First Harvest
Aug 7, 2025
Today is the astronomical cross-quarter day of Lughnasadh - the midpoint between the Summer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox. Our true First Harvest. Welcome. We are moving from the work of the July Feasts into the bounty of the honoring that is this week of August. Receive this alignment today in the quiet of your being - what are you harvesting? Many will meditate on these peak energies of the 8-8 tomorrow, all the more so amplified by the crescending full moon energies. The Full Moon peak itself is 3:55 am EDT Saturday morning and we will ride those energies through Sunday to Clare’s Feast on August 11th, the grace of the Perseids meteor shower peak coinciding splendidly with the Festival of the Lights of Isis. It’s time to exhale, to be in wonder, to be grateful for the blessings given with the descent of Isis | Mary | Sophia since Magdalen pierced the veil on Her Feast Day, July 22nd.
St. Clare, companion of St. Francis, was a stalwart advocate and example of living in harmony with the Earth. She encouraged all in a direction of ‘non-ownership’. Non-ownership of the land, of the creatures, of one another. I think of her as the Patroness of our Earth Day celebrations. In this context of the end of the ‘dog days’ of summer (the days of the rising of the Star Sirius - the Dog Star - marking the Egyptian New Year) she brings us the fine Divine Rain to cool and cleanse before the gate doorway is complete. She brings grace and ease but also asks us to reflect on the lessons presented, and if they have been fully learned. Part of our meeting Spirit half way is to really reflect, accept into our hearts the teachings, to ask for guidance on how to hold them in a good way going forward, to consciously offer our gratitude and to allow that work to integrate as a sign of value, appreciation and respect. Saint Clare also offers us an opportunity for Forgiveness, both for ourselves and to others.
Last night I sat with friends on the back porch listening to the night and talking through the last entanglements of the day. My sister sat cleaning “Lion Heart”, or Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca, as we spoke. Good medicine for these days. I remembered Sekhmet - Lioness Goddess - ‘the Big Paw’, as we like to call Her. Bringing that Big Paw energy - the Solar Feminine aspect of Summer Solstice that brings swift response to any threat particularly to our children, our loved ones. It can be harsh. It is primal. I found myself saying how it is not an energy I strive to embody. I am, after all, Priestess of Bastet. A very different protective, creative feminine force. I found myself saying all I want is to be the Cow! The Sacred Cow. Hathor, Goddess of Love. I too have dedications to Her and She is ever present in our work with Water. Goddess of Love, like Oxum, the Yoruban Goddess of the sweet waters, like Boann, the Sacred Cow Goddess of the River Boyne. I just want to be the Cow! And I remembered a story…
One of the tellings of the story of Sekhmet is that She IS Hathor. It can be told that Hathor, the Goddess of Love became the Lioness Sekhmet when her People were under attack and being threatened. To Protect her People She BECAME the Lioness, fierce protector and defender. The story continues that in Her role as defender she became intoxicated with bloodlust and needed to be calmed down or risk unnecessary destruction. The people poured out beer, colored it red, and tricked her into lapping it all up! The beer calmed Her, and with Her bloodlust subdued, She was able to return to Her true form, Hathor, Sacred Cow, Goddess of Love.
Giving thanks for the reminder of the story of Hathor / Sekhmet, a pair of owls then came and joined us with the crickets in a song, as a near full moon rose in the night sky between the branches.
Enjoy the lights and other blessing from above this week, August 15th is the Ascension of the Holy Sophia when she returns from our Earthly plane to her place in the astral. I leave you with this Prayer of Saint Clare to introduce into your meditations this week.
Prayer of Saint Clare
Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!
Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!
Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance!
And transform your whole being into the image of the Godhead Itself
through contemplation!
So that you too may feel what His friends feel
as they taste the hidden sweetness
which God Himself has reserved
from the beginning
for those who love Him.
Saint Clare
Saint Clara clarified
With her light of love
Coming from the air and the fields
She comes bringing fine silver
For the ones who have merit
Saint Clara clarified
With her light of love
In the shaking of the thunder
For our redemption
She comes bringing peace and love
Saint Clara clarified
With her light of love
From the forces of nature
She brings cleansing waters
To wash away our pain
Saint Clara clarified
Dissolving any conflict
In the time of uncertainties
Working with firmness
That Padrinho blessed
Saint Clara clarified
Our pain has been relieved
Descending from the astral
Fine divine rain
Saint Clara is who sent it
Ahmet Yüksek/Pexels
