The Earth and the Chill: some musings

Maybe it's the mercury retrograde or maybe I have simply accepted the fact that I am a Virgo, and have no real desire to get along with anyone for the sake of getting along. Either way today has been a trying day. Instead of the usual manifestation of melancholia this time, I find myself rather pissed off at the world. Or at least those who I have come into close contact with today.

Of course Mr. OD probably chalks it up to the coming flowers, so he does his best to annoy me just to the tip of my limitation, and then proceeds to laugh at me and tell me in all seriousness the sweetest and loveliest of nothings, until I am calm and he can annoy me again. But in his own way, he knows even his ability to annoy me is part of his charm, and he does this simply to cheer me.  Yes, it seems convoluted, but he's Irish, I can forgive him that.

But now Mr. OD is peacefully dreaming, I am wide awake, and the absence of him compounds my frustration. I feel I must get out of this smoke filled cavern that is my room, and the sound of a gentle rain on the roof compels me to step outside and revel a bit in the darkness, the cold, and the wetness. Perhaps a slippered foot or two on the wet yet solid earth, a prayer for my lady to cleanse me of these feelings, the comforting embrace of Not, all may help me.

So out we go, slippers and flannel robe for me, tinkling tags and layers of fluff for my companions, aka the dogs. As soon as I step out onto the porch the scent of wet earth assails my nose, like the smell of a lover, intoxicating and familiar, comfort and contentment. The wind itself is not so gentle, but for me the chill, misty air is a welcome respite from the solar temperatures inside the house, thanks to the heating. I step into the grass just to feel the stray raindrops land and burst softly on my face, my eyes closed and my face to the heavens.

I ground myself to the earth like a tree and transfer the negativity into the earth, knowing she welcomes all energy, without concern of it's source or nature. It is all part of her, I know this, as an earth which and a pupil of Freyja. Perhaps I delude myself, but it seems that each time I transfer or gather energy with the earth,as strong gust blows. Maybe it is natural coincidence, and maybe not. All I know is that wind whips my hair, and even in its coolness is a welcome caress.

Winter, that season so many abhor, I welcome it as I welcome the spring and fall. Just as I have always been drawn to the night, I am also drawn to the coolness and the chill. Like the embrace of the deep earth which frightens many, but to me is cave like and comforting as the womb must be to a babe. For me this season is a welcome rest. The sharp bite of the cold soon gives way to a sense of lethargy and intoxication. The blood slows, the emotions dull, and the soul rests for a time.

One wonders in modern times if we would ever rest, our minds and hearts and bodies, were it not for this forced respite of nature each year. I see the fight against winter in the hearts of many as a fight against an addiction. Bodies made for the cyclical energies of the earth who are drugged with the electric energy of the modern world. Desperate to fill the void of the connection slowly lost after generations of stepping away from the earth, trying to convince themselves of man's supremacy above nature. A losing battle.

To know the earth, is a gift and a curse. It is comforting darkness, and a knowledge of sorrow. It is not an energy that one can simply control and command, it requires a giving of oneself and one's own energy. To be an earth witch is to be in a constant state flux and awareness, to fight the cycles of the seasons is all but useless. Just as you take of her energy, she will take of yours as well when she has use of it. It is communion, at times silent and unknown. Maintaining energy levels is key, or the resulting depletion is often devastating.

Please understand that this post is in no way and advocation of what I call being an earth which, over being a fire witch, or water witch, or wind witch. I simply wanted to share some thoughts I had tonight, and others which have been brewing inside me for awhile. Also understand that by the term witch, I am in no way a Wiccan. In fact I couldn't be farther from such. My heart is with the Vanir, as always. I see the elements as simply a part of the natural world as a whole, and could never deny their impact across all pagan and heathen religions.

In frith
Cena