POETRY
by Sherri Lyn Sim
Cuba
Emerald, jade and sapphire waters, always warm
Sifted talcum powder sands bleached by the sun
Clouds passing by in the endless eastern breeze
Corals of white, pink and red wash up on the beach
Rolling waves break on sandbars and shore
Tropical gardens of every colour and shape
Rain showers pass quickly, and so do the days...in Cuba
2009
Sifted talcum powder sands bleached by the sun
Clouds passing by in the endless eastern breeze
Corals of white, pink and red wash up on the beach
Rolling waves break on sandbars and shore
Tropical gardens of every colour and shape
Rain showers pass quickly, and so do the days...in Cuba
2009
LITHA (3)
The Sun stands still
A bittersweet time
The longest day
Heat arrives yet the Sun is dying
It’s leaving us for another place I long to follow
No death, no decay, no cold, no dark
Just lasting light and warmth
The Sun ever undulating across the Equator in an endless dance
Ritual
Rise with the Sun
Learn solstice time and meditate on the future from the Sun’s highest moment
Gather strength from the Sun for the dark days ahead
Bathe in a lake
Gather herbs for drying
Watch the Sun set, be thankful for the light
Make a bonfire, dance and leap around it
2011
A bittersweet time
The longest day
Heat arrives yet the Sun is dying
It’s leaving us for another place I long to follow
No death, no decay, no cold, no dark
Just lasting light and warmth
The Sun ever undulating across the Equator in an endless dance
Ritual
Rise with the Sun
Learn solstice time and meditate on the future from the Sun’s highest moment
Gather strength from the Sun for the dark days ahead
Bathe in a lake
Gather herbs for drying
Watch the Sun set, be thankful for the light
Make a bonfire, dance and leap around it
2011
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Summer is here. The earliest sunrise turns to the longest day which precedes the latest sunset.
Litha marks the end of the increasing daylight.
The Earth is at aphelion, rounding the bend back towards the Sun.
Summer is just beginning.
The Earth is fully warmed and the skies are getting warmer as we approach the Sun.
On Litha, fires mark the warmth of the Sun and sustain our diminishing light.
Two thirds of the day the Sun travels across our sky in a long wide arc, for a brief dip at night, to rise a little later the next day.
The cool of Spring says goodbye as we greet the warmth of Summer.
Litha gives us the light we need for the abundance we need to carry us through to next Spring.
Thank you Goddess for Summer, the time I feel most alive.
Ritual
Rise to watch the sunrise, note its place on the horizon
Meditate on the meaning of Summer
Light a candle then watch the Sun set
Plan a long, eventful Summer
2010
Litha marks the end of the increasing daylight.
The Earth is at aphelion, rounding the bend back towards the Sun.
Summer is just beginning.
The Earth is fully warmed and the skies are getting warmer as we approach the Sun.
On Litha, fires mark the warmth of the Sun and sustain our diminishing light.
Two thirds of the day the Sun travels across our sky in a long wide arc, for a brief dip at night, to rise a little later the next day.
The cool of Spring says goodbye as we greet the warmth of Summer.
Litha gives us the light we need for the abundance we need to carry us through to next Spring.
Thank you Goddess for Summer, the time I feel most alive.
