My spirituality is aligned to the Earth Mother and as such I celebrate her seasons and the old festivals with great joy. Across my whole adult life I have never felt the desire to join in with celebrations of Christianity… or do Ramadan or Hanukkah for that matter…or any other festival or religion that has nothing to do with me. I have celebrated the Summer Solstice every year, and filled my home with the festivities, warmth and love that brings.

Each year I explain (yet again) that I have no problems with people celebrating their Christmas and encourage them to honour their traditions. But I take offence at being asked to support and celebrate a tradition that for thousands of years has actively tried to destroy my own. I take a deep breath each time I see the rolling of the eyes and patronising voices saying …“It’s not about religion - that’s got nothing to do with it. It’s about family, Jodie”.  So, as a pagan, I am supposed to just sit around listening to songs about Jesus, with symbols of Jesus on the apparent day of the birth of Jesus and just suck it all up? Despite how uncomfortable it makes me feel, and how much it reminds me about what we have lost as humans due to this religion. That we have moved away from the Earth as Mother, as sacred. This religion has devastated countless Indigenous and earth-based cultures on this planet - in exchange for the ‘one god’ somewhere up in the sky - where the ‘true sacred’ has been now situated for so many people.  I have never bought the line that it is only about family and values. Integrity, ethics, values, and family are human traits. They don’t belong to any religion or festival. They belong to us all.

But now I have my daughter, almost two, and she is not me. She is her own person, with her own thoughts and ideas now forming about the world. I have been watching her eyes light up with the new sparkling trees she is seeing in the shopping centres and I am reminded of a friend of mine from Canada many years ago when I was in my early 20’s. Reminded of her heart breaking for her then-2-year-old boy, who loved his Solstice time, his presents, the music, the parties and the excitement of waiting up to catch a glimpse of the Solstice Faerie. But her family was hounding her, “How could you do this to him? Poor child not getting Christmas! You horrible mother!”

I remember one night she sat up with me crying…“He gets everything and what more could any other child get? Would they ask a Jewish person to take part in a celebration that was on Hitler’s birthday? ‘Oh it has nothing to do with Hitler anymore – it’s just about family’ Just lots of Hitler symbols and songs about Hitler. Really - would they ask this of any other tradition but ours?“ I remember feeling angry and upset that she had been placed in this position – having to undermine her own beliefs so that her child would ‘fit in’ to the main stream. While this was an extreme example she gave, it was fair, festivals are far from neutral. They are imbedded with deep social, cultural and religious ideologies. I remember discussing this very issue one year at Roma park lands with the Buddhist and Muslim woman from my workplace. The three of us had quietly stepped out while the rest of the staff happily celebrated their Christmas party. It has never occurred to them to just make it an end of year party, or indeed reflect upon how isolating these cultural and religious symbols can be for people who have different beliefs. But that’s what mainstream privilege brings…your festivals are viewed as normal, other people are the ones causing the problem. My friend in Canada decided to stick to her traditions and honour the Earth path. Then he started daycare….

It didn’t matter to these children that he received everything that they received and more. The following year he was teased mercilessly as the child who doesn’t get Christmas. He then came home in tears, “Why doesn’t Santa love me? Haven’t I been good enough?” Her heart then broke in a whole new way.

The following year she had a HUGE solstice. The Solstice Faerie came and filled the garden with presents and the lounge with glitter. Family and friends visited. But she also decorated her first evergreen tree with lights and symbols of both the Solstice and Christmas. A few days after the Solstice Faerie came, Santa visited too that year. Not a lot of presents (as Santa knew he already had a lot of things from the Solstice Faerie of course!). When at daycare, as always, he was asked about his Christmas. He proudly said ”I had a great Christmas, and the Solstice Faerie came to my house too! What about you?“ Suddenly - instead of being teased – all the children wanted to know more about this interesting Solstice Faerie that brings presents…two days earlier than Christmas!

I remember thinking then, years away from having my child that my own beliefs and politics need to have flexibility when it comes to bringing up a child in a mainstream world. That I would learn from this moment, and while I respect the choices many people make in this area, for me I decided that my world would have to open more when my child/children came along.

So tonight I will get out the lights, and the new decorations of the Suns and the Santa’s. The Solstice decorations will go up as usual around the house and garden, filling my home with light. But now there is also a tree. Perhaps in years to come I can re-story this tradition. This tree may become a way for me to honour the winter solstice happening in the land of my ancestors, when our country is in the peak of Summer. The old Celtic winter solstice symbols of red and green, mistletoe and holly and lights that always honured the Earth Mothers labour in the longest night of the year, and the birth of her son at the break of winter solstice dawn in mid-December each year. So within one tree we will have the celebration of the sun and warmth happening here in this land and the remembering of our ancestry in the coldest time of the year.

