Very quiet Loy Kratong (floating lanterns) by the river

I almost forgot about the Loy Kratong festival on full moon night in November. Luckily, I noticed it in the lunar calendar so I timed my stay in the countryside accordingly. Last year the festival was cancelled but this year the local authority allowed local gatherings and the floating ‘kratongs’ (banana vessels with candle, incense and flowers). So, we planned to float our kratongs by the river bank in the evening. I was curious to find out about the vibes of the river and the River Guardians including the land spirit this year. I was hoping to get some message or warning on what had been happening in the world lately.

I do believe that the earth is alive as a spiritual being with very complexed systems of guardians. This is necessary as where there is light, there is also darkness. It’s a bit like the symbol of Tao; black dot on whiteness and white dot on blackness. The struggle between the two makes the Tao circle spinning, just like life or survival which keeps on moving continuously with its momentum.

This full moon was supposed to be quite important as it marks the last month of the lunar year; planets and energy are about to shift before the Chinese New Year. With so many disturbing trends and troubles around the world, the weight of this knowledge could become heavy mental burden sometimes. So, my quiet walk by the river is essential for my sanity and mental health. We our only do so much with our two hands under present limitation and obstacles. Survival is a challenge from day to day as new problems or tests keep coming up to disrupt the enjoyment of daily routine.

So, with the help of my gardener who liked to show off her artistic ability, we had banana vessels (kratongs) for floating on the river. The cool wind began to arrive from the northern hemisphere with many white migratory birds. The farmers have been drying their unhusked rice on the road along the waterfront. They would need about three days to get all grains dried and ready to be sold at the local mill. We had a chat with one farmer who told us that he couldn’t understand why the price had gone down so much. I thought there was some collusion among the big exporters as the prices of packed rice had actually risen in supermarkets. I would never know the depth of all the shenanigans in my country.

The sunset was rather stranger than usual while the river became reserved and withdrawn. Most villagers would be gathering near the pier in front of the temple. Most people didn’t know how to be ‘quiet’ and to be with complete silence. In silence, the unconditioned and otherness would have the space and freedom to rise or appear. This year, my mind was quite subdued and receptive while making a prayer with my kratong. I tried to communicate with those intangible beings, I knew they were around. But I was afraid they were quite hurt by what we humans have been doing to the sacred earth. We had better apologise and redress the situation before it’s too late to repair the damages.

The feeling was quite eerie and strangely aloof by the river. I did my prayers with apology and lovingkindness to the water and land. This year my gardener put very big candles in kratongs so that they would light up for a long time. We climbed up the steep steps back to reality; the river seemed to be a portal for a mysterious dimension. The farmer had gathered all his dried rice grains into sags ready for the rice mill. The waterfront was very quiet, the sun light almost vanished into dark night. We walked slowly back to the shortcut towards the farmhouse. Luckily I had a torch light with me, just in case. The evening atmosphere was simply bland and unenthusiastic as if we weren’t in the mood for a boisterous festivity. But the full moon was glorious against the deep blue sky. The garden was light up with moonlight; hopes and optimism suddenly flashed in my mind. I bowed to the moon and thanked Mother Earth including all the land spirits for their generosity and protection.

Wishing you peace, good health and prosperity.

Stay strong and cheerful.

#wednesdaywalk created by @tattoodjay.