Thanksgiving

I tend to think of the Pagan holidays of Lammas and Mabon as my Thanksgiving or harvest festivals. Still growing up with this American tradition, I always remember the great food and time with family.
For the indigenous people of this land, Thanksgiving is a National Day of Mourning. They welcomed the European settlers, gave them food, only to be betrayed and have their lands taken away as the centuries of imperial conquest continued, first with the Europeans and then continued by the United States.

On this day, I honor the First People of the Americas, the people who came here 14,000 years ago. I honor the spirits of the African slaves, who were forcibly dragged across the ocean to replace the Native Americans as labor. It is a vicious cycle that we still are seeing the effects today, as both Natives and people of color are still experiencing the suffering that was inflicted upon them by the rape and pillage of the Americas.

I give thanks to the Creator, the Divine Mother and Father of All Life for all of His/Her blessings, for the challenges, for the victories, for the moments both bitter and sweet.

"The Great Spirit is in all things, he is in the air we breathe. The Great Spirit is our
Father, but the Earth is our Mother. She nourishes us, that which we put into the ground
she returns to us..."
-Big Thunder (Bedagi) Wabanaki Algonquin

Let the Sun Shine...

After many rainy days in NYC, it looks like the sun is peeking out of the clouds. Just in time for Summer Solstice. It is also Father's Day, which I think is good, the sun in many cultures represents the paternal, masculine force. I'm wishing a Happy Father's Day to my own dad, even though we are not always close, he is still my father and I love him. Also to my older brother who became a dad for the first time this year to a lovely Oshun girl. I give thanks and honor to my grandfathers and forefathers on this day.
Tomorrow is a special New Moon. The moon will be closest in its orbit to the earth. This is a powerful day. Interesting how it falls right after the day of the Summer Solstice. The Solstice this year is on a Sunday (the sun's day) and Father's Day. The New Moon is on a Monday (moon's day). It is like the masculine and feminine Divine Forces are balanced in the Heavens. We need help from Big Daddy and Big Mama in this world.
This Solstice I'm feeling an Egyptian vibe. The Egyptians were big on sun worship. I think this Solstice/New Moon thing is very Horus and Hathor so I put their pictures above. Let the Sun and the Moon shine and bless us all!!