I have not felt the need to celebrate other peoples’ traditions ever since I left home. But as bizarre as it is…here I am…now planning my first Christmas since I was a child.  In my heart this is still the warm time of Summer Solstice, Alban Heruin, of feasts, of friends, of dancing, of sun flowers, cicadas, geckos, wild storms and dancing. When the strong Sun shines brightly…and for just a moment…stands still. But my daughter has her own story to write, so somewhere in these warm and wild celebrations I shift and allow room for other stories to be nurtured alongside my own, as we all move into the tide of celebrating our lives together within all these sparkles of light that surround us.

The Australian flame

2011 Australian Goddess Conference ‘Resonating with the Earth Mother’

After so many months of preparation the 2011 Australian Goddess Conference ‘resonating with the Earth Mother’ arrived. We built the temple, hung the Goddess banners, built the elemental altars and began. The inspiring Kathy Jones came to do a workshop on the set up day. I sat mesmerised as I learnt about the Morgan’s behind the mists and the development of the Mothers wheel in the sacred isle that is Avalon. Kathy spoke of people being struck with inspiration and then crashing into the dark mother when entering the land of Avalon. Suddenly my crash that followed my dance and deep connection on the Tor made sense. SHE had pulled me into being, stripped me bare, first to show me the beauty and magick of Avalon, then to show me the pain that I needed to heal.

I felt a sense of joy sitting next to Gede Palmer. Feeling his love of the Earth Mother flowing through his body as we chanted and sung. Knowing my friend Jack was outside the room building altars for Her. Both men of deep connection with our Earth Mother, men who finally could be part of celebrating together. I listened to the circle of women introducing themselves, talking about being this circle with their sisters over and over again. I felt a level of invisibility fall over Gede and a twist form in my stomach that was hard to give voice to. I have read the surveys over years calling for men to be present, ‘where are our sacred sons?’ ‘Why isn’t GAIA a whole community?’ ‘Why am I forced to travel this wonderful path of the Goddess and leave my partner behind?’ …Yet here we are, only a few men here, but an invisibility remains over their presence. I find my mind drifting with trepidation for what will come of this weekend. The members have asked for an inclusive open community…but I find myself wondering are they really ready for it?

On the first day everyone is buzzing outside the temple…The board members are all tense. So much preparation, weekend meetings, combined with lack of sleep and a registration line now running out the door. I want to so much to connect with them before ceremony, we are about the cast circle and begin this journey…but I can’t even get near them. I try and centre myself for ceremony and just as my energy feels like it is going a million different directions Aunty Ruby Rose taps me on the shoulder. I burst into tears with the love of seeing her. Powerful Elder and grandmother of this land, with such gentle heart. She asks to sing the ancestors before we begin our ceremonies. We walk to each altar, she sings, and the sound of her clap sticks centres my spirit. She whispers some gentle words of support, she offers words from the ancestors about tonight’s ceremony, then like the sweet gentle wind she disappears again.

Anique Radiant Heart sings us into circle and we walk into the place of the Earth Mother. I welcome everyone and the elemental Priestesses call the elements with passion. Everyone sings and women walk around blessing everyone with the elements, smudging, ochres, water blessings and fire bowls fill the space. The sacred dance to the Bee Goddess then buzzes through the circle. After working in our groves we sing the Earth is our mother and end in high celebration.

On Friday I do two workshops, Kathy Jones workshop that connects us to Avalon and Gede Palmer and Jane Meredith’s workshop…stepping through the boundaries. Kathy inspires me as I see the whole community, men, women, children all in joy and celebration of the Earth Mother. We see art installations, political activism, ritual, music and joy celebrated in Avalon. She talks about the flame of Avalon and what it has meant for the community over time….mmmmm I ponder on tonight’s ritual to come. What will come of our Australian flame? Now just sparks in this space…

In Jane and Gede’s workshop I find a familiar rhythm of music and the beat of the Earth. Gedes poetry hits me at my core and sends my spirit soaring. Jane’s Earth breath inspires me…to breathe out…is the Earth breathing in…to breath in…is Her breathing out. This circular flow and rhythm speaks to me…I find myself connecting even in a place where I usually hold back from this type of work.

Friday nights ceremonies begin….I talk about the creation of the fame of Australia. Created from a spark from the Sun at Spring Equinox, sparked onto gum leaves, surrounded by birds, with respect for the Law of this land and then connected to the flame of Bridget in Ireland. I talk of the ancient traditions of sharing the flame and light of the Goddess. A practice that is thousands of years old and is being re-lit all around the world. I talk about my discussions with Aunty Ruby about wanting to bring this flame here and chant it to life with the power of the community. She gently redirects me to a place of silence. She has told me not to start a new flame- but rather reach back into the ancient wisdoms of this land and these ancestors…she has spoken about the power of silence. Grandmother Bilawara Lee has also spoken about walking gently on the Earth.

