By Paula Veronica del Rio
Mercury enters Virgo, the magician meets the hermit. The initiate encounters the adept.
Our holy-day to commemorate the thrice great Hermes Trismegistus / Thoth / Mercury – The Magician in all forms, is the one festivity I plan a month ahead. A chance to do ritual with those close to me, the past three have been much fun, hard work but magical.
In its fourth year, it became more apparent to me that my Ceremonial work (as many of my fellow arborists may relate) is not a monthly occurrence. It is a daily practice. Sure there may be some days the LBRP is missed but on those in ‘betweens’ there are still either thoughts, books, tarot pulls, solar adorations, studies, conversations, magical observations, morning tea rituals that continue to define me and shape how I take on the days in the Kingdom.
This year I delved even further into my studies, in addition to the lodge, so it’s been quite busy and I did not have as much energy to organise an event. I felt drawn to a solo theme. After all it is Key I and the Great Work begins and ends with us as individuals. In discussing it with Naha, Lux Aestiva coincided with the Magician’s Journey series which was the first time it was celebrated online.
I am no stranger to the 10 of wands and knight of swords, a few days before the date, I thought maybe I do something chill with a couple of the muses (from my personal working group). However, on the day they couldn’t make it…it was just myself as the Hermit intended.
As a Magus year I had intended to make a red robe at some point…(looks at watch ‘sure I got about 10 hours’) 😀 I found the pattern the day before from my pattern stash and on the festive day (my yearly day off), I bought linen, prewashed it (this is pivotal for the sewing curious) and with my patternmaking tools, I took measurements, traced, amended and adjusted the pattern…with my massive fabric scissors I began to cut. Like the magician, I had to figure out some issues to make it work!
In between there were kids’ piano lessons and usually on this festive day I make food…but it was Thai take out!
As I continued to sew into the late night, the qualities of the hermit and magician keys were present. The patience I needed to work on this project, the knowledge gained from the past, the skills applied and experience to know what to do and how to fix things. The main thing – dedication and persistence. Such qualities can relate to us all in various ways.
It was just me, my head full of hermity thoughts and my magician hands. This was my Lux Aestiva! Of course a corner was set up for the annual photo and an altar adorned with offerings for the Magi, past and present.
The next day I joined the Magician’s Journey during my lunch break. Living down under I am a day ahead and the ‘so below’ to my ‘as above’ peers. Naha acknowledged the hermit theme as we individually came together online from our abodes. A beautiful ritual was had as always with our community, as we raised our chalices to the call and response LUX AESTIVA!
Finally, my commitment to the annual photo was taken that evening. No matter how we choose to honour this day, be it solo or with a group, in ritual, artistic creation or a simple prayer, the intention and moments held is how we keep the lantern shining as stewards of 22 Teachings.
May we continue to honour the Magi in our unique way. Happy Lux Aestiva!
Paula del Rio
Melbourne