Ritual
Rise to watch the sunrise, note its place on the horizon
Meditate on the meaning of Summer
Light a candle then watch the Sun set
Plan a long, eventful Summer
2010
LITHA (1)
The first day of Summer, the Sun’s at it’s highest
For divining forwards and back at it’s strongest
The longest day, the Sun’s at full power
Encircle your cauldron with Earth’s blessed flowers
Litha is today, magic power is great
Headed towards Yule, this solstice’s mate
Make a wish, jump the balefire
The Sun’s at it’s peak, it will climb no higher
Tomorrow’s a darker, more serious day
For Summer rain to the Goddess we pray
Use oak leaves and flowers and symbols of the Sun
Celebrations of abundance and fertility have begun
Mirrors capture the Sun and the fire
Herbs gathered today for their power is higher
All types of magic are performed tonight
Fairies throw parties with magical delight
The strength of the Summer Sun today gleams
A prophetic moon guides vivid dreams
The beauty and bounty of nature I see
Summer is here and so Blessed Be
Ritual
Be outdoors all day
Bless all your garden beds
Make an offering to the Earth for Summer rains
Gather herbs for drying
Dance around a fire or garden
Note the Sun’s position in the sky at sunrise and sunset
2009
For divining forwards and back at it’s strongest
The longest day, the Sun’s at full power
Encircle your cauldron with Earth’s blessed flowers
Litha is today, magic power is great
Headed towards Yule, this solstice’s mate
Make a wish, jump the balefire
The Sun’s at it’s peak, it will climb no higher
Tomorrow’s a darker, more serious day
For Summer rain to the Goddess we pray
Use oak leaves and flowers and symbols of the Sun
Celebrations of abundance and fertility have begun
Mirrors capture the Sun and the fire
Herbs gathered today for their power is higher
All types of magic are performed tonight
Fairies throw parties with magical delight
The strength of the Summer Sun today gleams
A prophetic moon guides vivid dreams
The beauty and bounty of nature I see
Summer is here and so Blessed Be
Ritual
Be outdoors all day
Bless all your garden beds
Make an offering to the Earth for Summer rains
Gather herbs for drying
Dance around a fire or garden
Note the Sun’s position in the sky at sunrise and sunset
2009
WAKE UP
Wake up to the truth
Wake up to your true self
Wake up
Wake up to what’s happening
Wake up to what’s happening to you
Wake up
Wake up to reality
Wake up to the reality of your situation
Wake up
Wake up and create
Wake up and create your world
Wake up
Wake up it’s time
Wake up the time is now
Wake up
Wake up and go outside
Wake up and go outside the box
Wake up
Wake up to your life
Wake up to your life’s purpose
Wake up
Wake up your heart
Wake up your heart’s guidance
Wake up
Wake up and feed
Wake up and feed your soul
Wake up
Wake up and connect
Wake up and connect to all that is
Wake up
Wake up and be you
Wake up and be your best self
Wake up
Wake up to your face
Wake up to face your fears
Wake up
Wake up and love
Wake up and love yourself
Wake up
Wake up to your beliefs
Wake up to your beliefs about yourself
Wake up
Wake up and choose
Wake up and choose a new way
Wake up
Wake up to the day
Wake up to the first day of the rest of your life
Wake up
Dec. 31, 2020
Wake up to your true self
Wake up
Wake up to what’s happening
Wake up to what’s happening to you
Wake up
Wake up to reality
Wake up to the reality of your situation
Wake up
Wake up and create
Wake up and create your world
Wake up
Wake up it’s time
Wake up the time is now
Wake up
Wake up and go outside
Wake up and go outside the box
Wake up
Wake up to your life
Wake up to your life’s purpose
Wake up
Wake up your heart
Wake up your heart’s guidance
Wake up
Wake up and feed
Wake up and feed your soul
Wake up
Wake up and connect
Wake up and connect to all that is
Wake up
Wake up and be you
Wake up and be your best self
Wake up
Wake up to your face
Wake up to face your fears
Wake up
Wake up and love
Wake up and love yourself
Wake up
Wake up to your beliefs
Wake up to your beliefs about yourself
Wake up
Wake up and choose
Wake up and choose a new way
Wake up
Wake up to the day
Wake up to the first day of the rest of your life
Wake up
Dec. 31, 2020
BELTANE (1)
May Day, Beltane, the first of May
Give thanks for the bounty of Earth today
Spring is half gone, Summer’s half here
Samhain awaits the other side of this year
A festival of fertility, fire and great rite
To purify and protect, jump the balefire tonight
Beltane returns full blown fertility
Dance and jump and show great agility
The first of May be it rain or dew
Are gathered to bring health and beauty to you
Don’t give away wealth in salt or fire
But leave gifts for fairies to not raise their ire
Great Goddess please share this day with me
With my honour and love I say Blessed Be.