We all sit in circle, in our own way we give thanks to the Earth Mother of this ancient land and to the Indigenous people of this nation that have cared for her since the beginning of time. Then we ask for the ancestors blessings into the flame of Australia. The claps sticks beat next to me, and there is a strong energy flow through us, between us and within us. Bilawara and I walk around the circle and people offer a word under their breath, a gift for the flame. So softly whispered only I can hear each person, yet almost everyone says the same word. Such beautiful love and intent from so many, my heart is wide open. Jane Meredith then leads us in creating the energies of this landscape. Then I place the elements of this country in the centre of the circle. Kathy Jones enters, the Lady of Avalon walking into our mists. She mixes our earth, with the Earth of Avalon, she mixes our water, with the waters of Avalon, she mixes air from a jar and then lights the flame of Avalon candle. She adds the flame of Avalon to our Australian flame and then takes a candle to light our Australian flame in the Glastonbury Goddess Temple next week. With this sacred alchemy, we are one, with this sacred alchemy our lands connect through time and place. We all chant …deep in the earth I go, deep into the Earth know…as we all mark ourselves with the magick of this alchemy and all collect a light from this powerful flame.

I miss most of the Saturday morning ritual while I comfort a baby that just woke up and really didn’t want to be dragged into a group of 120 people. So I sit in the gardens (against a tree avoiding the swooping magpies) and wait for the morning break. I manage to see a little of Dani’s dancing the elements into the mornings circle and then Tricia and Kathy talk about Goddess imagery in this country and beyond. The day is filled with amazing presenters, room changes, workshops moving, going overtime, late caterers and I try to remember to breathe while everyone comes running at us expecting instant answers. I am grateful that tonight is concert night - time to let off steam.

Anique sings the songs of Goddess, Shekhinah Morgan memorises with her dance, Ganga sings with such beauty, Sue Gee cracks me up with amazing songs about paganism, Wendy Rule shakes the walls and every cell of our bodies with her voice, and then Laura doe Harris comes onto the stage…Hollie B leans over and says have you seen her before? No I say quite casually- not quite ready for a giant vulva to walk on stage and start talking to me. Laughter of so many turned to hysterical tears of joy. My almost 2 year old watches the dancing singing vulva for a moment, quite seriously…then decides to just start some wild baby dancing. She finds a toddler and they runs up and down the aisles skipping and a dancing together until the end of the night.

As always the third day of conference is one of reflection. The morning workshops are on…yet several women sit under trees staring into the distance. I check in with a few people I know and talk to some of my oakwillow students sitting out in the gardens. I get the same answer…yes I am REALLY good, this is the first weekend I can remember I have had time for me, time to think, time to dream, just to be. The busyness of the first days have passed and now is the time of peace. A friend of mine who is a well-known Indigenous artist is sitting in the gardens sketching ideas for the first time in a long time. It is nice to see the calmness flowing over the space now.

As the calm fills the space and people sit in joy of what they have experienced. I realise that every community has bumps along the way, especially during times of growth and change, that’s part of honouring and celebrating the diversity that we are. Perhaps my queer identity helps me sit more comfortably with diversity and lack of consensus? Change is forever here…it just is… But beyond our differences, we all have a love of the Earth Mother, and she has resonated strongly in my heart this weekend. It is this love that we share that will be the grounding of this Goddess community. This will help continue to build it into a space where everything and everyone that holds that love can celebrate in great joy with us for years to come. We all come to the Earth Mother in our own diverse ways, as it should be…and while this song hold many harmonies, in our hearts we all hold her flame.

To see all the photos of the conference go to http://www.facebook.com/#!/goddessassociation 

Jodie Danaan

Timing of Winter Solstice

Alban Arthuran is celebrated on June 20-23 in the Southern hemisphere and December 20-23 in the Northern hemisphere. Winter solstice or Yule is the shortest day of the year and marks the lengthening of the days from this point on. The solstice occurs when the rotational axis of the Earth is titled by an angle of 23.5 from vertical. The Earth leans on its axis causing the solstice (solstice means ‘sun standing still’ – which means literally the sun will rise and fall in the exact position) and the variation and cooling in seasons as we tilted far from the sun.                        

 History and Stories of Winter Solstice

The Solstice is the rebirth of the Sun and the rebirth of the mother’s son.  On the solstice the Sun returns and the days become longer and warmer from this day forward. It is also the day that birth of the Sun God is celebrated. The Solstice has been an important marker in the landscape across time. Hundreds of megalithic sites around the world are constructed to honour this exact moment in time.

Darkness is celebrated before the birth of the sun. In the old times people kept fires burning through the longest night and would feast as winter set in. They would remain with the Goddess as she laboured through the darkest night and sit in stillness until that moment of the birthing dawn, as the Sun/Son returned to the landscape once more.

In the northern Hemisphere midwinter falls on the christian calendar date of Christmas. However the returning light and birth of the divine son at midwinter has been honoured well before Christianity was ever practised. The Celts honoured the Sun God at this time, other gods (Dionysus, Attis, Mithras and Baal to name a few) were all Gods born into the world at the point of midwinter.

Evergreen wreaths symbolising the wheel of the year are placed on doorways. I often start a wreath at Samhaine (the Celtic new year) and thread herbs and ribbons from each festival into the wreath as the year goes on, then burn it the following Samhaine.

