The last six weeks have been busy! Between work and dance I spent more time on the road than anything else. I have been subbing for Melanie at Kahraman as well as taking lead for unda. Having to teach has made me a much more focused dancer and I hope that I don't lose that now that I am back in the ranks so to speak.
October has always been one of my favorite months. The cold damp air, the fall colors the bounty from other people's gardens… seriously who doesn't love it? This year October was especially full. We started with a wiccaning for Bailey. This was the first group ritual that Juniper has been in charge of and it went well. She used a blessing that I had written for Wyn as a focus and I admit I was flattered. 
Next came Samhain, Lisa hosted the party this year (and it was a smashing success) and I led the ritual. The plan was to write a new one but as I was preparing I found the one from '05 and remembered how much I had liked it. I expected the ritual to only be three or four people but instead we had eight. I am always nervous leading new people and I am glad I kept it simple. We used a pomegranate and an apple and then threw into the fire slips with what we wanted to be rid of in the coming year. It ended with cider and corn bread.
Juniper and I had planted broomcorn and used it to make a besom for our friend Elisabeth. She had just moved into her first place, and her birthday was this month, so we took her bread and salt to bless the house.
We spent All Soul's Day celebrating the full moon with our fledgling coven. The children all joined in as well, we howled at the moon, gave her an offering of milk and each of us received a blessing. It finished with cashew moon cookies and mulled cider.
I think it was by far the best ending to a year I've had yet. We still have to smash our pumpkin to find out how many months of good luck will be coming to us but all in all it was a beautiful month.
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