Litha 1999 Newsletter Editorial

Welcome again to another edition of your state newsletter. I hope many of you have had the opportunity to warm yourselves under the strengthening summer sun.

The apricot tree this year is laden with fruit and the bats are enjoying them thoroughly. It is unfortunate though, that this may well be the last season that the tree bears fruit. The apricot tree is slowly dying. It has developed a big crack down the trunk, one side is dead, and the rest is rotting out. It’s had a pretty good life in our suburban backyard, and has lived there for about 30 or 40 years, which is a good run for a prunus. A constant reminder of life and death at play.

The local cuckoo has managed to trick two wattle birds into raising a baby cuckoo. For a few days I could hear a new chick crying for food in its nest, then one day I came home and there, sitting in the fig in the backyard is the fattest baby cuckoo I’ve ever seen, being fed by a wattlebird! It’s typical though, the parents lay an egg into another birds nest and let those bids raise their baby! So now instead of constant calls for a mate, I’m hearing constant calls for food!

Another sign that summer is reaching its peak, is that Pakistan and India have begun their Australian tour, and the one day cricket series will be in full swing by mid January. Then in honour of the strength of the sun and it’s power over us all, I can kick back and do nothing for the 5 day boxing day test!

There has been a bit of media discussion about the popularity of witches over the past few months. This is due in part to the release of some new books by prominent authors, such as Fiona Horne and Phyllis Curott. If you’ve kept any of the newspaper articles, perhaps you could send a copy to our office. (Or any other article about Paganism or its traditions). It’s also due to the release of the movie the Blair Witch Project. Have you seen it? If so what did you think?

There are lots of gatherings occurring over the Australia day weekend, as well as over the next few months of 2000. If you are looking to find others of like mind, it might be worth getting out to one of the many gatherings.

I hope you all have a happy and safe Mid Summer celebration wherever you are and what ever you’re doing. I’ll be on holidays between the 19th of December and the 7th January, so if you leave a message it might take a week or two to get back to you.

What’s happening in your backyard, or on your balcony this season? How are you marking the seasons in your life?

Blessed Be
Adrianne Harris, NSW co-ordinator