In Greek mythology, Alcyone (Al-sigh- ah-nee) and Ceyx (Sea-icks) were a happy couple. Ceyx went traveling over the ocean and due to bad storms, lost his life at sea, his wife so distraught, threw herself into the ocean. The Gods felt so sorry for them, that they turned Alcyone and Ceyx into halcyon birds, also associated kingfishers. The Roman poet Ovid in his writing explains the term “Halcyon Days”, as halcyon, would lay her eggs during the winter solstice, her father the God of winds, Aeolus would calm the seas and wind so that she could safely make her nest. Some say the legendary bird herself could calm the seas so she could lay her nest that would gently float upon the sea. The phrase has since come to mean a time of calm and peace. The dictionary defines halcyon as “peaceful, gentle, calm, happy, carefree, tranquil, and prosperous.”
My preferred version of the story is that the Halcyon birds themselves calmed the seas so they could lay their nests upon the water. It must have taken great strength, commitment, and personal power to do this. How might we be like the Halcyon? How do we calm our own seas so that we might thrive? I believe the answer here is finding balance. If you’re stressed out, your magick won’t work well. You have to take care of yourself. It’s a good idea to do a self-assessment occasionally. Think about the elements within you? Are they harmonious? Are you resting and eating well? Are you communicating clearly and effectively with patience and kindness? Are you taking time to be creative? Are you nurturing yourself in a spiritual practice regularly? As the Wheel of the Year turns and we face the busy holiday season, many of us are spending time with extended family. One of the things that can try to upset our Halcyon peace is extended family and outside folks who question how you are living your life. Sometimes family may not understand or appreciate our path, or worse, they have something negative to say about it. My thoughts on this are to be kind but firm in your response to them. Depending on the audience, I’m also careful to tell people about my spiritual path. Before these situations happen, I will do a quick spell for peace, place sigils in my home, and sage the place after folks leave to remove any negativity. Let your home and your mind be your sanctuary of tranquility. With peace and harmony, our magick can thrive. We can transform ourselves. We can live joyfully and fully. May you be a Halcyon bird wherever you may go. As my Buddhist brothers and sisters may say in meditation, “May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well. May you be peaceful and at ease. May you be whole.” In mirth and reverence, Rev. Sarah
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AuthorsHP Stephen Guenther Archives
May 2017
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