Ritual
Walk the boundaries of your land
Jump the balefire for protection and fertility
Float flowers in a water cauldron
Bathe in the early morning rain or dew
Weave or braid to symbolize the Maypole
2009
Give thanks for the bounty of Earth today
Spring is half gone, Summer’s half here
Samhain awaits the other side of this year
A festival of fertility, fire and great rite
To purify and protect, jump the balefire tonight
Beltane returns full blown fertility
Dance and jump and show great agility
The first of May be it rain or dew
Are gathered to bring health and beauty to you
Don’t give away wealth in salt or fire
But leave gifts for fairies to not raise their ire
Great Goddess please share this day with me
With my honour and love I say Blessed Be.
Ritual
Walk the boundaries of your land
Jump the balefire for protection and fertility
Float flowers in a water cauldron
Bathe in the early morning rain or dew
Weave or braid to symbolize the Maypole
2009
BELTANE (2)
Leaves appear on the trees at Cethsamhain, the long cold is forgotten, the Sun joins us as we awaken
Flowers are in full bloom at Samradh, Leo, Virgo and Libra can be seen at night, the Sun sets later each evening
Vistas are green at Roodmas, halfway between spring and summer, the Sun makes longer arcs across the sky
The veil between worlds is thin at Beltane's opposite sabbat, Samhain, the sun inching across the horizon northward each night
Pairing and union beget new life on Walpurgis night. We ask the Earth to nurture the seeds of life on her surface to provide for her inhabitants
The Green man passes and leaves life in his wake on May day. We ask the Goddess’ blessing to grant us fertile days until harvest.
Ritual
Wash your face with morning dew
Gather flowers to decorate your altar
Light a balefire to jump over and dance around
Leave an offering to the Earth
Bless your gardens
2010
Flowers are in full bloom at Samradh, Leo, Virgo and Libra can be seen at night, the Sun sets later each evening
Vistas are green at Roodmas, halfway between spring and summer, the Sun makes longer arcs across the sky
The veil between worlds is thin at Beltane's opposite sabbat, Samhain, the sun inching across the horizon northward each night
Pairing and union beget new life on Walpurgis night. We ask the Earth to nurture the seeds of life on her surface to provide for her inhabitants
The Green man passes and leaves life in his wake on May day. We ask the Goddess’ blessing to grant us fertile days until harvest.
Ritual
Wash your face with morning dew
Gather flowers to decorate your altar
Light a balefire to jump over and dance around
Leave an offering to the Earth
Bless your gardens
2010
BELTANE (3)
Midspring is here the time is now
Time to let go of what is gone
Time to get rid of what no longer serves
Time to get on with life
Time to map the year ahead
Time to get spring cleaning done
Time to live in the moment
Time to nurture for future harvest
Time to act for a plentiful year
Time to give more love
Time to figure out what we want and ask it of the universeThe time is now
Ritual
Gather greens, float flowers in a cauldron, decorate with white and mirrors
Photograph the Sun’s place in the sky
Wash in May’s first dew for beauty
Bathe in May’s first rain for health
Make two things into one
Perform the sacred rite
Visit a forest
2011
Time to let go of what is gone
Time to get rid of what no longer serves
Time to get on with life
Time to map the year ahead
Time to get spring cleaning done
Time to live in the moment
Time to nurture for future harvest
Time to act for a plentiful year
Time to give more love
Time to figure out what we want and ask it of the universeThe time is now
Ritual
Gather greens, float flowers in a cauldron, decorate with white and mirrors
Photograph the Sun’s place in the sky
Wash in May’s first dew for beauty
Bathe in May’s first rain for health
Make two things into one
Perform the sacred rite
Visit a forest
2011