CEREMONY

Thanks to podmate Joseph, Green Acres Permaculture Village now has a new tradition: to hold a sacred New Moon ceremony with each lunar cycle. The first one was last Tuesday evening, when several of us gathered with Joseph and three of his co-workers at the local co-op.

Joseph is taking this tradition seriously, ready to document it as the first of many. He’s dedicated a notebook to it, and calls himself “Chicory Joe.” Pay special attention to the wonderful wand he placed on the cover, which he made from a yellow dock root and a crystal.

To welcome us for the occasion, he set up a table with treats —

and another with ceremonial objects, should any of us choose to bring one. I brought Tarot cards. Others brought crystals. Here he is fussing over that table’s arrangement (unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo) while the rest of us wait for the ceremony to begin.

The ceremony itself was short and sweet. He lit a fire, and then asked each of us to write down whatever we feel we need to let go of in order to usher in the New Moon cycle. Then, he asked us to go around the circle, and listen to each other say something about what we are letting go as we watch the slips of paper thrown into the fire.

Here we are, busy writing.

I was amazed at how quickly and sincerely everyone present got into the spirit of the ceremony, welcoming the new by letting go of the old.

 

AXE WHACK!

Podmate Marita, who is basically in charge of compost these days, decided that during our Tuesday morning work party she would whack the old compost structure. If you recall, we’re moving it to the back of the third house. Here’s Dan, sitting on top of the new one.

The old one is being dismantled little by little, and Marita told me later she had great fun getting her aggression out, whacking with an ax. Here she is, heading in . . .

And here she is, having fun.

BTW: for Thursday’s Community Dinner, I brought the salad, featuring a variety of greens from the main garden.