Oakwillow

I am back from the Goddess Conference, Gold Coast Australia, filled with joy and tears. Still covered with ochre over my womb, in the marks of Gaia, the blood of the mother. From the moment we walked out in song Priestesses and initiates wearing our deep red cloaks and veils to meet the other great women attending, to the closing spiraling and shrieking witches dance that exploded into laughter and then deep resonance and song to the Earth Mother we were transforming, shedding and working with the Earth. We learnt a lot about drumming the elements and the rhythm and heart beat of the Earth, we heard about the power of Priestessing the Earth. I had the joy of watching how great Priestesses from around the country I have never met before called in the elements, singing in water, laughing in Air. We heard from an Elder Bilawara Lees about Song Lines and Aboriginal culture and the importance of people of Celtic decent stepping up and working their own Indigenous Law to bring balance. Many speakers talked about self love, and a sense of unity and love for both self and Earth. We heard about PaGaianess. Restoring these relationships, learning to receive the love of others and the Earth as well as nurture her. Understanding the relationship is circular and intention is powerful. We danced, we drummed, we chanted, we painted each other and exploded in our wildness. We learnt from Lucy Cavendish that one of the most powerful things you can do is simply grow food. Work with the Mother and begin the relationships with community of sharing food, working with each other. We walked the labyrinth into the Goddess and into ourselves to the great High Priestess and weaver of the conference and GAIA Patricia Corner. A simple yet powerful journey deeply spiraling in, and in, and in again. Now all over for another year until we spin again…
Jodie

The Goddess conference GAIA Earth Alchemy will take place on the Gold Coast 10th-12th Oct 2008

The Open day will be on the Friday including markets, music and ritual, followed by two days of workshops.

For more information go to http://www.pomegranategrove.org/index_files/2008ConferenceProgramme.htm

What a wonderful Spring Equinox it has been. Spring Equinox, also known as Alban Eiler or Ostara, the time when day and night stand equal and spring birth explodes through the landscape.  The time of light is growing and the Sun Gods warmth upon the Mother brings new growth. It is a time for new beginnings, to weave yourself into the landscape and grow with her. As the Earth Mother explodes with her fertility and light-how are you growing with her tide? Spring is a time of new ventures and sprouting new ideas. This Spring I sow the seed of Oakwillow into the fertile hands of GAIA at the Goddess conference in October. I bury my painted eggs into the deep rich earth of Danu and breathe deep into the new sweetness in the air. It is the time of the powerful Maiden and the young Horned God, dancing in their youth, awaiting the union of Beltaine as the fertility of the Earth reaches her crescendo. Enjoy the nectar and sweetness of your springtide and may the seeds you sow be fruitful .