LAST WEEKEND IN REVIEW

It was a busy week, followed by an even busier weekend.  In fact, I feel coming back to work actully is giving me a rest!

Since I recently moved, I had decided that a Housewarming party was in order.  This was combined with an Equanox/Ostara Ritual .  In attendance were about a half-dozen guests, who enjoyed a pasta dinner I cooked up, a variety of salads, and of course, mounds of chocolates of every kind and description.   The Ritual was one giving homage to that delectable confection, and was abundantly enjoyed by all, especially when we began devouring the Sacrificial Bunny.

Entertainment consisted of a beautiful one-woman play, relating the story of a Japanese Goddess Amaterasu.  Thank you, Starr, for this unforgetable performance!

Eventually, all but Starr, left, and the two of us continued talking into the wee hours of the morning.  This is highly unusual, for I go to bed promptly at 9:00 pm each night, but because we do not get to see each other very often, it was well worth the time.  After a few hours of sleep, we kept up the stream of conversation which has left me fully inspired, as always, with the vision of new and shining projects to persue.  Once Starr was on her way, I sort of collapsed, but with yet another upcoming event planned for Sunday, I eventually organized everything for it.

On Sunday, there was a wedding I had to officiate.  The last details of preparation became a ritual in themselves, my movements slow and contemplative, while I now focused all my attention to the upcoming ceremony.  The venue was a beautiful secluded outdoor location, a lookout overlooking a gorge and waterfalls, surrounded by trees and elements.  I got to the site ahead of the wedding party, and was there to greet them when they all came up the hill.

It was a bit windy, up here on the hill, which proved a bit problematic when it came time to light the sage for smudging.  I thought I was well prepared, but both the lighters refused to work, even though they were lighting just fine inside.  Finally, we managed to light the sage, and the wedding went on.  Beautifully unfolding, like the petals of a flower, each stage progressed.  Joy, laughter, tears - well, of course!  Gifts, blessings, congratulatory hugs all around ... and before we knew it, the young couple were married!

Rituals and ceremonies like this tend to either take a lot of energy out of me, or energize me completely. In this case, I felt drained and empty inside, but in a very pleasant way.  I feel the need at such times to be alone, to contemplate what has just happened, and to ground myself with gentle pampering.  Leftover chocolate was great for this, as was a good book.

And of course, there was the glorious, gorgeous Super Moon overflowing with silver blessings on Saturday night.  I spent quite a bit of time on the balcony watching Her rise in the east, prayed and meditated in Her energies, and when I went to bed, I found it to be totally bathed in Her light!  I didn't want to fall asleep and indeed succeeded in seeing Her travel across the clear dark sky for a while, before sleep actually swept over me.  Wow!  How powerful and beautiful that was!!

All in all, it was an amazing weekend that I really enjoyed.  And now, it's back to the realities of work and the chores of daily living. 

Blessed be!!

 

THE BEAUTY OF DARKNESS

Many people fear the dark.  There's an instinctive heightening of awareness, however brief, once the lights are turned out.  Darkness is seen as evil, bad, nasty, and negative. 

 

Or is it?

 

"Walk in the Light", "Invoke the White Light", "Healing Light", "Positive Energies" are all used and sent daily by many.  Because, as everyone knows, Light is good, positive, beneficial and straight from God.

 

And again, is it really?

 

My view of the Darkness changed a number of years ago.  It was around 2003, and the world was experiencing a lunar eclipse.  I decided to enter this realm of darkness through ritual and explore it while our Lady Moon was hidden within the shroud of mystery.

 

As I lived in a loft at that time, it was very dark there indeed. To symbolize the growing darkness, I sat down in the middle of the room, blindfolded myself and drew a black hood over my head.  Thus deprived of sight and light, I entered into a deep meditative state to ride the Moon into darkness.

 

Within minutes I felt as though I was riding a current through a void.  Gradually the current was made manifest beneath me as a gentle silver path. As I made it out, other such silver paths appeared on either side of me, above and below me, as far as the eye could see!  And each path was alive - alive! - with every possible, conceivable answer to every possible, conceivable question.  Like darting fireflies, these "energies" would grow dense in some parts and thin out as they vanished elsewhere to become manifest in another reality. 

 

Darkness was alive, brimming with its own life, full of purpose and simply waiting to be tapped into!  And it was not "dark" as we think dark is - blackness without relief - but illuminated with it's own spirit.