 At winter the Crone Goddesses are also honored. They are our ancient ancestors, wise and bold. They stare through our souls and sit calmly in the stillness of winter. The crones, hags, grandmothers…they are the gatekeepers of death and transformation, holders of the keys to the underworld. When we listen to their wisdom and have the courage to walk beside them, it is here in the darkness that we uncover the secrets to our souls. From their wisdom we learn that life is continually reborn and death is part of the cauldron of life that spins and circles, transforming all it touches. It is here that we pass through the pain of our challenges and are re-born in the light of the winter solstice dawn.

It is the season that in the cold of winter, we celebrate and strengthen the coming light. Pagans would decorate evergreen trees with shiny ornaments, to remind us even in the darkness of winter the light is emerging. It is also a reminder that for light to grow, we need to take action to strengthen and nurture that light. It is essentially a season of emerging hope. The Mother births the Sun/Son- she also births hope and renews our trust in a world of possibilities to come. We move through the darkest point of the year, and from the intensity of the mother’s womb, we birth hope and light into our lives.

As Starhawk so beautifully stated…“Each year the Great Mother labors through the long night to give birth again to the new year, to hope and light. This year the darkness has been intense.  The bright hopes of last year are worn and tattered from obstructions and betrayals and compromise.  Our personal health and the health of all the life support systems of the planet hang in balance, and how can we tell whether we’ve inched forwards or been sucked back into deals and appeasements worse than what went before.  Last year we hoped for an end to war—this year we see war escalate.  Last year we chose a road of change; this year it looks only too much like the same old road we were on before.

But the message of Solstice is this:  hope does not come once into the world and fulfill itself.  Hope and light must constantly be reborn, over and over again.  They wax and wane, and must be renewed. That renewal, that birthing, requires labor.  Labor means work, commitment, perseverance through that time when it seems you just can’t push any more.  The cervix dilates slowly, pang by pang.  The child begins to emerge, is drawn back, pushed forward another increment.

We are the laboring Mother, we are the spark of light.  New possibilities kick and squirm within us.  No, it’s not easy to bring them forth, but we are strong, and we are made for this work.  Bear down…breathe…push.  This morning the sun rises; each day a new world is born.” From Starhawks online blog… http://starhawksblog.org/?p=261#comments 

Herbs and Symbols of Winter Solstice

Mistletoe- Represents friendship and affection. Add mistletoe to your solstice incenses, hang it in doorways and toss Mistletoe berries into the fire to represent your wishes and dreams increasing as the Sun grows. Associated strongly with the Celts as a fertility and protection herb, an aphrodisiac and a visionary herb. It is a herb of re-birth and joy. Traditionally used in incenses and hung at mid-winter.

Holly- Ruled by the moon and sacred to the Celts, this herb was brought into the home during midwinter. It was thought holly would give the faeries safe refuge during the cold times. Ironically many people (in the northern hemisphere) still decorate their homes in holly during midwinter today.

Camomile- Symbolises the Sun God and return of the light and warmth to the land. You can decorate your altar or circle with chamomile flowers and bring a burst of sunshine to the space. I also like to add marigold, wattle or calendula flowers for the sun.

Pine cones- Traditionally used at winter solstice, the fresh sent of the pine cones and evergreens are used for cleansing a space, creating a positive energy and returning to source.

Milk and honey- I also like to pour milk and honey over the stones of my circle, or into the
Earth Mother, to bless her and bring her sweetness and nourishment as she labours.

Colours- red, green, gold and white

Activities during Winter Solstice

• A ceremony to honour men in your life as the Sun God is re-birthed. You may want to write a poem or letter to a man in your life that has supported you with his strength and light.
• A ceremony to honour birthing or nursing mothers (like a blessing way) to celebrate the beauty of birth at the time when the Great Mother gives birth to the divine son. Share beautiful birthing stories and give gifts to a new mother, and honour the power and strength of motherhood as the Goddess labours.
• Choose something to let go of into the longest night, then from the seeds of winter decide what you want to grow in yourself as the sun grows, which part of your life you want to grow….
• Wreath making- The wreaths (that hand on doors) are an old symbol of the wheel of the year. Decorate or make a wreath that represents either the growing light, or the wheel of the year.
• Decorate a tree or bring evergreen boughs into the house decorated with shiny or bright objects that remind you of the returning light of the sun.
• Make and serve hot apple cider and feast together to celebrate the longest night
• Make an altar that celebrates women, fertility and birthing as the Goddess gives birth to the promise of light
• Children may like to do paintings of the sun, or make shiny decorations to hang around the home or garden. You could also cook a birthday cake to celebrate the birth of the Son/Sun, and decorate the cake with bright yellow and orange to reflect the sun’s light.
• As the old people did, have a bonfire and stay up during the night to be with the Goddess as she labours in the darkest night (or maybe just the last part before dawn), chant to her labouringythm, and then celebrate as the dawn sun rises to welcome the sun’s/son’s return to the land.
• In the dark, the Mother labours…we sit with her through the longest night. Then at solstice dawn as she births the Sun, the light, the divine son… our warmth and hope is reborn to the world.   

