I’ve been waiting for today for several months in order to make my official homecoming. Beltane – the feast of life, love, hope, and joy. Sunlight, blossom, soft air, new beginnings… fecundity.
At the top of the ridge there lives a venerable apple tree. She has NINE trunks. I knew that I was going to ask her for some wood with which to make various implements of my craft. I felt her calling me to her. She let me know what was expected of me in terms of offerings. And she named the day. Today was that day.
I packed a basket with all that I needed for the ritual, including a gold coin and some beautiful hagstones from Madeleine at Lila Strand in Co. Wexford tied with red and white woolen yarn.
I said my prayers, made my offerings, closed the circle and then sat quietly with a goblet of mead and the last of my birthday cake while looking out over the view.
The answer came that I am not to take any wood from her, but from the other apples on the farm – of which there are several. I walked around some of them, found a perfect branch that I will return for, found an old, old remnant of an apple, still coming to life despite its age and promised to return to take cuttings so that its offspring will live on.
Then I packed up my basket and turned to go. And as I did, I noticed something small and black and furry. I wasn’t sure it was alive, so I made kiss noises at it. And it stirred. A young porcupine. It hadn’t been there before. It had come quite close to where I’d been sitting.
Porcupines are symbols of innocence. They tell us that we should approach life with childlike innocence. Just start again, just like a little one – full of wonder, lacking judgement. I promised to return with some lovely treats that it was sure to enjoy, thanked him or her for the visit.
As I walked home down the path, a turkey vulture flew over the bog, reminding me to ride the warm currents that come to me, to trust myself to find the truth – and to clean up some shi*t.
And then the biggest, fattest bumblebee I have literally ever seen flew back and forth in front of me reminding me that my new beginning includes the expectation that I continue in service to others.
All in all, it could not have been a better homecoming to myself. I’m happy to be here. I hope that you have the strength and the blessing to be happy and at home wherever your own path leads.