 

It was the most intense, powerful and beautiful ride I have ever experienced!  To me now, darkness is the holder of all answers, and is something that is not to be feared or avoided.  A couple of years later, another step was taken into the exploration of the Dark - I was led to explore the attributes of the Dark Goddesses during the Dark of Moon time of the month.

 

All that year I laboured with this new venture.  Each month I would research and align myself with a Goddess, and culminate the month with a ritual during Dark of Moon.  Hekate, Pandora, Hel, Nemises, Carridwin, Morgane, Sedna, Baba Yaga and the Dark Madonna were among the Goddesses that I worked with.  The Crone, the Aged Wise One began to reveal Herself to me and I began to pay more attention to the time of the waning to New Moon. 

 

Each Goddess taught me different things.  Each month I was initiated in deeper mysteries.  I learned to see the Dark Moon as a time of healing, of rest and of peace.  Just like our day is divided into light and dark, day and night, so the bigger circle of the month takes us from light to dark and to light again. 

 

Some time in there it occurred to me that there was a problem with people who see the world and life only in terms of "white and black".  I visualized the world all in that way and saw something stark and glaring, with no definition or perspective.  Where there were shadows, they appeared as pools of utter black that swallowed up everything that touched them.  White was so blinding that it washed everything out in its glare.

 

Now, I began to put in shades of gray, and suddenly the world sprang into aliveness.  Shadows became infinate in their hues of gray.  White began to have details, darkness was less ultimate. There are now places of rest as well as high energy.  There is balance.

In my travels into the Dark, I only found blessings, peace and rest.  The old attitudes died a natural death and new ideas were born.  Balance took on a new meaning.

And I was no longer afraid.

Message to the Children of Mother Earth

I have received the following message from a dear friend, and while I don't pass chain mail on, but this is no chain letter -  this is a powerful prayer for the betterment of the world.  I pray this moves you to join us in prayer.  

Dear AllpaMama Wawankunas - Children of Mother Earth,

I just received an URGENT message from Brother Tahuiro regarding Mother Earth and the events that happened in Japan last week.

Please start calling upon your friends and start creating prayer circles. He received a channeled message which is a Prayer that you will pray on your own or in a group

The instructions received are:

1- must be prayed within 48 hrs of receiving it and everyday until Mother Earth has calmed down completely

2- Must be translated in all languages and be prayed

3- Share with as many people as possible using all ways of communication, if you can get the media to pass on the message even better

4- This prayer must be prayed with faith and conviction

Thank you for playing your part, in these kind of moments of need Mother Earth knows who stands up for her and she rejoices and receives comfort

She needs to know that we are there for her no matter what, just like you would if your own physical Mother was in need.

must be prayed within 48 hrs of receiving it and everyday until Mother Earth has calmed down completely

Here it is:

ESTA NOCHE VIAJE AL VALLE DE LOS ESPIRITUS INKAS A SUPLICAR POR NUESTROS HERMANOS DE JAPON.

Tonight I travelled to the valley of the Inka Spirits to supplicate for our brothers and sisters in Japan

CUANDO ESTUVE INVOCANDO CON MUCHA FUERZA Y TRISTESA, ME DIJO, ENVIA ESTA INVOCACION Y ASEGURATE QUE REPITAN LOS HERMANOS AFECTADOS Y EL MUNDO ENTERO.

When I was invoking with much strength and sadness Great Spirit told me 'send this invocation and make sure that all brothers and sisters in the affected areas and those in the rest of the world say it.

HERMANA GISELLE, ES TU RESPONSABILIDAD Y MISION QUE LLEGUE A LOS HERMANOS JAPONESES Y AL MUNDO ENTERO ESTA INVOCACION (ORACION) INCLUYENDO MEDIOS DE COMUNICACION (GOOGLE)

CUANDO TODOS HAYAN INVOCADO ESTA INVOCACION ENVIADA EL DOLOR Y LA TRAGEDIA CESARA.

Sister Giselle, is your responsibility and mission that this This invocation (prayer) reaches the brothers and sisters in Japan and the world. Make use of all media.

When all have invoked this sent prayer the pain and tragedy can stop

SE DEBE INVOCAR CON SENCERIDAD, DESDE EL CORAZON PARA QUE LOS DIOSES ESCUCHEN.

You must invoke with sincerity, from your heart so the Gods will listen to you.

INVOCACION (ORACION) INKA

Inka Invocation (Prayer)

" OH GRAN ESPIRITU HACEDOR DE TODAS LAS VIDAS"

ME INCLINO DELANTE DE TI EN ESTE DIA, PARA PEDIRTE PERDON A NUESTRA MADRE NATURALEZA, Y SUPLICARTE TU DIRECCION HACIA LA TRANQUILIDAD DE LA NACION JAPON.