 

 

Sitting here with no internet or phone, listening only to the now familiar sound of television choppers overhead I cannot help reflecting on the flood crisis that now has 75% of our state declared a national disaster zone. After leaving my home late at night with no power as the high tide came in I have now just returned. A few blocks from me a deep lake has appeared where the train tracks and industrial zone once was and the news is filled with heartbreaking stories of lost lives and homes.

My senses feel so heightened in these last few days, listening and watching the land. It has amazed me how similar we all are. As the waters rolled in, people scurried about- such a nervous energy in the air. I sat in my garden watching the birds doing much the same. As the water level rose and started swallowing streets, people began to be displaced, homes were lost. I walked down to the waters edge and saw snakes, legless lizards trying find somewhere to hide, spiders clutching their eggs all scrambling on the flood waters edge. I saved several of them moving them to higher ground.

I find myself in two minds in this crisis. One the Morrigain Mother; as the waters approached packing my bags, being fiercely protective of my baby and sand bagging my doors on alert, the sense of my sword on my back as I watch so defensively the water level on my road and the creek that runs so close to my home. Secondly, the Danu Earth Mother is glowing in me, feeling the immense power of HER flowing across our country with such force and magnificence.

While my heart breaks for the many displaced people and animals, I have not felt afraid or angry during this crisis. I trust that our Earth Mother has much to do to align herself, and I watch with excitement to see the great powerful Mother shift what She needs to. Before my power went out two days ago, I received countless emails and face book requests. ‘Stop the floods’ ‘meditation against the floods’ ‘healing energy to stop the waters’. Face book pages full of comments about the violent or angry waters, what is the earth telling us, what have we done? I have found it perplexing reading these. Perhaps it is because I come from a pagan and not christian perspective. Christianity -a religion that views nature as something to be controlled, or as a sign of punishment from God. I neither think she should be controlled- nor do I have any inclination to control Her. I do not believe I have that right. She is the Earth Mother. She knows what she is doing. I do not want to stop the floods, or meditate to lower the waters and change Her course of action. Presuming I believed in the first place that I had more power than the Earth Mother. She is doing what she needs to and I will nothing to get in her way.

Floods are a part of the natural world, part of Her cycle; she uses them periodically while balancing in Her ecosystem. In my research, my visioning and my work as a Priestess I have found that the Earth Mother does many things in the natural world to bring things into balance, as they should be. Shifting lay lines, song lines and energy webs across the lands. She does this without personal vendetta to anyone. It is not punishment, it is not a message, and you are not blessed if your house was spared in these last few days, as mine was. She is just doing what she needs to, aligning the Earth, and the best we can do is just listen and get out of Her way. She is doing great work of a grand scale, and she will not stop for us.

Our land is flooding; moving and creating new lines in the Earth, and not coincidently three cyclones are also shifting and swirling the seas right now too. Our destroyer Goddess is at work, with Her great power of transformation. She is re-birthing, and to birth and renew there first must be destruction. This is no accident, nor punishment; it is the natural order of the Earth.

The birds are now busy re-building their nests as I put back all my belongings that have been precariously balanced on tables. The thick smell of the Death Hag is heavy in the air and I sit for a moment and welcome Her, and wait for the fertile birth that will follow. I listen to our now labouring mother moving intensely through the Earth and I pledge to take time to be with Her in this time of great transformation. Just like labour, I will not fight against this great power, but surrender to the immensity of it, and let the amazing process of deep darkness, transform the blood and tears into a the light of new creation.

Jodie Danaan

January 14^th 2010

Image copyright © 2008 Wytchy Ways. Used with permission

Before connecting with Goddess communities I had over twenty years of magick working in small groups, in solitary or with close friends. It had never occurred to me that the term Goddess could be used in reference to define exclusively female spirituality. Goddess to me is a wonderful term of love for our Mother Earth and a sacred path of wisdom and respect. To me it has never been a term to define ‘women’s spirituality’ or claim the Earth path as a spirituality for women. However, my journey into Goddess communities over the last few years has left me quite perplexed. Wonderful circles of women fill the spaces, yet no men? I have experienced great workshops, conferences, training and ceremonies, but my brothers who honour Goddess cannot be there. I have been told time and time again that women need gender specific space, and while I believe that to be true for BOTH men and women, there is also a great need to bring balance back to our Earth and to our lives.

We cannot replace patriarchy with matriarchy; we do not do the Earth Mother or ourselves any service by this act. Matri-focal Goddess cultures did not have women ruling at the expense of men.  In Celtic cultures, women were great Priestesses, War chiefs, Mothers, leaders, weavers, artists and warriors, but this by no means represents a culture that holds their men to the side of their magick or society. Celtic men too were leaders, warriors, fathers, war chiefs and artists. Druids who devoted their lives to the Mother, even kings could not be crowned until partaking in the rites of Beltaine with Priestesses.

Some claim men will take over ‘our’ spirituality. But we do not allow ego and dominance in circles from women when it occurs, we deal with it, and we cannot be afraid of male strength. We need men to lead as well as support. We should also not confuse strong men with dominant and abusive forms of patriarchy. Strong women need strong men and strong men need strong women.

