Descent into fall

[sabrinamari]

I'm listening to "Aion" today. It reminds me that this is the beginning of our slow annual descent into fall and winter. It feels like a time for patience and the death/letting go of old things we no longer need. I'm ready to curl up into the dark time and I don't even mind it.

Later, they'll be reawakening and rebirth. Now, I will wait and cultivate the qualities I'll need for next year.

*** *** ***

I'll start making sugar skulls, and perhaps even a nicho, this weekend.

I want to have plenty of blanks made and ready to decorate with Michael, Trent, Christine, O, Stephanie, Cat, Balefire, Clover and all of O's clan in time for Samhain. And perhaps I'll order the sugar mold for La Virgen. There are enough of us who love her to celebrate an evening of play on her behalf.

Links to inspire you:

http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/sugar_skulls/gallery.html
http://whi.assets.prod.lg1x8.simplecdn.net/tag/sugar%20skull
http://www.milagrosseattle.com/cgi-bin/catalog?cover=Cielito%20Lindo%20Nichos

Comments

[jasminewind.livejournal.com]

My yoga instructor said something interesting about this time of year being for "turning in" and not "turning off". I don't know that that is what I have done in the past but it resonated.

By the way, I'm *so* glad for your happiness and peace!

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

That sounds right. I'm not "turning off," either. I still feel my open chakras, and I'm still experiencing the same kinds of effects in my body, heart and mind as I did before FoV---I'm just not panicking about them so much. I feel some acceptance of it all, now.

Still losing weight, still eating and sleeping less, but somehow, since FoV, it's better.

So yes, "turning in" sounds right---I feel a kind of inner patience with the process.

[evcelt.livejournal.com]

How do you make sugar skulls? That sounds very cool...

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Like this:

http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/sugar_skulls/instructions.html

I use them on my ancestor/Dia de los Muertes altar (my ofrenda) every year.

Here are some lovely photos of ofrendas:

http://www.mexicansugarskull.com/skeleton_folkart/altar.html

It's delicious fun to make skulls and build an altar, and it's the perfect place to put all the photos and small gifts I've kept from the people and animals I've loved who have died.

[evcelt.livejournal.com]

Thank you! We build an ofrenda as part of the WindRose Samhain ceremony. If I get time, I may try making some.

Our ancestors/Ghede/memento mori shrine also has the liquor cabinet at the bottom. Seems to work just fine. ;-)

[diekonigin.livejournal.com]

Sugar skulls look like much fun!

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

They are. It's an art form I really enjoy, although I'm not especially good at it. I'm also interested in making nichos and Day of the Dead-related pieces. They are beautiful, personal and good for private devotions.

I've had a Venus nicho in my head for a while, and a Demeter nicho as well.

This fall

[otterdancing.livejournal.com]

is the first time in memory that I am looking forward to the winter, the dark and rest of the soul. This year it feels like solace. No fear, no hiding.

And that is my favorite DCD CD.

Re: This fall

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Me too, love. I'm welcoming the winter this time around---rare for me. I usually struggle with the dark and the cold, but somehow, this time it's OK. Maybe it's the internal blaze I'm carrying with me this year, or the extra adrenaline.

I've already started using one of my SAD lights---been using it for a couple of weeks at work. That's probably helping.

I'll spend more time in the gym this winter---in the weight room and in the sauna, just enjoying myself. I've already committed to at least two three-hour road trips the next couple of months to see Kelly and Abe, so I can't hide inside...hmmmm, that's an idea for tonight. I could do chest and shoulders, then hit the sauna with a book.

I love all the DCD CDs. I can't choose among them---they're good for different things.

[puckmls.livejournal.com]

Your plan to make sugar skulls and a nicho reminded me ... I have a wooden skeleton, the kind that you get at craft stores, that I had decided a while back to decorate in Mexican Day of the Dead style. I'll start with your links for inspiration. ¡Gracias! :-D

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

De nada, chica.

[showingup.livejournal.com]

I love that the Virgin is getting so much Pagan play these days :)

The other day, I discovered my aunt's Virgin medallion and put it on my altar. I need to converse with her and her son. Well, with all the gods I revere.

ai yai

[tracyandrook.livejournal.com]

Last year I borrowed the sugar skull apparatus and made a lot of paper pulp molds, with good results. I am concerned that some of the molds suffered damage and do you want help getting some more?

Re: ai yai

[sabrinamari.livejournal.com]

Tracy, I still haven't done this, but I'll look at my molds this weekend and let you know. Thanks so much for telling me this.