Today marks the festival of Lammas, a day traditionally viewed as the first harvest of three holy days, where we acknowledge our blessings of abundance and celebrate them. Heartily.
This morning I went out to our sacred space to leave an offering of Scottish oat cakes and whisky and was greeted by a family of five rather large grass spiders chilling out on our altar.
Spiders were a huge bane of my existence until I met my very first high priestess, LadyHawke, who like me is also a novelist. When she heard I was plagued by this fear she corrected me. “Spiders are the totem of writers,” she informed me. That was 20 years ago, and trust me it’s taken a while, but now I at least do not run screaming from the room every time one drops down from over head. And that happens a lot. Instead, I head to my computer and write. Or pick up my journal, or notebook. Something. Today, I’m writing this blog.
Luckily, I married a man who is also known as The Spider Whisperer. We keep mason jars strategically located around the house so he can take these little critters outside to live a happy, fulfilling life where they are supposed to be. In Nature.
Anyway. Wewent out to the altar to give my offering for all the abundance in my life when these five not-so-little guys appeared. At first I thought they were making their presence known to remind me I need to write today. But then I realized, no. They are reminding me of the abundance I’ve been blessed with as an author.
My abundance is in my works of poetry, news articles, press releases, short stories, novels, curriculum, columns, op/eds, and blogs I’ve created throughout the years.
My abundance is made evident in the experiences that resulted from these writings. Coven life, travel abroad, campaigning with well know public officials, poetry readings, book signings (!)- a life long dream of mine that has become a regular reality—and lately, writing life-changing curriculum for people who need help figuring out how to find peace, happiness, self-love, and a good life.
I am so blessed.
My blessings begin with waking up each day, alive and healthy, to watch the sun rise or the rain fall. With waking up next to my beloved who stands by me every step of my journey. Hearing from my kids and their spouses/partners. Connecting with my sister who has been with me through thick and thin. Early morning chats and emails with special people to catch up and fill one another in on what we have going on. Greetings of love as reminders from my coven family that I am in their thoughts.
And that’s just my mornings!
Throughout the day, I spend my time helping others heal with a team of people who give every last drop of what they have to keep people alive. On a regular basis my life is filled with people popping into my world to let me know I exist in someone else’s heart and thoughts outside of my own bubble.
Sure there are hard times. Life wouldn’t be complete without them. As my daughter once said at age six, “Mama, we have to have bad times or else we wouldn’t know to be happy when we have good times.”
And those I call my dark blessings. And I’ve had plenty. They’ve added to my life and make it and me who I am today. We can’t ignore or pretend the hard times don’t exist. We find a way to work through them, learn from them, grow from them and eventually find the blessings in them as well.
So today, in this blog, I’m following the lead of my spider totem and giving thanks for my writing life—by writing. I want to thank ALL OF YOU for making Janina Grey possible. My Herkimer Diamonds Critique partners Andrea and Bill. CNYRW, RWA. My publisher Debby, from Soul Mate Publishing for helping me give Janina Grey life with my first published romance TEN BUCKS AND A WISH, then daring me to write something new. And my Earth and Sky series was born. Gerbers in Utica for giving me a home for my first book signing. And all my friends and supporters who have bought my books along the way, cheering me on, loving me, encouraging me, crying with me at the most poignant scenes, and showing up at my events.
May your lives be filled with the abundance of love, adventure, and the time to tell about it.
Blessed Lammas.
Love,
Janina Grey
Janina Grey 