However too often men of the Goddess who could be great leaders in our community, are left to ‘help’ with cleaning up after ceremony or wait outside until circle is finished. While I respect and honour many men who help and support their women with Goddess work, we must remember that there are also men who wish to live their lives in the transformative power that is Earth based magick and Goddess Law. Yet, experienced men who have devoted their lives to Goddess are expected to wait outside or stand quiet in circle, while women new to Goddess are asked to facilitate. Eventually they drift away to more meaningful circles or they abandon Earth-based magick entirely.

We are losing our sacred sons at a time when balance and healing is critical.

I believe we are going through a time of transition and healing. Many of the women who have found Earth based spirituality are often using it as sanctuary from patriarchy and a place to heal from past violence and affirm the rights of women in a safe space. Sometimes it is simply a kind of spiritual ‘time out’ from the demands of life as a mother, wife or daughter. We must maintain these very important spaces of women’s strength and healing. The red tent movement has been a great testament to creating powerful healing spaces for women and facilitating great insight and change.

But we cannot afford to make women’s space our centre. It is time to make the centre of Goddess spirituality a place of service, clarity, community and balance. A place where both male and female specific space is honored, but the centre point is OUR community for all. This centre is a place of leaders, a place where the needs of both men and women are met, and a place where the Goddesses and the Gods walk together in honour and celebration.

Maybe it’s the sociologist in me, driving this, identifying gaps and wanting change- or maybe it’s the Priestess in me, watching the Earth spin in fertile circles of light and dark, male and female and the dance of the Sun and Moon across our skies- yet watching the Goddess community sing to one song  with no polarity, interplay or dance. For me when I want to understand something I always go back to the Earth, what am I seeing? Is my life practice in harmony with the song of the Earth Mother? In this area the community is too far from how the Earth spins her beauty.

Just as the Moon dances across the sky with the Sun, and light and dark dance together across the seasons and in ourselves, so too must we call for men and women to stand together and bring a truly fertile and rich spirituality to our community and to our Mother Earth.  The seasons do not spin on female spirituality alone, the Earth Mother and our bodies blossom in their fertility in this sacred union. Sun Gods and forest Gods spin in a respectful and beautiful union with the Goddess.  The Earth operates in this beautiful divinity, and so must we.

In Indigenous Earth based spirituality Gods, male leaders, male sexuality and the male body are sacred. He is potent and strong, emotional , tender and wild. He is not to be confused with the abusive and socially constructed forms of masculinity that have plagued patriachical society, or newer sky based Gods of the book religions who ‘rule over’ rather than lead with women. He is the untamed wild stag, the warrior, the Sun warming the Earth Mother, the trickster faerie, the divine son, the forest dweller, the loving Father, and the Beltaine lover bringing fertility to the land. The God of many names spins in an intimate dance with the Goddess across the seasons,  giving, living dying and being reborn.

As Starhawk so eloquently put it; “ At Winter Solstice he is born as the embodiment of innocence and joy, of a childlike delight of all things. He is the triumph of the returning light. At Bridget… his growth is celebrated, as the days grow visibly longer. At the Spring Equinox, He is the green, flourishing youth who dances with the Goddess in her maiden aspect. On Beltaine…their marriage is celebrated with maypoles and bonfires, and on Summer Solstice it is consummated, in a union so complete it becomes a death…He is mourned at Lughnasad and at Fall Equinox he sleeps in the womb of the Goddess, sailing over the sunless sea that is her womb. At Samhain…He arrives at the land of youth, the shining land in which souls of the dead grow young again, as they wait to be reborn…He too grows young, until at Winter Solstice He is again reborn. (Spiral dance: 1989; 114)

Our men are crucial elements in the divine dance with our Goddess. We can no longer lose our sacred sons. The doors need to open, with all the transition and messiness that will mean. We have powerful strong men out there, ready to be our warriors for the Goddess and we leave them at the door. It is time to not invite the sacred masculine in, but realize this was also their space all along. This is the way it was always done. Research any Indigenous culture on this planet and you will find women AND MEN, in strong sacred roles, representing their community in respect and honour of our Earth Mother. Men have lived for our Earth Mother, died for our Earth Mother, and have been part of the sacred and beautiful union that brings balance to our Earth and to ourselves. Men are the fertile balance of both humanity and the representation of gods in the divine son, warrior and lover to our Goddess. 

Our Earth Mother has always had her Sacred Sons and Daughters in her service, and she does not simply prefer it that way- she requires it. The sacred spinning of Goddess spirituality is not women’s spirituality, it belongs to us all.

Copyright 2010 Oakwillow. All rights reserved. http://www.oakwillow.com.au

 Timing of Imbolc 

Sun moves into Aquarius (Uranus and Saturn energy) usually falls 40 days after Winter Solstice and is midway between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox.  It is usually celebrated August 1^st /2^nd in the Southern Hemisphere and the start of February in the Northern Hemisphere.

