needed is for you to feel the desire in your belly and allow it to guide you in creating a meal. As you open the doors of the frig or cabinet to select the vegetables, grains and other items, savor the colors, shapes and design of the food. Imagine the fields and orchards they came from and the natural processes of weather and soil that produced them. As you slice and […]