Personally I have been having my struggles. In the past few months I have lost both of my 18 year old kitties, sisters, who I have lived with since they were tiny little babies. I have also learned that one of my greyhounds, Sable, has a bone cancer diagnosis, which is what I lost my last girl to (Stardom). So I haven't had a lot of emotional energy to write. But my focus in dealing with these losses and illnesses has been a mantra given to me by a friend..."love and gratitude." Every moment with my loved ones is precious. Every happy moment to be savored. Even in the midst of great personal pain, this has been tremendously helpful to me. My next article for SageWoman Magazine under my column, "Child of Artemis," will be dealing with this journey that we take with our companion animals.
Mabon is the holiday that I equate with "Thanksgiving," so it is an appropriate time to be contemplating love and gratitude.
As a vegan pagan, I always like to flag Mabon as a time when we can start preparing to have a "gentle thanksgiving" within our mainstream culture. Maybe "adopt" a rescued turkey at a farm sanctuary. Start planning and advertising a gentle thanksgiving potluck. Do a vegan food drive for a local pantry.
If you would like some extra support on a Gentle Thanksgiving event, FARM (farm animal rights movement) has a campaign for this. http://compassionateholidays.com/
So, happy compassionate holidays and as we rev up for Samhain, where we honor and remember those who have passed, let us already and always be living the path of "love and gratitude."
image from http://vpods.wordpress.com/tag/vpods/