The most accurate timing for Imbolc 2010 is August 8 (00:45 Sydney time)

http://archaeoastronomy.com/2010.html

Stories and history of Imbolc

In Irish, Imbolc (pronounced im’olk) from the Old Irish, meaning “in the belly” (i mbolg), refers to the turn in the season and the subsequent pregnancy of ewes, and is also a Celtic term for Spring. Another name is Oimelc, meaning “ewe’s milk”. Milk was poured into the ground at this time, nurturing the Mother.

It is known as the ‘feast of the waxing light’ as the Goddess returns from the underworld a pregnant virgin. It is the time of new beginnings, as the land is made pure to prepare for spring. It is the rite of the maiden, a time for celebrating new beginnings, purity and initiations. The maiden passes through the country blessing the land. It is a fire and moon rite. Goddesses that feature are Bridget (fire, women’s magick, fertility) and Blodewedd (maiden initiator, lunar mysteries and owl) Brighid’s Crosses are made from wheat stalks and exchanged as symbols of protection and prosperity in the coming year. The Maiden is honored, and traditionally Straw Brideo’gas (corn dollies) were created from oat or wheat straw and placed in baskets with white flowers. Young girls carried the Brideo’gas door to door, and collected gifts. The dolls were layed on sacred bark of birch, broom, or white willow.  Older women made special acorn wands for the dollies to hold.

The Winter Crone Calleach sends a dragon to kill the maiden Bridget of spring. Brigit sends a lamb and wins, thus becoming the time of the maiden. We celebrate the growth of the young horned God and chant the Mother back to the Earth. The next waning moon is said to take away the rains.

Fire and purification rites have been used for centuries during Imbolc. Fire represents the increasing Sun, and also the power to transform and cleanse the spirit.

In Australia Wattle day is also celebrated around this season, and is a highly appropriate use of flower for Imbolc as the land bursts into this bright, joyous and abundant flower. This rich maiden time is often used as a time to bless the home and garden, let go of the old and prepare for new growth. Herbs, mixed with milk, honey and white or yellow flowers are used to bless the garden and traditionally young girls in white would bless the fields.

Candles burn in house and garden for Fire Goddess Brigit, and to welcome and lure back the sunshine. Honey cakes are baked, to share and to leave as an offering with candles during the night.  A white silk ribbon or clothing was also hung outside the doorstep for blessing on this night. Traditionally Celts use ribbons to tie/knot a wish or commitment and tie ribbons into the trees to send the wish on the wind. The clothes or ribbon were kept for 12 months as protection from harm.

Symbols

Peacock, moon, white or yellow flowers (I use white eucalypt and wattle)  and symbols of the maiden

Herbs and Trees

Birch-renewal, new beginnings 

Basil- initiations, cleansing

Ash-re-birth/ continual circle between worlds

Angelica- visions, joy

Heather and white and pink flowers- alter decorations

Rosemary- enhance memory, protection of home and purification, enhances energy

Myrrh- spiritual awareness, brings peace

Things to do at Imbolc

·         Use herbs, mixed with milk, honey and white flowers and bless your garden or local lakes and parks.

·         Burn candles in the house and garden for Fire goddess Brigit, and to welcome and lure back the sunshine.

·         Bake honey cakes and leave as an offering with candles during the night. Buttered bread and milk may also be left.

·         Make straw brigets crosses

·         Put white flowers and light white candles throughout the house\

·         Write or read poetry and tell stories.

·         Hang a white silk ribbon or piece of lace outside the doorstep for blessing on this night. 

·         Decorate or build a new alter in white for the season(white shells, white feathers, sage, quartz crystals etc)

·         Cleanse and bless your home

·         Think about what is new and being dreamed or birthed in your life and celebrate that beginning in ritual

·         Dance, sing,  play

·         Spend time with young children, or host a special children’s Imbolc sleep over with everyone dressed in white and play games into the night

·         Make corn dollies for Bridget

·         Self purification rites eg smudging and water blessings

·         Write a blessing or poem for your child, or a child close to you

·         Make Priapic Wands (acorn tipped) made as the season warms to spring as a symbol of male fertility

·         have a group of women over dressed in white and plan something creative, writing, art, clay (maybe bring a change of clothes for messy art) J

·         Build a bon fire, celebrate, burn the old, cleansed and new from the Imbolc season

·         Place a candle in each room to welcome Bridget and to also welcome the rebirth of the Sun

·         Place a besom (Broom) by the front door to symbolize sweeping out the old and welcoming the new (Celtic custom)

The milk flows - as the Sun grows

The maiden sweeps in with her sweet, cool, crisp breath

and we are cleansed, washed clean….

Blessed with flowers, honey and the power of Her light

Reborn we are now seen…

Well join us this coming Winter Solstice around the midnight fires and help us turn the wheel of the year.

Come warm the very depths of your Soul with a sumptuous Yuletide Feast with all the trimmings - fine foods, mulled wines and indulgent winter puddings …..

Enjoy the songs and sounds of our resident Wayward Minstrels ….

Experience sacred traditional ceremony ….

Gather together to share our dreams, tarot, spells and ancient symbols so that we may set free our deepest desires from the fierce grip of winter’s cold embrace.

