If there is one thing that I have noticed over the years of making corn dollies, it is that the corn forms itself into its own shape, even as I attempt to weave my dolly. Last year, for example, I was able to weave a lovely dolly, with all the inward and outward patterns clean and neat, and the hanger, which is woven in a slightly different pattern good and tight, so that it formed a neat loop from which to hang the dolly.

The year, it was anything but that!

But this is the lesson that the corn wished me to learn this year. The corn is a gift from the Goddess and God. It is a symbol of their joint efforts to provide sustenance for some of their children. It teaches us that which we need to know at this time.

Despite my best attempts, including unweaving my dolly at least twice, I could not form it into the neat shape of last year. So what did I learn from this exercise? Humility for one: yes, I wove a beautiful corn dolly last year, but this year, I tried to rush things, and was not as organised about what I wanted to do and this showed. The upper part of my dolly was narrow, in comparison to the base. For me, this meant that I would have to work a bit harder to achieve some of personal goals, otherwise, it would be a lean harvest indeed. It also symbolised for me that, as far as my career was concerned, I would need to work to ensure my harvest. This meant putting in a bit more effort into my studies, and in planning my activities.