'Oh Great Spirit Creator of all Lives'

I bow to you in this day, to ask you for forgiveness and to our Mother Nature, and beg for your direction towards the tranquility of Japan nation.

SÉ POR MIS ANCESTROS QUE TU ENSEÑANZA DICE:

MALDICION A AQUELLOS QUE MALTRATAN A LA MADRE NATURALEZA Y LO LLAMAN BIEN, LO QUE ESTA EN CONTRA DE LA MADRE NATURALEZA, Y ES EXACTAMENTE LO QUE NUESTRAS MANOS CREARON.

I know by my ancestors that your education says: Cursed are those who mistreat Mother Nature and call it well-being, which goes against mother nature, and is exactly what our hands created.

HEMOS PERDIDO EL EQUILIBRIO, HEMOS PERDIDO EL VALOR ESPIRITUAL Y HEMOS CAMBIADO NUESTROS PRINCIPIOS Y VALORES HUMANOS.

We have lost the balance, we have lost spiritual values and we have changed our principals and human values

HEMOS ABUSADO AL POBRE EXPLOTANDO Y LO LLAMAMOS A ESE ABUSO "GRAN SUERTE".

We have abused the poor and we call that abuse 'good luck'

HEMOS APLAUDIDO RECOMPENSANDO A LA PEREZA Y LO HEMOS LLAMADO, AYUDA AL PROJIMO.

We have applaud, rewarding poverty and we have called it help to others/charity.

HEMOS ELEMINADO A NUESTROS BEBES QUE AUN NO HAN VENIDO Y LO LLAMAMOS, LIBRE ALVEDRIO.

We have eliminated our unborn babies and we call it, free will.

HEMOS MALTRATADO A NUESTROS HERMANOS CONDENADOS Y LO LLAMAMOS, LA LEY Y LA JUSTICIA.

We have mistreated our convicted brothers and we call it law and justice.

HEMOS ACTUADO NELIGENTEMENTE AL PONER DISCIPLINA A NUESTRO PUEBLO Y LO NOMBRAMOS, DESARROLO DE AUTOESTIMA.

We have acted with negligence giving discipline to our people and we call it development of self steam.

HEMOS ABUSADO DEL PODER OTORGADO Y LO LLAMAMOS, " ES LA POLITICA"

We have abused the power given and we say it's 'Politics'

NUESTRA CODICIA A OTROS LA LLAMAMOS, AMBICION POSITIVA.

Our greediness, we call it positive ambition.

CONTAMINAMOS LOS MEDIOS DE COMUNICACION CON COSAS VANAS, LO LLAMAMOS LIBERTAD DE EXPRESION.

We pollute the media with vain things, and we call it Free expression.

HEMOS MINIMISADO LOS VALORES ESTABLECIDOS DESDE EL INICIO DE LOS TIEMPOS POR NUESTROS SABIOS ANCESTROS, A ESTO LO LLAMAMOS, EL PASDO ES OBSOLETO.

We have minimized the values established since the beginning of time by our wise ancestors and we say that the past is redundant.

HEMOS CREADO UN MOUNSTO Y NO PODEMOS CONTROLAR, GRITAMOS AL CIELO" OH DIOS AYUDANOS.

We have created a monster that we can't control and we scream to the sky 'God help us!'

HOY EN ESTE MOMENTO SUPLICO A LOS DIOSES DE LOS CUATRO ELEMENTOS Y DIGO:

Today in this moment, I supplicate to the Gods of the Four Winds:

OH GRAN ESPIRITU MIRA A MIS HERMANOS Y PERDONANOS DE NUESTRAS OFENSAS HACIA A TI Y A NUESTRA MADRE NATURALEZA, LIBRANOS DE NUESTRO ORGULLO PERVERSO Y RETIRA EL DOLOR DE TUS HIJOS Y DE LA NACION JAPONES.

Oh Great Spirit, look at my brothers and sisters and forgive our offenses to you and to Mother Nature, free us from our perverse pride and remove the pain of your children in the Japanese Nation

AAARIII AAARIII AAARIII

(So Be It)

POR SACERDOTE INKA

TAHUIRO WAMANKANKI.

Channeled by Inka Priest

Tahuiro Wamankanki

CHAIN MAIL (as in Letters, not armour) AND WHY I DON'T DO THEM...

