The Wheel turns toward Foghar, the Autumnal Equinox, when once again, the day and night at are balanced, and Summer begins to fade toward the dark. The Goddess gives the earth the fruit of her loins, literally with the final ripening of berries, apples, grapes and more. While the God has part of his essence within her womb, he is also present on the earth within the fruit of the final harvest, and the wine that is made. As the God of the Fruit and the Vine, the God sacrifices himself a second time, through the final harvest of the land. His transformations have made him wise, knowing of the cycles of birth, growth, death and rebirth again. He is happy to die so he can release his life energy to be renewed once more. He is no longer dueling with his emotions, he is one with himself, looking forward to the change and continuing the cycle. With his wisdom, he carries the regrets and sorrows of the Earth’s Children to the underworld with him. There he awaits the return of the Goddess below. The Goddess as Mother mourns the loss of the God as her Consort, but also as her Son. She knows he is already within her, yet apart just the same. As her Consort he has left her behind to cross the veil at her own time which is soon to come. As her Son, he has sacrificed himself to feed the Children of Earth, she must let him go so life may go on. This time is bittersweet for the loss that is felt is also in the joy that is received. She reveals her sorrow as leaves turn color and fall, flowers wilt and die, and darkness begins to permeate the land.
The Goddess and God both prepare for their final return to the underworld where they will rest for the winter. They send messages to the Children of the Earth that their time to prepare has also come. The chill of a breeze is the Goddess kissing her Children, keeping them in mind of the change that is to come. The Vines heavy with fruit are the body of the God which will sustain life through the Winter, but this sustenance must be harvested by the Children of Earth for the substance to be so. Both Goddess and God are honored, they both give life, they are both in balance and accepting of what is to come. But now they are truly separating for a time, for the God in his second sacrifice will sleep, awaiting his next transformation where he shall quicken in the womb of the Goddess, while the Goddess shall remain with the Children of Earth until the veil is thin once more and it is her time to return below. There is a melancholy in the air felt by all. That which we have been given to survive is also lost to us for now.
The Children of the Earth celebrate the second harvest with a great feast of the fruits of their labor, giving thanks to all that the Goddess and God have provided for the year, and knowing that they will survive another winter’s darkness after all. They whisper their own sorrows and regrets to the wind for the God to carry away so they may approach the new year open and free. Libations of food and drink are blessed by the Children of Earth and left for the Goddess and God to take in what ever form they wish, be it fairy, bird, or squirrel. When the animals partake of an offering from the Children, it is the Goddess and God who are fed by the Children of Earth directly, in this time of thanks for being fed by Goddess and God. The circle is coming complete. There is a sadness, a melancholy in the air, when it is known that the Summer is now behind and the Winter has yet to be fared. But there is warmth in the heart as there is warmth in the hearth with the success of the harvest well prepared. This is what Foghar is about, the Remembering of times past and preparing of times ahead. The bounty of the Earth has been harvested to feed the Children through another season, the gifts of the Goddess and God are received. The Earth releases her weight of plenty, she prepares to slumber, as the Wheel Turns once more…
Seanachai Moonfyre
Merry Meet! I am first and foremost a writer. When I am writing I am in my element! Much of what I write about, and do in my life is centered around a pagan spiritual base. I have been studying various paths and topics, working with energies, deities, and the elements for 15 years plus. I am the High Priestess of Spiral Grove an eclectic study coven. I say I was given this coven as a gift because that is what it truly is. Spiral Grove would not be what it is without the members who make it whole.