November, Hallows & Day 3 - The Truth

November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows.

With night coming early,
And dawn coming late,
And ice in the bucket
And frost by the gate.

The fires burn
And the kettles sing,
And earth sinks to rest
Until next spring.

~ Elizabeth Coatsworth ~

Happy November! Our Hallows ritual was lovely last night. I managed to crawl home by a quarter to four! We had a lovely remember for those who have gone by and our hazelnut charms are made and hung. I brought the offerings home to my hedge, my friend's dogs have taken to raiding the crossroads near her home for them, LOL. My Spirits welcomed them and a libation of cider, milk and Strega Liqueur. I am very much at peace this morning, good things are on the horizon.

Day 3 Something you have to forgive yourself for.


I try not to dwell on past mistakes and misjudgments. We are all human and really, nothing can change the past. My motto (I know, I have many) is to learn, accept and move on. That being said, there is something I haven't been able to forgive myself for and I keep working at it. The fact is I am not yet at that place where I feel I deserve forgiveness - it is such a painful memory - is the reason, I am sure. The good that came out of it is that I will never do something like it again, I am careful to consider what another may be going through. I certainly don't take any crap from someone because they can't manage their anger, but I try - sometimes successfully, sometimes not, to remind myself that there are reasons why people do what they do - painful reasons. 


I had a relative I was close to, now passed, who was an alcoholic. One day, when I was about 20 or 21, she called me and sounded drunk. I asked if she had been drinking and she denied it, but I believe she had been. Instead of talking to her, I hung up the phone, judgement passed. I cringe at this memory, even now, 33 years later. What was I thinking? How unkind and lacking in compassion I was. What would it have hurt to talk to her, even if she had been drinking? I loved her then, I love her still and I will regret it the rest of my life. A lesson - love them while you have them, warts and all. Make sure they know it - always make sure the people you love know that you do.

Blessings nine!