Earlier this evening, I received the following chain mail on my wall:

If this doesn't touch you.....you're heartless. One night a guy & a girl were driving home from the movies.The boy sensed there was something wrong because of painful silence they shared between them that night. The girl then asked the boy 2 pull over because she wanted 2 talk. She told him that her feelings have changed & that it was........................ time 2 move on. A silent tear slid down his cheek as he slowly reached into his pocket & passed her a folded note. At that moment, a drunk driver was speeding down that very same street. He swerved right into the drivers seat, killing the boy. Miraculously, the girl survived. Remembering the note she pulled it out & read it. "Without your love, I would die." If u send this 2 10ppl in 5 minutes someone special will txt or call you. If you don't send this 2 10people your worst week starts tomorrow

(don't believe in chain mails but this was something i had to show others)

And I immediately deleted it.  I guess this makes me heartless, and I'll be facing the worse week ever starting tomorrow.  So for those who may think this is the case about me, I would like to do a little bit of analysis on this "heartwrenching" story.

1.  It's a story.  Period.  There isn't a shred of truth in this - no names, no locations, no newspaper cited that ran the article - nothing.  It's meant to get a knee-jerk reaction without any thought whatsoever.  I'm not saying this scenerio may not happen, or hasn't happened, I am saying that for the purposes of this chain letter, it's just a story.

2.  Now let's look at the boy's reaction.  How convenient that he had that little piece of paper all ready for just this occasion!  "Without your love, I would die."  I've lived long enough to recognize this not as a declaration of love, but of manipulation, control, and power over the girl.  It was designed to guilt her into reconsidering her decision.  Statements like this, from either gender, are just that - tools of manipulation.

3.  And coincidentily he is instantly killed by a drunk driver.  Put yourself in the girl's place (if this indeed has happened) who now has to live with a life-long weight of hopeless guilt, being sure that she was the cause of her boyfriend's death.
Phahhh!

So what is this chain letter trying to evoke here?  What exactly is it trying to do?  The knee-jerk reaction is probably what most people would feel, "Aw, how awful!!  How awful!!" but what is it that they're feeling so awful about?  The fact that there was a drunk driver on the road?  The fact that the girl decided it was time to move on?  The fact that the boy had already planned to guilt the girl into staying with him?

Remember, it's just a story.  What exactly are you supposed to feel?

And then to finish it off with a threat of dire consequences if you don't spread this dribble further?  That is just too much!

So I guess this makes me doubly heartless.

Red Tent/Mardi Gras, March 8, 2011

Last night was very special gathering of Red Tent Temple Hamilton:

**  It was the first anniversary of our group

**  It was the first meeting in my new place

**  It coincided with 100th anniversary of International Woman's Day

**  And it happened on Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras

So naturally, we went with the Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras theme!!  The tables were decorated in the traditional colours of purple, gold and green, not to mention some masks, and there were plenty of Mardi Gras beads to add to our already sparkling bling bling!!  In attendance, we had Natasha, Yvette, Brandi, Shelly and myself.  We deeply missed Darlene, Lisa, Samantha and Suzanne, and look forward to having them, and others, join us next month!

And can we say pancakes?  Oh yes!!  Yvette commandered my kitchen and expertly flipped us pancake after pancake while we piled our plates high.  On the buffet table we had a multitude of toppings - from the usual bacon, sausages and maple syrup  (the real stuff, thank you!), to the more exotic and adventurous toppings that included sour cream, chopped eggs and green onions combination, apple sauce, yogurts, luscious berries, peaches and whipped cream!  Oh, and let us not forget that some pancakes were actually studded with chocolate chips!!  And as strange as some of these toppings sounded, all found their taste buds expanded.  

As always, we had a well-stocked tea station and a delicious punch as well.

At one point, as I passed by Natasha, I heard her murmur, "Oh, this is pure bliss!"

Of course, before we all dug into these yummies, Natasha, who organized this evening, educated us with a presentation on the origins of Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, and Lent.  We all had questions and  this generated a lively discussion.  She also had researched, printed out and presented us with many and various blessings which fed our souls as much as the pancakes fed our bodies.  

Thank you to all the ladies who made it out, and in particular, I would like to thank Natasha for organizing the evening, Yvette for keeping our plates heaped with pancakes, and Brandi for being our wonderful gopher.

And during the evening, a very important question was asked for us all to ponder, and I will close this report with this question:

We all walk many different spiritual paths - how does that path and your faith strengthen your own Sacred Feminine and make you a better woman?

Until next month...