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Author of Circle of Five and its sequels; Spirit,and the Superfoods cookbook series. And most recently, a collection of poems, Doors to the Universe.Thanks to all who have sent me emails about my Circle series. So many very special letters! Write on! doloresriccio@comcast.net. As August goes into its annual overdrive production of fruits and vegetables, I've been meditating on "excess." Excess is simply passion in action. Somehow we're inspired to do more than is reasonable or prudent, just for the sheer pleasure of it. Many times I've been chided or teased about my excesses. Cooking too much, reading too much, dreaming too much. But now that I look back, I realize that those excesses were really my strengths. I was working my way toward writing cookbooks and novels and poetry. From our excesses come the good harvests of life. So, go ahead. Overdo whatever it is you love to do! (And as soon as I get some technical help, there will be a picture of it right here.) The Divine Circle of Ladies Tipping the Scales are out for justice—one way or another! The ladies of the Circle are rushing to the rescue again, crusading for the Goddess of Justice in their own preternatural way—even if that means tipping Her scales a bit. It all begins at Lammas, the August Festival of Bread, when Cass Shipton is called to jury duty in Plymouth County—the tragic case of a home invasion, the brutal death of a mother and daughter. Although she considers it her Libran calling to weigh evidence in the most impartial way, Cass the Clairvoyant soon finds herself knowing too much for comfort. Meanwhile, Heather Devlin, the Circle’s intrepid animal activist, pursues a local dog-fighting ring with her own zany brand of “special ops.” Fiona helps a light-footed young widow named Ashling lay to rest the ghost of her late husband, an irascible poet. Phillipa cooks up trouble at favorite local restaurant. And Deidre runs into an old flame. Clearly, the ladies have a full agenda on their hands. With their usual flair for mischief, mayhem, and a little judicious spell-working, the ladies of the Circle are off on another wickedly exciting romp. Available online from Amazon.com and from many book distributors. Do urge your library to order a copy! What Shall We Do About This Abundance? There simply isn’t enough time to get around to all the inviting beach roses, simmering with silk and scent. Not enough summer days to collect rocks of particular charm. Or to study all the grains of sand, and their jeweled cities. When the morning air is still cool as a drink of spring water in a wooded glen, we hear the pages already turning. to the story’s finish. And what shall we do about these nests of half-read books tottering at our bedsides? Not to mention the notes we are taking on the conversation of breeze and pine, the designs of swallows, notes that are fluttering like leaves falling from our branches too soon. Before we are ready, the end of summer comes and the end of day, and sleep. What shall we do with all this honey we have gathered and not devoured? (published in Macguffin A Second Chance to Reap What We Have Sown Mabon, the Equinox, happens at 11:09 PM (coordinated universal time) on September 22 this year. This is our Second Harvest of the year, the third being Samhain, Halloween. It’s a time when day and night are nearly equal. So it’s also a time to balance eggs, balance the books, balance your spirit—each balancing act, a neat trick in itself. In late September, the sun enters the house of Libra, the scales, the sign that epitomizes balance and justice. The heroine of my Circle novels, Cass Shipton, is a Libran, who struggles with varying degrees of success to bring justice to her world. With many a misadventure along the way! Mabon, celebrated by Pagans and Wiccans, honors the Dark Mother, the crone aspect of the triple goddess, she who bears a sickle and a scythe. From now on, the days will grow shorter, the nights longer. Winter is waiting in the wings. The Mabon totem animals are dogs, wolves, and eagles. These three happen to be my husband’s favorites, and he has all the illustrated t-shirts to prove it. Mythically, it’s a time to watch out for those pesky gnomes lurking under mushrooms—this is their time of year, too! These Earth Elementals are reported to be rather taciturn and tricky, but much pleasanter than goblins. They move easily through the earth, which is their natural home, and they are the guardians of all small earthen creatures. Recently, there have been reports of gnome-sightings in Argentina. Mabon, the Autumn Equinox Ephemeral truce. The dark begins its long winning streak. But for now in this disheveled garden a riot of blowsy flowers hangs on like a chorus of aging show girls with a few good kicks. The air is ripe with seedy perfume and pleasant lies, the pomegranate shared between two mouths. This is our second harvest, the corn, the squash, the reconstructed memories of summer. Ceres, comfort us with grapes and the wine of grapes. Wheaten breads are baked in the shape of the sun. We savor them with honey. It will be a long time before this golden moment comes again. |