Let your hosts - Suzanne Naseby (WytchyWays), Tim Hartridge (OzPagan) and Tori Collins (WitchesWorkshop - take you on a journey to the enchanted Heart of Winter this Winter season and create for you a Yuletide celebration you’ll not forget.

This retreat is open to men and women.

HOW MUCH????
$550 … but if you book with a friend, your friend pays only $450! (or $500 each)

WHAT IS INCLUDED????

• 2 nights twin share accommodation for you and your friend in 3 star B&B style rooms in comfy private cottages featuring spa baths and fire places in the lounge rooms and your own kitchen - all linen provided

• All delicious meals prepared by local restaurant owners Jenny & Kevin Moulton from the Fickle Wombat in St Albans. These meals includes: self catered full country breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings, hot buffet lunch on Saturday and a hearty Yule Feast with all the trimmings on Saturday night - special diets catered for

• A beautiful Wiccan Winter Solstice Ritual based on a rich tapestry of Yule traditions

• Live entertainment by the amazing Wayward Minstrels who will lead medieval dancing on Saturday night after the feast

• All workshop materials

COMING FROM INTERSTATE?
We can arrange a shuttle bus to pick you up from the airport and take you out to the retreat and back again at the end.

Hold vigil with us on the darkest night of the year as we welcome the warmth and light of the returning Sun!

For more information about this retreat:
http://www.wytchyways.com/yule.html

We invite you to join us in a weekend of transformation, change and celebration.

PRAISE FOR PAST EVENTS:
“The Saturday night ritual and log fire was a beautiful moment in time that captured the intensity of Yule. I will cherish it forever.” Mascia, SA

“This weekend has been a mind-blowing, life-changing event. The energy in the rituals was beyond the scale of anything else I have experienced before; the loving, caring community environment made me feel at home.” Rebecca, NSW

“The retreat was in a word, MAGICAL.” Sonya, ACT

“A perfect weekend retreat brilliantly organised and all comforts taken care of. I just wanted to congratulate you Suzanne on the terrific job you did with planning, organising and presenting EVERYTHING - no mean feat!!!! … I appreciated the work that went into it and after it! Thank you dear Suzanne - I loved it.” Gail, NSW

I was traveling abroad, while my husband was at home, so I knew I wasn’t pregnant. It dawned on me that this was the Gateway to Menopause, the first sign of my bodily clock winding down.

Finally, after 40 days, my womb flowed again.

Relief and sadness intermingled within me.

The relief stemmed from the freedom I remember feeling during my pregnancy and breastfeeding years… The grief grew out of realizing that my flow is preparing to halt.

Are you still cycling?

Are you in the midst of menopause?

And if not, are you aware that one day your flow will stop…?

What is your relationship with any of the flowing stages you’re in, or with the lack there of?

Following my adolescence and early womanhood of cursing my menstruation, and seeing it as a bother and a nuisance, I have spent years familiarizing myself with my flow. I learned to embrace it and draw strength from it. I started appreciating its gifts of intuition, and its invitation to take time for resting, dreaming, creating, delving into my core, and simply Being.

Part of this journey for me was reclaiming different names for the menstrual cycle. MoonTime, Moon Flow, or simply my Flow, are words I use in honor of the connection between our cycles as women, and the cycles of the moon (both 28.5 days long).

These words acknowledge the similarities our bodies share with the moon: the cyclical nature, the ebb and flow, the emotional tides we experience… these are all natural rhythms, which we can ride as waves if we embrace them (or suffer from if we choose to fight them…)

If my cycle is a Moon Flow, than its ceasing is best described as Moon Pause!

Now that I’m faced with my Moon’s inevitable Pause, I am committed to be as conscious as I can during this journey of waning, partly in order to compensate, as best I can, for the unconsciousness that surrounded my first period…

Since most of us were not welcomed into womanhood when we came of age, we each have an opportunity to meet the ending of our cycling years with as much consciousness as we can muster.

How would you honor your transition, when it comes?

Or if your Moon has already paused, how can you honor the years you spent cycling?

When my Moon pauses, I will create a necklace, on which I want to dangle charms that represent my gratitude to the power of our blood to give life, and to open the veil into the depth of the Great Mystery.

I’m collecting these charms, individually, along my trails, in preparation for my Moon Pause.

The onset of my first period was an unconscious act, barely witnessed, and certainly not honored. The journey of saying goodbye to my cycling years is emerging as the exact opposite: a conscious journey of acknowledgment and reverence to the sacredness of my MoonTime.

I invite you to open the doorways of honoring your journey toward your Moon Pause…

As I write this, I still cycle regularly. I realize, once again, that I am not in control… Birthing took place in my body’s own good time, not mine. And so is the winding down of my cyclical clock, being carried out by its own good rhythm. Teaching me patience and humbling me, yet again, to its miracle.

*** This article was published in my e-newsletter, ‘Inspire!’
And I invite you to subscribe… It’s FREE
Here’s the link to sign up:
http://deannalam.com/deannalam_018.htm

DeAnna L’am